You can't always get what you want

[gentledheart]

Who: Hinata and Obito
Where: Obito's apartment.
When: August 17
What: Time to cry all over sensei.

Honestly, she was grateful that Obito was her sensei. Not that the other sensei's weren't decent in their own right, but she wasn't sure she'd have quite the same relationship with another jounin sensei. As the week since her engagement had progressed she'd grown more reclusive. She'd never been one for large groups, but even leaving her room for more than meals was difficult. Too many pleased faces in the main house. Her engagement finally putting an end to her many failures as the clan's heiress.

Being aware of this fact only made the sinking feeling in her stomach worse. Arriving at Obito's apartment she knocked to see if he'd indeed made it in the time frame he specified. She wasn't going to just let herself in that would be rude even if she was expected. Instead she stood there waiting, fidgeting witg the hem of her jacket in an effort to appease the anxiety she was feeling.

Comments

[thebestuchiha]

He pulled the door open pretty much immediately, a hand reaching to touch her shoulder as soon as he took in her expression. "Alright you, I made tea so come sit and I'll get it okay?"

[gentledheart]

She nods and makes her way back to sit down, gaze downcast as she goes. "Thank you sensei."

[thebestuchiha]

"Of course. I've been a bit worried about you lately. You've seemed... stressed." It as said with hesitance, and he moved off to make tea as stated. He hesitated, then dug for hte cinnamon cookies he had too.

[gentledheart]

She can't deny that things have been less than what she's come to consider normal at home. And all she can really do is sit and attempt a very weak smile to reassure him. Not that she expects it will. Instead, she remains quiet, her fingers twisting tighter coils into the hem of her jacket while she waits for Obito to return with the tea and the surprise container of cookies.

[thebestuchiha]

When he came back, he started to carefully set things along the table. "So, I'm guessing you wanted to see me to talk about that?" It was said gently, and he peered at her.

[gentledheart]

She nods slowly, her hands stilling and falling uselessly into her lap. "Mhm," she nods, "I'm engaged to Neji-niisan."

[thebestuchiha]

He set down one of the cups a bit more heavily than strictly required. "That's... sudden."

[gentledheart]

Yeah that was pretty similar to her reaction when the elders announced her engagement. "Father and the elders had an agreement, I'm to be married by my sixteenth birthday." Her voice gets much softer as she keeps talking. Saying the deadline still made her stomach flip at the strangeness of it.

[thebestuchiha]

"That's stupid." He paused, then frowned. "Is there anyone you'd rather marry? You could always elope."

[gentledheart]

She almost snorts, not out of disrespect but because she knows what he's trying to get at and that wouldn't be fair. So instead she shakes her head and sighs. "It's not that simple. Hyuuga...we just don't marry outside of the clan. It's tradition." There were a number of other reasons she hadn't gone forward and just gone out and eloped with a certain someone, too. Important ones that had never seemed ready to share with anyone.

[thebestuchiha]

"I know, but sometimes traditions are just bad habits. Have... you considered just telling them no? Can you?"

[gentledheart]

"Not that I've been able to see. I'm not sure I should try. As much as it isn't something I want, Neji-nii deserves the right to call himself main branch."

[thebestuchiha]

"Hinata, I respect Neji, and I even like him, but you shouldn't sacrifice both of your happiness over this." He shook his head sharply.

[gentledheart]

"It isn't the only reason. I have plans for when I'm head of the clan. Eloping could jeopardize them and as much as Hanabi is progressing as a find kunoichi, she's too much like father."

[thebestuchiha]

He quieted at that. "Then you need to work it out Hinata. My hands are unfortunately tied. I don't want to see you unhappy."

He offered her one of the cups after pouring the tea.

[gentledheart]

She knew that too and she disliked that he couldn't just make this problem go away. "I know that." And she's struck by that urge to cry she'd been doing so well to suppress. She's frustrated with herself she hasn't had this much difficulty articulating what she wants to say in years. Add to the fact that she can't actually feel anything, but the expected happiness at being engaged in front of her family and she just crumbles on her teacher's couch.

The offered cup of tea barely even seen through blurry eyes. "Why do they have to ruin everything always?"

[thebestuchiha]

Okay no tea then. He set it down immediately then slid around so he was sitting beside her, hugging her against his side without any kind of hesitation. She didn't need that, but he'd been waiting for a sign and this was it. Poor kid. "Because they're assholes and that's why you want to take it out of their hands."

[gentledheart]

That's about all she needs to have her curling into his side as she cries. There's a long moment where all she does as sob wetly into his shirt. But eventually the tears die down as quickly as they came on. As much as she needed to cry she doesn't have it in her to mourn long, she can make this work for her. She'll have to. "Thank you."

[thebestuchiha]

"You never have to thank me Hinata." He petted her hair, then hugged her again with a sigh. "I'll help any way I can."

[gentledheart]

She lingers just for a few seconds in the hug and then pulls away. "Thank you. I'm going to need all the help I can get to convince them that branding family as main and branch should stop." It feels so weird to say that aloud even if she's only implying her true intentions.

[thebestuchiha]

"I know, and I will help you." It was a murmur, firm. "Changing the world means nothing if I can't change the things wrong at home too."

[gentledheart]

She smiles then, it's a little watery but the light of it reaches her eyes. The relief she feels almost palpable. "I'd just be happy to change my little corner of it." Or at least get things started and the way paved for who comes after her.

[thebestuchiha]

He smiled back, warm and supportive. It was good, to see her calmer. "I'm sure you'll do that and more."

[gentledheart]

"Thank you." It was good to know that she had support from someone since she imagines her cousin isn't feeling very supportive right now. She'd have to talk to him sooner or later though. Taking a deep breath, Hinata leaned forward to pick up her forgotten cup tea, hands steadier now as she brings the cup to her lips and sips at the warm liquid.

"You're the first person I've told." Which is to say she doesn't have a clue how to tell Sasuke when she can already imagine his reaction to it.

[thebestuchiha]

"Do you intend to tell anyone else before you have to?" He collected his own forgotten cup too, sipping at it as Hinata finally seemed more at ease.

[gentledheart]

Hinata doesn't answer immediately, choosing instead to sip at her tea again. She needs to tell Sasuke eventually. "Sasuke...somehow."

She should probably tell Naruto too, but she isn't sure she wants to not if there was a slim chance that she could still find a way out of this.

[thebestuchiha]

"You could always just tell him during a sparring session. If nothing else you can watch him trip over his own feet in shock." He looked sideways at her, aware she wouldn't do that, but the mental image should be amusing.

[gentledheart]

The look she gives him says exactly how she feels about that suggestion. That would be cheating if she did that. But it does get her to smile a little bit after she sighs. "You know I won't do that. I'll figure it out eventually."

Now the only question left was: did she message Naruto to tell him?

[thebestuchiha]

"I know. You're a strong, intelligent girl. You can handle one awkward Sasuke." He gave her a fond smile, amused despite himself. "Right?"

[gentledheart]

She grins and nods, "Of course. He's easy compared to Naruto."

[thebestuchiha]

"That would be because Naruto suffers an even worse case of the oblivious than Sasuke does." He huffed a laugh, shaking his head.

[gentledheart]

She shifts a little bit, awkward at the reminder that Naruto is one heck of an oblivious teen. "Yeah..." She sips at her tea again.

[thebestuchiha]

"Don't worry. If you end up like me, his obliviousness will lend you to other thoughts eventually." He gave her a wry smile and shook his head.

[gentledheart]

She can't help but look a little doubtful. "There aren't nearly that many options after becoming clan head..."

[thebestuchiha]

"And there are so many as Hokage." His tone was bone dry. "You have other options Hinata, promise. You'll find someone who sees you as clearly as you see them."

[gentledheart]

"Okay, point taken." She sighs and shrugs. "I guess. I should just focus on the things in front of me for now, shouldn't I?"

[thebestuchiha]

"Don't close out your options." It was a murmur, and he smiled at her. "You'll be alright. You're a brilliant girl."

[gentledheart]

"I'll try." She takes a breath and takes another long sip of her tea. "I'll have to be no matter what happens." It might be a little defeatist but she would have to find a way to be at peace with whatever the outcome was even if it was the least desired one.

[thebestuchiha]

"Hinata. None of that now." He gave her a stern look. "You'll make it work for you, no being resigned to something before you try what you can."

[gentledheart]

She doesn't look convinced but nods slowly. "I hope so." She pauses, takes a breath then says more firmly, "I will."

[thebestuchiha]

"Better. That's my student." He reached over, resting his hand on her arm. "I have faith in you, don't forget."

[gentledheart]

A beat passes. "Thank you." Leaning forward Hinata sets the now empty cup on the table. When she sits back she turns a soft smile on him. "You probably have work to do. I shouldn't keep you any longer."

[thebestuchiha]

"You know I'll always make time for you." He nodded once, relaxing now that she was settled. "But I'm sure that someone will hunt me down with paperwork soon enough if I don't get back, yeah."

[gentledheart]

She nods completely understanding. "You go back, I'll clean up and lock up on my way out." It was the least she could do, and it would help her just to do something so normal before she went back to picking out invitation patterns and china. And whittling down the guest list was going to be a test of her legendary patience.

[thebestuchiha]

He leaned over, giving her a hug before getting to his feet. "If you're sure, then okay. Stay as long as you want."

[gentledheart]

She nods. "Thank you, sensei."

[thebestuchiha]

"Any time Hinata." He smiled, then headed off to return to his office, leaving her in his home.