Another path

Restless

- You didn't look like you were doing too good. There's no one around, everyone is preparing for the departure to Kumo so you can tell me.

He was right, no one was in the HQ lobby. No one but them had stayed here, there was no reason to do so. They just went here to talk to Tsunade about Sakura's situation and after she'd told them how grievously the pinkette had been injured, going back up and facing the others had felt impossible. So they just waited there, aimlessly. Was that uncharacteristic enough for Tetsuya to risk asking Sasuke a personal question ?

- I'm fine. Worry about yourself instead.

- Why do you lie ?

That took Sasuke aback. Not only because he'd been called out but also because that wasn't a question adresses to him. It was more like Tetsuya was contemplating it. Wait-

- Are you worried about me of all people ?

- You're saying this as if you were doing well.

- What do you mean "as if" ?

- I mean that you and Sakura and Suzuka and every goddamn person in Konoha are always putting on a mask to try and fool everyone but I'm not buying ! I know you're worried about them, I know Sakura doesn't want to be this way, I know Suzu doesn't hate any of you guys and I know everyone in this village pretends to hate her because they're too proud to acknowledge they made a mistake and mistreated a little girl instead of facing their problems ! I'm sick of having to subtly try to get you guys to tell the truth so I'm gonna be blunt : when are you going to acknowledge that you fucked up ? Cuz you know you fucked up and that's the reason why one of your teammates works for another village and the other one is in critical care. So be an adult and say it !

- OKAY I FUCKED UP ! I KNOW I DID BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT !! DO YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID ?! HOW MUCH IT AFFECTED EVERYONE ? EVEN IF I DID APOLOGIZE, IT WOULDN'T MATTER ! IT WOULD CHANGE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!

Sasuke heaved erratically after his rant and so did Tetsuya.

- How can you say that when you haven't even tried ?

- Tetsuya-

- It's time to be brave. I don't care about your revenge or what the elders or the village will say. The people who cared about you were hurt by your actions. It's time to apologize. To explain why you did this. They need to hear it, Sakura and Suzuka even more than the others.

- I can't.

- You can. You just don't want to.

- It's not that easy. You don't understand.

- This is bullshit and you know it. How do you think I felt when I first met Suzu ?

- But you weren't in the wrong.

- You used to think I was.

- No.

Tetsuya's eyes widened in surprise. The expression on the face of his teammate wasn't faked. He was dead serious.

- I don't think you understand Tetsuya, I never thought you did anything wrong. I just treated the way I do with everyone else.

- Then what has changed ?

-... I'm not sure.

There was a long silence during which they scrutinized each other. They were puzzled by each other's attitude. Tetsuya was the one who broke the silence with a sigh.

- I'm not sure why you're acting different around me but if it's because of Suzu, you can drop the act.

Was it because of Suzuka that Sasuke was being more... decent toward Tetsuya ? Maybe... but it felt unlikely. No, it was something about the Uzumaki himself that made him more tolerable than the others.

- Well I'm not sure why you treat me better than the others do but if it's because we're teammates then it doesn't make sense.

That was true, his old team didn't get along yet they cooperated very well during missions. Liking the other was completely optional.
Yet Tetsuya looked awfully offended by his last statement.

- I'm treating you this way because you never did me wrong and it's not my place to judge you.

- Neither was it mine to judge you. Somehow... Somehow it feels like you know. Always.

Another silence wrapped around them yet this one was less deafening. The chatters and laughters above them resonated softly within the almost empty room they were in and they kept listening. They never averted their eyes, still observing the reaction of the other.
Then once again, the red-head spoke softly :

- I know only because you let me see.

That made sense. Tetsuya had actually grown on him as well. Because he was nice, thoughtful, warm, caring and understanding. He was many things he hoped to find in Naru that had disappeared years after years as she descended into loneliness. And so did he. But Tetsuya didn't know loneliness. Or at least did let it permeate through his being. And he felt warm.

- You can see because you bother to look in the first place.

And that was probably why Sasuke never hated him.