Chapter Text
Tobirama felt a small twinge in his chest when he realized that he would be having lunch alone for the third day in a row. Had it really been so long since he’d gone more than a day without someone joining him on his break? Thinking back it he’d had consistent company ever since Madara had invited him to tea that first time. He hadn’t realized he’d grown so accustomed to Madara joining him. And a lot of the time Hashirama joined them too.
Madara was going to be gone for a few more days though, and he really didn’t want to eat alone again… maybe he’d ask Hashirama to join him for lunch. Or Touka. She had been fairly depressed recently. Perhaps he should take pity on her if Izuna hadn’t found an appropriate puzzle box for her. It had been days since he had let the man know. Surely he had found something by now.
He had nearly convinced himself to tell her the truth when he sensed Izuna heading her way, making his decision for him.
With a small sigh he abandoned the papers on his desk and drifted over to Hashirama’s office. His older brother was in the middle of a back cracking stretch when he walked in. For once Hashirama’s desk was neater than his own. Noticing the shock his baby brother was feeling Hashirama gave a sheepish grin even as his face flushed.
“Mito said if I make it home early enough she has a surprise for me.”
Tobirama blinked, then firmly killed that train of thought. He was not willing to go there. Ever.
“Right. Well. You seem fairly ahead of schedule, so perhaps you could join me for lunch?”
The brightest of smiles was directed at him and Tobirama nearly sighed. Honestly, his brother was such a dork.
Lunch was a very noisy affair. But well worth it. It was always nice to see his brother so genuinely happy. No matter how much he might complain. They both know he would kill anyone who threatened his brother’s happiness.
After lunch Tobirama decided to finish up only what was necessary for the day. He knew the look he’d seem on Hashirama’s face, it ment he didn’t want to be home come night fall. He’d just crash on his couch in the office and get an early start in the morning. Leaving him with most of the afternoon to do with as he pleased.
The tiger cubs should be big enough to play some new games with. It would be the perfect way to spend his free time.
***
Touka has been stunned when her little cousin had gone about his life without a single sign that anything was wrong. She had been almost certian that she would need the shio yokan she kept hidden in her desk.
But he had been fine. Just… fine. Like his partner hadn’t left on a mission that would keep him away for at least a week. It was a little concerning honestly. There were a few people that were rather offended on Madara’s behalf. Perhaps if she could talk to him about it, somewhere that Uchiha Kaoru could overhear…
She could gossip like no other. If she heard Tobirama admit to missing Madara that would kill the nastiest of rumors.
With that plan in mind she had every intention to corner her little cousin after work. It would make for a good distraction as well. A distraction from the man who had just shuffled into her office looking very sheepish.
“So. I um. I didn’t realize fans were a symbol of friendship in your clan. In fact, until a few days ago I thought, maybe you were just… I dunno. Playing with me. But then Tobi swore Madara hadn’t given him a fan and I thought that was so strange! And then Tobi said they’re for friends to give, like our charms! And I don’t want you to think that’s what I ment. I mean! If that’s what you want then of course I’ll accept that! But…”
Touka watched, hope flaring in her chest, breath seeming to stop entirely. When the puzzle box was shoved towards her she felt dizzy with joy. Instead of taking the puzzle she grabbed his wrist and pulled him across the desk for a clumsy first kiss. One he was all to eager to return.
All of the fans he had given her were suddenly ten times more beautiful in her mind. And his rambling had never been so sweet.
***
For the first time in his life Tobirama fled his office without cleaning up. In fact he didn’t even bother making sure the door was locked or the window shut. Hearing his sister-in-law gasping “hokage-sama!” was more than enough to send him running from the tower and to the safety of the compound without a second thought.
He was happier when he thought his brother didn’t know what sex was. Now it was a struggle to keep from over hearing far to much.
He didn’t stop running until he made it to his room and sealed himself inside. If he was lucky he’d still be able to look his brother in the eye come morning. Or he could just… take the day off. Get some training done. Peek in on Madara’s garden and see if everything was in order. He had given him an open invitation to his home…
So long as he didn’t have to face his brother in the office anything would suffice.
He burried his head under his pillow and tried not to think of it.
***
Hashirama was in a fantastic mood as he made his way to his brothers office, thinking to invite him to lunch. The day before had been perfect and he was kinda hoping for a repeat. Lunch with his baby brother and an early night. Maybe see if his lovely wife would agree to another night out. Those plans fizzled out when he poked his head in and saw an open window and a half signed paper abandoned on the desk. He struck by the sudden horrified realization that his baby brother might just have been working late in an attempt to give he and Mito a bit of privacy after being told about Mito’s surprise. A mortified blush spread over his face as he realized his baby brother knew exactly what that surprise had been.
Closing the door Hashirama want back to his office and burried himself in paperwork. He didn’t want to know what Tobirama had heard. Didn’t want to think about it. He should have activated the privacy seals. Checked to make sure his workaholic sibling wasn’t there. Anything.
This was almost worse than Tobi walking in on them the other day.
Sometime later, he wasn’t entirely sure how long he’d been working but his paperwork was nearly done, someone poked their head in the door. He blinked at them, trying to clear the haze of politics from his mind. His mind gratefully latched ontoa new distraction.
“Ah, Kaoru-san. How can I help you?”
“I was looking for Tobirama-sama. I had a few questions for him about the ranking system he and Madara-sama are working on.”
Hashirama froze for the barest instant as he remembered exactly why his brother wasn’t in the office. Kaoru didn’t seem to notice his slip, thank goodness.
“Aah. I gave him the day off! He seems so down recently I thought it might help for him to get out of the office!”
Kaoru raised a skeptical brow at him, obviously not convinced.
“He seemed just fine yesterday when you took him to lunch, Hokage-sama.”
Hashirama blinked as he thought back to lunch. Tobi had seemed fine really, just a bit melancholy. But.. He had sought Hashirama out for company. And that was a bit unusual. Now that he was thinking about it and not wrapped up in how happy he was that had spent time with his most loved people, he was a bit concerned. Perhaps Tobi really was a bit sad.
“I think he missed having lunch with Madara to be honest. He doesn’t normally ask to join me for lunch since I usually eat with my wife.”
Something in her eyes softened. Why, he wasn’t sure. But it made her appear much more friendly.
“I see. Well, I’m sure my questions can wait til tomorrow. Good-day Hokage-sama. Thank you for your time.”
He nodded absently, still thinking about his brother. Perhaps Tobi was closer to Madara than he’d thought. That was surprising. But… when he thought about all the good that had come from it so far he couldn’t be upset. Worried for his baby brother’s happiness, always. But Madara was his best friend. And he was doing everything right, not rushing in. Not trying to force things. Not asking for a contract had been the biggest indication that he’d ment it when he said he wanted a relationship. And he had proved that every day so far.
He smiled. Madara needed to come home soon.
***
The mission had been surprisingly pleasant. The daimyo’s daughter hasn’t been as horribly stuck up as he had feared and was honestly quite funny once she realized he wasn’t to treat her like she was made of glass. The first crass joke that slipped from her lips had him howling as she flushed bright red. It had been after an attempted attack and well, dicklesshad been the nicest thing she had called them.
Still, it was a relief to be done. Funny as she was she was still a civilian and slow. So slow. He wanted to go home. But, he had been correct in thinkinghe would be forced to endure a formal dinner as thanks.
So he had a few hours to kill before that and bed. He planned on heading out first thing in the morning, as soon as he possibly could.
Until then,Madara was looking around the capitol’s bazaar. That’s where he found it. The perfect courting gift. A puzzle box that when complete would form a decorative fan. Not one of the functional fans his clan prefered to give to their intended. But, it was the perfect mix to both of their courting customs. No one from either clan could bitch that he wasn’t doing it right. And the fact that fans were a gift of friendship to the Senju ment that it was three gifts in one.
He had spent a lot of time thinking on this mission. And a lot more time missing the quiet company Tobirama offered. Izuna had been right. There was no way he wanted to end up just friends. It was time to start transitioning into a real, formal courtship. He just hoped the younger man was as open to that as he was to being friends.