Warnings: If you like your Neji cynical and stubborn, this might not be the one shot for you(though that's the way I like him too). If you like an emo Neji cursing the main branch, this is also not for you, although this one is pretty emo...
Pairing: unintentional Nejihina
Author's Note: No, Neji didn't land Hinata in the hospital, this is set years afterward. He just feels guilt for how he treated her before Naruto bashed his head around a little and changed his attitude. With that, please enjoy and much love to you.
The hand lies utterly still, undisturbed by the slightest twitch, pale even against the stark white sheets. But the milky skin is marred with bruises and cuts, and one deep, red gash, carefully stitched up and gauzed. The fingernails, formerly neat and trimmed, are ragged and defiled by crimson, crusted blood that escaped the nurse's notice.
Not so long ago, Neji despised her. Hinata was weak, and those hands were never meant to grip a kunai, to draw blood, to hurt and kill. He saw her weakness then—sees it now, lying in the hospital bed as she is, broken and still, all the little life and will she had drained away. Those hands, so tiny and fragile with their bird bones, could never harm.
He moves, slowly, haltingly, brow furrowed and puzzled as he realizes what he intends to do, what he's already doing, despite all his reasoning and disdain. She's tittering on the edge of life and death, and he fears that just by touching her, she'll be shattered, inflicting more damage than already done. He gingerly picks up a hand, a mere child's hand, and cradles it to him.
The gesture is hesitant but reverent, endowed with a deep, selfish yearning. In this humbling act, with clumsy hands, he pleads. Pleads for forgiveness for all he said, all he did, for every injury inflicted long ago. Pleads for the forgiveness she already gave, though all his apologies were never enough, never enough to erase the bitter regret that still burns him. He pleads with her, not to leave, because he needs her forgiveness, needs her to wash away his guilt.
Neji is strong. He can kill, he can tear down anyone—anyone—that gets in his way. But he cannot heal; he cannot give back the life he takes. He cannot lift the aching weight his shoulders bear. But her hands, these hands, are healing hands, somehow holding the power he does not have.
He pleads for healing, because, even near death, Hinata is strong in some unfathomable way, and he is weak.
Her eyelids flutter just barely, and for a moment he imagines her eyes open, silently answering him. Lulled by the heart monitor, still beeping steadily, he stays late into the night, seeking solace in tiny, bird boned hands.