Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Author's Notes: I have several really excellent excuses for my tardiness.
I went on vacation, school started and I'm taking two math classes, I've had writer's block out the whazoo, and have been tryign out this whole "responsibility" thing. So, yes, it took me a very long time to update. Yes, it may take me a while to update again, but the point is that I am updating.
Right?
Right?
Well, please enjoy.
oOo
"I can resist everything except temptation." -Oscar Wilde
oOo
Hinata hummed Hey, Soul Sister quietly as she chopped carrots for the salad, keeping an absentminded eye on the knife while she watched Naruto work. He was shoving a frozen lasagna in the oven above the frozen garlic bread, brow crinkled in deep concentration. His lips puckered as he tried to fit the pans around each other, and then he slammed the oven door shut when they were both in, as if one was going to jump out and try to eat him.
"Okay," he announced. "That's done."
"I'm almost finished with the salad," Hinata said. "What should we have for dessert?"
"Hmm…" he said, snaking his arms her waist and setting his head on her shoulder, bumping her cheek with his. His stubble itched. "I have an idea…"
She tapped him lightly on the head with a carrot, and grabbed the peeler. "I was thinking root beer floats."
"I was thinking whipped cream," Naruto said. His cheek was warm.
Hinata cleared her throat. "Maybe cake."
"Chocolate syrup," he said, and she could feel his lips twitch.
"Pie?" Hinata squeaked.
"Cherries?" She could feel a full-fledged grin on his face now, as his hands covered hers.
There was a split second where Hinata was actually considering cherries, and then she realized Naruto had grabbed her hand.
"Naruto! The knife!"
Naruto pulled away with a quick hiss, tightening his hand into a fist as he jumped to the sink. Blood dripped through his fingers and onto the floor. He slapped the faucet handle, and water ran pink into the steel sink.
"How bad is it?" Hinata asked, hovering next to his shoulder. His arm blocked the view of his hand.
"Oww," Naruto whined, trying to look pitiful and succeeding. "I think the freakin' thing sliced half my hand off."
"Oh my gosh!"
"I'm kidding, Hinata. It's tiny. I'll need a band-aid though. My Granny won't let have any 'exposed wounds' around the 'patient'. Will you go grab the first aid kit? It's in Sasuke's room, I think."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Hinata said, jumping at the chance to be helpful. "I'll be right back. Don't move."
"No worries!" he said with an easy grin. "It's hardly even bleeding anymore."
Hinata checked, and was surprised to see that the water was already running nearly clear. "Oh. Well… I'll be right back."
Hinata hurried down the hall to Sasuke's room, tapping her index fingers together in thought. She had been sure there had been too much blood for the tiny cut she had seen, much too much, unless he had somehow nicked a vein. But from what she had seen the cut was no more than an inch, and shallow to boot. There was no way it could have bled that much…
It was suspiciously quiet on the other side of Sasuke's door, but Hinata knocked anyway.
"Come in!" Sakura called.
"Hi, I just need the first… aid... kit… What are you doing?"
Sakura blinked at her innocently, holding Sasuke's hand steady as she applied another coat of red polish. "He fell asleep, I started digging through my purse… You know that I have very little impulse control."
"Hmm," Hinata said, struggling not to laugh. Oh but he deserved it. Hinata wasn't sure exactly what he had done to deserve it, but she was sure he did nonetheless. She examined the already painted hand critically. "I think he would benefit for another coat on this hand."
Sakura grinned wickedly. "That's why I love you. And the first aid kit is on the dresser."
"Thanks. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes."
"Excellent. He should be dry by then."
Hinata waited until she shut the door before she laughed, hurrying back to the kitchen. Naruto was there, just finishing sticking a Winnie the Pooh band-aid to his hand.
"I see you found some band-aids," Hinata said, setting the black first aid box down on the counter.
"Yup, I found some hiding in here," Naruto agreed. "And before you ask, the reason I have Winnie the Pooh band-aids is because me and Sasuke are engaged in an epic battle to see who can drive the other over the edge first."
"Sasuke and I," Hinata corrected automatically. "Is this epic battle something I should be wary of?"
"Well," he said, jumping onto the counter. "There's been a few times we've been looked at strangely for it."
"Like?" Hinata asked, jumping up beside him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head against his chest.
"I once painted the entire house pink," he admitted. "Sasuke once bought a black '69 Cadillac and destroyed it using a baseball bat to see if I would cry. I did. I changed out all his clothes for tight leather that he had to wear for a month. He destroyed my ramen stash and then convinced our supermarket not to sell any more for a week. You know, basic stuff."
"Uh-huh," Hinata said faintly. A, that's incredibly creative. B, the amount of money they use on stupid pranks is disgusting!
"Mmm…" Naruto said, snuggling her closer. "You smell good."
"Thank… you?" Hinata said, blushing.
"You're welcome." He sighed, leaning back against the cupboards. "…I'm hungry."
"I'm hungry too," Hinata admitted. "When's it supposed to be done?"
Naruto craned his neck and groaned. "Twenty minutes."
"A long time," Hinata agreed.
Naruto snuggled her even closer. "Whatever are we going to do to fill the time?"
Hinata smiled, tilting her face up, trying to force her blush down. "I—I might have an idea."
Naruto grinned, and Hinata couldn't help but notice that for the first time he seemed a little shy as he leaned down a little to kiss her.
She found she rather liked it.
Naruto's kiss was gentle and warm. Like sunshine, Hinata thought drowsily. Sparky sunshine.
She could still feel the same shocks on her skin, like when he had held her hand at laser tag or kissed her later that night. The shocks started wherever he touched her, his lips on hers, one large palm on her face and the other on her waist, her hands on his shoulders, radiating out from there.
Hinata pressed a little closer, and Naruto pulled her onto his lap, never breaking contact. His lips were molded to hers, and even breaks to breathe seemed to take too long.
oOo
After what seemed only a short time, she became distantly aware of a beeping noise. Constant, steady, beeping accompanied by a strange smell…
She pulled back with a yelp, nearly falling off the counter. "The food!"
Naruto swore, set her on the floor, and ran to the oven. He pulled on the oven mitts, ripped open the oven, and pulled out the food.
He was too late.
The food was inedible; Hinata could smell it as soon as he pulled it out. It wasn't burned to a crisp, but it was burned.
Naruto growled in frustration and slammed the oven shut, turned it off with a viscious jab. Hinata's stomach rumbled in despair.
"Sorry," she said. There didn't seem to be anything else to say.
Naruto shrugged, and then his smile was back. "No worries, I quite enjoyed the distraction."
Hinata restrained a giggle. Her head still seemed a little fuzzy.
"Anyway, I guess we can just go out to eat."
"Sasuke," Hinata reminded him, and Naruto made a face.
"Right. Okay. …I got it! Chili's sound good?"
"They have to go service," Hinata agreed, nodding. "Perfect! I'll go tell the others."
"And then you'll come with me?" Naruto asked, pouting.
Hinata kissed him without thinking about it, and pulled back before he could respond to enthusiastically. "Yes, I'll go with you. Now stay."
Naruto saluted her. "Whatever you say, Ma'am."
oOo
Author's Notes: Oh, the mush!
But at least it was hot mush, and not cold mush, which is not much mush at all.
Yeah.
Please review!