#suenchan

His head aches. He’s careful about sitting up too fast, free hand palming over his scalp as a small groan escapes past his lips. It’s slowly coming back to him, the fight his mission had ended with, the way he’d blacked out - or he assumes he’d blacked out - just before following through with orders. He’s going to have quite a time explaining what happened to Kakashi, when he hardly remembers it himself. After his headache subdues enough for him to take a small look around, he recognizes his surroundings as a training ground, but not exactly recognizing where this training ground was. It looks familiar, but before he can really think too much about it he senses another presence nearby. Eyes immediately blink into red hues before getting up, grabbing the discarded anbu mask in the process. “Who’s there?” He snaps, arming himself immediately and slipping the mask on, only to be presented with... a kid?

@suen-chan

He looks up from his work and smiles at Suengri’s entrance. Only to blink as he registers the marks on his cheeks. His hand comes up to cover his mouth. 

Why is his son so cute? 

“You look better than I do! I hope you didn’t use permanent marker,” Naruto says while getting up from his seat. Work forgotten, he swoops down and picks up his son. Tosses him in the air before twirling him in his arms and setting him on his shoulders. 

“C’mon! Let’s go show yer dad how good you look!” Holding onto his son’s feet they walk to the door. Forgetting the height his son adds on his shoulders, Naruto doesn’t duck and slams his son against the doorway.

“SHIT” He cries out while stepping back. Naruto pulls Suengri off his shoulders and cradling him in  his arms. He scans over his face to see if he’s suffering any serious damage! AHH! 

What on earth–Oh please don’t fall I don’t have time to give the band-aid song again. “Hey, be careful!” Scrolls are discarded at his side and he’s up, hands immediately reaching out just in case the other manages to tip the high chair over. Thankfully Suengri doesn’t but Sasuke manages to help him out regardless, raising a brow at the peculiar statement he so proudly was shouting. Pretty? That’s a term Sasuke’s used to growing embarrassed over, though this time it’s also accompanied with a bite of his lip to hold back his laughter. “Pretty huh? Where’d you learn that?” Scrunching up his nose, he noses at the little one and sets him down on the carpet near where he was reading. “How about handsome? Hand. Some. Handsome. Say it with me.” It’s a valiant effort, but alas the kid’s latched on to the other word. Pretty! Suen repeats, and Sasuke lets out another snort, palming his face. “Alright, I’ll take it.”

It’s not what Sasuke expects upon checking in on Suengri. It’s become a bit of a habit since his return from the incident, both parents were nervous about leaving him alone for too long. They’ve agreed that while it is a sensitive time, neither of them need to smother him now. Though when night fell, the whines, whimpers, and light thrashing echo through the halls and cause the father to stir. It’s not something Sasuke can ignore, so he’s immediately drawn to Suen’s room and makes his way in as quietly as he could to find that the other might have been in what he’d think was a nightmare. Not uncommon as of late, he’s surely had enough trauma to creep up on him in the late hours. Inching closer, Sasuke’s hesitant to wake him but Suengri’s growing louder by the second, so he reaches down to lightly nudge his shoulders.

“Su--”

“Let me go!” is shouted at him, causing Sasuke to blink a few times in confusion before his quick reflexes kick in and he’s grabbing hold of Suengri’s wrists to keep him from thrashing in his direction. He must not know where he is again, Sasuke thinks. “It’s only me!” Let me go! “Calm down-- that’s enough, Suengri.” Trying to snap him out of his daze, the last few words were loud and firm enough to cause him to grow still, arms limp and no longer trying to thrash in Sasuke’s direction. He’s unsure if the boy is still asleep or not, he was sat up right and looked quite panicked, his eyes--wait, his eyes. 

It’s been months since Suengri’s mission gone wrong, and only a few weeks since his return. The medical ninja have given their okays for his release soon, and it brings a lot more relief to Sasuke knowing that they could finally look after him at home and ease him back into his old life. Well... If possible. Something that Sasuke had noticed in his various visits to and conversations with Suengri, was that the boy had changed quite a bit. It’s to be expected, after living through trauma. He was someone who could definitely attest to that logic. However, at some point even he finds reason to worry. 

“I’ve heard that you’ve been thinking about joining the anbu.” Careful tone is held in place, as is volume even with the room door closed. The younger probably didn’t expect the news to get to him, but considering who the Hokage was and how easy it was to squeeze secrets out of the blonde, Sasuke always knew. Although he’s always wanted to support his son, Sasuke isn’t sure how to feel about the decision. Most would be proud to hear that their kid was following in similar footsteps to their own, but Sasuke wasn’t most people, and the anbu was not a simple decision. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Suengri.” Small frown graces his lips, knowing that perhaps his mind was made up and perhaps this would create some kind of rift between them. 

Knife stops mid-chop, and Sasuke’s staring at the cutting board as he ponders the question himself. What brought this on? Suengri had been quiet for a while, so Sasuke probably should’ve figured something was on his mind, but he was busy preparing lunch and assumed the younger was probably just focusing on the studies before him.

“That’s an odd question.” He murmurs calmly, finishing up the tomatoes before setting them aside with the other chopped vegetables. Picking up a rag, he wipes the residue off of his hands as he turns around to look at the other seated at the table. Leaning against the counter, Sasuke gives a long hum. “If I told you I was actually clueless, would you believe me?” A small apologetic smile, he knows that’s not the answer the other wants to hear. 

“I knew him for a very long time before I ever got to realizing. Things… got in the way.” Spare him the gory details, your son doesn’t need to know what a mess you made. Shrugging a bit, he sets the rag aside before going over to sit in the vacant chair next to the other, facing him. “I think I’ve always liked him, just had trouble realizing it. I wish I’d known earlier, it might’ve sped things up.” Definitely would’ve saved them a lot of trouble and unnecessary fighting. “But… your dad always knew, I think. And he was really brave, he told me one day.” Smiling softly at the thought, he rests his chin in his palm, elbow propped up against the table as he eyes Suengri. 

They were both very late in making things happen, he knows this, but that shouldn’t matter. When shouldn’t matter, only how. The how is the most important part, in his opinion. He wants Suen to know this. “He never gave up on me.” Reaching over to move some of the dark strands of hair out of the other’s face, he tilts his head to look at him. Hopefully his son was a lot brighter than he was in the feelings department.

Ah, it’s really that age of his isn’t it…

 “My little fox, you are growing big…” Sasuke reads (if fatherhood taught him one thing, it was that dramatics always earned brownie points), waiting for the little one to read the words that followed on the next page. Patience was a definitely must when teaching a five year old how to read properly. It’s been a bit of a routine as of late, for him and Naruto to alternate each night with a bed time story, try and help him along. Suengri’s catching on fairly quickly in Sasuke’s opinion, he’s only had to correct pronunciation on a few words tonight. 

A few pages later, Sasuke glances down at the boy currently leaned into his side. He might be too preoccupied with the various illustrations on the page, but he follows Sasuke’s pointer finger over the words. “Out… in the w..wild, I’ll al..always be… ne..ar.” It was a good try, sounding it out was good, Sasuke always makes sure to let him know that. “I’ll watch over you, through your very first year.” 

Figures Suengri would ask for a book about foxes. They’ve been all he talked about lately. Sasuke wasn’t going to argue against it, after all the look on his little face when they agreed? Pure sunshine if he’s ever seen it. And he has seen it, arguably he’s married to it. Thus, the copy of My Little Fox was a new staple in their bed time ritual. 

After a few more pages detailing the little foxes adventures throughout the seasons, and Suengri’s various attempts at not jumbling up his words, they finally reach the last few pages. Sasuke decides to read more than one. “My little fox, you’re nearly grown. It’s time for you to explore alone.” Instead of continuing the narrative like the father expects, Suengri looks scandalized. Raising a brow, Sasuke watches his son turn to look up at him. “They’re going to leave him?!” Blinking in a bit of confusion, it takes a minute for Sasuke to realize he’s talking about the book, and the mother fox ‘leaving’ the baby. A small snort escapes him, shaking his head while pointing to the next page, that Suengri doesn’t look very fond of reading, so Sasuke continues it for him.

“Just know that you can always find me, back at the den, beneath our tree.” Small pauses taken in between pages, and finally he closes the book to set aside the younger’s bed. Suengri looks less angry, but slightly more confused, so it earns a small sigh from the elder. Opening his arms for the little one to return to his side under the covers, he keeps him close. “No one left anyone, the little fox always comes back home.” He assures, rubbing his back gently. A small ‘oh’ escapes his son, and he can feel his cheek pressed up against Sasuke’s chest while the ending settles in his head.

“When can I go explore on my own?”

For each “⭐️” I get, I’ll write a headcanon about our muses.