intimacy - nejiten month '26 day 1
“Let me do it.”
Tenten’s words gave Neji pause. He looked up to find her standing at her—their, he supposed—bathroom door, steam spilling out from behind her. His hand, which had been trying to reach his back a moment prior, lowered momentarily, and he said, “I can reach, usually. It just… takes a second.”
It wasn’t the first time Tenten had seen Neji like this, but he still felt unusually shy. Even though they shared a space, redressing his wounds was usually something he did alone. And Tenten, knowing Neji and knowing that he would want privacy even if he didn’t ask it of her, would always leave the room when it was time for him to perform that ritual.
“Just let me,” Tenten replied softly. She crossed her living room in a few short strides, jogging to join him, and sat herself on the couch behind him. Her hair, wet from her shower, left little droplets on her skin—skin that was still emanating warmth. Neji turned his bare back towards her, scooching to make more room for her.
It felt so natural. The way she dipped her fingers in his prescribed ointment and properly smoothed his—now shorter—hair away. He tried his best not to tense up when her fingers touched his back.
He still did, but she didn’t comment on it.
“They’re healing nicely,” she said conversationally, spreading the cold cream over the expanse of his wound. Her touch was gentle, but it didn’t falter or hesitate. It felt natural. (In reality, Tenten had had to learn how to stop that visceral, knee-jerk reaction that gripped her whenever she saw Neji’s wounds, that unforgiving jolt of fear that would pull at her chest at the sight of her best friend’s mangled flesh, but it got significantly easier when he woke up from his coma and no longer bore that terrifying resemblance to the countless other corpses she’d seen on the battlefield.) Her words were a bit softer when she spoke next. “They’re looking a lot better than the last time I saw them.” Of course, Neji knew that was a bit of an exaggeration—she’d seen him treat and redress his wounds a couple days ago, so they couldn’t have looked that different—but he appreciated her words nonetheless. He appreciated her nonetheless.
“Are they?” he asked noncommittally, politely, if only to keep the conversation going. She pulled her hand away and there was a pause as she hummed, and he knew she was dipping back into the jar of ointment.
“They really are,” she replied, starting on the second wound. Her voice took on a more teasing lilt, and she continued, “You think I’m lying, don’t you?” Neji huffed a laugh, his shoulders dropping, but he didn’t respond. She could read him like one of her weapon scrolls. “Well, I’m not, you weirdo,” she continued, her voice light, and she lightly jabbed him in the ribs with a clean finger. Neji instantly squirmed, folding in on himself with a choked sound that was between laughter and indignation, and Tenten giggled. “Stop moving.”
“That was unethical,” he grumbled, straightening up to let her finish. Almost reflexively, his muscles relaxed again when she touched his back.
“What, tickling you?” “When I’m wounded and vulnerable, yes.”
She laughed, the sound twinkling airily like wind chimes, and lightly flicked the top of his shoulder. “You’re so dramatic,” she said, and though he couldn’t see her face, he could hear the smile in her voice. His face softened, his lips pulling at the corners.
They lapsed into silence while she finished, and he automatically handed her the roll of gauze dressing when she reached forward for it. She was momentarily surprised that he didn’t fight her on this—politely declining her help like he usually did with a quick I can do it, or making up some excuse to do it on his own. But she was glad he was letting her help.
“I like your short hair,” she said, securing the dressing around his muscular torso and over his shoulder with sure, practiced movements. “It suits you.”
“Does it?” he asked, and it sounded genuine. “People were looking at me a bit weird when I went to pick a couple of things up from the store today.”
Tenten couldn’t help it and burst into a giggle. She was terribly endeared. “And you thought that was because, what, your hair looks weird?”
Neji shrugged. “I mean… yeah,” he mumbled, and Tenten detected a hint of distress in it. “It’s really different, Tenten.”
She secured the bandages properly and gave them a final tug just for good measure. “And it didn’t cross your mind that it could be because you’re a freaking war hero? Or simply because you’re hot?”
Neji groaned, and even from behind him, Tenten could see the tips of his ears start to get red.
“I’m serious, Neji,” she said, getting up to wash her hands in the kitchen sink. “Your hair looks good. But also so does your face. And everyone in the village knows that.”
That was true—Hyūga Neji was very much considered a very eligible bachelor in the entirety of the Land of Fire. If not in other lands, too.
“Tenten…” he muttered, practically begging, as he dressed himself.
Tenten dried her hands on a towel and leaned against the counter. “And, well,” she continued, and her eyes pointedly dropped to his bandaged torso, “you also look like that, so.”
He tied his yukata. His whole face was aflame. “I’m flattered,” he managed, “but please stop.”
She bit back a grin. Man, she loved being roommates with him.
im not sure if ill post these day by day, so here is the rest of the collection on ao3 as i post :) pls enjoy
