Chapter 1
you try to ignore it, and for the most part, you’re successful. you’re a shinobi—feelings like that are pointless. they get in the way, slow you down. so you tuck it deep, bury it under missions and training. but sometimes, it surfaces when you least expect it. and that makes everything worse.
like now.
the inn kakashi arranged is small. you weren’t expecting luxury, but this? the single bed shoved against the farthest wall feels more like a taunt than an actual sleeping arrangement.
“seriously?” sasuke mutters, eyeing it with clear disdain.
you shift beside him, rubbing the back of your neck, barely containing yourself. “it’s just for three nights.’’
he doesn’t look convinced.
the room itself is painfully simple—barely more than four walls and a cracked window letting in more cold air than you’d like. the blankets look thin, and the draft is biting.
you’re used to worse, but winter doesn’t exactly care.
the cold sets in quickly, and even as you pile on extra layers, it feels like your bones are freezing from the inside out. across the room, sasuke sits by the window, cloak pulled around him like a shield. even he seems irritated by the temperature, though he hides it better.
when it’s finally time to sleep, you hesitate by the edge of the bed, already dreading the inevitable closeness. the space is too small—no matter what you do, you’ll brush against him.
you try not to look as uncomfortable as you feel, but the second sasuke notices the distance you’re forcing, he sighs through his nose.
“just don’t get too close,” he mutters. the comment is dry, but it doesn’t exactly help.
“i wasn’t planning to.”
he doesn’t answer. just turns his back and settles down, clearly indifferent to your internal struggle.
you lie stiffly, keeping as much space between you as possible. it doesn’t matter. the cold presses in from all sides.
the shivering starts slow, just a faint tremble in your shoulders that grows worse the longer you lie there. even pulling the blanket tighter doesn’t help.
you grit your teeth, determined not to say anything. but apparently, you don’t have to.
sasuke shifts behind you, clearly not asleep either. after a long pause, he growls under his breath.
“come closer.”
you freeze. “what?”
“come closer. i can’t sleep with you shaking the whole damn bed.”
“i could sleep on the floor,” you mumble, though even as you say it, the idea feels ridiculous.
“shut up and come here before i change my mind.”
his tone leaves no room for argument.
“…o-ok.”
your face burns as you inch closer, awkwardly brushing against his back. he’s warm—almost uncomfortably so—and it takes everything in you not to focus on it.
he lets out a low breath, arm draping loosely over your waist like it’s nothing.
“relax,” he mutters. “it’s not like i’m gonna start anything”
you try. but it’s hard when he’s so close, his grip grounding you even as your heart races.
the trembling stops eventually, the warmth seeping in just enough for you to drift off.
but sasuke doesn’t move.
his breathing stays even, but he’s not sleeping. his body is painfully aware of yours—every shift, every soft exhale against his skin.
it’s irritating. you’re soft in a way he doesn’t expect, and somehow it makes it worse.
he’s not tense, but his mind is too sharp, too hyper-aware of the weight pressed against him.
at some point, you turn in your sleep, unconsciously nuzzling closer under his chin. his entire body locks up.
you don’t notice. arms loosely wrapping around him, you breathe softly against his neck, clearly lost in whatever dream pulled you under.
his hand hovers awkwardly for a second, unsure of what to do. he should push you away. he really should.
but he doesn’t.