Lies
Madara let out a long sigh as he finally walked his way into the training grounds. He had been trying to get here for hours now. Itching to let some energy out after the extremely trying week of nonstop meetings for budgets and expansion plans and the ever annoying council- and today the elders of his clan decided to be particularly aggravating about the academy guidelines that have been approved for months now and are actively being used.
He moved from ground to ground, looking for one that was, A) free and B) big enough for a katon or seven. He had his chakra pulled in close, it's explosive fiery nature off putting to some and Madara didn't want to deter people from the area when they were here first.
That is where he stumbled upon an exhausted looking Tobirama and some woman in an overly fancy kimono compared to what the Senju- ( heir? Clan head? I really need to actually know that. A question for later.) -compared to what he was wearing.
Tobirama is very exact when it comes to proper attire for situations. Always ensuring everyone was properly dressed for anything of importance. Maybe she is lost?
And maybe he was spying and being nosey. But Tobirama hadn't sensed him yet and that never happens. So of course he was going to take a front row seat while hiding behind a tree and an overgrown bush and watch. But as he began to listen, his blood began to boil even further.
"You and I both know that even if you run and hide from me, our engagement is all but guaranteed. You have denied and or scared off every possible wife your elders have set you up with. Well it will take more than a demon like you to scare me." Madara peaked over at Tobirama who was glaring daggers at the woman, fists clenched as he stood tall, a look and stance he has seen make ruthless killers quiver. If looks could kill…
"I have worked too damn hard for a title of status to let the opportunity of being Wife of the Senju Clan Head pass me by." Well that answers my previous question.
"I had wanted the Uchiha first" like I'd ever marry her even if I was straight. "but it is too well known that he doesn't appreciate the company of a woman," Why does Tobirama look surprised by that? "and the heir is already married to your bitch of a cousin."
Wait till I tell Izuna her words, I wonder what shade he'll dye her skin. "I hope at least our children will get my looks. We don't need any more freaks looking like you." Madara was about to roast her right there but Tobirama openly snarled at her.
"Izumi-san, I will never willingly marry you. A child will never be born of a union between us."
"Oh, you'll be saying differently when I tell others that I am with child. Your child." What?!
"Impossible. You and I have never shared intimacy of any kind."
"On, I know that. But your elders and brother will demand it as to keep your name from being disgraced." Hashirama would never-! …right?
"And when no child is born?"
"Oh, but by then it won't matter. I'll cry tears of pity and how much you begged me not to tell and the wedding will be only months away." The scheming bitch smiled a grin reminiscent of a snake.
"So give up now. There is no one left willing to marry you and my plan is fool proof."
Madara could see Tobirama thinking it over and the miniscule widening of his eyes at her in realization had Madara wracking his own brain for an idea because Tobirama, the genius at loopholes, didn't see a way out. Unless Madara did something, Tobirama
was trapped .
Now, Madara hated arranged marriages; unless those arranged were in love prior to the contract, like Hashirama and Mito. (The practice of arranged ones long banned in his own clan due to how dearly love is to a Uchiha. Yes, he was expected to birth an heir as clan head, but surrogates were an easy solution.) But blackmailing another into a forced marriage? His rage broke and an idea was born.
In terms of Madara's thoughts on Tobirama, he admired the man. Tobirama was a genius tactician who flowed like a river in a battle, no move wasted. (Madara particularly enjoyed watching him do so.) He was kind and gentle with children, if the small gaggle that was usually following him (lead by Kagami) was anything to go by. (And Kagami's own stories of the lessons the Senju had given him when Madara himself knew the man was incredibly busy and the patience he had shown when explaining things when Kagami got stuck.) He was so much better at politics than any of them and he is solely responsible for getting the Daimyo to agree to their village. It also seems like the man had a new jutsu that he invented every other week or so. Okay fine, maybe Madara had a crush on the younger Senju. But, he hadn't wanted to rock the boat of their still fragile peace to begin any type of courting, especially if he was rejected and potentially make things awkward.
He also didn't know Tobirama's sexuality in the slightest. The conversations they shared never touched that topic. They only ever talked about things involving the village and were famous for their explosive disagreements before coming to a similar conclusion. (Unstoppable fire, meet unmoving ice wall.) So, he was praying to Ametersu for luck and just hoping Tobirama would show him mercy when he burst from his hiding spot, chakra on full output and acted out his idea.
Tobirama looked over at him in shock, and a small hidden look of relief on his face as Madara's chakra hit him. Noting that for later. He purposefully acted like he hadn't seen the evil woman and leapt over to Tobirama in one swoop. When he landed, he grabbed Tobirama by the back of the neck and kissed him furiously and pulled back to look him in the eye, counting the minutes until he was rightfully decked for this stunt.
"I have been searching for you all day . You have no idea how annoying the elders were today. Can we just order in tonight instead of cooking? My treat?" Izuri, or whatever, cleared her throat and Madara acted shocked to see her. She was sweating now and like highly uncomfortable as his chakra was cooking her ever so much and pressing down on her as he focused it around her location.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I don't realize Tobi-kun was entertaining a guest today. Koibito, why didn't you tell me that was today ?" He looked at Tobirama who had their eyes wide, hand in their lips. Still in shock.
"Anyway, my apologies once again miss…"
"Izumi Takuma. Tobirama's fiancé ." Madara let himself laugh at that. "Oh, you're serious? Well, don't get attached to the title honey. I've seen many of those come and go in his life. All who wanted to be a wife . Not sorry to say that I'm keeping this one and I know damn well my name has more pull than yours anywhere if you try to mess that up somehow. Now shoo and go annoy someone else. My boyfriend and I have a date to go to." Madara made sure to smile a bit too toothily at her. The smile that Izuna said was creepy. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"This is a bold lie. I know it. You two hate each other, it is very well known. Tobirama is my fiancé. So buzz off Uchiha ."
Tobirama cleared his throat and shook off the shock and grabbed Madara's shoulder before he could respond.
"Madara dear , I was hoping to keep that a secret a bit longer. Just until I convinced this one to leave." Tobirama gestured his chin toward Izumi as he said that.
"I'd say sorry love, but I'm really not. I'm tired of hiding us." Madara pouted. It was not the first time he had needed to act something out improv was as easy for a good shinobi as keeping a secret.
"Well, we know she won't keep quiet about it. So there is no more hiding now." Tobirama sighed and turned to Izumi again.
" This is why we will never wed. I was trying to avoid your embarrassment but you pushed the issue. Now, we can can pretend you were annoyed by me and left like all the others and your reputation stays intact, or you keep pushing this and it comes to life you tried to steal the beloved of an Uchiha and be shamed for it everywhere you go. That I can make sure to."
The woman glared at them both.
" Fine . I can find someone else who will appreciate my generosity. You're too much work anyway." Then she turned and left in a huff.
In that same moment Madara felt like the world and himself were turned inside out, spun in a circle, shaken vigorously, and then put back together. When his eyes opened again, they were in a house and the world was slowly coming back unto focus as he leaned against the wall for support.
"Sorry about that. Only feels horrible the first few times." Madara let his eyes focus fully before speaking.
"Nope, taking this as part of my punishment for what I did back there. Please forgive my abhorrent actions. I never asked consent, nor did I know if you had another partner in which you were bound to." He swallowed down the last bit of bile that was trying to find its way up his throat and took a deep breath.
"I… don't. But, do you ?"
"Huh? Do I what?"
"Have another partner you are bound to? Did you just kiss me and betray another?"
"No..? Tobirama-" a look of relief was on Tobirama's face again but he still cut Madara off.
"And is what she said true, about your…um preferences ?" Madara looked at the man like had 3 heads. Wait..is he… blushing?!
"Uh, sort of? Uchiha prioritize love above all else. Heirs can be worked out later." Where is this line of questioning even going?
"Then, just a favor to ask. Do me this service." Tobirama stepped closer, hands moving hesitantly as he gently put his hand on Madara's cheek, cupping his face. I was expecting a punch, nothing this soft… I don't want him to let go…
"Kiss me again… please ."
There was such fragile hope in the younger man's eyes and voice. A soft plea that he had allowed himself to make. A look so open and bare, that Madara wasn't sure he was even worthy of seeing such raw emotion from Tobirama.
Their noses were almost touching now and Madara's brain had stopped for a moment. Could it be, he feels… the same…?
Madara gazed into the garnet eyes of the person he had only hoped he could be with like this one day and nodded. And with that, Tobirama gently brought their lips together, a soft kiss that Madara allowed himself to feel this time. One that set him ablaze. He brought his hands up the other's chest, and gripped the fabric there tightly and let Tobirama be the one to set the pace of this one. But as gentle as the kiss was, both of them still were breathless once Tobirama touched their foreheads together after pulling away.
"Thank you… for allowing me that kindness." He whispered beginning to pull away. But Madara retained his grip on the other's shirt firmly and kept gim close.
"Now, if I may ask one of my own." he said, still trying to wrap his brain around this and choosing his words carefully. "Let me court you, more properly at least. Forget my lies earlier to ward off that yokai of a woman. I want to actually be able to call you mine, if you'd allow it." There. He said it. Politics be damned. He was Madara Uchiha and he wasn't backing down now.
"You…you would want… me? " Tobirama said, thoroughly shocked sounding.
"Who wouldn't ? You're gorgeous Tobirama, inside and out. No one meets me blow for blow in a discussion or argument. Your dedicated and kind. You make me feel alive .
"But… me? "
"I would have asked sooner but… well the politics of the new village and everything."
"And now?"
"Politics can kiss my ass after this week. I'm going to be selfish now…. if you'd allow it." If he says no, I'm taking that diplomacy mission in Suna.
"Only if you promise that we can keep up the charade that this has gone on longer than in reality to mess with my Anija a bit." The wicked glint in Tobirama's eyes made Madara know that he would never regret his hair brained idea earlier.
"That asshole left me with his paperwork today. So, yes."
So the lies turned into truths as they shared takeout together and talked about everything until they fell asleep on Tobirama's couch, slumped together.
And if Izumi went mysteriously missing at the same time Touka was on a classified and unfiled mission? Well…