Back in college, Professor Yuhi once told Hinata that obstacles were only put in the way to see if what you want was worth fighting for. She meant the advice to inspire Hinata towards her goal of graduation and all of the hardships she was facing at the time-but it's a conversation that stuck with Hinata for years.

She thinks about her relationship with Naruto and all of the obstacles they've already overcome-and the ones they have yet to face. Would it be easier to just let it go? Probably. But Naruto's happiness has always been and will always be the one goal that Hinata will fight for again and again.

Whatever obstacle gets in her way will be overcome. One way or another.

Morning comes far more quickly than Hinata would have liked. She's still groggy from her restless night when her alarm begins to beep incessantly nearby. She's already snoozed it once, and she's really tempted to ignore it altogether, but she has responsibilities that she can't ignore, so she reaches over stop the sound. When she lays back against her pillow Naruto is there-his mouth tempting hers in a quick, soft, morning kiss.

It a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. She licks her lips as she blinks slowly up at him, studying his expression. Last night had been a rough one for him. "Good morning?"

The smile he flashes her is quick and wide and completely insincere. "Good morning, beautiful."

His chipper demeanor is a far cry from the defeatist attitude he had during the night, and though she wants him to feel better, she hates it when he pretends. It reminds her of their younger years-watching him push past every insult and hurt directed at him. "You're in… a better mood," she says, quiet. She doesn't want it to sound accusatory.

He makes a small shrugging motion, acknowledging her comment, but his gaze leaves hers to survey her room so she can't see his eyes. "So, what do you do to get ready for work?" he asks her like he hadn't lived with her for four years.

She lets him deflect, mostly because she, too, is tired and uncertain. The idea of getting up is still far from appealing, but she does have to, so she pushes to a seated position. It's nice to feel Naruto's solid body weight beside her. She rubs her eyes. "Um, I have to take aaaaaaawww-" Her words are cut off by an unexpected yawn, her jaw practically aching with it. She smacks her lips a bit. "A shower. Excuse me. Then I feed Argus. Make some coffee. Take him out."

Naruto's expression is unreadable-but soft-as he shifts to look at her once more, one hand lifting to ruffle his sleep-mussed hair. It stands up at a dozen different angles as he does. "Um, I can feed Argus and start your coffee," he offers.

"You don't know how to make coffee," she reminds him. Coffee was more her thing than his, and in the years they'd lived together, he had never offered to make it. Not that she minded. He drank it so rarely it hardly seemed logical to expect him to know how.

He gives her a shrug as if the answer should be obvious. "Google knows."

His expression makes her mouth flex in amusement. "You're going to Google it?"

Naruto nods, leaning close, tucking the hair behind her ear. Just that simple, familiar, gesture has her cheeks pink and her pulse moving from sluggish to awake. He lowers his voice-already rough from sleep- into a gravely whisper that adds goosebumps to her now active senses. "Yup." He assures her, popping the 'p' with a bit of smugness.

Hinata gives a soft snort. "I can just show you."

Naruto laughs with mock arrogance, teasing her. "I don't need you. I have Google." With that, he pushes off the bed to his feet and Hinata watches the flex of muscle beneath his tee shirt. She frowns a bit, thinking of the bruising that must decorate that skin now.

"Okay, well, if you're that intent on making it, you can use the French press. It's easier," she says, if for no other reason than to stop thinking about him being hurt.

He grabs his phone, waving it. "French press. Got it." And then he's off towards the kitchen, leaving her to get herself sorted.

Hinata shifts, flopping onto her side and burying her face in his orange pillow, feeling the lingering warmth and inhaling. She closes her eyes, listening to Naruto in her kitchen, the soft clack of Argus's nails on her floor, and savors it. Just for a moment.

The real world will intrude, all too soon, but for right now-she's savoring this. It's familiar and new, all at once, having him here with her. Waking up to him.

She had missed it, but she hadn't quite realized how much until this very moment. An ache blossoms in her chest that she quashes down, because there's no need for empty beds anymore. They're together-in love-engaged-and there's nothing that they can't overcome.

With that resolute thought in her mind, she makes her way to her small bathroom. She showers quickly, slipping on one of her pantsuits, before making her way to the kitchen and the scent of brewing coffee. Looks like he figured it out. When she arrives, it's to find Naruto standing with a quirky smile on his face, staring at Argus as he eats.

"You look… happy," she tells him-because he does. It's not fake. Not in this moment. He feels genuine joy about whatever he's thinking about.

Naruto angles towards her, his gaze traveling from head to foot and back up again. The gleam in his eye has her blushing already-even before he speaks.

"Damn," he smirks at her.

She tucks her chin so he can't see the way her teeth work her lip. She loves him so much and it's always a thrill to see that affection on his face-that adoration. It makes her weak in the knees. She wonders, sometimes, if he knows the power he has over her.

"How do you take your coffee?" Naruto asks, moving towards the cupboards.

Hinata quirks an eyebrow, curious.

He shrugs a little, dismissive, but he doesn't let it go and when he speaks there's more weight to his words than before. "It just feels like something I should know. For tomorrow."

He's not fully meeting her eyes, so that tells her that there is more to this than wanting to know how she takes her coffee, but she's not sure what it could be, so she nods. "Okay." She goes to show him. A splash of creamer and two sugars later, she twists the lid on and motions for, "Argus" She pets his head as it pushes against her leg. "I'm going to take him out," she tells Naruto needlessly. "I'll be right back."

Once outside the apartment, in the back with the small grassed in area, Hinata crouches down beside Argus. She rubs her hands behind his ears as she speaks-a soothing gesture for both of them. "You're going to stay home today, okay? I'll miss you at the office, but Naruto...Naruto needs you today, okay?"

Despite the teasing and the many smiles that he's been flashing her, Hinata knows that something is still off. Argus nudges closer to her and Hinata presses a kiss to his head. "Good boy. I knew you two would be best buddies." She rubs his head as she stands, allowing him to go about his morning business before returning to her apartment.

Naruto is standing a bit awkwardly between the kitchen and her sitting area-as though he is still unsure of himself in 'her' space-when they come in. She unhooks Argus's leash and pushes her hair over her shoulder. She, too, feels a little awkward."So, uhm, I'll come back on my lunch break. I was thinking about stopping at your place before coming home tonight, in case you need anything else than the stuff I grabbed?"

Naruto's already shaking his head. "That's okay, you don't have to do that."

She'll let him set the pace on that, she thinks, but she also wants him to know that he's welcome here, with her, for however long he wants. "I cleaned out a drawer for you, so, if you want to put your stuff in it, you can."

He glances away from her, his gaze moving to the floor. His voice is quiet when he replies. "Okay."

"You can call me anytime," she continues, forcing a smile into her voice. "Even if I'm in a meeting, I can still text you... if you need me." She tucks her hair again as she reaches for her tote and mug. She'll pin it up into a bun once she's in the car. "You, uhm, you're going to be okay?"

Naruto gives a small nod but he doesn't look up. He reminds her of Argus again-when she'd first brought him home. Tentative but trying. She takes a small breath and counts to three. She can't expect him to do more than try and he will talk to her when he's ready. She has to let him set the pace. He still looks a little lost and she still can't really read what's going on in his mind. He has so much to deal with that she doesn't want to press-not right now-but she needs him to know that she's here for him and she's not going anywhere.

"Okay." She nods too, shifting her weight. She was near the door, her keys ready, but she's not ready to leave just yet. With a determined breath, she makes her way back over to Naruto and pushes to her tiptoes, kissing him gently on his tattooed cheek before searching his eyes, hoping to see a spark in the blue.

Unexpectedly, Naruto reaches up, grasping the back of her neck carefully before he bends his head to hers, his lips settling with gentle insistence. A breathless gasp breaks between them as he takes her lower lip between his and gently tugs-the faintest hint of his tongue tasting her.

Oh.

She blinks dazedly when he breaks away. "Go kill it." Naruto nudges her back to the door. "Argus and I are going to be fine. We're going to do dude stuff. Bro stuff. It's gonna be lit."

It takes her a moment to process his words-her senses on overload from his kiss-but when she does, she offers a smile. He's faking his assurance, but he's trying and that's important, too. She doesn't want to diminish that in any way. "Okay," she says. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Naruto assures her-and the words do settle her. Knowing he loves her...it makes everything more bearable.

She's moving at a snail's pace towards the door. "And promise to call me if you need anything."

He angles his head. "I will."

"And if Argus needs anything you can call-"

Naruto rolls his eyes, smiling indulgently. "Get out. You're going to be late." He takes the initiative and actually walks her to the door, reaching around her to unlock it.

She's still hesitating. She realizes now, it's more for her peace of mind than for his, but still.. "I just want to make sure everything-"

"Everything's going to be fine." He promises her."Seize the Day. Carpe Diem or whatever. Let's get this bread."

"If you need-"

Naruto places his hand on the dip of her back, gently, but insistently, shoving her out the door. "I know. I know. I love you. I'll call you."

"Careful!" She turns to look at him, standing dangerously close to the edge of her apartment. The police had been very clear in their directives that he was not to leave that apartment for any reason aside from fire or medical emergency. "Not one inch, Uzumaki."

His feet were still inside her door. On her little welcome mat. He looks down and then back up at her. "I am. Now go be a boss ass bitch." He pauses, his eyes on her face. "I love you."

They'd already said it, but she'll never tire of hearing it. "I love you, too."

"Go to work."

"I am." she says, still not moving.

"I'm shutting the door now." Naruto grabs the handle. "Stairs are that way." He points.

"I know, I know, I'm just-"

"Have a good day." He shuts the door in her face. A moment later she hears the lock.

She stares at the panel for a few seconds-torn between amusement and disbelief. Kicked out of her own home. She makes her way down to her car, but as she goes, she shoots Naruto a text-warning him against overfeeding Argus treats.

His response is immediate and completely guilty.

She shakes her head, holding her phone to her heart for a moment. If she looks silly on the security camera, so be it. She's in love. Scared...tense...but in love. She smiles a dreamy, glowy smile all the way to work.

Once at the office, however, the smile falls from her face and she is clipped efficiency. Shino meets her in her office, files in hand.

"Are those them?" she asks, reaching for them.

"Yes." Shino nods. He watches her face as she reads through the first few pages. "Not pretty," he says.

Hinata nods, distractedly, engrossed in the reports in her hand. "Thank you for this," she says, quietly.

Shino shrugs. "Is that going to be enough?"

Hinata takes a breath, closing the file. "I don't know," she answers. There's a part of her that feels guilty as she picks up the phone to dial, but it's Naruto's future at stake...so she swallows the guilt.

"Hello?"

Her breath leaves her in a shaky exhale. "Neji, it's me. I need your help."