I Want to Protect You
Sasuke grumbled the entire way out of the hideout, it was massive so it took a moment to find the exit. When he did, he saw Orochimaru waiting for him, "Now now Sasuke-kun, you need to be careful, your shoulder's broken and you have several injuries all over your body. Let me help you." before Sasuke could protest Orochimaru scooped him up like a child, "HEY, PUT ME DOWN!!"
They just chuckled, "Sorry Sasuke-kun, you're far too injured to be walking to the city on your own, tell me where your lover is and I’ll take you there."
Sasuke would have protested that they weren’t lovers, but this was Orochimaru, they knew Sasuke very well so he stayed silent. “Well?? I know you’re staying in the city, but I don’t know where, so let me know where I need to go.”
Orochimaru got a better grip on the boy in their arms before they were off, walking through the woods in cloudy weather was different than walking in the day or night.
Sasuke did his best to not think about how he was being carried, ‘This is humiliating’ he hopes he can convince Orochimaru to put him down before Naruto sees him, cause he definitely wants to ocean eyed boy to see him being carried like a child cause he was too weak.
He sighed as he relaxed into the hold the snake had on him, it was kinda nice being carried like this, not that he’d ever admit that.
The journey was mostly silent, the occasional bird or the sound of wind breaking it. The city came into sight and they slowed down and started walking more stealthily.
They took all back turns with Sasuke mumbling directions ever now and then, soon enough they were in front of the building, “I can go from here, see ya, Orochimaru.” he then tries to wiggle out of the snake sannin’s grasp, “Oh but I was wanting to talk to Naruto, it’s been so long and I he would love to know his beloved cousin is still around.”
They laughed softly as they walked up the stairs, grip on Sasuke getting tighter since he was trying to get out of their arms.
He was softly cussing them out, hoping that Naruto would not see him like this, the gods seemed to be in his favor this time. “Uchiha, you’re alright!” he turned to see Hirano-san standing there, she was holding a broom, “Quick, come inside, Uzumaki has been worried sick about you.”
Orochimaru walked into the home, they set Sasuke on the floor so they could remove their sandals, said boy shrugged his off too. He smacked his sensei’s hands before they could pick him up again, he stood up with a wince, making his way to the table.
The sannin sat next to him, Hirano-san coming back into the room with some tea, “You must be hungry, let me see if I can make you something.”
He heard her moving around the kitchen, the smell of food was wafting over to where the young boy sat. He really was hungry, but he’s not surprised he didn’t notice it earlier.
She came back into the room with 2 small bowls of rice, she set them down on the table, “Sorry it’s not much, I’m almost out of food, I’ll need to go shopping tomorrow if we are to eat.”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it….” They trailed off. “Nozomi Hirano” they smiled, “Hirano-san, I’m grateful you’re offering me food when you know you don’t have any left. I can go buy you some groceries after I eat.”
She blinked in surprise, her waving a bit, “No no, it’s quite alright, you don’t have to do that, uh” “Orochimaru Koumanda” “Koumanda-san, I appreciate that you brought Uchiha here, Uzumaki and Haruno were really worried about him, I had to force him to lie down.” she smiled warmly at that, while Sasuke’s cheeks did not flush, nope.
Definitely not
From Orochimaru’s chuckling, they must have seen it. Hirano-san had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye, so she probably saw it too.
Damn it all
They ate in relative silence after that, he got knowing looks from both Hirano-san and Orochimaru throughout the entire thing. Why do they have to be so perceptive?? He does not want his feelings for the idiot blond acknowledged.
Orochimaru was the one to clean up the dishes, even though Hirano-san insisted that she could do it.
They left and said they’d be back with some food, shutting the door quietly to not wake the sleeping blond. Hirano insisted that he takes her futon while he recovers from his broken shoulder, but he kept declining.
“Alright, just don’t push yourself, just cause you’re from a time of war doesn’t mean you have to forgo things now.” he stopped and turned to her, he couldn’t have heard that right, “W-what?”
“Uzumaki and Haruno ended up telling me everything, I don’t think that was in their original plans, but they were so worried about you.” she helped him stand up even though he protested, and opened the door to the room, there the blond was, he was asleep but his brows were furrowed, he was probably having a bad dream.
His chest ached at the thought, the jinchuuriki deserved the world, he wanted to protect the blond from anything and everything. He sadly realized he might be the reason the sun is having bad dreams. He falls to his knees, he leans over the love of his life, he stares at the boy’s face.
He shuffles so he’s over Naruto’s body and slowly lowers himself so he can sleep on the boy and hopefully rid him of nightmares. He cuddles closer, he wraps his good arm around the blond while he keeps the bad one close to his chest. He sighs, not even caring that Hirano-san might still be there, he just wanted to sleep, and to protect this boy.
He let his mind wander in an attempt to fall asleep, as he falls asleep he swears he feels arms wrap around him, clutching him tight.