Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry. There is nothing more we can do.”

It was the nail in her metaphorical coffin. Hinata had been considered useless before, but now there was no question that it was true. Her career was over. She had less than zero value to the Hyuga council. She was dead weight. She couldn’t even stand for her long-held crush when he became Hokage.

She couldn’t stand at all.

Hinata’s forehead bore a seal. It was necessary when they decided she could no longer protect herself.

“I’m moving out,” Hinata told her father. Of course, her father could have stopped her from leaving if he wanted to, but she knew he wanted nothing to do with his useless disabled daughter. He didn’t even want to look at her.

Neji had protested, but he wasn’t going to change her mind. He begrudgingly helped her move across town as far away as she could manage. If nothing else, it was an excuse for not visiting.

People stared. A former nin in a wheelchair was a sight to see. Hinata got used to it. What she couldn’t get used to was people forcefully helping her. No one could take ‘no, thank you’ as an answer, but she knew getting mad at them would only make her look upset she couldn’t do things for herself.

She could. Just because she couldn’t move her legs didn’t mean she was helpless. Hinata had learned quickly that she could pull herself up on the counter. She could now easily pull her entire body weight up with one arm if she needed to. She was a nin. That training didn’t disappear with the use of her legs. She wasn’t going to stop training just because she couldn’t move her lower half.

People tried to visit, but she stopped answering the door. Her team felt guilty. Friends and acquaintances all treated her like glass. She couldn’t pretend she didn’t hate the pitying looks and constant offers of help.

Sometimes Hinata wished she would have died instead of being forced to live in this chair. She would have been a hero for dying in the field. Instead, she was a wounded warrior and an inconvenience.

It would have been easier for everyone if she had died.

Sasuke growled as his cart turned on him again. He got one with junk wheels again, and it was hard to steer with only one hand. He gave it a hard tug to get straight again, and it responded with an awful screeching sound.

“Rest on it.” Sasuke heard from behind him. He turned, seeing no one immediately, but his eyes fell on a woman in a chair on wheels with a basket in her lap. He couldn’t recognize her with her head turned toward the shelves. He wasn’t even sure it was her who spoke.

“What?” Sasuke asked as he tried to remember her name.

She looked up at him and leaned one arm on her basket, bracing her forearm across it, demonstrating. “Lean on it with your whole arm. It will give you more control.”

Hinata Hyuga, a seal, proudly displayed on her forehead, only covered by her bangs. She wore civilian clothes, with pants that revealed how thin her legs were at the ankle. She had a backpack on the back of the chair and her hair tied back loosely out of her way.

Sasuke had heard what had happened to the Hyuga heiress but also heard she didn’t come out of her home often, so he hadn’t seen her since he got back.

“Could you reach that for me?” Hinata asked, breaking his thoughts.

Sasuke followed her finger up to a box, two shelves above her highest reach. He grabbed a box and set it in her basket.

“Thank you.” Hinata nodded, looking at her list.

Sasuke's curiosity got the better of him. What happened to the shy girl that followed Naruto around? Was she as sad and pathetic as everyone lovingly described? She looked perfectly well off, healthy even, at least in her cheeks. They still made her face look like a dumpling.

Why did he always hear about how sad it was?

“You need a hand with your shopping?” Sasuke asked idly.

Hinata’s face visibly twitched. “No, thank you.” She gave him a forced smile.

“Well, it would have only been one anyway,” Sasuke mumbled, heading back to his cart. He heard a small laugh that grew. He was surprised to turn back to see her giggling into her list.

“I think that is the first disabled joke I have heard since I ended up in this chair.” Hinata grinned at him.

“Well, you’re rather far down. Maybe they go over your head.” Sasuke shrugged.

Hinata continued laughing, far too hard, for how funny the joke was. “I like that one.” She wheeled herself down the aisle by him.

When was the last time anyone joked with her if she thought HE was funny?

“You should come out drinking with Naruto, his never get old.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

Hinata’s face changed, losing its smile. “We aren’t that kind of friends.”

Sasuke had the feeling there was a lot more going on than he needed to know.

“Have a good day,” Hinata told him not to wait for an answer as she quickly wheeled herself down the aisle.

Sasuke watched her until she turned the corner and frowned. He leaned over his cart like she described, finding his weight did make it easier to steer the janky cart.

Sasuke dumped his groceries on the kitchen table and rolled his shoulders. How come training didn’t make him as sore as bringing home groceries?

Sasuke started putting food away. His diet was simple, so it was mostly just large portions of the food he liked, mostly to keep from only eating take-out.

As he finished, Sasuke rolled his shoulder a few more times. Maybe he injured it during training, or maybe it was leaning over the cart. His daily life was hard enough with just one arm. He would prefer it if that arm worked.

His mind wandered back to Hinata Hyuga. She had it worse than he did. He was still useful as nin. His handicap didn’t hinder him in combat anymore, but being confined to a chair made her useless at anything more than a desk job or possibly teaching.

A few years before, Sasuke might have dismissed her as completely useless to society in her current state. However, after suffering his own handicap, he understood the feeling of uselessness even if he was still functional.

That did press the question, what did she do now? Naruto complained that he could never catch her on her way home, so he knew she must work in the Hokage tower. She was no longer an heiress judging by the seal, but she was doing her own shopping, so she no longer lived in the compound.

Sasuke ruffled his hair. Her face twitched when he asked if she wanted help. To be fair, she probably got ‘helped’ all the time. However, he didn’t think she would be the type to laugh at a joke about disability, let alone her own.

He got it all the time. Naruto wouldn’t shut up about it. It was constantly the punch line of his jokes.

Hinata said they weren’t friends, but the way Naruto talked about her, he seemed to have a different idea. Of course, Naruto didn’t know when to leave people alone, either.

Maybe he would listen the next time Naruto went on and rambling. He might pick up some information.

“… and then Hinata canceled another meeting.” Sasuke’s ears perked up. Naruto had been rambling about his day for the better part of dinner, but it may have paid off.

“She does that a lot?” Sasuke asked.

Naruto didn’t seem to wonder why he was interested. “Yeah, she usually sends a message saying what we have to talk about ‘doesn’t require a meeting and that a message would be sufficient.’”

Sasuke found the very diplomatic ‘fuck off’ amusing. “What is it she does?”

“Paperwork. Endless paperwork, I tried to get her something else, but she says she doesn’t need it.” Naruto rubbed his head. “I just feel bad. She’s down there digging through endless requests for missions when she can’t go on any of her own anymore.”

“Hmm.” Sasuke considered the information.

Hinata was avoiding him. Naruto was just not getting the hint.

Chapter Text

Hinata rolled her chair up to her desk, sighing comfortably, looking at the massive stack of paperwork that needed her attention. She handled all the low-priority mission paperwork for the Hokage office, writing summaries, making corrections, rejecting incomplete paperwork, and suggesting who the paperwork should go to next. It was constant, could never be finished, and was consuming.

And she loved it.

It was hours out of her day when no one would bother her, and she didn’t have time to think about what she was outside this room. She thrived off this paperwork. She would stay late just so she didn’t have to go home.

At this desk, Hinata was useful, and no one cared what she used to be able to do.

Occasionally, someone would even yell at her for their paperwork not being done yet. It felt good not to be treated like glass. Behind the desk, few could see her wheelchair.

“Hinata.” A coworker peaked their head into her office as she picked up her first folder. “The Hokage asked for you to see him when you came in.”

Hinata rolled her chair back out of her desk with a frown. “Do you know what for?”

The coworker shook their head. “He just wanted to make sure that you were told.”

“Do you think that it was urgent?” Hinata knew it wasn’t, but she didn’t want the unneeded attention that came with the Hokage calling for her and her disobeying orders.

The coworker shrugged. “He came down himself. I was surprised to see him.”

Too late. Hinata wheeled her chair out toward the door. “Thank you, would you mind sending a message that I will head to the meeting room on this floor when he is ready.”

The coworker nodded. Hinata headed to the meeting room. She had to be on the ground floor. There was no way for her to get to the upper floor. Permanent injuries in nin were so rarely permanent enough to make walking impossible, and when they were retired, there was no need to put in accommodations for them. She was the only current exception as far as she knew. You think you would put in something for the civilians, though.

Naruto beat her to the meeting room in an attempt to make sure she didn’t leave, saying she had too much work to wait, or maybe he had been waiting for her senses he asked for her.

“Hinata.” Naruto perked up.

“You wanted to see me?” Hinata asked.

“Uh, yeah. I have a teaching position I thought that you might be interested in. Civilian children ages 10-14.”

Hinata pinched her eyes closed for a moment to resist an outburst. “Hokage-sama, is there something wrong with my current performance?”

“No, no, you do more than nearly anyone we have ever had at that desk,” Naruto waved his hands.

“Then please stop trying to find my new employment,” Hinata stated plainly, hoping this time he would hear her.

Naruto scratched the back of his head with no explanation that wasn’t going to be. ‘I feel bad that you’re crippled and want to make myself feel better by giving you something I think would be more fulfilling.’

“Was that all?” Hinata asked, putting her hands back on her wheels.

“Oh, Uhm, I wanted to invite you out for dinner tonight.” Naruto blurted.

Hinata stared at him blankly.

“You know, with uh, Sasuke, we go a few nights a week, not like a date… or” Naruto started to turn red as he realized how it had sounded.

Hinata felt herself cringe at the idea of her love confession. It felt so long ago, even if she had the crush most of her life. Like many other things, she had lost her admiration for him with her legs. If he couldn’t get around it, then there was no relationship that could be had.

Hinata wanted to say no, but maybe she could turn this in her favor. “If you will stop looking for work for me, I will go.”

To her surprise, Naruto didn’t ask her to meet at his favorite ramen shop. Probably because her chair was too short for the bar. Naruto got up when he saw her at the door. He tossed a chair to the side and proceeded to move her into it.

Hinata stiffened as she lost control of the chair. She resisted the urge to slam her hands down to break.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow from across the table, catching her usually well-hidden scowl of annoyance. Hinata suppressed her frown and adjusted her chair as Naruto went to get a waiter.

“Hello again.” Sasuke nodded his head at her, interested in her reaction.

“Hello.” Hinata greeted sheepishly, looking down at the menu.

“You know, I think you screwed up my shoulder with that cart-leaning recommendation.” Sasuke wasn’t taking his attention off of her. He actually wanted to talk.

“It’s not a very natural position. Maybe a cross-body shopping bag would be better.” Sasuke seemed to accept the answer, but he looked surprised. “What?”

Sasuke shook his head. “I was expecting an apology.”

Hinata’s face scrunched in confusion, unsure what he meant by that, just as Naruto returned with a waiter.

Sasuke was impressed. Hinata had grown confident over the years, though she didn’t seem to want to seek out pleasantries. She used to apologize for everything, even just making eye contact. On top of that, he didn’t expect her to continue offering suggestions.

From Naruto’s description of her, he would have assumed Hinata would revert to her shy, mousy ways, but it seemed she became bolder with the addition of a set of wheels. He doubted the two weren’t connected.

Naruto started rambling on about how it was so nice to see her out and how glad he was that she had agreed.

Hinata didn’t smile at him, but she did look at him respectfully and nodded to his appreciation.

“So, are you collecting cripples, then?” Sasuke asked Naruto jokingly.

Now, if it had been just him, Naruto would have laughed, but because Hinata was here, he turned red. “Sasuke!” Naruto snapped, staring at him in disbelief.

Naruto opened his mouth to rant further, but the damage was already done. Hinata was laughing.
She covered her mouth to more politely giggle into her hand. Sasuke grinned triumphantly.

“That was rude,” Naruto complained as his confusion overrode his anger.

“It’s alright.” Hinata waved her hand, giving Sasuke a smile as a reward for his efforts.

“I think the lady that lives under me is deaf, and we can invite her as well,” Sasuke added.

“Okay, that one was mean.” Hinata scolded, despite her continued giggling.

Naruto looked at him then with complete confusion.

Their food came, and dinner went on. Naruto tried to change the subject, but Sasuke made a point to undercut it with whatever disabled joke he could, just to see how much he could make her laugh. By the end of the night, Naruto went from confused to dazed.

Hinata refused a walk home with an ‘I’m not walking’ and a giggle. She gave Sasuke a wave and smiled as she left.

“I haven’t seen her smile like that in a long time,” Naruto said quietly. “I don’t think I have seen her really smile since before her accident, at… anyone.”

“Think it might be because no one thinks she can take a joke?” Sasuke put his hand in his pocket, leaning back. “When is the last time anyone told her a joke? Or didn’t start a conversation with ‘how are you feeling’?” He didn’t get that. People knew he could handle it. The only person who asked was Sakura, and that was a different issue entirely. Sasuke would go insane if no one could have a conversation with him without mentioning his arm. He couldn’t imagine how it would take the politeness out of someone who was actually polite.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. “I never really thought of it. I’ve always been so worried. When she got out of the hospital, I asked her out before me and Sakura got together. You know, she had this thing for me, apparently. She said she couldn’t. I’m worried that she is going to cut herself off so much that she’s just going to stop taking care of herself.”

“Well, I don’t think pestering her is going to help.” Sasuke offered.

Naruto sighed.

“And maybe don’t touch her chair.” Naruto looked up curiously. “She looked ready to kill you when you pushed her in.”

“I was just trying to help,” Naruto mumbled.

“I don’t think she wants help,” Sasuke told him.

Hinata set her keys on the counter. She had a nice time, the first time in a long time. It was nice to be joked with, and Sasuke seemed to make a point of it to raise Naruto’s blood pressure. She couldn’t help it. She had to laugh. She hadn’t in so long. Her chest hurt from doing so much of it in such a short time.

She appreciated it.

From what little Hinata knew about Sasuke, he did not like company. So she especially appreciated his willingness to make her smile. Maybe it was because he knew that she had no interest in him back in the day.

Maybe he had changed a lot.

Maybe he was willing to sacrifice some of his pride to get a rise out of Naruto.

Whatever the reason, Hinata appreciated the night. It was just sad that it would likely not happen again.

Chapter Text

Hinata felt her chair jerk back. She slammed her hand down on her wheels to break. The older man ignored her glare as he grabbed an item in front of her. She pushed down the anger and the urge to ram her chair into him.

Some people forgot their manners when it came to a wheelchair.

Hinata hated going for groceries. People constantly asked if she needed help, others rolling their eyes if she asked for help reaching something. People got in her way, moved her, and acted like her chair was an inconvenience to them. There was rarely any plain courtesy. She was either treated like a child or a nuisance. No one could just let it be.

Hinata sat there, seething, while the guy got his things and left without so much as an apology for forcefully moving her.

She looked down at the now crumpled shopping list. She just wanted to go home.

Hinata was so set in her frustration and determination to get this over with that she almost ran into someone who stepped in front of her. She stopped just as quickly as she started, looking up at a curious-looking Sasuke holding an empty shopping basket with his only hand.

“Do you need something?” Hinata was now suitably confused by his presence and his equally confused look.

Sasuke looked over her, seeming to abandon what he had originally meant to ask. “Are you okay?” For once, the question seemed genuine and in the know. He could see there was something wrong.

Hinata felt her eyes well up with tears as she was hit with a wave of comfort. She actually felt comfortable in a way she hadn’t felt in a long while. “Uh, just frustrated.” She felt her voice crack. “People don’t really treat someone in a chair with any kind of respect. It gets to you sometimes.” She blinked the tears away before they fell and let out a huff to force out the frustration.

Sasuke gave her the minute she needed to compose herself. Then he held up the empty shopping basket between them. “I was going to suggest you carry my basket, and we can help each other shop.”

Hinata felt a smile break. Cripple teamwork.

“Alright, if it gets me out of here quicker.” Hinata agreed.

They did their shopping. Hinata pointed to what she needed. Sasuke filled her bag and his basket. She was surprised by the amount of pre-packaged food he ate. She would have thought that living alone for so many years, you would have picked up some cooking skills. Maybe not. It would be hard to learn now with just one hand.

Even if he had, it would be hard to do with just one hand.

After, Sasuke set a handful of packages of instant rice in the basket. Hinata picked up one of the rice packets and looked at the back. Additives. There should only be rice and water. These couldn’t be good for you.

Sasuke grabbed it out of her hand, dropping it back in the basket. “They’re better than burnt rice and day-old pre-packed rice balls.”

“Don’t you like rice balls?” Hinata pointed up what she needed.

Sasuke nodded. “I just haven’t had a good one in forever. Stores are always stale.”

Hinata considered it. “You can’t make rice balls with one hand.”

“Nope,” Sasuke told her flatly. “Not easy to make much of anything with one hand.”

“Grab me some seaweed sheets, then.” Hinata pointed to the dried seaweed. “I’ll make you some.”

Sasuke stared at her.

“I wanted to thank you.” Hinata clarified.

“For what?” Sasuke asked.

“Making dinner with Naruto is less awkward. I enjoyed your company.” Hinata looked to the side. “I didn’t want to go. It was a deal to get him to stop trying to transfer me.”

“He talks about that a lot. Does this mean he’ll shut up about it?” Sasuke asked as he filled the rest of the basket with tomatoes and tomato bread.

The premade curry he got was also tomato. “I didn’t know he talked about me so much.”

“I normally tune him out, but he always rambles on about your missing meetings and how he ‘feels bad’ that you’re buried in paperwork.” Sasuke looked back down to gauge her reaction. He still had no idea what had happened between them, but he might have guessed right.

Hinata set her jaw. “Of course he does.”

Sasuke thought so. He was pretty sure he knew what it was about now. Naruto being Naruto. “I’m done. Do you need anything else?”

Hinata at her list. “Uhm, no, I think that’s all for me too.”

They paid and headed outside.

“Thank you,” Hinata told him, bowing her head slightly. “I can make rice balls and have them sent over to you tomorrow.”

Sasuke looked back at her and considered the opportunity. “I’ll just come down to your office for lunch.”

Hinata looked up at him, surprised.

“I’ll bring drinks,” Sasuke added before heading on his way, hiding the grin on his face.

Hinata glanced at the bag she brought with her for the hundredth time. She hoped he liked them. This was the first opportunity she had to cook for someone in a long time. She missed cooking, it was difficult to cook anything nice just for one person, and she didn’t really feel any drive in making it look nice just for her. She couldn’t make food for anyone she knew because they would all feel so guilty she had put in all this ‘effort,’ and she would be ‘exerting’ herself.

She looked back at her pile. She should get back to work.

Sasuke didn’t know what she liked. He grabbed a couple of drinks from the corner store, more than they needed, but he didn’t want to risk getting something she wouldn’t drink or would be too polite to turn down.

“Hey, Sasuke!” Naruto waved from the end of the hall. “Come eat with me.” He stated. He never asked.

“Can’t. I’m already on my way to meet someone.” Sasuke waved the bag, heading back to the hall.

Naruto pouted at him, deflated. “Who?”

“Someone who can make a good rice ball, I hope,” Sasuke called back.

Sasuke glanced into Hinata’s office. Her desk was a mountain of folders on both sides. She looked so small, bent over her writing. He could kind of see why she might look so fragile to Naruto. He knocked on the door frame and held up the bag of drinks.

Hinata smiled, leaned over, picked up two bentos, and set them on her desk. Sasuke sat in the chair across from her desk and waited for her to move her work before unloading his drinks.

“You got so many.” Hinata opened the bento.

“I wasn’t sure what you would drink.” Sasuke shrugged.

Hinata looked over them. “I like sweet and coffee.”

“Good.” Sasuke separated the sweet juices and coffee away from the vegetable juice and tea. “I like bitter and tea.”

Hinata slid the bento to him. She had made him a line of rice balls and something he didn’t recognize, but it was red and smelled good. “It’s tomato curry. You had some in your basket.”

Sasuke took some offered chopsticks.

It was good. Sasuke couldn’t remember when he had last had good homemade, non-store-bought, or restaurant-overdone food. He missed simple, pure flavors, restaurants all had personal flairs, and corner store food all tasted like salty plastic.

“What do I have to get you to make these again.” Sasuke joked dryly.

“Come back tomorrow,” Hinata answered, opening a coffee.

Sasuke wasn’t expecting that answer. Hinata went back to her food with redness on her cheeks. Maybe she was feeling the same way he was, that it was nice to have someone just silently understand. Someone who didn’t make a constant fuss.

Then again, he could be fueling another annoying fangirl.

Hinata pointed at one of his drinks. Oh. Sasuke nodded. She opened it for him.

It was quiet, and it was pleasant. They ate, he thanked her for her time, and he headed back out. He turned before going through the door. “So, vanilla coffee tomorrow?”

A smile came to her lips. “Would you like chicken or beef tomorrow?”

“Chicken,” Sasuke answered, giving a wave as he disappeared down the hall.

Chapter Text

Hinata plotted in her head what she would make. There were so many possibilities. She was actually excited to go home for once, so she could start, so excited she ran into Sakura as she headed through the door.

“Hinata, how are you?” Hinata hated how she looked at her most of all. It was like she was looking for something to be wrong. She couldn’t blame her, Sakura was a medic, but Hinata wished it didn’t get in the way of her being her friend first. “Have you lost weight?”

“No, it’s just this shirt,” Hinata assured, moving past her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to talk.”

“Do you need help getting somewhere?” Sakura asked quickly.

“No, thank you,” Hinata shot back.

It was a nice routine. Sasuke and Hinata met for lunch every day for the rest of the week. Hinata brought lunch. Sasuke brought drinks. It was comfortable for both of them. The only expectation that they had of each other was that they would do the same again tomorrow.

“You get groceries today, right?” Sasuke chewed on his rice ball.

After a moment, he didn’t say why. “Did you want to join me?”

“If you try to keep your comments on my groceries to yourself.” Sasuke teased.

Hinata puffed her cheeks out. “I never said anything about your food.”

“You were clearly judging me.” Sasuke accused her.

“I just think prepackaged food is unhealthy.” Hinata excused.

“You try to make something with one arm.” Sasuke sat back. “I can’t even cut up vegetables in a reasonable amount of time. They roll away.”

“Fair.” Hinata rescinded.

Hinata looked at the back of a can of curry that Sasuke picked out. “This has a lot of salt in it.”

“I said no commenting on my food.” Sasuke reminded her as he set something on her list in her bag.

“Maybe you would benefit from one of those little kitchen gadgets that have blades in a cross pattern that you close an arm on.” Hinata moved her hand to explain her point.

“Yeah, what they don’t tell you is that you have to cut the vegetables before you put them in there to fit,” Sasuke had heard it all from Sakura on her mission to annoy him into health and, at one point, she tried to push her awful cooking on him. No wonder Naruto still ate out. She recently was on him about his protein drinks because she didn’t think they were good for him, but it was the only way he would get some of the vitamins he was missing in his diet.

“I could cut up some spare vegetables and give them to you in containers. With chopped vegetables, you can do a lot.” Hinata picked out another of his prepackaged meals that were essentially just vegetables and sauce. “Omelets, curries, soups, roasts, and all you would need to do is add the proteins or sauces.”

Sasuke took the package from her again, dropping it pointedly back in the basket. “You like to inconvenience yourself for others, don’t you?”

Hinata frowned at him. “I don’t know what you mean. You are helping me with my shopping. I would think that it wouldn’t go unrewarded.”

“You’re also helping me with my shopping, so if you start cooking for me, that means I owe you.” Hinata made a face as she realized her mistake. “So, what do I do for you if you make me cut vegetables?”

Hinata’s face became red. “I have housework I struggle to do. I haven’t been able to clean the top of the refrigerator since I moved in.”

Sasuke smiled.

They made a deal. Every Saturday, they would meet at her apartment. Hinata would prepare vegetables and other items Sasuke struggled to make. He would help her clean.

Honestly, Sasuke was so glad he did because he got to see how she got around the kitchen, and he found it equal parts amusing and impressive. The top cabinets were too tall for her, but that didn’t mean they were empty. Things used most were in the lower cabinets and drawers. Most people put large unused appliances and clean supplies in. She did the opposite, but instead of asking him to reach for her cleaning supplies, she pulled out a step stool, pulled herself out of the chair onto it, and then right up on the counter, pulled out what she needed, handed it to him, and went right back down.

Because the counter came at shoulder height to her, it looked like she did most of her cooking at the dining room table she had in the kitchen as an island. She didn’t use the stove top, but a hot plate that was on the lower table.

While she chopped his vegetables and put them in all different containers, all nice and neat, he cleaned what she couldn’t reach. The top of the fridge, the upper cabinet doors, the stove top she didn’t use, the backboard on the counter, the top of the shower in the bathroom, and mirrors. He also vacuumed without her asking because he was sure that moving furniture was not easy on wheels.

At the end of a few hours, Hinata had a clean house, and Sasuke had a big stack of vegetables and little handwritten notes on ways to use them.

He was glad he came.

It was nice to have someone over. Hinata felt bad that he worked instead of being a guest, but it was also nice that they didn’t feel pressured to entertain each other. They chatted here and there, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable when they weren’t.

Sasuke seemed to think the way she got around was funny, but honestly, she didn’t mind. Better than him pitying her effort or scrambling to help her. She thought about how he cleaned was funny. Wring out a rag with only one hand wasn’t something she had considered when she had asked him to help her clean. He balled it up in his one large hand and squeezed the water out, but what was funny was the way his face twitched when he wasn’t satisfied with how much water had come out.

She looked forward to doing this again.

Chapter Text

“Come on, you haven’t had lunch with me for weeks,” Naruto whined.

“I’ve been eating something more than restaurant ramen,” Sasuke tried to get past him.

Naruto noticed the bag of drinks. “Corner store food is better than ramen?”

Sasuke held the bag up idly, so he could vaguely see the labels through the bag. “They’re drinks.”

Naruto pointed to one. “That’s caramel coffee.”

“Your point?” Sasuke was ready to just shove him out of the way.

“You hate caramel and coffee.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“That one isn’t for me.” Sasuke pushed past him. “Go eat. I’ll have dinner with you Friday.”

Naruto pouted behind him as Sasuke made his way to Hinata’s office.

Sasuke knocked on the door frame, but Hinata didn’t look up from glaring at her paperwork.

Sasuke stepped in, but she didn’t notice him until he dropped the bag of drinks on her desk. Hinata jumped, and then when she realized who it was, she glowered at him.

“That bad?” Sasuke waved his hand at the paperwork. “You didn’t even hear me knock.”

Hinata pushed the paperwork aside. “No, I was thinking about something else.”

“Dare I ask?” Sasuke pulled the drinks out of the bag as Hinata leaned over for their lunch.

“I’m not sure that I should speak ill of your friends to you.” Hinata opened their drinks.

“No one hates my friends more than me.” Sasuke sat down in front of his bento.

Hinata fought her polite nature for the willingness to complain. “Sakura…”

Sasuke snorted. “How’d I guess.”

Hinata rolled her eyes. “She thinks I need to be entered into the assistance program.”

Sasuke made a face. “Isn’t that for the elderly and the disabled who can’t work?”

“Yes, it is.” Hinata agreed with an annoyed tone. “That was my first question.”

“Does she have a reason?” Sasuke wondered, sipping his can of tea.

“Because I have no one to help me with daily tasks that may be ‘too difficult’ for me to do on my own.” Hinata made a sour face.

“Did she think you couldn’t ask for help?” Sasuke made a face.

Hinata shrugged. “I was offered the program when I moved out on my own. I am sure my denial was on record.”

“She never offered me that,” Sasuke realized.

“I don’t imagine she did.” Sasuke could understand the irritation. Hinata had been on her own for quite a while without assistance, with full capability to ask for help if she needed it and people who were willing to help. The idea that she would need to be added to the government assistance program was insulting, but the idea she couldn’t sign herself up when her whole job was government paperwork for it. Every nin knew about it. Most of your first missions were for the program. “The worst part is, I’m not even sure I should be this upset. Sakura-chan is only trying to help. It’s part of her job. I just… hate it when people assume that I need to be looked after.”

“If she asks again. Tell her you have help.” Sasuke offered.

Hinata shook her head. “I was avoiding telling her about you.”

Sasuke thought for a moment. “Understandable, but you don’t have to tell her who.”

“She’s going to think I’m lying. She thinks I just lied to her at check-ups. I lost a few pounds once, nothing major, nothing unhealthy. I gained it back before the next visit. It was normal weight fluctuation. She hasn’t stopped asking about it. She takes blood every time now to make sure I’m not malnourished.” Hinata pushed her finished bento away. “I forgot to lock my wheels when getting into bed once and got some nasty bruises. Now she always checks me for them.”

Yeah, he could see how that could be annoying.

“We used to be friends, but it’s hard to have a friend that can’t look past your disability. I know it’s her job, but even outside of check-ups, she seems to find a way to make it about it.” In his opinion, Sakura cared far too hard, and it came back to bite her. She had liked him too much, took work too seriously, and was pushing away other friends.

“She’s been getting on my nerves too, for different reasons, of course, but the same vein of her personality.” Sasuke agreed.

Hinata tilted her head.

Sasuke might as well. “She had got it in her head that she could make things the way they were, that we could all be friends like before I left. Then, I’m sure she was hoping that I’ll turn around to see her how she had always seen me.” And honestly, it wasn’t fair to Naruto anymore.

Hinata looked sympathetic. “I guess I know what having a doomed crush is like. It’s hard to let go. Of course, he sort of did that for me.” Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her. Maybe he would finally get the rest of the story. “He was never going to get around this.” Hinata placed a hand on her chair. “He is still an amazing man, and I want to see him go as far as I know he can, but there is no future with him if he can’t see past my accident. This can’t be fixed.”

Sasuke was right, Naruto being Naruto, always wanting to believe in a chance that things could be fixed. “I know that feeling.”

Hinata smiled at him. “He didn’t follow me across the world, of course.”

“Lucky,” Sasuke mumbled.

Hinata laughed.

Sasuke tried to keep a straight face as Hinata once more climbed her little stepladder and plopped her hips on the table to dig something out of the higher cabinets. He stood a step from her, waiting to be handed things he could have reached in the first place.

As she got back down, the step stool shifted, and she caught herself as he dropped the bottle she handed him to catch the stool to keep it from moving further.

Hinata sighed, annoyed. If she were capable of cursing, she would have.

“I think you need a new one,” Sasuke commented.

“I need an apartment with more low storage.” Hinata slammed herself back in her chair with more force than was needed, rolling herself back and over to wash her hands and grab the thing she needed from the fridge.

Hinata was embarrassed that there was a flaw in her independence. Not only because it was in front of someone, but because she could have actually hurt herself. Sasuke would be scared his only arm failed him in a way that would cause serious injury. He leaned over to pick up the dropped bottle and noticed the feet on the stool were worn away, likely from her dragging it behind her chair to where she needed it.

Sasuke would file that for later.

Hinata heard a knock on the door. A knock on the door was never a good thing. She looked at the time. She had just gotten home from work, and she wanted to start on lunch for her and Sasuke tomorrow. She was going to try a sweet curry to see if she could trick him into anything with the slightest sugar. He didn’t know that the curry he got from the store was loaded with it.

“Hinata? It’s me.” Hinata rolled over to open the door and gave Sasuke a confused look. Sasuke held out a shopping bag. “Put these on your stool before you hit your head.” He told her flatly, dropping them in her lap.

Inside was a set of rubber feet to slip onto ladders and furniture. Hinata didn’t know what to say. It felt wrong to accept it, but at the same time, she had worried him, she was sure.

“Don’t be stubborn. I can’t have good food if you can’t make it.” Sasuke said in a low voice.

Hinata made a face up at him. He was trying to make this selfish, so she didn’t feel bad.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, giving up the act. “I mean it. Getting things down is one thing. Doing it an unsafe way is stupid.”

Hinata nodded reluctantly.

“If those get bad, I’ll get you new ones.” Sasuke pointed. “They’re less than our lunch drinks cost.”

Hinata looked down at the bag flattening in her lap. “Do you want some tea?”

Sasuke looked down at her, studying the look like he wasn’t sure if she was just asking to be polite. “Sure, I’ll put those on.” He plucked it back out of her lap and stepped in to kick his shoes off.

Chapter Text

There was something wrong with her wheel, and she could feel it. It was coming loose or something. She couldn’t see it, and she didn’t want to get out and have someone find her on the floor, even if it was to look at her chair.

“Could you just take a look and tell me if you see anything wrong,” Hinata pointed to the wheel after they were done eating.

Sasuke was surprised by the request, but kneeled by the chair. “Should I be looking for something?”

“It feels loose. Does it look like something is loose?” Hinata asked, looking down.

Sasuke put his hand on the wheel and gave it a jiggle. “I think the wheel is about ready to fall off, but I don’t know what to tighten.” Sasuke admitted.

“There is a tool kit in my bag.” Hinata reached for it, and she felt the chair tip.

Sasuke snagged the chair and put it back on its wheels, and the chair made an awful snapping noise. “That can’t be right.” Sasuke leaned down closer. “Did you run over something?”

“Not that I remember,” Hinata admitted.

“Jam a stick in the wheel?” Sasuke asked.

Hinata shook her head. “Not recently.”

“Looks like whatever was holding on to this wheel was damaged. And I think you just broke it.” Sasuke lifted the chair, and the wheel fell off. “Maybe it was rusted.”

Hinata looked at it in horror. “How was it holding the chair up.”

“I think it was just barely resting on what was left of the connection.” Sasuke slid his knee under the open side of the chair. “Here, hold on and put you in another chair. I only have one arm, so you’re going to have to hold on, so I can take your legs.”

Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck. He scooped under her legs with his arm and lifted her up, leaving the chair to fall on its wheelless side. He set her down in the chair he sat in for lunch.

Sasuke dragged her chair over to her and set it on its side.

Hinata ran her finger over the broken material. “I’m not going to be able to fix that.” She whimpered.

Sasuke watched her defeated face. “Is there a wheelchair shop nearby?”

“I work on it usually. There is no one locally that makes this kind of chair. They are imported from a different village. The shop I bought it from only sells new chairs, no parts.” Hinata sighed.

Sasuke scratched the back of his head. “You could get a new chair and use this one for parts.” He nudged it with his foot.

Hinata rubbed her face. “They take weeks to order. I should have gotten a spare.”

Sasuke looked at the ruined chair and came up with no answers. “Do you have a backup?”

“The old fold-up they sent me home in is in a closet at my house,” Hinata replied weekly. She looked so defeated. Her entire independence was lying on the floor in two pieces.

Sasuke held out his hand. “Give me your keys. I’ll go grab it.”

Hinata pointed weakly at her bag that was set by where she usually sat. “I can’t get them.”

Sasuke grabbed it and put it on her lap. While Hinata pulled her keys out, he pulled another chair out of the corner of her office and put it where she usually sat. He wasn’t going to be able to take her and the chair she was sitting in the back at once.

Hinata held out the keys. Sasuke took them and deposited them in his pocket. He put her bag on the desk. He leaned back over to her, and she didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around him for support. He had a feeling she probably had to rely on someone carrying her from one place to another lot in the beginning. At least to and from her chair.

Sasuke sat her back down at her desk, snagged her chair, and promised he would return soon.

Sasuke jiggled the keys into the lock and looked around. ‘Closet in the spare room,’ ‘might be buried.’ He dragged her chair in and deposited it out of the way. He went down the hall to the spare bedroom. He had been here before, never in the closet. He opened the closet door, and it felt… wrong. Inside lay a folded-up chair, old medical braces she was likely sent home in, what looked like a box of her nin clothing, and weapons that hadn’t been touched since they were put inside. He took a deep breath and pulled out the chair, ignoring the other contents.

Sasuke gave the chair a good wipe down to get the layer of dust off it. Then he was faced with a problem… Getting a chair that was designed to be pushed with two hands. He weighed his options and probably should just carry it.

And it was way lighter than the other one, flimsy even.

It smelled like a medical office, even after being in a closet for ages.

Sasuke kind of felt bad bringing her back this awful memory.

Hinata felt… numb. She should be embarrassed. Sasuke was having to do something for her that, sure, he had offered to do, but she was relying on him. He was doing things for her after seeing her being nearly fully independent, and this time she didn’t know how she would be paying him back.

But after a few years of being this helpless, she had become numb to it. What else could she do?

Sasuke came to set down the chair, tossed her keys on her desk, and then dragged the chair her way. She hadn’t thought about it, but one arm would make it difficult to push a chair. More difficult than a cart.

“This thing even holds your weight?” Sasuke held it still while she moved her hips from one chair to the next. More difficult than usual as this one had arms in her way.

Hinata raised an eyebrow at him.

“It does feel like much.” Sasuke clarified.

“It’s garbage quality,” Hinata moved her hands to the wheels. It was clear it was not made to be controlled by the person in it.

Hinata made a face as she moved it back and made it turn much wider than she would usually and sat back at her desk. “Thank you.”

Sasuke could feel the resentment coming off her. He wasn’t sure if it was her pride and being seen so helpless, or if it was still toward the chair. “What was that shop’s name?”

Hinata gave him a confused look.

Naruto made a face. “You’re requesting a mission?”

“Anything going to that village that will take less than a week?” Sasuke shrugged his shoulder with his hand in his pocket.

Naruto shook his head, no less confused. “Why?”

“There is a store there I need to pick up something from, might as well do its official business.” Why did Naruto need to know all of his reasons for everything? Wasn’t this better than him disappearing for a few days?

“I guess I can look, but it probably won’t be S-Class,” Naruto looked through his papers.

“Prefer something lighter. I don’t want to be injured. I’m picking up something heavy.” Sasuke mused.

Naruto made another face, looking through his stack thoughtfully. It wasn’t long before he opened his mouth again. This was Naruto. “Hey, what is with you lately, anyway?”

Sasuke raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t look at me like that. You haven’t had lunch with me in weeks. When you’re not on missions, you’re always busy on the weekends. I get that from most people, but you?” Naruto wondered.

“Why do you care so much?” Sasuke didn’t want to tell him about Hinata yet.

“Well, are you hanging out with someone else? I thought maybe it was Sakura, but she was complaining she never sees you.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“I would prefer to see less of her than I do,” Sasuke grumbled.

“You’re changing the subject.” Naruto snapped.

“Yes,” Sasuke said.

“Yes?” Naruto asked, confused.

“Yes, I am hanging out with some,” Sasuke stated.

“Who?” Naruto asked.

“Does it matter? I can only take so much of you. I need a break. It’s not like I disappeared. We have dinner like twice a week, and we train together. Why are you so interested in what I do otherwise?” Sasuke huffed. “You’re like having a mother.”

“It’s just you never show any interest in new friends,” Naruto mumbled.

“Jealous?” Sasuke teased.

“No.” Sasuke was expecting a hard defensive response, but it was soft. “I’m glad you’re making new friends.”

“Give me a break.” Sasuke hissed.

“Did you order your chair?” Sasuke asked for a mouth partly full of rice balls.

Hinata nodded. “It won’t be here for three weeks.”

“When will it be done?” Sasuke wondered.

“They are specially ordered and sized for mobility, so it takes about a week. It’s two weeks to ship, though.” Hinata sighed.

Sasuke nodded. “I’ll miss the next couple of days of lunch and Sunday. I have a mission and won’t be back till Monday.”

Hinata nodded, not thinking anything of it.

Chapter Text

As frustrated tears ran down her face, Hinata slammed her fist on the floor. Stupid uncomfortable, unusable medical trash chair! She leaned against the side table she had just hit her head off of. She would be covered in bruises until her next check-up, Sakura would see. Her head throbbed. She couldn’t get to a mirror to see the extent of the cut on her forehead. She would never hear the end of that either.

If she could kick the chair at her feet, she would. It crumpled, folding itself while the offending brake, which wasn’t strong enough to keep latched locked, mocked her.

Hinata didn’t even feel like getting up at this point. The side table wouldn’t stay put with her putting her weight on it. It would just tumble forward. She learned that the hard way. And if she crawled her way up into her bed, she wouldn’t be able to reach the chair again in the morning.

Hinata yanked the offending chair up, forcing it to unfold. She jammed the locks back down and tried to pull herself back up. The lock unsnapped again, and the chair turned, catching her fingers in between the bars.

She hissed and tossed the chair back on its side.

What could she do now but cry?

Maybe she really was useless.

Monday afternoon, Sasuke knocked on her office door at lunch. He was a little confused to find her desk empty. He set down his load and waited a few minutes, but then he noticed he didn’t even see work on her desk. Everything had been neatly put away as if she had left for the day.

Sasuke caught a passing person in the hallway. “Have you seen Hinata?”

“She hasn’t come since last Monday. She called in sick.”

Guess it was home delivery, then. Sasuke hauled his package back up onto his shoulder and made his way out.

“Hey, Sasuke!” Oh, great.

“What?” Sasuke grumbled.

“What did you get?” Naruto asked, looking at the mass he had strapped to his back.

“Don’t you have paperwork to do?” Sasuke snapped back.

“Come have lunch with me.” Naruto prompted.

“I have to drop this off. We’ll have dinner some other day.” Sasuke waved off.

Naruto followed. “We can go after. I’ll come with you.”

“I already have lunch planned.” Sasuke sighed.

“You just got back. How do you already have lunch plans?” Naruto puffed.

“Made them before leaving.”

“I feel like you are just avoiding me at this point.” Naruto crossed his arms.

“If I were avoiding you, you would know it, now excuse me.” Sasuke huffed.

Sasuke knocked on her door and waited a couple of minutes. He knocked again. Maybe she was sleeping.

Sasuke would leave it at the door. It was very well that she wasn’t going to be able to drag it in with that junk chair she had. Sasuke knocked again. “Hinata?” He heard movement, and then the door opened.

Hinata must not answer her door when she doesn’t… He lost his train of thought as he caught sight of her.

Hinata had a square bandage on her forehead, the side of her face was covered in bruises, and she looked tired. On top of that, he would say her chair looked like it was in worse shape than when he brought it to her a few days ago.

“You weren’t at your office,” Sasuke told her.

“I wasn’t feeling well.” Hinata didn’t look like she was feeling well. She looked like her soul had been drained out of her body.

“Can I come in?” Sasuke asked.

Hinata moved her chair back, and that’s when he noticed that her fingers were also bandaged.

What the hell happened?

Sasuke stepped in, and his head quickly swung to the kitchen. That stool, maybe she needed a heavier one. It didn’t look beat up, though.

“What is that?” Hinata asked as he closed the door.

Sasuke set down the box, untying himself from it. “Special delivery.” He pushed it to her.

Hinata stared at him. Sasuke pulled a knife from his pack and handed it to her. She took it, still looking confused, but opened the top. She pulled out the first layers of protection and stopped when she could see enough to realize what it was.

“Three weeks is bull shit for something that you require to be independent.” Sasuke excused.

Hinata didn’t look up. Her head turned down. And her shoulders shook. “Thank you.” She whimpered.

Sasuke hadn’t expected her to cry. Hinata wiped her eyes and continued to pull it out of the box. He let her do the unwrapping and just took pieces of wrapping out of her way as she tossed them.

Sasuke pulled the main pieces out and the wheels, and she went to put herself on the floor. He turned his head only to hear a crash behind him. Her face hard, she glared at her folded chair that lay uselessly on the floor.

He understood all the bruises now.

Sasuke sat down, folding his legs together to watch her put the pieces together. She seemed to know where everything went. Before long, a pile of parts was a full chair.

Hinata paid extra attention to the brakes, locking them a few times and pushing the chair hard to make sure it didn’t budge.

Once in her chair, Hinata sighed confertably, moving it back and forth to make sure it moved how she liked.

Sasuke looked at her bandaged fingers and the large bandage she had on her head. “Why haven’t you healed these?” He finally asked.

Hinata’s expression changed, and she folded her hands in her lap. “I didn’t have the energy.” She admitted. “When I lost function in my legs, I also lost access to the chakra that runs through that half of my body.”

Sasuke idly kicked her medical chair. “Do we toss it?”

Hinata frowned. “It’s my only backup.”

“Is it a backup if it can’t stay put when you need it to?” Sasuke asked.

Hinata made a face.

“I’m throwing it out.” Sasuke picked it up and headed out the door with it, throwing it harshly in the dumpster behind her building. He came back and washed his hands.

Hinata carefully leaned over to pick up her bag.

Sasuke was sure that she was ready for the chair to come out from under her at any minute. “Better?” He asked.

“Much,” Hinata agreed.

Chapter Text

Healed and feeling much better in the new chair, Hinata was ready to be back at work. She got a few questions about her health, but she lied that she had had a cold and that she just hadn’t wanted to give it to anyone. No one seemed to notice the new chair, and she was happy that they were ignorant of the change.

Hinata would never be able to explain the feeling of being able to roll herself down the street, let alone around her apartment, with ease. She was so happy to see the desk and get back to work that she hadn’t noticed how long she had been working until someone knocked on her door. She looked at the clock. First, it was just before her normal lunch, then to the door, she expected a familiar male face, but she was surprised to see a female one. Hinata let her face drop.

Sakura noticed. She, too, frowned.

“Do you need something, Sakura-chan?” Would Sasuke be upset that she was here?

“I heard you weren’t feeling well. I just wanted to check on you.” Sakura stepped in, leaning on the chair across from her desk casually.

“If I felt it was bad enough, I would have come into the clinic.” Hinata defended, maybe a little colder than she had meant to, but she guessed this is what she got for lying.

“I was just worried. If you were ill enough, you wouldn’t be able to make it,” Sakura admitted. Hinata suppressed a remark. In all fairness, it was a legitimate concern for the majority of her low-mobility clientele, the usually weak and elderly. “I mean, you have no one to check up on you.” Hinata resented that far more.

“No, I do. He checked on me Monday after finding out I called in sick.” Sakura looked surprised. Hinata realized her mistake too late.

Sakura knew too much about her family situation to know that it wasn’t Neji. “Who?” Sakura asked, excited. “Is he cute?~”

What did she say? Hinata didn’t want to tell Sakura of all the people that Sasuke had come to her house. She had already given too much information. She couldn’t claim it was a random civilian. “I’d rather keep that to myself, thank you.”

“That’s so sweet.” Sakura cooed. “It’s so nice to see you find someone to help you out.”

Hinata tried not to make a face at the wording. She was just trying to be nice, Hinata reminded herself. Hinata sealed her lips to keep her increasingly sharp tongue.

Sakura looked over at the clock. “When do you take lunch? I’m on mine. I can go and pick up something.”

Hinata shook her head. “Sorry, I already have lunch plans.” Hinata was worried that he would show up any minute.

“With this mystery guy?” Sakura asked coyly.

Just as she said that Hinata saw Sasuke appear at the door. Hinata made eye contact with him and nudged her head to the side, telling him to hide.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her and disappeared as Sakura looked behind her.

“Someone waved, sorry.” Hinata blushed, feeling increasingly awkward about hiding Sasuke.

“Oh, well, I’ll leave you to your lunch date.” Sakura waved on her way out.

Hinata didn’t even get the chance to correct her.

A few moments after the coast was clear, Sasuke reappeared, amused with her struggle. “Mystery guy? Lunch date?” Sasuke set down his usual bag of drinks.

“I don’t know how she got that from, ‘checked on me when I was sick,’ and ‘having lunch.’” Hinata grumbled.

“Maybe because you weren’t willing to tell her who.” Sasuke was finding this far funnier than she was.

“I didn’t want to tell her that you came to my house when I told everyone all I had was a short cold,” Hinata whined.

“Why did you even mention it?” Sasuke wondered.

Hinata frowned. “She implied that I should be checked in on. I was trying to make the case that I do not need a wellness check. Somehow she jumped to this conclusion.”

“Could have told her it was me.” Sasuke handed her a drink.

Hinata opened them angrily. “Not after she already made that conclusion.”

Sasuke shrugged, accepting his drink. “I don’t care what she thinks.”

“I don’t either, but I don’t think I should have to tell my doctor about my personal life, so she feels better about my situation.” Hinata reached down for their lunch.

“To be fair, when she does find out, it gives you a good reason not to have told her.” Sasuke excused digging in.

Hinata wasn’t so sure it would blow over that well.

Naruto looked up at his opening door and smiled. Sakura held up the take-out and brought it to his desk. “Sakura-chan! I thought you were going to have lunch with Hinata-chan?”

Sakura smiled. “Actually, she has a date.”

“A date?” Naruto wondered.

“Yeah, she met some boy who checked up on her when she was out,” Sakura said cheerfully.

Naruto thought about it for a minute. “Hm? Good for her.”

“I was worried when I heard she had been out sick. If she can’t get out of bed, then what would she do?” Sakura sighed.

“Well, she sent out that she was sick, so I assume she would have just done that.” Naruto shrugged. “Hinata’s still a responsible nin. She would have sent about it before she got too sick.”

“And if she couldn’t?” Sakura asked.

“Sakura-chan, it’s only her legs. She’s a healthy nin. She is just as likely to get sick at home alone as any other nin that lives alone.” Naruto wasn’t sure why he felt he should defend this point. Dinner with Hinata and Sasuke showed him how much he babied her and how much she seemed to dislike it.

Sakura seemed displeased with his answer. “When is Sasuke due back?”

“He came back yesterday.” Naruto dug into the food she brought.

“Really? Why are you having lunch with me, then? I thought you would have gone with him.” Sakura wondered.

“I would have, but he brought some massive package back to deliver to this new friend he has.” Naruto explained.

Sakura stopped eating. “New friend?”

“Yeah, he asked for a mission to bring something back from a village for them. That’s the mission I had him on last week.” It was surprising for him to go out of his way.

“He went out of his way to get something for someone? What did he get?” Sakura look increasingly confused.

“Don’t know. It was a huge box, though.” Naruto shrugged.

“Who was it?” Sakura asked.

“No clue, he didn’t say. She’s probably a civilian. He doesn’t get along well with any of the nin.” Naruto realized that he didn’t have any details about Sasuke’s new friend. “He has been having lunch with them all the time, so they must not be on rotation.”

Sakura looked at her food for a moment. “Do you think he has a girlfriend?”

Naruto didn’t know how he was meant to take that. They had been together for some time now, but it always lingered as a possibility. Sakura had said before that she had given up on Sasuke, but things like the way she asked that question always made him wonder if she would someday break his heart for another chance at her first love.

“Sasuke? I don’t think so. I’m sure it’s just some local farmer that is slipping him all the tomatoes he can eat.” Naruto chuckled.

Sakura shrugged.

Chapter Text

“You can’t be serious.” Hinata looked at him ludicrously.

Sasuke already looked ridiculous with his bangs pinned to the tops of his head with a bright-colored clip she used to keep hers back when she washed her face and his shirt soaked from his mishap scrubbing the bathtub earlier, wearing the only slippers she had in his size that had a bunny faces on them. She bought them as a joke for when Neji came around. But now he was being ridiculous.

“I think you have the core muscles for it. I’ve seen you lift yourself out of that thing.” Sasuke excused. “And it’s not that different from lifting the front to get up onto a curb.”

“I’m not trying to do a wheelie.” Hinata frowned at him.

“Come on.” Sasuke laughed as she picked up the end of a carrot and tossed it at him. “Hey! I just cleaned the floors.” He scrambled to catch the piece of carrot with his only hand.

Sasuke unloaded their usual drinks onto her desk. “You got a haircut.”.

Hinata touched the ends of her hair. “I’m surprised you noticed. It’s just a trim. Was it that bad before?”

Sasuke chuckled. “No, your bangs aren’t in your eyes anymore.”

“Oh.” Hinata handed him his open lunch.

“Do you know anything about plants?” Sasuke dug into his food.

“Like, what about them?” Hinata wondered.

“I live next to this little old woman, she’s completely deaf, or maybe she just chooses not to listen to me. She doesn’t understand a thing I say. She smiles and waves you off when you try to talk to her. She gave me a plant in a pot and won’t take it back. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know how to take care of it.”

“Bring it over this weekend. I can try to identify it. Most of the time, plants just need sunlight and water. Make sure they aren’t getting too much sunlight and water.” Hinata explained.

Sasuke frowned. “So don’t give it enough. I’ll kill it. Give it too much. I’ll kill it.”

Hinata giggled. “It’s alive. You give a person too little or too much of something. They will die.”

“How much ramen does it take to kill a person?” Sasuke's eyes narrowed. “I feel like that is something Naruto should know.”

Hinata laughed.

When Saturday came around, Sasuke set the plant on the counter. When turned around, Hinata was gone. He wasn’t sure how she managed to sneak around in that chair.

Hinata came back with her hair tucked behind her ears as she dug into a box on her lap.

“I know I have a…” The box slipped from her lap, and the items scattered across the floor, a book flipping open after it slid into the wall. “Book on gardening.” Hinata huffed, waving her hand at it.

Sasuke chuckled, picking up the miscellaneous items. They looked like trinkets. He put them all back and the box, setting it aside, and handed her the book.

“I thought you could use it. I got it as a birthday gift before the chair, but I’m not really going to be doing any gardening now.” Hinata told him to brush the book off and set it on her lap.

“Have to know what the plant is first.” Sasuke took the plant off the counter and held it down to her height. It was tied to a stick with some twine. It was getting tall and had a few leaves, with two flowers that were starting to turn down.

When he looked up, he met a look he wasn’t expecting.

Hinata had her eyebrows raised at him. “Are you serious?” She looked like Sakura did right before she smacked Naruto.

Now Sasuke was confused. “What?”

“What do you eat more than anything?” Hinata asked.

“Rice?” Sasuke asked carefully.

“It’s a tomato plant.” Hinata snapped. “How do you not know what a tomato plant is?”

Oh. Sasuke had never really paid attention to how they grow.

Hinata started laughing. “I thought if there were one plant you would know about, it would be a tomato plant.”

Sasuke scrunched his face at her. “How do I keep it alive?”

Hinata continued to giggle at him as she flipped through her book. She opened a page and held it out to him. “Just do some reading.”

Sasuke took the book.

Hinata rolled her eyes. “I would think you would be able to identify a tomato plant by smell by now.”

Sasuke grumbled. “I get them at the store. I don’t go tomato picking.”

Chapter Text

“Are you meeting a girl for lunch every day?” Naruto asked.

Sasuke looked up from his bowl, considering his answer. “Yes, why.” Naruto’s face twitched. He didn’t seem to like his answer. “What, jealous?”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “No, it’s just Sakura-chan…”

“She’s your girlfriend.” Sasuke reminded him. “And just because it’s a girl doesn’t mean I am seeing her.”

“I know.” Naruto huffed. “I know.” He said quieter.

“You seem pretty torn up about it,” Sasuke said into his bite.

“Well, she didn’t react well to the idea that you were seeing some civilian girl for lunch.” Civilian girl?

“I’m not sure if I even want to know how you two came up with that,” Sasuke replied.

“I know you were never interested in Sakura-chan, but it hurts to see her hurt when it comes to you. I’m just not really what I would even do about this one. Like, I am not going to tell you not to date because my girlfriend is still attached.” Naruto pouted into his broth.

“Maybe you need to talk to her about commitment,” Sasuke suggested.

“You know how Sakura-chan is with you.” Naruto sighed.

“Let me ask you this. If you were dating Hinata, and you got upset when Sakura dated, how would you expect her to feel?” Sasuke asked seriously.

Naruto made a face. “I’m not sure…”

“It would be the same thing.” Sasuke interrupted. “Would you think it would be fair for her to be concerned that she didn’t have your full commitment?”

Naruto sat back in his chair. “I mean, she could have been concerned because you are her friend.”

“She’s happy to see… everyone else gets together.” Close call. He almost ratted out Hinata. Sasuke wasn’t supposed to know about that. Naruto groaned. “I just don’t want you two having bigger issues later if you don’t talk about it. I know it’s normal to have old flames, but if you aren’t comfortable with her comments, tell her.” Sasuke finished.

“Maybe it would help if you would tell us who you saw,” Naruto grumbled.

“No, I don’t think it would.” Sasuke frowned. “And honestly, that doesn’t help the core problem.”

“Is there some reason you won’t tell me?” Naruto asked, digging back into his bowl with a damned expression.

“Because I don’t need you two harassing her or me about it,” Sasuke grumbled, pushing away his empty bowl.

“We wouldn’t.” Naruto defended.

“Sakura would. She knows her, and that is all the more you get to know. And if you can keep your mouth shut, she won’t even know that much.” Sasuke crossed his arms.

“Fine, but you have to come out to eat with the both of us sometime. I think it might make her feel a little less like we are losing you again.” Naruto added.

“Sure, but I don’t think that is going to solve your problem.”

“Did you heal something here recently?” Sakura examined her forehead, pushing her bangs out of her way.

Hinata repressed the urge to cringe. “I fell out of bed.”

“Do you need a bed with guards?” Sakura asked.

“No.” Hinata flattened her bangs back into place. Sakura raised an eyebrow. Maybe she should watch her tone. “I’m allowed to be clumsy.” Hinata tried. “It was an accident.”

“Yes, but it only takes one misplaced blow,” Sakura told her.

“As does it for anyone else falling out of bed.” Hinata countered.

“It’s more of a possibility for you,” Sakura checked her chart.

“It’s more of a possibility for you to trip.” Hinata snapped back. “It doesn’t mean I make you sit in one of these things.” Hinata slammed her hands down on her wheels.

She instantly regretted it as Sakura paused. “Are you sure you don’t want to be put into therapy?”

Hinata had it. She didn’t care if Sakura was trying to help. She was sick of this constant badgering. “I want a new doctor.”

Sakura looked taken back. She stared at her a moment, then down at her chart. “Hinata I…”

“I would like a new doctor, please,” Hinata said firmly. “I don’t like my friend and my doctor being the same person. I want one or the other.”

Sakura pressed her lips together. They both knew that she was required to report her request. Whether she did so with or without also getting in trouble was going to depend on whatever she said next.

“Alright…” Sakura sighed. “But you know, maybe we should see each other as friends sometimes instead. Maybe I have been thinking of you as a patient for too long.”

Hinata was surprised by her answer, but this was preferable to her throwing a tantrum. “Okay.”

“How was your appointment?” Sasuke asked, setting her drink on her desk.

Hinata sighed. “I asked to be reassigned to a new doctor.” Sasuke’s eyebrows raised in question. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not going to purposely get her in trouble with my explanation as to why I requested another doctor.” Hinata slid his lunch to him. “But honestly, I’m surprised she seemed okay with it.”

Sasuke shrugged. “Maybe she’s finally starting to get it.”

Hinata nodded. “I can only hope.”

Chapter Text

Hinata gathered her bag and rolled out of her chair out of her office, heading down the hall.

“Hinata, wait!” Hinata turned her head to see Sakura running down the hall.

What did Sakura think Hinata was going to be able to outrun her? Sakura took a moment to catch her breath. “Since we are going to be just friends now, I thought we should start hanging out.”

But why had that made her come running down the hall?

Sakura stood up happily. “Come eat dinner with us?”

“Us who?” Hinata wondered.

Sasuke lowered his head and pressed his lips together, hiding the smile that was about to break. Sakura opened the door for Hinata. It took only a moment for the same look to cross Hinata’s face.

This was going to be the end of him.

Naruto got up and waved. He moved a chair out of the way. Hinata moved into it. Sakura tried to push her in, but Naruto caught her hands and shook his head.

Hinata met eyes with Sasuke, and it was clear neither of them had talked about their routine, so this was a conscience. How were they going to make it through this?

“You behave.” Naruto scolded Sasuke. “Sakura isn’t going to like your jokes.”

“What jokes?” Sakura asked. No one answered her as they ordered.

Naruto started rambling on about his paperwork, but Hinata kept glancing at Sasuke. She could see the glint in his eye. She tried to stop her smile, but it only grew every time she looked at him.

Sasuke leaned forward. “Do you think he felt outnumbered last time?” Hinata covered her smile with her hand. Realistically, this shouldn’t have been so funny to them.

Sakura gave him a confused look.

“It’s a little unfair. Together, we only make up like one and a half persons.” Sasuke added.

Hinata snorted, clamping her hand over her mouth to hide the noise. Sakura looked like she didn’t know whether to be mad at Sasuke or happy that Hinata was giggling.

Naruto waves his hand at her. “Ignore them. They went on like this for hours last time.”

Sakura gaped at him. Sasuke and Hinata both laughed. Naruto sighed.

Sakura forced a smile while she attempted to change the subject. “Hinata, how was your date?” Naruto didn’t think this was going to go well.

Sasuke and Hinata looked at each other briefly. “It wasn’t a date.”

“Are you sure?” Sasuke asked. Hinata’s eyes shot up to glare at him. Sasuke grinned.

“You said he was cute,” Sakura said in a singing voice.

“No, I said I didn’t want to answer you.” Hinata corrected.

“Because you didn’t want to say he was cute.” Sakura excused.

Hinata sighed. Naruto tried to make a face to signal for Sakura to stop. This was clearly not something Hinata wanted to talk about.

Their meals were set in front of them. Naruto dug in, but he noticed Sasuke and Hinata didn’t. Hinata reached across the table, Sasuke handed her his chopsticks, and Hinata broke them for him. She pointed down the table and reached over for a sauce for her. Then they went on eating without a word to each other.

It stabbed in the heart. These were both his friends. Naruto would never have thought that Sasuke would have trouble breaking his chopsticks or Hinata would have difficulty reaching for things.

The feeling washed away as Sakura started back up. “Does this guy bring you lunch?”

Hinata, for some reason, looked up to Sasuke instead. He had another grin. “No, he can’t cook.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “Can you? You’re a little short for a stove.”

“Sasuke!” Sakura squeaked.

“Better than you could open a can.” Hinata shot back. Sasuke’s grin grew.

Sakura’s jaw dropped. She was less mad with Hinata and more flabbergasted. Naruto just ate. There wasn’t going to be stopping any of them. Sakura cleared her throat. “It’s sweet he comes to visit you at work.”

“It’s cruel. She makes him come to her. She’s the one who gets to sit,” Sasuke countered.

Naruto was relieved to see another smile on Hinata’s face. Was there were a point this would go too far?

“Sasuke, that is really uncalled for.” Sakura tried.

“You know you didn’t answer her question.” Sasuke pointed out, ignoring Sakura’s protest.

“What’s that?” Hinata snapped back.

“Is he cute?” Sasuke asked with a grin.

“No, but he thinks he is,” Hinata said back simply.

Sasuke laughed. Naruto sighed. Sakura pouted.

Naruto didn’t know what he expected to happen by putting them together again, maybe he should have told Sakura beforehand, but she might have suggested not bringing Sasuke. Naruto was now painfully aware of how demeaning he had been to Hinata in the past and how Sakura was probably being her doctor, and he didn’t want a two-on-one situation.

Sasuke and Hinata complemented each other well. However, the jokes weren’t the end of it. Their interaction gave him a perspective he hadn’t thought about.

Naruto had never given Sasuke losing his arm a second thought. He was Sasuke. He didn’t need both arms to win a fight, but he had never really thought how it might affect his daily life or that, in the end, it could be painful for him, like Hinata’s loss of her legs. It made him wonder what else Sasuke struggled with that he had never mentioned.

As Hinata and Sasuke tossed insults and jokes back and forth and Sakura tried to change the subject in vain, Naruto smiled. He was glad they were having fun.

Sakura watched as Hinata and Sasuke disappeared down the street, still making off-color jokes at each other’s expense. She crossed her arms. She honestly didn’t understand it. She hadn’t seen either of them like that in years. Honestly, she was hard-pressed to remember Sasuke seriously laughing at a joke or Hinata being so rude.

“Sasuke seems to understand her.” Naruto started. “He knew that she didn’t like being pushed in. He noticed that she could take a joke. He saw more than we did.”

Sakura had noticed that they seemed to know what would be more challenging for each other and compensate. When she looked up, Naruto made a face like he was figuring something out. “What?”

“I guess when you can’t do certain things, it’s easier to see what others might struggle with, like meals.” Naruto hummed.

Sakura nodded, but she felt like she was missing something.

Naruto put his hands into his pockets, looking at them in the distance with a faraway look in his eyes. He smiled at her.

She was definitely missing something.

Chapter Text

Hinata closed her eyes as her cousin walked around her home, complaining as he usually did when he visited. Her counter was too tall. The chair pushed into the dining table would be in her way. Did she ever open her windows? They would be difficult for her to open at that highest, so did she bother? She should get fresh air in her home now and then. He should bring her some more soaking salts for her muscles. He should come by to clean her chair more. Was she even able to wash her sheets? How did she get them back on?

It didn’t matter the answer Hinata gave. Neji assumed she was lying to keep her independence. Hinata wasn’t sure what his end goal with all this fussing was. He couldn’t tailor the apartment to her perfectly. She wasn’t going to move back home, and they both knew that would be worse for her, even if he tossed it around like it was an option.

Neji meant well, though, and his complaining did feel like he cared. It was just too much like it always had been. If Hinata were fair, he would have done the same if she had moved out without her chair. He would have fussed just as much about something else.

“Why do you have so many groceries?” Neji wondered, looking at the fridge. Which was the opposite of what he said last time. He thought she had too little, and she had to explain to him, she just hadn’t gone shopping yet.

Hinata rolled toward him. “I have lunch with a friend and bring food.” Neji’s eyebrows knitted together. “They can’t cook. It’s nice to cook for more than just myself.” She clarified before he had a chance to be upset.

Neji closed the door, putting his hands on his hips. “I am glad you are seeing friends.”

Hinata smiled as she watched the inner turmoil.

Sasuke headed down the hall at his usual time. He heard shouting come down the hall, and at first, he thought to keep out of it, but the closer he got, he realized it was coming from his destination, and he picked up his speed.

He stood in the doorway to see a man bent over Hinata’s desk just as he slammed down his hand. “Wait till I speak to your supervisor!” The man snapped.

“Please.” Hinata barked back in a lower voice. “He will tell you the same thing I have. You’re abusing the system.”

“Then I’ll go higher! I know the Hokage.” He jabbed a finger at her.

Sasuke wasn’t expecting Hinata to snort. “And waste his time on your grievance instead of the missions that actually matter? Do you think your chores are more important than the safety of the village?”

“You little…” The man started to growl.

“Watch it.” Sasuke finally snapped.

The man turned to start on him, but stiffed when he recognized him.

“She’s on her lunch. Beat it.” Sasuke flicked his head out the door, stepping out the doorway. The man flinched to look between them and stocked out the door. Sasuke made a point to close the door. “Did you piss in his breakfast?” He set their day’s drinks on her desk.

Hinata leaned forward, rubbing her temples. “We get a few people who abuse the programs, and when they start getting pushed back, they can get angry. A few have found their way to make a complaint, but I would say that is the first one I have ever got in person.”

“You looked ready to kill him,” Sasuke smirked.

“He went through two of my coworkers to get to me. He was about to make the pregnant girl across the hall cry before I shouted over that I was the one handling his documents.” Hinata huffed, reaching down to get her lunch bag. “I wanted him to get a little closer to Gentle Fist him into the wall.”

“You wouldn’t do that to a civilian,” Sasuke said knowingly.

Hinata made a face of annoyance and agreement. She wouldn’t, but she wanted to.

Naruto frowned at Shikamaru. “Filed a complaint?” Against Hinata? How? That was the last thing he expected in his morning report.

“A handful from the same guy. This has been going on for a few weeks. The complaint keeps getting pushed up the ladder because the guy isn’t happy about how it has been handled,” Shikamaru explained, holding up the file.

“He requested an audience with me?” This was not a matter that he would usually even hear about.

“Hinata asked for me, actually. I believe she is tired of being pulled away from her desk about this matter.” Shikamaru explained. “But I thought you would like to hear about it if it becomes this much of a problem for her.”

Naruto set his jaw. He really shouldn’t interfere. This was Shikamaru’s job to handle things that were keeping him away from his job. “I don’t want to impose a position unless I have to, but I will talk to her to see what has been going on.” Hinata could handle this on her own. If she didn’t ask for him, she likely didn’t want him to try to protect her.

“Understood.”

Naruto sat back, looking at the list of complaints. He rubbed his temple. This was not going to be pleasant. Hinata rolled into the room with a sour look on her face. Naruto stood up and welcomed her. “I just want to know what’s been happening.”

“I don’t think that needs to be your concern, Hokage-sama.” Hinata frowned. “You’ll be giving him what he wants.”

Naruto sighed. “I want to know as your friend.”

“Then, as it is an ongoing investigation on me, I should not be speaking to you.” Hinata countered.

“Hinata.” Naruto scolded. Hinata folded her hand in front of her, silently challenging him. Naruto held up the stack of paperwork. “This is nearly 50 complaints. Some of them complain are for discrimination.” Hinata rolled her eyes. Naruto leaned back against the table, crossing his arms. “Just tell me what happened from the beginning.”

“He has been submitting requests from menial labor around his property, for years, to my understanding. He is not part of the assistance program and has nothing wrong with his health, so he doesn’t qualify for it. With the recent decrease of training nin and the assistance program being of higher priority, I had to start rejecting the majority of his requests.” Hinata explained.

Naruto understood. “We have a smaller class this year.”

Hinata nodded. “He thinks I am discriminating against him because of my chair,” Hinata said slowly to emphasize how ridiculous it sounded.

Naruto made a face. “Ugh.”

“My thoughts exactly. I am not even part of the assistance program.” Hinata rubbed her face. “And in the spirit of fairness, every slot that appears outside the assistance program can not go to him just because send in multiple requests at a time.”

Naruto nodded. “What options has he been given?”

“I told him he could apply for the assistance program. At first, he resisted, but eventually, when he did, he was rejected. I have told him if he would only submit once a month, I would make sure he got a team for the day. He didn’t like that. I told him we could set him up to be extra credit for students to take on in their free time. He wants something more solid.” Hinata waved her hand, frustrated. “My coworkers have tried some other options, but he rejects all of them. He came into our office to shout, and when that didn’t work, he went up the chain of command, thinking he was going to get another answer. Honestly, it is hurting him more than helping him because every hour I spend dealing with him is another hour I don’t have to weed through paperwork, and his request gets pushed further and further down in favor of the people who need the help.”

Naruto leaned his head back. He got the problem, but he also had to understand the civilian frustration. She was right, though. This is not something he should be butting into, especially if he was claiming discrimination because it would be seen as favoritism or further discrimination on his part.

“I asked Shikamaru for help because we were going to end up with him in a few weeks anyway, this man has made it clear he is not going to stop until he gets what he wants, and right now, he wants my job.” Naruto tilted his head in question. “He just filed a request for my dismissal from my position for discrimination,” Hinata explained. “I think it’s because he found out my supervisor didn’t care that I talked back at him.”

Naruto groaned. “That is stupid.”

Hinata gave a nod of agreement. “If he succeeds, I will have to take you up on one of your offers.”

“You do actually like your job, don’t you.” Naruto realized.

“Yes, I do. There isn’t usually a lot of this nonsense.”

Chapter Text

Sasuke was waiting for her in his seat, leaning back when she came back from her meeting with Shikamaru. “How’d it go?”

“I’m fired.” Hinata quipped, rolling herself into her desk.

“What? Really?” Sasuke sat up abruptly.

“No.” Hinata giggled. “Shikamaru-san told him the same thing and told him that Naruto-sama would not only not be hearing it, but if he kept his tirade wasting man-hours, he would be banned from submitting to the program.”

“So it’s over?” Sasuke took his offered bento.

“According to our irritate citizen, it’s not. He was still shouting about discrimination on the way out. I’m not sure what more he can do other than hold a protest outside my house.” Hinata shrugged.

“You know, I thought I recognized that guy,” Sasuke said. “I think my team did a lot of work at his house.”

“Neji-san’s team did too. First time he came in, he mistook me for him,” Hinata opened drinks.

“Neji might have put him through a wall,” Sasuke commented.

“He would have if he came in when all that shouting was going on.” Hinata made a face that said she didn’t want to see that. “You know, he’s actually happy that we are doing this.” She waved at her desk and their lunch. “I thought I would get a lecture about taking care of others when I should be focusing on myself.”

“You told him it was me?” Sasuke wondered. Hinata shook her head with her mouth full. “Tell him that, then see if he’s still happy about it.”

Hinata snorted, partly choking on her food.

Hinata rolled into her office late. She finally rolled into her desk, only to have a knock on her door frame. “Wasn’t sure you were coming. I was about to head over to your place.” Sasuke told her.

Hinata waved her hand and pointed her hand at her tire. “I got a flat tire. I was halfway here this morning, and I realized there was a nail in it. I didn’t want to damage my chair trying to roll it back on a flat, so I had to wait for someone to come by, and had them get me a nin. The nin got a rookie team, and they carried me and the chair back to my apartment. One of them found nails on the walkway up to my house and cleaned it up. Then I was able to repair the tire, but of course, the rookie team recognized me and had questions.”

Sasuke smiled, setting their drinks down on her desk. “Quite the morning.”

“I’m just glad I ran over the nails instead of someone stepping on them. At least it doesn’t hurt.” Hinata huffed.

Sasuke leaned back against a wall, holding his meal for the day. Sometimes he forgot just how good he had it now with Hinata’s help until he was on a mission and was reminded just how bad food on the road could be. Now it wasn’t all bad, there were some good restaurants and little shops you could come across, but sometimes the best you could do was convince food when you were on a mission. The worst was sometimes more common, an empty stomach and a soldier pill.

Sasuke looked over to his team for the mission. He also found he missed Hinata, along with her cooking.

Since returning to the village, it was an odd day when he found a nin that didn’t hold a grudge or a civilian who wasn’t afraid of him. Did he hate it? No. He would gladly take the quiet distrusting glances over small talk, but after being isolated for so long, it was warm to have someone talk to him like he was another person.

Naruto and Sakura were different. They had been through almost too much together. Their past gave them a distance, there was a top layer closeness, but they could never really patch up the core damage. He just hoped that they could be happy together.

Sasuke wasn’t sure if he could really explain how it felt having a friend he hadn’t tried to kill. As ridiculous as that sounded, there weren’t many people that he hadn’t tried to kill that still talked to him.

Was there something about trying to kill people that made them want to stick around?

Sasuke’s thought was broken by a teammate signaling to him. It was time to go. He tossed the rest of his dinner. It wasn’t very good anyway.

Hinata looked at the half-healed cut on her hand and huffed in frustration. Another nail on her way to work. This time because of the cut, she noticed it before she got too far away from her apartment, and she was able to make it back before the tire deflated. After repairing her tire, she took a different way to work because, clearly, someone was working on something that way.

Sasuke was coming back later this week, so she couldn’t even complain about it to him.

Hinata rubbed her face and turned toward her work. She swore if that man submitted another pile of requests, she might actually slide them all in the trash.

Sasuke could have probably used a shower, but they were running late. He knew Hinata was expecting him back today, so he didn’t want to miss lunch. She knew what a long mission could be like, so she always doubled down when he came home.

So Sasuke was surprised her office was closed. He knocked, but no answer, and it didn’t look like the light was on. He leaned his head into the office across the hall and waved. “Did Hinata call out today?”

The heavily pregnant woman’s face turned down. “She collapsed yesterday. As far as I know, she is still in the hospital.”

Sasuke felt his stomach drop. “Uh, thanks.” He turned toward Hinata’s door and wondered what had happened when he was away. He shook off the feeling of dread and headed toward the hospital when he arrived. The nurse had first offered to have him checked out, seeing he was still dressed for his mission. He waved her off and asked what room Hinata was in. She pointed down the hall.

Sasuke saw her chair in the corner first. He knocked, and Hinata looked up, but she didn’t move much. “Your back,” Hinata said weakly.

“Yeah, I was told you would be here.” Sasuke wasn’t sure what else today. He set the drinks on the best side table.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make anything.” Hinata half-smiled.

“What happened?” Sasuke asked, sitting down.

Hinata winced, lifting her hand. “I got another nail in my tire. It gave me tetanus.”

“Another one?” Sasuke asked.

“It happened twice while you were gone. I even went a different way, but I only cut myself once.” Hinata laid her head back. “I thought my arm was just sore from being careful with the tire. Then, when I got a fever at work, I thought I just had a cold.”

“I’m glad it happened at work.” Maybe he should have said that.

Hinata raised her eyebrows, agreeing. “I’m just glad my coworker didn’t go into labor. She was frantic. Imagine if I still fainted as often as I did as a child.”

“She does look like she’s ready to pop.” Sasuke agreed.

“Oh no, she is only six months. She’s having twins,” Hinata explained.

“Sasuke? What are you doing here?” Both of them turned to see Sakura with a clipboard on her hip, looking confused.

They glanced at each other. Busted.

Chapter Text

Hinata waved the arm that hurt less at Sasuke. “Meet the ‘guy.’” Sakura looked more confused. “Sasuke-san’s the one who’s been having lunch with me. He checked on me when I was out of work.”

Sasuke made a face inward like he was expecting Sakura to start screaming.

Sakura stared at the two of them and just said. “Oh.” She licked her lips, and her eyebrows furrowed. “Oh.”

Sasuke made a ‘was that the best idea’ face. Hinata shrugged the best she could without moving. What else were they going to tell her? Sakura stepped toward the end of the bed and paused.

After a long silent moment, Hinata added. “You can tell me, is he cute?” That seemed to be the last straw. Sakura just left the room, looking confused and lost.

“Well, that could have gone worse.” Sasuke sighed with relief.

A different nurse came into Sakura’s place soon after.

Naruto could hear Sakura drop her bag at the door as she came in. He heard a loud huff as she took off her shoes. Bad day. He hopped up to put on the kettle. She loved a cup of tea while she complained about work.

Sakura came into the kitchen, put her hand on her hips, and started in on her rant. “Guess who came to visit Hinata in the hospital today?” Naruto resisted the urge to ask how Hinata was first. “Sasuke.” Sakura indicated. “Apparently, the girl he’s been having lunch with is Hinata, and the guy that checked on her when she was out was Sasuke.”

Naruto nodded slowly, handing her tea.

Sakura picked it up and looked at him ludicrously. “Why aren’t you shocked?”

“I knew,” Naruto admitted.

“You knew!” Sakura squawked. “When did they tell you?!”

“They didn’t. I figured it out.” Naruto explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me!” Sakura looked offended.

Naruto put his hands up in defense. “I didn’t know, know. I assumed I didn’t have confirmation or anything.”

“You didn’t say anything.” Sakura continued waving her hand, showing her annoyance.

“Sasuke made it clear the last time I asked that she be left alone. He thought if we knew who it was, it would cause problems. Clearly, he was right.” Naruto waved a hand back at her.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Sakura blocked.

“Why are you upset? Because it’s Hinata or because they didn’t run to tell us?” Naruto asked.

Sakura hesitated but masked it as frustration. “Because they didn’t tell us.”

“You already were implying that the guy she was seeing was her boyfriend.” Naruto pointed out. “Do you think they wanted to open the can of worms at dinner?”

“They could have just said…” Sakura lost her voice in her frustration.

Naruto chewed on his word before he decided to just day them. He was going to regret this. “You’re mad because it’s Sasuke.”

Sakura outwardly huffed. “No…”

“It wouldn’t have been an issue if it was anyone else we knew, they could have lied to our faces, and you wouldn’t care. You would have come through that door, happy to announce it. You would have been speculating they were dating or how long it would be until they did.” Naruto countered.

“They aren’t dating.” It was Sakura’s first retort, but it sealed his point.

“And if they do?” Naruto shrugged. Sakura shook her head, dismissing the idea. “No, what will you do if they do?”

“Why are you doing this?” Sakura whined.

Naruto raised his voice and instantly regretted it. “Because you need to let him go. We can’t do this every time Sasuke has a connection that isn’t us.”

Sakura stared at him. Naruto sighed and closed his eyes. He said, and now he regretted it because he couldn’t take it back. Sakura smacked her cup down on the counter, headed back to their bedroom, and slammed the door.

Naruto flinched at the sound. He just hoped she wasn’t packing.

Hinata was cleared but sore. She was warned that she should still be on bed rest for a few days, and any additional symptoms should be examined immediately. Of course, since she was in her chair, that meant without someone to take care of her, she was going to have to stay in the hospital until Sasuke insisted that he could stay with her for a few days.

The hospital staff seemed resistant, but with a few signed documents assuring that he would be her carer for a few days, he was able to take her home.

Which didn’t go well at first. Hinata didn’t come to the hospital in her chair. She was carried to the hospital. Her chair was still in her office as far as she knew. Sasuke took one look at the hospital chair they rolled out and shook his head before the nurse realized that a wheelchair was not designed to be controlled by one hand. “We don’t need that,” Sasuke knelled down.

Hinata leaned herself over his shoulders, and he put his hand under her. Her legs dangled uselessly, but she was secure.

Sasuke took a long way home, for her dignity, she was sure. They came to a problem when they came to her front door that they solved with him leaning down and her unlocking it and opening it.

Sasuke sighed as he finally got her back to her room and sat her on her bed. He briefly rolled his shoulder and stretched as he stood up.

Hinata groaned as she leaned back on her bed. “I need a bath.”

Sasuke sat down beside her. “I can just set you in there for that, right.”

Hinata laughed. “Yeah, I can do that much.”

Sasuke looked around from Hinata’s couch. A couch he wasn’t sure she had ever used. He rubbed his face as the sun streamed in from the window. He stretched and flung himself up. He did a few more stretches as he headed back to check on Hinata. He put a hand on her, and she flinched awake. “I’m going to go get breakfast.”

Hinata nodded, making a face and curling back into her pillow.

Sasuke tossed his coat on. He should probably grab some clothes too. He slept in his and probably didn’t smell the best. He headed out the door and flinched as he noticed something in peripheral vision that he would have probably missed if he weren’t nin.

Sasuke turned his head down the street. There was someone there. Someone was hiding. Sasuke hunched and was gone in a split second. Over the building around the corner at the person’s throat before they could react.

Sasuke’s red eyes pierced the stalker, but he faltered as he recognized the man. This was the man that was screaming at Hinata in her office. “What are you doing here?”

Sasuke lifted him by his shirt off his feet as the man sputtered but didn’t give an answer. “You… You can’t attack a civilian!” The man babbled in terror.

“Try me.” Sasuke snapped at him. “Why are you watching Hinata’s apartment.”

The man flinched, looking at his bag and back up at him. Not very subtle. Sasuke dropped him, snagging up the bag, and dumping it out. Out fell a can that’s top popped off, revealing it was filled with nails.

Sasuke saw red, grabbing the man up by the neck. “You could have killed her!”

“What! No! I was just giving her a flat tire!” The man clawed at his hand and kicked his feet.

“You gave her tetanus!” Sasuke growled. “If her muscles locked up at home, she wouldn’t be able to call for help.”

The man struggled as his hand tightened. “I only wanted to inconvenience her! I swear! I swear!”

Sasuke dropped him. “You are going to go down to the Hokage tower and turn yourself in.” The man nodded furiously. “You are not going to make any more requests for rookies.” The man shook his head furiously. “Oh, and.” Sasuke picked up one of the nails, and in one quick motion, slashed the man’s arm, a small superficial cut, but the broken skin would infect. “Then get a tetanus shot.”

The man squeaked, grabbed the wound, and scurried away.

Sasuke huffed and looked up at the morning sun. He would like a cup of tea now.

Chapter Text

Hinata took the coffee, sat up in bed with some trouble, and picked at her breakfast from the side table. Sasuke came back rather quietly, which she didn’t expect since he had bothered to wake her up to tell her he was going to get breakfast. She thought he might go home and change or something.

Sasuke sat on the other side of her bed with his own breakfast. “I check the sidewalks. No nails today.”

Hinata giggled. “That’s good.” Sasuke leaned on the table with his cup like he was thinking about something. “Something eating you?” Hinata hummed, picking a pastry out of the box on the bedside table.

Sasuke frowned. “I know what happened.”

Hinata raised an eyebrow. “What happened when?”

“How the nails got there,” Sasuke explained.

Hinata looked at him with a question. “It was an accident.”

“No, they were put there on purpose,” Sasuke explained, sitting back in his chair. He straightened his face like he was holding back rage. “That jackass that’s been bothering you at work was tossing them outside.”

Hinata shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

“I caught him,” Sasuke said pointedly. “He’s gone to turn himself in.”

Hinata pressed her lips together and considered him. Sasuke was mad, yes, but he seemed tortured by the idea of what she thought he did to scare him. It’s not like she didn’t know what he could have done to him. “The coffee is good.”

Sasuke glanced up at her change of subject. Hinata smiled at him. Sasuke’s shoulders lost a bit of their tension.

Hinata covered her mouth. “No, not that drawer!” She coughed, trying not to choke on her own giggle.

Sasuke slammed the drawer shut with a look in his eye like he had been blinded. “I’m not going to ask.”

“They’re all joke gifts.” Hinata tried to explain.

Sasuke shook his head, trying to get the horrors out of his mind as he opened the correct drawer, grabbing out a sweater. He sat down on the edge of her bed and put it over his own head, burying his shame. Hinata tried to tug the sweater away, but Sasuke held it on. “Just let me die.”

“I promise you I have never worn any of it. Ino thinks it’s funny.” Hinata struggled for the sweater.

Sasuke let go, and the sweater popped off his head, leaving his hair frizzy and his face traumatized. “Why do you keep them?”

“Because it made Neji-san stop insisting on doing my laundry,” Hinata answered honestly.

Sasuke’s face cracked with the idea of Neji finding the contents of the drawer.

“… I can’t read this.” Sasuke squinted. No little giggle and explanation came to put him out of his misery.

Cabbage… he was going to go with cabbage. He looked down at the produce… which, cabbage.

“Move.” Sasuke scowled at his former teacher. “If you’re not going to grab your groceries, you need to move out of grown-ups’ way.” Kakashi clarified with a raise of his eyebrow, encouraging him to counter him.

“She didn’t make her list clear enough.” Sasuke stepped back and stared at the wall of different cabbages.

“Who sent you shopping?” Kakashi asked, grabbing his produce.

“Hinata has tetanus.” Sasuke added. “It apparently affected her handwriting.”

Kakashi glanced at the list. “Or you can’t read.”

Sasuke’s nose twitched in irritation. “And she didn’t tell me which kind of cabbage she wants.”

“Do you know what she is making?” Kakashi asked.

Sasuke frowned. “Cabbage pancakes.”

Kakashi reached past him and held up a cabbage before dropping it in his basket. He didn’t need to be smug about it. “I heard a civilian was claiming you attacked.”

“Is that why you’re checking up on me?” Sasuke wondered.

Kakashi’s face faked offense. “You could at least try to deny it.”

“I’ll admit it if he admits what he did,” Sasuke grumbled.

“Oh, he did.” Kakashi leaned back. “You brats keep the village interesting after all these years, don’t you?”

Sasuke’s eyebrows knit together. What wasn’t the old man telling him? “What did Naruto do now?”

Kakashi shrugged, feigning innocence.

Sasuke looked down at his list. “What kind of onion?”

Naruto downed another shot of sake, waiting for Sasuke.

Sasuke gave him a heavy pat on the back, making him cough. “How many have you had already?”

“Don’t lecture me.” Naruto poured himself another shot. “You’re the reason I am drinking.”

“What did I do?” Sasuke snatched the bottle from him, pouring his own.

Naruto made a face. “I’ve got a list going. Want to hear it?” Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “Well, you started seeing Hinata, didn’t tell anyone.” Sasuke opened his mouth to defend himself. Naruto shoved a finger in his face. “You got me in trouble with Sakura because I figured it out before she did.”

“I did nothing wrong.” Sasuke countered.

“Then you attack a civilian, and I had to cover your ass,” Naruto snapped at him.

“I didn’t ask you to. He had it coming,” Sasuke took his shot.

“I know,” Naruto held his glass out to be refilled. Sasuke tipped the bottle into it. “I’m Hokage. You’d think that would make me more useful? I can’t even protect Hinata.”

Sasuke eyed him. “What did you do to him?”

Naruto shook his head, rubbing his temple. “He came in ranting, raving, and begging. You scared the piss out of him.” Naruto accused. “Literally, I think he might have pissed himself.” Sasuke snorted. “Don’t laugh. He might press charges,” Naruto whined.

“Let him. I gave him a scratch. He put Hinata in the hospital,” Sasuke took a shot.

“Shikamaru will handle it. I couldn’t even…” Naruto sighed. He just wanted to punch him. Who was mad enough at a woman in a wheelchair that they did something like that?

“Is Sakura still upset, then?” Sasuke filled their cups.

“Well, she’s not talking to me, but she didn’t pack up to go back to her parents, so it’s not that bad.” Naruto laid his face on his hand, smooshing it. “I shouldn’t have listened to you.”

Sasuke eyed him. He knew what he meant, right? “She’ll get over it.”

“How is Hinata?” Naruto wondered.

“She up and about now. I’ll stay at her place for a few more nights. She’s still too sore to do a few things.” Sasuke looked into his glass, tipping it. “Was she always like this?”

“Hmm?” Sasuke got that look in his eye when he was deep in thought. “Probably. She really hasn’t changed much. I guess you probably don’t remember much about her, huh?”

“I remember…” Sasuke’s face twitched. “I can’t think of something that isn’t insulting.”

Naruto snorted, patting him on the back. “You’ve changed too. Back then, you would have just said it.”

“I like her too much to be that mean,” Sasuke grumbled.

Naruto quirked an eyebrow. “Like her?”

Sasuke idly looked at him. Maybe it wasn’t the confession it sounded like. “I like her more than I like you.” Yeah, Sasuke was too emotionally stunted to say something like that outright.

“She’s hard not to like, even when she’s mad.” Naruto agreed.

Sasuke took another shot. “Does she drink?”

Naruto shrugged. “I’ve never seen her drink.”

“Maybe I should bring her back a bottle.” Sasuke tilted his head. “Maybe not while she’s recovering.”

“Invite her out sometime.” Naruto nodded toward the bottle. “We can all drink.”

Sasuke rolled his shoulder back. “You think she can drive straight if she was drunk?”

Naruto laughed. Okay, the jokes finally got to him. “No clue. I’d like to see it.”

Chapter Text

How much did they drink? Hinata never imagined drunk Sasuke would look so adorable. He looked tired, but not grumpy. Just kind of content?

Sasuke flopped down on the couch and twisted himself to look at her with his face smooshed uncomfortably on the arm to be able to see her. “Do you need anything?”

Hinata giggled. “I don’t think so.”

“What are you laughing at.” Sasuke’s voice came out muffled from the pout on his lip and the way his face was squished.

Hinata wheeled herself toward the couch. “You know, usually, when assigned to be a carer, you’re supposed to do it sober.”

“You told me to go.” Sasuke pointed at her, letting his hand flop down on her lap.

Hinata leaned over him, sniffing. “Sake?”

“Did you want some? I wasn’t sure if you drank.” Sasuke grumbled.

“Maybe when I’m not on medication.” Hinata patted his hand.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow clumsily. “You do drink?”

Why did that question sound like a follow-up? “I can. I think it’s a bit sad to drink alone.”

“Can you wheel yourself home?” Sasuke looked to be interested in the answer.

“I haven’t tried, but I would hope I know to stop before the point I couldn’t.” Hinata pushed back the hair he left to flop in front of his face. “How much did you drink?”

“Naruto was blaming me for his problems.” A few bottles each, then?

“Did you cause his problems?” Hinata giggled as Sasuke’s face scrunched, offended. So, yes. Who would have thought Sasuke was such an honest drunk? “Did you at least buy?”

Sasuke rolled over, ducking his head under his arm. “Yeah.”

“Well, that should help.” Hinata reached past him with some trouble, pulling the blanket off the couch. “I can make it into bed. You sleep.”

“You sure?” Sasuke lifted his head to look at her as she tucked him in.

Hinata nodded. “Just take a shower in the morning, okay?”

Sasuke glared at her window. It was too bright. He turned his head to the racket that woke him up. Hinata was in the kitchen, making breakfast.

“You’re up.” Hinata addressed as she poked at her pan.

Sasuke tossed himself up. “How are you feeling?”

“I should be asking you that. Drink some water.” Hinata flicked her utensil toward the sink.

“I shouldn’t have gone out with the idiot.” Sasuke rubbed his face, padding over to the sink.

Hinata giggled. “How many bottles of sake did you two drink?” Sasuke shook his head as he drank his glass of water. He didn’t remember. Hinata raised an eyebrow at him.

“Don’t look at me like that. We don’t drink that often.” Sasuke looked down, feeling his face heat up.

Hinata plated his breakfast, holding it out to him. “Eat, shower, change. When you’re done, I need help into the tub.”

Sasuke grabbed his plate and sat down, glancing over at the bag he had packed a few days ago. This was going to be over soon, staying with her. Hinata was well enough to do almost everything she did before, except lowering herself in and out of the bath. That was the only reason he felt comfortable drinking last night.

Once Hinata could lift herself up solidly again, he would return home to his own apartment. Sasuke had lived on his own for far longer than she had, and he owned less furniture.

Sasuke didn’t even have a couch to crash on.

Hinata pointed across the table at the teapot. Sasuke nodded. If he wanted tea, he would have to make it. Filling the pot and holding it in her lap was challenging while she brought it over to her hot plate. Moving it anywhere once it was hot was even more difficult because she couldn’t put it in her lap anymore.

Hinata preferred coffee, but pour-over coffee was even more challenging than tea.

This house really wasn’t built for her height.

At least his apartment was made for a right-handed person because that’s all he had left. Too bad he was left-handed. Sasuke still couldn’t sign his name like he used to. There were wheels on his washing machine, so when you pulled on the door, the whole thing rolled forward, and there was a child lock on the medic cabinet he could never get open. There could be something in there for the previous owner, for all he knew.

Hinata tilted her head, putting it in her hand. “What are you thinking about?”

“We should move in together.” Sasuke voiced the thought that had bounced around all week.

Hinata’s head straightened back up, but her eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“This place isn’t made for you, and you’re making most of my meals anyway,” Sasuke said thoughtfully, looking over his shoulder at her apartment. “Maybe we can find a place that doesn’t take two hands to open the windows.” When Sasuke looked back, Hinata’s face looked guarded. Did he offend her? Surely she knew that he knew she was capable of taking care of herself. So could he. Didn’t mean it was easy. “Never mind, forget I said it. I’m going to go shower.”

Hinata thumbed through yesterday’s paper. Today’s was probably out in front of her door. She rarely got it unless she was leaving for work, it wasn’t worth the hassle, but Sasuke had been bringing it in.

Sasuke shook a towel on his head as he came out in fresh clothes. He eyed her as he sat back down on the couch, tossing his old clothes onto his bag. “Anything interesting.”

“They used to list apartments somewhere,” Hinata explained thoughtfully.

“You’re actually considering it?” Sasuke leaned forward.

Hinata flipped the page. “You were serious, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t look like you were too happy with the idea,” Sasuke rested the damp towel around his shoulders, leaning over her paper.

Hinata laid it out. “It’s not really normal.” Neji might have a stroke if he discovered she moved in with a boy. Sasuke raised his eyebrow. “But we aren’t really normal, right?” Sasuke accepted that answer. “Here it is.” Hinata folded the paper down to the part she wanted. Hinata’s lips pierced together. “Do you think we could get a place with no ledge into the shoe area?”

Sasuke held a finger up. “You take a bath first, and let me make tea. My head’s killing me.”

Hinata pointed to the cabinet. “There is a hangover medication to the right of the sink.”

“Why do you have hangover medication on hand?” Sasuke wondered, opening the drawer.

“In case I need it?”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow as he pulled out the medication.

After they were both bathed, Sasuke boiled water, Hinata steeped the tea, and he took it to the living room. Hinata locked her chair and flexed her fingers before taking the cup.

“Hand still hurt?” Sasuke asked.

“Where the cut was.” Hinata agreed, sipping her tea. “I might hurt more than the rest of me for a week.”

Sasuke nodded his head at her chair. “It’s okay to wheel yourself to work?”

Hinata nodded. “It’s irritating but not open anymore, so it’s just like pushing on a bruise.”

“Maybe a place closer to the Hokage tower.” Sasuke thought.

“Naruto-sama would be closer.” Hinata reminded him. Sasuke’s face fell. Hinata giggled. “Isn’t it expensive?”

“I have money.” Sasuke shrugged. “The most modern buildings are closest to the Hokage tower because of all the rebuilding.”

Hinata put her chin in her hand and pouted, looking at the listings. “How many of these do you think are on the second floor? They don’t even tell you.”

Sasuke agreed. They tell you a lot in these tiny listings. “I could head round the realty office this week. See if I can narrow it down.”

“Maybe you can find a landlord that would let us put rails in the bathroom.” Hinata looked back to the hall. “Or a place with bigger hallways I could turn around in.”

Sasuke dropped his bag back in his own apartment. Hinata was recovering, so he had no reason to keep sleeping on her couch. Though her apartment was bigger than his, it wasn’t big enough for the both of them. She caught her chair on his bag twice, and he made a point to put it out of her way.

Sasuke was surprised Hinata was actually considering moving in with him. He didn’t even know why he said it out loud. It made sense, they were already meeting multiple times a week to help each other out, but Hinata liked her independence, and he liked living alone. He spent his whole shower thinking about what he was going to say that was going to make it clear he was thinking more about how much she made his life easier rather than having an impulse to help her.

But it would be easier to ensure she kept new rubber feet on her step stool. Sasuke made a face. Hinata took care of everything and accepted what she needed to. Wasn’t there something that she could submit that would let her put up railings in the bathroom? Surely there was paperwork she could turn in to force them to let her do that. But that was just it, wasn’t it? Hinata wouldn’t want to use her disability status, even if she actually should, for something she needed.

But could they find an apartment that would suit them better?

Chapter Text

Sasuke came to lunch with drinks, but he felt empty-handed on her first day back in the office. Every apartment listed had a glaring problem with them. Cramped hallways, steps, tiny bathrooms, and crappy doors that required both hands to unlock, the list was endless.

Hinata slid his lunch to him, offering him a smile. “You look like you had a bad day.”

“I’ll get over it,” Sasuke grumbled, handing her his drink.

Hinata opened it. “I told you not to get your hopes up.”

“Not helping me get over it.” Sasuke scrunched his nose, took the drink back, and took a gulp. Hinata giggled. “I don’t know if I want to be your roommate anyway. You’ll make me fat.” Sasuke shoved a rice ball in his mouth.

Hinata raised an eyebrow at him with a smile on her face. “It was your idea.”

“Yeah,” Sasuke grumbled.

Neji tutted around her kitchen, trampling on her last nerve. “He should be in jail!”

Hinata rolled her head back in exacerbation, trying not to show it on her face as much as she was feeling it. “I’m fine now. He’s turned himself in.”

Neji turned to face her with his arms crossed. “Maybe I should move in with you.”

“No.” Hinata snapped.

Neji’s face twitched, offended, but this wants the first time they had this argument. Hinata fought him every time he came over. She didn’t want him doing things she could do herself for her, discouraging it at every turn. She deliberately didn’t tell him about her incident, but he knew as soon as he got back from his protection detail.

The whole town probably knew, and if they knew that, they probably also knew that Sasuke attacked him to make him confess. Neji was annoying because he didn’t want to ask the most glaring question.

“You’re not the only person I can rely on,” Hinata admitted. “Don’t worry about me.”

Neji’s face tightened. “I just don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to. I live my life outside the Hyuga. You’re here as a friend, not family. Don’t mother me.” Hinata ended the conversation, rolling her chair out of the kitchen.

Hinata rolled into her office to find Sasuke already there waiting for her. “Am I late?”

“No.” Sasuke nudged at the clock. He must have just got here.

Hinata nodded with a huff, heading for her desk.

“You don’t look happy.” Sasuke sat down.

“I was finally assigned a new primary doctor, and he is insistent on going through every test I have already been through.” Hinata locked her chair in place and pulled their lunch up on the table. “I don’t know if he is optimistic or stupid.”

“Tests like?” Sasuke handed her a drink.

“Tests like he thinks he will make my legs work again.” Hinata rolled her eyes. “I don’t have chakra going through my hips and haven’t for a long time now.”

Sasuke paused before eating. “You sound like you gave up.”

Hinata shook her head. “It’s not that. I am realistic. If the top doctors in this village told me that the damage can’t be repaired, I am not going to get a new doctor’s hopes up thinking he can fix me.”

“You think he could get my arm working again?” Sasuke asked.

Hinata snorted, covering her mouth.

“Do we have, like, provisioned housing laws for the disabled?” Sasuke wondered.

Naruto stopped in the middle of slurping his noodles. “Why?” He asked with his mouth full.

Sasuke’s face scrunched. “Forget, I asked.”

“I…” Naruto thought about it for a moment. “We have a few. You can’t deny someone because they are disabled.”

“But if someone needs to put a railing in?” Sasuke waved his hand. “And the landlord didn’t want that?”

Naruto sat back in his chair. “Well, it is the landlord’s property if someone wanted to make a case for it. They could make a formal complaint, and it could be dictated on a case-by-case basis.”

Sasuke made a face. “Never mind then.”

Naruto dug back into his food. “Does Hinata need a railing?” Sasuke glared at him. “You don’t need it, and you wouldn’t ask for anyone else.”

“She would benefit from it, but she’s not going to complain about it.” Sasuke pointed his finger at him. “And don’t make a fuss for her.”

“Yeah, I got it. I learned that lesson already.” Naruto finished off his bowl. “I’ve never been over to her apartment. What’s it like?”

“Inconvenient,” Sasuke commented. “Like the rest of the world.”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that.” Naruto sat his head on his hand.

“Sorry,” Sakura grumbled into her tea.

Hinata raised her eyebrows at her as she sipped her own cup. “For what?”

“For overreacting about Sasuke.” Sakura looked off to the side. “I shouldn’t be possessive of him. Old habits dying hard.” It wasn’t surprising that she came around. Sakura had a bad habit of having strong reactions and then wallowing in her own self-reflection until she kicked herself enough to find a way to fix the situation.

Hinata rested back in her chair. “I am not sure that I am the one you should be apologizing to.”

“I already apologized to Naruto,” Sakura explained. “So if you want to date Sasuke, you will hear no complaint from me.”

Hinata snorted. “Date him? I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

Sakura’s face twisted, almost offended. “You guys have a lot of time together.”

Hinata shook her head. “Because we understand each other. Not because we are attracted to each other.” Sasuke would not have bothered to be so helpful. It was reciprocated. He was a good guy, but he certainly wasn’t one to go out of his way because it didn’t benefit him. Maybe Sakura had been friends with him for too long to know how he interacted with not his best friends. Surely Sakura would know him well enough to know that he wouldn’t be interested in her.

Well, Sakura never really took a hint, so maybe she really didn’t know what he might actually like.

Sakura’s face became more offended. “You’re telling me you’re not attached to him?”

Hinata rolled her eyes. “He’s an attractive man. That has never been important to me.”

Sakura crossed her arms. “I was kinda starting to root for you.” That was quick.

Hinata brought the cup back up to her lips. “I might be moving in with him, though.”

“What?!” Sakura shot back up.

Sasuke knocked on her office door with a smug look on his face. “You think you could take the rest of the afternoon off?”

Hinata set down her pen, looking at him suspiciously. “… Why?”

“I think I found us a place.” Sasuke stepped into her office.

Hinata picked her pen back up. “Why do you need me then?”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to look at it?”

“Does it have stairs?” “No.” “A bathtub?” “Yes” “It’s okay to put in a rail?” “Yes” “Halls that I can fit my chair through?” “No halls.”

Hinata gave him a look. “Then you shouldn’t need me.”

“I do if we both sign the deed.” Sasuke shrugged, sitting down.

Hinata set her pen down, crossing her arms over her desk. “You want to buy a house?”

“See? Don’t you want to see it before you sign off on something like that?” Sasuke waved his hand out.

“How did we go from apartment hunting to buying a house.” Hinata wondered.

“Because I didn’t think you wanted me to threaten a landlord to put a railing in,” Sasuke answered with the same smug face.

Hinata sighed. “I am afraid to ask.”

Sasuke leaned forward. “But if we own the place, we can put in a lower sink, railings, and windows I can open with one hand. Right?”

“True, but owning a house is slightly different from renting an apartment. What if one of us ends up finding a partner, you can’t get out of a house like you can an apartment.” Hinata challenged.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her. “When was the last time you had a date?” Hinata gave him a look. He was dodging the question. “Face it. We are going to both die alone, might as well do it together.”

Really? That was his plan? “You don’t date because you hate everyone.”

“And you?” Sasuke countered.

Hinata frowned at him. He was right. She didn’t have any plans to start dating. She was having a hard time taking a man seriously that didn’t take her seriously. “Fine, I plan on dying alone.” She probably shouldn’t tell him why. It would ruin his mood.

“See.” Sasuke slapped his hand down on her desk. “Might as well have company.”

“Alright, you’ve convinced me. I’m coming.” Hinata closed her folder and rolled her chair back to see what he was so excited about.

“You know, if we do end up getting a place together, we are going to have to explain it to my cousin.” Hinata rolled herself down the street.

Sasuke stepped idly beside her with his hand in his pocket. “You don’t think the rest of your family would care?”

“My father all but publicly disowned me. If he makes a fuss now, I don’t think anyone is going to care.” Hinata tilted her head. “I don’t think he’s looked at me since I moved out.”

Sasuke suddenly itched to ask, but he really shouldn’t. “You’re not worried about your seal.”

Luckily, Hinata didn’t look offended. “If my father threatened me with my seal. I would roll myself up to the Hokage and report him for misuse of the seal. My father knows better than to threaten me.”

Sasuke’s eyebrows shot up. He was not expecting that answer. “Naruto can do something about that?”

“The seal is a clan matter, but the use of it beyond keeping clan secrets is just abuse,” Hinata explained. “I was part of the head house. Remember, I know all the tricks.” Hinata side-eyed him. “And a fair bit of your clan’s too.”

“Scared of you.” Sasuke teased. Hinata jerked her chair toward him, and Sasuke stumbled away from her with a chuckle.

“You want me to BUILD kitchen cabinets?” Hinata looked at Sasuke skeptically.

Sasuke waved his hand at the blank wall. “You’re better suited than me.” He was seeing a lot more potential than she was, but she could easily get her chair in the door. There was no step up into the main house. ‘House.’ It was a new-age dojo that must have lost its owner. Sasuke thought they could renovate it.

“Look.” Sasuke waved his arm at the wall. “A row of cabinets at your height. The upper cabinets only can have right-handed doors for me. We take out the bathroom stalls and make the whole thing one bathroom, and you’ll have plenty of room to spin.” He pointed at the windows. “I can open that window. I tried it.”

Hinata crossed her arms and watched him try to sell her, right down to the cubbies left behind as good storage because he struggled to pull wide drawers and redress hangers.

“We can drill your bedside tables to the wall.” Sasuke knocked on the solid wall. “Hell, I could probably hang a rope from the beams, and you swing into bed.” Hinata curled her lips together not to laugh. “What? Nothing?” Sasuke asked, waving his hand at it.

“Do I get to watch you get this excited during the whole renovation?” Hinata giggled. “It’s cute.”

Sasuke’s face dropped to an annoyed frown. “Don’t call me cute.”

“It’s adorable. I think it’s more convincing than your plan here.” Hinata rolled herself across the floor. It wasn’t warped. “You’re signing us up for a lot of work that requires two hands.”

Sasuke pointed at her. “I can hand you tools and pay for everything.”

“Fair.” Hinata looked at the walks. “And paint.” Sasuke put his hand on his hip, looking at the open wall. “I can’t do it from down here.” Hinata reminded him.

“Shit,” Sasuke grumbled.

“I don’t hate it.” Close to businesses, no yard for either of them to bother with. The only thing that might cause them trouble was putting up a few walls for a second bedroom, assuming one of them would make the office a bedroom. Probably should take the windows out of that wall.

“I can make a deal.” Sasuke offered, crouching down beside her chair. Looking at the wall from her perspective.

“You realize I can build everything, but you are going to have to haul all the materials?” Hinata warned him.

“Sure, we can’t just strap a cart to you?” Sasuke didn’t even fight being shoved over.

Chapter Text

“What if we just made this wall all cabinets that end here?” Hinata lifted her hand as high as she could reach. “Then a low island with a lip the whole way around for my chair.” Hinata moved her hand to explain her point. “Because the counter over here is useless to me if I can’t fit my chair under it.”

Sasuke nodded, drawing a line on the wall. “And you want the sink low, too.” He drew another line approximating the height of the sink.

“Do they make ovens that open from the center?” Hinata mimed her idea. “Because I’ve never opened mine. I can’t get close enough to put something in.”

Sasuke shrugged, putting it on his list of items to look for. “I know they make hot plates in counters now, so you don’t have to worry about the cord. Do you want any of this at my height?”

“Are you going to grow another arm?” Hinata asked him with a look.

Sasuke cycled through kitchen tasks. Couldn’t wash or dry dishes effectively. They already established he couldn’t cook. “I mean, what if you have a miracle and just start walking about.”

Hinata ignored his comment, rolling her chair toward the sink. “I would only be concerned with you having to bend to get into the sink for water.”

“I think I can manage to bend down for that.” Sasuke pointed with his pen. “Fridge.”

“Do you think we could get two little ones?” Hinata lifted her hand to her highest reach, again miming opening a door. “I can’t get into a normal freezer.”

Sasuke nodded. “Right-handed?”

“Left-handed, I get the fridge more.” Hinata pointed out.

“How about, since we get two, we open in the middle? Put stuff I would use on the side that’s easier for me to open.” Sasuke marked it on his paper.

“I need enough clearance to fit my chair with the door open.” Hinata backed up from the line on the floor. “So we need to end the island before the fridges.”

Sasuke opened his mouth thoughtfully. “Damn, I didn’t think about that.”

“Oh. And this is more of a longer-term request.” Hinata pointed at the light switch. “Lower would be nice.”

“Or you could stop being short.” Sasuke shrugged, marking it down despite his comment.

Hinata rolled her eyes. “Who’s taking the office?”

Sasuke made a face. “Honestly, it doesn’t have an outdoor window and all those indoor windows. I think it should be storage.”

“How are we managing bedrooms?” Hinata looked at the dojo floor. It didn’t make sense for most of the rest of it being a massive living room, but it was hard imagining cutting up.

“I am happy with a futon mat, so plan what you like there.” Sasuke waved his hand.

“I haven’t slept on a futon since I came home with this chair.” Hinata rolled into the open space. “Maybe if I had a step to transition onto before my chair. It’s awkward to deadlift from the floor to the chair.”

“Can’t imagine the first thing you want to do is a core workout.” Sasuke pointed out.

Hinata huffed. “Getting up is always a core workout.”

“Rope is still an option.” Sasuke waved his hand out.

“Rope swing,” Hinata mumbled thoughtfully.

“Yes.” Sasuke decided.

“No.” Hinata shook her head. “We don’t need a rope swing.”

“But we could have one.” Sasuke teased.

“How do I get in a rope swing?” Hinata rolled to make her point.

“We attach chains to your chair. The whole thing becomes a swing.” Sasuke pointed at the ceiling, genuinely wondering if it would work.

Hinata wasn’t going to entertain that. “I think I am going to need a bed a few inches off the floor.” Hinata looked at the space. “But shorter than my bed is now.” There was nothing stopping her from sawing the legs shorter. Other than maybe putting it on its side. She put her hand down at her hip level. She could just slide in and out.

“Bunk beds,” Sasuke suggested.

“Do you want to come back to this?” Hinata chuckled. “I feel like you're just making things up because you're out of energy.”

Sasuke shrugged. “I could have lunch.”

Hinata pointed at the cooler. “We should have brought a table.”

“You have a whole chair. I have to sit on the floor.” Sasuke brought the cooler to her and plopped down by her chair.

“If I come down there, will it make you feel better?” Hinata pulled out their meal.

Sasuke took what she offered. “No, enjoy being tall. You don’t get it much.”

Hinata felt the urge to run him over.

“A house?” Naruto asked as he slurped. “Where?”

Sasuke pointed. “Few blocks that way, before the Akimchi clan.”

“There are no houses that way.” Naruto made a face.

Sasuke nodded. “It’s an abandoned dojo.”

“Are you just going to train to death?” Naruto asked skeptically.

“I was thinking about maybe turning it into a racetrack. Hinata could drive in circles.” Sasuke twirled his finger.

Naruto's nose scrunched. Did he take that seriously? How long had he known him? “You're going to have Hinata over more?”

“I bought the house with her.” Sasuke knew there was no easy way to tell him that. So waiting for it to have the most impact and for him to choke was an idea.

Naruto did choke, coughing for a moment and staring at him wide-eyed. Sasuke gave him a dead stare, go ahead, be outraged. “You’re moving IN with Hinata?” Sasuke nodded. “Are you getting married?”

“Nope,” Sasuke answered.

“She comes from a really traditional family.” Naruto swallowed some water. “You think that is a good idea.”

“We aren't together.” Sasuke clarified. “Think of it as disabled housemates.”

“I don’t know. It could get complicated.” Naruto wasn’t usually the voice of reason. “I know you’re not swayed by a pretty girl, but you’ve gotten really close to Hinata.”

Sasuke pushed his bowl away. “Yeah.”

Naruto raised his eyebrows at his reaction. “Wait, you do think she is pretty?”

Sasuke's eyes slid over to glare at him. “Of course, she’s pretty. I don’t really care if she’s pretty.”

“But you do care that she understands you.” Sasuke sighed. There was that. Naruto's eyes bulged. “You DO like her.”

“It’s not that simple.” They could easily fall into that kind of relationship the way they were now, but he also knew that if that were short-lived, they would tank their odd little friendship. “I’m not entertaining it right now.”

“But you’re going to buy a house with her.” Naruto gave him a skeptical look. “I feel like you're skipping important steps here.”

“I'm not muddling the water.” Though, if they both resigned themselves to being alone together, it wasn’t a terrible leap to just be together. Nope, he was not going to try to make it sound good in his head right now.

Hinata finished her sketch and held it out at full arm's length. It looked functional. She looked up at her current kitchen, glaring at her pain points, trying to remember if she had forgotten anything particularly annoying. Drawers… She wanted more drawers. She erased the bottom cabinets and replaced them all with drawers until her the height of her midsection.

Sasuke came back from the hall with his hair damp. “How is your bathtub equally inconveniently high and the shower head inconveniently too low.”

“Why don’t you just sleep on the couch until we get the water turned back on?” Honestly, it was his own fault for getting rid of his apartment early. They could store his things in the dojo, but they couldn’t efficiently work on the bathroom while he was living there.

“If I’m around, maybe.” Hinata gave him a look. “Fine.”

Hinata turned back to the drawing. “Trash cans…”

“Hmm?” Sasuke dipped his head over her drawing.

“Recycling and trash. I usually have to use really small bags and take it out frequently because once it gets to be a normal size, it’s hard to transport.” Hinata pointed at the little waste basket that she used for a trash can. She then felt a cold shock to the side of her face. “Ah! You're dripping on me.” Hinata shoved back on him. Sasuke chuckled, shaking his head. “I have towels, you know!”

“I tried.” Sasuke pulled the towel up from his shoulders and rubbed his head. “I can’t blow dry it anymore.”

“I would think it would get flatter.” Hinata waved her hand down to have him come down to her height.

“The back just kind of does that.” Sasuke tensed up as she aggressively rubbed the towel on his head. “Hey, gentle.”

“You splatted me.” Hinata countered, pulling the towel from his head, revealing a spiked mess.

Sasuke shook his head again, dripless. As it fell back into place, he ran his fingers through what didn't. “We should put a mount in the bathroom that can hold the hair drier.” Sasuke mimicked him lifting his hair at an imaginary hair drier.

“If you remember, put it back down at my height.” Hinata scribbled down the idea.

“Separate hair driers,” Sasuke suggested.

“That would work.” Hinata agreed.

Chapter Text

Sasuke groaned, squinting at the door as the knocking got louder. He pushed himself up, yawning as he opened it. It took him a moment to focus on the person and a moment more to realize the person looked very upset because this was not his door. This was Hinata’s front door.

That would teach him not to do that.

Sasuke held a finger up to Neji before he could start to yell. “Let me wake her up.”

Neji pushed past him into her apartment. “I will do that, thank you.” He demanded pointedly.

Sasuke put his hand up in defense. He couldn’t do anything more until Hinata got up, and she was in for a rude awakening. He heard muffled mumbling from the two for a few moments that turned into low yelling and then finally. “I can do it myself! Go wait in the living room!” Sasuke head whipped for the hall as Neji came out of it. “And leave Sasuke-san alone until I get out there!” Was shouted before Neji could close the door.

Neji at least had the decency to look ashamed as he came back to the hall and sat down.

Sasuke started to make her a coffee. Hinata was going to need it.

“How long have you been here?” Neji deliberately disobeyed.

Sasuke gave him a look. “I’ll tell on you.” Yeah, he was going to be a child about it. Neji woke him up. He spent all day yesterday ripping things out of the dojo. He wanted to sleep in.

Hinata rolled down the hall just in time for Sasuke to set her down a finished coffee. She took a sip and sat the cup down, giving Neji her attention. “Now you can throw a tantrum.”

Neji’s face twitched, debating if he would do just that. “How long has this been happening?”

“I was going to tell you when you got back,” Hinata assured him. “You haven’t visited since you blew up about my hospitalization, and I didn’t want to tell you then because you were already upset.”

“He was living here then!?” Neji jabbed his finger at him.

“He took care of me, so I didn’t have to stay at the hospital.” Hinata waved her hand. Sasuke was going to assume this was normal behavior for Neji, or else Hinata wouldn’t be so calmly sipping her coffee. “Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t figure that out. I don’t have anyone else.”

“Then why is he here now?” Neji demanded, turning his glare to Sasuke.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows. Should they tell him? Was this the moment? Hinata answered his silent questions by turning her eyes down into her cup and waiting for the screaming. “I’m staying here until we finish construction on our house.”

Neji’s face filtered from anger at his smart-ass tone to confusion as he processed the sentence, then his mouth hung open. “‘Our’ house?”

Hinata sighed. “We bought a house together. It’s not that serious.”

“How is that not serious?” Neji demanded.

Hinata pointed at the couch. “Notice that he is sleeping on the couch. We aren’t sleeping together. Why is living in the same house an issue for you?” Woah, she was going to address that directly?

Neji’s chest puffed up with frustration. “I looked over you being associating with Sasuke Uchiha because he protected you, but…”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” Hinata snapped at him. “Do not pretend that if it were any other man, you would be completely fine with it.” Sasuke pressed his lips together to keep down his smile. Watching Hinata blow up on her cousin was far more entertaining than watching her snap at the entitled old man.

Neji backtracked quickly. “I told you I could move in with you.”

“Sasuke-san and I are moving in together because it benefits both of us.” Hinata gestured at Sasuke. “We’ve been having a lot of fun renovating.”

“When you don’t hit me with boards,” Sasuke commented.

“I told you it was coming down. You didn’t listen.” That argument already came and gone, all while Hinata laughed at him for not dodging it. Sasuke had a bruised shoulder and ego to show for it.

Neji chewed on his thoughts. “Do you need help?”

Hinata’s eyebrows shot up. Neji didn’t like that he suggested it instead of continuing to argue, but realistically they already bought the house. They were already living together. What would he do about it now other than make sure he could monitor it?

“Someone with two working hands and legs would be useful,” Sasuke commented, getting a dirty look for his mild disabled joke. Oh, just wait. Hinata got really giggly after a few hours of hard labor, and her jokes could get worse than his.

Hinata’s lips pierced. “I don’t want everything to turn into a fight.”

Neji lowered his head. “I promise.”

Hinata huffed. “Fine. If you two can behave yourselves.”

“What did I do?” Sasuke asked.

“You instigate,” Hinata told him pointedly. “Don’t start anything.”

“But he’ll make it so easy.” Sasuke’s smirk grew with Neji’s glare.

“Be the bigger person,” Hinata suggested, knowing better. She rolled her eyes. “What am I saying? Just don’t kill each other.” She finished her coffee. “Why did you come?” She asked her cousin.

Hinata giggled. “It’s still not straight.”

“You want to come up here and do it?” Sasuke snapped, holding the panel over his head.

Neji glared at him, debating on dropping the panel on his head.

Once they got the panel up, they both came down and accepted an offering from the cooler. Hinata opened Sasuke’s and then waved her hands down toward herself. “Your clip’s falling out.”

Sasuke lowered his head to her to let her pull out the clip holding back his bangs and ran her fingers back through his hair, and repositioned the clip. Sasuke caught Neji’s glower and gave him a smug grin when she turned back to her cooler.

Sasuke plopped down by her chair and looked up at the wall. “It looks straight.”

“Yeah, now.” Hinata giggled. “I’m grateful that Neji-san is here. Everything would be crooked.”

Neji rolled his neck and reluctantly followed Sasuke to the floor.

“Yeah, but it would be done faster,” Sasuke grumbled.

“How many more panels?” Hinata rested back in her chair.

“Three.” “Four.” Neji and Sasuke gave each other a look. Sasuke grinned. Competition.

Hinata sighed.

“He hasn’t killed you yet?” Naruto asked, pouring Sasuke a shot of sake.

Sasuke shrugged. “Not from lack of trying.” He knocked back the shot. “But Hinata nearly gave him a heart attack when she started building cabinets. His heart rate shot up every time he heard the saw.”

“Saw?” Naruto made a face.

“It’s on a table. She just has to measure and pull it down.” Sasuke mimed. “She gets covered in sawdust, and it gets all through her hair.” It was really adorable how proud of her setup she was. Saw horses were the perfect height for her to reach over. At the angle, she could back up with a full board in her lap and not run into anything to get to the saw.

Naruto raised an eyebrow kicking back his own shot and wincing at it. “Are you going to tell her?”

“Tell her what?” Sasuke sat back in his chair.

Naruto waved his hand at him. Sasuke gave him the face he usually did when Naruto didn’t make sense. “That you like her.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “I think you and I addressed that already.”

“You’re going to live together…” Naruto reasoned.

“We are already living together.” Sasuke corrected.

Naruto sighed. “The point is, moving in together is only going to make the situation more complicated if you don’t figure this out now. What if she doesn’t feel the same? You think she is going to feel comfortable if you live with her for six months and then tell her?”

Sasuke hummed. Naruto couldn’t just drop it, could he? Why did he come out with him if it was just going to be a lecture?

“I just don’t want you two to lose this thing you’ve got going on. And I don’t want her to feel weird about if she interprets it as nefarious planning on your part.” Naruto further pours another shot.

“Do you only use vocabulary words when you’re drinking, or is it because you are trying to give me unsolicited advice?” Sasuke deflected downing his own.

“Stop avoiding the topic. This is important.” Naruto pressured. “She deserves to know.”

“Why are you so interested in this?” Sasuke snapped at him.

“Because she waited too long before.” Naruto looked down at his filled shot tilting it thoughtfully. “I… I want her to be happy.”

“This has nothing to do with what happened to do with you two.” Sasuke rested his arm across his abdomen, not outpacing Naruto’s drinking.

“Maybe,” Naruto said skeptically. “But, I know you.”

“Not enough to shut up.” Sasuke rocked his head to the side.

Naruto’s eyes narrowed, and he took his shot. “You used to fight for what you want. What changed?” He poured them both another.

“Some things you lose when you hold too tight,” Sasuke admitted.

“Hinata’s not like that.” Naruto pushed him his shot.

Sasuke raised his eyebrow. He was pushing them to drink more? Sasuke eyed him, skeptically clicking his shot glass to Naruto’s. What was he up to?

Chapter Text

Hinata opened the door and rolled herself back out of Naruto’s way as he stumbled in with Sasuke. Naruto dumped him on the couch and wobbled himself as he got up. “He’s a bit drunk.”

Hinata felt a smile creep at his downplay. “I see that. Are you okay?”

“Yup.” Naruto hiccuped.

“Would you like some water?” Hinata pointed for him to sit down.

“Sure…” Naruto sat obediently while she rolled over to get him a glass of water. Honestly, he looked much better than Sasuke did. Sasuke was already out with his face smushed into the cushions. Hinata would check on him before she went to bed.

Naruto down the water and sat there with his eyebrows knit together at her. “You are really cute.” Where was this coming from? “I mean…” He waved his hand at himself. “I’ve always thought you were really sweet, but…” He waved his hand back at Sasuke. “He really thinks you're cute, and I see it now.”

Hinata tried not to laugh. Was this what they talked about when they went drinking? For some reason, she was picturing something more like war stories, but they probably would have covered all that at some point. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Naruto nodded innocently. “He’s a bastard, though.”

“Is he?” Hinata rolled back and rested her hands on her lap to humor him.

“Yeah. He makes me track him all over the freak world and back, and now that he’s here, he's still getting in his own damn way.” Naruto whined, reaching over to shove him, but he just stuttered to the side, losing his balance and catching himself before he fell.

Hinata hoped that he could sober a little before leaving because she really couldn’t drag him home herself. “Nothing changed?”

“Everything’s changed.” Naruto waved his arms out. “Everything.”

Okay, he was beyond gone. “How about I get you a blanket, and you stay here tonight?”

“I don’t need one.” Naruto waved his hand a laid right down on the floor next to the couch.

Hinata sighed. What got into them?

“I didn’t say… anything last night, did I?” Naruto cagily asked.

“Like?” Hinata sipped her coffee.

“Like about…” Naruto’s eye slid down the hall, where the shower quietly echoed down the hall.

“Possibly.” Hinata let a smile spread across her face behind her cup. This felt nice. After all this time, all these years. Naruto sitting at her table, hungover, in the clothes from the night before, eating lunch as her friend. It felt normal, like something that would happen to anyone. Normal that she never got as an heiress or in this chair before.

Naruto's face got red as he started to panic. “I didn’t mean it.”

“I mean, it was pretty compelling.” Hinata teased.

Naruto shook his head. “He uh…”

“Likes me?” Hinata giggled.

Naruto melted in pain. “I really did say that, didn’t I?”

Hinata shook her head. “No.” Naruto blinked at her, trying to understand through his headache. “You did now, though.”

Naruto whined, putting his utensils down. “That’s not fair.”

“Don’t worry too much, I knew.” Hinata giggled.

Naruto blinked at her. “What?”

Hinata sipped her coffee thoughtfully. “I’ve spent a lot of time with him, recently.”

Naruto deflated. “So… do you…?” He was interrupted by the water turning off. “I said nothing.” Naruto went back to shoveling food into his mouth.

Sasuke came out clothed and grumpy, with no clue why Hinata was giggling, or Naruto was refusing to look at him. He squinted at both of them and looked out the couch, considering going back to it but taking the offer of breakfast.

“Are you going to make this a regular thing?” Hinata asked in a low voice.

“Blame him.” Sasuke nudged his head toward Naruto, who shrank. “He started it.” Naruto shook his head with his head ducked into his food. Sasuke's eyes narrowed on him, knowing something was up.
Hinata sat back with a smile on her face and a secret in her heart.

“Drunk Naruto-sama is very talkative.” Hinata teased. Naruto begged her not to out him with a shrunken puppy face.

“More than usual?” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“Possibly.” Hinata giggled as Naruto whined.

Sasuke laid flat on his back in the half-finished kitchen. He squinted at the ceiling and rubbed his face. He must have fallen asleep. He sat up and found Hinata’s chair empty within arm's reach. His eye fell down beside him to Hinata curled on her side with her back to him, close enough that if he had an arm on that side, she would have been lying on it.

She found him asleep and decided to nap with him instead of waking him up. How did she get down from her chair without waking him up? Was he that tired?

Sasuke laid back down and rolled toward her, gently draping his arm over her side. When she didn’t wake up, Sasuke pulled her to his chest and closed his eyes. He could just claim this was an accident, couldn’t he?

Hinata closed another folder and put it aside. Her days ground to stop when Sasuke was away on a mission. She could finish building things, but she couldn’t put them up on her own. Well, she could try, but Neji would throw a fit if he knew that she was pushing past her ‘limits.’

Neji helped for a few days, but he was on regular rotation, so he was never around much as it was. That left her with a lot of time to stare at things she wanted to do and not do a whole lot of it. Her work days had a void where Sasuke would come for lunch and pick her up after work to complain about how he couldn’t find the right piece of something at the hardware store.

“Knock, knock.” Naruto knocked on her door frame. “I heard you might need cabinets put up.”

Hinata blinked at him. “Who…?”

“Well, Sasuke complained before he left that his mission was inconvenient timing, and I just overheard your cousin worrying about you trying to do it alone on his way out.” Naruto pointed his thumb out the door. “Need a hand?”

Hinata folded her hands on her desk. “I’d hate to put you to work without you getting something in return.”

Naruto shrugged. “Apparently, seeing you use a saw is a gift in itself.”

Naruto’s hand flinched out as Hinata pulled herself up onto the new cabinet. “Geez.” He breathed.

Hinata shifted on it. “It’s solid. Just needs a proper countertop.” She shifted back down into her chair.

Naruto put his hand on his hips. They were making a lot of progress. Sasuke was right. If Hinata thought she could do it, there wasn’t anything that was going to stop her. Naruto got used to it, but he still wasn’t used to watching her jerk out of her chair when she needed to.

Hinata brushed herself off. “I’ll just have to put on some trim around the edges.”

“Has Sasuke talked to you?” Naruto winced. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked.

Hinata rolled herself back to face him and folded her hands in her lap. “About?”

Now he really regretted it. “You know… like…”

“No.” Hinata looked up at the half-finished kitchen. “I’m not sure that we have to.”

“So you like him?” Naruto leaned against the unfinished counter.

“I don’t think I know what it feels like anymore,” Hinata admitted. “I spent a lot of time idolizing you I don’t think I took the time to wonder what love feels like.”

Naruto was the one blushing. Hinata was talking about it like a food she used to enjoy. She was past it, but it was still a little fresh for him. He had only found out after she gave up. It made him ill to think about it because he never saw the signs, but would anything really have been different if he had known?

Would Naruto have learned to like her if he knew? It was too late to know now, but it was a question that was there when he thought about it.

“Maybe it’s just enjoying spending time with someone to the point you’re sad when they leave.” Hinata hummed, looking out the door with a soft look of longing on her face.

Oh yeah, she was in love.

“Where have you been?” Sakura wondered as Naruto came in the door. “What are you covered in?”

“I was helping Hinata put up cabinets, then we started putting up studs for walls, and I made the mistake of standing in behind the saw.” Naruto fought the urge to brush off the sawdust. He didn’t want to get it all over the floor.

Sakura gapped at him. “You should have told me I would have helped.”

Naruto paused his walk toward the bathroom to give her a kiss. “You were in the hospital all day I thought you would be tired.”

Sakura pouted. “I want to see what they did.”

“They’ll need help painting soon,” Naruto called over his shoulder.

Chapter Text

Hinata huffed, looking up at the top shelf. Sasuke wasn’t back yet, and Hinata was used to having someone who could reach things for her. Maybe she should get a stick with a hook or something. The aisle was empty. She would have to roll the whole way back to get back to the front to find help.

Sasuke had better appreciate the length she was going for this meal he requested.

Sasuke smiled at her bitter look at the groceries that she told him that she suffered to get for him. “Will this make it better?” He held up the bag he came in with.

“Depends,” Hinata grumbled. Sasuke put the gift bag in front of her. Hinata gave him a suspicious look as she opened it.

Hinata pulled out a tissue-wrapped bundle and opened the folds to reveal a wool coat. At first, it was just lovely and soft, but when she fully pulled it out, she understood why he got it. It was cut shorter than a traditional coat and tighter to the hips. It wouldn’t spill out the sides and get caught in the wheels. She touched the fabric. It was a lovely coat.

“I’ve watched your jackets hover dangerously close to your brakes and wheels too often.” Sasuke flattened the gift bag with some difficulty.

“It’s wonderful,” Hinata mumbled.

“It’s a coat, don't start crying over it.” Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

Hinata would admit she hadn’t received a single item like this that was a normal gift with her mobility in mind. But if she said it that way, she would be lying because Sasuke had gotten her feet for her stool and gone out of his way to deliver her chair and was building a home around her height. She thumbed over the stitching, and she started to tear.

“Hey, hey, I meant it, no crying,” Sasuke said more frantically, kneeling down to her height.

“It’s too much.” Hinata sniffed, her lip quivering. “I haven't gotten you anything.”

Sasuke put his hand on her knee, rocking it to try to stop her crying. “I am sure you’ll get me back.” Hinata dropped the coat and lurched forward to hug him. Sasuke caught her leaning forward, so she didn’t tip her chair forward onto him. His hand slid up her back as she tightened her arms around his shoulders. “Hey. I dropped by the dojo. Did put up the cabinets by yourself?”

Hinata giggled into his shoulder.

“Shit.” Sasuke cursed angrily, shaking his hand and taking a moment to glare at the end of his finger. “Splinter.”

Hinata backed away from her work and offer her hands. “Here.” Sasuke gave her his hand with a scowl on his face. Hinata shifted it in the light. “It’s deep.” She reached back behind her into her bag and pulled out a first aid kit, pulling out a scalpel.

“Woah.” Sasuke yanked his hand back.

Hinata reached for his hand. “It’s too deep to pull out with tweezers. It will hurt more to dig around. I’ll heal it after.” Sasuke hesitantly gave her his hand back. Hinata set to work pulling it out once he was free of the wood particle. Hinata covered his finger with a glowing hand. “I am not good at healing.” She warned. “But this is small enough.”

Sasuke waited patiently with a sour look on his face until the pain was gone.

“Wear gloves.” Hinata reminded him.

“Glove.” Sasuke corrected.

Hinata flinched as she heard yelling over the sound of the saw. She stopped using it and turned around to Sasuke, waving, trying to get her attention. Hinata took her safety glasses off and tilted her head.

Sasuke lowered his neck to her. “Hold on.”

Hinata curiously put her arm over his shoulder. Sasuke scooped under her useless legs and shot up straight, making her more desperately hold on. He turned toward the bathroom and dumped her down into the empty tub that he finished putting in.

Hinata giggled. He was proud of it, and he should be. She had no idea how he got it in on his own, but he refused to wait for Neji’s day off. Hinata manually pulled her legs up to her chest and curled her arms around them. “It’s perfect.” Hinata reached toward the sketched mark on the wall. “Maybe we should make the shelf a little lower.”

“Scoot over.” Sasuke kicked off his shoes and stepped into the dry tub, sitting into it, stretching his legs on either side of her, and laying his head back against the wall.

“Swoosh.” Hinata mimed water overflowing from the tub. “I don’t think it’s made for two.”

“One and a half.” Sasuke countered.

Hinata lowered her chin onto her arms. “My legs are still here.”

“How much do you feel?” Sasuke suddenly asked, rolling his head on the wall.

“Well, I can’t move my legs at all, but all feeling stops half ways down my thighs.” Hinata drew a line on her leg, then ran a line back down toward her hip. “It fades toward that point, but because I can’t use the muscles at all, sometimes I can feel aching, and my hip joints don’t like sitting in the same position all the time, and I can definitely feel that. That’s why stretching and baths are really nice.”

Sasuke considered it. “Sometimes my arm hurts.”

“Phantom pain.” Hinata nods. “I wake up with my feet hurting sometimes.”

“Ghost arm.” Sasuke flicked his empty sleeve.

Hinata giggled.

Hinata ran her fingers back through Neji’s hair, braiding it gently. Neji would never admit it, but he had an incredibly tender scalp, and the slightest pulling made him wince like a big baby, and he certainly didn’t want to reveal that to Sasuke, who was waiting his turn. Hinata wrapped a tie around the end. “There, that should stay out of your way.”

Neji got up, and Sasuke took his place between her knees, so she could stroke back his bang and snap a clip. “You need a haircut.”

“Have you seen him?” Sasuke waved his arm at Neji.

Hinata pressed her lips together to hide her laugh. “That’s a choice.”

Sasuke laid his head back in her lap when she was done. Hinata was sure that he was doing it more to piss off Neji than to make her heart race, but he was achieving both. She could end the unspoken dance by just leaning down and kissing him, but she was certainly not doing that in front of Neji. Hinata folded her hands over Sasuke’s eyes to keep him from seeing her face turn redder at the thought. “Hey.” Sasuke sat up.

“Let’s get to work,” Neji grumbled.

“I still like the idea of hanging a rope from the ceiling.” Sasuke laid on his back with his arm folded across his chest on the spot where they decided one of their beds should go.

Hinata leaned forward in her chair with her arms crossed over her knees. “I think that is overkill.”

Sasuke reached his arm out toward her. He wasn’t sure how she was going to react to his offer, but she did what he hoped and locked her chair to slide out of her chair beside him. Hinata laid back, using his arm as a pillow as he laid it flat. “You’re outside the bed.” Sasuke pointed out that her back was in the middle of the tape.

Hinata rolled toward him, shifting close to press against his side. “How about now?”

Sasuke felt his face flush as she, not so innocently, looked up at him for an answer. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her in there. “Yeah.” He swallowed.

Hinata laid her head down with a knowing smile on her face. Well, she quietly answered the question he had been asking himself for weeks. Hinata hummed comfortably, closing her eyes. “Maybe we should just sleep here tonight.”

Hinata picked up a pile of folders and tapped them on her desk to straighten them. Another stack was done. Sasuke knocked on the door frame and leaned against it. “You done?”

Hinata looked up at the clock. “You’re impatient today.”

“I’m hungry,” Sasuke grumbled.

Hinata rolled her chair out from under her desk. “You wanted to skip lunch.”

Sasuke scrunched his face, annoyed with his guilt. “I regret it.”

Hinata rolled her eyes as she closed her office door and felt Sasuke kick one of her wheels. “I’m coming, be patient,” Sasuke grumbled, more gently kicking her wheel again just to be petty.

Hinata rolled herself out of the building purposely a tad slow just to get him back and watch him make faces.

“Hey, you guys heading out?” Naruto caught them as he was heading back into the building.

“Dinner,” Sasuke grumbled.

“Wanna go out?” Naruto asked, coming toward them.

Hinata eyed Sasuke. He was too grumpy to care what the food was as long as it was food. “How often do you eat out?”

Naruto shrugged. “Couple times a week.”

“How about you join us? I’ll make dinner.” Hinata rolled toward home before Sasuke started kicking her again.

“Sounds good.” Naruto fell instep on the other side of her chair.

Chapter Text

Hinata lowered herself onto the futon that Sasuke rolled out in the taped-off bed spot. They could cover it when they were working, and it would make a nice place to nap or stay when they were too tired to go home, but the single bed was tactical on both of their parts. Sasuke only got one bed, and Hinata didn’t request another.

Hinata sighed. As comfortable as she was lying against Sasuke on the floor. A plush mat would make sleeping on the floor not end in back pain. Sasuke waited a moment before crawling in behind her wrapping his arm around her rib cage, pulling her into his chest, and pressing his face into her shoulder. His fingers comfortably dug into her side.

Sasuke’s warm breath dusted over her shoulder, causing goosebumps to run up her spine. Would he break the tension this time? She wasn’t sure he wanted to be the one to. She wasn’t sure she wanted to wait for him to decide.

Hinata brought her hand up to brush through his hair. He rewarded her with a sigh, gusting hot air through the fabric over her shoulder where his lips sat. It lingered as her shirt retained the heat for a few moments. Her hand unintentionally twisted in his hair, alerting him to what he was doing.

Sasuke’s hand loosened on her rib cage like he was debating to retreat. Hinata’s other arm clamped over his. He wasn’t going anywhere. Hinata waited, unable to see his face or feel any other movement until his face shifted back from her shoulder only a hair, and then he bit down.

The most embarrassing noise fell out of her lips. Hinata let go of his hair and arm to cover her mouth.

Sasuke’s chest vibrated as he laughed at her. Hinata smushed her face into the mat to hide her embarrassment. Sasuke pressed a more gentle kiss over the bite mark through her shirt and laid his head down to wait for her to finish shriveling up and dying.

Sasuke shoved Naruto over as he laughed. Naruto rolled there on the unfinished floor. “Why are you mad at me.” Naruto waved his hand at it. “I didn’t put it on backward.”

“You didn’t stop me.” Sasuke countered, getting up and into the cooler. Even when she wasn’t there, Hinata was thinking about how to feed him. She didn’t think through the fact he needed to open the drinks, though. “Open this.” Sasuke tossed the bottle at Naruto’s head.

Naruto caught it short of his face and broke the seal, and handed it back. “You know. I never really thought about what you couldn’t do now that your arm’s gone.”

Sasuke took a big swig from his bottle. “Honestly, I forget until I need to use it.”

Naruto crossed his legs and thought about it. “But you got a cute girl out of it.” Sasuke sloshed his drink at Naruto. “Hey!”

“You told her,” Sasuke grumbled.

“No.” Naruto held his arm to defend himself from another attack. “She tricked me.” His hand lowered. “Wait. How did you know?”

“She told me.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“So you guys are…?” Naruto dug with a smile on his face.

Sasuke tilted his head back and forth. “Sort of.”

“Yes!” Naruto cheered. “I knew it wasn’t going to take long.”

Sasuke gave him a looked. “What was your point in getting me drunk?”

“I was hoping you’d tell her, but you got a little too drunk.” Naruto shrugged innocently, getting another splash in the face. “Hey! You’re the lightweight.”

“Do you want me to pour this on you?” Sasuke threatened.

“Where is Hinata anyway?” Naruto changed the subject to save himself.

“Doctor.” Sasuke drank what was left of his bottle.

“Oh, is she doing better with the new one?” Naruto sat back on his elbows.

“No, the new guy is pissing her off,” Sasuke explained. “He puts her through another test she took in the past every time she comes in.”

“Isn’t that routine?” Naruto wondered.

Sasuke shook his head. “Not the usual tests. He’s looking for evidence that she could use her legs again.”

“That’s good, right? She could walk again?” Naruto’s eyebrows knit together, confused.

“No. Hinata knows she’s not going to walk again, and she doesn’t like this guy trying to give her false hope that she could. She can see where her chakra stops.” Sasuke finished his bottle and tossed it into the trash from his spot. “I think the guy doesn’t want her to give up, but she’s not.”

“She’s just accepted how things are.” Naruto collected. “I don’t know if I would.” Sasuke paused as Naruto stared at the hanging sleeve where his arm should be.

“You would get used to it.” Sasuke pointed at their mistake. “Let’s get that off before she gets back.”

Neji’s eyes slid to the covered futon. He knew it was there. It had been there a while, but clearly, the thought that both of them had been sleeping there hadn’t crossed his mind until just now when Hinata mentioned that they stayed the night before, so she didn’t have lunch made. His eyebrows knit together. “There is only one bed.”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to,” Sasuke commented, eyeing him.

Neji’s face turned red as his stern scowl turned to Hinata. “You said…”

Hinata’s eyes rolled back. Here we go. “That was then.”

Neji gapped at her for admitting it. “You said you were just living together. This is why I didn’t approve of this.”

“I don’t really need your approval.” Hinata countered. “Do you think it would have turned out differently if we didn’t move in together?”

Neji made an inhuman noise as he could think of something to say. Sasuke backed up. He was not going to get involved in this.

“I mean, I have that whole drawer of…” Hinata couldn’t even finish the sentence Neji went for the door and slammed it behind him to hide his face, which was turning a different shade of red as he went from rage to embarrassment. “Well, that went well.”

Sasuke snorted. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“The best way to get him to stop arguing is to embarrass him.” Hinata fanned her face. It wasn’t exactly comfortable for her to say.

“Is there a chance he’s running off to tell your father?” Sasuke leaned on the unfinished counter.

“No, he knows better than that.” Hinata shook her head, looking toward the door. “Are you scared of my father?”

“Seems like an unnecessary complication,” Sasuke admitted.

“My father might be happy. There is a chance that I would be someone else’s problem.” Hinata leaned her head back to look up at the wall they were working on before Neji’s discovery. “I think we’re going to have to work on something else until he decides to come back.”

“Is there a point in making two rooms at this point?” Sasuke wondered aloud. “I guess no one has ever complained about having a spare room before.” He answered himself and then made a face. “They didn’t have to build it with one arm.”

Hinata smiled as he finished his conversation with himself. “Two rooms?”

Sasuke nodded. “We might as well we already started.”

Sasuke crawled into her bed. It felt different from their mat on the floor. This was her bed, not theirs. He couldn’t think about it much, though. He was tired and sore, and Hinata was like a wonderful heater at night.

Hinata got comfortable with his arm draped over the dip between her last rib and her hip bone. Sasuke pressed his lips against the base of her neck, in the last of the skin exposed by her nightshirt. “I’m tired.” Hinata hummed.

“Me too.” Sasuke pressed another higher up.

Hinata sighed. “You’re not making it very easy to sleep.”

“Mhm?” Sasuke breathed over the wet mark.

Hinata pushed herself to turn around in bed with some difficulty. She had to shift her hips to get her legs to come with her. She fisted her hand in his shirt and pulled him to her colliding his lips with hers. Sasuke grinned into her heated assault. It was so easy to make her aggressive.

Sasuke enjoyed the moment before pulling back and tightening his arm around her back, pulling her into his chest, and closing his eyes with a face full of her hair. “Good night.”

Hinata huffed at him.

Chapter Text

Hinata pointed at a box of mixed nuts on the top shelf. “I want some shelf-stable snacks to keep at the dojo.”

Sasuke dropped the box into her basket. “If we focus on the kitchen and bathroom, we could probably just move in, and you can just cook when you want.”

“I don’t think you want to constantly clean the kitchen between meals.” Hinata pulled something else off the shelf.

Sasuke made a face as he considered it. Construction dust did get everywhere. There was no way to keep the kitchen clear of it. Sasuke felt Hinata bump him with her chair foot. “Hey.”

Hinata giggled. “Pay attention. It’s easier for you to step out of the way than it is for me to go around you.”

Sasuke leaned over her chair to get on her level. “You know you used to be nice.”

Hinata scrunched her nose. “I don’t remember being nice to you.”

Sasuke considered leaning forward and kissing her right there in the supermarket, but even if people were finding out about them, it might not be the best time to put a big neon sign around town that they were seeing each other.

Sasuke stumbled and caught himself against the chair as Hinata pulled him down the distance to connect the kiss that he was just unjustified in his head. She giggled at him into the kiss as he took a moment to collect himself and back up to give her a look.

Hinata innocently backed up her chair and went around him.

Hinata stopped her chair when she found someone unwanted on her usual path to work. She wondered if she tried to roll right past him, what would he do? Would he catch up with her or forcefully stop her? As interesting as it would be to find out what her father would do if she so directly disrespected him, she slowed to a stop and rested her hands in her lap to hear what he came the whole way out here to say.

Hiashi averted his eyes from her in her chair. It made him uncomfortable. If Hinata could give him a charitable interpretation, she might think that he couldn’t stand to see his daughter’ miserable,’ but she knew better. He didn’t like that all the hard work that he always discredited went to waste. “You look healthy.”

Hinata blinked at him. Okay. She was not expecting that. “I… I am, thank you?”

Hiashi face twisted at her tone. Hinata didn’t know how else to say it. How did he go this long without talking to his daughter, and that is the first line to come out of his mouth? “A rumor has filtered through…”

“It’s unusual for you to listen to rumors.” Hinata interrupted, making his eyes flash, but his face straightened just as quickly.

Hiashi cleared his throat. “I don’t intend to interfere.” His eyes ghosted her legs. “But make sure… Make sure you’re happy.”

Hinata’s heart might have stopped, and the clear look of surprise she let wash over her face got more so when she could see pain slip his mask. Did… he actually feel regret? “I am…”

Hiashi nodded his head and walked back down in the direction she came. Nowhere he could be going that way than to just escape the conversation, but she couldn’t blame him. That might be the most vulnerable he ever was with her as far back as she could remember.

Sasuke knocked on her office door with their usual drinks. Before he could even sit down, Hinata suddenly sat up with recognition. “I think my father gave us his blessing?”

Sasuke paused before setting the drinks and himself down. “You talked to him?”

“He just showed up this morning to ask me to ‘make sure I was happy.’” Hinata made a face like she was talking about Hokage Mountain talking. “Like genuinely, no sarcasm.”

“Are we in the clear now?” Sasuke wondered as Hinata had her dazed moment getting the bentos.

“I… unless it was some kind of weird warning, I guess?” Hinata opened his drink.

Sasuke took a sip before opening his lunch. “How do you feel about it? I mean, you haven’t talked to your dad since…”

“Since the accident… he saw me in the hospital once, and then I tracked him down when I told him I was moving out.” Hinata’s eyes rolled up as she tried to think of another instance.

“I knew something like this was bound to happen,” Sasuke commented as he dug.

Hinata covered her mouth to chew. “What?”

“You kissed me in the supermarket. Did you think no one was going to see that?” Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her.

Hinata shook her head. “I thought everyone knew, or if they didn’t, they would have thought since we bought the house. That’s not been a secret.” Sasuke tilted his head. Was that really how she thought about it? “Did you want to hide it?”

“No. It’s just…” Why was he trying to hide it? “I guess I’ve never had a relationship, and I know it looks worse for you than it does for me.”

Hinata now looked very confused. “How does it look work worse for me?”

Sasuke waved his chopsticks at himself. “Uchiha avenger. Sometimes referred to as ‘Why did they let that traitor bastard back in the village.’”

Hinata shook her head. “I think more people think I am trapping some poor man to take care of me.”

Sasuke snorted. “Are you trapping me?”

“You are the one who wanted to buy the house and move in together.” Hinata reminded him.

“I mean, in this fictional world, you have thought up where you think public opinion is worse for you than it is for me.” Sasuke swirled his chopsticks over her bento.

“I can see someone thinking that from the outside. That’s why I was planning on being alone. I didn’t want my partner to have to deal with being looked at like they were trapped into this burden for the rest of their lives.” Hinata’s face became solemn as she felt the weight of her own comment.

“So being a problem for me is fine?” Sasuke joked.

Hinata’s eyes flashed up at him. “You can’t open a jar.”

“So I’m the burden.” Sasuke shoved food in his mouth. Hinata narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m going by your logic here. I don’t care what people think.”

Hinata nodded. “That’s why this works.”

“Not because I’m cute?” Sasuke faked a pout.

Hinata rolled her eyes at him.

Sasuke dropped his bag as he came in the door then, sighed, and immediately picked it back up and put it up out of the way. He was tired, and he was being forgetful. The lights were off in Hinata’s apartment. It was too early for her to be in bed, so maybe she was at the dojo.

He paused at the counter when he found a note. ‘Went out with Sakura. There is food in the fridge.’ He was glad he was missing that.

Sasuke took a shower and ate when she left for him before he laid down in her bed. He didn’t remember falling asleep but woke up as Hinata got in. There was really no graceful way for her to pull herself into a bed this high.

Hinata giggled at him once she noticed he was awake. “You could have at least gotten into the covers.”

“I was tired.” Hinata pulled her legs into the bed manually and covered herself up. He rolled onto her to put his arm over the bump she made in the blanket. “What did Sakura want?”

“She wants to help us paint.” Hinata hummed comfortably. “We had dinner and talked about the house.”

“She could have taken you out for a drink,” Sasuke grumbled. “I’m wondering what you’re like after a few drinks.”

Hinata made an amused noise. “Not all the different than I am tired.”

“Giggly?” Sasuke tightened his arm around the blanket.

“Mm.” Hinata agreed, drifting off. Sakura must have worn her out.

Hinata had a problem. She was naked in the middle of washing up and realized she was out of shampoo. Now if she hadn’t just spent a whole day in sawdust and whatever else they kicked up, she would have just skipped it, but she really should clean her hair, but she also didn’t want to get into her chair soaked to get into the cabinet for another.

Sasuke was just in the other room and probably wouldn’t be bothered to get it for her, but… she wasn’t sure that she was all that ready to be seen in just a towel, but it was going to be much worse if he found her on the floor with her head busted open because she was stubborn.

Hinata stopped the water, wrapped a towel around herself, and called for him.

Sasuke knocked on the closed door. “Did you need something?”

“Yes, I am out of shampoo. It’s in the cabinet above the sink. I don’t want to try to get it wet.” Hinata called back.

The door hesitantly opened, and Sasuke went straight for the cabinet, then rolled it across the floor to her. Hinata laughed as he disappeared. At least she wasn’t the only one feeling awkward about this.

Chapter Text

“You can’t cover my eyes and have me steer at the same time.” Hinata giggled.

Sasuke kept his hand over her eyes. “Just go slow. I can’t push you.”

Hinata inched forward and bumped into the wall. “If it’s down the hall, it will be hidden until I get there anyway.”

Sasuke mentally kick himself for how dumb this was, but he couldn’t give up now that he committed. “Left more.”

Hinata laughed as he tried to steer her down the finished hallway. They were getting to the finer details. The walls still needed to be painted, but they were getting appliances, and Sasuke was very excited to show her the laundry room.

“Right, right,” Sasuke told her as he got her back to the hall in the slowest way possible. “Alright, stop.” Hinata folded her hands in her lap, waiting. “Now you can look.”

Hinata blinked as he removed his hand to show her. At first, it just looked like he put in the front-loading washing machine, but she looked up to see a drying line out of her reach.

“Watch.” Sasuke reached past her, pulled on a string, and down came the drying line down to her height.

“Oh!” Hinata realized.

“And. I bolted down the washer, so I can open it.” Sasuke told her proudly, pulling the door open.

Hinata looked up at the mechanism that lowered the cloth line. “There is no way you put that up on your own.”

Sasuke frowned. “No, but I thought of it.”

Aw, was she not supposed to notice that? “I love it.”

Sasuke grumbled, but a smile crept back on his face, closing the washer.

Hinata closed the washing machine, pushed a button, and turned back down the hall. Sasuke had been gone for two weeks on a mission, and in that time, she had spent most of her time out of work at the dojo that didn’t look like a dojo anymore. Neji and Naruto helped her put in the rest of the appliances. She hired someone to put in the light fixtures and flooring.

She didn’t want to move in without him, so she was stalling on painting the walls because that was all they had left.

Hinata sighed as she came to the kitchen. It was almost unnatural to cook for just one anymore, but cooking for two made her miss him more as she packed the extras away. She laid her hand on the counter designed at her height and smiled. “Come home soon.”

Hinata dug into her bag for the painting supplies she had bought. “I can tape off the floor if you can get the windows.”

Sakura nodded with a hair tie in her mouth as she raked her hair back. Once her mouth was free. “You guys made a really nice place.”

Hinata smiled as she lowered herself out of her chair to start. “Thank you, I think it’s nice to reach everything.” Hinata tossed Sakura a second roll of painter’s tape.

Sakura caught it and took a moment to fight with the start of the roll with her nail. “When is Sasuke getting back?”

“He was supposed to be back last week.” Hinata pulled the tape along the wall, sliding her finger across to tighten it into the crease.

Sakura made a face. “Oh?”

“I was waiting for him, but I am getting sick of looking at the walls.” Hinata broke the tape and slid down, dragging her legs behind her.

Sakura started on one of the windows. “You think he is okay?”

“Nothing I can really do if he isn’t. Even if I knew he was in trouble, I can’t rescue him.” Hinata huffed.

Sakura pressed her lips together. “That… must feel suffocating.”

“I’m fine.” Hinata huffed. “It’s just weird knowing that it was something I could do before, just run to another village in a day.”

Sakura taping paused. “Does that bother you?”

Hinata shook her head. “Why should it? If I dwell on what I can’t do anymore, I’ll never move forward.”

Sakura hummed a thought and went back to taping. “I guess I’ve never thought of it that way.”

“If you lose your ability to use your skills tomorrow. You would be sad and dwell on it for a while, but it would affect your job. You would have to do something else and gain a new skill. You move on.” Hinata explained. “You can’t let your life stop because something changed.”

It was hard for Sakura to understand when she solved so many problems and saved so many people from lifelong injuries. Most nin with crippling injuries usually didn’t live long enough for it to be a problem. Sakura, like Naruto, had a ‘there is always a way attitude’ that soured when she realized that Hinata would never walk again.

But at least she was trying.

Sakura flattened out on the floor and sighed. “Ugh. I’m just going to sleep here.”

“If you’re going to sleep on the floor, roll to the edge so I can’t run you over.” Hinata closed the fridge setting what she had on the counter. “I haven’t moved anything into the kitchen yet, so we will need to eat this cold.”

“I don’t care. I’m starving.” Sakura hopped up. “I thought Naruto was coming after work?”

“Maybe he got caught up?” Hinata handed Sakura a chopstick.

Sakura ate while glaring at the wall. “We should probably put on one more coat.”

“Probably.” Hinata nodded.

“Ugh!” Sakura groaned. “You know what? Naruto was late. He can do it.”

Delayed another day. This was ridiculous. Sasuke wanted to go home. He wanted a good meal, a warm bed, and a bright smile. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just kill the irritating diplomats he was protecting to go home. He rested his head back and tuned out their idle chatter.

It had been long enough that Hinata might have moved in. She was talking about sawing down the legs of her bed before he left. Unfortunately, he would probably miss seeing her hack at the legs with a hand saw and whatever else she got up to in the house. There was something pure about watching the determination on her face when she was working. Once they were done, he would have to give her another project to see it again.

Sasuke rolled his head back and closed his eyes. Hinata was waiting for him, making the wait all the more irritating.

Hinata sighed at the filled box in her way. She should have thought about this before she made it too heavy to deadlift without tipping herself. She pushed her chair into it to nudge it out of the way, but it was too heavy to budge. She resigned to unpack it until she could push it aside and repack it.

If Sasuke wasn’t back by tomorrow, she would just move in. It was getting silly cooking all her meals at her old apartment and spending all day at the house. Maybe if she was stubborn and decided to move all the boxes herself one by one on her lap, he would be back by the time she was done.

Hinata backed her chair up to get around the box and hit a stack that clattered under her wheels. “Damn it!” She huffed.

“Need help?” Sasuke asked from the bedroom door.

Hinata jumped to look at him. “You’re back.”

Sasuke tossed his bag on the dresser and kneeled to move the mess from under her. “I’m never taking another escort mission ever again.”

Hinata bit down on her lip as it hit her just how much she missed his complaining. She reached her hand out to his face, and he paused his tidying to press his face into her hand. “I missed you.”

Sasuke put aside what was in his hand and rose up to kiss her. Hinata slid the hand on his face to the back of his head, so he couldn’t pull back sooner than she wanted. When they separated, he pressed his forehead to hers. “I missed you too.”

Sasuke brushed his hand off as Hinata broke down the last box. They were done. This was home. “Do we celebrate?” He put the hand on his hip. “What would we do?”

A smile spread across Hinata’s face that made him nervous. “I have an idea.”

Hinata giggled a few drinks in as Sasuke climbed into the empty bathtub with her. They might not be getting back out if she had much more. She would be too tipsy to pull herself out, and he would be too tipsy to lift her.

Hinata knocked back another shot of sake and made a face.

“I would think you would enjoy wine more.” Sasuke filled her cup back up.

“Wine gives me headaches. I thought I would like this favored sake, but the flavor is bleh.” Hinata laid her head back in the tub. “I like the bathroom.”

Sasuke chuckled, kicking back his unflavored sake. Hinata was a cute drunk. She was a lightweight, and her face was already red. She got the idea to sit in the bathtub after just three drinks. She giggled at him. “What?”

“You’re cute when you laugh.” Hinata rolled her head to the side with a smile.

“You’re always cute.” Sasuke countered.

Hinata scrunched her nose. “We will see if you still think that if I get sick.” She knocked back the glass, put it down, and folded her arms around her legs.

“Let’s not aim for blackout.” Sasuke filled her glass anyway.

“I think you’re not drinking as much as me because you want to see me do something stupid.” Hinata accused.

Sasuke kicked her hip. “You don’t need alcohol for that.”

Hinata giggled. “I missed having you around.” Her head rolled to the side on her knees. “When you’re around, it’s like everything is normal. I’m not the crippled failed heiress everyone tipped toes around. I’m just… the one living with Sasuke-san.”

Sasuke tilted his head. “I thought you didn’t care what people thought.”

“It’s what I think.” Hinata corrected. “Just because I can accept it doesn’t mean I don’t think about it. I can’t run or fight, but that’s not what feels the worst. It knows that when I was living alone, people pitied me no matter how well I was doing. I might not care what they think, but what they think affects how they treat me. Naruto-sama with his kid gloves, Sakura-chan with her over-concern, and Neji-san with his mothering. You treated me like a person, and everyone else realized it was safe to do it too.”

Sasuke didn’t feel like he was responsible for any of that. All he did was show up and make a few jokes. “I think they would have figured it out.”

Hinata’s eyes slid open. “I’m glad you can’t drive a shopping cart.”

Sasuke started laughing, it was such a pure thought, but the wording was so silly. “I am glad you can’t clean the top of the fridge.”

Hinata giggled with him.

Chapter Text

Hinata’s gloves were soaked through. Snow was mostly cleared from the walkways, but many transitions were not clear as people could step over or around them, and the worst was when someone stacked snow on the ramp that they pushed off the stairs. Ramps were already difficult to go up with wet tires packed with snow.

She flicked her hands. Her fingers started to go numb.

“I could just melt all the snow.” Sasuke offered.

“And risk burning down a few houses with that technique?” Hinata countered, looking over her shoulder.

Sasuke shrugged. “Snow would be gone.”

Hinata rolled her eyes as they finally got into the store. “Was there anything that you wanted special for the holidays?” She paused. Now that she thought about it. Sasuke was an orphan. “You didn’t have a lot of family holiday dinners, did you?”

“Not really.” Sasuke shrugged. “That ramen guy would usually stay open to feed me and Naruto on holidays.”

Sad, but sweet that at least someone was looking out for them. “Ramen then?”

“Anything but that.” Sasuke made a face as he picked up a basket and put it on her lap.

Hinata giggled. “Alright.” But that meant he had no attachment to anything traditional.

“Should we get a tree?” Sasuke wondered as the decoration at the front caught his eye.

Hinata shook her head. “Honestly. I don’t think we decorate one between the two of us, and do you want to clean up the sap?”

Sasuke titled his head, considering the debacle that would be. “Okay, no tree.”

“Holidays to me were always more about the winter festivals, soup, and hot drinks.” She could pick up some broth and some milk for hot cocoa

“Soup can be classified as a hot drink, can’t it?” Sasuke dumped a box of crackers into her basket.

“Some could.” Hinata shrugged. “I am not sure if I said just hot drinks that soup is really what you would think of, though.”

“Homemade bread and soup.” Sasuke nodded. “The old lady that lived below me would make me that in the winter.”

“Have you checked on her?” Hinata pointed to things on her list. Having him here was nice, so she didn’t have to keep removing and replacing her gloves between items.

Sasuke paused to look down at her. “Should I?”

Hinata laid her arms on the basket. “When you lived there, and it snowed, did you clear the walkway?”

Sasuke head tilted as he thought about it. “Yeah, it was a pain to hold the shovel with one hand, but … she couldn’t do it.”

“If no one else has rented that other apartment, it may not be getting done.” Hinata sighed. “Sometimes the trainees are sent out to do it, but sometimes it can be days, and they don’t get to everyone who needs it.”

Sasuke nodded, his eye drifting back to the shelves. “I’ll head by a see if it’s clear.”

“I can make you something to take her.” Hinata pointed to some chocolate chips. “Think she would like cookies?”

Sasuke heart dropped as he saw the small trail in the snow that the elderly woman had made walking out to her mailbox every day. It was packed down, making it a sheet of ice. He spent the next hour clearing a path from her front door to the mailbox and breaking the ice that she had built up. It would have taken less time if the snow was fresher and not impacted. Or, you know, if he had two arms.

He would have to come by more often to make sure it didn’t build.

“Your face is all red. You should have a hat on.” Hinata called from the end of the walkway.

Sasuke turned, sticking his shove in the pile. “Have you tried putting a stretchy hat on with one hand?”

The front door opened, and both of them turned to his old downstairs neighbor. By the startled look on her face, she didn’t know either of them were out here. He did assume she couldn’t hear.

Bundled up in her coat, she must be ready to come out and get her mail.

Looking at him, she frowned, heading back inside. Was she upset with him? She reappeared to waddle toward him before jerking him down to her height and pulling a knit hat on his head. She gave his cold cheek a heavy pat, signaling she was done fussing.

Hinata snorted from the end of the walkway, rolling herself to join them and offering the plate of cookies from her lap.

The elder grinned from ear to ear, waving her hand to show her excitement and bowing her head in a thank you. She held up her gift like it was the best she had ever received.

“I have flour or my tires.” Hinata swiped at them.

“Sorry.” Sasuke chuckled. He wet a rag to better clean the white residue. He could knead bread with one hand for her, but he couldn’t really do much else without contributing a mess.

Hinata’s hand brushed past his face as he knelt down. “You have it on your face, too.”

Sasuke stopped and lifted his chin to let her deal with it. “Do you think she has children?”

“Your neighbor?” Sasuke nodded. “I’m not sure. I wouldn’t assume so if no one is taking care of her. Why?”

Sasuke whipped her tire. “I never saw anyone visit, but I guess I wasn’t looking.”

“Do you want to invite her to diner?” Hinata offered.

Sasuke nodded but sighed. “How I’m going to tell her is beyond me.”

Hinata gave him a look. “I am sure she can read.”

Sasuke face flattened. That had not even occurred to him to try that.