Chapter Text
Goldenrod and the four H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone
It’s a balmy summer evening, the day Sasuke’s world is turned upside down.
He had walked with Naruto to the hospital for a dull ache in his right shoulder and came out with a renowned outlook on the world and a death certificate.
"Osteosarcoma," Tsunade had told them, her voice as gloomy as the expression she was wearing. ‘I’m sorry, Naruto.’
"Sorry, what for?" Naruto laughed, scratching the back of his head with his left hand but the hard look on Tsunade’s face made his smile die down. "This… Ostesacorma you said? You can treat it, right?"
Tsunade shook her head, eyes low and the implication felt like a punch to Sasuke’s stomach.
"What do you mean no? What happens then? What even is that?!" Sasuke didn’t even realise he had raised his voice. His heart seemed to grow more erratic for each second they went without answers.
"Cancer of the bone." She replied, tight-lipped, almost clinical in an attempt not to let emotion seep into her words. "Eating away at your body for over a year. It’s too late now, I’m sorry, Naruto."
The weight of Tsunade’s words knocked the air out of his lungs.
He gaped, brain going a mile a minute before turning to Naruto and feeling all his thoughts halt at once.
He could not read the expression on Naruto’s face at all.
Blue eyes stared ahead without really looking, his hands clenched on the fabric of his trousers and Sasuke could have sworn he saw his shoulders shake.
"Naruto–" he started, reaching out to squeeze his arm in an attempt at soothing his nerves.
"How long–" said Naruto, his voice cracking just as much as Sasuke’s heart. "How long?" He just repeated it, seemingly unable to let out anything else.
"No more than six months." Naruto took a sharp breath, and Sasuke was sure all air had escaped his lungs now. "I’m so–"
"It’s okay." Naruto interrupted her, eyes neither looking at her nor Sasuke, but rather lost in the space in between. "It’s fine."
Sasuke felt his throat hurt because this was not fine. How could Naruto even suggest this was fine? He turned angrily, ready to scream how not fine all of this was to Naruto’s face but before any word could leave his mouth, he felt a hand slip into his own and he really couldn’t bring himself to yell when Naruto was gripping him, hollow and scared and trembling.
He squeezed his hand. Maybe, they could find a way to make this fine for as long as possible.
Sasuke comes back a day later. Tsunade had asked Naruto to stay in order to run a couple more tests and talk alone. He stands outside his hospital room, a bouquet of flowers clutched in his right hand and the weight of the world on his shoulders.
When a nurse opens the door for him he takes in a deep breath, trying to steady his heart and prepare himself to see Naruto with this new awareness, this new burden. He steps inside.
Naruto is sitting up on the bed, white sheets rumpled over his legs and a thin pillow pressed in between his lower back and the bed frame. His head snaps towards the door immediately and he flashes Sasuke one of those smiles he normally would not be able to tear his eyes from; he would love to bask in the warmth of Naruto’s beam, but all he can look at is the IV in his arm.
"Sasuke!" He calls, way too cheerful to match the look on Sasuke’s face, a stark contrast to how terrified he had looked the day before. That was Naruto alright, the thought brings Sasuke a shard of comfort, always getting up despite all odds.
"Hey," he forces himself to return the smile. "I got you something."
"Really?" Naruto’s lips curl up even more, if possible, as Sasuke hands him the flowers. "You do know how not to be a bastard then, after all."
"Don’t get used to it," Sasuke replies, unable to mask the fondness in his voice when he sees Naruto bring the yellow blossoms to his face and smell them contently. "It’s goldenrod, it’s supposed to symbolise good luck and growth."
"You studied flower symbolism for me?" Naruto teases him with a grin that makes Sasuke want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.
Sasuke looks away. "I stopped by Yamanaka’s flower shop, she recommended it." He wasn’t going to tell Naruto he had stayed there until he found the perfect arrangement.
"I’ll have to thank Ino then, these are nice." He says, voice significantly lower in volume. He touches the petals, careful not to pluck them.
Sasuke nods, "They symbolise encouragement because they grow and survive in hard environments. And they still bloom," Naruto hums. "They are kind of like you."
He bites his tongue, waiting for a retort but Naruto stays silent, looking at the petals he holds so close to his face they almost blend with the strands of hair that fall upon his forehead.
"They also match your hair," Sasuke blurts out, and any embarrassment he might have felt is washed away when he sees the surprised expression that takes over Naruto’s face.
"They do, yeah." Sasuke feels his heart clench.
He coughs. "I got you something else too."
"You’re spoiling me now." Naruto laughs, and Sasuke fishes the stone from his pocket before taking Naruto’s free hand in his and placing it in his palm.
He looks straight into Naruto’s eyes. "This is a four H stone. The granny said it should bring good luck." He ignores the flush that rapidly spreads over Naruto’s cheeks; he’s still holding Naruto’s hand in both of his.
"Ah," he runs his thumb over the smooth surface of the rock and sets the flowers down on his lap before clasping Sasuke’s other hand and squeezing. "Thank you."
"It’s nothing," he doesn’t let go. "I hope you like them… and that they help."
Naruto grins. "You’ve given me all these good luck charms, but the only one I really need is you by my side."
This time he cannot help looking away in embarrassment.
He pushes Naruto back into the bed. "You’re so cheesy."