Third person pov

Sasuke was beyond nervous. He checked his face about a million times in the mirror, messing with his hair until not a strand was out of place. Brushing his teeth three times wasn't needed in any capacity, yet he'd done that anyway. He'd eaten four breath mints to top it all off. His teeth had never been whiter in his entire life. He'd been living in front of the mirror all morning, smoothing his shirt down and squinting at himself in search of anything that could be perceived as a flaw. He was determined to be the text-book definition of perfect. If you looked the word up in the dictionary, he wanted a picture of him from this morning to be there. 

He was ready, right? Surely he could do this. He'd daydreamed about it so many times that he might as well have already experienced it. He was Sasuke Uchiha, the survivor of the Uchiha Clan Massacre and top of his class. Nothing could phase him anymore! Ish. Okay, that was clearly a lie based on what was happening right now, but never mind current events. 

He started his hike to school with cheeks stained a healthy shade of pink. His nerves were off the rails, anxiety tapdancing in his stomach. He was going to have to fight the hard fight and put on a confident façade. Lennox probably didn't know who he was right now, but he would. Sasuke needed to at least be friends with him. He could only hope and pray Lennox liked guys too. It was a detail he'd searched for but hadn't ever been able to find out for sure. It was agonizing not to know, but Sasuke couldn't dwell on that right now. He had to make a good first impression.

It took ten minutes for him to really get out into the countryside of Konoha, and five more to get anywhere near Lennox's house. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest he was surprised it didn't just fall out. He couldn't stop himself from fiddling with his hair and brushing at his shirt as though there were something on it. He kept adjusting his backpack too, putting it over both shoulders, slinging it over one, carrying it in his hand. He didn't know which would look best. He assumed slinging it over his shoulder would make him look the most lax, but which shoulder. His left, or his right? 

Lennox's house finally came into sight and he nearly fell into cardiac arrest at the sight of it. It didn't look different or anything. He was just, you know, freaking the fuck out. His palms had never been sweatier. Lennox was going to think he was weird. He'd take a single look at his red face and laugh. Sasuke needed to get his shit together. 

He came upon the small brick home to see the boy outside as he always was, kneeling down in a planter bed with his hands covered in dirt and his face smudged with it. He looked happy enough, humming slightly to himself as he patted down the dirt around a small tomato plant. Sasuke worked to keep himself from grinning madly and looking like a psychopath. Instead, he idly walked by, slowing his pace ever so slightly just as he did every morning. Lennox's head shot up instantly at the familiar sound of sandals crunching against gravel, his smile turning shy. Hesitantly, he raised his hand to wave. Sasuke could've keeled over. This was happening. Which yeah, it happened every morning, but this was different. He was going to do something.

Lennox was a shy person, but Sasuke thought he might be a little lonely too. He always seemed to enjoy waving at Sasuke to some degree. Though, Sasuke could definitely be making that up in his head. The boy didn't seem to have any friends was all, even if Sasuke could admit the glass he was looking through was rose-colored. Nonetheless, he was determined to offer Lennox his friendship, and hopefully in the future, his companionship. Romantically. If you hadn't gotten that part. He'd just have to let Lennox really get to know him first, and vise versa. He wanted to know everything about the ginger. 

Sasuke took a deep breath and stopped walking. Lennox flinched slightly in surprise and the change in routine. It was almost enough to make the Uchiha sprint away and give up entirely. He resisted. It was too late. He didn't want to spook the boy, but there was no backing out. He had to stay cool. Be chill. He could be chill, right? Of course. He was everyday at the academy. If his fangirls could see him now, they'd be stunned. 

"You know..." Sasuke started off carefully. He hoped he sounded cool enough. What if he looked like an idiot? Lennox probably thought he looked dumb. It was fine, it was fine. "I walk past here everyday, and we wave and smile at each other, but I don't think we've ever talked.

Lennox stared at him with wide eyes, cheeks coloring with something like embarrassment. It took him a good moment to process Sasuke. He liked waving to the Uchiha and seeing him wave back. His list of friends was short, so he enjoyed any small interaction he could get. It was just nice and polite was all! Sasuke seemed like a wonderful person. Lennox never in his life would've thought he'd trouble himself with talking to someone like himself, however. Sasuke Uchiha was famous in the village, so why would he bother with a little gardener boy who struggled to make eye contact on a good day? He was pathetic next to him. To be acknowledged verbally like that made him feel dizzy. 

"S...S-Sorry." Lennox murmured, standing up quickly. He ducked his head nervously, and Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle a little. Lennox as so cute. Absolutely adorable. The way he talked, and stood, and like, breathed. His voice was one of Sasuke's favorite parts. As was his hair, and face, and stutter, and his hobbies, and-- just everything, honestly. 

"There's no need to apologize! My name is Sasuke Uchiha. You're Lennox, right?" Sasuke gave a friendly smile, and Lennox seemed to relax ever so slightly. The Uchiha tried his best not to melt as Lennox offered him that same shy, kind smile that he knew and loved so much. Sasuke tried to keep his face from flushing to noticeably. He hoped he wasn't coming off as weird. What if he did and Lennox started avoiding him? Definitely a possibility, but Sasuke had known the risks going in. Progress had to be made before someone realized he existed and stole him. 

"I-It's nice to meet you. M...My name is L-Lennox Acton." His voice was impossibly soft. He was clearly teeming with nerves, even more so than Sasuke was. That made Sasuke's smile widen. Not because he liked to see him suffer or anything like that, but just because Lennox was the most precious thing he'd ever had the pleasure of interacting with. This was wonderful. He loved him. He was in love. This was nice. He didn't care if he'd turned into a fanboy. A simp, as Kiba might call it. He was proud of it. Lennox was worth it.

"It's nice to meet you too. Honestly, I've been wanting to talk to you for a while now." Sasuke gave a closed eye smile he'd die before offering towards anyone else but Lennox. "We've been seeing each other everyday for years and I thought it was weird we weren't friends." 

"Th-That is odd." Lennox smiled a small smile, looking down and shuffling his feet. Sasuke leaned forward, folding his arms and resting them on the rickety fence. Lennox peeked up at him, averting his gaze quickly when he realized he was being stared at. Him blushing made Sasuke want to blush too. Lennox had no idea what to say. It would be rude not to talk, right? He'd always imagined what it might be like to have a friend like Sasuke. He just couldn't believe it was actually happening. "D-Did you want something to drink?" 

"I'm alright!" Sasuke's voice was unusually chipper. Again, good impressions were key. This was just proof Lennox was a good influence, yeah? He brought out Sasuke's best qualities! Or something along those lines. "Thank you, though! I'd like to get to know you some. I've seen you out here tending this garden all year around for nearly three years now and I don't think I've ever seen a plant of yours die. You must be a great gardener." 

Lennox's face lit up a lovely shade of red that Sasuke decided was his second favorite color. No, third. The first being the green of his eyes and second being the dusty orange color his hair was. It was a miracle Lennox hadn't run off yet. Sasuke hoped he wasn't making him feel obligated to reply. He knew he was being a little freaky, staring with his chin propped up on his hand like a dazed kitten. His lovestruck expression had to be blatantly obvious. It was sort of pathetic of him. He was too shameless to care.

"O-Oh!" Lennox sputtered. Sasuke gave another kind smile. Lennox hadn't been expecting Sasuke to be so... so complimenting. It was really nice, but he'd never taken praises super well. They made him feel awkward and stifled "My grandma and my uncle a-are the last o-of a very small c-clan. I'm not a ninja, but I h-have unlocked my... my kekkai genkai. I-It's nothing special like t-the Uchiha clan's, but..." 

Lennox trailed off, cheeks still flushed. He offered Sasuke another hesitant smile that made Sasuke feel like god himself had just poked him right between the eyes. Lennox shifted, not really a huge fan of talking about himself. He'd never really had to before right now. Most people weren't interested. Come to think of it, was he spilling too much information? He didn't want to annoy Sasuke! He was probably just being polite, right? Yes. That had to be it. 

"That's amazing." Sasuke straightened. Just his posture-- his sexuality was mangled beyond rescue, and that was fine. This was going way better than he ever thought it would. He'd already learned so much about Lennox! He'd definitely have to memorize everything he'd said. "I'm sure your kekkai genkai is amazing. You're not giving yourself enough credit."

He'd had no idea Lennox was from any sort of clan, or that he'd had a power like that tucked under his sleeve. This was great! This was all wonderful. Lennox looked like he was going to tip over. Sasuke really didn't mean to be overwhelming him, but could you blame him? Lennox deserved every ounce of praise. Clearly he had no idea just how amazing he was. Sasuke was going to fix that if it was the last thing he did. 

"I-It's not a big deal!" Lennox sputtered, waving his hands in front of his face and shaking his head. Sasuke needed to invest in a camera. 

"No, really! I'd love it if you could show me some time. I'd love to see it." Sasuke goaded giddily. When was the last time he'd ever felt so happy? Oh, that's right. Never. This joy was unmatched. The only thing that could possibly top it would be more interaction with Lennox. Each second that ticked by was somehow better than the last. Sasuke had thought his love couldn't grow. He had been painfully wrong, quite obviously. 

"O-Oh, no! I don't wa-want to waste your time!" Lennox brushed his hands off on his pants nervously. Sasuke let out a friendly laugh. Lennox seemed more relaxed now, if not more flustered. As long as Sasuke was the one making him blush it was fine.

"Come on, you're not wasting my time at all. I want to talk to you!" Sasuke assured happily. Lennox blushed, glancing down anxiously. He bit the inside of his cheek. He could keep it short as to not bother Sasuke, right? He couldn't believe this was happening. He knew those rumors of Sasuke being cold and detached were a lie. He was the most friendly, open person Lennox was sure he'd ever run into. 

"I...I... O-Only if you want to see." Lennox glanced at him. He wasn't opposed to it. Sasuke nodded with immediate readiness, curiosity displayed starkly on his face. Lennox felt his face flush again. He'd never had someone so interested in him before. He gulped, lifting his hands up nonetheless. Sasuke leaned closer, watching the way his hands began to glow the same earthy green of his eyes. The Uchiha boy was immediately enraptured.

Sasuke felt awe overtake him as a small daisy began to appear out of seemingly thin air. His coal eyes widened. Why did Lennox think making a living thing wasn't amazing? Had someone told him as such? Because he'd just like to talk. This was practically unheard of. He was materializing a living thing. Something with biological matter. It was stunning, and it only solidified in Sasuke's mind just how astounding Lennox just so happened to be. Did he have any bad features? Sasuke was lucky he'd found him first before the wolves could get to him.

"That's amazing." Sasuke murmured aloud as the flower fell into Lennox's hands soft looking hands that Sasuke definitely wanted to hold like right this very second. The green-eyed boy blushed, offering it to him hesitantly. Sasuke did his best not to keel over or propose marriage. 

"I-It is nothing. I...I am su-sure you can do much more a...amazing things." Lennox was humble, Sasuke observed dutifully. He smirked literally as attractively as he possibly could, taking the flower idly. He couldn't act desperate or too peppy. He'd drive the jumpy boy off. But he also had to convey hotness and undivided attention. Not to like a creepy extent. There was a fine line between head over heels in love and whatever came after. 

"Not the case." Sasuke gave a quick smile, soaking in Lennox's flushed face so he could fantasize about it for the rest of the day. "Thanks for the flower. I've got to go to the academy now, but I'll talk to you later for sure!" 

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't m-mean to hold you u-up, Sasuke-san." Lennox panicked, giving an apologetic bow. Adorable-- Sasuke is glad he witnessed it, truly. However, it was not necessary. The day Lennox needed to apologize to him was the day the world crumbled. How could this innocent little ginger ever do any harm? Exactly.

"Just call me Sasuke." The boy smiled, nodding to Lennox. Being nice to someone felt good. But only if that someone was Lennox. He... almost felt like himself again, to be honest. Like the distant version of him from before the massacre. "See you later!" 

Lennox waved back nervously as Sasuke began to walk away, and Sasuke nodded back as coolly as possible. His face was splitting into a grin the second he turned his back to his crush. He resisted the urge to do a happy dance, instead settling for a subtle fist pump that he would once again die before letting anyone (aside from Lennox) see. Priorities and public image, people, priorities and public image! Sasuke shook his head, ruffling his hair a little and taking a deep breath. 

That had gone wonderfully.

~

This is literally cringy I am so sorry