"You should go to sleep
at some point, you know."
"... mm-hm."
Naruto sighs. "No one's
going to burst in during the night. You're gonna be cranky tomorrow, and then
that rich bastard you have to escort will complain that you pushed him too
hard."
"Wouldn't
hurt him to lose a few dozens of pounds."
"...Sasuke... go to
bed. Sakura's gonna be pissy if she wakes up
alone."
Sasuke scowls, looking away
through the darkened window. "Then go back to her."
"Nah, the furball's too restless."
Sasuke eyes naruto thoughtfully. "You're staying up?"
A long
exchange of looks.
Wordless communication.
A nod. "... yeah."
He pulls on Sasuke's wrist
gently, until the other man lets himself slide off the windowsill. They stand
in silence in the darkness of the bedroom, listening to the third breathing.
"Go to bed, Sasuke. I'll
stand guard."
On silent feet, Sasuke
leaves the room, back straight, not looking back, refusing to acknowledge the
offer. Refusing to acknowledge his need to hear that promise.
Smiling, Naruto leans over the crib, tenderly caressing a tiny hand. Inside him, Kyuubi settles down, satisfied.