alu/morty

Darkness seemed to cover the whole world as she ran with her things hidden on her backpack, trying to avoid ruining her scrolls and books, things she used to keep track of stuff going on at her store. But moving was so, so hard with the downpour that blinded her, a thick mist surrounding her. Tenten could barely see her nose as she explored the streets she'd grown in, foreign now in such a bad climate.

Rain fell all over the village, and mud spread on the pavement so there was no way of avoiding getting her shoes and pants dirty. Disgusting, wet, cold rain that poured into her bones and joints, a weather that was more depressing than anything else Tenten had ever witnessed– she closed her store early into the afternoon, knowing well that nobody would dare to explore the streets with such a downpour falling and flooding their village, so she went home without looking back. Rushing to put the security seals inside and hiding them where only an expert would look at, though thankfully everyone was too afraid of a family with an active Jounin and two retired ones to make a futile attempt at robbing her.

All she could think about during the storm was her spouse and their pain, how humidity made it worse; the woman used to enjoy rainy days when she was younger, before the fourth war took place, but now… it only meant pain for Neji. How could she like a climate that made one of her partners hurt so much? That wasn't right. Plus, it was so damn cold! She was definitely getting sick, and she still hadn't optimized the cost of production and profit of her new mithril shurikens just yet, which annoyed her even further. Numbers were so annoying, and numbers in the misty rain were worse. Bad combination.

So as soon as Tenten got home, she took off her shoes and changed into her pajamas, throwing herself to the couch with some chocolate, resting her head on a warm place with a blanket… and only when someone started playing with her hair did the woman realize that she'd pretty much laid down on Neji’s lap, who seemed to brighten up with her presence alone. The woman relaxed with their caresses, her gaze softening after being in the disgusting weather for what seemed an eternity.

Neji was sitting up on the couch, their body tense and unmovable through it all– there was exhaustion on their face, and there was no need for words. Yet they still spoke, trying to comfort her somehow.

“Mm, I'm guessing your day wasn't very good…” her spouse mumbled, his words slow and his voice barely audible, and only then did she realize that he couldn't move as quickly as he usually could. Hashirama-damned rain! If Tenten could kick off the stormy clouds, she would, but unfortunately she was not a rainbow pony with such powers… “Why don't you tell me about it? Maybe it'll make you feel better?”

“It was TERRIBLE, Neji! Nobody is going out with this stupid weather, and it's so annoying to walk in the dumb mud! And– and it's going so bad, Neji… I should've never opened the stupid shop!” she replied in rage but not at it, at herself, her hasty decisions that barely gave her any earnings at all. It was hard not to get so frustrated with her idiotic choices in life. “I hate this so much! Agh!”

“Tenten. There's no need to cry– it's been your dream for a long time to have a weapon shop, you can't just give up because you're not an expert from the start. My Tenten doesn't give up so easily,” Neji exclaimed and only then did she notice the tears on her own face, tears that her partner wiped with the sleeve of its robes. She sat up and hugged it with a sob, curling up on its arms, where she felt safe in a stormy world that conspired against her shop and her goals. “And I have good news for you. I've been thinking… I'm better now that I've got my cane. So maybe I could help you, sometimes. I know you're not very good with math.”

“Yees, I know… and I would actually love that. I'm almost in the reds, love. I brought my receipts and expenses to check on them by myself, but I– I don't even know where to start,” Tenten admitted with a pout, sobbing when her beloved kissed her forehead without a word. “I need your help…”

“Well, don't worry, I'll fix everything for you. Meanwhile you go and apply your estrogen, I didn't see you applying it this morning. It's for today, right?” they replied with a warm smile, and the brunette gasped with realization, quickly nodding in response as she broke apart from the embrace to put her paperwork on the side table and go get her treatment shortly after.

He was always so watchful and attentive to her and Lee, reminding them to take their medicine and remembering which exact day they were due for each of them. He was incredible! That was only one of the many reasons Tenten had asked them for a relationship – Lee and Neji had a more romantic thing with dates and stuff, while she just preferred to cuddle and hang out without anything else. They were queerplatonic partners and she got very annoyed when someone called them ‘just friends’; they were spouses! They had arranged their lives to be together, they had moved their things to a house bought by the three, things that ‘friends’ don't normally do with each other.

Terms were weird for the rest of the people, but the three were happy nonetheless. They understood each other and that was all they needed in the world.

When Tenten got back to the living room area she noticed that Neji had immediately started to read her bills and receipts, and the brunette couldn't help but smile, hugging her from the side. Resting her head on her spouse's shoulder, who just played with her hair and hummed in response, not losing focus on the task at hand. She had lost her attention for a couple of hours, as the Hyuga usually tended to only pay attention to whatever was in her mind instead of the rest of her environment, but she loved her nonetheless.

The clouds were covering the sun that warm afternoon, while an annoying wind messed up with her hair no matter what she tried to do to avoid it. The sky was gray, dark with no traces of light anywhere to be seen, which didn't help her sore muscles at all– her legs were weak and wobbly after her physical therapy session, and Neji was thankful for her past self as she'd asked Lee to bring her to the hospital that day. Her husband had entwined their arms together and allowed her to walk first, adapting to her slow pace although he'd always been a fast walker. Adapting to her needs without issue, moving at the same rhythm as she did in a synchrony that took no effort at all in a coordinated dance of sorts.

Waiting for her no matter how long it took to cover a distance that, in the past, would’ve taken them less than twenty minutes. Fifteen or even less, if they were in a race against each other during one of their countless challenges.

That was a way of many that he had to take care of it, of its needs and the war sequels that were still affecting its body. And the brunet would be thankful with him for the rest of its life, for just… being by its side, supporting Neji through its recovery. Of course, Tenten always went with him whenever Lee wasn't available due to missions or overworking himself too much, and for the Hyuga it was special that the loves of its life took time to make it feel accompanied even if life got quite chaotic at times. Even if its body refused to even get out of bed some days, there was always either of its spouses to be by its side, never leaving it alone. That made its heart feel full, and the worries faded away if only slightly.

“I am making some herring soba for lunch, darling. Do you want anything for dessert?” Lee exclaimed at some point, right before they left the urban side of Konoha to go towards the forest they called their home, a soft smile decorating his lips. He smiled as well yet denied his head, resting his head on the other man's shoulder as he did so, basking in his presence.

“You know I don't feel hungry anymore… there's no need for something extra like that,” Neji replied, fidgeting with his robes as he spoke(yet another consequence of his war injuries). Then in a barely audible whisper he went on, shy but excited about the idea of eating something different. “But… some dango would be nice. We haven't had that in a while.”

Those words alone were like an activator for Lee– his eyes shined and he nodded enthusiastically, guiding her towards the closest sweets stand, making an enormous effort to avoid just picking her up and run around; that'd make her become dizzy and perhaps even vomit, so her husband refused to do so, especially after a physical therapy session. They could enjoy the view as they explored the vast streets in Konoha together, hand on hand without any rush at all, observing every little thing around.

Something actually caught their attention; close to the dango stand they liked to go to, a new shop had opened, and there were things like canes or wheelchairs on there. Perhaps they could get one, maybe? Neji couldn't move on their own some days, when their pain was so severe that even blinking caused them great distress. But admitting that they needed a cane was… shameful. The brunet knew that shouldn't be the case, yet that's how their mind assumed it; the great Hyuga genius, a prodigy that barely survived the only war they fought in, stuck to using a cane for the rest of their life. Admitting their needs was still quite difficult sometimes, even if they knew their partners would support them through it all.

Plus, Sakura and Tsunade had already recommended him to get a cane… so he'd be following the doctors’ suggestions. Lee noticed that his gaze was focusing on something else and stopped right where he was, kissing Neji’s cheek in the process. The brunet chuckled and relaxed his tense shoulders, closing his eyes for a moment or two. Trying to focus on something away from his own thoughts, his own uneasiness about his own condition by melting into his partner’s warm embrace, into his neverending kisses and love.

“My love, we can get anything you need. If it will make you feel better, I will buy it for you,” her beloved exclaimed, entwining their hands together as he spoke in a soft voice, trying to offer her some comfort. Also taking any advantage to spoil her with useful things and not random junk that wouldn’t help at all or just be simple decorations. “Maybe a cane? Or would a walker be better for you?”

“Hm, I’m not so sure. I… I’d like to try. If you'd wait for me while I do so,” Neji muttered, their gaze focused on the ground as they spoke, still quite embarrassed about their own needs. But Lee wouldn't allow that to happen– with all the gentleness that his rough hands could muster, he held their face and forced their gazes to meet, a soft smile still decorating his lips.

“Of course, my princess. We have all the time in the world, and even more.”

His cheeks warmed up with the nickname and he chuckled at the same time, confidence returning to his veins with his husband's unwavering support. He stood on tiptoes just to steal a quick kiss from the other man's lips, receiving a content hum in response, their fingers entwined once more as they walked to the orthopedic store without any further delay.

In any case, Tenten would understand the delay. So under the guidance of the shopkeeper and her own instincts, the couple managed to leave the place with a new, comfortable cane for Neji– it would take her some time to get used to her new tool, but she would practice during physical therapy perhaps. For now, the brunette was happy to see that she could walk some blocks on her own unsteady feet, using the device for support while her beloved walked close by just in case she tripped or something.

Little by little, Neji was regaining some independence, and that made it happier than anything else in the world.

~

The house was still empty by the time the two returned, too early for their wife to return from her job just yet– not a surprise as the new academy year had just started and kids were rushing to one of the few weapons shop that still remained in the village, despite the fact that Tenten had begun selling groceries and other things as well. Who didn't like a well-sharpened shuriken, a stabby kunai? She had it all, and perhaps that's why her store was still surviving in the modern world… kind of.

Barely managing to get by, actually. But she was happy and that's all that mattered. Perhaps Tenten would get home just in time for dinner, and if not, they'd go find her anyway.

“Darling, let me help you sit down. I will make food in a moment,” Lee exclaimed, gently holding his hand to offer him some support. Though now that Neji had his cane, he felt more stable on his feet, on his weakened body– he walked without waiting for his husband and managed to get comfortable on his own, his own eyes opening wide in surprise. “Oh! Love… I apologize! It seems like this was a good purchase. But if you need help, you can still ask for it, alright? Sorry if I bothered you!”

They understood the worry, the need to take care of them and protect them– Lee had been the one to hold them in his arms as they were pretty much dying, and from that point onwards he’d been an overprotective boyfriend then husband. Though it could get annoying to be guarded like that, especially when their chronic pain was not too severe and they could still move on their own. Neji knew that their beloved was just taking care of them and couldn’t get too mad about it… who could blame anyone for being too careful? For worrying? That was a natural reaction.

“It’s alright. I just… I can walk just fine by myself now, and– I want to do it. Even if it's hard,” the brunette replied, stretching as she spoke and observed her partner let out a soft smile in response. She let out a yawn and placed her arms on the table, resting her head on top of them as she closed her eyes, tiredness taking over now that she was back at her home.

His muscles were exhausted after his physical therapy session, and after managing to walk and sit down completely on his own after almost two years – Neji had been in a coma for countless months due to his war injuries, and it took even further for him to be discharged from the hospital. To celebrate, the couple of three had annoyed Kakashi enough that he'd allowed them to get married, unable to say no to his son and his loving partners (Them being Gai’s unofficial kids and his unofficial stepkids had nothing to do with his decision, of course).

Neji stirred up upon sensing a delicious smell close by, its eyes still half-closed when its husband placed a steaming plate of herring soba right beside its hands– it was drooling despite not feeling hungry at all, its eyes sparkling upon seeing the food. Lee was happy to share his creations with those he loved, and he grinned brightly as his spouse dug in, gently reminding it to breathe every now and then.

“Sweetheart, you will choke,” he said in an attempt to stop them from swallowing so quickly, and the brunette just smiled from ear to ear, cleaning the edges of their lips with a napkin. “Ah, do you like the new spices? Chouji gave me the idea! He is a great chef!”

“Mhm, very goohd,” Neji replied, his voice full of bliss as he continued devouring his plate, stopping on his tracks only as he heard a door opening close by; he looked back and saw a sleepy Tenten dragging her feet to his side, placing an imprecise kiss on his eyebrow instead of his cheek, letting out a groan as she hit the table with her forehead.

The timing was impeccable; Lee had made enough food for the three and her portion was still warm when he served it, kissing her cheek as she stirred up just to eat, hypnotized by the smell as well.

“Those academy kids are so damn louhd, nom. I'm still dizzy and it's been half an hour… damn, this is so good, Lee!” was all Tenten talked about between bites, nodding at the taijutsu master in a quiet way of thanking him for the meal. “But anyways, Neji, how did everything go today? I'm sure your day was better than mine!”

“Well, actually…”

Upon being mentioned, the Hyuga decided it was better to show and not tell her of an important update in their life– using their new cane, they stood up and walked towards her, hugging her with their other arm; she gasped in surprise and hugged them back, kissing all over their face, an enormous smile decorating her lips in the process.

“Oh, Neji, this is awesome! Why didn't you tell me you were planning to get a cane?! You're not stumbling with your own feet anymore! Uh… sorry, that sounded better on my mind,” the weapon master exclaimed, looking away in shame, though Neji just kissed her cheek without any anger in his soul. “Do you forgive me?”

“Don’t worry, it's fine. That's what I wanted to show you– and it kind of just happened. We were buying things, saw the shop, and… here we are now,” it exclaimed, reassuring its wife with yet another kiss, yelping as Lee hugged both of them and picked them in the air, making Neji feel like a sandwich of sorts.

“Leee! It's hard to breathe! And we just ate, we'll vomit if you continue this!”

Only after Tenten’s complaints did the taijutsu master put both of his spouses on the ground, his eyes glossy with emotional tears that slowly fell through his face– there was a grin on his lips despite everything, and that's how Neji knew that nothing bad had happened, that his joy had taken over everything else. He gently held his hand and their wife did the same, her gaze softening as well.