"Where would you like to have lunch then?" Hinata watched her feet as they walked back into the central village. Wasn't she supposed to be leading? She was the guide.
When Gaara didn't respond, she looked up to see his confusion.
"There are other places to eat than Naruto's favorite ramen shop." The tilt of his head told her he hadn't even thought of that.
"What is your favorite, then?" Gaara slowed to a stop. "We will go there."
"Well, there is a little café that sells nice teas and coffees." Hinata focused on her hands instead of his eyes.
"Where?" Gaara's voice edged on impatience. Hinata turned to lead him to it, feeling her cheeks heat up. They were silent again until they sat down.
Hinata loved this place. It was warm and inviting, the staff was friendly, and the food was comforting. Gaara looked at the menu before setting it back down and glancing at hers. "I am not familiar with these foods."
"Well, is there anything you don't like?" Hinata tried.
"Sweet bean paste." Gaara's nose wrinkled at even saying the word.
"Okay, none of that then. How about something simple, like a soup and sandwich." Hinata pointed to that part of the menu on hers. Instead of picking up his own and finding the page, he leaned forward to hers. She laid it flat for him.
"What are you having." Gaara's voice regained its impatience.
"These are my favorite." Hinata pointed to the soup she liked and the sandwich she would be getting.
"I will have those as well." Gaara decided, crossing his arms, already annoyed.
Hinata ordered for them and waited, laying her sweating hand flat on her lap and looking out the window instead of him.
"Naruto thinks highly of you." Gaara broke the silence. Hinata's face turned red. "He was upset when he found that I insulted you."
It was sweet to know Naruto was thinking of her, but she wished he hadn't made the young Kage do something so uncomfortable. "He thinks highly of you as well." Gaara trusted Naruto's opinion, so being in his favor was a compliment.
"If you are looking for a husband, why have you not approached him?" That was also a compliment. Gaara thought her worthy of asking Naruto, of all people, to marry her.
"Well, there are a couple of problems there." Hinata licked her lips as they became dry. "Despite his acts of heroism and future as Hokage, the Hyuga do not approve of him as a suitor." Hinata gave him a two-second glance that told her he guessed why. "That aside, he's not interested." Her heart sank, saying it out loud.
"Have you asked? He does speak highly of you." Gaara pressed as their food was set down. Hinata was unsure if this was an appropriate conversation with him.
Hinata didn't feel hungry anymore, but she would not be rude, so she would force it. "You should hear him talk about Sakura-chan." Hinata nibbled on her sandwich to give herself an excuse not to talk.
"The medic?" Gaara inquired. "He's spoken of her. He uses vastly different descriptions. I do not understand the difference between the complements of 'beautiful' and 'adorable.'" He was surprisingly open like Naruto was sitting, leading the conversation. Gaara was taking Naruto's words to heart. It was sweet.
Hinata could tell who was who. She was never considered beautiful. Cute, adorable, and pretty were the usual kind remarks. She ignored the more disgusting. Kankuro was the first of the commenters to describe her as beautiful at the meeting. The branch women told her she was beautiful, but they were biased. Her sister was beautiful, and Hinata would tell Hanabi every day if she wanted, but she had the same bias.
Hinata couldn't harbor ill will for Sakura. She had done nothing wrong. Naruto loved her, but Sakura didn't return his feelings, and that frustrated her. Not because Hinata thought Sakura should. It wasn't Sakura's fault if she didn't, but it did hurt, knowing that he gave all his love to someone to not have it returned. Hinata knew how that felt.
"Sakura-chan is beautiful, both in looks and personality. She's known for it." Hinata sipped at her soup, feeling ill, thinking about how superior she was.
"You do not believe you are." Hinata hoped he hadn't picked up on that, though Gaara sounded genuinely curious.
"We may both be considered pretty. A woman is beautiful when any flaw in physical attractiveness is made up for or added to. Attributes such as expertise, confidence, and personality complete the picture." Hinata stopped eating for a minute so she didn't let the dread of inadequacy show on her face.
Gaara's voice lowered, signaling his irritation. "You still aren't talking about yourself."
"To be honest, I'm none of those things." Gaara stopped eating as well, making Hinata feel terrible. "I'm not particularly any type of expert. I'm painfully shy and don't have much personality."
Gaara's non-brow furrowed forward. "That is not how Naruto perceives you."
Hinata's heart warmed. "Naruto-kun sees the best in everyone, even if he has to make something up. It's something I've always liked about him." She picked up her sandwich and finished it, so he would also continue eating.
Gaara's face still twisted, confused, but he sat in the more comfortable silence for the rest of the meal.
Hinata gave a more scenic tour, showing him village locations with a deep history. Beautiful places that Naruto wouldn't find interesting. Gaara either got sick of walking behind her or realized how uncomfortable it made her and settled to walk beside her or a few steps in front of her.
Hinata was much more comfortable. Her hands weren't raw, and her shoulders weren't stiff and killing her. Gaara seemed like an A to B person, but he didn't mind her pace, just casually walking around.
Gaara stopped to ask about things she didn't mention, genuinely interested in the village and culture. "Will you be taking my brother through here?" He examined the details of the building.
"If he is still interested." Hinata nodded.
Gaara went silent before asking the question burning in his mind. "Why does your family see such little worth in you to offer you to me?" It was a blunt and painful double-ended blade. He was insulting himself as well.
It broke her heart that he thought so little of himself for the actions he was making up for. Hinata wasn't going to argue with his self-worth, though. "Compared to my sister, my worth has diminished in the eyes of the Hyuga." Hinata cringed at the bluntness of her own words. Wait, offer? Was he talking about when her father spoke to his older brother? "I'm not sure what you mean, though."
"Your father has offered your hand. I assume he knows who I am. I do not understand why anyone who cared for their child would offer them to me." Gaara was confused, if not offended.
Hinata gaped at him. "Kazekage-sama, you might not realize how much your image has changed. Naruto-kun speaks highly of you. As I understand it, your past is overshadowed by your dedication to your village." Hinata had heard wonderful things since the day before. Anyone you asked gave you both sides of the coin. He was a ruthless but strong leader, everything a Suna leader should be.
Hinata then processed what he said after answering. She dropped her utensils. "My father offered you to marry me?!" Hinata's face became inflamed with embarrassment.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Gaara answered, puzzled.
Hinata covered her face to hide the embarrassment. "No! Well, yes. I didn't think he would be so forward about it."
"I did not confirm or deny that I would." Hinata peeked through her finger to see Gaara watching her with his head tilted. He had no idea why this was so embarrassing.
"Thank you." Hinata wasn't sure what she was thanking him for, but she felt the need. Hinata dropped her hands, putting one over her diaphragm in hopes it would calm her breathing.
Gaara didn't reply at first. He waited for her to visibly calm and finish her food. Hinata was thankful he didn't continue to prod.
"Did you like it?" Hinata referred to his empty plate. He nodded. "Good. When you visit again, maybe we can come again." She commented as they got up to leave.
"Then you do not wish to marry me?" Gaara's question tripped her. Hinata stumbled. His on-and-off opinion toward this was giving her whiplash.
"It's not that." Hinata bit her lip, feeling her face redden again. Did he have to ask like that in public? "It's not that I don't wish to, I don't get much choice in the matter, but it's more your decision." Glancing briefly up from her hands, she knew he didn't understand. "I don't want someone to be forced to marry me just because I have to marry."
"You are worried that I would not wish to?" Gaara filled in, confused. Maybe his feelings were not considered often enough. People just avoided upsetting him.
Hinata nodded, walking them further from the crowd to not be overheard by gossipers. "We haven't known each other long. I know I probably won't know my husband well before marriage, but I also know you aren't interested. You didn't ask for the tour of your own will and weren't looking for a partner."
Gaara's non-eyebrows furrowed, understanding. He didn't ask because he wanted to go. He asked because Naruto made him apologize. Her father pushing the idea of marriage was the only reason he was even considering the idea. "It would seem your father would rather you were seducing me."
Hinata was tripped up by his bluntness yet again. Her face was getting hotter as a vocal squeak of embarrassment escaped her mouth. "I hope not."