Itachi expected his father late today, but it was nearly 1 in the morning. He would have just gone to bed but heard an irate man in the lobby assault Hinata. Hopefully, they hadn't spent the day in the hospital. Neither was answering their phones.
As if to answer him, someone struggled to open the lock on the door. Itachi rounded the corner just as it opened to reveal his father slumped over Hinata's small frame. Itachi put himself under his other arm.
"He's a tad drunk," Hinata stumbled to the side as they got him down the hall, her face flush.
"You two went drinking?" Itachi asked.
Hinata looked embarrassed as they worked their way in to set him on the living room couch.
"Why didn't the driver help you in," Itachi tucked his father's arms into a more comfortable position.
Hinata stretched with the weight now off her. "I called a cab. I didn't want to bother the driver at this hour."
"You took a cab?" This was getting more and more ludicrous.
Fugaku leaned his head back, pointing at her. "You're a good kid, brat."
Hinata giggled. "You're drunk. Tell me in the morning if you remember."
"Hyuga shithead." Fugaku flopped down to lie on the couch.
Two seconds, he was snoring. How much did he drink? Hinata pulled a blanket from the back of the couch. "You should go to bed. We have to work in the morning." Hinata stumbled back to sit down. "We have a meeting first thing in the morning." She rubbed her face. Her makeup was mostly gone. There was a smug to her eyes where the mascara was rubbed off. The side of her face was turning blue along her cheekbone and jaw, where it took the brunt of the hit. "I wonder if I can move it on such short notice, he's going to be hungover in the morning."
"Are you okay?" Itachi asked.
Hinata nodded. "I didn't drink that much."
"I meant your face." Itachi kneeled, having her turn her head. She smelled like wine and sugar.
Hinata let him turn her head. "It's fine. I'll be able to cover it up tomorrow." That wasn't what he meant.
Itachi got her some water. She probably needed it. "Should I ask what started the drinking?" He asked as he handed her the glass.
Hinata drank the glass in one go. Maybe she had been drinking harder than he thought. "We had a bad day," Hinata waved a hand at the side of her face, handing the glass back.
Itachi was hoping for more than that. Especially after yesterday.
"I should go home." Hinata sighed. "I have to cancel meetings and tell Lee to keep his voice down tomorrow." Hinata took out her phone. "And my phone is dead." She dropped it on the table. She doubled over, holding her head. "I hope my father didn't cause Hanabi-chan trouble when he got home. I've never seen him so angry."
"You could stay here for the night. We have guest rooms." Itachi suggested. "And I have some spare cords."
"No, I shouldn't." Hinata waved her hands. "Can you call me a cab, though?"
"How about I just take you home," Itachi suggested.
"It's late." Hinata waved her hands.
"Which is why I would feel better if I drove you home." Itachi pressed.
Hinata whined childishly, dragging herself up. She was a rather cute drunk.
Itachi managed to get her in his car. She leaned on the window on the way. "Just asking me to stop if you're feeling sick."
"I'm not that drunk. I drank a few glasses of wine over a few hours. I'm just a lightweight." Hinata sighed. "And tired."
"How much did he drink?" Itachi asked.
"I lost track. We shared a few bottles of wine. Then he switched to sake. I only had one shot of that." Hinata leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "We ate so many pastries."
"Pastries?" Itachi chuckled.
"I love sugar." Hinata's face scrunched. "That's not good for his blood pressure."
"You know, I would have thought you would be a wild drunk," Itachi admitted.
Hinata shook her head. "I am the death of the party."
Itachi walked her to her door and made sure she got inside.
What had changed so much that they were getting along?
Fugaku covered his splitting head to hide from the light streaming in. He tossed his cover off his head, squinting, looking for some sort of clock. He found his phone plugged in nearby. It was nearly noon. He rubbed his face. When was the last time he slept past 8, even on the weekend? He opened his schedule. What did he miss?
Empty, all but one large block that said 'out sick.' Hinata moved all the meetings.
Fugaku's eyes focused on a glass of water and a medication bottle on the coffee table with a note. 'Fun night?'
Little shit.
Fugaku took the pills and dialed the first speed dial in his phone.
Hinata answered on the other side. "Sir?"
"Are you in the office?" Fugaku asked.
"Yes, sir. You had a monthly production meeting. I couldn't cancel. I took notes." Hinata rustled papers and covered the phone. "Take this to sales, please." He heard her say muffled, probably her assistant. "How are you feeling? Do you need food delivery?"
"Have something ready when I get there. I'm coming in. I'll be there in an hour." Fugaku got off the couch. He needed a shower.
"Are you sure?" Hinata closed a door. "You drank quite a lot last night."
"I'm coming in." Fugaku hung up on her, heading for the shower.
The director was going to be stubborn then. Why would she think he wouldn't be?
Hinata stretched before reaching for her water, trying to fight off the dehydration headache. She canceled the morning meetings but forgot to cancel her ride, so she was woken up by a confused driver at 6 in the morning. She felt bad for making him wait for her to get ready.
It was good that she decided to come in because the production department couldn't cancel, and the director liked to be updated.
Itachi told her that he was still on the couch in the morning when he left. Hinata wished they had gotten him to bed, but getting him out of the restaurant bar was hard enough. She wasn't going to fight him to go to bed.
They talked for hours, about her mother, her father, and his ex-wife, about his regrets with his kids. Once he had enough to drink, he was a fountain. She would have to remember that. She wouldn't want him drinking too much at events. Maybe she should write that in the guide.
Hinata didn't call her sister last night. She ordered breakfast and would be ordering her lunch and dinner as she couldn't prepare like she normally would.
She wasn't sure what she was going to do about her father. She had never seen him so mad. She was used to disappointment and annoyance, never straight anger. Would she see Hanabi for her birthday?
"Are you doing okay in here?" Hinata jumped. Itachi smiled at her.
"Sorry." Hinata sighed. "Yes, just a little tired."
"You want to join me for lunch?" Itachi asked.
"I'm ordering in. The director is on his way." Hinata looked at the clock. She should order now to make sure it was here on time.
"Mind if I join you then?" Itachi asked.
"I don't mind. What do you like?" Hinata took out her phone.
Fugaku's head still hurt. He wasn't able to get a coffee because of the traffic. He regretted coming in. He reconsidered returning to the elevator when he saw his son sitting in Hinata's office.
Itachi looked over his shoulder with a shit-eating grin.
Brat.
Hinata greeted him as she opened the door in a low voice. "I ordered food. Itachi-sama wanted to join."
"Coffee," Fugaku grumbled.
"I ordered that as well, but you should drink water. There is a bottle on your desk for you." Hinata waved her hand at his office.
Fugaku glared at his son as he passed by. Hinata excused herself to get lunch from the first floor. Itachi sat across from his desk with his annoying grin. "Late night?"
"Don't start," Fugaku growled. Itachi chuckled. "I want Hiashi Hyuga banned from the premises."
"Hinata did that this morning. Security came to see her when I came to check on her." Fugaku wasn't sure he was surprised she banned her own father, but he wasn't surprised that she did something he wanted without his asking. She was getting good at predicting him. Or maybe he told her to do it last night. "Can't wait for Sasuke to hear how you got drunk on a work night."
These brats were going to kill him.
Hinata brought in food, setting their meals and coffee in front of him. "I had them put sugar on the side." She dropped sugar packets on his desk. "I wasn't sure you would want more sweets."
"God, no." Fugaku groaned.
Hinata smiled before taking the rest of the bag and heading for her office.
"Are you not joining us?" Itachi asked.
Hinata looked back, unsure.
Fugaku nodded his head to a chair.
Hinata bowed her head and puttered over to sit down.
"Status."
Hinata gave him a list of meetings she canceled and an overview of what she gathered from the meeting she went through. "And then Saturday will be your son's coming home party."
"Don't let me drink more than a few champagnes at that," Fugaku ordered.
Hinata ghosted a smile. "Of course not, sir."
"And no more than a glass of wine for you," Fugaku added.
"I won't be drinking, sir."
"How is your cheek," Fugaku looked at her face.
Hinata raised her hand to touch it gently. "It's a little sore, but dark enough to cover up with makeup."
"You talked to security?" Fugaku asked. Hinata nodded. "Did you hear from your sister?"
Hinata shook her head, looking down. "I haven't gotten the chance. She'll be on the train home after school. I was hoping to call her then."
Fugaku nodded. "Don't give in to that bastard. He only thinks of himself."
Hinata looked torn. She mentioned last night that her father was particularly hard on her, cold and stern. She had herself nearly in tears thinking that she was disappointing him again. That's what hurt. Hinata seemed to think she was worth nothing because that bastard didn't let her think more of herself.
Fugaku was no better. He had to make up for that.
