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[acknowledges]

Taco Salad is not happy to help you. Taco Salad hungers for justice, and for a bite of whatever you're eating.

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[acknowledges]

I understand what you're saying, and if it was one of my friends, I think it'd eat me up. That they'd think they don't matter, to me or anybody else.

[It's part and parcel of having a powerful, mythical, nine-tailed fox sealed inside him- as much physical damage as Naruto's endured and everything it's meant to live life as a shinobi, he has absolutely no scars to show for it.

He catches Bolin looking, gaze flicking up to his face, but he knows he's missing something- some thought, some piece of conversation, that he hasn't figured out yet. Something tightens in his shoulders, and Naruto turns his face away.]

But it isn't like that. I know that I matter.

But I can't slow down, Bolin. There are too many things I have to do.
There's too many people depending on me.

[sediments]

[ He’s not that surprised by Naruto’s words. Even if he doesn’t know the extent of the situation back in Naruto’s home, he’s been able to feel the weight and significance of it whenever the other boy mentions it. Bolin’s not exactly sure why Naruto himself feels so centrally responsible—maybe because of the fox spirit?—but it’s obviously there.

It’s not a bad thing, and Bolin’s always been pretty easily dazzled by heroics and big ambitions like that.

So he just grins, a little crooked to one side, and reaches out to grab one of Naruto’s shoulders, shaking him just slightly, connecting and trying to say that he thinks he understands. ]

Yeah, I know. You’re a good guy, and you’ve got a lot to do. [ Then his hand drops, flipping up into the air carelessly instead. ] But how about next time you try something like, “hey Bolin, I got cut in half, and it really sucked, so let’s go get some ice cream”?

[acknowledges]

[The punch is affectionate, the press of his knuckles against Bolin's shoulder enough to push him backwards- meant to force his weight to shift. When Naruto looks away this time there's something almost shy in his expression.]

'Cause that's treating it like it's a big deal?

[He's not trying to be difficult, it's the concept that's hard for him to make peace with. All their lives it's been taught to Konoha's children that a shinobi is one who endures. Naruto has learned, consciously or otherwise, that they aren't supposed to bring those things out into the open- they aren't supposed to talk about their hurts or vulnerabilities because it meant victory to an opponent and fear to a friend. It's one thing to get hurt. It's another to admit aloud that that's what it is- hurt.]

[sediments]

[ Bolin's still smiling, reaching out and winding an arm around Naruto's shoulders like a loose headlock as he drags him out into the bedroom, the chill of the moisture in the air starting to get to him. ]

It's treating it like it's something at least, instead of nothing.

[ That's all. There's no way that he expects Naruto to stop putting himself in dangerous situations, or thinking of pain and sacrifice as necessary to achieve his goals. Maybe there is someway or some person that could get him to abandon those habits, but it's not going to be Bolin. It's like trying to pick a fight with the sun.

But even if there's no stopping the inevitable, maybe there's at least some way to frame it differently. Acknowledge pain for what it really is. ]