Twisted

Don't Let Go

Boruto knew from experience that descending a wall from a rope barefoot was not fun. He'd done it from his bedroom window more than a few times. And walking through the town barefoot was even worse, because there were always sharp pointy things that got stuck in between the cobblestone rocks.

That was why, he devised a plan to get Sarada down without the use of her feet.

With one arm wrapped around her waist, he hauled her up onto the window ledge.

"...Boruto? W-What are you doing?"

The sound of his name spoken without squealing, without some sort of submissiveness, no hint of authority or his princely title attached... From now on, he was just Boruto. He could get used to this.

"I'm getting you down," he said, tugging on the rope one more time for good measure. "Do me a favor and loop your arm through that basket."

"I-I don't know if I want to--"

He leaned back and made her entire back go rigid against his chest.

"I-I think I'd rather not--"

But try as she might, Sarada couldn't escape the hold of his arm on her waist. "Don't have much of a choice, do you gloomy?"

"I hate you."

He smiled. "Good. Because if you liked me, I wouldn't be doing this."

"What is that supposed to meeaaaann?!"

As she finished her sentence, Boruto tugged her to the edge, holding the rope with one hand and her with the other, putting his boots securely against the wall where the stones were sticking out. His back at a nice 80 degree angle to the ground, and the rope was still sturdy with his and Sarada's weight.

She was securely strapped to his chest by means of his arm, her own feet finding the stones, her head on his shoulder. Just like a perfectly safe decent from the castle spire where his room was, except with a little extra weight on his chest. So far, so good.

Except for the fact that gloomy was clinging to his forearm for dear life.

"If we're going to climb down, I'm going to need you to hold this rope with at least one of your hands," he said gently into her hair.

"I..."

"I'll keep my arm here until you do. Don't worry, you're not gonna fall."

She let go, and then tried to sit up. "I-I don't think I can do this... I want to go back... Put me back..."

"Well," said Boruto, suddenly letting some slack fall through the hand that was gripping the rope and earning a yelp from the girl under his arm. "I suppose I can get us down even if you don't hold on."

"What are you--"

More slack, and a step down.

"Boruto--"

A little more slack and another step. This was actually working pretty well. But he was going to have serious rope burn on his right hand.

"Would you just--"

Another step and she was scrambling to hold onto the rope. Immediately, some of the weight was lifted from his chest. He smiled. "There we go."

"I really hate you!"

"I'm doing this for your own good, ya know... Now." He readjusted, walking both legs up until they were in line with hers. "Don't take your feet off my boots. And just cross your hands over the rope, one after the other, like this," he said, gently releasing his hold on her waist and bringing his other arm up to the rope.