Kushina never liked formal events, not even once in her life. They were heavy-loaded, too quiet sans the boring orchestra playing, way too stiff to be called a event really, and too full of people pretending they weren't watching anyone.
It made her skin itch, the fine hair on her neck raising up in goosebumps.
Which was exactly the reason on why she was here, standing far too close to Minato than it was generally acceptable.
"You're fidgeting," Kushina noted with barely restrained amusement.
"I'm not," Minato protested, smiling politely at a passing dignitary, keeping his posture perfectly relaxed and straight, despite the fact that she had basically glued herself to him.
"But you are," Kushina looked away, cheek puffing slightly as she let out a chuckle. "You keep scrutching your eyebrow and stretching your foot. You're thinking too much-"
"I always think too much-"
"Yes, but now you're doing it because of this," she blew gently on his ear.
Minato turned slightly red, glancing at her sternly. Kushina hid a delighted grin by pretending to surveil the crowd, looking back only when a deep chuckled greeted her own ears.
Calm blue eyes held a observant gleam as he regarded her, making her heart skip a beat.
"You are the one who dragged me here," Minato reminded her, as if this wasn't a important event that required the presence of the Hokage.
Kushina scowled, "And you're the one who showed up like this!"
Her fingers reached up before he could react, wrapping around his deep blue tie.
Minato stilled, towering over her slightly, lips just inches apart from landing at her temple.
A wicked glimmer entered her eyes at the reaction, and he cursed himself as she tugged it lightly.
"You don't wear these often, right?"
"They are not practical," he answered her quickly — way too quickly. He looked away from her blazing gaze, butterflies erupting in his stomach as if he was still a teenager.
"No? But I can think of a few uses," she slid her fingers down the fabric.
Minato's gaze sharpened, ignoring the way everything else seemed to blur around him, his attention caught by his troublemaking wife. "Kushina-"
She leaned abruptly forward, making him stumble. "What?" she demanded, tilting her head innocently. At that moment, Minato was reminded of a fox — grinning roguishly, calculated to the bone, with a decisive mindset down to boot.
"It suits you," she sighed, hand reaching up to brush through the hair traces on his nape. "Makes you look so respectable for once."
His mouth dried up, for swallowing felt like torture. "I'm always respectable."
Her laugh flew out like silk, "Debatable."
Kushina tugged on his tie lightly, yet firmer than the last time. It made him step forward automatically, drawn to her like a moth to the flame. They were too close, Minato should put a stop on her shenanigans right now... okay, maybe right about... now —
Her eyes flicked up to his, a slow blink, lips tilting up subtly. “See?” she murmured, “Useful.”
Minato exhaled a sigh, why is this his current predicament? “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Way to state the obvious.”
“Then you do realise,” he continued, basically hissing through his teeth, voice dropping just a fraction. “That you’re drawing attention to us.”
Minato studied her for a moment, taking in the way she was practically melting against him, the boldness that was prominent much more than he was usually accustomed to, the lack of concern for appearances. Something tingled at the back of his mind, a warning bell or a hidden recognition that has yet to emerge.
Very gently, as if he was afraid he would scare her away, he reached towards her. Kushina thought he was going to pull her hand away, but he genuinely surprised her when his fingers closed over hers, squeezing her hand.
His grip was warm and steady, so familiar she knew it by instinct.“If you’re going to be like that,” Minato’s voice almost made her knees weak. “At least commit to it.”
Kushina blinked, momentarily taken aback, “…What?”
He leaned close to her, close enough that his breath brushed her ear. “Otherwise, it just looks like you’re hesitating.”
Kushina’s hackles raised up, fire lighting up within her very soul. Her eyes flashed dangerously, nothing he didn’t expect from the known Red Hot-blooded Habanero. She rarely ever hesitated.
“You wanna play that game?” she gritted out, and before he could respond, she yanked on his tie again, harder this time. Minato stumbled a half-step forward, a small gasp leaving his lips and suddenly, there was barely any space between them.
A sharp grin graced her features, “Is this hesitating to you?”
Minato met her gaze head-on, completely unflustered compared to a minute ago. He tilted his head, a grin that matched hers appearing on his lips. “Just a little.”
At that moment, Kushina realised he hadn’t let go of her hand, the very same that was wrapped around his tie. She narrowed her eyes at him, pure vexation showing in her face.“Why you little…” her grip on the fabric tightened. “When did you get so bold?”
“Pot, meet kettle.” Minato sighed.
“You might regret antagonising me so much,” Kushina huffed.
He smiled softly at her, eyes glimmering playfully. “I doubt it.”
Kushina stared at him for a good long minute before she snorted, letting go of his tie with a push of her fingers.
“Now look here,” he pointed at the creased fabric. “You wrinkled it.”
Kushina scowled, and brought the cloth towards her. He thought she would try to straighten it out, but instead she brought it back to her lips, pressing a reddish kiss mark on the material.
Minato's thoughts short-circuited, and a blush as red as her hair spread across his face, all the way up to his ears. He stuttered, glancing around quickly to confirm no-one watched that.
“Kushinaaa,” she mocked in a baritone voice, tilting her head so her lips could graze his chin, where she placed a moist gentle kiss.
At that moment, someone called his name from across the room, and her lips quirked up to a smile, smudging her lipstick to his skin.
“It seems something important is requiring the Hokage’s attendance.”
Minato's eyes blazed as he watched her stepping back from him, frolicsome, alight with warmth and happiness, and he let himself bask-in her attention like the fool in love he was.
