[Closed]

[sucker_punches]

Who: Naruto Uzumaki (couragetodare), Sakura Haruno (sucker_punches), and Sasuke Uchiha (earned_my_eyes).
When: March 28th.
Where: Team 7's apartment.
Format: Action.
What: Naruto remembered Sakura's birthday. Sasuke didn't. Whoops!
Warnings: N-none? Angst, maybe. I feel like I should default warn for violence when Sakura's involved :/

Comments

[earned_my_eyes]

[As long as it was just in regards to cake, he could accept being predictable. In fact, he couldn’t really argue; he was predictable and regimented when it came to his eating habits and preferences. And while he didn’t mind trying new things, he knew what he liked, knew what he didn’t, and he didn’t see much need to disrupt the pattern already devised across his palate.

[So, Naruto was met with a snort and a roll of his eyes, but little argument. Ideally, Sasuke was quiet as he watched the blonde attempting to get the cake onto the plate, and while he was about to snap out to just let him do it so they wouldn’t be here all day, Naruto succeeded. Taking the offered plate, he stared at it for a moment, then turned it to see the lines where frosting had been scraped free, the grooves dimpling the moist fluff of cake.

[Tomato cake. Who would have guessed. If he ate half, he thought he might give the remainder to Itachi as appreciation for sitting with him. Not that Itachi would have been anywhere else, he was quite certain, but still…]

Show me the bakery. [When he was up and around, at least, but that went without saying.

[At the mention of weeks in the making, Sasuke raised an eyebrow and smirked. Ahh, but he couldn’t pass up a chance to make fun of Naruto, not even on the best of days. At least his voice still avoided the hard edge it often carried like a weapon, and was softer by a fraction, a fact probably only noticeable to them.]

You kept a secret? Impressive.

[He dared not to look at Sakura; he had a feeling only a warning glare from her would be waiting. But still, hearing Naruto saying these things with such earnest truth, he looked down to his cake silently. Happy she was born. He supposed he was, too, even if it made things more complicated, even if it made things…difficult. They both had pushed him. They both, for a time, shaped him, even if he did everything he could to break the mold. He wouldn’t be where he was today without them.

[He couldn’t answer though, couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, not looking up from the cake, he muttered.]

I hope you don’t expect us to eat this with our fingers.

[sucker_punches]

[A few weeks. She could have guessed. She should have anticipated this, really, and maybe she did before the attack. The thing about winding up in life-threatening situations is, they tend to re-organize and re-prioritize lives. For the one attacked (she hates to think of herself as a victim, and Sasuke probably does too) and those around them. Sakura had honestly forgotten, and when she remembered, she expected things like this to slide.

But it didn't, because Naruto is glad she was born and she blushes, just slightly, when he tells her so. She's still not sure what to do with his often naked admiration for her; it often leaves her wondering what precisely she did to bring it on. She handles it by deflecting the discomfort into teasing.]

You'll have to thank my parents for that.

[The being born part. There are others to be thanked for allowing her to reach seventeen, especially in their profession.

She does, in fact, shoot Sasuke a look, a warning not to push it, and is annoyed to find he isn't even looking at her. Typical. She barely refrains from elbowing him to drive home the point, but he is still injured.]

I think it's nice. [Pointedly, to Sasuke. She softens when she addresses Naruto, and isn't that a reversal from when they were younger? Sakura's grown, and time changes many things.] It's perfect.

[People might think she's crazy to say so, but those people don't know them. Don't understand Team Seven's dynamics. They couldn't possibly, could they? Their opinion wouldn't count for anything, not to her.

Sasuke does have a point about the lack of utensils, though. She stretches up, looking over the table.]

Are there forks...?

[couragetodare]

[Naruto just eyes Sasuke a little upon that demand. Show him the bakery. It wasn't exactly something they made unless... requested. Naruto had just blurted it out one day 'do you make tomato cakes?!' in a sort of desperate bid to find something cake-ish that Sasuke would eat. The lady behind the counter had told him she would see what she could do. He had come back a week later to find that, indeed such things did exist. Or at least, in Anatole they did. So he sort of, eyes Sasuke up and eventually gives him a little nod. ] Later.

[When you can walk, he does not add. Then, he pauses. Just for a moment- half a heartbeat really- but he does go perfectly still. You kept a secret. He should snort, should scoff, should protest loudly and grin because this is how it goes (how they work).]

You'd be surprised.

[--- it's not necessarily supposed to come out. And it's not necessarily supposed to have a haunted edge to it but it does and Naruto is angry then, with himself and this and everything, for slipping and slipping, and what the hell are you doing Uzumaki? Get a fucking grip. Which is why he snorts after it and waves Sasuke off.] Oi, oi! I can too keep a secret! [But it just sounds wrong now and forced after that and he huffs out a breath, abandons the subject rather suddenly because he has too many secrets, maybe they all have too many secrets and maybe it's best they not go there.

Yes, best they not go there. Other things are safer. Things like smiling as Sakura, soft, playful and telling her:]

Maybe I will, soon.

[That he will show up at her parents doorstep, offer them a respectful bow and tell them their daughter is a wonderful person and that he is thankful they got busy conceiving her in the first place. ... the thing is. he is half serious when he says this. And after it follows other things but he thinks maybe it is too soon to even go there too. Watches how Sakura... isn't as harsh now- maybe it's the cake? Watches how Sasuke won't look at her - almost laughs there- watches how she shoots him a look. And... maybe it's not too soon.

But he doesn't know.] Thank you.

[Instead. And instead of answering them, for a moment he does grin then. It could be classed in a single word as 'vulpine'. A little teasing, a little cunning. Mostly teasing though.]

Weeell! [The grin grows.] I was thinking Sakura could feed you your cake! [Naruto does in fact have forks, but he still has to suggest it.] I mean it's her birthday an' all and... maybe I could feed Sakura her cake then and-- or we could do it the other way 'round... [He trails off, looking both hopeful and devious. Which is a pretty odd combination when you think about it.]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Sasuke found himself pleased at the consent to be shown the bakery. Of course, if he didn't like the cake then it would be unnecessary, but that was hardly the most important thing about the excursion. He might let it go, just to talk to him away from her, away from the apartment. Perhaps to find out what was eating him.

[So, he didn't respond, instead listening to the banter about keeping secrets, about being surprised. Would he, now? Maybe; Sasuke couldn't write it completely off anymore. After all, he remembered the muted shock at finding out the Kyuubi was nestled inside his rival, just the sheer power of it. Naruto did, even to this day. have a way of surprising him.]

Perhaps.

[He mused the word, then narrowed his eyes at the follow up, a bit too excited. His lips thinned. Definitely walking to the bakery, even if the tomato cake was wretched. They needed to talk.

[Sasuke snorted. He wasn't put off by the "Thank my parents"; it was the same with all of them (some more than others), and it struck him that she was the only one with living immediate family members. He tilted his head, looking from her to Naruto, and back to her before the cake again.

[Family. He thought Naruto might just go and thank her parents, and the thought almost amused him, if only because he could imagine the look on their faces. Would they throw him away from their property, this jinchuuriki? And what about him, a missing nin? You keep strange company, Sakura. Your family might disown you.

[But he can't argue that it IS nice, this day, that these things are going well, that even the weather can't be argued. He nods in agreement, his own appreciation though the words won't pass his lips. Of course, that's all washed away as his head snaps up at the suggestion of feeding one another, his eyes widening.]

We're not five-year-olds and we're not animals. They made utensils for a reason.

[He bites back the word "idiot", another unspoken sign of his appreciation for the day. However, his cheeks are the barest shades of pink even as he scowls. Feed each other? That's just... ridiculous! And needlessly messy!]

[sucker_punches]

[Does Naruto think he can hide that correction from them, the people who know him best? She wonders. Because she notices the substitution, the trade of the 'wrong' reaction for the 'right' reaction, and she doesn't think Sasuke missed it either. She says nothing because if Naruto wants to ignore the subject she can do that for now, but not permanently.

Later, Sasuke told her. Later, Naruto told Sasuke. Later, she promises to herself, and she knows that they're putting off touching upon uncomfortable topics for her sake, for this day's sake. She doesn't know how to feel about that. Greedy, maybe. Except this day is about more than her, it's about having a respite. A tiny bubble of calm in their otherwise chaotic lives. Sakura doesn't want to disturb it any more than she thinks they do.

So she brushes over the topic, as both of them do. Moves on, and her lips twitch up imagining Naruto thanking her parents for such a thing.] That will be an interesting conversation.

[To say the least.

And then there's that grin, that sly thing that always promises some kind of mischief, and she braces herself but she's not prepared for that suggestion.]

Naruto!

[An indignant squawk of a word, cracked out as it always does when he reveals these devious schemes, even as her face burns. He has a bit of a knack for scandalizing her. She wasn't--she didn't--there may have been half-dreamed-of romantic ideas when she was younger but she hadn't thought like that in years!

You're thinking like that now, a voice says. Inner Sakura coming at the most inconvenient of times, as she always has, a not-so-little voice keeping her honest about her own mind. Insisting that she is thinking that and being fed, and... Right now punching Naruto sounds like an attractive idea, too, just to cover her embarrassment and overly-fertile imagination.

But an instant after her irritation is born, she cuts a glance to Sasuke, and it's washed away by surprise, then amusement, and she has to put a hand over her mouth to quiet a laugh. Is--is Sasuke blushing?

He's totally blushing.

And he probably wouldn't appreciate it being pointed out, or being laughed at about it, thus the muffling hand. Because she honestly isn't controlled enough not to giggle at his expense.

It's such a rare thing--in fact, can she recall it ever happening?--that by the time she thinks she's safe to speak again she has no hope of finding her annoyance with Naruto again; there's a clear smile in her voice.]

Come on, where are they?

[couragetodare]

[There might be a hint of muted surprise at Sasuke's response. An odd allowance that Naruto doesn't miss for a moment. He narrows his eyes at his bedridden team mate upon it. But says nothing. Sasuke has dropped the subject without much refute which is... a first. Naruto is content to let it go. Content to tilt his head at Sakura and look like he's considering that potential conversation. Which, he is. ]

I bet it will.

[Your mom doesn't like me much you know.]

But, life's always better with an interesting conversation or two. [His smile turns almost sly. Fact is, he wouldn't expect Sakura's parents to be receptive to anything he has to say. Ever. Fact is, he no longer pays much attention to such things. Only the opinions of those he cares about really matter to Naruto.

... which is why, when both Sakura and Sasuke look scandalised ( and he wishes he could capture this moment somehow, freeze-frame it and hold it suspended because it's pretty much perfect) Naruto can't stop the chuckle. He doesn't try to either.]

Utensils are overrated sometimes! [There is laughter in his voice because Sasuke looks embarrassed and shocked and Sakura is squawking out his name, almost in unison and this feels real, there is nothing feigned or hidden in this moment and maybe that's why Naruto likes it so much. He props his chin on one hand, looks them both over, sighs in a 'what am I going to do with you two' sort of manner. ] People feed other people cake all the time. [Softly.] You don't have to be five either.

[Blue eyes are mirthful. Sasuke is blushing. Sakura is amused. So is Naruto, but not at Sasuke's blush(well, not really), rather it is Sakura's reaction to it. He wants to ask them - both of them - if anyone has ever fed them cake, because it's actually a lot of fun. If they're never tried it then they're definitely missing out. There is a vage and questioning 'hmmm' At Sakura's question.]

Where're what?

[Oh-so-innocent. Too innocent in fact. Naruto offers her a mournful look. ] You sure I can't feed you cake?

[Make that mournful, with a side of beseeching.]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Sasuke doesn't miss the narrowed eyes, doesn't miss that expression on Naruto's face, and he raises his own gaze to challenge him. If he asked, he might confront him here; after all, Sasuke's patience was hardly unlimited. He would jump on the opening if granted one, but would let it slide if it went past, an act that was vaguely benevolent of him. This was a day for Sakura, after all, and the enjoyment of a battle --even verbal-- wouldn't settle well with any of them.

[Later, and it seemed the thought of the day.

[Idly, he listened to the banter about her parents, about strange conversations, and he sat still, silent. You won't get past five syllables came his embittered voice sprinkled with a certain element of jaded realism, and he set the cake beside him on the bed. Konoha had a history of hating what they didn't understand, had a habit of dismissing, destroying perceived threats. He wondered how different her parents would be, if they would care what Naruto had to say, if they would even wait five seconds before throwing him off the porch.

[And would she disown them if they gave her no choice? Could Sakura pick a side?]

I would hardly call conversations with you "interesting".

[Frustrating. Annoying. Pushy. And maybe those were "interesting" in their own way, had to be since he kept coming back, but the own habits of jabbing ran deep.

[Besides, it was revenge for this talk about feeding each other cake.

[The bare hint of a blush faded as soon as it had arrived, and he scowled a little deeper. He was serious, wasn't he? At first he thought that Naruto was just spouting off, kidding and trying to raze them both. Now, he wasn't so sure, not with that mischievous look on his face. And though Sakura was protesting, he had a feeling that she wasn't as set against it as he was.

[Shit.]

When do people feed one another cake? Name one time.

[His eyes turned to her, then back to Naruto, and back to the cake. This wasn't going to end well, dammit; the sinking feeling was bottoming out in an endless well. Mentally, he cursed again, then sighed and sat up, craning his neck to spy anything that resembled something even utensil shaped; he wouldn't put it past him to hide them, though not well.]

You know what. I grew out of playing with my food when I was a baby.

[He stared at Naruto, his lips thinning.] Why do you want to so badly?

[sucker_punches]

[Sakura finds she can't quite keep up the banter about interesting conversations with her parents. Her thoughts mirror theirs on that point: interesting is likely to mean ugly, and she doesn't know what she'd do about that.

This is the problem with loyalty as fierce as Sakura's: she will not abandon her team, but they are her parents. She distracts herself by scraping some of the frosting up with her finger and tasting it, and then the distraction becomes not so forced. It is quite rich. Her eyes flutter closed for a second as she savors the taste.]

This is good!

[Well, Sakura can think of a couple of times when people might feed each other. Sasuke can be so thoroughly unsentimental at times, to the point where she thinks he isn't trying to be callous, he simply doesn't understand why people show affection for one another. Really bad at this kind of thing, Naruto had said once, and that sounds like a fair assessment to Sakura.

She won't be the one to explain it to him. Can't. She's too afraid--and she tries not to be afraid much any more but she can call this a fear--that he will think she's that same fool who was in love with him. Sakura is in love with him, still, and he knows that, but she's not a fool. Thing is, she's not totally certain he knows that. So she'll let Naruto take this one, if he chooses to.

But an image of Sasuke as a child tossing food around hits her suddenly, and this time she can't prevent herself from laughing.]

You played with food when you were little?

[Perhaps it's unfair to tease him about it, but that hadn't prevented her from poking fun of his stuffed dinosaur either. It just seemed so incongruous with the Sasuke sitting beside her.

Her eyes narrow at Naruto's cajoling.]

You're going to be wearing cake in a second.

[But if he notices, it's not a 'no.']

[couragetodare]

Well, I wouldn't call conversations with you interesting either, but that's 'cause you don't know how to have 'em. [A quiet but teasing return. Actually if told to be truthful, Naruto would call conversations with Sasuke a delicate balancing act and one he was pretty certain Sasuke was unaware he was performing. There were certain things Naruto was learning to be wary of, certain topics he sometimes circumvented instead of broaching directly and he was pretty damn sure that Sasuke was unaware he did this. He is about to add to his comment when he spots Sakura dipping her finger into the frosting- which distracts Naruto more than adequately, moreso when she brings it to her mouth and-

He grins. Again. ] It is? [And with no decorum whatsoever, reaches out to steal a little bit for himself. He's going to have some anyway he reasons and it's in quiet defiance to Sasuke implying that feeding someone is playing with your food. it's not, not even remotely. Naruto fights a satisfied mmm and shoots Sasuke a briefly heavy lidded (blamethecake) glance.]

People do it on dates all the time. [He licks his finger. What've you been livin' under? A rock?] That frosting's really damn good. [Directed at Sakura. He's nearly tempted to pull out that knife and forgo this conversation and just get to the cake. But--] But friends do it too! It's just a little bit of fun, Sasuke.

[He watches Sakura tease their team mate, thinks that everyone probably played with their food when they were little but that the image of a tiny Sasuke throwing his food around is still pretty funny. He shrugs Sasuke's question off. Why does he want to so badly. He just, does. Because it would be different. Fun. Awkward probably but still... fun. Because he wants to have something like this to remember.] Jus' do.

[And then a laugh.] Aww! Sakura! [And a pause.] ... is that supposed to make me wanna get those forks? [Because needless to say, that's not much of a dissuasion. and Naruto's cheeky grin probably says as much.]

How about I just feed you a little?

[earned_my_eyes]

[Doesn’t know how to have them? Sasuke’s eyes rolled as he waved Naruto off. The line in the sand was drawn and he had no choice but to step over it, meeting the challenge head on. Two could play at this.

[Two had to play at this.]

I’m just not used to having to dumb myself down enough to be understood on your level.

[So much for maintaining the peace on Sakura’s birthday. He almost felt bad. Almost. But then he remembered it was Naruto that was baiting him with that and all remorse went out the nearest window. He even gave himself credit for being this good for this long; that was a feat in and of itself.

[As he watched Sakura and Naruto dip fingers into the frosting, he sat in silence. He could imagine the sweetness from here, the sheer richness of sugar, and he felt the twist of his lips. How could anyone eat that? How didn’t they get headaches, splitting migraines, and so tired afterwards? It was disgusting!

[Still…they looked…happy. Really happy. It took him back to a past life when he had been a member of their team, when on the rare occasions that Sakura wasn’t chastising Naruto and Naruto wasn’t doing something completely asinine, to the infrequent moments when they would smile at one another. Simple pleasures. They enjoyed the small things.

[He wondered what that was like, too.]

Why would you want to embarrass yourself on your date? Getting messy. It’s stupid. [Friends do it, and Sasuke shook his head. Friends. Hn.

[Is that what we are now?

[Is that what you think we are?]

And of course I played with my food. Every child does. I’m sure your parents have pictures of you with your arms deep in dinner somewhere, Sakura.

[What he didn’t say, but did think, was that he wouldn’t mind seeing those photos.

Sasuke had a perchance of throwing vegetables as a child. Carrots were tossed like javelins, broccoli chucked like shuriken. His father had hated it, but mother had smiled and cleaned up after him every time.

[Such a strong arm, Sasuke. You’re going to make us proud.

[And he thought, I hope I have, mother.]

If you guys want to make a mess of yourselves and the bed, that’s fine. But leave me out of it.

[sucker_punches]

Be nice, Sasuke-kun, or you'll be wearing cake.

[Her tone is playful, but she is not kidding in the slightest. Go on. Try her.

The frosting is really damn good, and she takes another small sample of it as she shrugs at Sasuke's question.] It's a way of being affectionate. [Though she hasn't exactly been on many dates, the hopeless romantic in her knows this. It has something to do with mutual embarrassment being endearing, flaws somehow making things more perfect.

She grins at him.]

Of course they have pictures of me, but it's funnier imagining you like that.

[She wonders if there are pictures of him lying around somewhere, forgotten by time, in the Uchiha district.

She almost wants to go for another taste of frosting, but decides not to. Naruto is awfully insistent about feeding her. And she's not opposed to it in theory but... she gives Naruto a somewhat pleading look of her own, and then glances quickly to Sasuke. She hopes this message is clear. Friends might feed each other but she and Naruto are not just friends. Whatever they are, they are more than that, and she's not sure she wants Sasuke to know it yet.

She lets out a mock-put-upon sigh at his antics, but the anxious undertone is there.]

Is that the only way you're going to let me have any?

[She has sinking suspicion it might be.]

[couragetodare]

[Naruto presses his lips together, quick and tight, in order to smother the smile that Sakura's words elicit. He doesn't respond to Sasuke's barb, and he had not intended to but he couldn't deny the growing urge to argue. Habit, perhaps. But he has always found arguing with Sasuke an easy slope to slide down

Still, crisis averted. Naruto does not have to back down, Sakura simply steps in between them. Figuratively speaking and...

... it occurs to him that she does this, a lot. It occurs to him that she should not have to and he almost frowns but the image of Sasuke wearing cake keep that at bay at least. Naruto nods.] That's right. An' it's fun! Messy sure but that's part of the fun. [A pause.] Plus, dates are good. They're... important!

[He finds he wants to see those little-Sakura pictures. And those little-Sasuke pictures, if they exist. If only so he can compare them to one another. There are no pictures of Naruto playing with his food as a child.

And then he wants to press because he knows he could, and he even thinks that he might get away with it this once, that he could very well manage to convince Sakura to let him feed her a little bit of cake (maybe even just a mouthful) but something in her expression - the quick glance in Sasuke's direction is enough to clue Naruto in for once. He pauses.

He doesn't get it of course. The need to hide affection from anyone, even Sasuke. Not fully at least but he left that sort of embarrassment behind him a while ago. But... it is Sakura's choice, and he does understand that she is reticent and that is enough, so he offers her a quiet smile and a headshake.]

No. S'your birthday. You can have your cake any way you want it.

[He dips, retrieves one knife and two forks - the former to cut the cake with, and the latter for his teammates- and offers her the forks, one to pass along to Sasuke. And something in his expression, if she knows how to read it says: later, in keeping with the theme of the day.]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Now that, was a threat. And the worst part was, he didn’t doubt for a second that she would make good on it. On his bed. Getting crumbs all over his sheets. And while he wasn’t completely neurotic about small messes, it irked him all the same.

[After all, she had nothing to lose if she followed through, not as long as he was hurt and stuck in this bed.

[So, Sasuke went quiet and stopped the barbs. At least, for now. Maybe she did get between them, break up all the fights that seemed to brew under the surface, and maybe she was the anchor that leveled them, but everyone had their place. Perhaps, this was, and had always been, one of hers.

[Dates. Dates are good? If you were looking for that sort of thing, maybe. If you wanted to spend your time wasting your days by tangling yourself up in the personal drama of regimented ways in how to spend evenings with potential mates, sure. But was that what dates consisted of? Making a fool out of yourself by feeding each other food like invalids?

[He was glad to see that he wasn’t missing much.]

Important? Why?

[Because socializing wasn’t on the top of his To Do List at the moment. Not that there was much else to do in this damn city, other than try to find a way out. That wasn’t forgotten, couldn’t be, not matter how many strangely comfortable moments like this he was sharing.

[As far as pictures went, perhaps there were some buried in boxes under dirt, dust, time in the depths of the abandoned Uchiha land. Someone could find them if they went looking, he supposed, but he would be damned if anyone else would see them. They were from another time, another life, and that boy was gone, lost in the memories one lone night.

[He watched them, and watched the utensils come out. Strong shoulders rolled in a shrug as he looked between them and accepted his fork. There was some sort of tense electricity in the air, but he couldn’t quite place it.

[Maybe if he had a social life, he would have been able to.]

I don’t care what you two do. Make a mess if you want. It’s your decision, not mine.

[sucker_punches]

[Sometimes it takes the simplest of touches to divert their arguments. Sometimes it requires brute force yes but sometimes it just requires a much more mundane threat, like chocolate and cherry cake in the face, to avoid their fights. Sakura smiles to herself, and it is most decidedly self-satisfied. Point to her.

She sends Naruto a grateful look. Thank you for understanding. Even if he didn't, fully, he complied with her silent request. There are many ways in which Sakura is still a bit closed off about romance. Not in the sense of being unreceptive but in the way it's expressed, and who it's expressed around. And Sasuke--Sasuke is a large block in her psyche, in that regard. Self defense mechanisms had been set up and are only now beginning to loosen themselves from their hooks.

And in that look, she tells him, you can have a later, too.

She passes the fork and ponder's Sasuke's question.]

It's important to have fun. [As trite as it sounds and no matter how much she knows he'll scoff at the notion.] And dates can be... well, yeah. Besides, you have to unwind somehow.

[She's not certain he really gets the concept of unwinding either.

And then, not knowing what else to say on the subject, she asks:]

Should I cut that?

[The cake. A nice, neutral subject.]

[couragetodare]

[She doesn't say it but he hears it all the same and the thought pulls a smile that's knowing and all at once a little brighter from him. Even if it's a brief smile. Later. Later works. They have later, whatever happens, Sakura believes that.

Naruto finds himself titling his head again at Sakura's response. Fun. Unwind. His lips pull once more. The problem is those are concepts Sasuke tries to ignore or generally disdains. Naruto knows this because he has mentioned the same things to Sasuke often enough. So what he says now is:] S'important to stop, sometimes.

[It need not even be about having fun, or unwinding necessarily. ] Sometimes when you stop, after, moving is easier.

[As explanations go, that one is pretty vague. Naruto's voice is quiet and he shrugs. Dates, things like these moments they have right here, even having fun, they're ways of... stopping and just being, for a little while. And that's important. Naruto recalls a stolen moment- just an hour really- in Atia once with a man who is dead now and he knows, in his gut, that is a parallel to this one for more reasons than he dare tell anyone. Least of all his two team mates. But it helped him hold out... for a time.]

Stuff like this is like that.

[Stopping.

He shakes his head then.]

No, I got it! Tell me how much you want. [He is already cutting into part of the cake, then he is measuring out the slice with a glance to Sakura. It's a pretty sizeable slice... And now that Sasuke has a fork Naruto casts him a glance too.] ... hey. Try your cake.

[It's half a request, really. Naruto wants to know if Sasuke likes the cake or not.]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Unwinding. That was nothing more than wasting time, the moments of recuperating between one fight and the next. No planning. No plotting. Nothing but the simple moments wasted that could be better put forth towards the betterment of something else.

[It was no different than sitting in this bed, confined to the sheets and these four walls. Frustrating.

[But stopping, stopping so one could move forward better after? There was something in that which spoke to him, like Naruto had somehow cracked some code of Sasuke-ese and found a way to communicate in something he better understood. He nodded, slightly, but there was still a pensiveness around him, a tightness in his shoulders, a look behind his eyes.]

I’m sure it can be better done than through feeding each other.

[Which was not so much as a dismissal as a murmured consent that maybe it wasn’t a complete waste of time. The stopping. Not the feeding.

[Attention brought back to his cake again, he grabbed the fork and poked at it once, feeling the texture give under the metal prongs. Cutting his piece in half (out of habit more than anything else; it was always safer to pull apart food prepared by someone else just to confirm that there were no suspicious contents hidden inside, a habit learned from years under Orochimaru), he moved to one of the edges and took off a small bit. Looking back between them, he slid the fork into his mouth, feeling the cake moisten and melt across his tongue.

[It was good. It still had a twinge of sweetness to it, but nothing so overbearing that it became mind-numbing or even an aftertaste. The tomato was poignant, the cake smooth, and all of it mixed together nicely. Perfectly, really.

[He swallowed his bite.]

It’s good.