Sakura dragged her feet up the stairs to her apartment complex, her shoulders slumped and her eyes heavy. She was exhausted. She worked twelve hours at the hospital today, it was supposed to be her day off as well. But for the medical program she was planning to apply to, she's required to have a minimum of two-hundred clinical hours, so she tells herself that she has to work as much as she can to ensure her acceptance in the future.
She marches up to her door, relief washing over her tired frame. That is until she can hear the yelling on the other side of her door, Naruto's loud voice can be heard shouting profanities. She sighs and leans against the door, her eyes close, and she takes a few minutes to prepare herself for any possible fight erupting between her two housemates on the inside.
Unbeknownst to the pink haired girl, his shouting was not at the other male resident, but the television screen.
"Sasuke! I can't fucking beat this guy!" He shouts, Naruto's eyes narrowed angrily at the screen, his fingers pressing aggressively against the buttons of the controller within his tight grasp.
"I don't care." Sasuke states from his position in the kitchen, currently waiting on his food to finish cooking.
"Aw come on Teme! Help me kick this guy's ass." Naruto pouts as the screen reads GAME OVER in bold red letters.
Sasuke stares, boredly, as Naruto tries once more to beat the current level of his game. His ears perk up when he hears keys jingle at the door. Sakura. He realizes who it is. She's finally home. Sasuke can't help the way his heart rate increases in anticipation. The door finally opens and he unconsciously holds his breath.
That pink mop of hair is the first thing his blue eyes notice, as she enters his view.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto yells, standing up straight and abandoning his game mid-battle.
He's excited to see her, he hasn't seen her in a few days since their schedules haven't been in sync. He basically runs over to her, hugging her tightly. Naruto feels the weak way in which she returns his gesture and it concerns him. Sakura always hugs him back with just as much force, she's always been strong for her size. He stands back slightly, hands on her shoulders as he examines her.
She's pushed herself again, Sasuke notes. He clenches his fist at his sides from where he stands in the kitchen. He's angry, but not particularly at her. No. He is rarely ever angry with Sakura. But he gets this way whenever she's worked herself to the point of nearly passing out. He can't help it.
Sakura relishes in the warmth Naruto provided in his embrace and wishes it didn't disappear when he pulled away. Her tired eyes look up to meet the concern plastered on Naruto's face. His hands make their way up to her face as he tilts her head back and examines her. The intensity of his bright blue eyes on her face, make her blush ever so slightly.
"I'm fine Naruto, really." She shrugs him off casually.
"Bullshit." Sasuke says, not too quietly.
He said that louder than he had intended, it was meant to be muttered under his breath and not heard by the pair.
Sasuke turned back to the rice and seasoned tomatoes he had been preparing, trying to avoid the gaze he felt on his back. He was still angry, he hated seeing her like this and he hated that she was too stubborn to listen to reason.
"Sasuke?" Sakura meekly called out as she made her way into the kitchen.
"You're not fine. You're overworked. Like always." Sasuke spat out through gritted teeth. He didn't want to be mad when talking with her, but he couldn't help the rising ball of anger swirling in his chest.
He tried to avoid staring at her, but from his peripheral vision he could see the large purple bags under her dull eyes, the paleness of her face, and the fatigue radiating from her posture. It only made his feelings worse.
Naruto made his way back to the couch, he picked up his forgotten controller but didn't resume play. He watched as Sakura sauntered into the kitchen to comfort Sasuke. Naruto watched with jealousy as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and he couldn't help but notice the way every ounce of tension left his body the second contact was made.
"Have you eaten today?" Sasuke asked, taking note of the quick flash of surprise that grazed her features.
"I ate onigiri for lunch." Sakura smiled at him.
"Tch. Sit down." He scoffed. When was her lunch? He questioned. Six hours ago? Maybe more?
He knows she didn't eat enough on her shifts so he'll make her eat now.
"What?" Sakura stood there confused. She didn't understand why Sasuke seemed so upset. But she wanted to do her best to help fix it.
"Sit." Sasuke repeats, gesturing to the dining table.
"Sasuke I-" she begins.
"Sit." He states firmly, giving her a firm look.
Sakura shuts her mouth abruptly and makes her way to the table. She watches as Sasuke works over the stove top, continuing to prepare his meal. She likes the way he moves so gracefully in the kitchen, like everything he does is so fluid and poised.
Naruto watches as Sakura stares at Sasuke so adoringly. He can't help but wonder if she's ever looked at him in such a way. He'd give anything to get the same looks that Sasuke receives. Uncomfortable, sitting there alone no longer interested in his games, Naruto turns off everything and decides that he too will eat. He gives Sakura a small smile as he makes his way through the kitchen. He pulls out a cup of instant ramen from the cupboard and begins to prepare it.
Sasuke feels irritated the second Naruto comes into the kitchen. Naruto always makes his way into the picture when it's just him and Sakura. There can never be a moment with just the two of them, without the dobe interfering.
He continues to make both bowls and when they're finished he sets one down before Sakura and sits down beside her.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." Sakura smiles at the dark-haired man. She knows he cares for her well-being and he shows that through his actions no matter how small. Her eyes trail to Naruto as he prepares his meal, she can't help but think about how, unlike Sasuke, Naruto expresses how much he cares about her through his words.
Silence floods the table, even when Naruto joins. Sakura senses some tension between the two males. Neither of them have looked up from their food the whole time. She can't help but wonder if they were fighting before she came home and what it could be about. When they give each other the silent treatment, it usually blows over in a day or two. They typically use football practice as an outlet for their anger on one another.
Sakura stands when she finishes eating, she reaches for Sasuke's empty bowl in an attempt to start cleaning the dishes.
"Don't even think about it." Sasuke says, his eyes closed as his chin rests on his clasped hands. There was no way in hell he was letting her clean up his mess when her energy was already depleted.
"Sasuke-kun, it's fine. You did the cooking, so as a thank you I should clean the kitchen." She tried to reason as she made her way to the sink.
"The only thing you should be doing is going to bed." Sasuke stands and grabs the dishes from her thin hands. Sasuke would stand firm on the issue, she didn't need to exert any more of her energy after a long day of working.
"Sasuke-" she was about to interject with the rolling of her eyes.
"Teme's right Sakura-chan. You need to rest, you've had a long day and you have work tomorrow again, right?" Naruto said from his place at the table.
He was just as concerned as Sasuke, if not more. He, too, hates when she's worked to the bone. But she puts it on herself. Naruto admires her strong work ethic and her determination, but he hates the toll it takes on her. She'll stop at nothing to reach her goals, he knows this, so he takes it on himself to support her. Not get angry with her.
Sakura sighs. They always do this. She understands that they are just worried for her, but they don't need to be. She's fine. Her work is nothing she can't handle, besides it's preparing her for her future as a doctor. But she doesn't want to fight them.
"Okay" she sighs in defeat. "I'm going to take a shower."
Sakura wants nothing more than to crawl into her bed and let slumber take over, but she was dirty and should get cleaned up.
Sasuke watches her sulk on her way to her room. He knows she hates arguing with either of them, he knows she hates it even more when they team up against her. But he can't help the smug smile that graces his face. He won this small victory. She needs the rest and she finally accepted it.
Sasuke looks at Naruto, who's watching him with a gaze he can't quite place.
Sasuke nods to him before turning to clean the kitchen, it's a small acknowledgement of the support Naruto had provided in this struggle against Sakura's stubborn nature.
Naruto understood Sasuke's gesture, he was happy that they could convince her to relax for a change. Naruto stood and made his way to his bedroom, but not before pausing at the kitchen entrance. His back was to Sasuke, not daring to meet his eyes as he spoke.
"I care about her too, Sasuke, don't forget that. I love her too." Naruto said firmly before continuing his leave.
Sasuke didn't turn, didn't pause from his chores. How could he ever forget? Though their feelings were left unshared, they both knew. Neither could they forget. They both cared enough for one another and their pink haired housemate that they would never act on their feelings. They couldn't. It was their unspoken rule.
"I know." Sasuke said to himself. He's always known. He sighed and finally turned around the second he heard the door to their shared bedroom close.
