Opening his eyes, Madara blinked, taking a moment to look over his surroundings. It was only the second day in their new house in the Leaf village. Walls held that fresh scent that only new buildings possessed, and the ceiling was slightly shorter than in his old house making the room feel a bit claustrophobic. His and Mego's things weren't all sorted yet, bags laid in an empty corner, as well as some paintings she wanted to hang on the wall.
Speaking of her, she was still soundly asleep, having completely crossed onto his side of their new bed. Her forehead leaned against his shoulder, hands hugging his arm, and worst of all, her leg was draped over his hips. He never did pay much heed to morning arousals as they were an unavoidable occurrence. Now, however, resisting them, hiding them, drowning them in cold bath was his new morning routine. It was only his pitiful fate that he had to endure such frustration after getting married. It's supposed to be quite the opposite.
"Mego?" He called. He would have liked to quietly sneak out of bed and let her sleep in, had she not glued herself to his side. A few stray locks of her black hair fell over her face, and he gently tucked them behind her ear. "Hey?"
Inhaling deeply, she tightened her grip on him, nuzzling her face into his arm. Her leg moved lower, putting pressure on the least favorable spot of all. Madara shut his eyes tightly for a brief moment, trying to chase the imposing lewd thoughts away.
"Fuck…" He cursed under his breath. "Mego?" He tried louder, grabbing her shoulder, at last feeling her body tense while she was starting to wake up. Dazed, she looked up at him, a sleepy smile tugged at her lips.
"Good morning, brother in law…" She said, allowing his guilt to blissfully grow, and even more because, for some inexplicable reason, hearing her call him that excited him even more. She shook her head lightly. "Madara... What time is it?"
"Dawn. I have to get up." He whispered. "You go back to sleep."
"Mhm." She was swift to close her eyes again, nodding gently as she sunk back into slumber before his very eyes. A chuckle escaped him.
"First I'll need you to let me go."
"Oh… Right." A barely audible drowsy laugh came from her. She withdrew her leg, at last allowing him to regain some control of himself. "Will you be home today?"
"I'm not sure, after training I'll have to work on something with Hashirama." Lifting himself up on his elbows, he still waited for her to let go of his arm. Mego sighed softly, closing her eyes again, and moving away from him.
"Have a good day then." She whispered, subsequently proceeding to leave him stuck in speechless tension by planting a gentle kiss on his shoulder. Madara gulped, staring at her carelessly making herself comfortable on her own side of the bed, that dreamy smile still plastered across her lips. Unsure if he should say something, he stayed unmoving, propped up on his elbows until he felt ache spreading through his upper back. She wouldn't have done that on purpose, right? It was subconscious? It had to be.
After what seemed like a whole minute and it became obvious she was fast asleep, he got up, trying to force his mind not to think of what just happened, but was as expected, very unsuccessful. Picking up clean clothes, he went to bathroom to freshen up and change.
Before starting his training, he intended to push himself a bit harder that morning. He wasted two days on moving, and on one he failed to train at all, while on the other he managed to catch some fifteen minutes. However, his intention to suppress musings about Mego's lips against his skin proved counterproductive. The more he tried not to think about it, the more he ended up doing just that. An hour later, he found himself completely discouraged and sluggish.
With a tired groan, he decided to quit moving altogether, taking a minute to stay still and look at the ground as if it would offer him any aid. This was stupid, all of it. He could no longer bear the frustration and the shame attacking him whenever he'd set his eyes on her. Having one or two silly thoughts about a woman wasn't anything too bothersome, or new. But sleeping next to that woman, waking with her practically on top of him, and now even getting unknowing kisses from her were all more than he could take.
He grimaced, thinking how much he didn't want to even consider seeking relief by touching himself to thoughts of her. It was Mego! She trusted him, looked up to him, and not to mention – agreed to marry him precisely because he said he didn't plan to consummate their relationship! He knew he'd feel even worse if he were to do it with her in mind.
On the other hand, he knew he'd eventually have a woman again, someone with his own level of ethics willing to sleep with a married person. But it was way too soon to do that. He and Mego hadn't even been married for two whole weeks. He wasn't quite that desperate yet that he would seek others right away.
"Are you alright?" Madara looked to his right, to see the sweet source of all his discomfort taking her seat on the boards of the porch. He felt a tiniest smile tug at his lips, taking in her appearance. She wore a needlessly beautiful dress, joined with needless carefully done makeup. He nodded to answer her question.
"Going somewhere?" He asked.
"On, no, not yet. I just came to see if you're ready to have breakfast." She smiled, gently, innocently, and he felt his expression going limp. Earlier, when he'd see that smile, all he felt were warm love and need to protect her in any way he could. Those feeling were now accompanied by an outrageous want to rip her pretty dress and bend her over the nearest surface he could find. Sighing, he took notice of her confused expression.
"Mego," He began, walking over to stand closer to her. He didn't really feel like having this particular conversation heard by the help. "I've been thinking and… This won't do." Looking up at him, her big eyes blinked, holding a mixture of curiosity and worry in them. Madara cleared his throat and sat down next to her. Looking down at her like that only served to birth more obscene ideas. "We should go back to sleeping in separate rooms."
With trailing gaze, she remained quiet, as a small pout came to her lips. After a few moments, her eyes found his again.
"Did I do something?"
Right. Of course she'd ask that and make him feel like even more of a bastard. She also appeared utterly unaware she had kissed him. How was he even supposed to rationalize it to her? He could start by reminding her he was a man, and—Yeah, that was basically a sugarcoated way to say he wants to fuck her. With yet another long sigh, he forced a small smile to manifest on his face.
"No, of course not." He shook his head. "I'm just…" He tried to seem honest in saying the only lie he thought of that made any sense. "I'm used to my space, and I rise very early, so I wake you… And, well, our marriage isn't the one that warrants us sharing bed, anyway."
"Oh…" Mego nodded, somehow managing to appear both empathetic and deeply disappointed. "I understand."
Clearing his throat, he hurried to change the topic.
"What did you say, you're going somewhere today?"
"Yes." Her expression brightened, filling him with warm relief. "I'll go visit Sumi."
….
Entering through the small gate with Toya at her side, Mego saw Sumi standing at the door, waiting. She felt her lips stretch into a wide smile as her friend rushed to meet her, and staggered back half a step as they collided in an embrace. Hearing her laughter, her voice, seeing her face again, Mego couldn't help but pull her in another hug as soon as they parted.
As they settled down to wait for tea to be served, she observed how her friend had changed, pleased to see her all accustomed to her new life. Sumi sat calmly, with her hands softly resting on her lap, her back proudly arched as she seemed to make no unnecessary movements while at the same time looking nonchalant and agile. Mego could vividly recall her fidgeting, humbly slouching when she was first betrothed to Senju Tobirama.
"What?" Sumi laughed, to which she shook her head.
"You're doing so well." She smiled. "How is everything? You seem happy. You sounded happy in your letter!" Stretching her arms out on the table, she watched as Sumi took her hands, gently squeezing them in her own.
"It's great." A grin warmed the girl's face as she spoke. "They're all so good to me. Hashirama may be an even more attentive brother in law than Madara." She giggled. "Yuna is very sweet, also. And Tobirama…" Biting her lip, she looked around to make sure nobody but them listened. "He adores me."
"Really?" Mego sighed contentedly, knowing exactly what Sumi meant. "That's a relief. He seemed kind of scary at first." Aside the fact he had killed Izuna. She refrained from bringing that up, not wanting to ruin Sumi's happiness.
"Ah, they all do…" Sumi shrugged, clearing her throat as if she was preparing to say something else. She paused, however, as a servant arrived with tea and treats. Mego took a sip, monitoring her friend's behavior, having suddenly noticed some of the old twitchy habits in her demeanor. As if she was nervous.
"But, Mego…" She began quietly, once the two of them and Toya were all alone again. "What about you? Frankly, I was very shocked to hear you've married Madara. What happened?"
"Mother insisted I get remarried as soon as possible." Shaking her head accusingly, Mego felt a small sting of the anger she felt for Amako back then. With all her good intentions, Mego didn't want her scenes right after losing a child. "The choice of suitors was… pathetic, as you can imagine. So, she somehow had Madara agree to marry me." She was getting ready to say how excited she was about being with him and what had changed between them, but Sumi spoke first.
"Oh, good." She looked at Sumi, slightly confused as the girl exhaled in relief. "I worried it was his doing. You know how he can be…"
"What do you mean?" Her gaze must have subconsciously hardened, as Sumi broke eye contact, taking a sip of her tea to prolong the silence. Still, she didn't waver from pushing that particular topic.
"I think you know. After all I've been through with him…" She bit her lip. "You're no longer his sister in law, but his wife. I worry he might hurt you."
"No, no." Mego gestured persuasively, conjuring up a polite smile to atone for her cold tone from before. "He's as good to me as ever. You don't have to worry."
"Right… I hoped I was wrong." Frowning, she realized her attempt to brighten their mood wasn't reciprocated. "My brother in law says he's been very difficult lately, and Tobirama is sure he'll ruin the village if they let him have his way. He just won't accept that this wasn't all just for him, but for all clans willing to live in peace. Our clan—"
"When you say our clan," Mego interjected lowly, catching the girl's attention. "Do you mean Uchiha or Senju?"
The thought of all those people saying such horrible things about Madara, and Sumi happily joining them, awoke something in her. People of their clan, these Senju folk – they didn't know about everything he had done for her, and how well he treated her. Sumi knew. She was there for most of it.
Mego never was surprised about her friend's bias against him. As good as he had been to her, he was really mean to Sumi. Still, that was no reason to join up with the Senju, of all people, to speak so badly of the actual leader of the Uchiha clan.
"What are you, trying to say I'm turning on the Uchiha?"
"Yes, exactly." Drinking up the rest of her beverage, Mego stood up. "You forget why you were sent here, Sumi. You should keep our interests, not forsake us as soon as you've made yourself comfortable."
"Our interests are the Leaf's interests." Sumi joined her, glaring stubbornly across the table. "There is no difference in Uchiha, Senju, Hyuuga—Just Leaf. I'm not surprised you don't understand, but Madara should! He was the one who started it all."
"Even I know we can't all be fast friends so soon. Maybe in a decade, but for now we need to look out for ourselves – especially the Uchiha!" She had read about their history from when she was a child, and was told a lot of new information by her father. Since the very dawn of their clan, others have always been against them – and Sumi knew that very well.
"People have fewer issues with the clan than they have with just Madara! And when I say people, I mean the Uchiha too. Who would want to follow him? He's a brute."
Moreover, hearing such words, Mego began to wonder how much Sumi wasn't telling her before, when she became this talkative all of a sudden. Earlier, if whatever they talked about upset either of them, they would decide to drop it for the sake of getting along. Flustered, she was swiftly overcome by a feeling she didn't even really know this person that stood before her.
"Is that so?" Mego felt the breath in her lungs rush, finding it very hard to believe what she was about to say. "As that brute's wife, I should refrain from coming here again." She stepped away from the table. "Toya, we're leaving."
"Mego!" Sumi hurried over, grabbing her hand. "Are we really going to ruin our friendship over this? Let's calm down, we don't need to—"
"He means to me no less than you do. I won't hear his name sullied like this."
"Fine, let's just—Let us drop it. You and I shouldn't argue, least of all over something like politics." Sumi sighed. "Come on, sit down."
Hastily, she did, and they all went back to the table, trying to get invested in a different topic and make their time together enjoyable again. The damage had been done, however, because Mego soon realized she was very careful about choosing the things she entrusted to her dearest friend of all people. Sadness tugged at her heart, while she wondered what would become of the two of them. She forced herself to stay a while longer, not wanting to leave way too early and potentially make things even worse.
Still, she studied her friend carefully, unable to tear herself away from continuing to worry if she even knew her anymore. She was drastically different, and not all in a good way. Trying to maintain a vibrant expression and stay engaged in their conversation, she was left to wonder if maybe she had also changed?
A lot had happened to both of them in these few months they had been apart. With a small ray of optimism springing up inside her, Mego hoped they both would in time get used to it.
….
"Mego?" She heard Madara's voice call out to her even before he entered the living room. It was late in the evening at that point, but restlessness kept her from feeling even a bit sleepy. She had poured herself a cup of wine, of all things, having remembered she hadn't had any since her first wedding.
"In here." She called, taking a sip and feeling goose bumps all over her at the drink's sour sweetness. She watched him as he approached and plopped down beside her, leaning his head back against the recliner. "Are you tired?"
Madara nodded exhaustedly. His eyes glanced at her sideways.
"I heard you argued with Sumi." He said simply, causing her to almost jolt in her spot. News sure travelled fast. Reaching out with his hand, he wordlessly asked for her wine. Taking a slow sip, he returned it to her. "I heard I was the reason."
"I didn't like the way she talked about you…" He chuckled at her answer.
"She and I never got along. It's no secret she thinks badly of me. And I can't say I'm too fond of her either." He spoke calmly, deliberately, as weariness was possibly catching up with him. Mego felt herself growing drowsy as she listened to him. "Still, you shouldn't risk ruining your relationships because of me."
"But she shouldn't speak badly of you in front of the Senju! And she knows you're my husband, yet—"
"Alright, listen." Madara sighed, sitting up straight, and she looked at him carefully, slightly concerned because of the subtle change of his tone. "It's time to stop playing house. I am your husband on paper. You don't have to share my bed, or fight people on my behalf, or… anything else. Is that clear?"
His dark gaze was fixed on her, waiting for an answer, and as big as her urge to obey him was, she frowned, stubbornly meeting his eyes.
"If someone came to you and spoke badly of me, what would you do?" He opened his mouth to answer, and she interjected, feeling she hadn't quite made her point yet. "If they said I'm spoiled, useless, barren w-whore who slept with her brother in law? What would you do?" Her voice broke shortly as she wasn't used to using bad words, though, the stunned expression on Madara's face proved it took nothing from conviction of her words.
Shrugging his shoulders in agreement, he nodded.
"I'd argue, at the very least." He admitted quietly.
"There."
"Still, Sumi is your dearest friend, it—"
"So are you." She observed with content as a wide smile slowly formed its way on his face. For the first time since Tajima's death he seemed happy. An almost unbearable amount of love warmed her at the sight. "I'll… I'll go to sleep now. Good night." She whispered, in rush to get away. She felt the urge to touch him, and knew she needed to stop herself.
"Is your bedroom ready?"
"No, I will sleep with Toya tonight." Mego answered, already at the door.
"You don't have to sleep with a servant." He sighed, offering her a small smirk. "I'll tolerate you."
