one_long_mission | [closed] Multi-Purpose AU Post for Neji and Flirtsuke

"Mm..." She hummed contentedly and nodded in answer, looking to him out of the corner of her eye before leaning in close and brushing her lips over his. "That would be quite something, indeed."

A kotatsu to sit beneath... it really all was shaping up into some kind of dream home, wasn't it? She gave Sasuke a small smile and shifted to let her head rest against his shoulder. "In that case, I cannot help but look forward to the winter months."

"Hmhmm~ Winter is already enough a hassle with extra layers... so at least we'll have something to look forward to at home." he kissed the curve of her neck gently and then was happy to let her rest where she may, wrapping an arm loosely around her shoulders. These... certainly were daily slices of happiness.

He let out a long breath against her skin, lips briefly touching her. "...have you given any thought about taking one more step towards our dreams?"

One of her hands rested gently against his knee as his arm went around her, an easy, natural motion that had become custom in the months they'd been together.

At his question, she paused, going still against his shoulder and letting her eyes fall closed as a flush crossed her face. "...I have, yes."

"There's no rush." he assure her, voice so amazingly soft as his fingers rested atop hers. His tone and gestures seemed to be the materialization of gentleness. "After all, you're the one that matters most, in this." She would be the one bearing their child for these long months, while he would provide to any and every need he possibly could, all out of love.

"I know... our dream is always somewhere within you... because it's always somewhere in me too." after all, children were indeed the proof of love and consummated union.

"We are both important, in this," she disagreed quietly, opening her eyes without moving her head from his shoulder. Discussing something like this shouldn't leave her flustered; after all, they'd both known it was a part of their dream since the very beginning.

She exhaled quietly and turned her hand over to lightly grasp his. "I..." A longer pause as she organized her thoughts, finally finishing, "I am concerned that I will not be an adequate mother."

"...because everyone know a father that spoils his kids to no end is adequate?" he inquired, tilting his head to brush his lips against her cheek. He knew he should not joke around. These were very serious concerns, and his hand tightened lightly upon hers. "We're both inexperienced... and I think it's normal that you feel like this, considering your background. Being adequate isn't so important though. The most important thing is to love your children... in your own way." he paused, briefly nuzzling her hair.

"If you want to wait and look into getting pointers or tips, I don't mind. You can feel some apprehension. It,s natural, I think.... but I trust you to be the best mother you can be... because you're you."

She only gave him a patient look at his words and sighed quietly, letting her fingers just wrap lightly around his.

"There is... time. To receive such tips. I have been reading and listening, keeping my attention for such things, and after all of it..."

She inhaled again and shook her head, cheeks flushing darkly. "Do not misunderstand. It is merely that... it is tremendous responsibility. Far different from risking one's own life, which we are trained to do, or the lives of subordinates, which we are trained to do, but a child..."

"...it's a very long-term contract, yes... It's also raising it. Changing diapers is probably going to turn into a repeating mission, hmm?" although, jokes aside... "I... want you to be ready. You -are- the most important one here, Neji" he assured her. "No amount of reading or listening can adequately train anyone for the real thing, I think..."

He took a deep breath again, resting his head lightly upon hers and laying a kiss upon her hair. "I can give my time too.. to stay up and take care of whatever it'd need at night, or change those diapers... We're two in this."

"Not to mention I will be physically out of commission as a kunoichi for at the very least the last month, if not more, of it." The smallest of pauses as she substituted it for pregnancy, not so willing to use that word just yet.

She swallowed and sighed, glancing up toward him and just lightly touching her fingers to his cheek. "But if I were to let doubt hold me back, I would never be ready, and this... this is something we both want."

"You will be, yes... " she had to make this sacrifice, and somehow he wondered.. just what sacrifice would he have to offer to make up for it?

He could feel a tear forming in the corner of an eye at her words and touch. "I'll help you... in any way I can." in fact, he was pretty sure they would just share the burden. Balance was something they both tried hard to achieve. "...our future..." his free hand joined the one at his cheek, both their hands now intertwined.

Their future would be the brightest. Definitely.

"I know you will." She leaned up and let her lips lightly touch his cheek with a soft smile, then kissed the back of his hand. "It is merely... daunting to think of all that could go wrong."

She let their joined hands fall to the ground between them. "But there is also much that can go right. And I believe I...? Would prefer to think on what can go well."

"...and for whatever that does go wrong, you can take heart knowing I'll be right here be your side" his grip on her hand tightened a fraction as if to emphasize his point.

"We'll make it, love. You and I... we'll make it the best possible future."

"...Mm." She only nodded and squeezed his hand in return, turning her gaze forward as she let herself be temporarily lost in her own thoughts. Would it be a good idea, so soon? She had only barely turned eighteen herself, and yet, the life of a shinobi was never a long one, only a quick one. Even in this place, one could be snatched away at any moment, lending a sense of urgency that otherwise might not have been quite so present.

If she only knew in her future, should she return home, she would never even have the opportunity to see eighteen, let alone contemplate a family.

She exhaled and turned to look back to Sasuke again, lips curving up into a small, almost playful smile. "I take it you are asking because you want to start trying, Sasuke?"

"I.. ah.." dark eyes stared forward, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. "...I feel... ready, but... like I said, most of the work is going to be you, so... so it's.. whenever you want." he laid a light kiss upon her cheek.

"...I love you so much...." if he only knew that the world he had been claimed from did not even exist... that everything he knew was mere fabrication, and that once he went back, he only would vanish...

Both their existences were doomed fates.

She hummed lightly again and let her fingers come up to brush over his lips, a gentle, easy touch full of affection as she traced the shape of his jaw.

"And I, you," she answered, complete sincerity in her voice as her hand continued its sweep back up into his hair. "Though I hope you are aware that we might, ah..." And then her cheeks went pink, because it was one thing to know something, quite another to discuss it openly. "Do... such things... without conceiving, should we wish to do so."

He leaned into the touch with a purr, dipping down a second to kiss her fingertips before she revealed that... oh, yes, it could be quite another discussion.

"Oh, ah... yeah. There's something about timing, when conceiving after all, and if... we want, we can... do it whenever" Whenever.... was a thought that flitted in a few times, but he knew it wasn't proper to ask.
She had brought it up though, so... He would never refuse her. Besides, he'd heard much about all the benefits. "As long as... it won't hurt your body" After all, once they would indeed conceive, he knew he would need to lie low. Then again, this was not something he had extensively researched.

"I take it... you're telling me for... reasons?" he purred and ducked to briefly nip at her neck. "...hmmmm?"

"Sasuke!" She gasped and flushed darker, pushing at his cheek to keep him from doing that again. "We're outside!" Where anyone could walk by and see them!

She kept that hold on his cheek, trying for a severe look (even though her flush rather ruined the effect). "In any case, I would have had to start such a thing a week previous, at the very least," she added, trying not to look so embarrassed. It wasn't as if their relationship wasn't a secret, or that purchase of such things wasn't entirely normal, but... it was embarrassing to acknowledge.

He gave a light, muffled groan, having somehow managed to forget. How hard was it to remember? NOT in the kitchen, and NOT outside. oh, or public places but he'd only needed to be reminded twice on that one.

"...hm.. a week previous." he echoed, then nodded slowly. So in three weeks then, would be the time. Unless she meant something else entirely. They would, after all, be trying to conceive, unless... "Should I still get... protection?"

Twice, to her unending embarrassment. What he says only embarrassed her further as she stared at him.

"That is what I was referring to! What is it you thought I had meant?"

"Red does suit you." he gave one of those disarming smiles her way. "Well, since I'll stop by there tomorrow, do you need me to get anything else anywhere after my shift at work...?"

Oh, as for what he thought she meant...? "...was thinking you meant your... you know, that time of the month?" since that needs protection too.

"No, I am perfectly capable of-- no!" She just flat-out put her head in her hands, almost wishing to disappear into a hole and not come out for at least an hour.

"I had thought-- if you wanted to, tonight, you could get--" Her voice was just a mumble as she tried (and failed) to compose herself completely.

Making a mental note to build a high fence and have climbing plants on it to give it a more natural look and hide this place from any passerby's eyes as soon as possible so it didn't count as 'outside' any longer and more a private part of inside, he suddenly claimed her within his arms, brushing his lips against her cheek.

Wordlessly and for what just might seem like it would last until the end of time, he hugged her, chin resting against her shoulder.

...he was probably the biggest idiot on earth, all worlds confounded right now for the last three minutes he spent speaking...

She just flushed more darkly and leaned into his hold, only slowly letting her hands drop as she swallowed hard. "I-- if you wish to begin attempts at conceiving already, that is-- certainly something we can do, but I had thought, before there was that kind of pressure, that it might be best to--"

Try it out sounded too casual, but it's what she meant, leaving her with her nose pressed against his shoulder. "...Forgive me."

"..no."

He gave a sigh. "I mean... I'm sorry. It's my fault." after all, he had brought this upon them without... any prior thought, it seemed. "I didn't think it was... pressure..."

The mere thought he'd made her feel pressured sent guilt shooting through him. "I.... really didn't mean it that way." he nuzzled the back of her neck and some hair faintly. "..I love you, Neji."

"Please do not misunderstand, I wish to have children, but I-- I need more time. To research, to ensure that I will be the best mother possible for our child. Genius... can only take me so far in this respect."

A small sigh as she pressed her nose more firmly against his shoulder. "I wish to be with you in this manner, make no mistake, but I... I am not ready to mother children, not yet."

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