Title:The Lookout
Author: Reyn
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: At this point in time, I don’t think I would want to own Naruto…
Warnings: NaruSasu, AU, oneshot
Author’s Note: Where I live, snow is like a myth. This past winter was the first time it’s seriously snowed in years. I know of a two year old who saw it all over the ground and thought it was soap. Haha, as soon as it hit 4 inches worth that night, they decided to close schools for the next day. We’re such wimps…

The Lookout

It was cold. That was the only thought running through Sasuke's head as he stared at his feet, ankle deep in shallow snow, before pulling them up.

It was the annual snow sculpting competition at the Konoha Ski Resort, the last tier before the qualifying pro rounds and the pride and joy of this little po-dunk corner of the country.

Rather than staying warm by the resort’s oversized fireplace or even hitting the slopes, Sasuke was stuck sitting, huddled on the cooler containing hot chocolate in a pathetic attempt to support his boyfriend and team who were competing as they ran around with small shovels and picks, making holes and dents as they carved out the basic shape of their sculpture.

Watching sucked.

A lot.

Normally he would try helping on the off chance he attended one of these things, but he knew better.

Last time he helped was during the World Championships in Switzerland. He had been carving out a few last minute base details when the pick went too deep, causing the entire statue to collapse a mere four minutes before time was called for the day.

He had honestly thought Naruto was going to cry that day. Later on, he was pretty sure he could hear him sobbing in the shower.

Thanks to Sasuke’s screw up, Naruto had to start back at the bottom of the snow sculpting ladder and re-earn his sponsorships before he could go pro once again. In an effort to make up for his mistake, Sasuke swore to be there for every last competition, regardless of when and where they were held.

He had figured he could at least walk around and scope out the competition and report back to Naruto, but Sasuke quickly learned that despite his appreciation of the arts in all its shapes and forms, it was impossible to tell just what everyone was building until they were 80% done. And by that point there was really no way to try and one up everyone else.

“Here.”

Sasuke looked up as a scarf and earmuffs were dropped into his lap, the full effect of his boyfriend’s bright smile hidden behind a pair of sporty sunglasses.

“You look like you could use it.”

Frowning, Sasuke picked up the earmuffs and put them on. “What about you?”

Naruto shook his head as he bent down to pick up a water bottle nestled in the snow beside the cooler. “I’m working up a sweat out there,” he said as he mentally snickered at the way Sasuke shoved the scarf into his jacket to act as an extra layer of insulation rather than add it to the two he already had wrapped around his neck. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait back at the hotel? Time won’t be called for another five hours.”

“I like watching you work,” Sasuke said stubbornly, staring straight ahead at the team as they continued to work on whatever the hell it was they were building despite the temporary absence of their leader.

Naruto watched as Sasuke suppressed a shiver before shaking his head and taking a sip from his water.

Ever since the World Finals a year and a half ago, Sasuke had banished himself to the sidelines, insisting on being there despite having nothing to do. It made Naruto feel bad considering the collapsed statue hadn’t really been Sasuke’s fault.

They had skimped on packing the base down properly in an effort to save on precious time, a mistake that would have cost them the championship regardless; there was no way the sculpture would have lasted through the night for the next day’s judging with how easily it had crumbled completely under Sasuke’s touch.

Crouching down next to Sasuke, Naruto stared out at his team as well. “I’m not working now,” he said in an effort to gain his boyfriend’s full attention.

“Are you sure they don’t hate me?” Sasuke asked instead, still staring straight ahead. “I know you said they forgave me, but I feel like-”

“Sasuke,” Naruto interrupted. “I told you they don’t blame you. They told you they don’t blame you. They even took you out to dinner to show they don’t blame you. Stop living in the past and try focusing on the future. Or better yet, the present! Just think, my mouth would be within reach of your dick if I leaned over a little more.”

Unfortunately, Sasuke’s cheeks were already red from the cold, so Naruto didn’t get the pleasure of seeing an outwardly reaction at his remark, but he was positive he had just made things a little warmer inside Sasuke’s jacket if the subtle shifting was anything to go by.

“I like it when your mouth is within reach of my dick,” Sasuke admitted in a murmur.

Once again smiling, Naruto reached out and slapped his boyfriend on the back. “See? That’s the way to live! If there was one thing that my godfather ever taught me, it was perverted thoughts.” He pointed at his head and then at Sasuke. “Perverted thoughts,” he ordered before standing.

Taking the time to brush his pants free of any snow, Naruto looked down at Sasuke, who was either taking his advice about dirty thoughts to heart or was just really engrossed in watching the team work. Maybe he was envisioning a wild hot orgy?

Looking out at the guys, Naruto pulled a face. He loved his team to death, but he never wanted to see that side of them. Not even in his head.

“So…since you’re not doing anything, you want to help us out?” he asked Sasuke, getting to the point of why he had wandered over. He found himself torn between amusement and sadness at the rapidly shaking head and wide-eyed look of panic he received at such a question. “Come on, it’ll give you-”

“Naruto, last time I couldn’t sleep for two weeks straight thanks to the guilt and the fear that you were going to call me up at two am in a drunk stupor to break up with me,” Sasuke explained.

“Wow, has anyone ever told you how paranoid-”

“If anything were to happen just before the qualifying rounds to go pro, I would have to kill myself,” Sasuke finished. “Or break up with you so I could at least attempt to live down the crushing feeling of guilt a second time around.”

“Er…” Naruto scratched the back of his head. “Right. Well, I need you to make snowballs about this big,” he instructed regardless, his fingers forming the approximate size that was needed. “As many as you can. Possibly several hundred or more.”

“Why?” Sasuke asked suspiciously, eyeing the distance between Naruto’s fingers and guessing it to be no bigger than a ping pong ball.

“For the broccoli,” Naruto stated matter-of-factly. “We figure it’ll be easier to just attach pre-made balls than try to carve it out later seeing as how the detail…what?”

Sasuke stared. “Broccoli?” he deadpanned. “You plan on winning this competition with broccoli?”

“Yes? It won’t just be broccoli! Have a little faith, will you?” Naruto argued as the staring continued. “Just…go make your pile over there. And use this after you make each ball.”

Sasuke’s gaze moved down to the large bottle of green liquid and mini turkey baster he hadn’t noticed in Naruto’s hands. “What are those for?”

“This year’s theme is ‘color’,” Naruto explained. “So we’ll be dying bits and pieces as we go along. Just pump about an eighth of a teaspoon’s worth in the center of each ball and let the dye do the rest. We don’t want them leaking or anything.”

Naruto didn’t realize he had been holding his breath until he let out a sigh of relief when Sasuke finally stood and took the items from his hands. It brought home just how badly Sasuke’s self-banishment to the sidelines had been affecting him.

Pulling off one of his gloves, he reached out and pulled down Sasuke’s scarf just enough to fully reveal his cheek. Smashing his lips against the newly exposed skin, Naruto chuckled as Sasuke jumped, not expecting the touch to be so cold before slipping back on his glove and jogging back to help everyone before Sasuke could recover.

Rubbing his cheek as the cold from Naruto’s lips seemed to sink into the side of his face, Sasuke could feel the happiness at being asked to once again help bubbling up inside of him and threatening to burst out in the form of an idiotic grin. In order to fight back such a ridiculous feeling, he tried to focus on something negative.

Like the fact that Naruto was aiming to win by building broccoli.

It didn’t work. He was still smiling.