Hinata was bound to a wheelchair for at least a week or until told otherwise. She had to eat a specific amount within guidelines to build her weight back to normal. Though from what she could tell, at least from what she had weighed three years ago, she wasn't far off from her normal average. The diet was more about her vitamin-starved body while she was fed with a tube and a needle.
Sasuke was going to need to help her do everything. Her equilibrium was off. She was physically weak and would be easily dizzy, so she couldn't stand without falling over. Nausea and confusion were going to be around for a while due to the concussion. It explained why she was having trouble processing what Sasuke told her.
Hinata hoped he understood she wasn't just dumb. Well, he must not have thought that. He did marry her.
Hinata found that she hadn't physically changed that much. She was already post-puberty when she was 19, so the only different thing was an older look to her face, extra length to her hair, and a few small scars she didn't recognize.
She sat in the wheelchair with her hands folded in her lap, trying to list questions in the right order to ask in her head, but she kept losing it. Sasuke pushed her to the old Uchiha district. He seemed to be taking a long way round. There must have been something wrong with the shorter cut through the village, but she wasn't going to ask.
There were few houses in the Uchiha district that was original. There were houses in their place that were not Uchiha styled among the older buildings. "What happened…?"
"It was destroyed in an attack. It was rebuilt, and people live here now." Sasuke explained over her shoulder.
"That's… interesting." They passed the newer section of the village. He headed to the far corner of the district to a house that looked nothing like the others in style or structure.
"This is ours," Sasuke noted.
There was a well-taken-care-of fence around a green yard, and she could see the edge of a garden behind it. It was one floor, it looked both traditional and modern. He opened the gate and rolled her down the walkway, easily lifting the chair up onto the porch. She was too interested in her surroundings to ask questions.
Sasuke opened the door and let her in, lifting the chair up over the small landing where the shoes went before taking off his.
Hinata took in the first room. It was open, and though the sun was setting, it would get lots of light most of the day. The kitchen and living room were separated by an island counter that had chairs tucked in. There was a traditional low table in the living room but also a set of modern seating. She had never had a couch before.
She felt him standing behind her, just watching her as she took it in. She frowned, taking another gaze over everything. It was her dream home. Not too big, open and airy, a garden in the back, and he had built it for her. She didn't even know why or when she had told him. She felt tears rise again.
Sasuke wheeled her down the hall that was central to the room. It was short and had three doors. "This is our room." He opened the door to the right. "That's the bathroom." He pointed to the door at the end of the hall. "And that is the extra bedroom." He pointed to the room across the hall from their room as he backed her chair into the room. "I'll take out a futon and sleep in there."
Hinata turned in the chair quickly, too quickly. "That's not necessary." She told him as her vision blurred with dizziness. He stared at her in confusion. "I'm not taking your bed because I can't remember."
Sasuke sighed. "You can't stop me." He countered, not maliciously, more just pointing it out. It nearly sounded like he was making a joke, but his face was solemn.
"I don't think it's right. If we are married, then we can share the bed." She didn't want him kicked out of his bed. "Or I can take the spare room if you don't want me sleeping with you." She added, examining his face. After a moment, she rubbed her temple, feeling her head aching. She turned too quickly.
Sasuke frowned and leaned over her chair in defeat. He flinched back like he had full intention to continue leaning to lay his head on her and just caught himself. "Fine."
Hinata turned not to witness more of the hurt in his face.
She felt her chair move as he pulled her to the far corner and back the chair into it before opening the closet. She took the time to look around the room. A modern bed off the ground with neutral-colored blankets, the bed wasn't made but also looked like it hadn't been sleeping recently. There was clutter on the dresser where it seemed he grabbed things he needed in haste. The story that played out in front of her was heartbreaking.
The furniture in the room was well taken care of, but none of it looked new. It was all refurbished and painted, likely second hand, then made to fit the room with care.
Something about the bed caught her eye. She felt tears filling her eyes again. She placed her hands on the wheels and pushed herself the short distance to the bed with minor trouble and picked up the corner of the comforter with a rising suspicion.
Badly but lovingly stitched. She recognized her work. She hiccuped and covered her mouth, then suddenly she wasn't alone.
Sasuke knelt beside the chair with a worried look of confusion setting the clothes he gathered down in her lap. "What's wrong?"
"I… don't remember making this." She sniffed, wiping her cheeks. She felt like a blubbering child.
"You recognize it?" He asked, covering her hand with his own.
"No, but I've never been good at stitching. It never stopped me from trying." She explained as her voice broke. It was made with the only stitch she knew how to do effectively. It was spaced with care but was still not uniform.
Sasuke took a moment to lean his head down under her bangs to see her tear-streaked face. "You told me that it was something your mother thought was important." He explained, taking the cloth from her hand gently and replacing his hand where it had been.
She nodded. It was something sentimental. Her mother had told her a fairy tale about making your marriage blanket and taking good care of it. She had always wanted to do it but feared it would be seen as stupid and childish, but she had told him.
"I need to wash it. The sheets have collected dust since you've been in the hospital." He said, placing her hand on her clothes. Another thing she didn't recognize but was something she would wear. "I got something soft." He added, looking down at the clothes and their hands.
She looked up into his black eyes. They were deep with layers of pain and memories she wanted to share. The arrogant child she once knew was now a devoted partner, and she was hurting him. It was breaking her heart, and she didn't even know him yet or rather again.
Hinata curled her hands around the fabric. "Are you going to help me?" She asked, feeling her face tinge. She knew she couldn't do it. She couldn't even stand.
"If you want, or you could be stubborn about it," Sasuke told his joke with no amusement.
"I want help, please." Hinata pierced her lip, shrinking into herself.
"You should have a proper bath as well." He noted, her cheeks inflamed. "I won't make you uncomfortable. You were skittish before." He scooped her out of the chair, lifting her easily. "You have lost weight."
Hinata held on to him, wondering if this was going to be as awkward as she thought. He handled her with care and seemed to be trying his hardest to keep himself at a distance.
Sasuke changed rooms, setting her on the shower stool before reaching over to fill the bath. A traditional bath, shower outside, and soaking bath to itself.
"I'll stay behind you," Sasuke noted as he did just that.
She chanted to herself, 'married, has already seen you naked' as her finger trembled to her buttons.
"I'm sorry you have to take care of me." She whispered as she unbuttoned the hospital shirt.
"If it's any help, we bathed together before." Not helpful, not at all. She blushed at the intimacy. "Maybe not." She heard actual amusement. She turned her head to see a slight smirk on his face. It was barely there, but it was much better than the absolute depression she had seen so far. He liked embarrassing her.
"It's not." She squeaked.
"We've also had a honeymoon." His smirk got a little wider at her reddening face.
"I would have thought so." Hinata shrank into her undressing.
"Bed's got some use to it too," Sasuke added. She felt faint. She looked back at him, begging him to stop with her wide eyes. "I'll stop." His eyes lighted. "You can learn all that again later." He said with an ever-widening smirk.
Hinata squeaked as she hit the last button.
"Sorry, that was the last one." She hoped the jokes were a good sign. She liked the distraction for the real problem.
Sasuke had been gentle with her. Hinata was stiff and needed physical therapy, so washing her back and hair was impossible. He was sparing with his touch, never lingering to make her uncomfortable. He simply did what he needed to and set her in the tub. He sat with her, turned away, and looked no lower than her face. He was trying to make her feel comfortable with him.
Was she worthy of all this care?
Hinata sat with her arms around her legs. It was more comfortable than laying back, not only because he was there but since she had been in bed for so long.
"How did we meet?" She mumbled into her knees. "Well, after you came back."
He leaned down, resting his elbows on his knees and looking away from her. "It's not a good story."
"I want to hear it anyway." She pressed. "I want to know what I don't remember."