i think he knows [sasusaku]
This is part of a Christmas in July Discord challenge! join here
“I think he knows his footprints,
On the sidewalk,
Lead to where I can't stop,
Go there every night.”
“Thanks so much for doing this,” Sakura says once again, giving Sasuke a nervous smile.
“Aa. Sure.” Sasuke glances at Sakura, his hands shoved deep into his pockets against the winter cold of Konoha. He'd returned to Konoha briefly, not really sure why he decided to stop by. Maybe it had to do with Naruto's constant nagging but perhaps it had to do with Sakura. He'd been thinking about his teammate a lot recently. Constantly, actually. He'd catch himself daydreaming about her multiple times a day and would have to forcibly get a hold of himself, with a rough shake of his head or a sharp exhale. He didn't know why he returned or why he accepted Sakura's invitation to her family Christmas party. But he'd been so...dumbstruck in the moment. Although he hadn't shown it, Sasuke had memorized every minute detail in that moment. The way her fingers wrung together, how her lips had a soft sheen to them, catching the light as they pressed together nervously, how her eyes seemed brighter as she looked up at him.
Well...what do you say, Sasuke-kun?
The moment had been...mildly embarrassing. He'd become so preoccupied in looking at her that he'd stopped listening altogether. So, he simply continued to stay quiet, knowing Sakura well enough that she would fill the gap.
It's alright, if you don't want to I mean. They're my family. I just thought since you were home, you might like to...come with me.
I mean, it’s totally fine- she stumbles over her words, gaze flying to his. Oh.
Sasuke lifted a brow and her cheeks flushed under his gaze.
That's how he found himself walking side by side with her towards her family home. Sasuke had known for some time that Sakura...that the way he felt about Sakura had become something he could no longer ignore or put to the back of his mind. Not when she was this close, the tip of her nose flushed in the icy air, her smile nearly knocking him on his ass as he pulled the scarf down to speak to him, my the scent of her perfume catching in the wind.
When he was traveling, she was on his mind constantly but she was in Konoha, far away from where he usually was. Now, she was right in front of him, and fuck if Sasuke didn't want to touch her - to kiss-
“We're here.” Sakura announces, deflating a little as she started at the front door, a hanging potted plant next to the door. The plant itself had long died in the cold.
Sasuke had been in this very spot many times during his genin days, Naruto and Kakashi at his side as they waited for Sakura. Now, he would admit he felt a bit nervous. It had been years since he'd seen Sakura's parents and he certainly hadn't spoken to them since...-
Since before he left the village.
Sakura's knuckles bounced off of the door, once, twice. And Sasuke tensed, listening to the music coming from inside, a shuffling at the door. Sakura's shoulders squared as well, her chin lifting defiantly. Sasuke had become aware over the years that Sakura and her parents didn't have the best relationship. It could just be a clash of personalities or maybe there was more to it, Sasuke wasn't sure.
The door swung open and Sakura's mother stood there, hands going to her hips as she looked Sakura up and down.
“Hello, Sakura. I would say it's nice to see you but it's been so long that I wonder if you even still know who I am.”
Sakura sighs, almost as if she was expecting this. “Hello, mother.”
The attention was turned to Sasuke then, and there was a momentary look of shock as Sakura's mother took in Sasuke standing at the door and then a flash of betrayal in her eyes directed at Sakura, the look so brief anyone but Sasuke would have missed it.
“Sasuke-san, welcome. Please come inside you two.” she waved them in using the same tone she'd used to greet Sakura.
“Thanks for having me, Haruno-san.”
She smiled, momentarily charmed by him despite Sasuke thinking he'd done nothing. Sakura shot him a curious look over her shoulder as she removed her outerwear. Sasuke took off his jacket when she held out her hands for it and he watched her hold it to her chest with one arm as she attempted to move the other jackets around to make space for his. Sasuke turned away, surveying the rest of the room as several members of the Haruno family were in the living room.
“Sakura,” an older woman said in a scolding tone. “I didn't know you would be bringing your boyfriend tonight.”
Sakura tensed all over, eyes going wide as her cheeks flushed immediately.
“Thanks for having me.” Sasuke said again and the older lady seemed to melt on the spot at the sound of his voice. Sakura gave a sharp gasp, her gaze on the floor. He knew what he'd implied, even if it was just to save Sakura in the moment. And he didn't care, even if they did just pretend for the night.
That comment, however, did earn Sakura another narrow-eyed look from her mother.
The party itself passed without incident, in fact, knowing Sakura as well as he did, Sasuke was surprised that she managed to stay as calm, despite several comments from her parents, regarding her line of work, how they wished she would get married already, how her shinobi life would make her unattractive to potential husbands. Sasuke nearly spoke up then but, it wasn't his place. Sakura announced that they would leave right after dinner and while her mother expressed her disappointment, she did nothing to stop them from leaving.
“I hope you and your boyfriend have a good night.”
Again Sakura was at a loss for words and Sasuke reached out, fingers curling around her elbow as he steered her away.
Sakura was quiet as she handed him his jacket but there was an unmistakable tremble in her fingers.
Sasuke says nothing as they walk through the streets, soft snow falling around them and into Sakura's hair, sitting gently on the strands. It takes a while for her to relax, for the tense set in her shoulders to sag slightly. Normally, Sasuke would wait for her to speak first. For her to break the silence.
This time, Sasuke speaks first. “Are you okay?”
Sakura jumps slightly at the sound of his voice, her head whipping in his direction. “I...yes,” she smiles then, for the first time in hours, “Thank you, Sasuke-kun.”
She inhaled deeply, the exhale leaving her lips in a puffy cloud.
“I'm sorry,” Sakura whispers.
Sasuke glances at her, his brows drawing together. “Why are you apologizing?”
“I wasn't completely honest with you. Yes, I wanted you to come with me but mostly, I...just needed someone there with me.”
“Has it always been like that?”
Sakura nods, her arms going around herself.
“I would have come with you even if you'd told me everything.” he says.
Sakura shudders, giving him a small smile. “Thanks, Sasuke-kun.”
Sakura is quiet for a moment, glancing at him before glancing away and then back again, the flush on her cheeks spreading. “I...well, everyone thinks you're my boyfriend.”
Sakura blinks rapidly, lips parting in a sharp inhale. “And you're...okay with it?”
“Aa. Sure.” Sasuke glances at her. “Are you okay with it?”
“Because...” she begins slowly. “Because you never officially asked me.”
Sasuke stops, boots crunching in the snow. “Do you want me to ask you now?”
A panicked look comes over her but she nods quickly. “Yes...” there's no sound to her voice as she stares up at him, lips parted, cheeks flushed in the prettiest way.
Sasuke knew he needed to be clear, Sakura deserved that. “I want us to be...together. If you want that too, I'd like us to-”
“Yes.” her answer seems to surprise her and Sakura stills, completely freezes in place, not even breathing.
Seconds tick by and Sasuke steps up to her, hands on her shoulders, “Sakura?”
His forehead rests against hers. “Is this okay?”
Her lids flutter shut. “This is good.”
Sasuke angled his face down, lips pressing against hers and he feels Sakura's sharp exhale, her gloved hands fisting in his jacket.
“How long are you staying?”
Sasuke kisses her again, “A little while longer.”
[Taylor Swift - I Think He Knows]
