Chapter Text
For the 12th Christmas in a row, Naruto would be spending the holidays alone in his shabby apartment.
He doesn't usually mind the peaceful quiet that inevitably comes from this time of year. When you're on your own for so long, you force yourself to be at level with the more positive aspects. He couldn't argue with the flood of relief that accompanies the lack of attention from the people of Konoha. Everyone's preoccupied with the busywork of the holiday season — scrambling to acquire gifts for the family, stocking up on present-wrapping essentials, working overtime to afford the absolute monetary vacuum Christmas is. All of the bustling around requires too much focus for anyone to pay mind to Naruto's mere existence, and Naruto believes this to be the very reason Christmas is his favorite holiday.
Yet, as he stares solemnly out of his cracked window — of which he duct-taped a sheet of cardboard over the missing uppermost pane — he feels a harrowing sense of disappointment. The season is painted as this joyful, cheery, and comforting time of year. Naruto's lonely lifestyle does not correlate, and for once, he wishes to have someone to spend Christmas with.
A chilly draft waves through Naruto's broken window, sending a swarm of goosebumps over his skin. Most of his clothes are dirty, so he's stuck wearing a thin white t-shirt with a few holes around the hems and the collar. The coldness of winter seeps through the flimsy fabric, leaving Naruto a shivering and teeth-chattering mess. And since the apartment water has been shut off for reasons unknown, Naruto has been unable to properly clean the clothes littering the floor of his flat. A sigh escapes his lips, trailing off in a crack of his voice. Naruto tenses, willing everything in himself to refuse the tears clambering at his eyelids, which he doesn't realize he's squeezing shut. Some ashamed part of him hates crying. He's done his share of it, spending most of his childhood days sniffling and wiping at his damp eyes. After a certain point, when he'd cried all of his tears out, he'd sworn to himself he'd never cry again. And yet, here he is, fighting with all of his strength not to start sobbing.
God, he's so damn lonely. It's Christmas, and he has to spend another year in his cold-as-shit apartment, in his dirty clothes, with no water, and no one to keep him company.
Ultimately, Naruto decides to go on a walk to sort out his thoughts. Anything to avoid hysterically sobbing for the neighbors to hear through walls thinner than a single strand of hair. Naruto slips quietly past his closest neighbors' doors, trying his best to ignore the clear sound of a running sink as he passes the next room.
The sun is beginning to set. A waterfall of orange clouds replaces the hollow feeling in Naruto's chest with something more peaceful. The lake is shining wonderfully as Naruto travels along the boardwalk on the hill overlooking the body of water. The sun, in its descent, shoots warm rays onto the surface of the water, twinkling like a sea of stars. Naruto wonders how his team might be spending their holiday. Sakura will be with her parents, just the three of them. A warmly-lit, beautifully decorated house, and home cooked meals. Naruto can't help but envy Sakura's life, wishing he had living and loving parents. A Christmas to be excited for. A Christmas he doesn't have to spend alone. Kakashi-Sensei will likely be up in the late hours reading his smutty book, unless Gai-Sensei drags him along to whatever holiday plans he immerses himself in. Naruto hopes for the latter, because then his sensei won't be stuck in the same situation he's in right now. And finally, Sasuke. Naruto is unsure why he decides to think about Sasuke, and he immediately regrets it.
"Oh," he mutters aloud to himself. "Sasuke'll be on his own too."
Before long, the sky overhead grew dark, and in Naruto's fit of impulsivity and desperation, he did not bring a coat to combat the freezing air of winter. Despite freezing his butt off in the recent dusk, Naruto can't find it in himself to tread back to his apartment. He knows that it's going to be just as cold, just as lonely, so what's the point? Defeated, he slinks down onto a bench overlooking the lake. The reflection on the lake, once shone by the setting sun, is replaced by the subtle light of the moon, illuminating the sky as she slowly crawls up the blank canvas of night. Naruto curls up into himself, hugging his legs against his chest in an attempt to keep himself warm. He feels like a stray cat, huddled up into whatever warm corner it can find on the street. A shooting star flies across the sky, and as Naruto remembers to make a wish, a voice echoes in the empty street.
"You're going to get hypothermia out here, you know."
Naruto recognizes the voice immediately. That stupid, arrogant, cocky, pretentious, silky voice.
He turns to face Sasuke, who's standing with a hand on his hip behind him. "What's it matter to you?" Naruto narrows his eyes, hoping Sasuke will get the memo to leave him the hell alone. But the word leaves a sour taste in his mouth, no matter how familiar.
Alone.
Sasuke scoffs, rolling his eyes. "You're such an idiot. It's like, 20 degrees right now and you're in short-sleeves. Are you trying to kill yourself?"
Naruto can't find the energy to argue, so he turns back to the lake, slumping against the backboard of the bench. "Just go home, Sasuke." He curses how pathetic he sounds, his voice barely above a whisper. Naruto shivers, cupping his hands against his mouth and huffing out warm air, eager for any form of relief from the cold. Sasuke clearly notices the shift in tone, because he's no longer looming awkwardly above him. Now he's sitting right beside Naruto, draping a heavy jacket over his shoulders. Naruto stares at him in confused shock.
"How are we supposed to carry out missions if you catch a cold?" Sasuke murmurs, crossing his arms over his chest. Naruto clutches Sasuke's coat close, relishing in the unfamiliar warmth it offers.
He sighs, relaxing against the bench, finally somewhat comfortable. "You're right. Thanks, Teme."
Naruto can feel Sasuke physically relaxing beside him, and for a while, they just sit there. Coexisting in silence, appreciating each other's company. Naruto finds it odd to say that he's glad he's not alone, even if the one spending time with him is Sasuke. The air is peaceful and, for a moment, he begins to doze off.
Sasuke breaks the silence with a cough. "It's getting late. I should probably head home, same for you."
"Oh. Uhm. Right, yeah, totally." Naruto rubs the back of his neck before quickly standing up and sliding Sasuke's coat from his shoulders. "Here."
Sasuke considers his outstretched arm for a moment, the coat draped over it in offering. He shakes his head, turning to face the direction of his home. "Keep it. I have another one."
Naruto stares at Sasuke's back as he walks away, a strange sense of warmth filling his chest despite the crisp air encumbering itself into his skin. He quickly slips the coat back over his shoulders once Sasuke is out of sight. In the next moment, he's walking home, watching as his breath flits out into a trail of warm fog. When Naruto falls asleep that night, Sasuke's coat wrapped firmly around his body, his dreams are pleasant.