Flowers, tattoos and I love you's

25.poppy*

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Sasuke's apology was swift as he withdrew his fingers from Naruto's bruised skin, his concern evident in his tone as Naruto grunted softly in discomfort.

"S'okay babe. It's just a little sore." The blond reassured, his voice laced with a hint of discomfort despite his attempt to reassure the other.

"Let me just put some iodine in it."His touch remained gentle as he whispered softly, hand stroking soothingly up and down Naruto's thigh as he knelt beside him on the bathroom floor.

The ride home had been rather tense, Sasuke thought, struggling to find the right words to describe the heavy silence that lingered between them. Despite the radio playing as usual, Naruto refrained from his usual singing or humming, opting instead for silence, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Although they hadn't originally planned to spend the night together, Naruto insisted on taking Sasuke to his house, a proposal the raven eagerly accepted. After all, very few things surpassed the feeling of having his boyfriend cuddle him to sleep or waking up to his comforting scent and soft kisses being pressed to his milky skin.

However, Naruto's demeanor had shifted dramatically after the fight.

He appeared distant, his jaw clenched with tension, causing Sasuke to worry even more.

His boyfriend was usually a beacon of positivity, radiating sunshine and cheer, so it deeply unsettled Sasuke to witness this unfamiliar side of him. While Naruto had shown flashes of anger before, usually triggered by jealousy, this felt different.

It was an amalgamation of anger, sadness, and perhaps even bitterness, leaving Sasuke unable to pinpoint the exact emotion. All he knew was that if Kiba's statement about Naruto's parents had hurt him so deeply and likely struck a nerve, it was because the blond believed there was some truth to it.

Upon arriving home, Sasuke wasted no time in guiding Naruto to the bathroom, seating him on the closed toilet lid to tend to his bloodstained hand. The knuckles were inflamed, a vivid red hue marring the skin.

"Naruto." Sasuke began, his voice soft yet filled with earnest concern. The blond nodded in response, giving him permission to continue. "About what Kiba said... I understand if you don't want to discuss it, but I want you to know that the accident was not your fault." Naruto's memories of that day were hazy at best, but he had confided in Sasuke to some extent about what had transpired.

"I know, but..." Sasuke noticed Naruto's hand clenching into a fist out of the corner of his eye. "I may not have caused the accident directly, but it was my fault they were out driving so late." The tension in his voice was palpable as he spoke, and Sasuke gently placed his hand atop the blond's unbruised one, lightly squeezing it in consolation.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sasuke asked gently, his touch a source of comfort as Naruto held onto his hand tightly.

He remained uncommunicative for a long period of time, uncharacteristically silent, a stark contrast to his usual cheerful and talkative demeanor that made him always have something to say.

"My mom was a sweet lady," Naruto's voice caught slightly, his throat tightening with emotion. "A bit explosive at times... but sweet nonetheless." He managed a small laugh, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. "That's how I remember her, anyway. She had long red hair, and... well, I can't quite recall the color of her eyes. But I like to think they were blue, like mine." His smile was faint, tinged with sadness. "She was always so full of energy, like me. I remember her darting around the house, always busy with something — cleaning, baking, pottery, painting. Oh, and she was really into knitting too."