(no subject)
Request story for:
That’s why it’s called a crush
By: Lazuli
G
Naruto does not belong to me! This was a request fic for lukita who wanted the boys to confess to Sakura, and have her reactions to it. Not the typical banshee Sakura, or the all knowing Sakura-so I hope this fits the request! Enjoy.
“We’re going to have to tell her.” Surprisingly, it was Naruto who suggested this. “It’s not fair to her. I could care less about the rest of your fan girls, but Sakura was our teammate for a long time.”
Sasuke nodded in agreement-it would be best to tell Sakura now than later. She deserved more than that, she at least needed to know. She always had high hopes around Sasuke, but they both needed to explain to her the situation of how he and Naruto cared for each other. Not that they figured it out very long ago themselves-but it was best to have it out right away.
Sasuke saw the look on Naruto’s face-even when he was suggesting this, he still looked a little sad. He wondered if it was because he lost all hopes of being with Sakura, or if he felt bad over what he was going to tell her. “Look, dobe-if you’re feeling guilty about us being together…” He let his voice trail off, eyes narrowed. His expression spoke volumes. If you’re feeling guilty, then maybe you’re not ready.
Naruto shook his head, blue eyes bright and focused on Sasuke. “It’s not that!” he assured him, “It’s just...well, she really likes you, Sasuke.” He paused and grinned for a moment. “Not that I don’t…” A blush from Sasuke. “But she’s realized it for a lot longer and well, she’s a girl and girls cry and scream over stuff like that.”
Sasuke sighed at that, but he knew that Naruto never wanted to see Sakura cry-and him be the cause of it. He nearly beat Sasuke one day, because Sasuke made her cry. Sasuke hadn’t realized his feelings for Naruto at that point and never had any for Sakura; but he didn’t react the same way he always did to Naruto’s challenges. Usually he was impassive and sure of himself, but this time he got angry-and his reactions were dulled by that anger. Thus Naruto almost beating him. While he recovered at home, he questioned what bothered him so much and came up with some startling conclusions.
“Fine.” He said shortly. “Let’s get this over with-but if she cries, Naruto-it’s as much my fault as it is yours, and you shouldn’t let her tears stop you from you want to do.” Dark eyes challenged blue. “Or am I mistaken in what you want?”
Naruto smiled and smacked Sasuke upside the head, in his usual gesture of affection. “No, you’re not mistaken, bastard.” He said, eyes never moving away from Sasuke’s, even when the boy scowled at him for the clip upside the head. He leaned his head against Sasuke’s, sighing softly. “I just hope that she takes it well. I don’t want to lose a friend just because I found someone I love.”
~
They were no longer part of a team, but they still met up with each other-Sakura still looking at Sasuke with worshipping eyes, but it had lessened since their childhood days. It seemed to even out, the feelings tempered and more real-which was what Naruto felt guilty about. He wasn’t about to give up Sasuke, not even to Sakura to make her smile-but he was crushing someone’s dream, a person that he cared a great deal about, even if it wasn’t in the romantic sense anymore.
“Sakura-chan…” Naruto’s voice trailed off uncertainly. Her gaze switched from Sasuke to him, and there was none of the old disdain there, just a simple curiosity that he tracked her down. “Um…did you want to go eat dinner with me?” He saw the refusal before it happened, and dangled the bait. “Sasuke will be there, too.”
Her eyes immediately brightened and Naruto felt like kicking himself for making the situation worse. It wasn’t like he said that Sasuke would be waiting for her or anything, but he wasn’t admitting anything upfront, either. You’re a chicken, Uzumaki. He berated himself. You just don’t want to say anything unless Sasuke is there to back you up. You’re afraid she’ll either beat the crap out of you, or go running to Sasuke to have him deny it. And as much as he wanted to tease Sasuke about being unsure about their relationship, Naruto was more unsure.
The dinner felt like an apology all on it’s own-a sort of consolation prize for what they were about to tell her, but Naruto pushed that to the back of his mind. There is nothing to apologize for. He told himself firmly. But it didn’t stop the guilt from gnawing away from him as he led her to the restaurant that Sasuke had picked out for the night’s confessions.
Sasuke rose from the table when the two arrived together, a single eyebrow rising in question to Naruto’s look. “I thought it could wait.” Naruto said quickly. “Might as well enjoy dinner.” Sakura looked at first looked confused at the exchange, then slightly worried.
“Is there something that you needed to tell us, Naruto?” She asked, settling in her seat. “You’ve been twitchy all evening, but you haven’t fought with Sasuke yet. Not even any name-calling.” Worried green eyes searched his. “Not that I’m not happy that you’re actually getting along for once….”
Naruto coughed and a faint blush was on his cheeks, but Sasuke was as impassive as ever. “We have grown up in the past few years, Sakura.” He said simply. “Even if the dobe doesn’t act like it most to the time, he’s gotten a bit more level-headed.”
Sakura didn’t seem all the convinced, and throughout the dinner she kept on sneaking glances at Sasuke and Naruto, wondering what was going on. She didn’t like secrets being kept from her, and the normal, every-day conversation seemed almost rehearsed and stilted. By the time desert came, she had enough.
“What is going on?” She demanded, pinning Naruto with her glare first, and while her look wasn’t as strong, the glare switched to Sasuke as well. “You’re both up to something-if this is about some promotion or mission, it’s not like I’m going to get hurt by it. You both have the tendency to jump ranks and missions at the drop of a hat. I’m used to it by now.”
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look. They were actually considering a new mission, but that was hardly relevant to the conversation, but Naruto couldn’t help but grin and distract her a little. “You know that I won’t stop jumping rank until I make it to Hokage.” Sasuke poked him in the side and glared at him for trying to deviate from the matter at hand.
Naruto cleared his throat and poked at the daifuku on his plate. “Um… yeah… about that news…” His throat tightened and he looked at Sasuke, unsure of how to even begin something like that.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. “What the idiot is trying to say is that we’re partners, Sakura.” When she opened her mouth to question exactly what he meant-because it was clear by his tone he didn’t mean in exactly the shinobi-mission sense-he forestalled her by holding up a hand. “You’re an observant girl, Sakura; I think you know what I mean.”
Naruto shot Sasuke a look for being so callous about it, and Sasuke returned the look, clearly stating that Naruto didn’t seem to be having much luck. Sakura’s eyes were wide with shock at the way Sasuke phrased it, and she shook her head in denial. “But that…you’re not like that, Sasuke-kun…” Her voice was soft as she turned pleading eyes on him, begging him silently to contradict her thoughts.
“You don’t know what he’s like.” Naruto muttered. “You don’t really know anything about him at all.” The look she was giving Sasuke was about on par what she normally gave him, but the tone and the words she used…”We’re together.” He could be as blunt as Sasuke when he wanted to be, and use just as few words.
Sakura swallowed harshly and looked at the two of them, scrutinizing as if she could see it in their faces or the way they sat next to each other. There had to be some type of clue-but there wasn’t any difference in the way they acted than before. The same way they always seemed to be aware of each other…her own thoughts trailed off as she voiced her worry with a squeak. “Just how long have you been together?”
Naruto flushed at the implications. “Not that long.” He muttered. “Just… just a week ago.” He couldn’t tell her any sooner, because he wasn’t certain that it wasn’t a joke until just recently, and any later would have been…unfair to her…cruel, even. “I…” Sasuke elbowed him again, cutting off any apology that might have come forth and picking up the thread of conversation.
“We are not asking fore your acceptance, denial, hatred or anything else. We simply felt that it was right for you to be told. To let you go onto other…prospects.” He knew it sounded faintly arrogant and didn’t care-because he knew very well that Sakura hadn’t made a move on any other guy in town, even when the rest of his ‘fan club’ and moved onto more accessible pastures.
Sakura’s lip trembled and one hand fisted underneath the table. She didn’t know what to think. Her crush…the one she loved-was in love with the one person that she never expected. How did the one that everyone love and have high hopes for-fall for Naruto of all people? Not that she didn’t like Naruto in her own way, but…”There had to be some type of clue.” She barely recognized her voice, dimly surprised that it was steady and didn’t tremble. “You don’t just fall in love one day!”
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “Maybe not love.” He said mildly. “But like I have said, Sakura-you are observant when you want to be.” He glanced over at Naruto, a faint smile on his face, one that shocked Sakura out of all proportion and made her realize that maybe…just maybe…Sasuke and Naruto were telling the truth. It wasn’t as if they’d trick her with something like that-Sasuke wasn’t the type to make jokes and even Naruto wouldn’t go so far as that. He’d like her, once…
“Wait a minute, Naruto!” She slammed her fists on the table for emphasis and stared at the startled blond. “You liked me.” She was oddly hurt that he would switch his preferences so quickly, and a little disturbed as well. Not that he liked guys-it wasn’t that big of a deal, but that she apparently got pushed aside without any warning. When had Naruto stopped chasing after her? “Was that all just a ruse so I wouldn’t know you liked Sasuke, too?”
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, vaguely uncomfortable at the first statement, and then straightened up with vehement denial. “No!” He all but shouted. “I really did like you, Sakura-chan. I didn’t know about Sasuke for a long time. I just knew that…” His cheeks tinted red. “He was my friend.” He whispered. “He was my only friend at the time.”
Sakura deflated at that, eyes widening. She wasn’t dumb; she could see things that others couldn’t at times, but this-“Naruto…” Her voice softened and slid into something more understanding. “I…I think I see now.” Her smile was still pained and she knew the shock of the news hadn’t worn off yet-later tonight, when she was alone, the significance of it all would hit her. But for now, she saw how the small smile Naruto wore was much more real than his wide grins.
She stood up with difficulty, hands shaking only slightly. “I…I think that I’m happy for you.” Sasuke’s brow rose at the ‘think’ part, but he nodded in acceptance of her honesty. “I mean…” She broke off, flushing slightly. “I know that it’s good for you, and… and…” She swallowed and tried to suppress the tears at a childhood dream broken and scattered around her, the pieces given away to someone else. “Give me some time?” She asked. “I’m not going to get angry or anything… I mean…” Now a more real smile, although it trembled on the edge between tears and laughter. “When the rest of the girls find out, then there might be a problem, for both Naruto and Sasuke’s fan club.” She ignored the surprised look Naruto gave her. “At least I should have seen it coming. When I look back, it’ll have been so obvious…”
Naruto bit his look, still looking uncertain and half reaching out to her, but Sasuke’s hand on his arm stilled him. “That’s fine, Sakura.” His voice was quiet, reserved as always. Not many words from him, not ever-but they were directed towards her, and something in his eyes, something his mind wouldn’t allow his mouth to speak out loud-spoke of the real regret at hurting her in this way.
She nodded, bowing quickly and then giving them both a smile before turning away. She needed to get away, needed to cry for what could-have-been and would-never-be. It time, it would hurt less-but then, that’s why it was called a ‘crush.’ Painful in that same way, and just as hard to fix.
~
“She…she didn’t hit me or yell at me…” Naruto’s voice broke the quiet as they left the restaurant several minutes after Sakura did. “And she didn’t cry-but she was still hurt.” That earned him an annoyed look from Sasuke.
“Of course she was hurt, you dimwit. You knew that she would be. The same thing is going to happen to Hinata when we tell her.” When Naruto blinked in confusion over that one, Sasuke gave an aggravated sigh. “You moron. You notice every girl panting after me, but you don’t notice a single one that likes you?”
Naruto bristled and crossed his arms over his chest, frowning at that. “No.” He bit out. “It was more obvious with you. Girls didn’t start liking me until just recently. It’s not something I’ve really had time to think about.”
“Hinata has liked you since we were gennin-and possibly before that, idiot.” The insult wasn’t as harsh as it could be and Naruto looked up at him in surprise. “Forget it-it’s over your head anyways.” He smirked. “Both literally and figuratively.”
Naruto gave an outraged howl and launched himself at Sasuke, who only gave a short laugh as he dodged Naruto’s ineffective punches. “C’mon, dobe-let’s get away from everyone staring at us. There’ll be enough talk soon enough.”
Naruto stopped in mid punch and smiled up at Sasuke. The hard part was over-now it was just dealing with the rest of trials that would come with being together. And he hoped that Sakura would be a supportive presence in whatever followed.