Mind games

Expectations

He wouldn't be there.

Naruto knew one thing for sure: Sasuke Uchiha never did what anyone expected he would do. And since Kakashi Sensei and Sakura both expected Sasuke to be there, Naruto knew he wouldn't be.

A cool breeze blew by as Naruto tucked his hands in his pockets and turned away. He didn't want to tell Sakura that he wouldn't be there; he didn't want to disappoint her. Over the years he had gotten over his supposed love for her, but she had been his teammate for years and he still didn't have it in him to break her heart. And as far as Kakashi was concerned, well, Naruto knew there was no dissuading him.

"Thanks guys, but I'm not feeling good. I'm just going to head home." He said as he began to take a few steps away from them.

"But Naruto-!" Sakura took a step towards him, "You've waited all these years. Don't you want to be there?"

Swallowing a knot in his throat, Naruto shook his head and walked away. His hands clenched tightly in his pockets and he could feel the strain in his shoulders, but he refused to let it show. He was simply going to go home, unwind and go to bed. Tomorrow would be a new day, another Sasuke-less day, and he would get on the way he had learned to do.

Fall had come in Konoha and the colorful leaves drifted gently to the ground around Naruto as he walked. He couldn't help but think how strange it was that something so delicate could exist in a world so full of violence and anger, but the sight of them still made him feel better. He shivered slightly as he walked, realizing that for the first time this year, his jacket was not thick enough to keep him warm. Yet, the cool air against his skin and the chill it sent through him somehow lessened the pain and emptiness he couldn't deny feeling.

People passed by, smiling and happy as usual, but this time it didn't cheer Naruto up. He wanted to be alone today. Today, the day Sasuke was supposed to return to the village. Today, the day Sasuke was supposed to become a permanent part of his life again. Today, the day when things were supposed to get better finally.

But everyone expected Sasuke to return today. Only Naruto knew that he wouldn't.

Naruto's flat came into view and he let out a small sigh of relief. Everyone knew how hard he had worked to bring Sasuke home. Everyone would be asking him tomorrow what had gone wrong. Because of that, he wanted to hide away tonight and try to prepare himself for what was to come. Sasuke never failed to make things more difficult for him.

Once inside his house, Naruto immediately noticed how cold it was. Strange, he thought, it should be warmer inside than outside. Quietly he kicked off his shoes and moved to his room, only to see his window open. Silently cursing himself, he crossed the room and slid it shut, fighting off a shiver. It was going to take ages for his place to become warm again.

Lost in thought, Naruto turned away from his window and walked back across his room and into the kitchen. It wasn't until he had his hand on the door of his fridge that he noticed the figure sitting at his table, leaning leisurely on his hand.

"Oi, dobe. Don't you have anything to say to me?" Sasuke teased, smiling slightly. When Naruto remained silent he tsk'd, "Honestly, I at least expected a 'Welcome Home'."

"What are you doing in my house, teme?" Naruto replied, trying to sound like he's not surprised. "I don't recall ever giving you a key."

Sasuke chuckled and tipped his head towards Naruto's bedroom, "I came in the window. I hear that's the most romantic way to do it."

"Oh, so you're the reason my house is so cold." Naruto replied. "Nothing romantic about a cold house."

"Did you honestly not expect me to return?" He asked suddenly, sitting up straighter, "Even after I told you I would?"

"You haven't exactly been reliable in the past," Naruto opened his fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip, "It's not uncalled for that I wouldn't believe you."

"Everyone else did."

"Exactly. Everyone else expected you to waltz back in the gate today, looking like you still own the place and never left. And you don't ever do what people expect."

"And you expected me to not come home at all, and yet here I am. What do you say to that?"

Naruto screwed the cap back on his drink and regarded his best friend levelly. It had been years since he had seen Sasuke in his house, but the image of it was comforting, nonetheless. He set his drink on the counter and took a deep breath. He knew this conversation would happen eventually.

"Why would you come back, Sasuke? What does this village hold for you? What reason could I possibly have to believe you would come back? If I were you, I don't know if I would come back."

"What does this village have for me?" He echoed, standing up and moving to hover just in front of Naruto. "It has you."

Naruto wasn't sure what kind of response he had been expecting, but he was sure that wasn't it. He looked up, surprised, at his best friend just a moment before a pair of lips crashed down on his.

As much as it pained him to admit it, Sasuke was the only person Naruto had ever kissed. He expected that Sasuke had kissed many people over the years—he did have such an appeal to everyone, after all—but he himself had never been able to kiss someone else. The opportunity didn't arise all that often, but he was sure he could've managed to kiss someone in the years Sasuke had been gone, but he never wanted to.

The lips disappeared a moment later, but Sasuke made no move to back away, "Does that answer your question?"

"How many people have you done that to?" Naruto asked, trying to lighten the mood and dodge the question. He needed a moment to catch his breath and wrap his mind around what was happening.

"None," Sasuke replied, sounding perfectly confident in his answer. "I haven't kissed anyone other than you."

Naruto wanted to be surprised. He wanted to be surprised and not flattered or giddy, but he wasn't. Because, if there was one thing he knew, it was that Sasuke never did what people expected he would do.

Instead, Naruto laughed, openly laughed, and leaned forward to rest his forehead against Sasuke's chest. "Why do you always do this to me, teme?"

"What? Did you expect a relationship with me to be easy?"

All Naruto could do was laugh and wrap his arms around his most precious person. At least he was back.