Everybody Told Me Love Was Blind
Then I Saw Your Face And You Blew My Mind
Could It Be You And Me Are The Lucky Ones?
The first time Aiko realised that being an Uchiha was frowned upon, was when she met Sasuke's closest circle.
Proceeding being uprooted from her small town, and being overwhelmed with a new environment, one much larger in both living space, and town, she was then thrown into the presence of Sasuke's former group. Team Seven. Having already met - and adoring - Naruto, both her and her son then met Kakashi, Sasuke's former Sensei turned Hokage, and Sakura, a pink haired medical ninja. One of the greatest to have ever lived, Naruto added.
Both were intimidating, and even more so to Aiko when they all stood tall together. Sasuke lingered a few metres from her, watching the exchanges silently, protectively, at both Aiko and the bundle of excitement in her arms. Takeshi fought to be free of Aiko's grip, reaching for Naruto, who laughed as he grabbed hold of the gurgling baby.
'C'mere kiddo, I'm happy to see you too!'
They shared a deep fondness for each other. One that assured Aiko Naruto would make an incredible father someday.
Kakashi's eye caught the brief, but quick, flinch of Sasuke's fist as Naruto had clumsily grabbed hold of his son. The flinch wasn't in anger, he summarised, but in fear of his son being hurt. He seemed terrified of everything to do with son, it was a role he had never had any preparation for and thus was unsure of where to start. To Kakashi, that single flinch had spoken volumes about Sasuke's thoughts. For it was through actions that he expressed his feelings, incapable of verbalising them adequately.
Kakashi had been pleasant enough, if not slightly short, though Aiko had the impression that it was simply his nature. Much like it was Sasuke's to keep to himself, even around people he loved. Sakura was soft in greeting, the corners of her eyes creased as she smiled in greeting to Aiko. Yet there was a tightness there, Aiko felt that her politeness was somewhat stiff. It was barely detectable, only something she picked up on after having spent so long having to pick up on subtle actions from Sasuke, and put it down to nervousness.
Aiko was sure this may have been awkward for them all, not having suspected that Sasuke would return with a new wife, let alone a small son. A small son that Sakura unintentionally kept staring at while politely refusing to hold him when Naruto offered.
It startled him, and he blinked in confusion at Sakura. She loved children, wanted many of her own, yet there seemed to be alarm in her green eyes when given the opportunity to hold Takeshi. Thankfully, the moment went unnoticed by both Aiko and Sasuke, the former of whom had relocated to the kitchen to prepare some tea while the latter spoke quietly with Kakashi.
It was all just weird to Sakura, having never expecting any of this. Aiko did not deserve any hostility from her, but she chose to keep her distance. Until the shock and hurt wore off. It was the way he hovered around her, not touching her, or saying anything, but merely functioning as both Aiko and Takeshi's shadow. Merely waiting to be needed, wanting to be needed. It was all so unlike Sasuke, yet it was still him at the same time. Just different, older. She couldn't help but watch and wonder if this could have been her life, and it stung.
The second time had been when Aiko entrusted Sasuke with Takeshi alone for the first time, in order for her to go into town and get a haircut. Her neighbour had done that for her in her old town, but here Aiko had no neighbours, the Uchiha compound was almost as large as her old town.
'You're sure? You don't have any work you need to do?'
'It's my day off,' Sasuke said quietly, 'just go and enjoy yourself.'
He was completely unfased by the fact his son was currently climbing up his shoulders, yanking on his hair in an attempt to climb up on his head. The kid had barely learnt how to walk just yet, and so was unstable as he attempted to balance during his task. Sasuke used one hand to support Takeshi in his venture up his shoulders by placing it on his back, steadying him.
'Are you sure? I can put him in the stroller and take hi-'
'Aiko.' His voice was short, and matter of fact. Causing her to look him in the eye. 'You need to start trusting me. I can do this.'
And so, she ventured into the town for the first time since moving. It had barely been a week. She was not prepared for the bustling noise that came with living in a place as large as Konoha, market stalls were in full swing, restaurants and coffee houses were filled to the brim. It was overwhelming, but exciting. She hadn't seen a place filled with so many people before.
She tucked her out grown bangs behind her ears, slightly nervous of the looks she got. No doubt in her mind that they had caught the Uchiha crest emblazoned on her navy blue dress. She kept her eyes to the floor, not used to the level of attention she was receiving. It would take getting used to.
She kept walking until she found a hair dresser, squinting through the window to see that it wasn't entirely full.
Stepping in, she let a smile spread across her lips and walked to the counter. A bell rang as Aiko entered, alerting people of her presence.
She walked towards the small desk where an older woman sat, her eyes sizing up Aiko as she reached her.
'Hello,' she waved softly, 'I was hoping you'd be able to fit me in for a haircut.'
The woman's dark eyes appraised Aiko, taking in her new clothing and the ring on her left hand, before narrowing. Aiko hadn't noticed just yet, but the small salon had quietened since she walked in. The woman flicked through a small notepad, lazily, before looking back up to Aiko.
'I'm afraid we don't have space for you.'
'Oh? That's okay! Is it possible to book at appoint in the next few days?' Aiko's smile remained, her awareness of the hostility in the room was delayed.
'I don't think you understand,' the woman said, tightly, 'I said we don't have space for you. At all.'
Aiko blinked, realisation dawning on her as she stared at the woman and slowly to the customers and employees around her. The salon was incredibly silent, the hostility within the space now palpable.
'You're not welcome here.'
Aiko felt the prick of tears, but she fought them off. Unwilling to cry in front of them all. She nodded, something she would regret doing later and swiftly turned to exit the salon.
Upon entering the busy street again, Aiko couldn't help but focus on the eyes that fixated on her once again. She realised that all the stares she'd been receiving hadn't been in curiosity, but in distaste. She kept her eyes trained to the floor as she quickly walked home.
She remembered to take a deep breath before reentering her new home, plastering on a smile should Sasuke sense something was off. Aiko found them in the kitchen, with Sasuke holding Takeshi at another awkward angle.
This time, the baby was slumped into the crook of his elbow, leaning against his fathers chest, and his forearm supported his son beneath his bottom. His chubby legs kicked out in front of him. His chin and shirt dripping with juices of the fruit he was trying to chew on. Sasuke softly bit into a sliced apple with his free arm, face soft as he watched his son enjoy the fruit his mother had cut up for them both. It was an odd sight, one Aiko still had yet to get used to, but it warmed her heart nevertheless.
Sasuke's mode of fatherhood was all trial and error, like most parents, but for a man who got everything damn near perfect on the first try it was difficult for him to accept. Not always getting the father thing right.
He sensed Aiko's presence, looking up at her in the doorway.
'He started crying as soon as you left.' He stated. 'Nothing else seemed to work, until I gave him this.'
His voice was neutral, but he seemed to be in wonder over his son. 'I've never seen someone stop complaining so quickly.'
Aiko giggled, wishing she had been there to witness the panic in her husbands eyes as he tried to find ways to soothe his son.
'Strawberries are his favourite, for future reference.'
She turned to go change out of her clothes, before Sasuke's words stopped her.
'You didn't cut your hair.' It was an observation, though she knew Sasuke well enough to know it was actually a question.
Her small moment of joy diminished as the memory of her time in town replayed in her head. Aiko painted a smile on her face one more time before turning back around to face him.
'Yes, they were a little busy. So I said I'd go back another time.'
He knew she was lying. Her smile was a little too wide, her eyes couldn't fully meet his. There was a barely detectable tremble to her bottom lip. She chose not to tell him what really happened, and from the looks he received whenever he walked the streets of Konoha, he could guess just how well it may have gone for her.
He nodded, effectively dismissing her as she left the kitchen.
A small sigh escaped his lips. He had thought, or hoped, that Aiko would have been spared the hateful glances and judgement of the villagers in Konoha. He had many wrongs to right within the village, and therefor understood the treatment he received. He would take full accountability for it.
Aiko was innocent in this. Her heart was filled with nothing but empathy and the best intentions for others. She didn't deserve to be treated in such a way, and she didn't deserve to have to keep it to herself. He was irate. The fact she had refrained from telling him was intentional, in order to protect him. To spare his feelings of any shame for bearing the name that had brought so much pain to Konoha, for bringing her here to only suffer at the hands of villagers.
Yet, he didn't know how to address it with her. Didn't know how to make this okay, or what would make it okay.
His irritation at his own cluelessness grated on him. This entire new role he had stepped into; the husband and the father, was so incredibly hard. Harder than he anticipated, and it set him on edge.
A chewed and wet piece of apple made contact with his face. He looked down to his son, who gurgled up at him, pleased at the fact that he had just thrown his snack at his father. Sasuke smiled. In that moment, he thought of how worth it it was. How his panic and stress was always rewarded with moments like these, moments that were filled with a love he hadn't received since he was a child.
That night, he held Aiko a little more tightly in bed.
The third time, Naruto had found Aiko sat at the benches in the park. She was shielded from the heat by a tree, the shade granting her some respite as Takeshi napped in his stroller.
She'd been crying, the tears dripping silently down her cheeks. She wiped them away as she saw the blonde approach, and he offered her the smallest of smiles as took a seat beside her. Blue eyes brimming with sympathy. They said nothing, just stared at the sleeping baby in his stroller, and sat in silence for a few moments. When Aiko spoke, it was softly.
'I'd had to venture out quite far for some grocery shopping today, no one in the town centre would serve me.'
He winced, picturing clearly how he once was sat in Aiko's shoes.
'I ended up getting lost, and Takeshi has been teething so he was already irritable. He was crying, screaming, and anyone I tried to ask for help or directions just . . . kept on walking. It was like I was invisible.'
He could see from the corner of his eyes that new tears had formed, and she let them fall.
'It won't always be like this,' he said quietly, sadly, knowing all too well of the crippling isolation this caused. 'Someday they're going to stop thinking about the bad, and think about all the good. Konoha is still standing because Sasuke helped fight for it.'
'None of them know my husband. None of them understand what he's lost, and what's he's given up for this village.'
They were silent for a few minutes longer, Aiko appreciating the mere presence of Naruto.
'I know what it's like,' he eventually said, 'I know how lonely it can be, but at least you and Sasuke have each other. You have me, too!'
His voice perked up at his last sentence, returning to the the upbeat tone that Aiko had become accustomed to. She smiled as she turned to Naruto, looking at his beaming smile.
'The next time you want to go grocery shopping, you give me a call! Ain't no shop gonna turn you away with me staring them down!'
Aiko laughed, her eyes attempting to convey how thankful she was to him. 'Sasuke's lucky to have you, Naruto.'
That night, after Takeshi had been put to bed, Aiko washed the remaining dishes from their dinner in the kitchen. Quietly humming to herself as she did so. Sasuke watched from the doorway, noticing her shoulders were more relaxed, the tenseness in them from the morning had slowly ebbed away.
Naruto had spoken with him that afternoon, letting him know of his conversation with her. He hadn't scolded Sasuke for not dealing with it, but had merely made him aware that if he needed help, he could ask for it. He also told him to let him know his wife could lean on him, she still seemed too afraid to do so.
He watched her dry her hands on her apron, after putting away the last dish. She turned around, eyes widening slightly in alarm at the fact he was stood there.
'I keep forgetting how silent you can be.' She said as a smile grew on her lips.
'You can stop wearing it if you want to.'
The look of confusion on her face made it clear that she had no idea what he was talking about.
'The clothing, the crest,' he clarified, 'if it's easier to stop wearing it, you can.'
Sasuke watched as her eyes widened at his statement, and then as face crumbled in sadness. She whispered his name softly, brokenly, he could hear the crack in her voice. It made his chest ache, to hear her be in so much pain, and have it be over him. He didn't deserve it.
He knew, this whole time he knew, of course he did. From the moment they had become acquainted Sasuke had been able to sense her emotions and feelings, she had forgotten how well he could so, after all their time apart. In that moment, she scolded herself, because the realisation that Sasuke most likely received worse treatment than her had only just struck, and she had been too wrapped in her only feelings to think about it before. She had only been in Konoha for a few weeks, Sasuke had undoubtedly been enduring this for months. He had not complained once. Knowing her husband, he had most likely welcomed it, considering it a just punishment for his past actions.
Aiko walked towards Sasuke, both hands reaching up to place them either side on his face. Pulling him down to focus on her.
'I am proud to wear this crest. I am proud to be your wife.' She steady steadily, eyes shining fiercely. 'You are a good man, and everything you love - including Konoha - you love with ferocity. You love so dearly, and unconditionally, that you have caged your heart in order to protect it all.'
She placed a kiss on the corner of his lips, whispering her next words.
'You take ownership of your mistakes, and you've dedicate your life to repenting for them. That is the type of man I want to spend the rest of my life with. That is the type of name I want the world to know I am proud to bear.'
His placed his forehead on hers, his large hands wrapping around her wrists, keeping them in place. They stayed like that for many moments, him conveying the words he always found so difficult to say. Attempting to emphasise in that moment just how much he loved her, and she knew. She always knew.
Soooo yah, this defo ended up being longer than a two shot hahaha. Definitely just going to be a short story, but I only have one more chapter planned. It'll probably be a little shorter. I'm sorry I took so long to update this. I hope some of you are still here!