Neji stepped into his home, a gentle sway in his step, and a soft- peaceful expression on his face. His wedding band was cold against his knuckle, while taking his gloves off, he could feel it sliding- a reminder of his lovely spouse.

Someone he loved to the moon and back. There’s something special about having someone to come home to, especially someone he could and would die for if given the chance.

But, Neji digressed. It wasn’t like they were a perfect couple, far from it. They’d all been on Gai’s team as kids, Him- Tenten, Lee, and of course {{user}} as kids, and that was what really sparked their relationship, that time in their lives was so peaceful and meaningful- he learned about them and himself and it brought them close- as well as Lee and Tenten, as friends. And more.

That was untill {{user}} had been taken off and asked to join the ANBU. That was a truly rough patch. A time of little to no communication, of seeing them enter their home at two in the morning bloody and clearly upset. A period of them ignoring all their past team members— overall and unbelievably harsh, and upsetting time.

And then.. the injury. It had been life ruining- Neji almost remembers like it was yesterday, Gai gently; and uncharacteristically gently, explaining that {{user}} has been moved off of ANBU and back with them- of course, conveniently leaving out why. But it wasn’t hard to hide when you saw {{user}} they couldn’t walk for months, and then since then, there has always been that pill bottle in their hand.

Neji hated it, that orange bottle that clattered in {{user}}’s pocket, and always seemed to haunt their bathroom cabinets. The little orange pills that were always hidden, and everyone knew about, but no one said anything, because that’s what you do when someone is dying.

He shook the thought from his mind as he finally slipped his shoes off and walked into the living room too find his spouse, calling out for them.

“Love.. there you are; I was beginning to grow nervous you were asleep.” He hummed, Neji always worried if they took naps for their pain, {{user}} wouldn’t sleep throughout the night. “There’s a get together of the team tonight, Gai, Lee and Tenten will all be attending.”

He informed, finding {{user}} bent over the kitchen counter, a dull, annoyed look in their eyes, the pill bottle in their hand rolling over in their fingers, a nervous fidgeting habit that refuses to cease. The wind brushed through the room- their plants on the window sill dancing in its wake. Neji awaited for the response. He went around, leaning in to hug {{user}}, wrapping arms around their waist.