Telanadas

3

Author's Note: Some dialogue has been taken directly from Dragon Age: Origins but only to add context to the plot.

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For a time, all is quiet.

The night watch is Sasuke's preferred duty, offering him a chance to collect his thoughts. Kakashi might not be wrong about him being tightly wound, but he refuses to accept it is for the reasons suggested.

More likely, it is suddenly being in close quarters with an entire party of fighters who are all-but his equals. He is much more used to travelling and working alone, or at least working with underlings that do not insist on talking so much. Naruto and Sakura are so lively that it is sometimes overstimulating, and more often than not, confusing.

There is a sudden sharp, desperate intake of breath: a bitten off cry, followed by Sakura vaulting into a seated position. Sasuke's head whips up to evaluate the threat, noting her wide and terrified eyes, and the way her fingers twitch toward her axe. Across the cave, Naruto shudders in unconscious empathy, while Kakashi's breathing pauses. The mage's single visible eye cracks open, his entire body tense as if expecting an attack. When it settles on Sakura, his body relaxes.

He is used to this behaviour. They all are.

Though the mage does not get up to check on her—they have all learned not to mention the nightmares—he continues to watch her with concern.

Sasuke does not move, either.

It is common for Sakura or Naruto to wake in such an agitated manner. The former Templar mentioned to Sasuke once that the dreams are part of being a Warden, something to do with their secret initiation.

He seemed childishly put-out when Sasuke refused to ask him what was so secret about it.

Now, Naruto continues to snore away in the corner, so deeply asleep even a giant's bellow might not rouse him. He remains unaware of his fellow Warden's distress, and yet, if there were darkspawn falling upon their camp, he would be one of the first to his feet.

Another inexplicable quirk to being a Warden, Sasuke supposes, studying Sakura's face in the dark. Her expression is painfully familiar.

Sasuke knows what it is like to be gripped by night terrors. Though he does not wake in such a cold sweat after so many years, he recognises the disorientation and terror one experiences ripping oneself out of the Fade. In the early years, anyone who ventured close to him would be lucky to escape with mere bruises. After his time in Oto, anyone disturbing him after such a nightmare would be lucky to survive the trouble.

Sakura inhales a shuddering breath that on any other woman Sasuke might imagine was a terrified sob, before the rest of her senses wake as well. She seems to notice Sasuke's eyes on her, because she turns red, and looks away.

"Sorry," she mumbles.

He doesn't understand; why would she apologise for something she cannot control?

Still not looking at him, Sakura turns back around, pulling her blanket up around her ears with the determination of one who intends to chase sleep no matter what. What follows is a solid ten minutes of tossing back and forth, to the point Sasuke begins to grind his teeth in irritation. Finally, she gives it up as a bad job and rises, wrapping her cover around her. Sakura shuffles over to sit beside him, rubbing warmth into her forearms while leaning closer to the fire.

"I can spell you if you want," she offers. "Doubt I'm going to sleep much more tonight."

"I have already slept."