Date: 6/3/13
Rating: T
Genre: Angst, Drama, Romance
Prompt: Sasuke wakes up on Sakura's lap hours after the war. She cradles his face as she talks to him, thinking he can't hear her, and she confesses once again. He replies back to her; Sasuke style.

***GOD I LOVED THIS ONE. I also based this one off of "The Writer" by Ellie Goulding

He was in that stage of consciousness—not quite awake, not quite asleep—his mind slowly rising from the depths of oblivion. He couldn't remember what he dreamt about, he never did, but for the first time in months he felt rested, tranquil, at peace. Is this, he wondered, what the end feels like?

But Sasuke knew it wasn't the end, not really, not yet. The haze of sleep was lifting rapidly now, his senses made more cognizant. Things seemed more real, more tangible. And yet, Sasuke's eyes remained closed, unwilling to face the aftermath of battle—because for once no one was bothering him, no one wanted anything from him. Just for this moment, Sasuke allowed himself to bask in obscurity: nameless and carefree.

He shifted into a slightly more comfortable position, realizing his head was propped on something soft, a pleasant contrast from the hard ground the rest of his body was lying on. A hand brushed his bangs away from his face, the fingers continuing to comb through his mussed hair. Although unaccustomed to such tenderness, the motion was gentle, reminiscent of his youth, and suddenly he wasn't so nameless anymore. Instead, he was Sasuke Uchiha of another time, sitting on his mother's lap, whispering his troubles, his wishes, his dreams into a shoulder she was always willing to give.

And while Sasuke knew better he didn't dare open his eyes, reluctant to break the illusion. Just give me this. Please.

But the hand stopped, moving to caress his face—lightly, timidly—the touch transforming from one evoking maternal warmth into something more intimate. Yet, the transition felt natural, almost imperceptible.

"Where to begin. Where to begin," he heard the voice say, breaking the silence, breaking the illusion, breaking the anonymity. Once again, he was Sasuke, and she was Sakura.

She sighed, her breath lightly tickling his face. "Sasuke-kun, you," she said, her hand stopping where his jaw met his cheek, "are an idiot."

His breath hitched, unprepared for her blatancy, alerting Sakura that something wasn't quite right. Sasuke felt her hand tense before she removed it from his face, taking away her warmth along with it. Nervously, she said his name. Pause. He heard her swallow and say his name again, but he didn't respond, slowing his breathing to resume the semblance of sleep.

Sakura smacked her lips, doubtful; he knew she was staring at him, but he refused to break his guise. She sighed again. Relief. However, her hand didn't return to his face as Sasuke expected.

Instead, he felt her place the tip of her forefinger on his forehead. "You're stubborn," she said, as she moved her finger slightly downwards as if to smooth the creases of his frown lines. "You're easily angered." Gliding down the bridge of his nose, Sasuke felt her finger trace two lines where his laugh lines should have been; he could practically hear the eye roll in her voice. "And it wouldn't kill you to smile once in a while, you know."

She chuckled, proceeding to trace the rest of the contours of his face, her fingers trying to remember what her eyes already knew. Sakura became the artist, and he was her canvas.

"But," she said, the lightness in her voice gone, "if you're an idiot, then I'm a coward." She paused. "Because I worry." Her finger made three horizontal lines across his forehead. "Because I wait." Her touch traced his tear troughs, stopping beneath his left eye before travelling down his cheek. "I wait until you're leaving. I wait until your back is turned. I wait until you're asleep." She cupped his face again. "Because I'm too afraid to let go. Because I can't." Inhale. "Because I love you, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke felt his heart clench. He was sure he gasped, but Sakura didn't seem to notice this time. Rather, her body stiffened, willing herself to keep it together for a few more minutes.

"But you," he heard her say, forcing herself to continue before the tears fell, her hand slowly travelling down his face, down his neck, stopping above his chest, "you've always been brave."

She laughed blithely. "And, despite everything I've said, I don't want you to change, Sasuke-kun," she said quietly, "Because it isn't love if someone has to change, is it?"

There were only a few millimeters between her hand and his chest, but Sasuke couldn't understand how she didn't notice how fast his heart was beating—pounding. There were only a few millimeters between her hand and his chest, and he already missed the contact.

"Maybe it's about time I be brave, too," she continued. She laughed again. "But for now, I'll continue to play the role as the coward a little bit longer."

"Don't."

Sakura gasped. "S-Sasuke-kun?

His eyes were still closed, but Sasuke grabbed her hand before she could take it back, holding it tightly, savoring the resumed contact before he opened his eyes.

"Be brave."