It has taken you a long time, but now you're where you're supposed to be.
Summer nights for the past year have always been the same— sitting on the small bench outside your porch, warm tea grasped lightly in your grip, cicadas chirping all around the land your house is built upon. You sit here every night for the past year since you moved here, and you close your eyes with the feeling of contentment that sits comfortably in your chest.
Being still isn't something you're familiar with. You're always moving; always doing something, going somewhere. Just like one of your summons, you're a hawk meant to hunt and explore and fly. You're not used to being stationary. You don't want to get used to it.
At least that's what you would've said maybe two years ago. Hell, even maybe last year.
But this year has taught you the beauty in stillness. In domesticity. To relish in the silence with only the sound of running water from your faucet as you wash your dishes, with only the sound of nature to accompany your nightly porch routine, and with the sound of someone else's breathing while you fall asleep.
With this thought, you feel yourself smile. Your sharp senses try to pick out that familiar breath you've been using as a lullaby for the past year. Behind you, inside the house your rough hands have built from scratch, you hear her. A small smile tugs at your lips and you finally open your lids.
She's humming a song, one that you don't recognize this time, but you will know later when she shares it with you. It's faint in the background but you slowly hear it getting closer to where you are. Just like it always does.
Summer nights for the past year have always been the same— turning your head to the sound of the back door opening, the smell of lavender and rose hitting your senses, and a warm body pressing beside you.
You look over and there she is. Pink-cheeked and glowing, there's an echo of a name that rings in your mind, body, and soul.
Sakura.
As if she hears you, she turns to you. Her green eyes peer at your face and she gently nudges you, "What are you thinking, Sasuke-kun?"
You, your heart supplies. You and this peace you've given to me.
You remember the day you asked her to go. To run away with him and live somewhere far where no war or fighting can reach you anymore. To leave everything you've ever known and discover a life you can build together. You remember the tearful goodbyes from her friends, the longing head pats from your teacher, and the emotional hugs from your blond brother. Even the small sliver of guilt that tried to make its way into your head— you remember them all.
But above all else, you remember the feeling of belongingness the moment she stepped foot into your new home.
So this is what it feels like, you thought of it back then. You think of it now as you stare at her face, eager to hear an answer to her inquiry as if she doesn't know just by looking at you. This is what it feels like to stay on the ground with you.
You raise your hand to tuck a stray strand of her pink hair behind her ear. You can see her shiver from the small contact and you can't help the simmering anticipation in your stomach at the sight. "Nothing much," you murmur. Your thumb briefly touches her chin, "I had a good day today."
Summer nights for the past year have always been the same… except for one, and that is your birthday. And today, you've been reminded once again how it feels to be loved by Sakura at her happiest.
She gently massages your scalp as you squeeze together inside the bathtub, making you close your eyes in bliss while she peppers small kisses across your shoulders. She makes you sit by the kitchen counter and stare at her back while she prepares your breakfast; the Uchiha symbol proudly etched on the shirt she's wearing which you later learn was yours. She takes you by the hand and guides you through the bustling crowd of the nearest civilian market, her pink hair bobbing as she goes from stall to stall, proudly telling anyone who talks to her it's her husband's birthday.
Now this, you're familiar with. The stares, the curiosity, the apprehension. But since you're within her orbit, Sakura's presence covers them all for you. She's too bright of a sun for you to bask in her warmth and be blanketed with it. No one can touch you now.
She links your fingers together as you stroll towards the Lead border. She keeps her gaze on yours even if she's bombarded with hugs and news she missed since she left once you enter the village gates. She keeps her distance but is still close enough to hear her sighs when you put flowers on your family grave, her mere proximity to you enough to push away past demons that linger in this place.
This you know. She's always been there for you— since she was a little girl fascinated with the broken boy that was you, since she was a teenage kunoichi dedicated to bringing you home, since she was the young woman you fell in love with and you're now making a future with.
Even during the darkest days you had away from them, she's always at the back of your mind. You've always wondered what would've happened if you didn't leave that night, or if you had taken her with you instead. Would it still be like this?
Would you still end up here, sitting with her at the back porch of your house, staring at her beautiful face?
Summer nights for the past year have been the same— pressing a tender kiss at the soft skin of the corner of her mouth, you earning a shy smile from her, and her slotting your lips together for a heartfelt kiss.
You're used to this. You live for this. You wake up every day to end the nights like this.
"I'm glad you did," she mumbles against you. You kiss her smile and she smiles even wider. "Happy birthday, Sasuke-kun."
The day is close to its end but you still have time to celebrate the best way you know how. You slowly stand up, mouth still attached to hers, and you savor the gasp she let out when she learns of how you want to commemorate this birthday. You push her until her back hits the door, which she immediately scrambled to open.
The rest is familiar. The rest is home. The rest is she and her ability to make you feel like you're where you're supposed to be. Because you are.
It has taken you a long time, but now you're where you're supposed to be.
At rest and at home, in the cradle of her arms, and that's where forever you'll be.
~fin~
a/n: happy birthday sasuke! i felt like this was a bit lackluster so sorry aaaaaaaa im getting so rusty jhafjnfkad forgive me!