I've had this one tucked away for a while! Short, fluffy, and just for fun!

Love Squared

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Trapezium
In the US and Canada: a quadrilateral with no parallel sides (known elsewhere as a general irregular quadrilateral)

The air was sharp and crisp, and rock salt crunched under their shoes as they walked arm-in-arm down the sidewalks leading up to the restaurant. The forecast called for more snow that evening, but for now, the roads were clear, and there was an aesthetically pleasing dusting of white that made the cheery lights decorating the city look that much more festive.

"And don't let me try and monopolize Sasuke's conversation," Sakura warned Hinata, hugging her arm tightly. "Please. Whatever you do. A kick under the table – a knock to the back of the neck – a tazer…"

Hinata pressed her mittened hand to her lips, but the soft laughter spilled over just the same.

"I'm serious!" Sakura's smile was playful. "I was very determined as a twelve-year-old! You could have quite the fight on your hands!"

"You're very determined now," Hinata giggled, flicking a glance at their linked arms. "But as long as you aren't expecting me to distract him, I promise."

"Don't worry," Sakura grinned "He likes to talk about as much as you do. Naruto will probably do the talking for all of us."

"He sounds like a nice person," Hinata said warmly.

"He is my best friend," Sakura said... then stopped cold. "He'd be perfect for you!"

Hinata's eyes went wide "F..for me?" she squeaked.

"Yes!" Sakura's eyes shone. "I can't believe I didn't see it sooner! You are just the kind of person Naruto needs; someone to ground him and keep him focused and.."

"Sakura, please no," Hinata shook her head. "No set-ups. Besides - if you try and do that tonight, it will look like you are using me to distract Naruto so you can talk to Sasuke."

"Okay, fair point," Sakura conceded, ever-so-slightly deflated. "No set ups. But if you don't think Naruto is the best thing since cinnamon rolls by the end of tonight, I will be shocked. Shocked and appalled."

Hinata laughed at her friend "Maybe we get past the introductions first?"

"Fair enough."

"They're almost here," Naruto grimaced. "At least stay long enough to say hello!"

"You didn't tell me she was a Hyūga," Sasuke hissed, jamming his arms back into the sleeve of his coat. "This has Ino written all over it."

"Look, aren't you being a little hasty? For all we know she isn't even related to Neji."

"Oh, she's related to Neji," Sasuke growled. "All of the Hyūgas are related. Every last one of them. And each more pompous than the last."

"Wow," Naruto deadpanned. "Imagine that."

"Insufferable, the lot of them," Sasuke agreed, patting down his pockets. "Now where are my keys."

"Oh, those would be in your coat," Naruto signaled to the waiter.

"They aren't here they-" Sasuke stopped and looked down at himself. "This isn't my coat."

"Sure isn't," Naruto agreed. "Hey, friend. Can we get a round of waters and that really awesome appetizer that just went by?" he pointed to the dish being served at a nearby table – easily large enough to split between four people.

"Certainly, sir. And for you?" He turned to Sasuke, and froze at his glare.

"Don't mind him," Naruto waved a hand toward Sasuke. "He's jetlagged. Oh, good!" he smiled as another waiter brought a dish and put it at Sasuke's seat. "Thanks, friend!"

Both waiters nodded and left the table, leaving Sasuke to stare down at the most amazingly delicious looking dish of tomato salad he had ever seen.

"It's their specialty," Naruto leaned in to whisper. "Brought Itachi here not that long ago. He said it was the closest thing to your mom's dish that he's ever tasted."

Sasuke looked up to Naruto warily.

"You got about ten minutes until the girls get here," Naruto sat back in his seat. "You could finish that and be on your way to being human again in five. You can't get your coat or the keys until I leave, so you might as well just have a seat."

Sasuke was irritated beyond all reason, but the cool, soothing red of the tomatoes coaxed him back to his seat. He took off the coat and tossed it at Naruto as he stabbed the first bite of his salad.

"Easy," Naruto winced as the fork squeaked against the bottom of the plate. "This is a nice place."

"I'm shocked it isn't Ichiraiku's," Sasuke muttered, shoving a biteful of bliss into his mouth.

"We all have to give and take," Naruto shrugged.

As predicted, Sasuke's dish was emptied and removed before the other two showed up. Sasuke knew they arrived when Naruto' face lit up, and he stood, with a broad grin. Hanger now at bay, Sasuke's training as an attorney took over, and he let his face slip into his mask of indifferent composure, silently resigning to ride out the evening as best he could.

He folded his napkin and also rose to his feet, because that is what his mother would have insisted he do, and turned to greet their guests.

I feel like grown up Sasuke would be the master of being polite and a jerk at the same time...