After another day of getting nowhere with a council, who seemed more concerned as to why she was in charge of the part of the Suna government she was in the first place and how that would affect them than the problem at hand.
Hinata rubbed her temple to soothe her migraine as she rejoined her sister in the main house's living room, only to find more reasons for her headache.
She liked Lee. Lee was always cheery when she needed him to be, but he was also cheery when she needed quiet. Not everything could be solved with a great attitude, and by the look on her cousin and sister's faces, they didn't think so either.
It was going to be a long day.
Gaara was going to make good use of his time in Konoha. He had his rest. Now he could work. He spent his time in the Hokage tower, ignoring Shukaku in his head that it was further from the Hyuga compound than their room.
The heavy growling would get to him eventually, but he tried to remind the seething beast that though she was probably uncomfortable, her clan would make no move to harm her.
They know the man and beast would agree to kill them if they do.
Shukaku calmed down with a smug humming at Gaara's agreement.
Naruto, on the other hand, riled him right back up.
Gaara hadn't meant to return as late as he did, it was only diner time, but he hoped to be back before his wife. Naruto insisted on keeping him, even though he refused to have dinner without Hinata present. They stopped by the Hyuga compound to check if she was there, but she already left for the day. Gaara promised another time before heading back.
He found her curled the wrong way over the top of the bed's covers, wearing one of his day tunics that was massive on her. Her legs were bare and curled to her chest, with her damp hair still twisted in a towel.
Hinata managed to tug the blanket she was sleeping on half around her, though not effectively, as she was mostly uncovered.
This was odd for a couple of reasons. Though Hinata slept curled up, she never made a mess of the bed like she was currently. She always dried her hair as thoroughly as possible before tying it up for bed. Her bag was empty, but they were set out and folded neatly. He didn't understand the need for his robe.
Gaara leaned over her, waking her as lightly as he could. She flinched, bolting up.
"Oh! Gaara, your back." Hinata rubbed her eyes and looked at the time.
"It's past dinner. Have you eaten?" Gaara tilted his head.
"Oh no, I haven't." Hinata shot out of sleep. "I'm sorry, have you?"
"No, though I have been told we must have dinner with Naruto before we leave," Gaara noted.
Hinata started to pull her hair out of the towel. "You should have gone with him. There is no reason to wait for me. We could still catch him, or we could get something for ourselves. The shops are still open…" Hinata rambled on until he crossed the room and caught her hands as she started to change.
"Hinata, stop." Gaara snapped with a frown.
Hinata flinched. "I'm sorry.…"
"What is wrong?" Gaara tugged her back to the bed to sit. Hinata tousled her damp hair, ashamed. "Stop. You're still doing it."
The shame only seemed to worsen, as Hinata didn't want to tell him what was happening to make her behavior change so suddenly. "I don't like being back here."
"I don't understand," Gaara told her. Hinata fiddled with her ring, and he covered her hands. "I want to."
"I didn't mean to overwhelm you." Hinata kept her eyes down on the sand beast that formed in her lap. "If called on, I was expected to be ready even if I wasn't. Being presentable and catering is what I was trained for. I've been fighting with the council for hours, then sat through a social call with Neji and Hanabi teams, then berated by my father. I accidentally went back to my old bedroom when I had enough."
Gaara filed all this under, reverting to her old habit of overbearing clan activities. "So you used to sleep…"
"I had a headache. I laid down intending to get back up in a few minutes…" Hinata started to explain defensively.
"I don't mind," Gaara answered. "I mind that you are feeling uncomfortable here."
Hinata's head fell to his shoulder as Shukaku dug his nose into her stomach. "I don't want to complain."
'I want to hear it.' Shukaku gritted.
"You should." Gaara agreed.
Hinata chewed her lip and closed her eyes. "I like Suna. I like not being pressured to be perfect, hide my fatigue, and be forced to be ashamed of skills I do not naturally have. I like to have a comfortable, loose schedule so that I don't work on little sleep to keep up with all my duties that have to be shoved in with my training and ninja duties. In Suna, the council may be stubborn, but they see clear reason and logic when it showed. The people around me understand the signs of fatigue and understand that maybe it means I am not at 100%. I'm still respected in their eyes. They don't look down their noses at what I am thinking. Baki-san does not sit across from me and tell me that 'despite what others have said I have accomplished,' I am still worth nothing more than marital property, and in Suna, I know where to find you when I need a hug."
Gaara shifted to curl around her. She buried her nose into his outer robes. "I believe I should pay your father a visit."
Hinata giggled. "I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. You can leave this one with me."
Hinata's mood lightened. She had him talk about his day. At some point, her bare legs tangled over his, one falling between his legs, the other completely over his lap. She leaned on his arm that held her snugly to him and buried both hands in the sand as she commented on his short-worded story.
Gaara never started with the full description. She didn't mind asking. He didn't mind answering if she thought it was important. It must be, at least to her.
Hinata pulled the story out of him over the next half an hour until a soft noise that made her blush interrupted them.
"You still haven't eaten," Gaara commented.
Hinata looked out the window of the café, feeling odd. The last time she was in this café, Gaara proposed to her. She ran her finger over the smooth surface and felt the bracelet respond by rippling over her skin. Gaara seemed unaware or uninterested in the movement. She laid her hand over it, smiling. Her husband may not understand the feeling she was having, but it seemed the ancient being had some idea.
Hinata sipped her tea and once again wonder how her socially unaware husband made a rude proposal to be the sweetest notion and gift she had ever received. Sadly, Gaara still did not understand how he could be so heart-melting without trying.
Shukaku purred, lying in the middle of her stomach, curled around himself. Hinata sat upon a pillow, one hand on the mass, the other holding a page of the book resting on the faux beast.
Gaara sighed at his paperwork at the little desk and closed the folder, crossing the room to join her.
"I thought you had work to do," Hinata asked idly as he moved to lay beside her.
"It can wait." Gaara laid his head on her neck.
Hinata giggled, moving her inactive arm around him, so she could still change the pages of her book.