Tobirama stares at the folded kimono in his hands for a long time.
Madara thinks he might be frozen, raking his eyes all over the kimono he bought for him. The giddiness inside him soon turns into worry as the silence stretches out.
He had bought the kimono during his trip in Uzushio, deep blue similar to Tobirama's armor with white waves patterned at the edge and golden dragons embroidered over it. The fabric is soft and suitable for Tobirama’s sensitive skin. The merchant had told him it was made by one of the best seamstresses there, and the materials used are ones that were hard to find anywhere.
Madara didn’t think much about the pricing on it. Tobirama deserves high quality gifts and Madara is more than happy to spend a fortune for him.
Back then he had thought that Tobirama would look pretty in it, but now he realized he hadn't considered how Tobirama might feel receiving a gift like this. Madara’s heart sinks a little at the thought of his lover who might not like his gift.
He had been permitted to court the omega only a few weeks ago. They had been hanging out together frequently courtesy of helping Hashirama sort the village, and soon he realized that Tobirama is actually a wonderful person to be around with and a very good companion as well. He realized then that the feelings he had for the younger exceeded that of mere friendship. Tobirama is a gem and he didn’t want to lose him to some undeserving shinobi or civilian. So, he decided one day to ask Tobirama if he wanted to have a relationship with him, and had been overjoyed when the omega he desires accepted.
They were not bonded, however. Lovers but not yet lifemates. Hashirama will only allow him to mate Tobirama if he went through the Senju’s tradition of 3 months courting. A special gift each month that reminds someone of their desired mate.
So now he’s starting to get anxious, he can’t smell how the omega feels, doesn’t know if he’s happy or not. Scent sweet, alluring, and relaxing- like home, but completely steady. Tobirama smells like usual and that makes him unreadable for a situation like this. Not an added sweetness to his scent to indicate that he’s happy or sourness to indicate that he’s unpleased.
“I- um, bought that a few days ago. Everything reminds me of you so… I’m sorry, I did not consider whether you would like this or not. Ah, If you dislike it you are free to return it to me, I could find you something better.” Madara scratches the back of his head awkwardly. He forces down the disappointment if it’s true that the omega he desires refuses his gift.
Tobirama seems to finally snap out from his thoughts, looking a little wide-eyed at having Madara catching him staring as if he wasn’t just there standing in silence for 2 solid minutes.
“Oh, sorry! No no this is fine, I- I like it, I love it. Thank you, Madara,” Madara internally let out a sigh of relief, so Tobirama doesn’t hate it after all.
“Then is there any problem?” Because there’s no way Tobirama didn’t think of anything when he looks like his brain was filled with multiple things all at once.
“No, I think this is perfect in itself. It’s just…” Tobirama pauses as he looks down to the kimono in his hands again. Madara can see a tinge of pink in those ears.
“I just think that there is something off with this one.” Tobirama tells him, and that sent alarm bells in Madara’s head.
Did he miss something? Is the kimono damaged? He’s sure he checked and rechecked the fabric all over before purchase, not missing any details. He didn’t want to bring back a damaged gift, he made sure it was as perfect as the merchant said, but anything could’ve happened on his way back to Konoha. Bringing back a flawed gift to a wonderful omega that is Tobirama just won’t do.
“What? Is something wrong with it? Are there any holes?— whatever it is I will take responsibility. I can fix it for you if you need it.” Madara offers.
“Truly?”
“Ah… yes?” And it was more of a question than a confirmation. The shyness he sees on Tobirama before fades away and quickly changes into something else. There’s a glint to those red eyes that Madara can’t seem to put his finger on.
Before he knows it, soft fabric was being shoved into his face.
“Ack! What the hell are you doing?!” Madara shrieked. The still folded kimono is being rubbed insistently against him, around him, and he doesn’t even know what’s going on!! Tobirama is treating him like some drenched cat in need of immediate drying.
“Stay still will you?” Tobirama huffs irritatingly, and the person who should be irritated here is Madara himself! His mane of a hair becomes messier by the constant rubbing. He can feel the fabric rubbing particularly excessive against his scent gland, but was too focused on everything else to bother to know what it means.
When the heavy rubbing stops, Madara opens his eyes to see Tobirama stepping back and looking pleased with himself, the kimono on his hands creased. Obviously not in a state where it can be used any time soon.
Madara scowls at his lover and soon-to-be lifemate. As much as he loves and adores him, Tobirama can still be an infuriating asshole sometimes!
“Tobirama, if you think this is—“ funny, he was going to say, was going to blow up if Tobirama did this as some kind of sick joke, but quickly freezes as Tobirama brought the rumpled kimono to his nose.
Tobirama inhales deeply into the cloth and lets out a breathy, dreamy sigh. Madara’s breath hitches when Tobirama looks up to him with dazed eyes.
“Much better.” Tobirama is smiling so sweetly at him that he could swear he saw the gates of heaven before him.
Nothing was wrong with his courting gift. It was as perfect as it can be. The only thing that bothered Tobirama was that it doesn’t have Madara’s scent on it.
(Idly, he remembers how Tobirama likes to lean close to him far before their relationship even began. Not close enough to invade his personal space, but enough for Tobirama and himself to smell each other’s scent. Clearly, Tobirama likes his scent more than he could imagine.)
Before he can sort out his thoughts and form a coherent response, Tobirama reaches a hand to his nape and pulls him forward to connect their lips together.
He groans into the kiss, immediately holding Tobirama close by the waist. Tobirama’s scent is a little heavier this time, sweeter, lovelier, and it makes Madara’s head spin. He doesn't have to understand the situation to enjoy what's happening.
After a long moment, they finally separated from the kiss, panting heavily and staring at each other. Tobirama looks very pretty like this, hair disheveled, eyes hazy, and pink lips swollen. Madara thinks he must’ve looked similar in his lover’s eyes.
Tobirama grins at him, pecks him on the lips, then pulls Madara into an embrace. Head resting against his shoulder.
“Thank you, Madara. I truly mean it when I say I love your gift but I…” White hair rubs against the side of his face, and Madara can feel his heart beating madly against his chest.
“I would rather skip the pleasantries and have your scent all over my nest instead.” Tobirama whispers and by then Madara is already frozen on the spot.
“My heat is scheduled to come on Thursday next week,” Tobirama continues. “I would be very happy if you would like to help me through it.”
Madara sputters and struggling to process fully what Tobirama had said—had offered.
Madara had intended to follow through with the Senju courting tradition, of course. But Tobirama is maddening, and he’s sure he was trying to get him faster to his doom.
(Hashirama had threatened him, that if he was caught bedding Tobirama before the time of courting ends, he would ensure that Madara will not live to see another day.)
Tobirama is waiting patiently for his answer. Madara wants to say he can't, he's willing but he can't.
Despite everything, he is still a lovestruck fool.
"If- if that is what you wish, then we can." Madara coughs to hide his embarrassment and Tobirama lets out a laugh at that.
Fuck Hashirama then. If he has to die for making Tobirama sated and happy then that’s a risk he’s willing to take.
“Perfect, I will wear this kimono for our next meeting. See you soon then.” One last kiss to his cheek and with that, Tobirama pulled on a hiraishin mark and disappeared into thin air.
Madara stands there for a few minutes, replaying today’s event and Tobirama’s words over and over again to make sure everything was real. He is internally grateful no one is around to see him looking like an idiot standing alone at the top of the Hokage mountain.
He shakes himself to clear his mind and starts heading towards the training ground. If he is expected to finally bond with his lover next week after only less than a month of courting, he might as well train himself to death lest the alpha Senju brother seeks him out and goes after his dear life.