Chapter Text
She's easy to love, oh, and easy to hate
She tastes like a drug, and she feels just the same
Bitter to the tongue, but a thrill for your brain
A little bit crazy, but it's worth all the pain
Easy to Love- Bryce Savage
/./././
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It's raining and Tobirama is injured when he stumbles upon the stairs.
He leaves bloody and muddy footprints as he attempts to climb them, fingernails bloody and cracked as they scrabble for purchase on the stone steps, hauling his battered body further up towards the looming temple.
He needs to find shelter- needs to tend to his wounds. He's sure he lost his pursuers some time ago but isn't foolish enough to believe that he was safe from discovery.
Tobirama mentally sends a missive to old forgotten gods, hoping they hear his bitter pleas for his blood to be washed away with the torrential rain lest he be discovered before he could reorient himself.
The forces himself over the last of the stairs, dragging his body across the courtyard and at the doorstep.
The temple old and crumbling and Tobirama struggles to open the heavy door. As he slips through the threshold of the small sliver of space, he all but collapses. Fighting to catch his breath, coughing on the stale scent of rotting wood and dust.
He forces himself up, turning to slide the splintered and battered door closed behind him. Tobirama presses his back against the door, bracing himself for the possibility of discovery; breath shallow and pained. Wounds weeping blood- throbbing in time with the beat of his heart.
Bathed in darkness, battered bloody and bruised, Tobirama listens closely to the stillness of the night, to the now softer patter of rain, hoping that innocent sound was not masking the sound of approaching footsteps.
He waits. Counting the seconds between flashes of lighting and the rumbling of thunder.
Once certain he wasn't to be discovered any time soon Tobirama releases a small shuddering breath. Wairlily, he slumps against the door. He takes stock of what he has left in his surviving pouches, cursing himself for losing his imported Akimichi soldier pills during the fight. He winces as he moves to rifle through his remaining belongings to unearth a small emergency medical kit.
He squints from behind wet and soggy bangs and into the darkness before a flash of lighting illuminates the dark abandoned temple to reveal an old altar. Tobirama’s eyes spot old candles still in their place surrounding it. Sighing once more, Tobirama grits his teeth and shuffles closer, holding back sharp gasps of pain.
Once there, against his better judgment, Tobirama lights a single candle.
It is then he notices a dark Haori, blended perfectly with the darkness, almost impossible to see without the candle light. It’s folded neatly and placed at the center of the alter- an offering left behind for a long forgotten God. Tobirama sinks to his knees and bows in respect- muttering a prayer for the God that must have once resided here. Tobirama lights a second candle, almost burnt down to the very end of the wick and that’s when he sees the incense.
Tobirama considers it, and then looks once more at the altar and the Haori. He sighs as he lights the incense and mutters an apology.
Gingerly, he begins to strip, wincing and hissing as he moves, teeth catching on his lip as he tends to his wounds the best he can. His mind so focused on his task, Tobirama doesn’t notice a subtle shift in the darkness.
Naked and bandaged as best as he could, Tobirama bows low once more in respect, his forehead to the floor in apology knowing he shouldn't take the haori but it's the only dry thing around that isn't full of blood and rain.
Hashirama had always said there were slumbering Gods who still guarded their treasures jealously- even to this day in forgotten temples.
Exhausted, Tobirama unfolds the black Haori, eyes taking in the careful stitching and unique symbols. Even in his hands, the Haori blended in with the shadows of the flickering candles- the material light and curiously soft. Tobirama brings it to his nose and inhales- it smelled of firewood and smoke. Curious, as these candles looked as though they haven’t been lit in years. Tobirama inhales the scent once more- fills his lungs with it and exhales just as deeply. When Tobirama puts it on, the material so smooth and light, it felt as though he were wearing a Haori made of smoke.
It was warm. Startlingly so.
Tobirama fights to blink the sleep from his eyes. But with his chakra depleted and his body wounded as it was- it was almost effortless to curl beneath the Haori and allow himself to succumb to his exhaustion.
The darkness of the temple shifts once more and twin red eyes gaze upon the slumbering Senju.
/./././
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Tobirama snaps to full alertness at the fist touch of fingers caressing his hair. Though he doesn’t give up the pretense of sleep- Tobirama knows he is unsuccessful when a chuckle permeates the sudden stillness of the temple.
"At last- a bride made of moonlight delivered to me- swathed in my Haori and nothing else. The candles burn and the incense has been lit. I accept this long deserved offering."
Fingers move to caress Tobirama’s jaw, and then his lips, leather creaking.
Within one heart beat and the next, there's a flash of lighting and Tobirama's teeth sink into leather clad flesh- eyes snapping open to face his attacker.
Glowing red eyes stare back.
"Ah," the stranger chuckles, unbothered by the bite. "Had I known you'd be so eager to claim me in return I would not have bothered with pleasantries."
His face is smug, illuminated by the candle light- completely unaffected by the threat of Tobirama’s teeth.
Tobirama growls, teeth flashing as his lips curl back- refusing to relinquish the fingers of a man foolish enough to touch him whilst Tobirama slept- he deserves to have them bitten clean off.
The man leans closer to reach out with his other hand, to caress Tobirama’s cheek, his Haori as dark as the one Tobirama now dons, the fabric not even rustling as he moves. It moves over him- like smoke.
Tobirama’s adrenaline spikes as his heart races when the man leans closer to whisper ever so sweetly into Tobirama’s ear.
"I accept your claim in return. Well met, wife.”