Stellar

9. Forward

I legit teared up while writing this I love Sasuke and Kiba so much

::

Kiba Inuzuka felt like he was drowning.

No. It was less drowning, and more like someone was repeatedly shoving his head underwater and only pulling him out as his vision fades and he's ready for death. At random times, his chest would constrict and Kiba would have trouble breathing, his heart rate would speed up, his palms would pool with sweat, he felt like he was going insane.

When he mentioned it to Ino, mumbling out how it felt as she worked in the shop, she stared at him, close to tears. Ino's concerned face confused him, until she whispered: "Kiba, you're having panic attacks."

But Sasuke was there with him through it all, kneeling beside him and keeping him calm. Once, Kiba even caught his friend researching how to help someone through panic attacks or grief. He'd get him out of a public area and helped him count from one to ten, telling him to match his own even breathing. Sasuke would even sit beside him and listen to him tell a story about Hana, and on good days he'd tell Kiba about his family.

Sasuke's biggest growth in that time was getting through his own grief as quickly as possible to be there for Kiba, through everything. He missed Hana, of course he did. But Sasuke was no stranger to grief and mourning, and he was quick to accept it and be there for Kiba. Despite Sasuke's dislike for physical contact, he knew it was what comforted Kiba the most and went out of his way to hold his hand, brush their knuckles while they're walking, nudge his shoulder, and even hug him when he broke down.

Kiba smiled at Sasuke who laid asleep on the couch beside him, curled up with a snoring Akamaru. He noticed every small little thing Sasuke did to help, and he was eternally grateful.

He'd get better. For him.

::

"Hey, Ino?"

Ino hummed in confirmation that she was listening, sweeping the floor of the shop.

Kiba had taken to visiting Ino's family shop at least twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, just to sit by the counter and watch her work and talk. The small routine comforted him, knowing there was at least some structure he could rely on. A couple of months ago, Kiba would have rejected something as shackling as a schedule. He smiled sadly.

Well, he wasn't really Kiba from a few months ago, now was he?

"I was wondering if," Kiba glanced at the napping Akamaru who laid in his lap. "If that offer to help you around the shop still stands?"

Ino smiled, setting the broom against the wall. Dusting off her hands, she approached him at the counter. "Of course it is!"

::

Sasuke glanced at Kiba, who sat across from him puzzling over their math homework.

"You need to reverse the symbol," Sasuke told him, and Kiba grinned sheepishly. He quickly scrawled the equation down.

The room grew quiet once again, and Sasuke returned to his novel. Listening to the scratching of the pencil and the turn of the page, Sasuke eased into this peaceful feeling happily.

"Hey, Sasuke?"

Sasuke peered over his book, staring at his friend questioningly.

"I just wanted to say thank you." Kiba averted his gaze.