Work Text:
Buy flowers.
Pick up tea from the shop.
Making the mental checklist helps distract Asuma from the cold fall wind that bites at his cheeks. He pulls his jacket tighter around himself and stares down at the road that will lead him to the restaurant where Kurenai is meeting him for dinner.
Finish the laundry.
They've decided on hot pot again, mostly at Kurenai's request. This has been her preferred meal for the entire second half of her pregnancy and they try to get it at least once a week if Asuma is not out of the village on an assignment.
Turn in my mission reports.
He can no longer make this walk to the restaurant without wondering if it will be the last time they go as a party of two. He is never quite sure how to name the feeling that creeps in when he considers this. He's always wanted to be a father, but there's something so strange about the unpredictability. Every night when he goes to bed, he's fully aware that it could be the last time he does so without a baby in the room.
Find a birthday gift for Konohamaru.
The wind blows harder so he shoves his hands into his pockets. His fingers curl around the cold metal of his lighter.
He groans quietly and adds 'stop smoking' to his list.
He thought maybe he would have checked that one off by now, but November had crept up on him. He'd stopped smoking around Kurenai at least, which he definitely considered progress.
The sight of the Yamanaka's flower shop greets him, inviting him inside to check off another task. He hurries inside, happily accepting a temporary break from the chilly air.
Ino is standing behind the counter wearing her work apron. Choji is off to the side, bag of chips in hand. They both look up at the same time.
"Sensei!"
He greets them with a smile.
Ino goes straight to work on his flowers. Asuma doesn't tell her what she wants, and she does not ask. She doesn't need to anymore.
A third voice begins grumbling near the cash register.
Asuma peers over the counter and sees Shikamaru sitting on the floor, hands behind his head and reclining against the shelves like he owns the place.
"You know, it's typically employees only behind the counter," Asuma teases. "Ino and her parents are gonna put you to work if you hang out back there too long."
Ino rolls her eyes, but she's smiling as she turns to grab a roll of twine. "Honestly, sensei, he's probably more useful staying down there and out of my way."
She starts rummaging through a drawer, mumbling to herself about misplacing something. Choji dusts off his hands and reaches into a spot she's overlooked, then hands her a pair of scissors. She thanks him with a look of relief and keeps working.
Asuma laughs when he thinks back to the the time when the three of them couldn't stand to be in the same room together. Now, they cannot stand to be apart.
He doesn't let himself start feeling too sentimental about it. They'd never let him hear the end of it.
Instead, he pays Ino for the flowers and rushes out of the shop, tossing a goodbye and a promise to meet up soon over his shoulder as he exits.
Make plans with my team, he silently adds.
Bouquet in hand, he's back on the road. His steps are faster and more determined now, partially because it's getting colder as the sun sets, but mainly so he can get to Kurenai quicker.
It seems to take ages for the restaurant to come into view, but eventually he sees the soft glow of the outdoor lighting and knows he's finally made it.
He sees Kurenai standing near the door and the tension falls out of his shoulders. Despite the chill in the air, warmth settles into his heart and spreads through his chest. He speeds up, just to get to her a little quicker.
She smiles when she spots him and takes the few steps that close the remaining distance between them.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting," Asuma says, presenting the flowers. He presses his lips to her forehead and places his hand on her belly. "You should have gone inside where it's warm."
He rubs his hands over her arms to warm her up, but she waves him away with a smile. "You worry too much. Besides, I haven't been here long."
"Are you still up for hot pot? We can go somewhere else if you want."
"Are you kidding?" she laughs. "I've been looking forward to this all day. I'm not responsible for what might happen to you if I don't get it."
He does not doubt that she's serious.
Still, she smiles at him and he can't keep himself from laughing as he pulls her in, kissing her right on the mouth. She giggles against his lips and it warms him straight down to his freezing bones.
"Okay, let's eat," he says when he pulls away.
He slings an arm over her shoulders and guides her into the restaurant.
They make their way to their favorite table, tucked away in the quiet back corner of the restaurant. It's right next to the windows, which Kurenai prefers because she likes to look outside during their meals. Tonight, Asuma notices the trees next to the windows. The leaves have started to change colors. He thinks he can hear Kurenai commenting on how pretty it looks, but to him it is just another reminder of how quickly the year has gone by already. He tries to shake off the thoughts as they take their seats.
He lets Kurenai pick what they're going to eat without protest. He's not the one dealing with constantly changing cravings and aversions so staying out of her way while she's ordering seems like the least he can do.
They don't talk much as they wait for the food, but the silence is still comfortable. The warm light from the lanterns overhead shines softly on Kurenai's face, and he finds himself unable to stop looking at her as she watches the night pass by through the window.
He glances down and smiles when he sees the ring on her left hand, a shiny reminder that sometime in the near future, she'll become his wife. The smile falls a little when he remembers he needs to buy her wedding band soon. Maybe he should take her engagement ring to be cleaned while he's at it.
His list gains two more items to check off.
When the food arrives, they recite a quick thanks for their meal before Kurenai dives in to start prepping it. She fixes the broth and arranges the vegetables to her liking, and Asuma stays out of her way. She knows what she's doing.
The hot food is a welcome addition to this cold weather. It comforts him both in the way it warms his freezing body, and the way he's come to associate this meal with Kurenai.
When they've both settled and are eating, Asuma finally starts the conversation.
"How was your day?"
Kurenai frowns. "Boring. I'm worried I'm going to go crazy stuck in the house all day doing nothing."
Asuma chuckles and squeezes her hand in an attempt to be reassuring. "You aren't doing nothing. You're supposed to be resting."
"Yeah, whatever," she pouts. "Easy for you to say when you're still getting mission assignments."
He just smiles at her and shakes his head. He does not tell her how he dreads his assignments now because he's terrified she'll give birth while he's away and he won't be here for her.
"Besides," she continues, "I'm worried about my team. It's so weird not being able to check in with them all the time."
"I saw them today with Kakashi. He's taking care of them, Kurenai."
She pinches the bridge of her nose with a groan. "Not sure if that's supposed to make me feel more relaxed, but it didn't work."
"Would it make you feel better if I stopped by tomorrow to check in on them?" he asks sincerely.
"Yes, please."
He can tell she's relieved.
Find Kakashi and check on Kurenai's kids, he thinks to himself.
Kurenai looks at him thoughtfully and tilts her head. Frowning, she reaches over the table and rubs her thumb over his forehead in attempt to smooth out his worry lines.
"Stop it," she says. "You're doing that thing again."
"Hm? What thing?"
She taps his forehead. "That thing where you make imaginary to-do lists that no human could ever possibly complete in one lifetime."
He opens his mouth to reply, but the satisfied grin on her face tells him there's no point. His expression melts into a fond smile as he takes her hand and kisses her knuckles.
"You know me all too well."
Kurenai just laughs, then pulls her hand back so she can continue eating. "You're gonna worry yourself sick like that."
"I know," he sighs. "I just feel like there's so much to be done, and so little time to actually do it."
His lighter begins to feel like a boulder in his pocket, practically begging him to reach in and grab it. Stress begins to tighten his chest again and man, he really wants a smoke. He returns his attention to his meal so he can have a way to keep his hands busy.
"Asuma."
Kurenai's voice has become quiet and serious. She looks at him with concern in her eyes.
"You aren't running out of time," she tells him gently. "I know you're worried about the baby coming, but you don't have a hard deadline on every other thing in your life. Obviously things will be different once we're parents, but time isn't going to stop and neither will our lives. You're only creating an impossible task for yourself if you try to get everything done beforehand."
He groans. She can read him like a book.
"You're right," he sighs. "I'm just so worried about not having anything in order. I'm worried I'm not gonna be there for you and I…I'm just scared."
She smiles softly. "Me too. But I'm also excited. So let's try something, okay? Let's take turns saying one thing we're looking forward to about having this baby."
Asuma nods in agreement. She always knows just what to say.
"Okay, I'll go first," he says. "I'm looking forward to doing things officially as a family of three. Even something as simple as a walk through the neighborhood. I can't wait to see what kind off things the three of us will get into."
"Hm, that does sound nice," Kurenai beams. "I think I'm excited to see who our baby will look like."
Asuma laughs fondly. "Well, it'll be you if she's lucky."
"You still think it's a girl?"
"I know it's a girl," Asuma boasts.
He grins at Kurenai and gives her a wink. She tilts her chin down, and he sees her cheeks blush a pretty pink like they had back when they were both still just flirty teenagers. The love in his heart swells up so much he expects it to burst and boil over like water on a stove.
Later, when they step back out into the chilly autumn evening, Asuma can physically feel the weight that was lifted off of him after his time spent with Kurenai. He takes her hands in his and leans in, bumping their noses together.
"It's still early," he says.
"Yeah, and it's freezing out. Let's stay in tonight? We'll make tea to warm back up after the walk."
"Sounds perfect."
He takes his jacket off and puts it around her shoulders. She smiles up at him in gratitude, then takes his hand as they turn toward the path the had led Asuma here before their dinner.
And as they walk off into the night together, Asuma's head is clear. The things on his list have not gone away, but they no longer hold him down.
He's doing everything he's supposed to be right now.