title: Born to Be Three
prompt: SASUSAKU MONTH 2015
rating: K-M

summary: o28: Sakura likes to get away from the world once in a while. Unfortunately, Sasuke makes that impossible for her.

dedicated to: my baes on tumblr - i love you all!

NOTE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MONTH: I wanted to add Sarada in many of these prompts, because she's a part of this beautiful family too /sobs forever at my babies having babies/ but sometimes I either couldn't find a way to fit her in and, to be honest, I have little experience writing about her! Hopefully that will change

.o28.

Through the Wardrobe

.

Sakura likes to get away from the world once in a while. Unfortunately, Sasuke makes that impossible for her.

.

It is her place away from the bumbling nonsense of the real world. Though the space is small, Sakura manages to find enough room to lean her back against the dark cherry wood and tickle the other side of the wardrobe with her toes. She breathes in its rustic scent, and opens half a door panel—just a bit!—to let in some light.

Sometimes she reads. The lack of proper lighting makes it hard, especially in the evening, but Sakura wages through the hindrance. Other times, she writes in her diary—the silence surrounding her, interrupted only by the scratching of a near-empty fountain pen and lousy paper—about the thoughts circling her mind or the events of the day.

But mostly, she sits there and just bathes in the serenity of peace. Everything is perfect, alone in this wardrobe.

Then, one day, her haven as she knew it, crumbles into disaster.

"What are you even doing here?" Sasuke asks. He peers through the small crack of the panel opening, her light hole, and Sakura screams from surprise. Sasuke, equally shocked by her outburst, falls back a couple steps and onto the floor.

"Hey!" she shouts. "What gives you the right to come here? This is my place!"

"Why are you even in there?" Sasuke mutters. "Are you trying to avoid someone?"

Sakura scoffs, and steps out of the wardrobe. She stretches her body out, arms reaching for the sky. Her shirt lifts up just the slightest to give Sasuke a nice view of her flat stomach, and he nods in appreciation. Sakura doesn't notice.

"I'm always here. This is my sacred area." She points to the spot in which she sat moments before. "How about you? Why are you here?"

"Look," Sasuke growls. "The teachers have been wondering where you've been going during your free time, since you're never in the library or study halls. As President of the student council, it's been my unfortunate duty to search the whole campus for your whereabouts. I've had to scour through every room, some which I didn't know existed, and even the rooftop and girls' bathrooms." Sasuke shakes his head, as if to forget the horrors of those incidents. "And now I've found you. Hiding in a fuckin' wardrobe like a kid."

Sakura crosses her arms. "You didn't have to look for me, you know, President." She bites the words with sarcasm and notes the irritation spreading across Sasuke's face. "Why do you care so much?"

"I—" he begins, an angry finger pointing at her chest.

They hear a fierce knock on the door. "Hey, is someone in there?"

Both of them stiffen. The knock repeats, and they recognize the voice as one of the stricter senseis—Iruka.

"Fuck, if he catches me, I'll get my position revoked," Sasuke growls. "I can't lose this."

Sakura rolls her eyes and takes Sasuke by the wrist. She pries the wardrobe doors open and forces him in there, ignoring the fact that another being had just desecrated her holy spot.

"What the—Sakura, I can't go in there—"

The doorknob starts to rattle, and both of them know they have no time to waste. Sasuke fits himself against the wall, knees curled to his chest. His limbs are too long to stretch comfortably. Sakura jumps in and eases the panels closed, leaving them blanketed in darkness.

She eases her way between Sasuke's legs, much to his embarrassment.

"Look," she growls. "I can't move to the other side without getting noticed. So just deal with this for a bit, alright?"

Sasuke doesn't reply, but he believes the rapid thumps of his heart are enough to signal to Sakura that he can deal with it—just not calmly. She blames it on the fear of getting caught. Sasuke thinks it's because of another reason entirely.

"You know," he whispers. "Besides the tight fit, I can see why you like it so much." He inhales. "Smells funny, though."

Sakura jabs his stomach. "Take that back!"

"Shh," he warns, smirking. They huddle together, so close that Sakura can feel his breath against her ear, while the scent of her floral shampoo wafts into his nostrils. She smells nice.

There are no more knocks at the door, and Iruka's presence signals its disappearance when his footsteps become lighter and fainter. He is gone.

Sakura sighs in relief. "Thank God," she cries out. She pries herself out of Sasuke's lanky limbs, and pushes open the door panel—only, it doesn't budge.

"You've got to be kidding me," Sakura breathes. She pushes harder, but nothing budges. Sasuke tries it himself, but even with his strength, the panel stays shut. Sakura realizes now that the place she cherishes so much, the place where she could escape to, has turned into hell.

"Are you telling me we're stuck here?" Sasuke growls. "Sakura, I have work to do. As President of the—"

"Fuck off," she snaps. "You're the reason we're in here in the first place."

"Me? You're the one—"

"I think I heard something!" Iruka shouts. Two sets of footsteps rush back to towards the door. Sasuke grabs Sakura and pulls her into an accidental embrace. They stay silent.

Sasuke's arms are warm around her. They're built of athleticism and yet exude protection. She feels safe.

And though Sakura doesn't notice (thankfully!), Sasuke, with his forearms brushing against the curves of her chest, feels an unfamiliar excitement that torments him for the rest of the time they cling together.

He secretly hopes it'll be a while before they get out.

updates come regularly on tumblr for each day. I'm lazy at uploading on ff, but rest assured everything will be up by the end of this month. XD

note: chapter 12, white flag, has been replaced :)