Mobile upload again. Sorry for any mistakes in the formatting or grammar. I'll come back and check when I have access to a desktop.
oOo
Hinata was never the kind of person that would draw attention when they walked into a room. She was very used to being a wallflower. She liked seeing how people acted when they did not bother to pay her much attention.
It was a strange and unsettling experience walking into Jugo's workshop and having everything pause in her presence.
"Hinata!" Jugo exclaimed, hurriedly hanging up a jacket amongst the jeans. Which was peculiar because Jugo was very particular that every type of clothing stayed in its same area.
He bounded forward and crowded into her space. She never noticed just how tall and broad his shoulders were until he blocked her view of everything behind him.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded breathlessly.
Her brows furrowed. Immediately, an old scabbed wound suddenly throbbed in her chest. She remembered those exact words in that same tone aimed at her. It felt like a lifetime ago, but it was the same thing the Hyuga matrons used to ask.
She knew he did not mean it like that, but on bad days it felt like her trauma would never heal. Today was one of them.
Jugo's eyes widened like he realized what he said. "I'm sorry, that sounded terrible!" He immediately apologized.
She was able to swallow past the ball of tears in her throat. How could five words undo her like that?
"I've just been so busy trying to figure out some outfits and I lost track of time," he continued apologizing. He grabbed one of her hands with both of his. His touch was gentle like he was trying to soothe a spooked horse. "You usually text me and I guessed I missed it."
Hinata cleared her throat and nodded. "I-um… I did text. Are you-is everything okay?"
He grimaced and Hinata noticed the cold bite of a metal thimble on one of his thumbs and the measuring ribbon around his neck. She tried another tactic. "Should I come back later?"
Jugo's kind eyes were wide and pleading. "I'm so sorry. I don't mean to kick you out."
She mustered up a smile from somewhere. "Will you let me know when you're free for a visit?"
Those broad shoulders of his sagged in relief. He looked less like an intimidating mountain now. His posture was familiar enough that Hinata was comforted.
Jugo was not a Hyuga. She had to remind herself of that.
"I promise I'll show you what's happening when I am done," he breathed.
"Okay." She would trust him. "Just let me know."
oOo
This time she made sure that Sasuke responded to her text.
I can meet you in the dressing room. He sent. I'm in the studio right now and Mitsuki isn't letting anyone in.
Hinata managed a real grin at the thought of Mitsuki. He was a temperamental person, but his work was a producer was solid.
Okay, I'll meet you soon. She replied.
To her dismay, when Sasuke walked in, he looked as shifty and uncomfortable as Jugo.
She tried to be brave. "What's going on, Sasuke?"
He immediately tried to deny it. The knee-jerk reaction was so unlike Sasuke, it scared Hinata. "Nothing is-"
She got up from her perch on the couch and quickly crossed the room to him. Her arms slid around his torso and she buried her face into his chest. This way, she did not have to work so hard to hide the little extra moisture in her eyes. He paused before returning the hug.
"Sasuke, I don't have to know everything. But if… if it's something bad, and it has to do with me, you have to tell me. I'm not good with secrets."
"Ah," he sighed and pulled her in tighter. She sniffled. "It does have to do with you, but it's supposed to be a surprise. A good surprise."
One of her hands clenched the back of his shirt. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to ruin-"
"You didn't ruin anything." He chided. "I'm the idiot who didn't consider how this would look."
He pulled back and rested his palm on the side of his face. It felt like torture looking up at him.
But his eyes were soft. There was no condemnation there. His fingers slid up her temple to brush through her bangs. "Thank you for letting me know that I made you feel uncomfortable. I want to know that stuff, okay?"
She now felt teary eyed for a whole new reason. "I don't want to lose you, Sasuke." She admitted. "You're my family and I really love you."
She only had a brief glimpse of his smile before his lips were on hers. His kiss was soft but overwhelming. Hinata barely had time to respond before he pulled back. He swept in again with another that was deeper and erased practically every thought from her head.
When the kiss ended, she was out of breath and practically hanging on to him for dear life.
He was chuckling, no doubt at her dazed expression. "I promise this was supposed to be a good thing. Do you want me to tell you what it is? We still have two weeks before I can show you in person."
She sucked in a shaky breath. Maybe because she was so out of sorts that she ended up being more honest than intended: "I can wait forever for you."
Sasuke's entire body started. He practically turned into an octopus as he gathered her impossibly close. Somehow, he made sure they were aligned knees to hips to chest. He stared down at her like she was a new and amazing creature. "How are you so cute?"
Hinata tried to duck her head away but he swooped down for yet another kiss to stop her.
"Sasuke," she managed to get out when he went to adjust the angle of her chin. "That was so cheesy, I can't believe I said that! I am so embarrassed!"
His lips were firm against hers. Of course, they had kissed, but never with this kind of intention. His mouth was soft as he licked into her mouth and Hinata felt helpless and giddy and in love.
"Stop apologizing," he ordered as he pulled back for air. "You can be as cute as you want. As long as you only say things you mean… And only to me."
That seemed fair. She stopped trying to argue with him.
oOo
