#fatedefy

Neji's words are whispered sharply like a rebuke as he grabs Haku's shoulders and pushes them back, out of the tangle of limbs and kisses they'd caught him in high in the branches of an old-growth oak on the edge of Team Gai's training field.

Distant sounds of kunai and energetic shouts drift toward them; Neji's teammates still focused on their training exercises. It's not uncommon for Neji to practice taijutsu on his own deeper in the forest toward the end of training. Haku looks him over. Neji looks almost... nervous as he licks his lips, his hips angled to the side and pale eyes fixed on the horizon instead of on them.

Haku frowns.

They've done this before -- snuck into Neji's training for a quick kiss and then disappeared minutes later in a glitter of frost -- but to be pushed away bodily by Neji is a first.

They reach for the hand clenched by his side and open their mouth to ask if they've done something wrong.

Neji snaps his hips away. Haku blinks. Their gaze drops to--

Ah.

Brown eyes flick back to his. Haku smiles like a moon creeping from behind clouds, their icy blood beginning to simmer as they bodily press Neji back into the bark.

@fatedefy​ murmured: ‘Now I want nothing more than to grow old with you.’

can one die of happiness? haku wonders, as neji’s susurrations shake them from the gauzy veil of sleep. they roll over in his arms, twining their legs together with a happy little sigh. undoubtedly neji’s words were not for them, were a quiet promise made between himself and the pink morning light of their bedroom, but haku would not be haku without their need to give back twice as much love as they receive.

❛     Really?    ❜ haku sits up with a yawn, tousling their messy dark brown hair and bunching it around their ears like an old woman. ❛     What if I start collecting cats and haunted porcelain baby dolls, or only wearing argyle? Would you still love me then?    ❜

it’s a silly tease, and one they drop almost as soon as they picked it up. as much as haku likes teasing people, and loves teasing neji in particular, their heart is too soft and too full for japes when he is this close to them, his skin pressed against their skin, their hearts sharing a single beat. ❛     No, I know you mean it. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my days with you. I cannot imagine a life without you in it. You are the love of my life. The happiness you bring me is limitless and indescribable... but that does not mean I should not try, hm?    ❜  haku purrs, pressing a soft kiss against their lover’s cheek before squishing their cheek against his and draping themself over his chest. their hand slips under the covers and down neji’s stomach, the tip of their index finger trailing the divot between his abdominal muscles — until both of their stomachs growl.

pain  was  an         old    friend         ,    and  nothing   compared  to  what  he  had  to  endure  after  the        chunin    exams        .                                                       have    you    missed    me    ,    old    friend                                                         soft  musing  .   too  long  team  gai’s  training  grounds  have  been  devoid  of  lee’s  grunting  .      the  smell  of  his  blood  ,  sticking  to  rocks         &&         great  trees  .          he  needn’t  turn  ,  neji’s    mockingly  apathetic    presence  was  well  known  to  him  .              but  lee  did  shoot  him        a    smile        over  his  shoulder  .                                                                        ❛            if    it    isn’t    my    eternal    rival    .            ❜

he can’t stop the flinch that impulsively occurs , out of control / an automatic response to gentleness . 

it’s . . . odd . to be on such a receiving end - let alone from neji . haha , gentle fist , his hands definitely life up to that ! soft ! goes through his mind at the same time as he registers that neji had kissed him . on the cheek of course . but still it was a kiss . man , why did his kisses always end up being with the guys he LEAST expected a kiss from ? not that , he’ll realize later when he’s had time to wrestle with the idea , he minds . not really . neji’s lips were just as soft as any girl naruto could have dreamed of kissing . and the way heat swarmed and rose on his skin from where neji kissed him was utterly unmistakable . 

and if his heart raced . just a sliver. then that was . . . natural , right ? 

his reaction is DELAYED , leaning back like he’s shocked . hand flying to his cheeks that were being devastated by his blush . 

“ neji what the - what the heck ? what was , haha , that was - um . you - i mean . not that it was , weird ? or anything .  i just , are you okay ? ” he is losing his mind . 

four word prompts | accepting | for @fatedefy

                  “No, I must do this on my own.”  Lee’s words came out a little more aggressive than intended, but his heart was pounding in his chest and he felt as though it might leap up into his throat at any moment. He was nervous.  No, excited— No, both.

         His surgery was just a few days ago, and the 48-hour promise of absolutely no attempts at walking he’d made to Tsunade had ended an hour ago.  Lee had to try.  The young teen grimaces as he twists his waist and throws his legs over the side of the hospital bed.  Everything was so sore, but being able to twist like that gave him hope.  Hope that the surgery was successful truly.  Hope that he’d be a shinobi again.

         Gooseflesh raises on his arms when his feet hit the cold tile of the hospital floor.  Lee doesn’t move for a moment, reflecting on Tsunade’s suggestion of using a crutch again for a little while or the support of another person.  Neji’s offer plays through his mind once more and he finds himself touched at the thought.  Neji. . It was subtle, but something had changed in him over the past few months.  For once, Lee didn’t think he’d receive ridicule if needed the support of the Hyuuga.  That was nice.  That was encouraging.

         Slowly, Lee stands.  Everything feels tight and overworked despite the lack of movement over the past few days.  Lee stretches his arms and shoulders, stalling his steps because he was still partially concerned that the surgery hadn’t worked.  His dark eyes lock onto Neji’s, fierce and determined.  A silent way of saying, ‘I am ready.’

        One step.  Two steps.  His back pops, his knee aches. Three steps.  His muscles felt like he’d run a marathon: They burned and ached tremendously! Four— Four, and he’s collapsing, eyes shutting and waiting to hit the cold tile.

        But Neji’s offer still stood.  A strong hand wraps around Lee’s arm and keeps him from collapsing on his face.  Lee finds himself involuntarily leaning into his comrade.  Perhaps on any other occasion, he would’ve barked that he didn’t need the help.  But Lee was elated.

        He’d done it.  He took three steps without help, without a crutch.  He did it. The surgery had worked.