fifty years au/ar

.

.

"how are you not looking tired?"

hashirama tilted her head. "i'm tired, though. i'm just... getting better at hiding." she spoke to him through his reflection on the glass pane. she peered at the notes they had been scribbling in turns. "that looks good, my team is ready to see the stuff anytime. is tuesday good?"

madara jotted down in his bulky gadget. "tuesday. i'll forward this to my secretary."

"oh? you got a new one?" hashirama glanced up from the dessert menu. "how long has she survived?"

"he," madara corrected her, eyes glinting with humor, "has survived for three."

"three!?" hashirama remembered his past secretaries, when he had any, were women. none survived for a year.

"worth the hassle to find. since we-" madara coughed, "well, i can't have opportunistic people around to raise hell."

hashirama hummed to that, her attention fixated to ice cream list. "dessert, madara?"

he shook his head, and she settled on a sundae. she ate in silence, and it's killing him. she still could tell it. she also knew why.

"i'm doing a therapy," she blurted out. "don't worry about it."

relief was apparent on his face. "you're... doing well."

"better than in my first sessions. i was... a mess."

"...i'm sorry."

hashirama lifted her head. madara avoided her eyes.

"i... should've said that earlier. years ago."

hashirama put down her spoon. "you need counseling." she reached for his hand. "madara, look at me."

"didn't you say..."

"i know what i said. it's okay." hashirama caressed his fingers. "i've forgiven you."

madara parted his lips, wanting to say something, but it never left his mouth. multiple high pitched shrieks came from the entrance, and soon their table was surrounded by children in colorful clothes.

"auntieee!"

"it's auntie hashiiii!"

a couple children ran crying into hashirama. she released his hand to hug them, seeing kagami approaching them sheepishly. he apologized for interrupting their meeting.

"it's fine," madara said to his nephew, then to the younger kids, "okay, time to go home-"

they whined, clinging tighter to hashirama. she couldn't help but chuckle. "i can come over for a while."

hashirama ended up staying not just for a while, as the other kids at madara's house demanded her attention. when she was free of them, it was already late.

"do you want to go home?" madara asked as she left the kids' room.

hashirama saw his table was full of papers, so she shook her head. "i can call a cab..."

"no, it's late, too dangerous."

"you're working..."

"it's fine-"

kagami popped out from the kitchen. "i can drive aunt home."

madara closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "...thank you, kagami."

as hashirama bid her ex-spouse good night, she sensed there were a lot he wanted to say, but those had to wait for another time.

hopefully, soon.