The 𝙲𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 [SasuNaru]

Ｃｏｍｐａｓｓｉｏｎ

"Compassion isn't about solutions. It's about giving all the love that you've got."

-Cheryl Strayed.

~*~*~

For the last class of the day, Naruto had a seat next to his two favorite people in the world.

"I thought you had second lunch with us. I was going to ask did you notice the Specter?"

"Oh, Sasuke, yeah... He's interesting. I never knew that some Specters looked our age."

"You talked to him?" Shika had leaned closer. He spoke about the Specter like they had been friends for a long time.

"Not really. He's not much of a talker..." An image flashed through his mind of Sasuke smirking at him. Once again, he felt his face heat up. That lunch break was interesting once he made it back with the soda and cold water bottle.

"Here, the cold will help with the discomfort." He moved to place the bottle on his forehead at first Sasuke moved away.

"It'll help." He reassured and moved the water bottle gently over his crown, leaving a thin trail of water. "Why are you helping me? Is there something you want? Are there any particular things you would like me to do for you?" Naruto's mind immediately wandered to a dirty place.

"What!" The blonde jolt back dropping the bottle between them, "Shit sorry."

Sasuke felt his mouth turn upward for a microsecond as he watched the blonde desperately trying to grasp the bottle and fumbling with it.

"You should drink the soda it'll help." He said this while his eyes remained on the water bottle between them. Finally, he gave up and decided to grab the can instead. He noted the similarity between the can color and Sasuke's eyes.

It couldn't hurt, so Sasuke reached for the can Naruto was holding, their fingers brushing as he took hold of it, causing a brief static between their digits, but the blonde did not recoil.

As soon as he opened it, he heard a loud pop and, frizzing it looked like liquid tar. He was hesitant but Naruto nodded encouraging him to go through with it. When the caffeine touched the tip of his tongue, there was this rush he never tasted something so -what was this exactly? He locked eyes with Naruto who was watching the scene play out.

"So, how is it?"

"I cannot quite place it?" It was overwhelming to his muted tastebuds. He was used to oats, fish, and some fresh fruits, but the sweetness of the fruit did not compare.

"It's sweet and that frizz you see is called carbonation."

"You never answered my question." Those deep red pools bore into Naruto's own, causing him to look away as a soft pink tint spread across the bridge of his nose. Sasuke had sat the can down he was over this drink.

"There's no ulterior motive. I know what it's like to be treated as if you're radioactive. Once people found out I was supposed to die but didn't, they felt the Specters had some sort of target on my back, and nobody wanted to be caught in the crosshairs." He rubbed the back of his head coyly. Still not meeting Sasuke's gaze.

"Humans are too superstitious. There is no target on your back it was just not your time."

"That's what my friends keep telling me but hearing it come from you is more profound. I guess you could say." He chuckled. Sasuke rose as did Naruto. "Whelp I won't bug you any further." He turned to walk to the class he ditched.

"I wouldn't say you are bothering me. You have been helpful. I want to ask for your help on something."

Naruto instantly perked up, "You need my help!? Me?" He pointed a finger at himself to be sure.