Companion
Shizune set her medical kit on the nightstand and sighed. Tsunade's wounds would heal quickly, she knew that, but she still didn't like seeing her like this: injured, sleeping fitfully, her breathing shallow and uneven.
She'd seen a lot of aspects of Tsunade in the last few days that she didn't like. While she knew in her heart that Tsunade still missed Dan, she'd hoped that she had been able to fill his place, to soothe the hurt that his death had caused. Wasn't she enough? She'd given her entire adult life to Tsunade, first as her student, then as her lover.
The fact that Tsunade had been willing to give all that up for a zombie imitation of Dan hurt her almost more than the blow to her stomach had, though that still ached even now. Tsunade was much stronger than she could ever hope to be, and she hadn't held anything back. Knowing that she'd done it partly to keep Shizune safe and out of the way didn't stop the feeling of betrayal.
That she'd considered going along with Orochimaru, even for a moment...
It made her want to hit Tsunade, shake some sense into her. Thankfully, Naruto--and Jiraiya as well--had been there to bring Tsunade back from the dark place depression and longing had taken her. It was up to Shizune now to make sure she didn't regret it.
She slipped into bed naked, quietly so as not to wake Tsunade, and rubbed the end of one of Tsunade's long ponytails between her thumb and forefinger. The older woman didn't like to be touched when she was in her true form, so she didn't slide her arms around her waist like she wanted to. It didn't matter to Shizune what Tsunade looked like, she loved her in every form, even when she wasn't too fond of her because of her gambling habits or her brusqueness.
That was the Tsunade she wanted everyone to see, the strong, capable ninja who had her faults and quirks but was still a remarkable woman, the woman she loved.
Shizune set her medical kit on the nightstand and sighed. Tsunade's wounds would heal quickly, she knew that, but she still didn't like seeing her like this: injured, sleeping fitfully, her breathing shallow and uneven.
She'd seen a lot of aspects of Tsunade in the last few days that she didn't like. While she knew in her heart that Tsunade still missed Dan, she'd hoped that she had been able to fill his place, to soothe the hurt that his death had caused. Wasn't she enough? She'd given her entire adult life to Tsunade, first as her student, then as her lover.
The fact that Tsunade had been willing to give all that up for a zombie imitation of Dan hurt her almost more than the blow to her stomach had, though that still ached even now. Tsunade was much stronger than she could ever hope to be, and she hadn't held anything back. Knowing that she'd done it partly to keep Shizune safe and out of the way didn't stop the feeling of betrayal.
That she'd considered going along with Orochimaru, even for a moment...
It made her want to hit Tsunade, shake some sense into her. Thankfully, Naruto--and Jiraiya as well--had been there to bring Tsunade back from the dark place depression and longing had taken her. It was up to Shizune now to make sure she didn't regret it.
She slipped into bed naked, quietly so as not to wake Tsunade, and rubbed the end of one of Tsunade's long ponytails between her thumb and forefinger. The older woman didn't like to be touched when she was in her true form, so she didn't slide her arms around her waist like she wanted to. It didn't matter to Shizune what Tsunade looked like, she loved her in every form, even when she wasn't too fond of her because of her gambling habits or her brusqueness.
That was the Tsunade she wanted everyone to see, the strong, capable ninja who had her faults and quirks but was still a remarkable woman, the woman she loved.