Never in her life did the Hyuuga heiress thought she would lose sleep thinking about a former avenger but she supposed it’s inevitable when someone as enigmatic as Uchiha Sasuke was plaguing your mind. Naruto and Sakura cornered her at the training ground that afternoon rambling about how poor poor Sasuke was unable to attend Team 7 practice because he was knocked down with fever and colds.
She suspected that the couple was trying to guilt trip her and Hinata almost agreed to take care of Sasuke when she remembered that their relationship had been rocky at best and the Uchiha was avoiding her the past couple of weeks.
Hinata didn’t want to put a label to their relationship. The year after the war gave them an opportunity to get to know each other and an odd sort of understanding and affection developed between them. She cared for him, but anything past friendship was something she was afraid to explore especially when she was unsure of his feelings. She had known what one-sided love was like and Hinata didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Naruto anytime soon.
Sighing dejectedly, Hinata grabbed her coat and left the Hyuuga compound. Despite the recent strain in their relationship, Sasuke was a friend and she couldn’t leave him alone knowing he needed someone to care for him. She will go to his apartment to make sure he’s comfortable and feeling better. Maybe after then she could get her much-needed sleep.
—
Sasuke stood in the doorway staring in disbelief at the woman who looked impossibly like Hinata. Groping for the doorframe, he clutched it, trying to keep the dizziness at bay. He stared at her, half-convinced that his fever was causing him to hallucinate because really why would the Hyuuga heiress pay him a visit at this ungodly hour?
"What do you want?" he asked roughly hoping she’ll get the hint that he didn’t appreciate her being here.
Hinata took one look at him and felt her resolve crumble beneath her. Sasuke looked so helpless, dressed in a simple black shirt and gray pants, his hair hadn’t been combed in days. She saw him looking at her through red-rimmed eyes.
"Naruto-kun and Sakura-san told me you had a fe-," she broke off as Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself, his body shaking with tremor. Her hand instinctively moved and against her better judgment, reached out to touch his forehead to test his temperature.
"That feel’s good, Hinata," he muttered absent-mindedly, closing his eyes at the coolness of her fingers against his skin.
A blush warmed her cheeks at his words. “I think it’s best if I bring you to the hospital, Sasuke-kun.”
Her words seemed to recall him back to his senses and Sasuke jerked his head back away from her, walking to the living room of his apartment. Hinata followed closely behind him.
"Naruto-kun was worried about you and Sakura-san asked me to check if you were taking your medicines."
"I can take care of myself," he replied gruffly, rolling his head on the back of his sofa as if it was too heavy to lift. "You can leave."
An awkward silence befall the two of them and Sasuke felt the familiar warmth spread across his chest when he was near the Hyuuga heiress. “I don’t know what I did wrong to make you upset with me.” Sasuke opened his eyes to look at her but remained still, not sure how to respond to her, “But I can’t leave you alone knowing you’re sick. Please let me take care of you.”
Onyx eyes locked against opalescent ones. He had always thought Hinata was too kind and too transparent with her emotions for a kunoichi. Under his scrutinizing gaze, he saw genuine concern in her eyes.
"I’m not the best patient in the world you know," he said, trying his best break the tension between the two of them.
Her eyes widened before giggling against the back of her hand, “I’ve handled children at the hospital, Sasuke-kun. I know a difficult patient when I see one.”
He grunted and closed his eyes, not sure if he was being insulted or not.
"Ne, have you eaten anything since this morning?"
When Sasuke didn’t respond, Hinata went to the kitchen to check the pantry and fridge only to find a box of opened biscuits of indeterminate age, an empty carton of milk and a few freshly picked tomatoes.
"You need something to eat before you take your medicine," she said, grabbing her purse from the coffee table near his couch. "I passed by a grocery store on my way here, I’ll go and-"
"You don’t have to do this Hinata," he managed to raise his head to look at her. "I just need to sleep this off."
As his head dropped back down against the back of his sofa, Hinata can’t help but feel her chest tighten. “You need to eat first before taking your medicine. I’ll be quick.”
"I’m locking the door once you leave."
"Naruto-kun told me where you hide your spare key so you can’t keep me out."
His mouth turned sullen and Hinata smiled warmly at him. Who would’ve thought that one of the deadliest shinobi in the world could act like a five years old when sick?