Sarada was used to the hustle and bustle of their home even though growing up it was just mostly her and her mama.
Now that's she's an adult, the house was never quiet either, but what throws her a little off balance is that it's her papa filling the silence.
He seemed so different but still so gentle and patient with her. Mama used to joke that papa's quiet because he's still growing into his tongue. Papa would glare at mama halfheartedly, and she would grin. He'd shake his head and smirk with a low muttering of 'annoying'.
What an odd couple. How could that one word means so much to them?
Then she remembers that her parents had a life before her, one filled with pain, sacrifices, and war. That one word encompasses their history and everything they had to get through to where they are.
"I'm leaving for my mission, Papa!"
He comes to the door and sees her off, like he did every day without fail.
"Have a great day, Sarada. I love you."
She still gets flustered when papa does this! She was an adult, not some kind going off to the academy, but she understands.
She meets the Hokage and before official business he'd always ask, "How's Sasuke doing?"
And she'd say same old, same old. He'll wake up, prepare breakfast, see her off, talk to mama, clean, read scrolls, talk to mama some more, and more chores.
"Still afraid of the silence, huh?"
She'd nod, and they'd let the conversation sit between them. This would be the part when one of them confesses to the other.
"I think he just misses her."
"We all do, Sarada." He wasn't wrong. In the haze of the morning, she'd still sometimes to open the door and rush her into her routines, just so she won't be late, but her father bears a heavier cross.
She shakes her head, "I think he regrets it. Not saying that he loved her with words. before she…."
"Sakura knew," he replies without any hesitation.
"I don't think it matters that mama knew. I think he still aches about how she was always the one to say it for the both of them."
"That bastard was always a coward." She didn't approve of this, she still held a torch for the only man in her life, but he let him continue.
"He's terrified that if he said it out loud, she'll be taken away from him too." Like his parents, his brother, everyone he ever loved.
"Now, she's still gone, and he's missed his chance," she finishes for him.
The blonde nods. There was a beat before the blonde was Hokage-sama again and briefs you on your short mission.
"Hn. Welcome back. Dinner's ready so go wash up."
She indulges him like this, talking about her day, asking questions so he doesn't feel the weight of the looming fact that it's just the two of them now, devoid of doting, nagging pinks and red in their life.
The conversations grew thin, and words were few and far now when she finds her courage, disliking the stillness.
"Papa, what did you love most about mama?"
He hummed and she knows he's reminiscing. It's so easy to fall into it,
"Sakura…" He lets mama's name slip from his lips, so gently and nostalgic.
"She gave me the reason to continue living."
He looked at her then and saw the tremendous love and affection he had for her. How even before she knew what it meant, she knew they were connected because of her. She recognizes why mama never needed words, never asked for it when papa's feelings are tangible enough to touch.
Cross posted on my AO3 here
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