Neji woke with cold space in the bed beside him, and immediately felt disappointed. Naruto is away on a mission.
Knowing he wouldn't get back to sleep without Naruto there, Neji rose and prepared for the day, gathering his ninja tools for a training session with Tenten.
He made breakfast in the cosy kitchen he shared with Naruto but when Naruto was away the place felt so empty.
After the war, when life had been allowed to fall into a steadier rhythm, he and Naruto had moved in together. And once they had, Neji couldn't think why they hadn't done it sooner. Having Naruto around all the time felt right, being accessible, being united in all things domestic, all of it made him incredible happy. Their little apartment was the first place Neji had felt at home since he was four years old, and that was because he shared it with the person he loved most.
When Neji was away on missions, he didn't really have time to think about missing Naruto too much. He took his duty as shinobi very seriously and focussed all of his attention on whatever task the team was charged with completing because he respected his teammates, and owed them his undivided attention. However, when Naruto was away on a mission it was a completely different story, and Neji missed everything about Naruto. He missed his warmth, the burn of his chakra, his smiles, his kisses, but most of all he missed Naruto's energy, the way he brought everything around him to life. The world felt a very dull place without Naruto nearby.
He met Tenten at their preferred training ground, the one they'd been using since they were genin.
"Hi, Neji," Tenten greeted with a bright smile. She was his second favourite person in the world, and the one that made it bearable when Naruto was absent.
"Tenten," he nodded. "Shall we get started? "He was keen to dive into an intense training session immediately. Always accommodating, she agreed.
They trained all day until Neji's chakra was depleted to the point of collapse.
"I think that's enough," Tenten panted, exhausted too.
"One more," he said, but she just gave him a tired smile.
"I guess Naruto is away, huh?"
She knows me too well.
"Yes," he admitted.
"You two," she grinned. She teased him sometimes about his ardent devotion to Naruto, but she had always been his greatest supporter. They hadn't always been friends, having simply been comrades first, but that had changed after his battle with Naruto during the chunin exams, and the subsequent mission, which had taught him that the bonds between people really mattered. Another thing I have to thank Naruto for.
x
Neji was working in the kitchen when he felt a hot sensation like a dry summer wind brush against his skin.
Naruto's chakra…
Eager, he went to the door and pulled it open just as Naruto arrived at it.
Naruto gave him a grin which was enough to signal that the mission had been fine. They both moved at the same time, meeting in an open-mouthed kiss. Naruto's arms folded around him, pressing them together, so his body heat, his strength, his musky scent, all flooded Neji's senses until there was nothing left but desire for the man he loved.
The kiss quickly grew in intensity, and he was vaguely aware of things happening, the door being closed, Naruto's backpack falling to the floor, and then they were moving, still plastered together. As they kissed, the necessary articles of clothing came off, and Naruto sat back on the couch, Neji kneeling over his thighs. Naruto was ready for him, and Neji didn't make him wait, didn't want to wait any longer himself, so he sunk down, taking Naruto inside him.
Naruto made a satisfied sound and Neji echoed it, rolling his hips, still kissing Naruto hungrily. He wrapped his arms around Naruto's shoulders and clung to him, pressing them as close together as he could. Their physical joining always felt like an extension of what their souls knew. We belong together.
Having been deprived of each other, it didn't take long for them to finish, and when they were done Neji didn't loosen his grip just yet, in fact he never wanted to let Naruto go. He did however accept that Naruto would need other forms of nourishment.
He spoke now for the first time since Naruto's return home, offering something he knew Naruto couldn't resist.
"I'm making miso pork ramen."
Naruto grinned up at him, blue eyes sparkling.
"I knew there was a reason I love you."
Neji smiled back, always happy to hear those words, then caught Naruto's mouth in another hungry kiss.