Author's Note: Characters may be out of character. This is an AU fanfiction and yaoi. Don't like, don't read. NaruSasu, SasuNaru.
Disclaimer: I have no rights over the Naruto franchise or any characters except my OCs.
Warning: Rated M for adult content and language.
Chapter Two
It was soft and warm and something smelled...amazing. Naruto's stomach grumbled at the sweet smelling aroma of food, stirring him awake. Was Hinata cooking pancakes? His eyes blinked open groggily, but he immediately winced at the sudden light on his face. His head pounded and his breath stank like stale beer. It was too painful. He groaned, rolling over onto his stomach and pushing his head into the soft pillow. He tried to ignore the headache, inwardly cursing and promising himself never to go drinking again. As he continued to berate himself, a sudden realization dawned on him. The smell of of food didn't go away. He sat up swiftly, wincing at the pain, but mostly ignored it. Hinata...no, I'm not dreaming anymore. He looked around, wondering if he was in a stranger's home, but he wasn't.
"Daddy!" Himawari's sweet voice rang through the house.
He winced again in pain and then shuddered as his door swung open, loudly banging the wall. "A little gentler, please Himawari," he muttered.
"You're already awake? Ah, hurry and come eat breakfast. There's pancakes!"
Himawari over to him, pulling him out of bed and dragging him by the hand into the kitchen. Naruto wondered how there were pancakes for breakfast. He knew he didn't have the ingredients to make such a luxurious breakfast and there was no way Boruto knew how to cook it. The only plausible answer was if Iruka stopped by, but then if he did, his dad would have at least called to let him know. Himawari let go of his hand and ran over to the table, but Naruto stopped in his tracks once he rounded the corner. He blinked, rubbed his eyes to check if he was seeing things, but nope, he wasn't seeing things. There was a stranger, raven hair with his bangs parted to cover one black onyx color eye, standing in his kitchen wearing the apron that belonged to Hinata. A flash of anger soared through him. How dare a stranger touch Hinata's precious items?! He glanced to the table and was startled. A girl, the same age as Boruto, sat beside Himawari. She wore a pair of pink glasses. The moment their eyes connected, she quickly looked away in embarrassment. Anger ebbed into confusion. Who were these people?
"I apologize for the intrusion," the stranger said, bringing his attention back to him, "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I'm your neighbor to the right."
Naruto blinked. Neighbor to the right...the one that wasn't home yesterday. That didn't explain why he was in his house though.
"You were passed out drunk last night on the bottom of the stairs," Boruto explained, seeing as he needed some, "Mr. Uchiha helped you when he came home from work and found you. He brought you upstairs."
"Mr. Uchiha said that ramen wasn't a nutritional dinner, so he said he would cook us something. It was very yummy! So I asked if he could make us breakfast," Himawari said excitedly.
"I told her no," Boruto provided, "But she wouldn't listen."
"It's mostly my fault," Sasuke said softly, "As a parent, I know it might be a little startling to see a stranger in your house cooking something for your kids. I'm sorry for intruding."
"Mr. Uchiha is not intruding! I like Mr. Uchiha. He's nice and his cooking is yummy. And big sister Sarada is also nice! She goes to the same school as big brother." Himawari clung to the girl named Sarada, giving Naruto a pleadingly look. "Daddy, please don't be mad."
Naruto didn't know what to say. He liked making Himawari happy, but to let a stranger into their house and cook food for them, that was something he would have to scold her for. Not to mention, Boruto went along with it too. And while Uchiha Sasuke didn't seem like a bad person, an adult offering to cook food for a stranger's children was just plain odd.
"...Alright, you kids will be late if you don't get going now," Sasuke said, interrupting the uncomfortable silence.
Sasuke ushered the kids along all the while Naruto was left speechless. He could only watch in utter shock as Sasuke got the children to dress and ready in a few minutes.
"Mr. Uchiha, do you know how to put this on?" Himawari asked, revealing a pink bow clip accessory for her hair.
Her voice brought Naruto's attention to her. He watched the interaction between Sasuke and his daughter. Sasuke brushed her hair easily and then clipped the accessory on with such ease making Himawari smile so brightly, Naruto felt a pang of jealously. Three years without Hinata and he tried to be able to do stuff like that for Himawari, but even with those years, he wasn't able to it with ease like Sasuke did. Who the hell did he think he was? Naruto wanted to rage at the man, but he couldn't, not in front of the children. He was so focus on glaring at the man, he didn't even notice Boruto standing next to him. A nudge from his son took his attention away. He glanced down, blinked, and then raised a brow at Boruto's frown.
"What?" Naruto asked.
"You can't act childish," Boruto said.
"Huh? What do you mean childish? I'm not acting childish. What adult man comes into a stranger's house and cooks dinner and breakfast for his kids?"
"Someone who understands." Boruto replied easily. "You should be thanking him. You came home drunk and didn't even make it upstairs. I wouldn't have been able to carry you up."
"Ah...well...I mean I'm grateful for that...but...really?! Cooking?"
"Dad, we told him about mom." Boruto's voice was so quiet, Naruto had to strain his ears to hear it. "Sarada is my classmate. She told me she didn't have a mom either."
Naruto sucked in a breath. Now he felt guilty. Sasuke probably felt an understanding for the children and wanted to help out. Himawari was so happy too. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Alright...I'll buy a thank you gift during my break at work."
"Good. I'm going now."
"Un, have a safe trip."
He watched after Boruto and then blinked, realizing that he should probably be walking them to school. He was about to rush after them, but Sasuke stopped him. He halted, surprised by the man's quiet footsteps. "Uh...um, thanks for helping out," Naruto said.
"It wasn't a problem. But again, I'm sorry if I intruded," Sasuke said.
"Ah, no, it's okay. Besides, Himawari was really happy and Boruto, he may not show it, but I know he was happy to be able to eat something else other than ramen."
"...You don't have to walk them. I'm heading out to work now anyways, so I'll take them. there's still some left over pancakes if you want to eat breakfast."
"Oh. Thanks?" Naruto stared, but Sasuke was so expressionless it was hard to get a reading on him. He didn't know what the other man was thinking.
"Then...goodbye."
"Bye."
The front door closed, leaving a gaping Naruto behind. He ran a hand down his face. This morning was out of the ordinary. He needed to rest up some more. As he turned around, the whiff of pancakes made his stomach grumble again. He stopped, staring at the leftover stack of pancakes. His stomach roared again, louder this time. Sighing in defeat, he went to the table and sat down. He grabbed the plate of pancakes, poured some syrup, and took a huge bite. Grudgingly, he had to admit the pancakes were good. He could see why Himawari was infatuated with the food. He could only hope she didn't get too use to it as he didn't think Sasuke would come over every time to cook for them. Sighing, he finished the rest of the pancakes and cleaned up after himself before getting ready himself ready for the day.
He went to work early again, feeling a little restless at home. He also thought that if he got to work earlier, he would be able to watch Teuchi make the broth. As he thought, he as able to observe Teuchi, but once the restaurant was open, people filed in one after the other. The place always seemed packed. It was the same as yesterday except there was no after party. He was able to get home in one piece, sober this time. Of course, he also didn't forget the thank you gift he got for his neighbor. In his hand was a bottle of sake. He wasn't sure if Sasuke drank, but who in this day and age didn't? He made his way upstairs, reaching his door. He unlocked it, happy to be home.
"I'm ho-"
"No! I don't want to eat ramen! I want to eat Mr. Uchiha's cooking!" Himawari yelled.
Naruto almost dropped the bottle of sake when he heard Himawari shouting.
"You can't! You shouldn't bother him!" Boruto argued.
"Wha-what's going on?" Naruto hurried inside, locking the door and setting the bottle of sake on the table as he knelt down on the floor to calm a crying Himawari. Boruto was frowning and shaking his head.
"I told her we shouldn't bother Mr. Uchiha to cook for us again," Boruto said.
"Himawari...your big brother is right. We shouldn't bother our neighbor too much," Naruto said gently, holding back his surprise. Himawari wasn't usually like this. Naruto knew she acted more mature for her age. He had gotten so use to it, he forgot she was only eight. "I'll, uh, buy something else other than ramen."
"No, I want Mr. Uchiha's cooking," Himawari pouted.
"Himawari." Naruto hated when he had to be stern with her.
"I miss mommy!" Himawari pushed him away and ran pass him to her bedroom, shutting the door loudly.
Sighing, he stood. It wasn't like he didn't know. The food this morning was home cooked, a taste so much different from store bought food. He didn't know what to do though. He wished he had his dad here to help him. Naruto glanced over to Boruto who was sitting quietly. He smiled softly at his oldest child. "Why don't you go and try to placate her?"
"And what will you do?" asked Boruto.
"Maybe I'll work something out with Mr. Uchiha."
"Like maybe...have him teach you how to cook something other than ramen?"
"Isn't that a little too much?"
"Better than asking if he could cook food for us too."
"True. Fine...now go."
Boruto hopped off the chair and walked to the bedroom, knocking on it softly before entering. Sighing again, Naruto ran a hand through his hair. Today was just all sorts of pandemonium. He grabbed the sake bottle, willing himself to hold back his pride and ask his neighbor for help. Walking out his apartment, he took another deep breath before turning to knock on Sasuke's door. He knocked twice and listened closely. The door opened within a few seconds. Naruto almost had a heart attack. Sasuke's pale features was enhanced by the silver moonlight, illuminating high cheekbones and black eyes. And since the man was only wearing a black tank top with shorts, Naruto could see that Sasuke was muscularly toned. He could appreciate a nice body and pretty face when he saw one.
"I heard," Sasuke said, breaking the silence.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked, dumbfounded.
"The walls...they're thin. I heard Himawari's voice."
"Oh...OH! That...I'm sorry."
"No, I should apologize. I didn't think she would take to my cooking so much. It might be hard, but I don't mind cooking extras, that is if you don't mind."
"...Well, here I was thinking it might be easier to just ask you to teach me to cook, but if you're offering that, then sure."
Sasuke's lips curved upward to one side. A slight smile touching his face in amusement. "I think teaching you to cook will do you good. Ramen isn't exactly the best nutritional food."
"I grew up eating ramen." Naruto said with pout.
Sasuke actually huffed a laugh, quiet, but it was definitely a laugh. "And let me guess, you work at a ramen restaurant too."
"I do." Naruto stared wide eye in surprise.
Another huff of laugh, husky and low. When Sasuke looked into his eyes, Naruto could almost lose himself in his black onyx eye. He quickly looked away, a flush spreading across his face. He tugged at his ear in embarrassment and then remembered the sake.
"Oh, here," Naruto handed Sasuke the bottle, "this is a thank you gift."
"Thank you." Sasuke took the bottle from him. "Hold on for one second."
Sasuke disappeared and a few seconds later, returned with a pot. He handed the pot to him and Naruto took it, unsure of why Sasuke was giving him a pot.
"Curry. Have Himawari eat that...you do have rice, right?" Sasuke teased.
"Wha-?! Of course!" Naruto playfully glared, but then grinned. "Thanks. I mean it. We barely just met, but you've helped out a lot, Mr. Uchiha."
"Single parents...fathers too...I think we understand each other a bit. And please, just call me Sasuke."
"Ah, well, you can just call me Naruto then."
"So...about teaching you how to cook, does the weekends sound okay?"
"Eh? You really don't mind?"
"Not at all."
"Okay then. Yeah, the weekends are fine for me."
"Then it's settled. Be prepared, I'm not a nice teacher."
"Don't worry, I won't disappoint you...too much."
They shared a mutual laugh and then said their goodbyes. Naruto went back inside where Himawari and Boruto were waiting. The moment Himawari lay her eyes on the pot he was holding, she beamed him the brightest smile. He smiled back at her and set the pot onto the stove so he could set the table. He told them that Sasuke was going to start teaching him how to cook. Himawari seemed the most excited. He smiled at her exuberance then turned to Boruto who had been quietly eating. He ruffled his son's hair. Boruto glared at him.
"I'm not going to be your guinea pig," Boruto said.
"Eh, why not? I think I'll do fine," said Naruto.
"Last time you cooked with mom, you burned the food."
"I'll try daddy's food!" Himawari exclaimed.
Naruto grinned a goofy smile at his daughter as he hugged her. "Aw, thank you princess. See, you should learn from your little sister Boruto."
His son only rolled his eyes. Naruto laughed, returning to eat his food. Surprisingly, he was looking forward to the weekend. Maybe the future was looking up for him and his family.