"Love gives you strength."
She takes two anxiety pills with her morning coffee.
She pep talks herself in the shower.
When she's dressed, she stares at her reflection for several long minutes. Today was not going to be easy, she knows, but if it was going to be difficult for her, then it was going to be excruciating for Naruto, and if there was one thing that Hinata was good at, it was pulling herself together for his sake.
Today was the day he got his freedom back.
That made her happy.
Joyful, even.
Today was also the day he would learn that she'd been duplicitous.
Today he would learn about Jiraiya.
Today was the day she could lose him.
She stops that thought before it really starts. It does her no good to dwell on it. Beating herself up for things she couldn't undo was pointless. All that mattered right now was getting through the next few hours and making sure that she was there for Naruto. That he could rely on her-lean on her-and depend on her. To do whatever he needed.
She would be strong enough.
With that thought in mind, she steps out of the bathroom to go make Naruto some breakfast. He's already up, at the sink. He gives her a sort of half-smile that doesn't come close to reaching his eyes and mumbles a faint "Morning."
She steps behind him and runs her hand over his back. "Hey." She tips her head, to look up at him. "It's going to be okay," she tells him. He looks at her and pretends to believe her. She decides to believe enough for both of them.
She gets him fed, gets him dressed. He even lets her comb his hair.
He's going through the motions.
She wants to hug him and confess everything.
But she can't.
Not yet.
The police transport will be there soon.
After breakfast, Naruto disappears into the bathroom. He's in there for awhile before she ventures closer. She's trying not to mentally 'worst case' him in there. She thinks Naruto in the bathroom may always be some form of trigger for her.
Not much she could do about it really.
Open floor plans with a no wall bathroom were not easy to come by.
She gives him a few more minutes before she calls out. "Naruto? Are you okay. They'll be here soon."
There's no answer. She can hear shuffling on the other side. Water running. Splashing?
"Babe?" She eyes the handle. Her fingers curl against her palms.
Space.
Trust.
She needed to give him those things.
She needed to be his support, not his keeper.
Still… "Naruto?"
The door opens and he's standing in front of her. He's slightly disheveled, but he's holding together. "Are you-"
"Okay?" he interrupts. "Yep." He smiles-tight lipped and tense. A clear 'drop it'.
Space.
Trust.
"Okay." She concedes, softly. She follows him out to the kitchen. He's fidgeting-tapping-tense. She's surprised when he takes a seat at the table. Argus pads over to him, offering silent support. He's in his vest-a precaution she took, knowing there were going to be strangers in her apartment. Strangers touching Naruto.
She takes a breath.
Almost over.
She takes the seat across from him. "Baby, everythings going to be okay." It's a promise. She had made sure of it. She'd do it all again, too. The late nights, the sneaking around, the confrontations. Anything, to keep him from being hurt anymore.
"Yep." He replies, his eyes skirting hers.
She takes another breath. She hates this. She can't hold it in anymore. It's bubbling up. His pain is drawing it out of her. "Naruto, I-" She chokes on her words for a second, trying to find the right ones. Where to start? Jiraiya is gone? You've been free this whole time? Neither option seemed ideal, but she had to say something . Anything to take away that 'deer in headlights' look he had on his face. "I need to tell you something."
He looks over her quickly, eyes widening.
Oh, no, she's made it worse.
Before she can open her mouth there's a knock on her door. She wants to ignore it but she knows who it is...knows she can't ignore it.
"Sorry. I overslept." Shikamaru huffs around a yawn when she lets him in. He gives her apartment a cursory glance, cocking his head. His dark hair is tied in a neat ponytail at the nape of his neck. "I still can't smoke in here?"
He already knows the answer before she shakes her head.
"Coffee?"
That she can provide. She makes her way to the counter and pours him a cup.
Shikamaru slumps down into her seat, uncaring that he's rumpling his dark grey suit. "You look like shit," he tells Naruto. Hinata's eyes narrow and she swallows a reprimand.
Of course he does, she thinks. After all he's gone through. Shikamru didn't really need to point it out.
Shikamaru, oblivious or ignoring Hinata's glare, leans back into the chair, yawning. "Relax a little, jeez."
Hinata knows that his casual aloofness is in part his personality and in part because (as he told her last night) it was all over. Naruto was free. Bad guys were going to be punished. Life was moving on.
It's over for him, yes, but it's not that simple for her and Naruto. There's going to be aftermath.
Hinata redirects the conversation-more for her own peace of mind than anything. "Shouldn't they be here by now?" She places his coffee on the table.
"They're usually late." Shikamaru replies with a limp hand wave.
She nods. He would know better than her. She leaves him to his coffee and turns her attention back to Naruto. He's still restlessly agitated. She smiles, gentle, loving and slips her hands over his. She's surprised to find herself steady and calm. Maybe it was seeing him so distressed that did it-that made her resolve tighten. Whatever the case, her tension eased away as she stared into his blue eyes.
He gives her a disjointed little nod. "'I'm going to be okay. I will. I-" Another knock on the door stalls his voice.
Shikamaru groans. "They're here already?" He looks down at his coffee regrettably before taking another long drink.
Hinata gives Naruto's hands a squeeze before she answers the door.
Four police officers greet her on the other side.
Shikamaru is on his feet at the table, as is Naruto. One of them looking decidedly more anxious than the other.
One of the four move towards Naruto. "Hands."
Naruto complies, hands out in front of him.
"Behind your back." The cop corrects, a little impatiently.
Hinata glances at Shikamaru. He shrugs. She returns her gaze to Naruto. She hates seeing him in cuffs. It brings back too many bad memories, but she refuses to look away from him. He needs her to be strong now.
"We'll meet you there, Naruto." She tells him. "We'll be there as soon as you get in, okay? I promise."
He nods at her before glancing over at Shikamaru-who was still trying to drink down his coffee in hasty gulps.
"What, aren't you supposed to give me some advice or something. Isn't that why you're here? Aren't ya'll called advisors or whatever?" Naruto asks, watching as the black box on the counter is taken apart.
"You want some advice?" Shikamaru shrugs. "Keep your mouth shut and your hands to yourself? How about that?"
"Play nice. Got it." Naruto says.
"Let's go, Uzumaki."
Hinata watches the officers flank him to walk him out of the apartment. Beside her, Argus whines pitifully in his throat. SHe presses her hand to his scruff. "It's okay," she whispers. "He'll be home soon."
Shikamaru downs the remaining drops of coffee and tilts his head. "Ready?" he asks.
She nods, moving to grab her coat. "I still don't understand why he has to ride there like that."
"Well, it's like I told you. We need time to get you into the courthouse to testify, and we need to keep Naruto out of their sight. If they can goad him into doing something stupid, then everything you've done will be for nothing. Okay? Besides, you wanted him safe, right? Surrounded by cops is pretty safe."
She frowns at that, following Shikamaru to his sedan. "That would depend on the cops," she mutters.
"These were hand picked by Neji. You have issues, take it up with him."
That made her feel at least marginally better. The cops hadn't seemed nice but they hadn't been completely antagonistic, not like the last group. She nods, silently, sliding into the passenger seat.
"Hey, this is all going to be over soon and we can all get back to our normal lives," he says, shifting into gear. "Man…" he sighs. "I miss normal."
The courthouse isn't crowded with reporters.
She's actually a little surprised by that.
News of an organized crime ring takedown was a big story, but the DA was apparently sincere in his desire to wrap everything up neatly and make sure no loopholes could be exploited. A media circus and open trial would only muddy the waters of a clear-cut case.
That's just fine with Hinata. The ideas of cameras in her face is too much. As it is, her testimony is to be given in a secured, closed room.
She tells the judge everything. Answers every question.
The attack in the alley. The stalking. The letters. Pictures. The incident at the gym.
All of it.
All in all, it only takes her forty-five minutes.
She thinks it's almost funny that weeks of trauma could be summed up in less than an hour.
By the time she's done, Shikamaru is told that the transport vehicle has arrived. She can barely restrain herself from running down the hall in her little heels. She can only imagine the anxiety and tension naruto must be feeling at the moment.
Shikamaru huffs at her to wait up as she speed walks down the steps.
"Is here still in there?" He asks when they get to it.
One of the officers nods.
Hinata peers at them. Surely they could have uncuffed Naruto and had him out by now? "Excuse me. It's freezing out here," she mentions pointedly.
"I'm hurrying." The officer tells her, moving to uncuff Naruto from his seat. He then turns him and unshackles his wrists.
"I don't have all day, man." The officer says, watching Naruto rub his wrists warily.
Hinata can see the confusion on Naruto's face. He moves out of the truck, jumping down to the pavement, but his eyes are guarded-like he's expecting a trap to spring at any moment.
She hates that look. The one that tells of a little boy that was hurt by everyone-the one that was scared to trust because trust meant pain. He trusts her and she-
She shakes herself out of that thought and moves to his side quickly, wrapping his arm in hers and rubbing. "You're so cold."
"We can head inside to talk." Shikamaru tilts his head towards the front entrance. Not the gated, guarded, side entrance for prisoners.
Naruto hesitates, eyeing the whole scene with caution."What's going on?"
"I just said inside. " Shikamaru states firmly, walking towards the entrance without them.
Naruto looks down at Hinata. It's such a vulnerable, confused look. She swallows. "It's okay," she whispers, drawing him towards the door. "I'll tell you everything. I promise."
"I'm sure you're confused." Shikamaru talks over his shoulder as they follow him into one of the open rooms. He walks over to a table of hot water pots and instant coffee. "I don't miss this gruel." He laments while still preparing it for himself anyways. "I can't wait to get back to my office in DC. I have a Keurig. Not the best coffee, but so fucking easy."
"Shikamaru," Hinata interjects, voice impatient. She's been steady up until now, but the edge is cutting into her.
"Right. Ugh, this is such a pain. 'Pain.' Ha." He smirks a little, shaking his head. He stirs some powdered creamer into his coffee, tapping the rim. Like they had all the time in the world.
Hinata pauses at that...because didn't they?
Now.
Naruto was free.
Naruto was safe.
The cost had been so, so high, but he wasn't going to jail. The people that had tried to hurt him were going to be taken care of.
"Look," Shikamaru starts speaking to Naruto, pulling her attention. "The DA unofficially dropped the charges against you awhile ago. But they wanted to 'tie up any loose ends' so to speak. So we wouldn't just put away a couple goons but then, like, find you two floating in the river a couple weeks from now, you know what I'm talking about."
Yes. Hinata knew. All too well.
"I can honestly say that I do not." Naruto frowns.
He's confused. He's looking at her for answers.
"You were right." Hinata tells him quietly. "About other people being upset. About you beating Yahiko. There was a lot of people. Organized crime."
"Yep. And we got all of them. Thanks to Hinata." Shikamaru tilts his styrofoam up towards her in mock salute, although the admiration in his words was genuine.
"What?" Naruto continues to look at her, but now his confusion is tinged with something else.
Shikamaru sips his drink. "Hinata pulled some very powerful strings. Not to mention her own testimony."
Naruto blinks. Twice. "What? Her testimony of what?"
"You know, being stalked. Threatened." Shikamaru says it so blandly, like it's obvious.
Hinata glowers a little. This was not how she planned to talk to Naruto about this.
Naruto swallows so hard that she hears it. "What. The. Fuck ?"
"You know, you probably should've told him at least that." Shikamaru sighs, letting his shoulders sag. "So we could avoid this little temper tantrum."
Hinata shoot shim a look. Shikamaru clearly didn't know Naruto well if he thought that a little black box would have stopped him from marching right out of her apartment and handling Yahiko personally if Hinata told him that she was being threatened.
But she can't worry about Shikamaru's misguided logic concerning Naruto.
No, she had to focus on Naruto himself. "I was going to tell you," she insists.
"Uh, when, exactly?" His eyes narrow and she flinches.
"Right now." She replies, quietly, almost a whisper. Today. Maybe not like this-well, definitely not like this-but today.
"I do need to let you guys know though that both Yahiko and Nagato made a plea deal early this morning, on the murder charge. So this sentencing is just on the remaining 'loose strings'."
"Jesus fucking Christ. They murdered somebody?" Naruto takes a sharp breath. She can almost see scenarios running through his mind.
"Yeah, don't worry. They're still getting life." Shikamaru informs them in that same bland tone. "Their plea is for other bullshit, like the level of security on their prison and other dumb, clerical shit like that. But it's just another nail in the coffin for the rest of them. I don't see how any of those people will walk out today free. Or any time this decade."
"Fuck," Naruto breathes out quietly.
"Yeah, how'd you not know that?" Shikamaru stops taking a deep drink of his cup. He glances at Hinata and then at Naruto. "Didn't you know the guy?"
Beside her, Naruto goes utterly still. Slow, he turns to face her and Hinata wants to cry at the trepidation in his eyes-the plea she sees there. Her eyes fill with tears. She doesn't want to hurt him. She doesn't want this for him. Life has done nothing but punch him down and he's always managed to get back up, but this...this is different. She swallows the lump in her throat. It still chokes her. "Baby," She tries to use her softest voice. She holds his gaze. He needs to know that he's not alone in this. She's here. She's here. She loves him and she's so...so… "Baby I'm so sorry."