The Suna-Hyuga compound turned out better than he expected. He was interested in the floor plan when he had seen the blueprint. He had found that what was seen as important was different than what he was used to. In Suna, they value small functional workshops over large open family rooms. It was also not uncommon for the kitchen and family space to share a room, and then more focus and funds being put into their work. The Kage tower served many purposes and was large, so it was the exception.
His wife mentioned the difference that she noticed herself while working with the Suna and Konoha architects. She explained why certain things were necessary for the Hyuga. One of their main values was teaching their children the family protected techniques. A closed training room was impractical as was doing so outside, so a room had to be designed for ventilation out of normal eye level.
The structure was still odd but was fairly sturdy. Instead of the flat roof, he was used to it and had a keystone design to keep the large rooms from collapsing from sand accumulation.
Time would tell if it stood the test. If it did, maybe they would try the design elsewhere.
The Hyuga seemed wary of him but respectful. It was an odd feeling to be the second one to be bowed to when he entered a room. He would say it was a good sign that they were showing Hinata the respect she should have as their leader.
"Why are the children so quiet?" He leaned over to ask his wife. Every child he had come across had bowed and quietly continued with what they were doing.
"We are taught from a young age that there is a value to calm and quiet. We are discouraged to play roughly and to reserve that energy for training and classes."
Gaara tilted his head. It was logical. However, he hadn't had a normal childhood in any sense, so he had no authority to know, but he knew that both Suna and Konoha children could be seen playing in the streets.
"Interesting."
"I don't know how much longer I can hold. Go through quickly!" Temari told Etsu as she stood in a full backbend, making a tunnel. Etsu tried to crawl through quickly but was not quick enough for her to be free of Temari deliberately but gently falling on her. "Oh no." Temari cried her fake frustration.
Hinata giggled as she helped them up. "I think she needs more practice. What do you think, Etsu-chan?"
"Yeah, cause she's heavy," Etsu added.
"Hey wait a minute." Temari snatched up the child and started tickling her. "Who's heavy?"
Etsu screamed out, laughing, and the door slammed open.
The three jumped and looked toward the door. The sand that had slammed it open was soon entered by Gaara. "What is wrong?."
The two women started laughing at their more oblivious loved one.
He laid kisses down her bare shoulder and sighed over her skin. She was soundly asleep now, so she wouldn't know the apologies he was laying on the bite marks and bruises.
He understood the want for these minor pains now, but it laid on his consciousness when he could see them. Pains he caused, why did it still bother him so much when he knew they came from a place of pleasure. He could only worry about crossing the line, losing control, busting her more than she could handle.
Gaara's bloody past made him sick when he thought about her. Any laps, and he could break her skin. His nightmares were littered with a mixture of his memories with her in the place of the death he had caused.
Hinata shifted against him, making a small noise as she got more comfortable.
Even her odd little sleeping noises were calming to his thoughts. Gaara pressed her for heading to her shoulder and tried to push his anxieties away with the warmth of her skin.
Hinata would tell him if something was too much, right? Was she strong enough to stop him? Could she get away from him in time? Would she?
'GO TO SLEEP' His beast growled, sick of his anxious rambling.
She stretched up again and pouted at the shelf. She was simply too short. She sighed and lifted herself onto the counter. Suna and Konoha had different height standards for shelving. It would seem it wasn't even the top shelf.
She felt a hand pressed against her back as she dug through the shelf. She peeked behind her to look at her confused looking brother-in-law.
"Need help?" He asked, amused.
"Sorry." She mumbled, pulling what she had wanted out the self and letting him help her down.
He patted her head. "You know Gaara is looking for you. I didn't think I would find you climbing on counters."
She pouted at him.
"Sorry I'm late." She mumbled as she stepped into the room, holding her usual breakfast tray.
Gaara looked up, closing his folder and tucking it under the others. She didn't need to worry about what he was.
She set the tray down and served before sitting down.
"Anything interesting on the schedule today?" She hummed and sipped her tea.
"Not much of a minor security meeting today." He mumbled, not wanting to elaborate.
Her interest peaked. "What for?"
"There has been some noticed movement of a criminal group that we want to make sure doesn't affect us." He barely elaborated.
"Which one." She asked curiously.
Gaara pressed his lips together. He didn't want her to worry about it. "Akatsuki."
She paused, setting down her chopsticks. "Do you think they will be coming after you?"
"We aren't sure of anything, we're only concerned because of sightings of them in nearby villages. Don't concern yourself too much." He tried. "If they did, it would likely be after storm season because coming in during is a death sentence."
"Gaara, why are you trying to push this aside." She frowned.
He frowned back, annoyed. "If they come for me, there is nothing more I can do than defend the village. It is unlikely that they would succeed if my sand provides a nearly impenetrable shield."
"Nearly" She emphasized. "Anyone with enough chakra manipulation control to overpower you is a threat. You've never fought a Hyuga directly. We have no clue what gentle fist or something like it would do to that shield."
"Hinata." He warned with his tone. Not a tone he had used on her before. He was more accustomed to using it on those who were getting out of line in meetings and speaking out of turn. He realized his mistake when her lips snapped shut into a pouted line of frustration.
"Why do you want to shut me out now, of all times?" She demanded, her voice kind and low as it ever was but now dipped in irritation.
Gaara took a moment to think of his answer. He hadn't meant to shut her out. He simply didn't want to focus on something that had no real solution. He had always done this. No one had ever questioned or challenged it before. He told his siblings to only concern themselves with the village. He told his student that his death did not matter because the village was what was important. He realized that his normal response to his mortality could no longer apply.
His wife would be genuinely affected if something were to happen to him. He wasn't sure what to do with that.
"Gaara, if there is a reason to be considered for your safety, I want to know about it. I should protect you, just as you protect me." She was right. That was what marriage should be to the best of his knowledge.
He nodded. "I'm sorry." he bowed his head, and she looked confused at his submission. "Someone's concern is still not something that I am used to yet."
He still made her heart wrench. She felt sick to her stomach as he looked down, looking ashamed that he hadn't thought that someone would care about his safety that strongly. Was he so disregarded as a child, or had she not seen the true power of his shield. She was sure there was still something to worry about. No matter how impenetrable his shield was, nothing was impossible.
She sighed. "I'm not upset with you. I am worried that you would not be concerned with your own life." Though he hadn't had much concern for his health before she had come. He barely ate or slept, relying on Shukaku's power and reluctance to let his vessel die to sustain him.
He nodded. "I somewhat understand. However, my safety does come after the village's. In the event they do come for me. The village will likely be attacked to either draw me out or further the damage. My people's safety is more important than my own."
"I understand your duties as Kazekage, but that doesn't mean I don't worry about you." She insisted.
He nodded and sighed, looking out the window. "You are welcome to come to the meeting."
Hinata's back hit the wall, and she felt chills run up her spine as she remembered her wedding night. Her arms tightly around Gaara's shoulders, he wasn't getting away from her this time.
Hinata back arched. His hand trailed up her hips, his hand shivering with his pleasure as he found a place to dig his fingers in.
One of his hands snaked up her back under the loose shirt she had tossed on. He dragged them back down, leaving lovely red marks down her back.
She threw her leg around to him, further keeping him where she had wanted him. He pressed out a hard breath into her mouth. His hands dug in where they were before retracting and latching on her thighs, lifting her right where she had wanted to be. Her back pressed against the hard surface of the wall, and his weight keeping her pinned there as she trailed down her collarbone with lips.
She dug her fingers into his hair in an attempt to keep him in a certain place on her neck, but he seemed to have other plans as he continued down her chest.