That’s actually not true. In all honesty, Jugo loves how the vibrant colors explode, painting the night sky, and how brightly they sparkle. All Jugo wants is to be able to stare at their beauty in awe. What he actually hates is the noise.
Loud noises have always triggered Jugo into a fight or flight response, causing him to lose control and go on a rampage. It’s a scary experience, especially now, since he is no longer alone and is a part of a team. A team he has grown to care for and wants nothing more than to protect. However, ever since Sasuke freed him from Orochimaru, for the first time in his life, Jugo feels a sense of control over himself.
So when Karin offhandedly mentions wanting to go to a festival in a nearby town and see the fireworks, Jugo slightly panics. He declines, making up an excuse of not feeling well enough to go out, but Karin can tell he’s lying. Suigetsu tries to coax him into coming along, but Karin tells him to just let Jugo be, probably believing he just didn’t want to be crowded by so many people.
Sasuke, however, notices that Jugo seems a lot more panicked than usual. He tells Karin and Suigetsu to go without them. As the two leave, they promise to find food to bring back.
Once the two are gone, Sasuke sits down next to Jugo, letting nothing but the silence fill the air, but this silence is different. Sasuke looks over at Jugo, who is rocking back and forth with his hands over his ears.
“I don’t want to hurt you guys. I care about this team, but I’m scared I’m going to hurt one of you.”
“Jugo, do you remember what I told you at the Northern Hideout? That I will be your cage.” Sasuke cups Jugo’s cheek with his hand. “As long as I’m here, I won’t let you hurt anyone, including yourself.”
A tear slides down Jugo’s cheek, but Sasuke quickly wipes it away with his thumb. “I love fireworks. I love the colors, but the noise…”
Sasuke takes in the information but doesn’t know what to say. Instead, he rests his head on Jugo’s shoulder, softly rubbing his back.
Eventually, Karin and Suigetsu come back with a basket filled to the brim with different food. Karin pulls out a blanket to lay on the floor, and the group has a picnic indoors.
While the three are distracted, Sasuke goes out to ‘borrow’ some sparklers. When he comes back, revealing his gift, the four do what they do best and be chaotic.
Karin tries to make pretty patterns with the smoke, but Suigetsu keeps ruining the designs as well as attempting to get Sasuke to sword fight him with the sparklers. Sasuke claims he only joined in because he doesn’t need Suigetsu’s ego to get any bigger; it’s totally not because he is enjoying himself. Jugo enjoys staring at the bright sparks traveling down the rod of the sparkler and actually feels himself relaxing.
They all come from different nations, belong to different clans, and barely have anything in common, but that’s what made them special. Taka had no reason to stay together, yet they continue to work together side by side.
For the first time in years, Jugo feels a chuckle escape his lips.
Jugo hates fireworks, but sparklers are a nice substitution.
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