Hinata stretched and started to take off her outer robe leaving the lower thigh-length wrap dress she had been wearing since she moved to Suna. It was easier to train without the outer robe.
Temari gasped. "Where did you get all of those bruises…." She mumbled, trailing off, covering her mouth though it was too late to stop herself.
Kankuro laughed as Hinata put her outer robe back on. She hadn't thought to heal her marks before training. The long coat was going to need to stay on. Her face got progressively redder as he calmed down.
"But..." Temari looked at her questioningly. Temari was quite aware that they hadn't been sleeping together before, so it was understandable she was surprised.
"Seems he finally got over his hold up." Kankuro continued to turn about as red as she was from trying to continue to laugh at her.
Hinata frowned. "Don't make fun of him, please."
Hinata sighed with comfort, finally back at her desk. She didn't know why the time off made her anxious because she had enjoyed her time with her husband. Maybe she was becoming a workaholic.
Meetings were held, papers were signed, and she was exhausted by dinner.
"You're done for the day," Matsuri told her, snatching the folder out from under her eyes.
"What?" Hinata squeaked. There was still so much needed her approval, and though they were all noted with important points. She still had to skim them before signing.
"You're going to fall asleep on the desk." She snapped the folder shut, setting back down, pointing toward the door. "Gaara is not going to feel any better about all this if you are killing yourself overwork as he does."
Hinata rubbed her eye and yawned. She was tired, way more than she should be, the end of her healing that was still draining her.
His wife re-entered the room after her gentle knock. He looked up at the clock. She had only been back in her office an hour after they had dinner. He wasn't expecting her back so soon. She sat down on the couch and curled up with no book, and laid her head down.
He stared at her for a moment before Shukaku formed and hopped up with her. She lifted her arm so he could snuggle in, and she curled around the sand mass. He felt her breathing and heartbeat slow as she fell asleep on the tanuki.
He went back to work, but it mildly bothered him that she would be taking a nap this early, was sending her back to work this early a mistake? Should he have waited? Was she hiding her injury recovery from him?
The tanuki growled at him, breaking the thought. 'She's fine, shut up.' His bark rang through his head.
He would have to set it in the back of his mind for now.
Groggily she stretched accidentally, knocking Shukaku off the couch. She leaned over the edge and pet the fake annoyed creature. "I'm sorry I forgot you were up here with me."
"Do you feel better?" Gaara asked. She looked up to see that he hadn't looked up from his papers. He didn't seem to be reading what his eyes were on either, though.
"Yes, thank you." She sat up and stretched again before wandering over to him. He stopped work and slid his chair back to receive her.
She stood in front of his chair, rubbing her. He laid his hand on her hip, pulling her to him. "You slept quite a while." He mumbled.
"Yeah, I must have overdone it. There was a lot that needed my approval." She admitted leaning on her hips on his chest.
He sighed, looking up from her chest, looking tired himself.
She slid her hand through the front of his hair, flattening it. "Why don't we head off to bed."
He mumbled incoherently, pressing his face into her chest, and sighed. "I still have work to do."
"It waited a few days. It can wait for one more." She re-ruffled his hair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
Hinata suddenly felt the reason why the Hyuga eyes made people uneasy. With the compound built and the first group coming to move in, they all looked at her intently as with their flat pearl eyes. She explained the structure and how it was different from their previous home. She gathered the adults. She made sure they were aware of any customs to observe or laws that were different and how it would affect them and their children. Most importantly, how to know when to keep them safe during sandstorms. Most of them were aware. They had signed up for this and had been informed before moving.
She was happy to see that most of the arrivals were respectable, kind people that would spread a much better light to the clan. This would be better than maybe some of the later arrivals that insisted on bringing any of their elitist demeanor.
Matsuri had agreed to take the children to show them the school and the academy. Hinata had the sneaking suspicion she was more interested in slipping in places they shouldn't go and what they shouldn't do.
"Thank you, and welcome to Suna. If you have any questions, you can send them to me. I am in the Kazekage tower most of the day, or Matsuri is very helpful." She bowed to the adults as she had finished. She noticed a few confused faces.
"Will you not be staying in the compound?" One asked. The others stared, waiting for her answer.
"No, I live with my husband in Kazekage quarters." She explained, confused. She didn't think they were ever told she was going to be joining them. They had no real need for her to be that close.
They didn't seem sure of her answer, but they dispersed before she could leave the uncomfortable situation an older member caught her. "You don't have to stay with him, do you?"
Hinata opened her mouth in an automatic response. "I have no intention of moving away from my husband."
"Does that man make you stay, be honest with me." Hinata felt a flare of anger that she put out quickly. The woman was genuinely concerned for her.
She took a breath and had the woman sit with her. "I am very happy with my husband. He seems intimidating and has an unfortunate history, but he treats me very well, and he genuinely cares. The Hyuga does not need to worry that he will be a tyrant leader. It's not the kind of man he is."
The woman considered her statement and set her hand on her knee and gave it a light pat. "That's good to hear. Some of us were worried. You were such a skittish child, we worry about you."
She stared at the old woman's smile, and she felt tears. She couldn't remember the last time that a member of her family that wasn't her sister or Neji had been usually nice to her. "Thank you." She whispered.
Gaara's head perked up from his papers as his wife entered. She crossed the room and didn't wait for him to move his chair back. She leaned over him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder and lowering her head behind his.
He dropped his work, raising his hand to her arm, turning his head to her. "Is something wrong? Has something happened?"
She said nothing, but she shook her head against the back of his neck.
He waited there for her to move, wondering what had brought on the behavior. She stood back up and sniffed, wiping her eyes. Why was she crying?
He turned to her and set a hand on her hip. "There is something wrong."
"No." She sniffed again, wiping her eyes more. "I just needed a hug."
He blinked at her and still did not understand. There was nothing wrong, but she was upset? Was she just not going to tell him why or was this something he was yet to understand. Why cry when there was nothing wrong.
He pulled her forward and wrapped his arms around her hips, laying his face on her stomach. She wrapped him in a tight embrace, tighter and more… needy than usual?
"I think that having the Hyuga here won't be so bad." She hummed into his hair.
He wasn't sure what she meant by that either.