Prompt from Aquarius Galuxy: NejiTen, ballpit ;) have fun!
Ok, the idea that this sparked was so ridiculous I had to write it all out. Still, 1.2k words is still short… right?
Scene: Modern AU. Neji and Tenten are on a retrieval mission, and Neji is NOT amused.
Shades of Konoha: Dragon and Phoenix
The Mission
For about the hundredth time that day, Neji wondered when he had lost his edge. As a Hyūga, he personified his family's longstanding reputation for being aloof, formal, intelligent, beautiful, and ruthless in the business world. As Hyūga Neji, he had the added reputation of being a genius, drop-dead-gorgeous,and unattainable. He gingerly picked a sticky piece of candy covered in what was probably the next mass-outbreak of bird flu or ebola off of the leg of his black pants and glowered at the woman next to him.
His withering looks had been known to strike fear into the hearts of others, even going so far as reducing the weaker willed to tears. That reminded him. He had to replace those interns. All three of them.
His glare was met with an inelegant snort and rolled eyes. "I keep telling you not to wear those kinds of things when we are out with the kids."
She ignored the killing intent radiating off of him and looked back down to where she stood, thigh-deep in a sea of multicolored plastic balls.
"What kind of a baka idiot wears Armani to a kid's birthday party?" she muttered.
He raked his gaze down her body, taking in her outfit of jeans and a fitted t-shirt. He knew that under the mass of plastic spheres and sea of life-threatening bacteria her feet were covered in bright, intentionally mismatched socks. He looked longingly to where his expensive loafers sat neatly next to her well-worn, low-heeled, calf-high brown boots and folded cardigan. He suppressed his own shudder as he felt along the bottom of the ball pit in sock feet and waded deeper into the quagmire of death masquerading as a kid's play area.
Tenten looked over to him with an amused smirk that he absently recognized as her version of his trademark expression.
"Suck it up, Hyūga," she said with good humor. "The quicker we find Mr. Hokage, the quicker you can go back to trying to look as uncomfortable as possible around children."
Neji opened his mouth to deliver a particularly scathing retort when he caught sight of his niece. Himiwari watched them in earnest, her little fingers hooked in the mesh surrounding the ball pit, her blue eyes wide with genuine, gut-wrenching concern.
"Can you see him, Uncle Neji?" she sniffed, trying to keep her tears at bay. He felt panic rising in his chest as her eyes crested with unshed tears. One big, fat tear rolled down her round cheek, and she rubbed a tiny fist into her eye to keep from crying again.
"Don't worry, Himawari," Tenten said, pushing aside another wave of balls, her sharp eyes fixed on the search. "Uncle Neji won't give up."
"Like Daddy?" she sniffed hopefully.
"Yes, sweetie," Tenten assured her, sliding an impish look over to Neji. "Exactly like Daddy."
Neji's barely suppressed annoyance at being compared to Naruto in any way, shape, or form had Tenten biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
Suddenly, his eyes went wide and he plunged one arm into the sea of plastic balls, and lost objects, visibly holding his breath. Tenten turned to him sharply, saw him grimace, take a breath and crouch as he shoved both arms into the fray, wincing as he turned his face in a desperate attempt to avoid contact with the no doubt contaminated surface.
When he stood, it was with a simultaneously relieved and triumphant smirk, and a stuffed frog in a ridiculous robe and triangular hat dangled from his hand.
"Mr. Hokage!" Himawari cried in delight, and raced around to the entrance of the ball pit, bouncing up and down and clapping her small hands excitedly.
Neji strode as quickly as he was able through what must be legally classified as an attractive nuisance, holding his prize out proudly. He climbed out of the ball pit with the gravitas of Perseus emerging with the hard-won head of Medusa before kneeling before his niece and gently handing her the precious toy.
Himawari clutched the frog tightly, her smile blindingly bright, her eyes full of gratitude and hero-worship. She then flung her little arms around his neck and buried her face into his shirt.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Uncle Neji," she chanted, excitedly before planting a loud kiss on his cheek. "You're the greatest!"
Neji hugged her briefly but affectionately, releasing her to swarm over to the woman stepping out of the pit behind him.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Aunt Tenten!" she cried as Tenten knelt to crush her in a warm hug.
"Anytime, sweetie," she kissed her head. "Let's get back to your Mom. It should be time to cut Bolt's cake soon!"
She ran off with a cheer, and Tenten turned to find her husband with her boots and sweater in hand.
"Now," she asked, pulling up her boot and yanking her arms into the long sweater. "Was that so bad?"
Neji suppressed a shudder and Tenten laughed before pressing a kiss to his lips. "You're a good uncle," she said warmly. "Anyway, think of it as good practice."
"For what?" he snorted. "Ferreting out valuable objects from what should be reclassified as a biohazard?"
"For when it's our turn," she smiled.
Neji scoffed until he noted the curve of his wife's lips, and the arch of her brow. "Our turn?" he asked, the color draining from his face.
"Yeah," She smiled crookedly. "It will be a while before we have to book birthday parties with bouncy castles, but by Bolt's next birthday party we'll be RSVP'ing for three."
"Th-three?" Neji blanched.
"Or four," Tenten shrugged. "You never know."
"F…f….four?" Neji stammered.
"I'm kidding," Tenten laughed and reached for his hand. "C'mon. Himiwari is waiting."
Neji's fingers were loose in her own but gradually wound between hers and tightened. "Did you… does anyone else know?" he asked.
"Just Sakura because she is my doctor," she shrugged. "And Hinata because she guessed."
Neji suddenly remembered his cousin sending home different teas and packages with him for Tenten. It was not an unusual thing for her to do, so at the time he had thought nothing of it.
"Don't look so stunned," his wife teased him. "You'll make everyone else suspicious, and it is too early to share with the gang."
Neji nodded absently, and let his wife drag him to where the rest of the guests were laughing and talking. No one really noted the change in his demeanor, although Hinata gave him an unusual knowing smirk.
Bolt enthusiastically blew out his candles and opened his gifts, and declared this the best birthday ever.
"Gonna be hard to top next year," Tenten said as she helped Himawari into her coat.
"I've already got it figured out," Bolt said proudly, "Right, dad?"
"Yeah!" Narutro cheered enthusiastically. "Believe it."
"Oh, yeah?" Tenten stood and Neji draped an arm around her. "What's next year?"
Naruto and Bolt looked at each other with uncontainable excitement before they both punched the air and declared "Paintball!"
Neji tightened his grip on Tenten and she choked back a laugh. "That's awesome, guys! Right, Neji?"
Neji looked down at his wife who grinned at him impishly and her expression said "You're on your own with this one."
"Can't wait," he cringed.
His friend and nephew cheered and high-fived, and Tenten's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Maybe," Neji reasoned slowly. "Maybe next year won't be so bad," he flicked his eyes down to her still-flat abdomen. "All things considered."
"Yeah," his wife wound her arms around him and smiled into his shoulder. "All things considered."
Thanks for the prompt, Aquarius Galuxy! Have a good day, friends!