diet mountain dew

Sasuke checked the Google invite her father had sent her for the third time. The message was simple and to the point, comprised of little more than a time, place, and occasion. No doubt everyone had received the same message, distant acquaintances, and family alike. Sasuke soured a bit at the formality of it all, even if her mother had sent her a separate message stating that she was welcome to spend the night.

“What’s got you down?” Naruto squeezed between Sasuke and the armrest and propped her chin atop Sasuke’s shoulder. Sasuke angled her phone so Naruto could read the invite. “Oof, that sucks,” she made a sympathetic noise. “I just know you’re gonna be bored out of your mind.”

That was the least of Sasuke’s concerns, but she hummed along anyway. “I’m going whether I like it or not.”

Naruto wrapped her arms around Sasuke’s shoulders and pulled so her head lay against the cushion of Naruto’s chest. “You sure about that? Say you came down with something,” Naruto whispered into her ear, lips grazing Sasuke’s ear before darting forward to give her cheek a harsh suck.

Sasuke jumped. Her hand smacked against her cheek to protect any further assault before she spun around to glare at Naruto. “What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed, already pulling out her phone camera to check if she’d left a mark.

Naruto burst into laughter. “Behold! A deadly case of Sasuke pox!”

To Sasuke’s horror there was a small patch of reddened skin on her cheekbone. She scowled and aimed a light smack at Naruto’s cheek. “I hate you.”

“You love me,” Naruto sung back and stretched up to occupy the space where Sasuke once sat. Refusing to let Naruto steal her seat, Sasuke sat pointedly atop Naruto’s thighs and leant back to smoother the blonde in her hair. Unexpectedly, Naruto just brushed Sasuke’s hair out of her face. Sasuke could hear her grin as she shifted to make herself comfortable and wrapped her arms around Sasuke’s midsection. “I kinda like this position,” Naruto muttered.

Sasuke blushed. “You’re a freak,” she retorted and pulled out her phone.

“Man, how many times are you going to read that?”

Her thumb froze over the screen. “Shut up,” Sasuke muttered. She hated how obvious her anxiety was. It was entirely unreasonable; her parents were good people and they’d never hurt her intentionally. Sasuke should be excited to see them, not this strange coagulation of nerves and anticipation.

“You know if you’re that nervous, I could come with you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re not on the invite.”

Warm hands danced along her back before pulling strands of Sasuke’s hair into a deft braid. “So what? What’re they gonna say?” Naruto deepened her voice and proclaimed loudly, “No, Sasuke! How dare you bring a friend!”

Sasuke stayed silent in quiet contemplation. Could she? Surely, her father wouldn’t be angry. Still, the thought of his mild disapproval was enough to stop her in her tracks. “I’m not sure my father will approve.”

“Who cares. I’m your girlfriend. Worst case scenario, I’ll put on some sob story about having nowhere to go and then you’ll be the hero! Besides,” Naruto’s fingers slowed, “you helped me a lot with my dad. I want to return the favor. I’ll stay quiet and everything, promise.”

“You? Being quiet? Now that’s tempting.”

Naruto giggled into her ear. “Don’t get too ahead of yourself. I have to get there first. What do you say?”

The thought of Naruto being right beside her was comforting. Her father wouldn’t dare say anything too hurtful if her friend was there. Hell, Sasuke was an adult with her own apartment. It wasn’t like she’d have to live with her parents’ disapproval. If there was one thing Sasuke was good at, it was shoving her feelings into a nice little box in the corner of her mind and pretend it didn’t exist. “Fine,” she settled on before she could change her mind. “But know they’re very traditional so if you don’t mind… toning things down.”

Sasuke felt guilty about asking Naruto to change herself, but Naruto didn’t seem to find any issue. She chirped, “yes sir,” and that was that.

“This is it?” Naruto gaped at the Uchiha family home. Really, it was closer to a mansion than anything else with sprawling green lawns, a literal fountain in the driveway, and ornate white detailing on the exterior. Shame fluttered in her gut at the inadvertent flaunt of her wealth. Not for the first time, Sasuke wished her parents had an ounce of humility.

They finally made it to the doorstep. Sasuke straightened her dress, making sure it was appropriately long and combed out any tangles that might’ve crept into her hair. She gave Naruto a similar once over. After a bit of urging on Sasuke’s end, the blonde had donned a dull pink dress over the hot pink monstrosity she’d initially picked out. It was still a tad too tight for modesty’s sake and Sasuke prayed her parents wouldn’t comment on it. Finally, she cemented herself and reached for the doorbell.

“Wait.”

Sasuke turned her head to glance back at Naruto. “What—”

Naruto swooped in and planted a peck onto Sasuke’s lips. “For luck,” Naruto explained and pressed the doorbell before Sasuke could retort.

Hardly a second later, Itachi opened the door in a tasteful suit. A slight smile played on his lips as he greeted them with open arms. “Naruto,” Itachi spoke to the blonde first. “I’m glad you’re here. Welcome to the Uchiha family home.”

“Way to greet your sister,” Sasuke grumbled without any real heat.

Itachi shot her an amused look over his shoulder before herding Naruto towards the dining room.

Fugaku spotted them first. Sasuke steeled herself for what he’d say next. Instead of demanding what Naruto was doing here, he simply gave Sasuke a nod and offered a hand to Naruto. “I’m Fugaku, Sasuke’s father.”

Naruto grasped his hand enthusiastically and Sasuke watched in real time as Fugaku’s brow furrowed at the strength of Naruto’s grip. “Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke’s friend,” she replied enthusiastically.

“Good to see Sasuke’s keeping such amicable company,” Fugaku remarked before his flat black eyes pinned onto Sasuke. “Your mother is in the kitchen.” The underlying go help her went unsaid, but Sasuke nodded nonetheless and took the opportunity to flee. Admittedly, not her best moment.

Mikoto was by far the more enthusiastic of the two. She wrapped Sasuke in a gentle hug and, to her surprise, did the same to Naruto. “Nice to meet you. It’s rare for Sasuke to bring friends around, you must be close.”

“We are.” Naruto grinned like an idiot while she spoke. “Sasuke’s my best friend.”

Sasuke hummed in agreement. “Do you need any help?”

Mikoto wiped her brow. “I’m about done with cooking, but I could use a few extra hands setting the table.” She gestured to the dozens of dishes that occupied their island, each with its own garnish and cradled by spotless porcelain plates.

“On it.” Sasuke grabbed three at once and retreated to the dining room with Naruto at her heels. A few other men had arrived, dressed impeccably as they conversed with her father and Itachi at the table. Sasuke offered pleasantries as she placed down the food.

“You’ve grown since I last saw you,” Shikaku remarked. So had he, Sasuke thought. There were new stress lines marring his face, yet his face slid into a smile with practiced ease the same way her father frowned.

“I’d hope so,” she said mildly.

Shikaku chuckled. “You’re sharp as ever, Sasuke.” His eyes darted over to Naruto who was emerging from the kitchen with arms piled high with plates. They tottered unsteadily in her arms, but Naruto walked with confidence as she set about unloading the six plates she’d managed to cart over. “Who’s this?”

“I’m Naruto Uzumaki!” Naruto said brightly as she placed food down haphazardly.

“Making friends, I see.” Shikaku tilted his head. “I’m graced to be in the presence of such bright young ladies.”

Naruto, likely unused to this type of flattery blushed. “So am I,” she quipped.

There was a moment of quiet as they all processed at Naruto’s slight. Sasuke wasn’t sure it was intentional, and her attention drifted subconsciously towards her father’s grimace before Shikaku burst into laughter. “Keep that sense of humor about you, it’s rarer than you think.”

“Pinkie promise.” Naruto gave him a mischievous grin and darted back into the kitchen.

A fond expression pulled at Sasuke’s lips. Sasuke tried and failed to smother it, before choosing to hide her face by straightening the food Naruto had placed down. “I’m needed in the kitchen,” she explained to Shikaku before following behind Naruto.

Soon enough, another half dozen guests arrived in succession. She busied herself in the greetings and helping her mother, before she knew it, it was time to eat. Sitting at the adult table was still a new concept to Sasuke. She’d been sent off to the children’s table well after her eighteenth birthday. It was strange being amongst the adults and engaging in small talk as they dug into Mikoto’s painstakingly prepared food.

The conversation eventually drifted towards school, as things tended to do when Sasuke was in her parents’ presence. Unfortunately, Naruto was their impromptu target. “Your parents must be proud of you for entering such a prestigious university,” Fugaku commented dryly. The odd edge of defensiveness that had been plaguing him that night became more pronounced as he spoke.

“Honestly, I got in on a fluke.” Naruto stretched her arms out in a casual gesture that Sasuke would’ve thought endearing if it wasn’t for the dinner’s stifling atmosphere. Instead, it came off crude and unrefined as she smiled lazily at them. “My dad is just happy I got into a university. For a while there, it was looking like I’d be a dropout. Thankfully, I managed to clean myself up before junior year and pulled through admissions on a sob story and half decent grades.”

At Naruto’s less than shining response, Fugaku looked satisfied rather than disgusted. No doubt he’d been concerned about the status of Sasuke’s university if someone as “unrefined” as Naruto managed to make it in. Her father was content with the assumption that Naruto had skated through life on the ticket of poverty. No doubt, he would send her off with a speech about choosing the right people to be around et cetera.

“Mrs. Uzumaki, what are you studying?” Sarutobi prompted. Sasuke never liked him much, he was kind yet… condescending.

Thankfully, Naruto had the grace to swallow before responding. “Education. I’ve always wanted to be an elementary school teacher.”

“How… quaint,” Fugaku nodded slowly. “With your differing interests, I’m surprised you and Sasuke’s paths overlapped”

“Naruto and I were paired for a chemistry project. She’s surprisingly nimble minded,” Sasuke cut in easily. Her inflation of Naruto’s capability, real or not, hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“You’re no slacker yourself,” Sarutobi responded. His wrinkled hands came up to stroke his silver beard as he glanced at Sasuke before landing on Naruto and slipping to the blonde’s cleavage. “If either of you bright young ladies desired, I would be happy to spare a position at my office.”

Naruto cocked her head in surprise. “You’d really do that for someone you just met?”

“Why, I’d give anything to help shape the minds of the future.” As if, Sasuke thought viciously. She never liked the old man.

Sasuke stiffened subtly and cleared her throat to reign in Sarutobi’s attention. “Thank you for the offer but forget about us for tonight. It’s Itachi’s time to shine, after all.” Itachi, who’d been left relatively unbothered for the first time in hours shot her an annoyed look before catching the slip of desperation on her features. She pleaded with her eyes, and he gave a slight dip of chin before smiling charmingly at their guests.

“I couldn’t have come this far without everyone here. You’ve all been a guiding force in my life.”

“Don’t undervalue your own hard work,” Fugaku commanded rather than soothed. “You are my son; it is to be expected from all of you,” his dark eyes landed on Sasuke, and she stiffened under the invisible weight of his expectations.

The dinner finally drifted towards Itachi’s newfound position and Naruto was spared her parents’ scrutiny the rest of the night. Mikoto brought out chocolate cake for dessert and Sasuke watched with no small amount of amusement as Naruto amassed a smudge of chocolate on her cheek. She wiped it away with a slight scolding and caught the tail end of Itachi’s smugness before he turned back to converse with Shikaku.

“It was lovely meeting you, Ms. Uzumaki.” Sarutobi dipped his head in farewell. “And Sasuke is always a pleasure,” he directed the last comment at Fugaku rather than Sasuke herself.

“Give Asuma and his lovely wife my regards,” Fugaku said back.

Their farewells couldn’t have come sooner, and Sasuke restrained her urge to slump like heathen when the final guest filed out of the door.

“That was fun,” Naruto said and patted her stomach contently. “Your mom’s a five-star cook.”

“If only Sasuke inherited her talents,” Itachi mused.

Sasuke glanced out the window to make sure no one was loitering close enough to see before she slammed an elbow into her brother’s midsection. He choked on his breath and doubled over. “Don’t talk like you did either,” she grumbled.  

Itachi pulled himself up using her shoulder as a handhold.

“Sasuke really is the more manly of the two,” Naruto commented. At Sasuke’s glare she raised her hands cheekily. “Don’t worry, I’m into it.”

“As long as you like it,” Itachi muttered and rubbed his sore midsection with a wince. “I think I almost thew up.”

The front door clicked as it opened and the two siblings immediately shot ramrod straight. As her father came into view, Sasuke laughed to fill the silence and remarked, “that was awfully quick.” Her parents had a habit of lingering outside for the better part of an hour during their goodbyes.

Instead of a response, Fugaku whirled onto Naruto and stabbed a worn finger in her direction. “Where did you get that?” Fugaku demanded and it took Sasuke a moment to realize he was squinting at her wrist.

Naruto frowned confusedly. “What?”

“That bracelet, where did you get it?” Fugaku repeated with forced calm.

Naruto’s hand migrated down to rub at the woven gold band. “I swear I didn’t steal it! I got it from—” She glanced at Sasuke for help, but Fugaku took it as an admission of guilt.

 “Sarutobi asked me about your relations with my son,” Fugaku growled. “He implied an engagement, as if I’d allow my son to do anything of the sort. But I need you two to be clear with me, is there anything between you two?” he demanded Itachi.

Sasuke would’ve found amusement in the situation if she wasn’t scared out other wits. Before things could escalate, or worse, her brother would incriminate himself to spare her the lecture, she stepped forward and announced, “I gave it to her.”

Fugaku’s eyes widened factionally, mind landing on the unsavory truth that made his lip curl. “You and—”

“Are you mad?” Sasuke snapped back. Her sharpness cut through her father’s anger, and she prayed he could mimic the dispassionate disgust on her features properly. Naruto winced in the corner of her eye in a way that suggested she was doing it a little too well. “You got me that for my birthday in a size too large. She complemented it while we were getting ready, and I was too stupid to consider the implications.”

Fugaku was still angry, but the worst of the flames died down as he said back, “I could’ve sized it down if you asked.”

“I don’t wear gold,” Sasuke replied. “It washes me out.” It sounded silly and frivolous when said with such conviction, but her father took it as another girly thing he wouldn’t understand and shook his head while muttering under his breath.

His stony features faltered and Sasuke caught the embarrassment lurking beneath. Too thick headed to apologize, he stormed off towards her parents’ bedroom.

The door swung open a second time for a frowning Mikoto to hurry through. “I heard yelling,” she huffed.

Sasuke shrugged and pointed to her father’s retreating figure. “He’s worked himself up,” she remarked, annoyance evident and twirled around to start emptying the dining table with excessive force.

Naruto soon joined her. Sasuke didn’t offer any words of comfort that she should’ve, too afraid of the response, but just before she left for the kitchen, Naruto caught her eyes and smiled. Thank you, she mouthed and went back to work.

The next few hours passed in a blur of disposing of leftovers and washing dishes. At some point, Mikoto returned from Fugaku’s side and gave them a tight-lipped smile. “It’ll be alright. He just needs time,” she assured them.

Sasuke didn’t doubt that they’d awaken next morning to her parents acting as if nothing had ever happened.

It was well past midnight when Sasuke and Naruto retreated to Sasuke’s bedroom.

Naruto immediately dove onto Sasuke’s bed with a soft oof and stretched out her limbs. “Man, I’m tired,” she sighed. Sasuke didn’t reply, so Naruto sat up and caught her with a soft-hearted look. “Don’t be upset about earlier. I’m over it.”

Sasuke bit her lip and cast her gaze to the perfectly polished hardwood. “Aren’t you doing to ask if I’m ashamed of you?”

Naruto held out her hand. “C’mere.” She beckoned Sasuke closer. When Sasuke obliged, Naruto tugged her down onto the mattress and cradled Sasuke against her chest. Gentle kisses peppered her face and cheeks and brought out a reluctant smile from Sasuke. “I don’t care what everyone else thinks as long as you love me,” she whispered and gave Sasuke’s chin a peck.

Sasuke’s breath hitched her chest, and she drew her hand up to guide Naruto’s mouth onto hers. They kissed more passionately this time until their lungs heaved, and they were forced to pull away to catch their breath.

Heat curled up in her belly and when Sasuke gazed at Naruto with hooded eyes, Naruto seemed to sense it too

“Are we doing this?” Sasuke muttered.

Naruto grinned cheekily down at her and slung a leg across Sasuke to straddle her torso. The hem of her pink dress rode up her thigh and this might just be the hottest thing Sasuke’s ever seen. “I dunno, are we?” she asked.

For the first time Sasuke was at a loss for words. “Yeah. I think so,” she breathed dumbly.

“Good,” Naruto remarked and rolled her hips experimentally against her stomach. A soft sigh escaped her, and she leant close to whisper into Sasuke’s ear. “Let’s make this the best fuck-you ever.”

Suddenly, Sasuke was reminded of her parents sleeping soundly a few doors down. She snorted and reached up to tease Naruto’s top down her shoulders. “Yes, please.”

Naruto let Sasuke struggle with her top for a minute before pulling undoing it herself. “At this rate, we’ll be done next Tuesday,” she commented and gestured for Sasuke to do the same.

The pair wrestled their restrictive dresses off and threw them onto the floor in tandem.

Warm hands landed on Sasuke’s abdomen and trailed upwards to leave goosebumps prickling up in their wake. “Better,” Naruto remarked casually as if her very touch wasn’t setting Sasuke on fire.

Sasuke was suddenly reminded that she very much had no clue was she was doing and chose to squeeze Naruto’s rack. It prompted a sharp inhale from Naruto, and she opened her mouth with an apology ready on her tongue when Naruto just giggled and slid Sasuke’s bra down to fully expose her breasts.

Sasuke went still as Naruto leant forward to kiss her collar. A hand groped her blindly, drawing a furious blush to her cheeks. Yet, past the embarrassment, she had to admit the sensation of lips slipping down her skin felt good.

Naruto gave one final nip at her chest that made her breath hitch embarrassingly and withdrew.

 “You’re such a pretty pink, Sasuke,” Naruto teased from on top of her.

“You’re pretty, too,” Sasuke choked out as Naruto thumbed at her nipple.

A slow grin spread across pink lips. “I’m glad we finally found something you’re not good at.”

Sasuke scowled in an admittedly piss poor attempt to be intimidating. “That’s because it’s my first time,” she quipped but saying it aloud didn’t have the intended effect and she turned a deeper red.

“I’ll teach you, okay?” Naruto undid her bra and Sasuke’s eyes shot to her breasts without permission. Her mouth went dry.

“I—”

“Just take it slow,” Naruto said and began rolling her hips against Sasuke’s.

Pleasure came in soft, dull waves and before she knew it, Sasuke’s eyes fluttered close. “That’s good,” she breathed.

A finger dipped past her underwear, and she tensed slightly as it rubbed against her in circles. Her hips jerked involuntarily, and Naruto went to press against her hole. Sasuke’s eyes shot open, “I don’t think—”

Naruto’s hand abandoned her easily and went back to rubbing through her clothes. “Okay, tell me whenever,” Naruto said, and Sasuke felt a warm rush of sheer admiration bubble through her.

Sasuke reached up and grabbed Naruto’s breasts a second time. She held the soft flesh in her hands and kneaded, watching as Naruto’s brows furrowed slightly and a light dusting of pink settled on her cheeks.

Slowly, the heat building her lower region began to crest and Sasuke let an audible gasp escape her. “I think-I think I’m close.”

Naruto didn’t reply, but her tongue poked out in concentration as her hips moved with renewed fluidity. With a final aborted sigh, Sasuke melted into the mattress, biting her lower lip to suffocate the sound that threatened escape.

Naruto rocked against her through her orgasm and before she knew it, Naruto settled atop of her to nuzzle her face against Sasuke’s cheek. “You like it?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Sasuke whispered back. This felt so intimate and fragile that she worried even the slightest movement would make it shatter. She held her breath and closed her eyes. Sleep came before she knew it.

Sasuke trudged into the kitchen sluggishly. Much to her displeasure, she’d acquired a habit of waking up at five, regardless of the occasion and failed to fall back asleep. After savoring Naruto’s warmth for an hour, she wriggled out of bed, threw on a pair of shorts and a wife beater, and slipped downstairs for some water.

She filled a glass from the filter and leant against the counter to sip her drink in thought. She considered making everyone breakfast, but the memory of her father’s indignant rage flashed in her mind, and she decided against it.

“Morning,” Itachi called from by the staircase.

Sasuke raised a brow and proceeded to finish her drink before replying. “You’re up early.”

“I could say the same,” Itachi said and went to get his own glass of water.

Sasuke hummed noncommittally and set back to go upstairs when Itachi called. “Wait.”

She turned around, a frown playing at her lips. “If this is about yesterday, I’m over it.”

Itachi shook his head and pointed down. It was then that Sasuke realized he was wearing the tacky shirt Naruto insisted on buying him.  “Tell Naruto thanks for the gift.”

“It’s one of a kind,” Sasuke agreed. Her frown morphed into a fond smile. “You don’t even want to know the trouble we got into to get that.” she added, remembering the altercation that’d followed. Thankfully, Ino hadn’t made a move to press charges, somehow, Sasuke thought that Sakura and Ino’s little chat after the truth got out had something to do with that.

Itachi laughed and motioned her to follow him into the living room. It’d been a while since they had one of their sister-brother chats.

Sasuke slumped onto the sofa with grace worth of Naruto’s, which is to say none at all.

“Nice tattoo.”

Sasuke tensed, eyes shooting from Itachi to down her front, where her shirt had indeed rolled up to expose the small black key she’d gotten done. “I swear, you better keep—"

Itachi raised his hands nonthreateningly. “I won’t, promise. Besides, you’ve kept quiet about me doing much worse. Honestly, I’m surprised it took you this long to rebel.”

Sasuke rolled her eyes. “I’m not rebelling.”

“Oh, so the girlfriend isn’t rebellion, either?”

Sasuke sprung over to mash her hand over Itachi’s mouth. “Quiet,” she hissed, searching for her parents to pop out of some hidey hole or another. Knowing her luck, it was a very real possibility. When the coast was clear, she dropped her hand and whispered back, “how do you know about that?”

Itachi raised a brow. “C’mon, I’m not blind. The hand holding, sleepovers, bracelet sharing—I’m not mom and dad, I can see the signs in front of me.” Sasuke opened her mouth to refute but he ignored her and continued, “besides, the kiss and matching tattoos didn’t help.”

When did they kiss? Sasuke thought wildly and her mind arrived at the peck Naruto had given her outside the front door. “You were spying on me?” she demanded.

“If you consider looking out the peephole, spying,” Itachi quipped back. “I don’t care—if that’s what you’re worried about. Honestly, I’m just glad you have someone. God, maybe I’d like a nice, kindhearted boy to sweep me off my feet,” Itachi joked in an attempted to lighten the mood.

“I knew that” Sasuke refuted. Itachi may be many things, but homophobic wasn’t one of them.

Itachi smiled at her and pulled Sasuke into a tight hug. His long hair tickled her face as he spoke. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m here for you and I support you.”

Sasuke’s chest swelled with a soft, fuzzy feeling she’d been feeling a lot recently. “I know that,” she replied. “I’m here for you too.”