Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Soup's On	By : OfFansAndFlames Category: Naruto AU/AR > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1793 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters mentioned. I make no money on this fiction.

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"Soup's on!"

He wasn't any more enthusiastic to be in that smelly kitchen this week than he was the last. The same routine, different day. And as per usual, Naruto had announced the beginning of Sasuke's sentence with his typically obnoxious salutation. At best, there would sometimes be the slightest change in his inflection. Sasuke's body had committed his movements to muscle memory, and he moved effortlessly.

"Ya miss me?"

Sasuke plunnked Naruto's soup into his bowl, looking up at Naruto reluctantly.

"Not particularly."

Naruto smirked, as if he thought Sasuke were only joking.

"Honesty is a virtue, Sasuke."

"Who's lying?"

Naruto scoffed, again grabbing his soup and waiting for the other diners to clear out. Again, the same kids screamed and laughed down the aisles, the same seniors gummed at their meals, and the same adults yammered on into the evening. And again, during clean up, that familiar nitwit approached Sasuke.

"You're not staying again, are you?"

He'd get straight to the chase. He didn't want this guy sticking around, and he wasn't afraid to let him know.

"Not like I have anything else to do with my time."

Sasuke growled.

"You're getting really annoying. If you're going to stay, at least stop chattering at me."

Naruto looked hurt by the statement, staring towards his feet. Sasuke had been expecting some kind of joke from Naruto and felt a little uncomfortable at his change in demeanor. However, he hid it well. The man next to Sasuke, serving the main entree, spoke up.

"Don't be rude, Sasuke. Naruto, we'd love your company."

Naruto shook his head through a forced smile, his feet dragging his reluctant body away. It looked like it just about killed him to leave.

"No, it's alright. I'll go."

Sasuke's coworker cast him a glare. Wasn't this the definition of reverse psychology? Why did he feel guilty? It wasn't like him to pity others. Then again, he didn't think that was what he was doing at the moment. He honestly had yet to figure it out.

"Don't sulk. I got to go home five minutes earlier last week because of you, so your company isn't altogether horrible."

This was the best he could do, in terms of compliments. It was a crummy one at that, which probably made it seem like Sasuke was just using Naruto to get off work early. Regardless, Naruto whipped around, his face bright.

"Really?"

"Don't get a big head about it. That was a 'thanks for helping', not a marriage proposal."

The smile broadened as Naruto raced to the water bucket and ripped a rag away, wiping at the tables sloppily as water dripped onto the floor.

"I bet I can save you ten minutes this time!"

A few of Sasuke's coworkers glanced over at Naruto, who was quite obviously only making a bigger mess. Why wasn't he just telling this kid to leave again? Right, the guilt trip. And here he thought that he was immune to those...

"Slow down, moron. You're just making it worse."

Naruto scratched the back of his head as he smiled sheepishly, only now noticing the small puddle of water on the ground.

"Ah… Right. Sorry."

His new "helper" slowed his movements, brows scrunched as he cleaned as meticulously as he could. Sasuke couldn't help but find that somewhat endearing, despite himself.

"So, Sasuke… Are you in high school?"

"Yeah, I'm a sophomore."

"I would be too, if I went to school."

Sasuke perked a brow.

"They don't make you?"

Naruto grinned mischievously.

"Nope. I slipped through the cracks."

He had an urge to call Naruto lucky but quickly rethought it. As much as he loathed school (and his classmates), he was grateful for the opportunities it afforded him. He wondered what awaited Naruto, without so much as a high school education or hardly a penny to his name. So he merely grunted in reply, not knowing how to respond.

"But I gotta say, high school looks pretty interesting. Other than that part about dissecting frogs and climbing up ropes and dinging a bell. Who knows what that frog might've become? He could've even had a family, and I really like frogs."

A pout was on Naruto's face now. Sasuke sighed, scrubbing at a particularly stubborn chunk of tomato sauce.

"High school isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"You don't like it?"

"I don't like the people there, and a lot of the stuff we learn is totally pointless."

At Naruto's disappointment, Sasuke sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

"But I guess there are good parts too."

Naruto looked at Sasuke expectantly, like a child waiting for their parent to tell them a bedtime story.

"Like what?"

"Well, I really like my chemistry and anatomy classes. I want to be a doctor someday."

Naruto raised his brows, whistling.

"Impressive. You're one of the smart kids, aren't you? Even though you break people's noses, you seem like you'd be one of the smart ones."

Sasuke snickered, amused by the statement.

"Naturally. I learn quickly."

Naruto swatted his hand.

"That's the last time I compliment you! So conceited."

"So they tell me."

They had finished their work quickly. Sasuke was excused, waving at his supervisor before leaving the building. His supervisor smiled back, noticing that the gesture, as simple as it was, was considerably warmer than their prior interactions.

"So did I make it? Ten minutes early?"

Sasuke checked his cell phone.

"Yes, actually."

Sasuke sat down by the bench, since Itachi hadn't arrived yet. This wasn't surprising considering that he'd finished early. Naruto took a seat next to him, and Sasuke did not scoot away.

They conversed for the next hour, though perhaps this was more a soliloquy than a dialogue. However, Sasuke wasn't altogether unpleasant, at least acknowledging Naruto's questions with a response. Besides, Sasuke didn't have much to do either. As more time passed, Sasuke's responses grew shorter. He began to check his cell phone every minute or so, staring at the time compulsively.

"Don't be so impatient. Am I that horrible to talk to, or are you just missing the season finale of Desperate Housewives?"

"Hilarious."

He looked down at his phone again. Itachi was forty minutes late. Where was he? His brother was ordinarily so timely.

"Seriously, stop that. There's no rush, is there?"

"It's not that…"

Sasuke rested his forearms on his thighs, staring at the ground between his legs.

"Then what's got your feathers all ruffled, duckbutt?"

Sasuke glared at Naruto, though it lacked any real venom. He wished the kid would stop his nagging, but then again... Maybe his fears would lose some of their power once spoken.

"What if…something happened to him?"

Sasuke turned away, not wanting to see the expression on Naruto's face and not wanting Naruto to see the expression on his face. He hadn't wanted to say this, and it sounded stupid leaving his lips.

"Who, your brother?"

Sasuke nodded.

"He probably just got stuck in traffic or something."

Sasuke had heard that one before.

"It's been forty minutes, and he hasn't called."

"So? Stuff happens."

The Uchiha suspected that he was overreacting, perhaps fretting aimlessly. Anyone else in his situation would have perhaps been plagued by a vague worry, but would their heart be quickening like this? Would their forehead feel sweaty? Despite realizing this, he could not derail his thoughts.

"Yes, that's my point."

Sasuke picked up his cell phone, dialing Itachi's number. It went straight to voicemail. Sasuke roughly ended the call and shoved the phone in his pocket. Naruto sighed.

"Dude, you're being paranoid. People are late all the time."

Naruto was trying valiantly to reassure Sasuke, his tone light and calm.

"Yes, and accidents happen all the time. People get hurt all the time."

Sasuke's voice was quickly becoming agitated. Why was his mind doing this to him? Why was it making him remember what happened to his parents? The situation had not been much different from this one. He also waited that night, oblivious and unsuspecting. But he didn't want to get upset here. Not in front of this guy he'd only recently met.

"You're seriously bothered by this, aren't you?"

Naruto stared at Sasuke, who did his best to pretend that Naruto wasn't there.

"That's kind of weird."

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"You're calling me weird?"

Naruto beamed.

"I sure am."

There was a pause between them.

"It must be nice… Having someone to pick you up."

Sasuke glanced over at Naruto, who had a weak smile on his face. Sasuke had been caught up in his own head, and only now did he stop to consider Naruto's situation. At least he still had Itachi. Apparently, Naruto had no one. Where would he go after Sasuke left?

"I suppose it is."

There was another silence between them, when Naruto chimed in with his typically cheerfully tone.

"Come on, worrying won't get him here any faster. Just focus on my amazing conversational skills."

Naruto waggled his brows, playfully jabbing Sasuke in the arm.

"Well, thanks for the serenade."

Despite the tone of his voice, he was only being partially sarcastic. Sasuke tried to focus on what Naruto was saying, even though the other came off awkward and clueless. He wanted it to distract him, and he was beginning to feel better. Something about how authentic the guy was, how youthfully innocent despite his situation… It reassured Sasuke. Finally, Itachi's car pulled up. A relieved smile unconsciously presented itself on Sasuke's face.

"Hate to say I tooold you so."

It was alright. Itachi was okay after all.

"Shut up, jackass."

He quickly walked towards Itachi's car.

"See ya next week."

"Yeah, next week."

Sasuke swung himself onto the passenger seat and shut the door.

"Where were you?"

Itachi shook his head.

"Sasuke, I'm so sorry. My professor kept me late."

"You could've at least called me. Something could've happened to you!"

Sasuke wasn't angry at Itachi. He knew the man was trying his best, but he had to get out that horrible tight feeling he'd had in his chest. Itachi's brows furrowed.

"My cell phone battery died. It's okay, Sasuke. I'm fine."

Sasuke sulked, staring out the window.

"I'm sorry…" Itachi offered.

The younger Uchiha sighed.

"It's not your fault. After Mom and Dad, I guess I just worry."

The sound of wheels on an untended road filled the car.

"I know. Me too."
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Soup's On