Hinata hated councils. More specifically, she hated the Hyuga council. This was a new council that never met her, and it was going to be her job to deal with them, so she better start strong. The entire room became stiff and quiet as they entered. She followed her fiance to make sure she was close enough that it didn't look like she was cowering behind him. She just didn't know where they were to stand. The air stalled as they took their place, a good start.
She could feel the tenseness from him. He was unsure how she would take this. She was sure. She was more concerned about how this council would see her. He had expressed he didn't care what his council thought.
No one spoke for a full minute. Hinata glanced over to where she saw Temari. She was currently glaring at who looked like the head of the council who was still sitting. She hated to do what she was about to, but it would make a lasting impression at least.
She abruptly bowed respectfully. However, not a full bow. Tactical, giving a full bow would be submission. A half-bow showed her place and power. "I'm Hinata Hyuga, pleased to meet you." She introduced herself. The silence made her voice echo over the room. All eyes went from him to her. She felt the room stiffened, and the air grow cold, perfect. She stood back up perfectly straight. She stared expectantly at the head with a kind, calm peak to the corners of her mouth.
This put him on the spot to introduce himself and the group whether he wanted to or not. His face was already turning red.
"Hyuga-sama." He greeted her. She could almost hear his teeth grit together. He said his name and introduced the council as a whole through clenched teeth and a strained smile. "Welcome."
She gave a light smile and a short bow of her head, ignoring his discomfort. She would turn into her father yet.
"We were surprised by your engagement, Kazekage-sama. You have turned down any attempt to have you marry in the past." He addressed Gaara. Anything he could manage to stop looking at her. There was a hidden 'Why this woman and not the women we picked out for you' there.
Hinata wasn't letting him get away from her. His squirming was something she couldn't get the Hyuga council to do. She was cruelly enjoying it. "My clan thought a closer bond with Suna would be more easily achieved this way. Peace is something we like to keep." She was being deadly truthful. He wouldn't have thought to ask if her father hadn't made it painfully obvious she was being pawned off. Gaara, however, had taken the bait and then the whole fishing pool. It melted her heart every time she thought about it.
His smile tightened. "Of course, we are just confused about why we weren't addressed on the matter."
She smiled, clearly fake, another tactic, lets them know you know they are under your heel. "Well, from what we understand, you wanted Gaara-sama to marry politically. Since he had not partnered, and Konoha is your closest ally, your agreement on the matter seemed clear." She paused, but just as he reopened his mouth to speak, she continued with. "Besides, the Hyuga council was not completely addressed either, Gaara-sama personally proposed."
Eyes turned into saucers, mouths hung open, as everyone in the room squirmed.
She was starting to see why her father liked this kind of rudeness tactic so much. It made you feel powerful. As the man looked down to think. She glanced over to Temari, who had a hand clamped over her mouth, trying to keep herself from laughing. Hinata felt sudden pride in being all those years of ridiculous training. They might be useful to her yet.
"Kazekage-sama." The man looked directly up at him, avoiding eye even accidental eye contact with her. "You did not inform us you wanted to marry." He was losing footing.
"I wasn't aware I was required to." For the first time since they came in, she looked up to Gaara. He had a hard mask. She was sure he always had when he spoke to his council. She felt empowered, just standing next to him.
She smiled sickeningly sweet back to the head of the council.
He grits his teeth. "It's very sudden."
She popped back in to support him, driving the nail deeper. "We can hold off the wedding until agreements with the Hyuga and Konoha council are settled." Most political weddings didn't have weddings unless it was in an attempt to show off or show power and wealth. She could let them swim with the idea it was a show of power or that it was their decision. She already planted the idea that the marriage wasn't strictly political. She felt terrible using their fear of angering or offending Gaara, but it would help him more than hurt him. She would allow it just for this.
The man's face turned white.
"Of course." He paused, seething in the polite, proper tone she had set for the conversation. "Thank you." He said out of obligation.
"Thank you for your lovely welcome. I look forward to working with you." It was at that moment, the entire room realized that they would be working with her. The tension heightened immensely. It was hard to breathe in it. However, Hinata was breathing just fine for once in her life she had, without a doubt, won. She was going to write a long thank you to her father and the council tonight. Hanabi and Neji will be proud.
Temari was nearly jumping up and down with joy. She had a firm clutch to Hinata's shoulders, and Hinata was outwardly giggling at the woman's excitement.
"That was the funniest thing I have ever seen!" She grinned brightly. "He looked like he would explode!" She laughed. "I want to continue to work with you when you take over. I have to see more of that!" The two women joyfully laughed as Gaara sat at his desk.
"I would be happy to have you," Hinata assured.
Gaara was pleasantly surprised. Not only had she held her own, but she had also completely taken on the council in a way his sister had never managed. Temari usually got things done by arguing until they were tired and gave in, which could take a long time and didn't always work. Hinata, on the other hand, had made them all scolded children in their seats without even raising her voice.
He might get something done if she kept it up.
From what he understood of the encounter, she did imply that their marriage wasn't purposely political. It wasn't untrue. He hadn't asked her to marry him because of her father's suggestion though it had planted the thought in his head. Instead, it was her reaction to the idea of marrying him that had set him on the track of considering it. She hadn't been disgusted or fearful of the idea. She was merely embarrassed that her father was pointing it out rather like she was a piece of art rather than a woman.
The strength and humility she showed were attractive.
"Gaara." He realized he was being spoken to. He had been staring blankly at Hinata, who was now red under her healing sunburn. She didn't like being stared at. It made her embarrassed, he remembered.
He moved his eyes to his sister. "Yes?"
Temari rolled her eyes. "How do you think she did?" She made a pointed face toward Hinata. What? Was she trying to tell him something?
"She handled them better than you do." He commented. His sister's nose scrunched up, and she rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Possibly not the answer she was looking for, then what had she wanted?
"Thank you, Gaara-sama," Hinata mumbled, playing with her ring staring at it intently.
"As my fiance, you are allowed to call me informally." It was uncomfortable to hear it that way. She was his fiancee, not a subordinate.
"Okay." She mumbled.
Temari looked between her and him with a big grin. He did not understand his sister's mood today. If she kept up the odd behavior, he would have her check-in for an early mental evaluation.
"Really?" Kankuro asked in disbelief.
"I wish you were there. You wouldn't have been able to stop yourself from laughing. Hinata had him digging his own grave." Temari laughed outwardly, telling the story of the day's early events.
"Who knew such a cute little woman has such a sharp tongue." Kankuro sighed when the story was told.
Hinata blushed.
Temari lightly smacked his arm. "Hey. She's Gaara's bride."
"Missed my chance, huh?" He laughed.
Hinata was going to assume he was joking and smiled. She looked over at the time.
"I'm going to make Gaara's dinner. Please excuse me." She stood, bowing her head slightly.
"Make?" Temari asked.
"I found that he doesn't take the initiative to eat." She hoped they didn't see it as a sign of disrespect that she was forcing him to have meals.
"I was wondering why you didn't show up for breakfast or lunch." Kankuro sat back with an undeceive expression. "Is he eating?"
"Yes."
"Well, at least he likes you enough to let you make him eat. We've been trying to get him to eat normal meals for years." Temari looked surprised.
She was glad they weren't angry, but now she felt terrible, like she was taking something.
"I was just trying to make sure he was healthy." She back stepped into the conversation.
"No no, Hinata. That's perfectly fine, it's impressive. Go ahead, force the brat to take better care of himself. It might improve his attitude." Kankuro assured her with a laugh.
"Maybe she can get him to sleep as well." Temari joined him.
Hinata excused herself quickly before she could embarrass herself further. She left two grinning siblings in her wake.