Taking Time

Closure: Part Two

The two left the cafe together and Sasuke had offered to drive them the two blocks back to Naruto's place. When they were in the car together, it wasn't too awkward, but the silence, at first, extended longer than Sasuke'd liked. It was as if their brief time in the car was purely transitional—not even part of the closure discussion. In looking at how to keep their conversation flowing, Naruto had started to bring up memories the two shared. He recalled a moment in which Sasuke'd accidentally spilled an entire tray of cookies all over the floor of his new BMW because he'd slammed on the brakes due to a frog in the middle of the road. They were off to some party Sasuke's company had been throwing—Naruto said it was a birthday party for a colleague. It took Sasuke a minute, but he soon remembered. Naruto had actually attempted to bake cookies and, for the first time in his life, they'd turned out successfully—not even one was burnt. Unfortunately, no one got to enjoy them, because they all fell onto the floor of the car. Naruto had just laughed at the situation, but Sasuke had been quite peeved.

"You were pissed more so about the crumbs than the cookies." Naruto had stated in the car when Sasuke pulled into the driveway. It was lighthearted, but Sasuke felt the weight in the statement. So, he chose not to respond because what Naruto had said was true. It was just another memory of Sasuke's that was tainted in his selfishness.

He was aware of how selfish he had become later on in the relationship, but a part of him wondered if that was entirely his fault. Naruto had allowed his selfishness to take hold of him. Naruto knew of his traumas, his dreams, his goals, and allowed them to take place at the forefront of Sasuke's mind. Naruto played support. Maybe it wasn't totally right for Naruto to have to do that on an everyday basis, but... He had welcomed it. That's what he had told Sasuke, at least. Maybe—looking back on it—it was just that Sasuke had let him play that role longer than he should have had to... Selfish or not, Naruto had helped pave a way for that to happen.

Sasuke turned off the car and looked towards the front entrance of the house as Naruto unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the passenger door.

"You good?" Naruto asked, turning around when he realized Sasuke wasn't moving to get out of the vehicle. He'd been in his head for longer than he'd thought.

Sasuke nodded to Naruto. His eyes glanced back towards Naruto's place and he sighed a bit heavily. He didn't think that it'd be difficult to see Naruto's new home, but of course, it was. Naruto had a full-on house. Sure, it wasn't overly large or a mansion, not by any means. It was quaint. And it looked well-taken care of... There was love put into maintaining the home in all of its cozy glory. It was nowhere near the types of homes and apartments Sasuke involved himself with on an everyday basis. He assumed and knew people still lived in houses, but... Only people with families—people with children and in-laws and relatives. People who needed space to spread out and build a foundation. Young, bachelor's, like him and Naruto, belonged in apartments and single units. Right?

He quickly glanced at Naruto, who was expecting him to exit the vehicle. "Yeah," Sasuke said, unbuckling himself and taking a step out of his BMW.

The two shut each of their doors and walked towards the front entrance. Naruto fumbled with his keys and talked to Sasuke as he did so. "I moved in not too long ago, so... I'm still in the process of decorating and stuff."

Sasuke didn't respond but waited as Naruto slid the keys into the keyhole and unlocked the door.

Immediately, as the door swung open, he heard barking. His eyes widened as he saw the small Shiba Inu in a cage beside the couch.

Naruto went straight for the tiny dog, his attention solely on caring for it and letting it free from its cage. Sasuke watched as he let it out, so it would stop barking and feel comfortable again. He then picked it up and let the dog lick his face all over. Naruto laughed throughout their little reunion and Sasuke could tell Naruto enjoyed the love he was receiving. He'd never pictured Naruto with a dog, but something was fitting about it. Granted, Naruto had never mentioned getting a dog to Sasuke before, so that's why he'd never thought too much about it. He didn't know that was something Naruto had been interested in doing or devoting time and energy to. But, he was sure there were a lot of things he didn't know that Naruto had wanted... Things he'd overlooked altogether.