SNS Cristmas Secret Santa 2016
@lohrendrell this is for you, Iâm your secret Santa <3 I used your prompt of mall Santas XD.
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Warm lights, smiling children, beautiful decorations everywhere, the smell of hot chocolate mixed with peppermint and pine. Naruto loved the holiday season, he could make a child smile by just looking at them and saying âho ho hoâ. It made Naruto ecstatic that he was able to do this every year.
But ever so recently, Naruto had not been enjoying his part time job as much as he usually had because of one particular person. A young, dark haired female child would come and terrorize him everyday. The blonde watched as the little terrorist walked towards the fencing surrounding him.
âDammit.â Naruto muttered under his breath.
 Naruto started to loose his focus thinking about what she would do this time, but she just stood there staring at him. The more Naruto thought about it, the more anxiety he obtained.
Naruto tried to distract himself from the child by focusing on his job that he enjoyed so much. After a short while, Naruto could not take it any more and decided to go on a short break. Naruto told his helpers, or elves that he was going on a break and to close the lines for a while.
After the lines to see Santa were closed, the blond could change out of his suit and go on break. But before he could do that, he had to check on one thing: the seemingly stationary child by the fence. Oddly enough, the kid was gone; nowhere to be seen around the Santa set up.
Naruto sighed in relief, she was finally gone. In order to relax during his break, Naruto decided to go to a coffee shop within the mall named Sharingan Coffee, or Sharingbucks for short that he overheard some shoppers talking about. It took the blonde about five minutes to navigate his way to the brewery through the rather large mall and bustling people, so he was glad when he arrived.
Naruto was met with warm smiles from everyone in the shop along with a few snickers he felt might be targeted at him, and he wondered why, as he was not normally met with smiles and laughter from everyone whenever he entered places.
 Naruto walked up to the counter and was greeted by a man with a long, dark pony tail, dark lines marring his face which he assumed were from stress, or maybe too much coffee, and a red apron with odd, circular designs with dots and what looked like commas around the dots all around it and lastly a name tag that read âItachiâ. The blonde ordered some hot chocolate with extra whip cream, as he was not one for highly caffeinated drinks.
Naruto pulled out his wallet in order to pay for his drink, but Itachi stopped him.Â
âItâs on us, you shouldnât have to pay for this.â Itachi said.Â
âhuh?â Was all that Naruto could reply with
âYour beard, itâs for being the mall Santa, right?âÂ
That was when Naruto realized that he forgot to take off his fake beard. No wonder everyone was smiling at him so oddly!
 âOhâŚumm. Thanks a lot, hehâ was all that Naruto could shyly mumble out.
 Naruto went to the nearest vacant seat and sat in it, waiting for his hot chocolate. After a little less than five minutes, a different waiter came over with a cup of piping hot chocolate, he looked very similar to the last waiter, with the same apron and similar facial structure, but he had dark raven hair that came down in bangs which framed their face rather nicely.
âOne hot chocolate with extra whip cream?â The waiter asked in a polite tone.Â
âYup thatâs me,â Naruto replied while he was trying to read the waiters name tag.
âMy name is Sasuke⌠Sasuke Uchiha,â The waiter seemed to notice Narutoâs staring and decided to introduce himself.
âOh! My name is Naruto⌠Naruto Uzumaki,â Naruto replied, with a grin plastered on his face.
âNice to meet you, Naruto Uzumaki.â Sasuke said with a forced smile.
âYou as well, Sasuke,â Naruto replied, still with his silly grin.
 Naruto walked back to the Santa Christmas display with a goofy looking smile on his face, it wasnât every day that he made a new friend.
 After Naruto suited up, he started to head back to his grand chair. Naruto had a jolly looking grin as he walked, and the children loved it. Then the next moment Naruto was on the floor, wondering what just happened. He had slipped⌠but on what?
 Naruto tried to get up from the floor and was met with more slipping and sliding. The floor had grease on it! But who could have done such a thingâŚ
That is when Naruto remembered, the little child that had been making his life a living hell for the last few days. It couldnât have been anyone else, she was even suspiciously standing by the fence right before Naruto went on break. How could he have been so stupid! Naruto groaned as he got back up from the slippery floor and looked down at his costume to observe the damage. It had grease all over it, there was no way that he could greet the children like this.
Naruto felt his heart sink as he look at all of the expecting children that had lined up when they saw him come back. Naruto looked to the side of fence where the little demon was standing before, and there she was, snickering at him. Naruto felt rage, but he knew that he could not act upon it. There was too many small children looking up to him. All the blonde could do was watch as she smugly walked away.
Naruto would have to take the suit to the dry cleaners and get it professionally cleaned in order to be able to do his job. Naruto checked the time 6:45. The only dry cleaners that Naruto knew of closed at 7:00! He would have to hurry if he was going to make it, it was a ten minute drive.Â
Naruto rushed out of the mall, past all of the staring children and busy shoppers. If he didnât make it tonight, then he would have to wait until tomorrow night to get it back! When Naruto got to the parking garage, he was exhausted from his running, and confused as to where he parked his car. Naruto started to wander around the garage in a panicked manor, checking the time every so often as he was running out of it.Â
As a final attempt, Naruto tried to set his car alarm off with his keys, but for some odd reason it didnât work. Naruto checked the time, 6:56. He wouldnât be able to make it to the dry cleaners in time. Naruto sat down by the wall, he was exhausted, depressed, and lost inside the parking lot.Â
*Click click click* It was the sound of footsteps on the lotâs floor.
Naruto hurriedly got up and brushed the dirt that got on him when he sat down, he didnât want anyone seeing him like this.Â
Naruto looked to see who was coming, it was a man with raven hair and dark eyes along with a seemingly shorter version of himself. It took him awhile, but Naruto eventually recognized this man as the nice waiter from the Sharingbucks.Â
Sasuke instantly recognized Naruto and shyly waved at him, wondering why he was in the parking lot with a dirty Santa suit on.
Naruto happily waved back at Sasuke, but then he remembered the condition in which his clothes were in, and felt embarrassed.
As Sasuke walked towards Naruto, he noticed the distress in his face.
âHey why are you in here⌠and what happened to your suit?â Sasuke questioned.
âWell⌠I was going to go to the dry cleaners so I could get this suit washed⌠but I cant find my car and wellâŚUmmmâ Naruto admitted in an awkward tone.
âDo you maybe⌠want some help?â Sasuke graciously offered.
âReally⌠even though we just met and barely know each other?â Naruto stuttered.
âYeah, itâs really no problem, I know a dry cleaners that is still open.â Sasuke smiled ever so slightly from Narutoâs awkwardness.
âWow, heh⌠Thanks a lot Sasuke!â Naruto replied appreciatively.
âMy car is this wayâ Sasuke pointed and started walking towards a dark blue Honda Civic while Naruto followed. Â Naruto then noticed small child that was standing behind Sasuke, seemingly trying to hide her face and avoid him.Â
âIs this your kid?â Naruto questioned as he crouched down to the childâs height.
âOh! Yeah, Naruto this is Sarada, my daughter.â Sasuke pushed his daughter forward so she would shake hands with Naruto.
Then, Naruto saw her face. It was the very brat that had caused this predicament.
âI-itâs YOU!â Naruto jumped back and shouted.
âHuh?â Sasuke was confused as to why Naruto seemingly knew his daughter prior to him introducing them.
âDo you two⌠know each other?â Sasuke inquired.
âSh-sheâs the one who caused this whole mess!â Naruto answered, exasperated.
âWhat did you do, Sarada?â Sasuke asked his daughter.
âN-nothing! I didnât do anything!â Sarada exclaimed, trying to make herself not suspicious.
âWhat are you talking about?! Youâre the one who put grease on the floor and made me slip, and put glue on my chair yesterday, and.. and,â Naruto knew it was her, and she knew it too! Why was she denying itâŚ
âSarada⌠Did you not stay witth grandpa in his office while I was working like I told you to?â Sasuke wanted to trust his daughter but he also wanted to trust his new friend.
âFINE! I did itâ Sarada hmphâd.
âThank you for being honest⌠but why?â Sasuke sighed.
âI donât know I was⌠bored.â Sarada replied.
âThatâs not a very good excuse to be mean to Naruto, Sarada⌠You should apologizeâ Sasuke scolded.
âIâm sorry,â Sarada mumbled.
âHaha, donât worry about it kid, I forgive you. Just donâ t do it againâŚOkay?â Naruto tried to lighten the mood and cheer the kid up. He hated seeing other people sad.
âOkayâ was Saradaâs response as she hopped into the car.
âIâm so sorry about all this, Naruto. I didnât know that she was doing any of thisâŚâ Sasuke sincerely apologized after he walked up to the blonde.
âDonât worry about it, none of this wasnât your faultâ Naruto chuckled.
âAlthough I feel like it kind of was, I should have watched her better when I took her to work with me.â Sasuke sighed
âReally Sasuke, donât worry about it Iâm fine.â Naruto said sternly, he didnât want Sasuke to think any of this was his fault.
Naruto and Sasuke got into the car, Naruto in the passenger seat and Sasuke driving along with Sarada already in the back.
âFirst stop, the dry cleanersâ Ssuke said as he drove out of his parking spot.
âUmmm⌠What about my car?â Naruto asked worriedly.
âOh⌠The dry cleaners closes at eight so we should hurry there and come back here for your car after.â Sasuke said while looking at Naruto then through the back window.
âOh, yeah. That works well I guess, heh.â Naruto smiled.
They arrived at the dry cleaners at 7:23. Naruto hopped out of the car along with his newfound friend Sasuke while Sarada stayed inside the car. when they walked inside the shop, it occurred to Naruto that it was the very suit that he was wearing that they would have to give to the cleaners to wash.Â
Naruto decided that, since he had some normal clothes under his suit, it would be okay to just take it off. He took off the coat off over his head, and then his fuzzy red pants after he undid the belt.Â
âH-hand her t-the clothes⌠d-dobe,â Sasuke muttered while wildly blushing.
Naruto handed the lady his clothes while Sasuke handed her a ten dollar bill, he was clearly flustered.Â
Naruto and Sasuke got back into the car, where Sarada had fallen assleep. Sasuke was still blushing and stuttering whenever he talked to Naruto.Â
âL-lets go back to the parking lot so we can find your car N-naruto.â Sasuke said quietly, as to not wake up Sarada.
Naruto nodded in agreement as Sasuke started up his car again.
Neither Naruto or Sasuke didnât really notice how large the parking lot really was until they got there and started looking for Narutoâs orange Volkswagen. After what seemed like hours, Naruto finally recognized his car, sitting there in parking spot A13.Â
âThank you so much Sasuke, really I never would have been able to find my car so fast if it werenât for you.â Naruto said thankfully.
âItâs really no problem, it was my fault that this all happened.â Sasuke replied as he got out of the car along with Naruto, walking over to his car.Â
Naruto unlocked his car and got inside, staring the engine. But it didnât start, all that came was a odd liquid sound.
âDonât try starting the engine again!!!â Sasuke yelled while running over to the driver seat in order to stop Naruto.
Naruto gasped after he heard what Sasuke said and instantly stopped trying to start up his car. Sasuke looked down at his hand, but not after realizing what he had just done. He had unconsciously grabbed Narutoâs hand in order to stop him from flooding his engine.Â
âI-Iâm so s-s-sorryâŚI-I umm I d-didnât mean to g-grab y-your hand,â Sasuke stuttered out while jumping back from the door.
âHehe⌠N-no itâs fine you were just trying to help meâŚheh,â Naruto said while rubbing the back of his head nervously.
âO-oh yeah.. If y-you flood your engine, t-then youâllâŚyouâll have to get s-some e-expensive repairs.â Sasuke stumbled over his words, he couldnât believe that he just touched Narutoâs hand.
âWow Iâm stupidâŚâ Naruto quietly mumbled, his face twisting into a depressed frown and his eyes squinting up as if he was about to cry.Â
This really didnât fit him Sasuke thought. Naruto seemed like more of a happy-go-lucky kind of guy that didnât have and problems.
âD-donât worry about it, I-I could help y-you fix it if you need and⌠an-âÂ
âItâs not just the car⌠Sasuke itâs⌠itâs just⌠Nevermind⌠Itâs nothing, Iâm fineâ Naruto said in an odd tone while wiping his eyes, forcing on a smile.
âH-hey, how about I-I give you a ride home?â Sasuke suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
âY-yeah thanks for being so nice⌠Sasuke.â Naruto wondered why Sasuke was always being so nice to him, even though he hadnât done much for him.
They both got back into Sasukeâs car together after Naruto locked his car and left it there for the night.
âS-so wh-whatâs your address, N-Naruto?â Sasuke inquired as he drove out of the parking lot.
Naruto contemplated over whether or not he should give Sasuke his actual address. He didnât want Sasuke to see his house, he didnât like people judging him based on where he lived, or who he lived with.
âUmm its pretty close to that bus station on Anderson Street about fifteen minutes away⌠do you know where it is?â He decided to tell Sasuke the general area where he lived.
âY-yeah I-I know where that s-station is, I-I can take you t-there.â Sasuke managed to stutter out, god he was flustered.
Naruto and Sasuke had some small chat while driving about things like their favorite animals, foods, and hobbies. Naruto really felt like he was connecting with Sasuke, and Sasuke alike.Â
âWelp, were here,â Sasuke said in a slightly disappointed tone, he wanted to spend more time with Naruto.Â
âI guess Iâll, umm see you later thenâ Naruto said as he got out of the car.
âHere how about I give you my number and⌠umm we could..âÂ
âYeah that would be great, we could text each other and maybe⌠meet up sometime?â Naruto finished Sasukeâs sentence for him because he saw that he felt awkward.
They exchanged phone numbers, and Naruto left on his way home. Both Naruto and Sasuke felt invigorated after talking with another person for so long.
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Okay, so I planned for this fanfiction to be just a short, sweet story, but I ended up wanting to make it longer (oh no). I will regularly update this on my AO3 account: http://archiveofourown.org/users/That_Naruto_Archive/works.
Anyways, I hope you have a merry Christmas and continue reading this story on my AO3 <3.