October 10th
by vernajast
sasuke x naruto
Sasuke leaned back against the countertop, arms crossed over his chest.
The teapot bubbled and gurgled on the stovetop.
The birds outside chirped.
The sun was too bright.
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, ears straining to hear over the birds and the boiling water and the ambient sounds of the clear summer day.
Ah.
There it was.
The creak of the mattress. A stumble. The steady stream of curses.
Sasuke silently counted in his head without bothering to open his eyes, and he had nearly reached twenty when his blond roommate...significant other...whatever came barreling down the stairs from the upper floor of their shared condo.
"Hey! I was gonna use the pot! I need water for ramen! Sasuke! You know I always-" Whining and complaining, Naruto entered the kitchen like a hurricane, started opening and closing cabinets, rummaging through packages, and knocking shit over. Jeez, he really was like a big kid sometimes.
Sasuke just remained leaning against the counter, sure that Naruto's slow intellect would eventually catch up.
The blond turned on him and jabbed an accusing finger in Sasuke's face. "WHAT DID YOU DO WITH IT?!"
"What?"
"The last cup of ramen! I was saving that! Did you EAT IT?!"
"When have you ever seen me eat ramen in any form?" Sasuke rolled his eyes and glanced over at the countertop on the other side of the kitchen. Beside the stove sat the last cup of ramen, already half-open. The teapot began to whistle and spit drops of water and steam, and Sasuke shrugged and looked away from Naruto's astonished expression. "What? Make your damn ramen..."
Naruto stared at him just a few seconds longer before grabbing Sasuke up into a hug and spinning him around the kitchen. "You do love me!"
Before Sasuke knew what was happening, he was already planted firmly on the ground and Naruto's back was turned as he expertly prepared his treasured cup of morning noodles. His arms tingled with the imprint of Naruto's bear hug, the blond man's scent lingered around him, and Sasuke quietly allowed himself to acknowledge the stirrings of self-satisfaction. For all that he tried to keep his distance from other people, Naruto had made that nearly impossible, and today was one of those rare moments that the Uchiha could quietly thank whatever god might be listening for bringing him into his life.
Smiling faintly to himself, Sasuke crossed the small kitchen and wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist. He rested his chin on his lover's shoulder and whispered, "Happy Birthday."
[ . end ]