A/N: Chapter includes smut, if this isn't your cup of tea, please skip, if it is, please let me know what you think! :)

Konohamaru's POV

That first week went by fast. Konohamaru was given the okay to stop using the brace by the end of it—something he was relieved to hear and was instead given exercises to prevent loss of mobility. Frustratingly light exercises focusing on keeping the muscles active, but not strained, that felt far too easy for his taste.

As soon as he could, he resumed normal training too and cursed under his breath when he threw out his arm too fast blocking an imaginary blow and was rewarded with a searing pain spreading across his shoulder and back for his efforts. Clearly, too early.

Despite knowing, logically, that the muscles and bones needed time to heal, it was still frustrating having to take it slow. Hanabi would get on his case about it if she saw, but she wasn't home, something he was quite grateful for.

Sighing, Konohamaru resumed training, though at a slower speed. Going through the sets, his thoughts kept drifting.

There was only so much doting a person could handle, and while he knew she meant well, it was starting to get on his nerves. The first week he had been grateful. It was annoyingly difficult to do anything with his arm in the brace, not to mention that he was sore all over, but now he was meant to move the arm, and she still insisted on helping him non-stop. It wasn't as if it was the first time either of them had gotten injured, admittedly perhaps not as bad, but the risks came with the profession, and she had never reacted this strongly before. If he was completely honest it was slightly unnerving, this sudden new tendency to dote on him.

Hanabi was more a 'tough love' kind of woman, and Konohamaru didn't quite recognise this new side of her. He understood that she felt guilty, though he didn't really understand why, and wasn't sure how to act around her. Which, judging by her actions, was mutually felt. They were both trying to find their way back to each other, and bit by bit, one awkward interaction and one nervous smile at a time, he thought they were slowly getting closer, mainly through the common ground of banter. It was always easier to communicate via a mutually understood teasing than more serious conversation.

By the end of the third week, the initial restlessness had grown to the point of being impossible to ignore. Most of his energy had returned, but even with the initial healing sessions his shoulder and ribs still needed more time, and he hated feeling so useless.

Having finally convinced Hanabi to cut back a bit on the doting, he could have sworn she looked a bit bummed out about it. Sometimes he had no clue what was going on in the head of that woman.

…

A month after getting injured, Konohamaru resumed active duty. While still finding it hard to go to sleep, it was at least easier than it had been, and he hoped being more active again would help even further. There had been nights thoughts about taking a beer or two, to dim the thoughts in his mind and help him pass out, but he didn't want to rely on alcohol again. Nor did he want to take the sleeping pills he had been prescribed in the hospital either, for the same reason. He wasn't sure how to fix it but didn't want to take the easy way out anymore, so for now, one day at the time would have to do.

Additionally, while it had been nice being home and spending more time with Hanabi, she had her duties too, and even though she never gave even the slightest hint, he often felt slightly…in the way. Konohamaru had, simply put, been bored at home, and being unable to work out properly due to the injuries, been unable to expel excess energy that way.

Having been summoned to the Hokage to receive his first mission since the accident, Konohamaru found himself stumped when Naruto told him he would be rostered on front-gate guard duty for the next month.

Not wanting to disagree with Naruto but quite not believing his ears, Konohamaru blinked, chin dropping. "Ah? Guard duty?"

"Yeah! Didn't think I'd do it, would ya?" Naruto asked with a questioningly raised eyebrow and the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement at the younger man's bewilderment.

Konohamaru closed his mouth when he realised that he was staring. Was Big Bro serious? Of course, every task was important and nothing to scoff at-he had been drilling that into his team for years. Moreover, he had been on front gate duty many times before when he was younger and a newly made Chunin, but that was decades ago. "Do what?! I…I don't mean to complain, but—"

Naruto frowned, confusing Konohamaru even more. "Eh, you know? I told Hanabi to tell you that you need to be more careful in the future or else I would put you there permanently…"

"Oh…" now things were starting to make sense. "No, she didn't say anything, must've slipped her mind, hey…"

Naruto gave a hearty laugh, breaking the awkward confusion in the room. "Ha, don't worry about it then. Na. Here's the mission…" he explained and handed Konohamaru a scroll, still shaking his head at the miscommunication. "Didn't realise she hadn't told you..."

...

They had another fight that night.

Hanabi didn't want him to go, and Konohamaru was reminded of when she had suggested that he should stay home even after his shoulder had healed. Then he hadn't completely understood what Hanabi had been asking, but now he thought he was beginning to. Setting aside the obvious reasons she had given, she craved his company.

Not wanting to disappoint or imply that he wasn't happy, he remained silent for a moment. How to explain that he thought that he might actually go crazy if he had to stay inactive any longer. Konohamaru didn't just want to resume duty, he needed it. Just when he thought of how impossible the situation was, he recalled Hanabi had gone through the same thing...

It was hard not to think of all those months she had been locked inside the house, or even ordered bed rest, running clan business from the bedroom while trying to remain sane wondering if she would be able to carry the baby that time or not, and then ultimately trying not to let another miscarriage crush her. Konohamaru had known, theoretically, of her frustrations and on one levelled shared them, but not understood fully just how maddening Hanabi must have felt her situation to be, and he found a renewed respect and understanding for his wife.

He didn't want to hurt her, and he wasn't sure what to say, but when he saw Hanabi bite her lip to stop herself from crying, a sign he had become all too familiar with over the years, Konohamaru took her in his arms, and soon enough she trembled with unshed tears. She clutched his clothes and reached up to kiss him fervently.

Konohamaru's eyes widened in surprise when Hanabi first kissed him, he hadn't expected that, but he answered the kiss and soon deepened it. Her hand moved up to touch his cheek as his arms snaked up around her waist, pressing her closer to him. As the kiss intensified, a small moan vibrated through her throat and he reciprocated her eagerness, reacting to the way she leaned into him and the little gasp she let out when he dropped his hand to grab her ass. She pulled away from him and nodded towards their bedroom with questioningly raised eyebrows and a slightly sheepish smile.

He wasn't about to disagree with her suggestion.

Letting her take the lead to the bed, where he stopped her by reaching up to let his hand gently trace her waist from behind before it came to rest on her hip as he closed the distance between them. Leaning down to gently kiss the nape of her neck, Konohamaru let his other hand sneak up around her waist to cup her breast while he gave her a small nip and pressed himself up against her ass. Relishing in the small gasp she let out, he bit down harder when her hand moved up to grab his hair. Hanabi untangled herself from him and spun around to reclaim his lips as she pulled him down over her with force, dropping down on the bed in the same motion.

Konohamaru smirked, recognising her intentions he obediently let her take control. For now.

Nudging him down on the bed and pushing him down on his back, she straddled him and pulled off his scarf. First, he didn't think anything of it, assuming she would simply drop it on the floor next to them, but Hanabi apparently had other plans. Grabbing his hands, she moved them up above his head and wrapped his wrists in the scarf before tying it to the railing of the headboard, making a knot and pulling it tight.

Konohamaru raised his eyebrows in a silent question, the corner of his mouth jerking upwards slightly in amusement.

So she was in that mood, huh?

Hanabi pulled at the knot a couple of times, and when satisfied that it wouldn't come loose she bent down, so low that he could feel her warm breath fanning his lips. Eager to close the last few millimetres between them, but knowing that it wouldn't be 'allowed,' he waited. Soon enough she gave a small smirk when he showed nothing but obedience. She brushed their lips together in a featherlight movement that did little to satisfy his need to kiss her, but rather further ignited his cravings to touch her, sending waves of heated desire straight down to the pit of his stomach.

Suppressing a low moan and an instinctive jerk forward to reach her lips properly, he waited still. She would have to work a lot harder than that to get what she wanted out of him.

Frowning slightly at the lack of response, Hanabi surged forward, capturing his lips in a rough kiss and sucking in his bottom one in between hers, gracing it with her teeth and trailing her tongue over it in the exact way she knew drew him mad before pulling away without a warning. This time he couldn't stop the needy whine in his throat, but he cut himself off when he saw her smug smile.

Rolling her eyes at his stubbornness, Hanabi straightened. Taking a moment to unzip his shirt, she spread it open with her hands running up his abs and chest before planting them on either side of his head as she bent down low again. Konohamaru's breath hitched when she kissed his neck, first gently, but soon applying more force. His skin burned where she trailed her lips down his neck and gave quick nips every so often, and he bit his lip to stop a low moan from escaping when she latched onto his collarbone, sucking hard. By the time she let go to continue her descent down his chest, his skin tingled, and he was panting heavily.

Hanabi reached his nipple, and despite his best intentions, he drew in a hissing breath when she took it in her mouth, playfully twirling it around with her tongue and grazing it with her teeth. Konohamaru's thighs twitched and hips jerked when she pulled it into her mouth with her lips, taking the other between her fingertips to pinch lightly, and even though he couldn't see her expression, he knew she was grinning at the reactions she dragged out of him. It was a game they were playing, a game of teasing, pulling, and pushing to see who would give in first.

Lifting her gaze to meet his, she grinned and gave a nip before sitting up and unzipping his pants. He swallowed but obediently lifted his hips off the bed so that she could pull them down together with his underwear.

Hanabi hovered above him, still dressed, and all he could think of was how he couldn't wait to rip every single piece of clothing off her.

Not yet.

Even though he easily predicted what was coming and tried to brace himself, he had to bite his lip to stop the moan from escaping as she took him in her mouth, twirling her tongue around the tip before sucking, hard. His body tensed, and his hands clutched at the fabric holding him in place. It was all he could do not to give in to the impulse of breaking free and bending her over. It would be so easy. But the rewards for patience outweighed the satisfaction of giving in to her game and playing right into her palm.

Hanabi continued her administrations relentlessly, giving him no breather and soon he was panting hard—fuck she was good at that. When she—without warning—released him, he didn't even bother trying to stop the needy whine building in his throat.

Sitting up to straddle his thighs, Hanabi wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, smiling innocently.

That did it.

To hell with the game, it was time to throw things around.

Without giving her a chance to protest, he freed himself, grabbed her waist, and rolled her over on her back. Her eyes widened in surprise and he considered it a small win.

"Hey, that's cheating," she muttered frowning, and he grinned.

"Yeah, call it whatever you want. I really don't care, ey."

Hanabi pouted, and he ducked down to catch that adorable lower lip between his, enjoying catching her off-guard again. "You're so cute when you're making that face," Konohamaru murmured. To make up for earlier, he let his hand sneak in under the collar of her kimono to slide it off her delicate shoulders while the other pulled at her obi strap to loosen the pants, and her clothes quickly fell to the floor under his eager administrations.

Even though he made no attempt to restrain her, she allowed him to take the lead, not minding the switch. Having remained quiet while he undressed her, she let out a small yelp of surprise when he sneaked an arm in under her ass and hoisted her higher up on the bed.

Having her exactly where he wanted, Konohamaru took a moment to appreciate her naked body under him. No matter how much time that passed, or how much her body changed, he would never stop being grateful for how lucky he was that she was his. She was so beautiful. And smart, and sassy, and strong, and, his.

And… surprisingly shy for someone with the amount of spunk in her, he noted in amusement when she squirmed under his gaze.

Leaning in close, he smirked. "You're so fucking hot," he breathed into her ear, giving it a quick nibble and kissing the spot just below her jawline. She shuddered, and the small tremor turned him on even further.

Sure, they moved through the motions in an almost choreographed dance that only came with experience. So attuned to one another that no words were needed, but even though it was a game they had played so many times over, he never tired of hearing the small noises he drew out of her. Knowing that he could elicit the small gasps, moans, and panting breaths out of her fuelled his own cravings, making him almost painfully hard.

Letting his fingers trail across her flat stomach down towards her centre, he made sure to take her nipple in his mouth and suck hard at the same time as his hand reached its goal, and grinned around her breast at the whimper she let out.

She was already soaking wet.

Good.

Carefully pressing a finger into her to wet it, he relished in how she arched into his touch. Pulling the finger out and drawing a couple of lazy circles around her clit, he smirked when she glared at him through a few strands of hair that had come loose.

Message received, loud and clear. Get on with it.

Propping himself up on his elbows, Konohamaru gently pushed the hair out of her face with his fingertips and kissed the frown away. As Hanabi answered the kiss, he felt a hand on his lower back pushing him down towards her. Obliging, a low moan slipped out when her heated wetness surrounded him, but he didn't care. She felt so good. Feeling her hands dip lower to grab his ass encouragingly, he eagerly rolled his hips to match.

Fuck—He wasn't going to deny it; makeup sex was great.

…

Afterwards, sweaty and entangled in each other and the wrinkled sheets, they resumed the earlier conversation in a calmer mumble, eventually finding a middle ground. He was going to go on the mission in the morning, and when he came back he would ask for another week off.