Taking Time

Ring

Sasuke sat across from Naruto in the corner booth of the blonde's favorite ramen joint. They'd gotten their first bowl, which would likely be Sasuke's only one, however, Naruto tended to rack up three or so per visit. And since this was Sasuke's treat, Naruto was definitely going to take advantage. Oddly enough though, Naruto was still nursing his first bowl and they'd been there for around an hour now. On any normal visit, he'd be devouring the bowls with ease. So Sasuke wondered if he'd eaten already, but... Even if that were the case, it shouldn't have mattered. Naruto tended to have a separate stomach designated for ramen only.

Sasuke kept watching as Naruto slurped up some noodles. He didn't look mad or uncomfortable, more so just focused on the bowl in front of him. Their conversation had been minimal so far and Naruto hadn't touched on Hinata or the deal she had offered him—if there even was one. He also didn't want to push his luck though. He'd already royally fucked up with his total lack of communication. He wanted Naruto to come to him with this and share whenever he was ready.

He didn't want a silent dinner though. He wanted to get something out of this excursion. Maybe a nudge in the right direction wouldn't set the blonde overboard. All he could do was hope.

"So, this thing with the Hyuuga woman is good, I'm assuming?" Sasuke asked, not making eye contact and trying to keep this conversation very casual. He did feel Naruto's eyes lift to look towards him—probably in an attempt to read his intent with the question.

"It's starting to look that way." Naruto said and Sasuke nodded.

"Am I allowed to ask more about it?" Sasuke asked. The question, which meant no ill-will, came off kind of stand offish. He almost regretted saying it as it left his lips.

"Why wouldn't you be allowed?" Naruto asked, returning the bite in his own tone.

"I don't know. You seemed a little secretive about it when I asked you outside the store earlier." Sasuke commented, eating some more of his ramen so he had something to do with his hands.

"I wasn't being secretive. I was just a little upset that it took you so long to ask about it." Naruto confessed.

Sasuke did feel bad. He knew he'd been so obsessed with his work that he'd completely dismissed Naruto's. He didn't mean to overlook him in anyway, or be self-centered. It's just he had a one-track mind and it was hard to break from it.

"I'm sorry." Sasuke mumbled.

"You should be." Naruto responded. Naruto picked up some speed with his eating, as if hearing Sasuke's apology lift some weight from his shoulders. He was able to consume his ramen the way he wanted to now, without restraint.

Sasuke then waited for Naruto to continue with his storytelling, hoping that he would at least try to entertain Sasuke's questions. As Naruto finished his first bowl, he placed it down on the table, waving over to the waitress to get another one ordered. He then turned to look at Sasuke.

"Well, first off, she wants to publish my work." Naruto said, softly, as if nervous about how Sasuke would react. Unfortunately, Sasuke was taken by surprise with that comment and made a face that mirrored that emotion. Sure, she'd read some of his work, but was it good enough to be published?

"And she wants our 'expansion' to be based around that." Sasuke's eyes widened a bit at that as well. He quickly shook himself to try and control the forward emotional display. "Don't look so shocked." Naruto scoffed as the waitress brought him his second steaming, hot bowl of ramen.

Sasuke leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table. "I'm not. I'll admit that I'm a bit confused. I thought you said you weren't writing."