It took the group two days to arrive at their hotel in the Dolomites of Aosta Valley, and when they did, Hinata immediately sank into the bed of her hotel room, desperate to not move for another twelve hours.
Unfortunately, Ino had other plans.
After an hour of attempting to nap to regain her strength and sanity, Hinata finally pulled herself up to take in her surroundings: the room Sasuke had booked for her seemed expensive––from the size of the bed and room itself, to the expansive view of the snow capped mountains, right outside her window. She gaped sleepily at them as she traded her jeans and hoodie for a one-piece swimsuit that she'd bought for the villa's pool––not the steamy, turkish baths that Ino had been raving about the entire car ride.
Apparently, it was not supposed to take more than 7 hours for them to arrive at Aosta Valley, but Sakura had wanted to stop in Florence for the day––which became a night after Izumi complained about her back pain and being in a car for too long––and they stayed in a hotel there. Hinata hadn't minded too much, because she got to be alone for the first time in days. Sakura and Ino went together to the Ponte Vecchio, the historic bridge across the Arno river, that was known to sell real gold jewelry, while Izumi rested with Itachi, and the rest of the guys went out to find their own trouble. Hinata easily disappeared into the streets of Florence, first visiting the Duomo, then making her way to the Uffizi Gallery where she saw works of art she had only read about.
Something began to thrum inside of her that she had never felt before as she gazed upon the Carravagio painting of the woman holding a sword to a man's neck, the blood running, her leaning back ever so slightly, looking determined. She stared at it for almost an hour, sitting on a small bench in front of it, until she finally decided that she liked it. That she liked art.
There. She had learned something about herself. She liked art.
And now she was in yet another new place, wondering just what else she would discover about herself. Over the rather plain swimsuit, she pulled on a pair of shorts––much too cold for the mountains––and a sweater as she tiredly answered Ino's knocking. Ino beamed at her when she answered, wearing a bright pink bikini so tiny that Hinata almost thought that it was pointless.
"You ready?"
"I––I guess," Hinata replied, unsure. Ino looked more excited than usual––she was likely having the time of her life on other people's dime, and not having to do much work herself to get there. Hinata was happy for her, but perhaps felt a little jealous at the ease with which Ino fit in, could find comfort in her companion, Shikamaru, while simultaneously doing her duty to B6 by assisting Hinata.
They walked down the hall arm-in-arm as Ino chatted about the itinerary for the next day. They would only be staying until the end of the week, in which afterwards they would drive back and Izumi and Itachi would spend the rest of the weekend back at the villa before flying back to Konoha with Shisui. The rest of them would stay behind, preparing for the conference.
It was no secret to Hinata that the conference was only a cover up for the real reason Sasuke had traveled so far, but she didn't know what that reason was yet, and she was itching to find out. After her time at the Uffizi, she felt Dove under her skin trying to break out, as if having hobbies of her own was the thing that finally woke her up again.
It's good, Hinata reasoned with herself as she and Ino stepped to the elevator. It means I'm getting closer.
The elevator opened to reveal Sasuke Uchiha, standing with a snowboard casually tucked under his arm as he typed something on his phone. He looked them both up and down when he saw them––quickly over Ino's bikini-d form, and more slowly over Hinata, who bashfully tugged at her shorts––before he snorted with amusement.
"Where are you taking my assistant?" Sasuke said to Ino like Hinata wasn't a person who could speak for herself. He was being lighthearted––it was so strange for Hinata to see him outside of the office, where he was straight-faced, serious, and a little off-putting.
Ino rolled her eyes, gesturing, "Get out of the way, Sasuke. We're meeting Sakura at the Turkish baths."
"Sorry," he said, not moving. "But I'm afraid Hyuga and I have got some work to do, I have to take a call and am going to the meeting rooms upstairs. Hyuga, would you be able to take notes?"
Hinata nodded almost immediately, sliding into the elevator beside him with her eyes down as Ino complained about his timing. "You should really give Hinata more time off, Sasuke," she said as she jabbed a button for a floor a few stops before theirs. "You're gonna make her quit."
"Is this entire trip not a vacation?" Sasuke drolled. He didn't sound bothered, merely amused.
"It's––it's fine, Ino-chan. Please, go without me. I'll catch up with you and Sakura-san later," Hinata pressed, not wanting to sound rude in front of her boss. She was endlessly grateful in the face of Ino's rudeness––why was she acting like that?! "I'm here to d-do my job, after all."
"Exactly," Sasuke affirmed, smirking. Ino's floor dinged, and she sent Sasuke a dirty look as she stepped over the threshold and the doors closed behind her.
Sasuke and Hinata stood in silence for a few seconds as the elevator took them up. When the door to their floor opened, Hinata stepped out but Sasuke caught her arm and pulled her back in. He looked her up and down again, frowning.
"Are those the only pants you brought?"
Blushing, Hinata wanted to sink back into the corner of the elevator and hide but she merely nodded. "I-I have dresses too and a pair of jeans in my room. I'm so sorry if this is inappropriate for the meeting––"
"What?" Sasuke jabbed a button on the elevator, taking them back down, to Hinata's confusion. "Oh right, that. I was lying. You looked incredibly uncomfortable, and those shorts aren't going to work up here. I told you I'd buy you some new clothes. Not your fault-––we didn't plan for this."
"Oh," Hinata turned pink. "T-thanks for that, I didn't really want to go…"
"I could tell."
It was so matter of fact that Hinata found herself smiling.
"B-but you really don't have to buy me anyth––"
"I don't go back on my word," Sasuke said. The elevator arrived at floor 6 and when Hinata saw this, she jumped and pushed her own floor 5. Sasuke looked at her like she had just grown antlers. "You're coming with me. You can't go out in those shorts."
"W-we're going somewhere?"
He ignored her as he led her down the hallway. This floor had very few doors and Hinata guessed that this housed some of the executive suites. Itachi and Sasuke had booked their own respectively. Hinata watched him unlock the door and tried not to let her mouth hit the ground at the lavishness of the room, the huge windows showing even more mountainscape, the numerous couches and full kitchen all made of dark, luxurious wood. There was even a fireplace that was on, warming Hinata's cold legs.
"In here," Sasuke called from somewhere to her left.
Hinata was so shocked by the room that she scarcely noticed Sasuke had left. Dutifully, she followed his voice until she found him in the bedroom, looking through one of his bags. Hinata's eyes widened at the intimacy of this shared space, but she crept in, trying to keep her voice from shaking as she complimented him on the view. In the back of her mind, as she looked at the large, king-sized bed, was Neji's voice: have you tried seduction?
Then, of course, there was the dream. His arms, his mouth on her neck, their breath–––
"It is a nice view," Sasuke affirmed as he continued whatever he was doing. He wasn't looking at her. "It was my mom's favorite part about this place. She used to take us here when we were kids."
The sincerity of his voice took Hinata out of her well, lustful, thoughts as she blinked. She smiled as she thought of young Sasuke and young Itachi running around the resort, likely terrorizing the staff with their energy.
"How is your mother?" Hinata ventured cautiously. She remembered she was sick. "Do you think she'd want to come back here?"
Sasuke paused his search to look at her, the slight widening of his dark eyes told her that he was surprised by the question. He looked down at the bag, and then looked at her, nodding. "She would absolutely come back here, and she's probably itching to take her future grandchild," Sasuke chuckled, but there was a hint of sadness to it that Hinata had never heard before. He was being surprisingly honest. "But she's doing okay. She's on her last round of treatment for right now."
There was a long pause as Sasuke looked into the corner of the room, seemingly lost in thought. Hinata didn't interrupt, instead she looked at Sakura's two suitcases by the left side of the bed and tried not to feel awkward about being in the bedroom with him.
"Sorry––" Sasuke finally said after a few more seconds passed. "I'm not used to people asking. They're usually worried they're going to upset me."
Hinata smiled in what she hoped was in a comforting way, "I get that. My mother…my mother was s-sick too for many years, and no one asked me about her. S-sometimes it felt like it wasn't happening."
Sasuke nodded, his lip quirking up. "Hn. Yeah. It's like the world is fucking gaslighting you, right?"
"Definitely," Hinata said, although it was much more complicated than that, and it made her think of her sister, and re-training, and the offerings, she pushed through and smiled at Sasuke. "But I'm always keeping your mother in my thoughts, so I hope that helps you…n-not feel gaslit?" She ended lamley.
"It helps," Sasuke nodded, his mouth still curled up pleasantly. "Anyway, you should put these on over your shorts. It shouldn't be as cold when we get into town, so you can take them off when we get there, but I'm worried you'll freeze on our way down."
"Thank you so much, Sasuke-san," Hinata said gratefully as he handed her a folded pair of sweatpants. They were black and had a faded crest of some University she couldn't discern on it, but she took off her shoes and readily slid the pants over her shorts, trying not to think about the intimacy of this exchange. Despite her best efforts, her cheeks still pinkened and the pants came several inches too large for her and sank over her hips. She tried rolling the hem at the top, focusing so intensely because she could feel the Uchiha's stare on the top of her head.
"There's strings," he offered, still watching.
"Oh, um, thanks I––" she looked for them under the folds she had just done, trying not to panic. Her skin was absolutely burning.
"Here," Sasuke stepped forward, his fingers easily finding the drawstrings under the fabric. Without preamble, he tugged them tight across her waist, accidentally pulling her body closer, as he tied them tightly. Hinata could feel the heat of his body, how close he was, as the pants tightened. He looked at her––fingers still on the string––with those impossibly long eyelashes and said, "How does this feel?"
"Um––" Hinata wavered on her feet, suddenly feeling faint. What––what type of game was he playing? Looking at her like that? So close like this, Hinata could finally identify the sharp scent he seemed to have, it was turpentine, or pine. "I think––I need some water?"
Sasuke cracked another smile––showing teeth––and released the strings of the sweatpants. He crossed the room and handed her water from a glass bottle. Hinata drank it quickly, trying to get her face to be less red, as she watched Sasuke collect his wallet and keys from the nightstand.
"Let's go before Sakura gets back," Sasuke said, his voice now with an annoyed edge to it as he opened the bedroom door and gestured her through. The pants were big and cozy around Hinata's legs––much needed, and endlessly soft. "She wants to have this big welcome dinner later. I'd rather die."
Hinata looked at him, cheeks full of water, and spit a little as she laughed in surprise at the briskness of that statement. She hadn't been expecting that, but of course, the Uchiha man was full of surprises as of late. Something about the freedom of being in another country, was most likely it. Sasuke saw this and chuckled, himself.
"D-dinners are a lot of pressure," Hinata affirmed after she wiped her face with a napkin he'd handed her before leaving the room.
"Maybe we should get a drink first?" Sasuke said, raising an eyebrow down at her as they got to the elevator. "To prepare ourselves."
"Hours in advance?" Hinata questioned, feeling unlike herself––but feeling comfortable for some reason.
"No, we'll drink when we get back too," Sasuke said seriously. "We'll drink now to prepare for the cold."
"Oh right," Hinata said as she watched him punch the floor that housed the bar. "M-makes perfect sense, Sasuke-san."
"Just call me Sasuke," he said, rolling his eyes. "You're wearing my pants."
-:-
Three hours later, Hinata sat quietly in Sakura's room in a brand-new pair of jeans, snow boots, and Aosta Valley hoodie that Sasuke had purchased while they were in town. No matter how much she complained or attempted to disway, Sasuke spared no expense. He even bought her a snowsuit with the addendum that she go snowboarding with the group the next afternoon. He wanted to buy her a board too, but Hinata vehemently shook her head: no. She could rent one just fine from the resort. Besides, when was the next time she would find herself snowboarding through the mountains of Northern Italy?
She and Sasuke quietly returned to the resort, and it almost felt like they were sneaking––Hinata still in Sasuke's sweats, Sasuke looking out for his fiancée––but by the time they returned, Ino and Sakura were getting facials, and everyone else was minding their business elsewhere. Hinata slipped into her room with her new clothes and took a nap.
About an hour and a half later, Ino was knocking at her door again. And now, here she was: sitting in Sakura's bathroom, as the two women helped each other with their makeup for the dinner party. Hinata still didn't understand the two of them––were they friends or enemies? Two days ago, Sakura had been pissed about Ino's presence, and now the two of them were chatting like they had been best friends all along. Maybe Hinata didn't understand friendship.
There was a lot she didn't understand still, like the way Sasuke insisted on buying her these things, and how he smiled, care-free, in the stores in the valley, whenever Hinata blushed or rejected something that wasn't her style. He was quick to fill up their basket with items, paying no mind to any expense.
"I'd feel bad if you froze to death," he said, holding up a navy-blue bubble coat that was cropped at her hips. He nodded appreciatively as he held it up. "It matches your hair."
Hinata reached to check the price tag, but he held it just out of reach. She could have easily grabbed it if she wanted to, but she let it go, watching him hold it under his arm.
"Maybe we can be even now?" She asked as they wandered up to the checkout counter, and the sales associate gave a number with far too many digits for Hinata's taste. She was referring to the fact that she had saved his life a few weeks ago, and how, over the phone, he had told her that he owed her.
Sasuke looked down at her, face serious––perhaps even irritated––as he handed the associate his card. He quirked an eyebrow, "You think my life is comparable to a dollar amount?"
"Um––" Hinata brought her fingers together, quickly shaking her head: no. "Of––of course not! I just thought––"
"You didn't think," Sasuke said, taking the paper bags from the attendant before Hinata could even reach for them. "You also saved Sakura's life––yes, she told me about the dress. Why don't you hold on to my debts a little longer, eh?"
Hinata turned red and nodded. How could she argue with that logic? Besides, she didn't think Sasuke could ever repay his "debt," not really, not when she was an agent trained to infiltrate his family. She was honestly stunned––it was working out quite well.
But that didn't explain all of the feeling swirling around in her belly as he walked her to her hotel room, and dropped her (numerous) bags on her dresser. That didn't stop her cheeks from turning pink when he told her he had purposely selected this view of the Dolomites for her––no one else beside him and Itachi had rooms that faced this side of the resort. That didn't keep her heart from stuttering awkwardly when he told her he'd see her at dinner, leaving out of the door quietly, only his scent remaining.
Hinata didn't know what she was supposed to do with any of that information.
"What do you think, Hinata?" Ino asked, holding up two lipsticks. Sakura had just finished putting curls into Ino's hair, and they had moved onto the makeup. Ino was wearing a red, extravagantly long, silk dress with thin straps.
Hinata snapped out of memory and closed her laptop––she'd been working on homework the whole time to make up for the weeks of missed classes she was amassing. Hinata sat the computer on the chair beside the tub and walked over to get a closer look.
"This one," she said, picking the bright red. Ino beamed like Hinata had just told her she'd won the lottery.
"I told you, forehead!" Ino said as she undid the cap. She turned to Hinata, looking her over. "How was you and Sasuke's meeting? Still working?"
"It was fine," Hinata lied, looking away. "A new client has a complicated relationship with labor unions. I don't think Sasuke-san should take the case because it goes against Itachi's labor policy plans for Konoha."
Perhaps she was being too specific, but Hinata had pulled the information from memory. That was the last thing the two of them were working on before departing from Konoha.
"You're so well informed," Sakura complimented as she adjusted the cream-colored ruffles at the end of her dress. The top part was deconstructed, with a corset bodice that left nearly nothing to the imagination and a full skirt made of tulle. Her hair was feathered gently around her face and her skin was glowing––the facials, Hinata presumed. Sakura turned to her after she was done with her ruffles and frowned, "You're wearing that?"
"I didn't know it was going to be so….fancy," Hinata responded immediately as she took in the two women's attire. She was wearing one of the simple business casual dresses she'd packed for the conference. She'd even chosen the black Chanel one that stopped just above her knees, fit her form, and featured a neat white collar and little custom buttons! Still, she felt underdressed.
"Oh honey, it's a five-star restaurant," Sakura said, a hint of pity in her voice that had a nasty edge. "And I booked a private dinner. I suppose it's fine. I'd lend you a dress but I'm afraid they wouldn't fit."
It occurred to Hinata that this was supposed to offend her, but she had no receptors for rudeness from heiresses. If anything it said more about Sakura than it did her. It made Hinata wonder, however…did Sakura know about Hinata and Sasuke's rendezvous? Hinata shook her head bashfully at the thought; no, no, there was nothing to know. Sasuke was just being nice to his frumpy assistant.
"Oh stop that," Ino chided. She turned to Hinata, smiling, "You look great. I don't think you're underdressed. Besides, Izumi is probably even more casual than you. Me and Sakura just like to be extra sometimes. It's like a competition."
Ino got up suddenly, and turned towards the closet attached to Sakura's closet. With the gusto of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Ino held up a pair of black, leather slingback Prada heels. "Here," she said, waving the shoes outside of the closet while her body was still hidden from view. She was still searching for something, still.
"And these," she called, seconds later. Hinata hesitantly grabbed a pair of knee-high socks and held them to her chest. Ino nodded encouragingly.
As Hinata sat in front of the mirror to slip on the items Ino had given her, Ino started brushing her hair. She pulled it slick across her head, and tied it in a sleek knot at the back of her head.
"There," Ino said, pleased, as she dusted Hinata's cheeks with bright pink blush––Hinata made enough of that already, but she had to admit, it was cute. "You have this beautiful swan neck––you hide it too much! It's beautiful, right Sakura?"
"Right," Sakura echoed stiffly, busying herself with her cell phone, now that Hinata was in the makeup chair. "So elegant."
"You look chic," Ino complimented, and Hinata warmed at the comment. "You'll fit right in."
Hinata went to dinner, for the first time feeling like she had made a dear friend.
"Those idiots," Izumi said, sinking down into one of the plush seats in front of the fire pit. Their group had just finished their private, expansive dinner, full of rich foods Hinata had never tried before, and were out on a patio, being warmed by a gleaming bonfire as they looked in awe at the mountains in the distance and the stars above them.
Izumi was indeed dressed casually––a knit turtleneck dress, her hair tossed into an easy bun––as she sat holding her stomach. It was the first time she and Hinata had ever had an actual conversation with one another, and Hinata had warmed to her immediately. She was…sort of silly, forthright and sarcastic, but generally a calming presence in the group.
The idiots she was referencing were the men in front of them. Everyone, except Izumi, was slightly buzzed from the dinner rum, and Naruto had challenged Sasuke and Sai to a fight.
Hinata didn't think Sasuke would give in so easily, but he broke into a wild smile over the firelight, his teeth shining eagerly as Sai looked at him blankly, but stood nonetheless. It seemed the two had some sort of rivalry that Hinata wasn't aware of.
It was fun watching Sasuke here, in this place, Aosta Valley. He was different, but seemed so himself that Hinata wondered if his Konoha-persona was just an elaborate act. He rose from his seat with ease while Naruto counted down. Hinata watched him crouch––he had good footing; he was rooted––and dodge as Sai came swinging for him first, a powerful arch over Sasuke's head.
He was fast. Quick on his feet. He seemed to be able to predict Sai's moves before he even did them. Sasuke dodge another fist like he was playing a game. Naruto and Ino cheered from their places around the fire.
"Do they do this often?" Hinata asked Izumi, who was starting to look bored with the whole thing.
"Well, yes and no. Naruto and Sasuke will brawl from time to time, but they know each other too well––it's boring for them. But because Sai is here it adds a new dynamic, so of course it results to this after a few drinks."
"Ah," Hinata said as she looked on. Sasuke was grabbing Sai around the waist. She winced, watching the paler man go down hard onto the cobblestone.
"Let's call it," Sasuke said with his arm across Sai's neck, ensuring the man couldn't get up. Sai looked bored and didn't struggle.
"I let you win," Sai said. "I'd hate to ruin your vacation with a broken nose."
"Whatever, Sai," Naruto said, helping Sasuke up. He didn't offer a hand to the other man; instead he clapped Sasuke on the back. "Our winner! I'm going to get some smores to celebrate."
"Bring back more alcohol," Sasuke called to his back. He stretched his arms and grinned at his older brother, who made a face at Sasuke as he sat back on the couch beside Hinata. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise at his sudden presence beside her. She could feel him looking.
"You look cold," he said. She was: she'd left her new coat in her room, not thinking that they would go outside, and her hair was still tied at the back of her head. "Your ears are red."
"She's been shivering this whole time," Izumi said smartly. As if to prove her point, she tightened her own shawl around her shoulders. Itachi noticed this and wrapped his scarf around her shoulders. Izumi smiled, "See that, Sasuke? You should be more gentlemanly like your brother."
"He always struggled with manners," Itachi muttered distractedly. He was doing some sort of work on his laptop, a frown etched across his face.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at the verbal assault, but still turned back to Hinata nonetheless. "Do you want my jacket?"
"W-won't Sakura need it?" Hinata turned pink at the attention. She frantically looked around for the pink haired woman, but she was nowhere in sight. Sasuke shouldn't be giving his jacket to her when his future wife was standing around, also probably cold.
Sasuke snorted at the question like it was the silliest thing in the world. "She has a headache and went to bed a few minutes ago. She doesn't do well with rum."
Hinata watched him as he began to slide the sleeves of his coat off of his arms before standing abruptly––panicking––and holding her hands up. She didn't know why, but she couldn't let him do another thing for her. Why was he being so nice to her lately? Besides, his friends were all watching––what would they think?
And surely she was blowing things out of proportion, but she was feeling really strange about the course of the day and she needed time to process. She needed to be strategic as she got closer to the group, and she was afraid of making mistakes and ruining the dynamic before she had even formulated a plan.
"No, no," she said, watching Sasuke pause, a question in his gaze. "Then you'll be cold. I'll run to my room and get my new coat! Plus, I–I want to grab my laptop. I've got a quiz due in a few hours in Konoha-time."
She scurried off back into the walls of the resort, exhaling when the pressure eased. There were too many eyes on her, too many strange expectations that she had never experienced before. Hinata walked to the elevators, rubbing her chilled arms as the heat from the building began to calm her ragging goosebumps.
She really did need her laptop, and it would be the perfect thing to distract her from her strange, rising feelings for the Uchiha. Unfortunately, she'd left it in his and Saskura's bathroom before dinner.
Hopefully she answered the door. Hinata went to her floor and knocked a few times and got no answer.
She waited a few minutes. Knocked again. Waited some more. Knocked again.
Dammit! She really wanted her laptop––not to mention this was an excellent opportunity for some snooping. Hinata tested the doorknob––unlocked––and slipped into the suite silently, channeling Dove.
Her steps became softer, and her body took to the shadows with ease as she walked through their living room. She surveyed the living room table––bridal magazines, a pack of cigarettes, and a printed website article about Itachi's polling results. Hinata sifted through those things easily, reading over the article. It was normal, boring even, to the point of Hinata yawning.
She left the table and went over to the dining area where a stack of papers sat beside a closed laptop. The papers had a post-it note that said "Shisui" on the front. Curiously, Hinata opened the file, eyes widening when she saw that they were printed, detailed notes––like an interview––between Shisui and someone else. There was another post-it note, this one pink, at the bottom of the page that said, "hope this helps! -Sakura"
Hinata bit her lip. Had Sakura acquired this interview from a police database? And why had Sasuke been asking for it? Hinata skimmed the top part, her eyes adjusting to the dark and read it outloud to concentrate, "Psych Eval for Konoha Military Police Chief, Uchiha Shisui."
Something rang through Hinata––it was exciting. She hadn't known that Shisui had been slated to be the police chief, this was perfect for her task––especially now that they were on vacation together. Delighted, Hinata read on.
Her delight immediately turned to concern as the interview between Shisui and, she guessed, the psychologist suddenly took a dark turn.
Q: How are you feeling being back after so long?
A: Fine, I guess.
Q: Do you have any recurring thoughts or memories of the assault? It happened in the precinct, correct?
A: Correct.
Q: Does being in the precinct bring up any unpleasant memories?
A: Not really. I focus on doing my job.
Q: Do you find yourself harboring any angry or vengeful feelings towards coworkers, higher ups, or inmates?
A: Like I said––I focus on doing my job. I'm good at it; that's why I was asked back.
Q: Was it a difficult choice for you to come back to the field after being away for so long?
A: It was…it felt like I didn't have a choice. Being here is what I'm good at, so obviously I said yes.
Something bumped loudly in the adjacent room, and Hinata jumped and stopped reading. Quickly, she took pictures with her phone of the 10-page document, hoping that her hand was as steady as she felt, and briskly walked to the door. She had her hand on the handle when suddenly, there was a cry from the other room.
Hinata dropped her phone but grabbed it before it could clatter to the floor. Her head snapped towards Sakura and Sasuke's bedroom.
"Sakura-san?" Hinata whispered, eyes widening.
There was another cry––this time male, a grunt. Was Sakura under attack? Could it be the same person who was after Sasuke?
Hinata squared her shoulders and turned back into the living room, preparing for anything.