Work Text:
It had started out as a regular work day.
He woke up, made breakfast with his husband, packed bentos for their lunches before they headed to their respective careers. He has always loved working with plants hence it was no surprise he ran a plant nursery. Years of horticultural study and botany lead to him running a successful shop of outdoor and indoor plants alike.
The shift began with the usual routine; he checks his plants for any pruning or watering, soil changing, pot transfers and other things. His usual customers came in either to ask questions or to see what was new in stock.
It had been a good day so far, afternoon coming as he turned the sign around so that people knew he was on break before grabbing his bento to go and sit with his husband. He and Madara always met at a park to eat their lunch together.
He could already see Madara across the street with his short, messy hair, wearing his white button up with khaki pants and loafers on; a little better dressed than he is with his green t-shirt and jeans with a dark red apron as well as sandals.
They look like they belonged in two completely different worlds yet he never felt closer to him.
The crosswalk light had just given the signal to go when he heard a loud scream. Hashirama jumped, long hair tied back in a messy bun with two loose strands framing his face. He almost dropped his lunch as he saw his husband shoot up to his feet as eyes went towards the source of the commotion.
More screams sound from where a crowd was forming before slowly Hashirama made his way towards his husband across the street as the signal began counting down.
“Madara!” He called out as he rushed forwards, the office worker he married turning back to face him before rushing to meet him at the sign. He was about to ask if he was okay or saw anything before he heard more screaming…loud, fearful, angry screaming that then was followed by what he could only describe as a growling.
The crowd that had started was now departing just as quickly, their movements driven by panic and adrenaline as they bolted to get as far away from the source of the chaos as possible.
“What…what the hell…?” Madara whispered as he held Hashirama’s arm, eyes widened as both of them began to back away, “What the fuck is going o–”
Both men jumped when a woman who was beginning to run was tackled down by two very unwell looking people–skin so pale it looked purple, veins darkened to black and jaws clicking with their teeth snapping down at the one they jumped on before they bit into her neck.
Hashirama felt his stomach flip as blood spurted all over the street as the woman’s screams became horrid gurgles of pain. He then felt Madara tugging on his arm to get him moving when he heard more of that feral growling coming their way.
“More..more are coming, we need to get to your shop or somewhere safe…!” He tugged him more until Hashirama was moving to run with his husband. He knew he was right…where the shop was, their apartment was on the second floor above it. They needed to get in, lock the doors and go up the stairs then lock the doors and see what is going on with the news.
It was a logical plan. A solid one as they continued running with others who weren’t afflicted by whatever had been done to those other people as Hashirama puts his arm around his husband to make sure they didn’t get separated in the chaos. Merciful gods it was so chaotic…
Everything was loud and trying to search for a clearer path, a quicker path to get to safety as he tightened his arm around Madara…and then shouted as Madara tripped, bringing Hashirama to a stop. He turned immediately and stopped to try to help him up. A hiss left the ravenette as Hashirama took his hand about to help him up—
“AH!” Madara shouted when hands grip his ankle and suddenly pull on him, turning to see that one of those…those rabid infected people was trying to pull him forwards;snapping jagged teeth at him with resounding, harsh clicks. If it were possible, Madara’s already pale face had grown paler as he tried to kick at it; to get it off, “Shit..shit shit shit…!”
Now..there were two things that always set Hashirama off into a blind rage; when people mess with his plants in the nursery or someone was actively trying to hurt his husband of five years. Last he checked his nursery was safe.
He raised his foot and kicked the monster right in the face, a dark look in his eyes before he picked up his husband in his arms, bridal style and began to run away. He held him close as possible, feeling his blood boiling.
When he sees the familiar doors of his shop all he can think is that he needs to get them inside and grab something to use as a weapon against these things if they try to break in. Madara shakily picks up the keys from his pocket to unlock the doors; his hand was shaking as he puts it in and turned it with a click before Hashirama used his shoulder to push it open before putting Madara on the counter. He turned quickly to close and locked the door; pulling down the blinds over the shop windows so the monsters wouldn’t see them.
He breathed heavily as his thoughts continued to race in time with his heavily beating heart. This..this was insane. Today had started off so normal, now here he is with his husband after running from those…those things that were attacking people.
“Hashi…”
“Hold on Madara, I need to find a weapon,” he murmured, about to head to the back where his gardening tools resided.
“Hashi…” this time Madara’s voice shook; and that…that was never a good thing. It made him stop in his tracks before he turned to look at his husband.
Madara was shaking as he looked down at his leg; he was bleeding. Hashirama stiffened when he saw the blood soaking through the pant leg, trying to keep himself grounded as he tried to think of how he may have gotten it.
All that comes to mind are those jagged teeth trying desperately to bite his husband and it made the shop keep feel ill.
“..Fuck.”