Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One day, his world shattered beneath his feet, leaving him with an indescribable emptiness. Nothing would help make him feel any better, no matter how much he tried, no matter how much his loved ones attempted to cheer him up.

The prevailing belief held by the entire world was that the most formidable ninjas were alphas; resolute, powerful, and fearless. Though the occasional beta ninja existed, the hierarchy seemed fixed without any hopes of change. Then came the revelation: Neji, a member of a traditional clan, discovered he was an omega.

According to the stringent traditions of the Hyuga, omegas were relegated solely to the role of stay-at-home caregivers, solely tasked with raising pups. The pressure mounted as they would soon start trying to force him to find an alpha to make a family with, not caring about how skilled he was at his job, or what his desires were.

They would do their best to break him, but none could get close. His newly presented secondary gender caused him to refuse any and all company. 

Devastated and with the urge to cry, he contemplated retreating from the world, seeking solace within the confines of his home. The irony struck hard—he had achieved the rank of Jounin through unwavering determination and hard work, only to be confronted by fate's capriciousness. It had once again decided to be a piece of shit to him, as if the universe was trying hard to play a foul joke on him.

His absence didn't go unnoticed by his team and, when Neji wasn't expecting it, they appeared at his doorstep to see what was going on, bringing fish soba and some sunflowers in an attempt to cheer him up. He’d learn later that they had already suspected his new identity as he admitted it in a whisper, not daring to look at the other three; all alphas, as he should've been.

“My dear student, there’s no need to feel any shame about being an omega,” Gai reassured with a soft smile decorating his face, placing a warm hand on his shoulder, but the brunet just kept his gaze fixed on the floor. “You’re already a splendid ninja, Neji! You'll just need to take scent blockers for your missions.”

Lee and Tenten stood by his side, not saying much in fear of upsetting him by accident– after all, not long had passed since Neji began to soften to the world, specifically to his team. Uncertain about how to interact with him, they were now grappling with the added complexity of what the brunet (and his clan) see as his newfound vulnerability.

“Have you seen an omega be a ninja, Gai? There's a reason they always stay at home,” Neji argued, crossing his arms against his chest, still not looking at his companions.

There was silence. The brunet could tell the room had grown tense just by the slightly sour smell surrounding him, though his friends were more nervous than anything else.

And then Gai spoke again, his voice sounding gentle and soft.

“... I used to know one, actually. Someone who taught me a lot of what I know, someone I admire with all of my heart,” he replied, and Neji looked at him with a combination of surprise and confusion in his gaze. “Maito Dai. My dad.”

His mentor had spoken about his dad with the team, yet he had always left that detail behind. Actually, Gai hadn't told them about Dai being an omega before. Neji’s not surprised that he’s not acknowledged much in the village’s history, in that case.

"We've got your back, Neji. Always have, always will!" Tenten chimed in with a warm smile, enveloping him in a careful hug. The rest of the team followed suit, and Neji couldn't deny the soothing effect their embraces always had on him. With the added reassurance of their alpha scents, Neji found himself releasing a sigh, choosing to remain in the comforting silence, reluctant to let go of the affectionate gesture.

“I– we will make sure nothing happens to you, rival!”

The brunet finally chuckled, noticing the slip from his friend in a heartbeat– rather than pointing it out, he leaned towards without saying a single word, knowing well that Lee would never let him fall outside of their usual sparring seasons.

His team would always be there for him, offering him a brief peace from his worries and concerns, at least while they were physically present by his side. The subtlest hint of a smile finally appeared on his face, and the four of them decided to share the food as an excuse to spend some time together..

Hiashi wasn’t happy with the outcome of his physical maturity, though Neji couldn't remember the last time he had seen his uncle smile in his eighteen years of life. That wasn’t going to change now that he was considered a family disappointment.

After his team left, the man had decided to pay him a visit, with a more evident frown on his face than the one the entire world was used to. Arms crossed against his chest, Hiashi invited himself to his home without asking, looking at his nephew with something akin to anger in his eyes.

“You're an omega,” he said, almost spitting the last word with disgust, as if Neji could have controlled in some way what his secondary gender would be. A growl escaped from his uncle’s mouth as he saw him flinch, only stopping to continue his speech. “You know what that means in our clan.”

Neji didn't reply at first, looking at the ground instead of at the man. He knew that very well, even if he hated all the traditional customs the Hyuga had. Ignoring it all wouldn't make judgment disappear from people's hearts.

“I don't care. I'm a Jounin, Lord Hiashi. I can't let it all go to waste,” Neji exclaimed, gulping as he heard Hiashi growling at him once again, already angrier than when he had stepped into his home.

“It's for your safety, Neji! You can't be a ninja while having the weakest secondary gender of them all!” Hiashi replied, and his wrathful scent made the brunet flinch again by mere instinct. Omegas were sensitive to that kind of thing, more so when it came from an alpha. His uncle seemed to notice and tried to calm down, wanting him to pay full attention to his words instead of focusing on his terror. “I… Hizashi would've wanted you to stay safe, nephew. Please, listen to me for once.”

Of course he had to mention his dead father. Neji could tell Hiashi was running out of ideas to convince him to stay at home for the rest of his life, bound by fate to only take care of his future pups.

“Don't talk about what he would've wanted, Uncle. Just leave me alone,” he argued as he looked away, not willing to dignify the man with his gaze. For once, Hiashi listened to him, though Neji knew the nightmare of being an omega ninja in a traditional clan had just begun.

Neji did whatever his heart desired, not really paying attention to his uncle. He went to explain the whole situation to Tsunade as soon as possible, who gladly helped him by providing him with any scent and heat blocker he might've needed. It was still too early to start using them due to just having reached physical maturity, but it was good to have them for the near future.

With time and exhaustive training, Neji began to identify people solely by their characteristic scent. It was hard to describe, just like books said, but he just… knew it in his heart. Only one person he knew smelled exactly like lotus flowers, someone who would always try to surprise him with a warm embrace, chuckling in his ears.

In the past he would’ve growled in response, but Lee was just trying to make him laugh. He had always wanted to cheer him up, and it was more evident now that the brunet was officially an omega. Somehow Lee had softened up with him enough for it to be noticeable, just like his other teammates did… it was probably an alpha thing, or something like that. Odd.

Another difference from the past was that Neji would unconsciously allow him to hug him longer, and he would accept his challenges without a second thought… only to have that nice flowery scent close to his whole being, inhaling it enough so as to leave it lingering on his lungs. Lee was probably more affectionate with him due to his secondary gender, but the brunet couldn’t find it in himself to mind it either way. He liked the attention, though he would never admit it.

They would spar as usual, do their best without causing deep injuries to the other, wrestling playfully as if they were pups once again. Neither of them had actual younger siblings, after all, so it was enjoyed even more due to a missed experience of the past.

And then, after becoming exhausted and scratched by the earth, Lee would hug him once again, his strong arms keeping him safe through it all. That was his favorite part. Neji knew nothing could go wrong as long as his rival was by his side, protecting him, but he knew it probably was because his friend was an alpha.

He could defend himself, yes, but his omega instincts still made him hide in Lee’s chest, comforted by his strength and listening to his soothing heartbeats..

“Geez, Lee, I envy you! I want to hold a cute omega, too! Neji, do you want me to hug you?” Tenten teased, though something in how she spoke told the brunet that she wasn’t joking in her question. He rolled his eyes and huffed, simply returning to Lee’s embrace and ignoring the girl. “Aw…”

“He’s taller than me now. If you get taller, I might consider it,” Neji said, and he could feel his rival’s laugh by the movement of his body. Tenten huffed and probably crossed her arms in annoyance, and something told the Hyuga that he would need to prepare himself for an unpredictable weapon attack on their next spar.

Chapter Text

Not much changed after the three teens had reached their physical maturity, apart from Gai teaching them how to fight off their instincts and how to not let themselves become prey of the many scents surrounding them; it was also part of their training, after all. Alpha ninjas knew how to manipulate younger, less experienced people just with their smell, though Neji was always the more affected by the changes due to being an omega.

He wanted to be strong. No matter how fearful angry alphas made him feel, the brunet didn’t give up. Gai was proud of his determination, apologizing for scaring him, but still, he knew he was bound to become immune to that kind of manipulation. He knew that Neji was the last person willing to be taken advantage of simply because of his secondary gender.

It would mean a lot of effort to go through, but he would manage.

As usual, Lee was still full of energy even after his exhausting training, no matter how long he had spent “warming up” alongside his mentor. He stood by Neji's side and grinned, showing his fangs in his smile.

“Neji, I want to challenge you to a race!” was the first thing he said, cheeks flushed by the physical effort he had just gone through. “We are tied, remember? Fifty to fifty. We need to untie our scores!”

Usually the Hyuga would've just passed, too tired and cranky due to muscle pain after training, but Lee was smiling from ear to ear, and he even held one of his hands so gently , excited to goof around with his best friend.

“Okay. But let's take it easy, yes?” Neji said, and his rival seemed to brighten up just with those few words.

They said their farewells to their teammates and began their challenge, trotting through the training grounds and into the Konoha woods, chasing each other around and chuckling through it all. Lee seemed to be guiding him somewhere which confused the brunet, yet he decided to go along and see where they would end up.

At one point the woods opened up and a clearing could be seen, and only then did his rival stop on his tracks. Neji mirrored him and took a sip from his water bottle, patiently waiting for Lee to speak. The other boy was fidgeting with his bandages, and the brunet knew well that meant he was nervous for an unknown reason. Something was up.

“Uh, Neji… I want to tell you something,” Lee muttered, not daring to look Neji in the eyes, a deep blush decorating his cheeks. He went to look for something between the bushes, and for the first time the Hyuga felt uneasy about the whole situation.

Why were they there? And why was his friend so bashful ? Unless… was he going to do something to him? Neji couldn’t help but worry, knowing well that Lee was an alpha while he was not, and he still hadn’t had his first heat yet as far as he had shared with his team. The brunet didn’t like not knowing what to expect, not when he was so exhausted.

He gulped, his body tensing up as his rival shyly approached him with something behind his back. A shy smile appeared on Lee’s face as he revealed the thing he so secretly had kept hidden, the reason for their small trip to the heart of the forest…

A bouquet of red and pink roses, gently held towards where the Hyuga was standing. Neji felt his lips trembling, unable to say anything at all due to the shock.

 “Neji, I– you make me so happy. I have always admired you, and… I like you, Neji,” Lee said, looking at the ground as he spoke. “It is not because you are an omega, okay? I have liked you for… a long time.”

He didn’t get any closer to Neji, he didn’t force him to take his gift; Lee simply waited in silence for a response of some kind, not wanting to rush his friend. The brunet slowly grabbed the flowers, his gaze focused on every single rose as a timid smile formed on his face.

Lee’s big, round eyes observed him back, and anyone could tell doubt had started to rise on his soul… The brunet didn't know what to do.

He loved being by the other boy's side, goofing around and just trusting in each other without thinking twice. Feelings were complicated for Neji, always have been, but being with Lee… it would make him happy. They were best friends, after all.

“I'm flattered, Lee. I just… don't know what I feel for you,” Neji admitted, and he could see Lee's heart slowly shattering on a million pieces, tears about to fall from his eyes, which was definitely not his intention. “Hey, don't get sad… I didn't say no. You'll just need to give me some time, okay?”

Lee's lips trembled, and Neji decided to leave the rose bouquet somewhere safe before hugging his rival, hiding his face on the crook of his neck. Not only would it give Lee some comfort by the loving gesture alone, but his scent would easily reach his nose that way.

His friend (were they boyfriends now?) returned the embrace, his body relaxing in mere seconds, though silence was still present between the two. Neji tried to distract the other boy with questions, knowing that would soothe him somewhat. 

“What do I smell like, Lee? Tell me,” was the first thing he said, still not putting too much distance between the two, not wanting to upset his rival. “You smell like a lotus flower. It's nice.”

Nothing was said for a while as Lee tried to figure a way to explain himself, eager to have something else to talk about.

“Lavender. It is relaxing,” Lee said, inhaling for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Neji… you mean what you said? That I need to give you time?”

“We could go on dates, if you wish.”

Anything to spend more time by your side, Neji didn't say. Lee didn't need to read his mind to know that was the true intention behind his words, reading him like an open book.

“I would really love that. For as long as you allow me to,” Lee whispered, with a faint blush appearing on his face and a huge smile on his lips.

They didn't tell anyone about the change in their relationship. Why would they? Neji and Lee were happy with each other, and that's all that mattered.

 …It was extremely obvious, though. Everyone knew that where Lee went, Neji would follow (as long as he wasn’t deployed on a mission). They even started to hold hands, ignoring the curious stares that everyone would give them. Of course, they felt more comfortable when they were either on their own or accompanied by their teammates, who had quite different reactions upon discovering their relationship.

 “Can you tone it down? Your sweetness will make me puke ,” Tenten complained, focusing on her weapons so as to not look at the couple, who were simply hugging and play-wrestling. She figured out their relationship pretty quickly, since she was so perceptive.

That caught their mentor's attention, who looked at them with confusion for a second, but seeing how gently Neji held his rival's hand was enough of a clue for him..

“I'm happy you two are going to spend your youth together! But you must remember to be careful,” Gai commented, a serious expression on his face as he talked. “Neji, I promised you to take care of you, and if it means I'll need to fight one of my dear students… I won't hesitate.”

Lee gulped, and Tenten huffed. Only then did Neji separate a bit from the other boy, looking at Gai in the eyes before speaking.

“I know, Gai, but we won't do anything. I don't even leave my room when my heat is close. The only person I let close is Hinata,” the Hyuga explained, looking his mentor in the eyes. He had been the last one to present his secondary gender, but being an omega implied more frequent (and intense) heats, after all. “I know you’ll keep me safe. But you must remember we’re not kids anymore… and that Tsunade is also helping me keep everything in check.”

He expected some kind of anger, used to Hiashi’s annoying behavior whenever he tried to speak, but instead Neji was met by an emotional Gai, who simply hugged his three students at the same time just like when they were small.

“You've grown so much! But I'm still going to protect you!” Gai exclaimed with a sob, and Lee began crying too, much to Tenten's annoyance. Neji just awkwardly returned the hug, not really knowing how to respond.

Gai was too emotional, and his three kids were too exhausted to continue anyways. Training was soon declared over, and their mentor ordered them to take it easy until the following day.

Neji and Lee decided to stay behind afterwards to spend more time together, chatting about mundane things and simply enjoying the scenery, doing one or two challenges too simply to keep each other company for longer. It was nice.

Chapter Text

Being a Jounin implied taking on harder missions than his friends, sometimes even going on his own. Neji liked the change of scenery, yet he always found himself missing his teammates, his family.

He was far away from Konoha, tasked with spying on an enemy of the village. His Byakugan was perfect for that and, if anyone discovered him, Tsunade had allowed him to strike as needed. It wasn't too complicated in theory– all Neji had to do was take notes of whatever he saw and heard, and hide them on a scroll Tenten had lent him for the day.

Neji was already used to doing some espionage. He was, after all, the Hyuga prodigy, known, not only for his intelligence but also for how well developed his Byakugan was. It was no secret in the village, which is likely why the Hokage tended to pick him for complicated spying missions.

Through the days, the brunet got more and more uneasy, having already killed some enemies nearby and disposed of their bodies so nobody would find them. Killing was typical in the ninja world, but it didn't mean it was easier.

He was just eighteen. No matter how many people perished under his hands, it still made him feel sick to his stomach.

Sleeping was hard for him, and not even meditation managed to soothe his nerves. The closest he could feel to safety in his sleeping bag was behind some bushes, guarded by a few traps he laid out, but something still felt off. Something was missing, making him feel restless. He tried to dig into his bag for anything that might help, not knowing exactly what he was looking for, and the smell hit him before his eyes set gaze on it.

Bandages. But not any kind of bandages– Lee's. His partner had given him some of his things, which had his scent, just in case he needed it or he missed him. Neji had given him a headband in exchange, knowing well it was mostly a couple thing. They were technically dating, after all. It wasn't odd for partners to give each other things for these cases, but Neji still felt a bit shy over the whole dating thing.

He ended up grabbing Lee's bandages and wrapping his own hands with them, drowning on the beautiful lotus scent that was on the cloth. That was the only thing that soothed his soul for the duration of the mission, the only way he managed to get some hours of sleep at night.

At last, after long, tiring weeks, his mission was over, and Neji could see the village gates in the distance. 

His whole body hurt and he was exhausted. He was more or less on autopilot mode, slowly walking towards the Hokage's office to make his report. Tsunade was proud of his hard work and had rewarded him with two weeks off, reminding him to take his medication before sending him off. His heat was due to hit soon, which he’s sure the perceptive alpha picked up on, so that’s likely why he was awarded such a long vacation. The hokage was nice with him.

Ugh. He was so tired. He couldn’t wait until he got back home and finally laid in his own bed. His head hurt from how much he had used his Kekkei Genkai.

“Neji! You are back!” an excited voice said, and soon Neji found himself being hugged by a pair of strong, familiar arms.

He returned the embrace, more or less allowing himself to fall on Lee's chest in exhaustion , knowing that the alpha always caught him and made sure nothing bad happened to him. Neji could sense Tenten and Sakura approaching them, likely to say hi. 

“I missed you too, love, but I'm too exhausted to talk,” the brunet admitted, closing his eyes as he spoke. “Can you help me get home?”

Lee's hold on him softened, and their companions remained quiet, not wanting to make Neji's head hurt more. Anyone who looked at the Hyuga could realize how much the long mission had exhausted him, after all. He just wanted to sleep for an entire week…

“Of course, dearest. I apologize, my friends, but I must accompany my love to his house! It was nice talking with you,” Lee exclaimed, carefully holding his partner in his arms, and for once Neji couldn't find himself caring about anything but his alpha.

His uncle would probably get enraged at seeing how caring Lee was with him, going as far as picking him up to get him home, but the brunet needed all the help he could get. He wasn't sure if he would be able to manage not crumbling on the way home, after all.

Some chatting with the guards of the Hyuga compound, and Lee was allowed to continue his path, not needing any kind of direction after the many years Team Gai had been together. Neji was half asleep in his arms, relaxed just by being in the presence of his partner. He knew that as long as he had Lee, nothing bad would happen to him. He was safe.

“We are here, dearest. Would you like me to prepare you dinner?” his partner asked in a whisper as he gently placed him on his bed, tracing small circles on his palm with his thumb in an attempt to soothe his soul.

“I'm not hungry,” Neji mumbled, feeling blessed by his mattress and pillow. He couldn't believe that a bed could be so soft after using his sleeping bag for more than a month. “... thank you, love. I must warn you, I think my heat is near. I wouldn't like you to–”

“I know,” Lee said, interrupting him before anything else could be said. “I will get you some things so you do not need to go out, alright?”

Although they had never officially asked each other out, they didn't need words to confirm their relationship. They had already gone to get lunch on their own countless times, and their love was more evident when they started calling each other different nicknames.

“My sunflower,” Lee mumbled as he made sure his omega was comfortable in bed. “I love you so much. You do not need to worry about anything.”

“I love you too, my lotus.”

Neji was sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life by his rival's side, and Lee shared the feeling. Perhaps they hadn't labeled what they were, but that didn't make it any less real or genuine.

And they liked being together just like that, so that's how they stayed, not paying attention to what other people said about them. Neji was safe with his rival around, who made sure to tuck him in bed and leave freshly made food on the fridge for when he woke up in the morning, leaving a goodbye kiss on his cheek before giving him some space for the following days. He knew well that Neji didn't like being around people while his heat was near, so he respected his wish.

Chapter Text

Not everything was pink in life, much less when their job was to be a ninja, to defend their village with their souls.

When the fourth war started, Neji and Lee knew any wrong movement would mean the end of their lifespan, with barely eighteen years old. All nations had united as one to fight Madara and Obito, that's how bad the situation was.

They had to fight for days. Lee wanted to be by his side to protect him, his alpha instincts winning over whatever task he was assigned with, only wanting to make sure Neji was alright. The brunet had to do a lot of convincing for him to actually do what he had to, promising to snuggle with him during the nights and tell him all that had happened in the day.

Only that soothed Lee's nervousness, but something told Neji that he would still keep an eye on him. Even more so as the war reached its peak, and Neji was already sick from the previous day yet still battling for world's safety. 

He did his best to make sure his little cousin was okay, not for his duty as a Side Branch member, but because Hinata was his little sister in his mind, and she shared the feeling with him. He was keeping an eye on her to make sure nothing happened to herl.

An attack was directed to his cousin, but Neji wouldn't let a single kunai injure her.

He had to protect Hinata with his life, but he was running out of chakra, after fighting all the Zetsus for many consecutive days. A last rotation was all his body could give him before he felt himself getting chakra exhaustion, screaming as the wood stabbed him, mercilessly making countless holes on his skin.

A metallic taste invaded his mouth, and he couldn't continue standing up for long. Neji fell to the ground, vision already blurred as some people gathered in an attempt to help.

“NEJI! NO…!” he managed to hear someone scream, and soon a familiar lotus scent invaded his nose. Lee was by his side, holding his body and with tears falling from his eyes, trying to cover his partner's wounds with his own bandages to no avail.

  It was too much. A big part of his torso was just gone, and Neji didn't have many hopes of actually surviving from the attack.

He was going to die in his rival's arms, and he was too weak to say anything. Not a last goodbye, or an ‘I love you’– his lips trembled and nothing but a shaky sigh escaped from his mouth.

Lee wouldn't be able to hear his last words. His scent was acidic due fear and hopelessness, and Neji could feel him shaking, desperate for a miracle.

“Sunflower, stay with me… Please!”

Suddenly Lee wasn't holding him anymore, and a cherry scent replaced the lotus one in his nose as Sakura began taking care of his dying soul, doing her best to save him from his fate. The Hyuga could hear his partner growling at his friend for taking him away, and he couldn’t see what was going on; Tenten was holding Lee back to avoid him from accidentally harming the other girl in his blind rage.

Neji couldn't keep his eyes open for long. He was tired, mostly due to his chakra exhaustion. He only wanted to sleep for a little bit… and so he did. Maybe his father would be waiting for him on the other side.

Death didn't seem so scary anymore, if it meant he'd be able to hold Hizashi's hand once again.

Neji was dying, and there weren't any working hospitals in the middle of the war– Sakura had to put her whole attention on him, doing her best with her healing jutsus but still feeling the strain of using way too much chakra at once.

Lee's mind had finally won over his instincts, realizing the girl was just trying to help. His growling was replaced with tears, mostly due to the fact that nobody was allowed to approach his omega except medic ninjas, not even allowing him to hold his hand.

They couldn't just wait. Lee had to continue fighting to the best of his ability, finding himself agitated as the Infinite Tsukuyomi hit the world. Not even that genjutsu calmed him down, knowing that the real Neji wasn't by his side and rather, was probably dying in the real world. Somehow everyone broke free of the spell and the war was over, allowing the injured to be properly taken care of without risks of sudden attacks.

Sakura had managed to close the Hyuga's wounds enough for him to not bleed to death during the genjutsu, but it was only a little peace in the middle of the panic. Neji was in critical condition, and there were other wounded people who also needed attention.

His heart was agitated through it all, even as Yamato had helped rebuild the hospital as soon as possible. His partner could die at any moment. Everything was wrong.

He had failed as an alpha. He couldn’t even protect his dear omega, who had fallen into a deep slumber after the attack that had almost taken his life.

Surgery after surgery, Neji still remained asleep, recovering his health little by little. Lee always made sure to visit him as much as he could, and Kakashi had definitely pulled strings to allow his visits to be longer and more frequent than they should.

Days went by. Weeks, months… years. And Lee still visited his rival at his room, not wanting him to be alone when he opened his eyes for once and for all.

And how right he was! Neji woke up during one of his visits, exactly three years after his injuries had taken place. He was confused but okay, memories intact, as if he had blinked during the war and simply skipped time until that day.

Lee couldn't help it but become a crying mess, unable to explain everything that had happened while his partner was in a coma.

“I– I am a terrible alpha, Neji. I could not protect you,” Lee said between sobs, not daring to look his partner in the eyes. “You should get a better boyfriend. I let you get hurt, and– and you almost…!”

A hand gently held his own, and only then did the taijutsu master observe Neji again, noticing his calm expression through it all. He couldn't move much but he did a gesture with his hand so Lee would get closer to him, giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

“You would've died if you had tried to save me, love,” Neji whispered, leaning towards Lee in a futile attempt for a hug. “Get closer, Lee. I want to hold you.”

Looking around to confirm no nurse was around, Lee obeyed, getting into the hospital bed to be closer to his partner. Neji carefully wrapped him in his arms, and his soothing lavender scent filled his lungs once again, relaxing his entire being. All that Lee wanted to do was to cry.

“But you are okay. You survived,” he had to remind himself, and Neji once again kissed him, in a slow but loving manner.

“I did. And I got to see my father again,” the brunet replied, and Lee tilted his head to the side in curiosity. “He told me he's proud of where I am, and that I'm lucky to have such a kind alpha by my side. Someone who would move the earth just to help me.”

Lee couldn't help it but begin crying again and Neji chuckled, simply letting him let it out while never letting go of him.

Recovery would be hard and slow, but if he had survived the war, nothing was impossible now.

Chapter Text

Every day was a new challenge. Physical therapy, sometimes even talking with a therapist for his severe injuries, then struggling to even eat by how much his torso hurt.

Still, there were good days, like when people visited him to see how he was. Especially Lee, who arrived with enormous bouquets of flowers, mostly sunflowers. His team took turns to look after him, even helping him walk once he had regained some mobility on his legs.

Now he was in the hospital’s garden with his partner, who was attentive to any of his needs or requests. He had been ascended to Jounin now, and had mentioned wanting to train a team of his own. Neji still couldn't believe how much time had passed since the war took place, surprised by the changes in both the village and its inhabitants.

He was surprised by Lee's lack of a bowl cut, as he had decided to let his hair grow again. He had changed a lot.

“I can not wait until they let us do challenges again! Plus, there are so many things I want to show you, dearest,” his partner said with a grin, though it made Neji a bit upset. There was something he had certainly not been told.

“Love… Tsunade said I'll need to take it easy once they discharge me,” the brunet started, receiving a confused look from the other man. God, they were almost twenty two now, it was still shocking to him. “I can't be a ninja anymore. I'll need to find another job even with the pension from the war, and… I can't spar, or train as hard as I used to. I don't know what I'll do.”

“I will help you as much as I can, sunflower. We… we could even get a place of our own! If you would like to, of course,” Lee exclaimed, looking away out of embarrassment, yet he could sense Neji's intense gaze on him as he thought about what to say in response for a bit.

“Well, I… really don't want to go back to the compound. Hiashi will probably not take a no for an answer, about me being unable to continue being a ninja.”

That was true. Hiashi would try to make Neji train just as hard, even when Tsunade herself had forbidden it. That's just how the Hyuga clan leader was.

Lee wanted to say something yet he felt like his partner wasn't done speaking, so he remained quiet and let him finish.

“... would that mean you'll need to mark me?” Neji asked in a whisper, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment, and Lee could feel his own face becoming warm. “I mean, to make it official, you know?”

A short silence took place between the two, and the taijutsu master was trying to find the correct words to use. He was shy, but he managed to speak again after a while.

“I will not force you to do anything you do not want to. We do not need to do it if you do not wish so,” was all he said, and his cheeks became even warmer as Neji hummed in response, leaning to rest his head on Lee's shoulder.

“I think I'm ready. I want to spend the rest of my life by your side, lotus,” Neji said, fidgeting with a strand of hair as he spoke. “But only once I'm discharged from the hospital. How does that sound?”

A nod, and now Lee felt even more nervous than before. Marking an omega was pretty much the step before marriage, and it meant their relationship was serious. He had a mix of excitement and fear about it.

Would things change between the two? Mating meant moving in together, which was a big step in life.

Only time would tell, Lee had to remind himself, leaving a gentle kiss on Neji's now blank forehead, keeping him close and safe in his arms.

Four years. That's how long it had taken Neji to recover from his injuries, having spent three of them in a deep slumber. But eventually it was time to leave, as Tsunade and Sakura had finally discharged him from the hospital, with Lee by his side just in case he needed some help walking. 

They all saw it coming, so when Neji had asked his cousins and teammates for help moving all his things out of his home at the compound and into the small house Lee had bought for them both, nobody was surprised and everyone was glad to help. Discreetly, so Hiashi wouldn't realize what was going on. Tenten had saved as many things as she could in scrolls, and the rest helped with what was too fragile for that.

His uncle would never approve of him moving away without a ring on his hand, but Neji couldn’t care less. He was an adult, and he had planned it for months with his partner. A grumpy old man wouldn't stop his dream of living with Lee.

And now, there they were, at a small house near Konoha's forest that they could call their own, with their friends helping them place things where they belonged. Neji hated that his strength wasn't the same as in the past, but was secretly thankful for the extra help.

They shared food and snacks during the moving and, when everything was where it belonged, only the couple remained at their place. Neji couldn't help but take a moment to observe everything, until a pair of arms suddenly picked him up, making him laugh.

Lee kissed his cheeks with all the care of the world, holding him close as he gently spinned around, overflowing with joy. Neji returned the kisses with a soft smile, caressing his partner's cheek afterwards, losing himself in his dark eyes.

“We did it, Lee. Look at us now,” he exclaimed, pressing his forehead against his partner's with closed eyes, feeling a warm sensation on his chest as Lee didn't push away. The other man gently put him on the floor, and Neji held his hand in silence, too emotional to continue speaking.

“Do you want to see our room? I decorated it on my own. I wanted it to be special!”

A nod, and Neji was guided to the bedroom, where the most soft-looking bed was in. There were pale yellow and pink tiles on the wall, pink like a lotus flower, and the brunet couldn’t help but smile, knowing well the reason for the color choices.

“It's beautiful, lotus. You combined our flowers…” Neji pointed out, pacing around to observe everything better, stopping as he noticed a certain picture on a nightstand that sat right beside a Team Gai group photo.

An image of Neji and his father, one that he didn't even remember having. It looked yellowed with time, yet it was safe on its frame.

“Hinata found it on your things, sunflower. I thought you'd like to see it!” Lee explained with a grin, and the brunet nodded, sitting down on their bed to have a better look at the photograph.

“... do you think he'd be proud of me, Lee?” he couldn't help but ask, his fingers touching the glass of the frame, still missing his father after so long. “I know you didn't meet him, but…”

During the time he had been in a coma, Neji had been able to speak with Hizashi once more. He had told him every detail in his life, about everything he did and had accomplished with the years.

Hizashi had listened and talked with him, but his words were blurry in his mind now. All Neji could remember was his company and warm hug, and a promise to not return to the limit between life and death until he was old enough to have grandchildren. That had made him laugh, and now… there was some doubt in his soul.

“I think so! You are happier now than you were in the past, and you are loved by many,” Lee replied, sitting by his side and resting his face on Neji's shoulder, observing his in-law. He knew Hizashi and Hiashi were twins, but somehow Hizashi seemed to have a gentler gaze than his brother. “You are loved by me. And you were a great omega ninja, even if you had to retire early! You are amazing, sunflower. He would be extremely proud of you!”

Neji hummed in agreement and smiled again, leaving the frame on what would be his nightstand and fidgeting quietly with his clothes. Lee wanted to ask what was going on, but his partner looked at him and spoke before any words could leave his mouth.

“It's time, Lee. You should mark me before we forget to,” Neji said with a blush on his cheek, and Lee nodded but still looked away, letting his partner take off the upper half of his clothes to leave space for his fangs.

They had been together for a good part of their life, but they hadn't done anything sexual just to avoid accidents (and because Neji didn't enjoy the acts, and Lee respected it). So seeing Neji's shoulder blades in front of him made Lee feel shy, and he went to pick up bandages with the excuse of getting prepared for the aftercare. 

His partner waited patiently, eyes closed through it all. Lee grabbed one of his hands and held it tightly, knowing it might help ease the pain in some way or another.

His lips trembled as they touched Neji's shoulder, and to say he was nervous would be an understatement. Lee left a couple of gentle kisses on the area the alpha mark would be, trying to relax the muscle so the process would hurt less.

“Are you ready, dearest?” Lee asked in a soft whisper, not wanting to do any unexpected movements. As Neji nodded with his head, he continued speaking. “Okay. I will do it in three, two, one…”

And he buried his fangs on his partner's skin, deep enough to leave a huge scar– that's how he had to do it, else it wouldn't work as intended. Hearing Neji groan in pain because of his own hand made Lee feel guilty, but he had to leave his teeth there for a few moments to guarantee the mark wouldn't just fade away.

He eventually let go, cringing at how deep he had to bite just to mark Neji. Lee began carefully licking the wound, in an attempt to soothe his pain and to maybe help it heal a bit faster. His partner's breathing was uneven, still in terrible pain. Lee reached out for the bandages to help stop the bleeding, and he applied them as carefully as he could, making Neji extend his arm to wrap him as he should.

“I don't want to do this ever again,” Neji complained, laying on bed with his stomach on the mattress, trying to rest to make the pain go away more easily. Lee offered him some painkillers and he only moved his head to drink one or two, then proceeded to lay down in a comfortable position once again.

His partner laid down by his side, resting his head close to his. The alpha mark worked so both people's scents would mix, and no alpha would dare to lay a finger on a marked omega. That meant the omega was taken, that they already had a life partner or maybe even two, depending on their relationship. 

That was why it was usually a step right before marriage. But that's a different story, and they would figure things out later on.

For now, he would just rest by Neji's side, giving him whatever he needed for a good recovery. Lee was just happy to have such a wonderful person by his side.