[OPEN]

[soul_mods]

Characters: OPEN
Location: Clinic
Rating: PG13ish
Time: November 27 onwards
Description: Operation Arizona is over and people are back in the city. Hopefully in not too many pieces.

Comments

27th sob I will stop editing this now.

[adamants]

She wasn't entirely sure what to expect.

Sakura ran the entire way to the clinic when she found out they were back, rushing by people and throwing apologies over her shoulder. She only stopped long enough at the clinic to ask where either of them are and took off once she at least received an answer for one of them.

When she finally got to him, she stopped at the door, hesitating at first. It was still an adjustment, getting accustomed to seeing him again and approaching freely without worrying -- well, much.

Knocking lightly at the door frame despite knowing he would have heard her long before that, she wandered into the room, pulling a chair up beside his bed. Sakura didn't say anything at first, didn't trust her voice, because she could feel herself falling into old habits and wanting to cry. But that time-

That time it was from the sheer relief that he came back. That both of them did.

So it was with slight hesitance that she reached forward and rested one of her hands on top of his, voice soft. "Sasuke-kun."

you are so cute

[hatedriven]

His head was still pounding when he heard her enter. Though he'd had trouble recalling exactly how everyone else sounded, there was something about Sakura's light step that he could never quite shake. He knew it was her before she'd sat down, but he kept his silence, wondering what she might say or do. After everything she'd told the both of them, Sasuke had decided not to expect much of anything- and simply let what happened, happen.

When he felt her hand, delicate as a petal on the back of his hand, he stiffened- tension climbing up his shoulder as quickly as lightning, and dissipating just as swiftly. There weren't many, save the doctors, that went out of their way to do that- especially when he couldn't see- and the fight was still fresh in his blood. Once again, he found himself wrestling down the urge to lash out, for no other reason than it being a developed habit.

He lifts his chin, just slightly, to show he's listening. "I told you," He said, blunt.

no you ;u;

[adamants]

Ever cautious, she waits for his reaction before managing to relax. She had expected the tension, for a reaction bred from instinct, so it didn't really surprise her when she saw him seize a little before relaxing. But- It's progress, right? Progress of some sort. And that's good. Beyond so.

His answer brings a smile from her, despite him not being able to see it, and she bows her head just a little. Squeezing the top of his hand a bit, she blinks back tears from sheer relief. An overwhelming sense of it.

"I know you did." Her breath catches. "I'm glad you're back."

COZY

[hatedriven]

"Hn," He chooses not to mention the hitch he can hear in her breath. Without his sight, he's hyperaware of everything going on around him. He can all but hear the shift of her clothing as her head bows, intensely aware of the feel of her skin on his hand and the vast difference between her perfume and the smell of the rest of the clinic. Distantly, he wonders if this is how his brother operates.

But the thought tightens his chest, because he was half sure Itachi hadn't woken up yet. Sasuke takes a breath. "Did anything happen while we were gone?"

The tone of his voice betrays that he ominously expected something might have.

/climbs all up in this

[ramenandawesome]

"Nah." For as much as Naruto hates being held in the clinic himself, after particularly difficult missions have ended, he certainly spends a great deal of time visiting those who are bed bound. After he'd been patched up, the blond had spent the better part of the day drifting from Sasuke's room, to Itachi's, to Link's, back to Itachi's, following Allen, checking on Sasuke, and then to Itachi's again. While the entire thing looks almost ritualistic, he certainly looks peaceful while doing so- perhaps even moreso when he sees Sakura head into the room.

He stands in the doorway, leaning against the frame on his good arm and smiling warmly. "No one attacked while we were gone."

I AM SO SORRY I've been slacking on tags!!!

[adamants]

"Naruto!"

Sakura's up and out of her chair once she sees him, smile brightening her face. Relief is really the only thing she can feel right now, and since she knows Sasuke would be opposed to it completely (and she's still a little hesitant herself) she'll just have to pour it all onto Naruto. Which means she's going to be hugging him right about now, making sure to avoid what appears to be his injured arm.

She holds on, maybe a little longer than she should. But- But she feels like she only just had both of them back before they were leaving again on something dangerous, to a place that she knew nothing about and couldn't accompany them to. So it's a relief, seeing them both, and she smiles when she pulls away from him, glancing between them both.

"Naruto's right, the city was fine while you were both away."

you and me both....

[hatedriven]

Sasuke didn't have to see her to know what she was doing. Sakura had always been a physical person in a way Sasuke couldn't bring himself to be. Still, being blindfolded meant he didn't have to look away from the scene. He reclined back against the headboard and let their interaction continue, but there was obvious relief in his stature as he heard nothing untoward had happened to the City in their absence.

[ramenandawesome]

He returns Sakura's smile with practiced ease- and while he might have been at something of a loss in her embrace, Naruto settles his weight comfortably on the balls of his feet when she releases him. It's not the sort of welcome he's used to by any means- but it's something he could really get used to.

One hand lifts, a sheepish laugh as he runs his fingers through his hair, settles comfortably just inside the room. "Hah, that never happens'ttebayo."

forever the late one, it is me.

[adamants]

When she pulls back, she wanders back to Sasuke's bedside, taking up residence in the chair once more. It's actually a really big relief that they were back, even if the city had been just fine without everyone there. Regardless, the assurance of having the two of them in close proximity is comforting beyond words.

But now that she's sure both of them are safe-

"So. Who wants to tell me what happened?"

it's okay we love you

[hatedriven]

Sasuke's mouth thinned before he opened it to speak. "We weren't in the same place," He answered blandly. Which, really, was his way of asking which story she wanted to know first. Not that it really mattered, since he was expecting Naruto to leap into the grand heroic tale of how he'd brought down the witch they were hunting without pretense. It would be just like him. But Naruto did everything boldly, and bitterness aside, Sasuke was almost just as angry he'd missed the fight.