A/N: This chapter. I consider it to be one of the most important but also one of the most painful to write. At some point I would have to write it and so here it is. I find it necessary to include it in the narrative, cause otherwise I wouldn't be portraying the character (in this fic context) properly.
There's a warning in the beginning of said scene, as some of you might have already guessed what it is, but again, its crucial to the plot. It might be triggering to some readers, therefor I've put a warning and line breaks to separate it, for those who will most definitely skip it.
I've chosen not to put any songs in this chapters as you will soon understand why, (said scene is more towards the end).
It was supposed to end with that particular scene but it just didn't feel right and so I've ended it with what some of you may call a 'fluffy' scene, at least I tried to.
I apologize in advance to all readers, but again, I won't be writing anything of the sort for the remainder of the fic. This scene is not entirely explicit as even I couldn't write something like that. It not also represents one of my biggest fears, but I consider it to be one of the worst violations to a persons body, mind and spirit, and a terrible act of cowardice and selfishness.
So,
I want to thank everyone in advance for the continuous support and, to everyone who has gone through that particular situation I hope you are safe and have all the love and support one needs at such a time.
As a woman and a writer this has been the most challenging chapter and the hardest to write.
Ella
PS: If said part has any typos its related to the fact, I couldn't bring myself to read it over and over and over in order to review it. Once more, I know I'm being repetitive, but I feel the necessity to put this author's note first, since this I'm posting this on the internet, and I'll be subjecting myself to everyone's judgment. Although I write for my own enjoyment, I chose to share this with you all and I feel responsible for what I put out online.
As always, hope you guys understand why I chose to include this, and that you continue to read this fic and leaving the amazing, constructive comments I always read, and bring a smile to my face….
This authors note is really huge, but yeah. I think you guys understand.
Sending love to you all!
Chapter 10
When the elevator doors dinged, Toneri let out a relieved sight. Finally home. Greeting Shino on his way in, he walked towards the living room hoping to find his beautiful fiancée reading one of her books or watching a movie. He dropped his suitcase carelessly on the floor, knowing one of the people that worked there would retrieve it and place it inside his study, and went on his way.
The flight had been exhaustive, and he wanted nothing more than to get to the penthouse, have Hinata draw him a nice long bath, cook him his favorite dish, maybe after, they could have some special time together, it has been some time.
Losing the white blazer, Toneri threw himself on the couch but found Hinata nowhere near. Frowning, he called out to her.
And he was met with…
Silence.
His left eye twitched.
Thinking the worst, that she had left him for some other man or ran away to some other country or, the most reasonable, out with her friends, again. It made him storm into the master bedroom, finding the bed sheets all rumpled, an empty glass of white wine on her nightstand with the faint sound of a movie playing in the background.
Indeed she had been watching tv, but in bed. But now, if heard correctly, water was running, so his beautiful fiancée must be taking a shower, singing as she did. Singing.
Another thing he hadn't heard in a long while.
She misses me.
Discarding all his clothes, he practically ran inside the master bathroom, already imagining Hinata's perfect body speckled with water drops. I'm the luckiest man alive, he thought to himself as took a few deep breaths.
Toneri opened the door in a full swing, a grin taking over his face as he said, "I'm home!" When he opened his icy blue eyes his shoulders slumped with disappointment.
"Oh, hi! How was the flight?" The blue haired Hyuga asked, looking at his reflection in the mirror, going through her skin care routine, wearing an oversized black hoodie and matching sweatpants, wet hair wrapped in a towel.
She closed the water in the sink and walked towards him, a cute smile on her lips. "So?"
"Tiring." He wrapped his arms around her petite body and held her close. "That bastard, Sasuke, managed to wrap my father around his pinky. Like, honestly, I'm his son, not that damn Uchiha. He didn't care when I told him about our wedding, about how we were planning to have the ceremony there. Nothing. All he cared about was-" Hinata silenced him, putting a finger against his lips.
"Don't get too riled up. He's not worth it, besides at the end of the day he's just a lawyer and you're the great Toneri Otsutsuki, sole heir to your father's fortune and businesses. What is he compared to you?" If Toneri wasn't already head over heels for this woman, he'd fall all over again. Her sweet encouraging words made him join their lips.
"How was your weekend?"
"Nothing much. I went out shopping with the girls yesterday and stayed in the rest of the time." The bluenette explained as she left his embrace to go back in the bedroom.
Mildly disappointed, Toneri took his shower and then joined her in the bed.
"You hungry?" Hinata asked as she ran her hands through his wet strands of hair. "Want me to prepare something?" Since his initial plan had gone down the drain, he shrugged and moved closer to her body, his arms holding her tight. Hinata stiffened a bit, causing him to frown.
"Maybe later." Dismissing it, he buried his face in her chest and after a few moments squeezed her body again to see if she would flinch. Although she tried to hide it, Hinata had indeed do it.
Before Hinata could say anything about it, Toneri pulled her hoodie up and found some bruises on her skin. "Where. Did. You. Get. These."
Sensing the seriousness in his tone, the bluenette gulped, "Yoga class. Kurenai was helping me with some of the positions and you know how I bruise easily." She explained, trying to lighten the mood by adding, "Like a peach."
Silence. Toneri's cold gaze found hers and Hinata could see how the cloud of jealousy and possessiveness hovered over his head. "Tomorrow they'll probably fade, so don't worry about it." Hinata was trying her hardest not to look elsewhere, maintaining eye contact with him was the only way he would believe her.
His hands skimmed over the markings; a look of disgust overtook his features. "If you're gonna come home like this then you should reconsider those classes." Toneri then pulled his fiancée's pants down, finding some more bruises on her hips. His left eye twitched as he traced over those as well. "You know how I hate seeing your skin marred."
Hoping to distract him, the pale eyed Hyuga placed a hand on his chest and kissed his jaw. His hands immediately left her body and let her, although unenthusiastically, but he still allowed her to push him down and straddle him. "I missed you."
Hinata tried to sound as genuinely as possible, praying that he would let it go. Using words that boosted his ego always did the trick, and right now she had to do everything she could to distract him.
She knew he wasn't stupid and was probably making up scenarios in his head, hence her using sex as a distraction. So as she joined their lips, her hands cradled his head and her hips grinded slightly down on him. Toneri's cold hands stopped her movements. "You better not be lying to me Hinata. You know what will happen if I find out you're lying to me." His threating voice made her bite her lip and ever so slowly lay down her head on his chest.
"You know I would never. I love you." His heartbeat was slow and steady, which made her insides turn. Toneri's mood swings always left her on edge. He had never been violent towards her but… she couldn't shake the strange feeling in her stomach.
"As you should." As gently as he could, he pushed her off of himself and announced he would be heading to the kitchen to eat something.
As long as those bruises were visible, he wouldn't be touching Hinata, nor having sex.
"So, in honor of our dear friend getting' older." Kiba raised his beer, pointing directly at Naruto who was focused on the football game, playing live on the television, "I say we go to a strip club!"
Everyone in the room grunted with annoyance. "Dude, don't you have a girlfriend now?" Shikamaru, who was occupying the couch opposite to where Naruto, Sasuke and Kiba sat at, asked.
"Blondie is not my girlfriend. She and I have a mutual beneficial agreement in which both parties stand to profit." His grin showed how pleased this so called agreement made him and Sasuke rolled his eyes at his friend's behavior.
"She's your fuck buddy." Naruto chuckled, punching his friend lightly on the shoulder. "Good for you, you're annoying as fuck when you stay single for too long."
Scoffing, Shikamaru turned to the blond with a knowing look. "Look who's talking."
Naruto frowned whilst Kiba slapped him hard on his back, making him wince slightly. That earned a few curious looks, including a questioning glare from Sasuke.
"Oh right, sorry ma friend. I forgot that one of your vixens has really sharp claws." Kiba had to get up from his seat to avoid having his beer being spilled all over Sasuke's very expensive rug as Naruto went to punch him in the stomach, after his poor imitation of a cat extending their claws.
Clearly annoyed by his antics, the blond yelled, "Stop calling her that."
Naruto ignored Shikamaru's knowing look. He had spoken with Shikamaru about Hinata a few weeks ago, telling him all about their relationship and what she had and was currently going through with Toneri.
At first the Nara genius had called him an idiot and told him how irresponsible he had been, getting involved with someone who had a commitment towards another man. A man whose father was extremely powerful and dangerous.
But he had also praised Naruto. Admiring his courage to pursue Hinata, knowing it could very well end up badly between them, ruining his dream of one day becoming the Hokage if the media ever found out about their affair. Like it or not, Hinata was a Hyuga, another powerful family who, apparently, behind closed doors, had fallen or was close to ruin by the hands of the Otsutsuki. Public knowledge of their relationship with bring shame to both their families and ruin any prospects of a career in politics for Naruto.
Shikamaru later revealed that he was aware of who she was, having dated Sakura while in college, and having made the alterations to hide any evidence of Hinata having an Instagram page. Naruto had been surprised by his revelation and had recommended Shikamaru's assistance to Itachi who gladly accepted.
In the end, the Nara had given Naruto his partial blessing, condoning the nature of their relationship, but appraising Naruto's confidence and kindness. And most importantly, all the help he was giving Hinata to get rid of her abusive fiancé.
"Until you give us your mistress' name, I'll continue to refer her as vixen." Kiba argued, having the other guys agree with the Inuzuka.
"Yeah dobe. You have been going out with this so called vixen for quite some time, but she still remains a mystery to us all." Sasuke pointed out, knowing exactly who this mystery girl was. And that angered the Uchiha to no end. But for the sake of their lifelong friendship he'd keep quiet until the right time came.
"My lips are sealed." Naruto merely said, picking his phone up from the coffee table. "What about you, Sasuke?"
"Me?" Said raven haired male turned to his left, to where Naruto sat, watching as his friend continuously rolled his eyes at something on his phone. Sasuke's guess? Shion.
"Yeah! What's this I hear about you dating some doctor?" Shikamaru asked, brow raised.
"Actually, surgeon." The Uchiha answered uninterested as he watched the game playing on the tv. He wasn't paying much attention to it. It was just a way for them to make time until they left for the nightclub Kiba's cousin owned. "And no, she's not my girlfriend. She's my submissive. You know I like to keep shit separated… Unlike some people in this room."
Naruto glanced momentarily up, knowing the quip was directed at him. "Well, excuse me if I enjoy the company of the women, I choose to have sex with, and having a significant relationship with them."
"Hn." The raven haired man answered and turned his focus back to the television.
Shikamaru watched Sasuke carefully. He noticed that whenever Naruto's romances were brought up, he would stiffen slightly, and his obsidian eyes would focus on a random point in the room and then he would promptly change the subject.
That combined with what the Uzumaki had confided in him made him question Sasuke's behavior. I'll keep an eye on him. Just to make sure…
Troublesome.
"Is everything ready my love?" Toneri asked as he put on one of his silver ties, one his father had gifted him upon his twentieth birthday. He looked towards Hinata who smiled softly at him. Her pink dress showed off her curves perfectly, but the turtleneck neckline gave some decency to the otherwise scandalous dress he himself had chosen.
He had invited a few of the board members that lived in the city and their wives for a casual dinner. His trusted friend, Naruto Uzumaki, and his submissive Shion, were to be present as well. According to Shion, their relationship was becoming more intimate and if what she had confided in him was to be believed, tonight they would have their first session together.
That pleased Toneri as he had begun to grow suspicious of the blond's behavior. For someone so well known within the community he sure took his time when dealing with Shion. Toneri was growing tired of the constant complains of outings that would lead to nothing.
"Yes, I have set the table and the maids are plating everything so that when the time comes everything will be perfect." The bluenette said as she stood on his left side and proceeded to adjust his tie.
"You look beautiful." He saw her cheeks blush lightly and that made him smile to himself. After she muttered a small thank you, he kissed her brow and reminded her she needed to fix her make up.
Tonight's dinner was supposed to be a casual meeting between friends. Most of the board members he'd invited were around his age and it was important to keep relations between associates healthy. Naruto's invitation had been somewhat a spur of the moment call.
He had been eating his lunch at the company's new branch headquarters when Shion had bursted through the door, relaying the happy news. He had been so surprised by it and Hinata herself, who he had picked up from her Yoga class, had turned to look at the bubbly blonde with her mouth open wide.
He ignored his fiancée as Shion kept giving the details of what would eventually happen with the Uzumaki later that day and that prompted Hinata to suggest they come to the dinner as well.
Of course Hinata was being a kind friend and offering her support, so Toneri agreed and called Naruto as soon as his former employee left.
The Otsutsuki noticed Hinata's quiet self but believed it to be related to the fact that now she had to arrange for more seats on their table and adjust the menu accordingly to their guests likings.
Toneri had required her presence the rest of the afternoon, making her sit on the chair across from his desk as he worked. He could tell she was painfully bored, but he wanted her company and to keep a closer eye on him. He had been giving her too much free reign, but with all the negotiations and troubles associated with the new branch deal, he had been too occupied to pay proper attention to her.
"Toneri I'm bored. Can't I go home and entertain myself with the preparations for tonight?" She had asked, even coming to sit on his lap. "I could even make that dessert you like so much." He had felt her nip at his jaw, her legs straddling his lap.
He had taken a deep breath and pushed her away before he lost control and allow for something inappropriate to happen. "You're not going anywhere. You leave when I leave and that's the end of it. If you want, you can borrow one of the waiting room's magazines to entertain yourself." She had huffed and marched back to her chair where she sat pouting and grumbling to herself until he finally relented, and they went home.
"Shall we?" Hinata pulled his hand, leading him out of the bedroom onto the foyer where the first guests would arrive in a matter of minutes.
He warned her, "Behave." Frosty blue eyes meeting pale lavender ones. He saw how her shoulders tensed and how she plastered a fake smile. He always knew when she was giving him fake smiles, but he never said anything as to not trouble himself.
"Good evening." Toneri greeted a clearly tired Naruto who had a very eager Shion clinging on his arm. Shion's eyes were focused solely on Naruto and ignored both his and Hinata's greeting.
Naruto nodded and extended his hand towards him. "Save me…" He whispered playfully and Toneri quirked up a smile.
"Shion dear, would you be so kind to help Hinata sitting everyone?" Toneri asked, his tone of voice implying that she would do so without complains. Shion followed Hinata reluctantly and the white haired Otsutsuki turned to his friend.
"About time." He chuckled.
"I'm beginning to question my decisions." Naruto sighted and walked with Toneri towards the dining room.
He didn't notice the double meaning of the words and as Toneri walked into his dining room he saw how Shion and almost everyone sat in their places, Hinata helping one of the women sit.
Said woman Hinata was helping had had a recent surgery and had agreed to accompany her husband out of respect for the Otsutsuki family.
What made Toneri's body freeze and his anger spike up was the hand of said woman's husband on Hinata's backside as he sat down. His fiancée took a couple of steps back and went to her assigned place without a word. Why didn't she say anything? Could it be that she's accustomed to that man's touch? Was that why she helped the woman sit? Cause she felt guilty she was fucking her husband? That would sure explain last week's bruises.
His eye twitched as he finally moved and sat at the head of the table, Hinata to his left and Naruto, who had also watched everything and didn't look pleased, to his right.
A strange silence followed once the food was being served. Hinata kept quiet and only talked when someone said something to her directly. Good, he thought. Good that she's feeling sorry for that act of blatant disrespect.
Conversation began once the wine was poured and everyone had their share. Toneri might have drank a couple of two glasses more than he should, but it allowed him to maintain an easy conversation with everyone.
"You shouldn't drink any more wine, dear." Hinata placed her hand on his arm and he shook her off. She tried to hide her nervousness by arranging the cutlery on her empty plate.
"Don't tell me what to do." He answered rashly and although that went unnoticed by almost everyone, Naruto noticed it and excused himself to go to the bathroom. "Grab me another bottle and be quick." Toneri almost kicked at her chair, for her to move faster.
He saw her eyes water but promptly ignored it, calling out to one of the other men who he had known since college.
Hinata knew she was fucked.
From the very moment that man touched her, and she felt Toneri's dark aura and saw the evident change in his mood from then forward.
Since he had returned from his last trip, he had reverted to his old possessive self, keeping her by his side at all times, giving her no time to breathe. The fact that they hadn't been having sex for quite some time didn't help.
Even before he went to visit his father, she had been turning him down more often than not. Then he saw the bruises Naruto left on her body, that she had to blame her yoga classes for. That made him deny her until her skin was back to its original state. She had to miss the week's classes, as per his request.
When Naruto and Shion arrived, she had to hide how upset she was. She had known beforehand what would happen. Hinata herself had told Naruto it was for the best he finally agreed to have a session with his so called submissive.
Ino had once explained to her that not all D/s relationships involved sex, but she wasn't stupid enough to believe Shion would agree to such thing, since she seemed to be clearly enamored by Naruto.
Said Naruto had agreed to it and would make an arrangement with Shion to meet three to four times a month, all of which he would inform Hinata of.
"You okay?" As soon as she heard his voice in the corridor she ran into his arms and hugged him as tight as possible, letting his sent and warmth calm her. "He's acting strange." Naruto said, concerned with the woman in his arms.
"He saw that guy touching me, didn't he?" Hinata pulled away from his chest a couple of inches, sniffing as she felt a tear run down her cheek.
"Do you want me to stay a while longer? I can convince him to drink some more until he falls asleep from the wine." Naruto offered as his left hand caught the stray tear and cupped her cheek and his other one pressed her closer.
"He'll still be mad about it in the morning." Leaning onto her lover's touch, Hinata felt somewhat calmer. But she knew that once everyone left Toneri would be making a huge scene.
Drink or no drink, if he had caught another man touching what he considered to be his, he would most certainly take it out on someone.
Toneri had never lifted a finger against her but Hinata wasn't sure if she could trust his drunk persona, knowing he couldn't beat up the shareholder, as he would usually do with the members of the club who dare to look at her for too long, or worse, make a move and touch her body.
"If he does anything to you, call me. I'll come straight away and take you away from here." Naruto held her face in his hands, his thumbs continuously cleaning her tears as she nodded. "I mean it Hinata. He's acting stranger than usual. Ino has warned me about his moods. Call. Me."
"O-Okay." She stuttered and hugged him once more before she left him and went to grab the wine her fiancé had asked for.
She saw through her peripheral vision how worried Naruto was and his reluctance to leave her, not only alone in the kitchen, but alone with Toneri as well.
Mustering up all the courage she could find within herself, she checked her makeup and cleaned it up a bit before she returned to the dining room.
"Thank you for the dinner! It was amazing!" Shion said, a little affected by the wine, but overall as bubbly as usual, and clearly not reading the vibe in the room.
Toneri nodded and grabbed Hinata's arm, pulling her back a couple of steps, making the bluenette stumble.
Naruto's gaze was focused on the pair and his lips formed a straight line as he glowered at the white haired man. Before he could respond, Toneri's employees where accompanying them out.
I have a bad feeling about this.
- (WARNING) -
Alone in their bedroom, Toneri saw how Hinata recoiled at his touch. She unzipped her dress, shaking as she stood on her side of the room, her back to him. Toneri licked his lips as he pulled of his tie and threw it to the floor. His jacket and shirt following suit.
He stumbled a bit as he tried to take off his shoes and his socks but managed to stay up, eyes focused on his fiancée who sat on the bed in her pink laced underwear. My favorite set, he believed. Wine had made his vision blurry, but his mind was sharp, and he could still remember how that man's hand caressed her behind and she let him.
"Hinata, answer me this." He slowly walked to where she was and stood in front of her. "Look at me when I talk to you Hinata."
He ignored the fear written clearly all over her, how she shook when he forcefully grasped her chin and made her look him in the eye. The pale eyed Hyuga had her arms wrapped around herself and she continuously tried and failed to form a sentence, as tears fell down her red face.
"Are you crying because you feel guilty my love?" He asked, his hand moving to cup her cheek. "You know, I saw you and your little friend earlier."
"To-Toneri. I-I di-" He slapped her before she could finish. He was growing tired of her annoying stutter.
"How long?" He held her by the nape, fisting her hair painfully. He ignored her whimpers and pulled her closer to his face, "How long have you been fucking that bastard behind my back?" He practically snarled as he gripped her even tighter, his free hand grabbing her wrist.
Hinata was sobbing, her lips trembling as she made an effort not to stutter. "I have always been f-faithful. H-He touched me without my conse-sent."
"Liar." He shouted, making her tremble and cry out once she felt his hand on her face again. "I saw how his eyes were on you the entire dinner. You think I'm blind, don't you?"
Hinata cradled her face as she lay on the bed and tried to curl onto herself. "Don't play the victim on me. I saw it with my very own eyes. Uzumaki saw it too." He paced in front of the large window, pulling at his own hair. "You had to embarrass me. Didn't you!"
"N-No I-" He saw right through her fake apologies. She had let him touch her and he bet she enjoyed it.
"Shut the fuck up!" He looked back at her and saw how guilty she looked. She probably never expected to be caught. "After everything I've done for you and your family… to be treated like this… You're a fucking disappointment." He continued to pace until he glanced at her barely covered body, thinking of the last time he had touched her.
"P-please."
And then it hit him.
"Those bruises last week." Those weren't caused by a yoga class. Those had been made by another man, touching her body. Touching what was his. "He made those didn't he?!"
Hinata's body froze and before she could reply Toneri was already on her. "How. Long."
Toneri's larger body was pinning her down. Both his hands grabbing her wrists with too much force, hips straddling her. He was too big and too heavy for her to do anything.
"P-please. You're not thinking clearly. You're drunk. I would n-never cheat on you." He stared into her lavender eyes and saw how she was lying to him. The alcohol only helped him see things clearly. "You fucking bitch." He heard a cracking sound but ignored it and Hinata's scream.
"You won't get rid of me that easily Hinata. Cause you're mine." His right hand found its way to her throat he squeezed it, probably a little too hard but he didn't care. "Mine. You got that?"
He needed to make her see who owned her. That he was the only man she would ever have and no one, absolutely no one would take what was his. "Maybe I should give you a little reminder."
- (WARNING OFF)-
(A/N:Here it's the aftermath, where she goes to get help from her friends, some of you might want to skip it, if so just go to the next line break)
She couldn't tell exactly how long had passed. She couldn't move. Everything hurt too much. The only thing she was certain was that Toneri was sound asleep and that he had broken one of her wrists and possibly fractured a rib. She could also feel a throbbing in her left cheekbone, probably cut by the ring he had been wearing.
Moving her head slightly to the right, she saw her phone light up, probably indicating that it was fully charged or something. Her head was fuzzy, she just wanted to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes, it was like it was happening again and again. So she just lay still.
After a while, as she tried to sit, everything hurt twice as much. Hinata wasn't sure how, but she made her way towards the closet, grabbing the first pieces of clothing she could throw on and went out the door.
When she walked towards the foyer, one of Toneri's men came running towards her, intent on preventing her to leave, but once he saw how she moved and her blank expression he only asked, "Where to, miss?"
"Sakura's." Her voice was small and sounded raspy. Her eyes burned with more unshed tears as the nameless man accompanied her towards the elevator and then helped her lay on the backseat of the dark green SUV.
Hinata wasn't sure if the pinkette would be home or not. Ino was away in a conference. And Naruto was with her.
She heard the door open and close and a few minutes passed, or hours, she didn't know how long until she felt two strong arms holding her and laying her down on a soft mattress. Hinata could faintly hear Sakura's voice as she thanked the nameless man and doors being shut.
Sakura asked something but she wasn't sure what she was being asked. She felt Sakura's calloused hands laying softly on her cheek and when she open her eyes drowsily, she saw her friend's face laced with concern, jade eyes glassy.
She heard her faintly say she would be calling someone and soon a male's voice could be heard. She knew it wasn't Toneri's since it was softer and warmer. Sunshine, she thought to herself.
"Hinata?" She heard the voice call out to her as she felt another shiver run down her spine. "Hina- shit. Call Itachi. We're taking her to the hospital." She could swear it was Naruto, but she was also certain it couldn't be since he was with Shion.
She didn't remember much, apparently Sakura had given her something so that she could sleep better through the night. She vaguely remembered having nurses tend to her bruises, cast being put on her broken wrist and pictures being taken.
"Call me when she gets better and we'll see what can be done." A completely different voice said and then she was being carried by someone back into a car, and was held closely by that person, as Sakura, one of her best friends, drove.
When she opened her eyes again, she was in a strange room, that was decorated in pastel shades. Something Hinata associated with Sakura. Then, as she tried to sit up and felt the pain, she remembered what had happened the night before. "Maybe I should give you a little-
Before her thoughts were invaded with more memories, she felt a warm body close to hers, close but not really touching hers, as if respecting her personal space. "Naruto?" She asked not quite believing she was seeing unruly blonde hair and tanned skin and not the usual white she had grown accustomed to.
"What?! Where's- Oh." Naruto woke up startled, dark bags under his eyes and a worried look on his face. Once he saw lavender eyes staring wide at him, he sighted and moved his hand near hers. "Hey…"
"Hey…" Hinata answered meekly, scooting closer to him, her fingertips touching his. "How are you here?" She moved stiffly, the medication was clearly wearing off and she would need to take another dose soon.
"Sakura called," His blue eyes looked at her, full of regret and guilt. She lay her head on his chest and turned her body so that her legs could drape over his. "She said I needed to come here, that there had been an emergency and my biggest fear came true.
"Once I saw you laying here almost unconscious, we took you to the hospital and had all the exams made. Do you want to know?" He trailed off, unsure of her reaction.
When he received a confirmation nod and felt her body snuggle closer to his, trembling, he pulled the covers up and began detailing everything.
Apparently Toneri had not only forced himself on her but had also caused hairline fractures on two of the ribs on her right side, had broken her left wrist, cut her cheek, and had left some hematomas on her stomach and legs. Her throat was sore and had some bruises but, gladly, nothing was damaged internally.
"What time is it?" She asked quietly after some time, after processing everything that had happened. She wasn't ready to speak about it and Naruto didn't force her to do such.
"I think it's around one pm. You came to Sakura's around four am and when we got back to her apartment it was close to seven. Sakura couldn't take the day off, so she dropped us off and went back to the hospital. She said she would talk with her boss and explain the situation and try and take the next few days off." Naruto caressed her face gently, mindful of the bruises. "I also took a couple days off so I could stay with you. If you want me to."
"Thank you."
Hinata felt his lips being pressed on her forehead, and her body reacted by shivering once more, the recent events still fresh in her mind. But she forced herself to remember this was Naruto, the man she trusted and that cared for her.
"I'm here for you." He scooted down so he was at eye level, both their heads sharing the same pillow. "Always." She didn't know whether to cry, to say thank you or to simply be.
She chose the latter as Naruto kept her company, telling her of sweet nothings and sharing childhood stories and just, talking. Helping her keep her mind off of everything as he just let her curl her body against his and fall into a dreamless slumber.
