#because special secret I've never actively tried to connect to people in my life ever

[seafoam-taide]

You know I thought for awhile that I was just a rare type of person who sure, liked people well enough but was okay being alone didn't necessarily need anyone and NO. NO. NO. OH MY GOD . YOU GIANT DUMBASS. NO HAHAHA NOOO NOPE

[yangssunglasses]

Ooohhh! I just saw you asking for prompts, and I got a bit excited! I love your fics! Ehrm, Sasuke's reaction when he finds out Sakura has a work husband? He's been away for so long and I've always been a sucker for jealous/doesn't-know-his-standing-in-sakura's-life Sasuke!

AN: Thank you! I hope you’ll like the fic!

Available on ffnet.

Work Husband

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Ever since returning from his longsecret mission, Sasuke was slowly getting used to the normal rhythmof life in the village. For years he’d only known the uncertainty oftravel to faraway lands filled with unknown dangers, so adjusting thepeaceful daily routine wasn’t so daunting in comparison. Sasuke wasalready set in his ways, but he saw value in learning about thechanges in technology and society, even if he wasn’t going to use orcare much about them. Some would call him old-fashioned (Naruto cameto mind), but that was just the way that Sasuke was. His wife anddaughter didn’t have any issue with it and their opinion was the onlyone that mattered to him.

However, there was a certain noveltySasuke wasn’t prepared for.

One day at the Uchiha familybreakfast, Sakura looked up at the clock and shot up from her seat inpanic.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late towork! Ken-kun will kill me!” she cried out, frantically searchingfor her phone.

“Behind you,” Sarada pointed outhelpfully. Sakura grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter andstashed it in her purse. “And don’t be so dramatic, Ken-san adoresyou.”

“You don’t know how much thispresentation means to him! I need to be there, I promised him!”Sakura replied. “Anyway, I have to go! Bye, darling, Sarada!” sheexclaimed and rushed out.

Sarada got up too and collected thedirty dishes to wash them in the sink. “That Mama…” shegrumbled.

“Does this happen often?” Sasukeasked in amusement as he joined her in the kitchen. He took a dishragto dry the clean dishes she passed to him.

“Not really, usually mom gets upearlier so she doesn’t have to rush,” Sarada informed him.

Sasuke realized that he was the one toblame for this. Not only he had kept Sakura up late last night justtalking about everything that came to mind (and they still had somany years of catching up to do), but also he almost hadn’t let herout of the bed this morning. Waking up to next to her sleepingpeacefully facing him, with pink hair spilled over the pillowangelically reminded him how much he’d missed her warm presence inhis life, which resulted in a spontaneous make-out session when shewoke up.

Sarada turned off the faucet and movedto help him with drying.

“Leave it, I can finish this,” hetold her.

“Thanks, Papa,” Sarada said. Shetook off the apron and went to grab her things. He heard her groanand turned to see what happened.

“Papa, mom forgot her lunch. I havetraining with my team and then a mission today, so could you bring itto her?” his daughter explained. Sasuke mentally ran through hisactivities for the day. He could fit in a lunch delivery… but he’dmake Sakura pay for it in some way. He smirked to himself andpolished the plate in his hand.

“Sure.”

“Great! I can’t believe she forgotit all because of Ken-san’s presentation! It’s not like it’s soearth-shattering,” Sarada commented as she went to the entryway toput on her sandals.

“Who is this Ken?” Sasuke gaveinto the curiosity. Sakura hadn’t mentioned this name before, buttoday he inadvertently became the main topic.

“Ken-san? Oh, he’s mom’s workhusband,” Sarada said. “I’m going out, bye Papa!” The doorclosed behind her, so she didn’t get to see Sasuke’s reaction.Otherwise, she would have probably gotten a good laugh at hisexpense.

Sasuke entirely froze in place,expression blank as his mind processed the new information. It wassomething he’d never heard about and so it was hard to grasp itsmeaning, especially in the context of his wife. His brows scrunchedin confusion as he worked through this conundrum.

Work husband.

Work. Husband.

Sakura had someone called a workhusband.

This Ken, whoever the man was, wasSakura’s work husband.

Sakura, who was Sasuke’s wife.

Sasuke was her husband. The one shemarried, the one she promised to stay by his side, forever. The manshe shared a life, a home, a bed with.

But… he didn’t work alongside her.Their careers had gone separate ways a long time ago. He’d neverthought it was an issue, instead he always viewed it as a blessing.

Even during the lonely years on theroad, away from her, Sasuke was secure in the knowledge of theirmutual connection. It was unbreakable and transcending through timeand space.

Then why was another man now gettingthe title of Sakura’s ‘work husband’? What did Ken do to deserve it?Did that mean Sasuke was her husband only in the house? Why would sheeven need a ‘work husband’? Is this some new strange modern custom?

Sasuke was so out of sorts that hedropped the plate he was holding. Only thanks to his incredible ninjareflexes he managed to catch it before it landed on the ground. TheUchiha didn’t pay it any mind as he still struggled with the idea ofSakura having another 'husband.’

Sasuke had no idea what was going onbetween Sakura and this Ken and why Sarada was okay with this, but heintended to find out.

He put the dry dishes in the cabinetand took Sakura’s forgotten lunch box.

Operation Lunch Delivery would be agood start of his investigation.

.

Sasuke’s tracking skills allowed himto locate Sakura in no time. She was locked in a conference room inthe Hokage Tower with a group of important-looking people. The manpresenting before them had to be Ken. From the well-concealed spot onthe tree outside the window Sasuke assessed the so-called 'workhusband’. Ken was tall, dark-haired and definitely younger thanSakura, around twenty-five years old at most. He also worerectangular glasses, giving him a more professional, mature look. Interms of physicality he seemed to keep up with his ninja training,but in chakra capacity he was only average. Sasuke could wipe thefloor with him if it was ever necessary.

During the length of the entirepresentation, Sasuke also didn’t miss Sakura frequently sendingenthusiastic smiles to Ken and nodding in agreement whenever he madea point. He told himself that this was nothing out of ordinary, justSakura being her cheerful and supportive self. He chose to ignore thegouge in the tree bark left after he’d gripped it too hard when he’dseen one of her special sparkling smiles directed at the other man.

After the meeting, Sakura approachedKen in the hallway. They exchanged a few words and  then she leanedup. Sasuke’s eyes narrowed and jaw clenched as his wife kissed theman on the cheek in public. Fora moment, his chakra flared out of control and Sakura’s head whippedquickly towards the window, sensing him nearby.

There was noreason to hide anymore, so Sasuke transported before her with achakra flicker.

“Sasuke-kun?”she asked, no doubt wondering why he was there.

He showed thelunch box to her. “You forgot this.”

Sakura blushed alittle in embarrassment. “Ah, sorry about that. Thanks for bringingmy lunch, but you didn’t have to. I’m taking out Ken-kun here tocelebrate,” she said, gesturing at the younger man next to her.“Ken-kun, this is Sasuke-kun, my husband,” she finished theintroductions.

“Hello,Uchiha-san, it’s great to finally meet you,” Ken said and held outhis hand for a handshake.

Sasuke grunted andgave him a passing glance of acknowledgment. Ken retracted his handafter a few seconds.

Sakura stepped in,breaking up the awkward moment. “We’re going to the sushi place onthe main street for lunch. I know, how about you come with us? Youwouldn’t mind if Sasuke-kun tagged along, Ken-kun?”

“The more, themerrier,” the man said with a strained smile.

“Sasuke-kun?”

Sasuke considered.He knew that Sakura didn’t like that he’d treated her colleague withsuch disregard. She wanted him to make up for it but she wasn’t goingto push him into accepting the offer.

And it was hischance to observe them openly, ruining what suspiciously looked likea possible date.

“Very well,”Sasuke agreed, enjoying Sakura’s surprised, but pleased expression.

The lunch wasspent in a civil atmosphere. Sasuke stayed his quiet and taciturnself, giving only short answers whenever one of them tried to bringhim into the conversation. Soon, Sakura and Ken engaged in adiscussion of the meeting from which Sasuke gleaned that Ken hadpresented a new plan of expanding the research division, whichrequired a substantial budget. Basically, the man had  persuaded thevillage to give him the funds for his project.

Sasuke was contentwith just sitting next to Sakura and cataloging her every expressionand reaction, as well as the corresponding body language of Ken. Thelonger he watched them, the calmer he felt. They really behaved likeany other pair of coworkers who got along well and shared manyprofessional topics to talk about. This however still left himpuzzled over the 'work husband’ thing.

He loosened up bythe time the three of them parted ways after lunch and he even noddedin goodbye to Ken. The man was clearly no threat. It occurred toSasuke that Sarada might have pranked him. It was embarrassing thathe fell for it.

He resolved toforget about this entire matter.

But Sakura didn’t.

“I can’t believeyou acted so rude to Ken-kun!” she fumed moments after returninghome from work. “He’s a really sweet and good person, he didn’tdeserve that from you.”

Sasuke noddedwithout argument, choosing the safe option to let her rant and blowoff the steam. She gave him a detailed account of Ken’s goodnesswhich had him rolling his eyes discreetly.

.

It was late in theevening. Sasuke was waiting in the bed for Sakura to join him. Shecame straight from the bath, pink, flushed and a little damp,catching his attention in a sensual way a wife captivates herhusband. He flashed back to the happenings of the morning and whatremained unfinished between them.

Sakura slippedunder the covers on her side of the bed, then she switched off thelamp on her night stand.

Sasuke reachedover and stroked her bare arm lightly. “Sakura,” he said her namedeeply, letting her know what was on his mind.

She sighed andremoved his hand. “Sorry, Sasuke-kun, I really need to get somesleep tonight.”

“Sleep with me,”he suggested.

“Tempting offer,but I can’t. I have to be on time. I’m heading a brain surgery withKen-kun and I need to be well-rested.”

Sasuke scowled.Hearing all the day about that guy was tiresome, but this was thelast straw. He was overcome by a wave of intense resentment.

“Would youprefer if he was here instead of me?” Sasuke snapped.

“What?” Sakuraasked, staring at him in utter surprise. “What are you saying?”

Sasuke turned hisback to her. “Nothing,” he grumbled.

Sakura gentlytouched his shoulder and pulled him back. “You wouldn’t mention itif it was nothing. I know something was bothering you today. What’sgoing on, Sasuke-kun? Please tell me.” She peered into his facepleadingly, stroking his bicep.

Sasuke exhaledwith tired frustration. “Sarada said that he is your work husband.”

“Yeah, and?”Sakura pressed for him to continue.

Sasuke stared ather. How could she not get it? “I am your husband,” he reminded.

“Of course,Sasuke-kun. But what about Ken-kun? Sarada told you he’s my workhusband and?”

“I thought shepranked me.”

“Why? Saradawouldn’t lie to you like this.”

“How did hebecome your… other husband?” Sasuke finally asked, wincing at thephrasing. “Was it because I wasn’t around?”

“My other…?But he’s not… Wait.” Sakura’s eyes widened as she finallyunderstood. “You’ve got it all wrong!” she said with a chuckle.“Sasuke-kun, what do you think 'work husband’ means?”

“…I don’tknow,” he admitted gruffly.

“Well, it’s thisperson at work that I like to talk to and always brings me myfavourite coffee and remembers my birthday. 'Work husband’ or 'workwife’ is just a joking way to call someone like that,” Sakuraexplained.

“I see,”Sasuke replied with relief. Now things made more sense to him.

She gave him amischievous look. “What, were you jealous, darling?”

“Hmph. No.”

Sakura giggled,seeing through his thinly-veiled lie. “If you say so.” She leanedcloser to him. “What if I kissed him here,” she pressed her softlips to Sasuke’s cheek chastely to illustrate, “would you bejealous then?” She gave him a knowing look. She must have figuredeverything out.

“Annoying,”Sasuke grumbled at her.

“Or here,” shesaid, pecking his brow. “What then?” She fluttered her eyelashesteasingly.

“Sakura, don’ttest me…” Sasuke trailed off in a warning, but she was far fromending her fun.

“Maybe here?”Sakura kissed the tip of his nose and he had enough.

With a growl heturned her over on her back and straddled her. He was going topersonally show her all the places where only the husband wasallowed to kiss her.

Her real and onlyhusband, not some fake from work.