Kindling

It was clear that the mission had made a difference, not only in Tobirama’s relationship with Madara but also in his relationship with his brother as Madara saw Hashirama paying more attention and recognition to his brother than he had ever seen before in the following weeks, even if praise still seemed thin on the ground unless it was coming from the Uchiha. It was good; oh Tobirama seemed flustered by it and tended to stiffen but Hashirama was good about doing it when Madara was nearby and could flare his chakra to mitigate the reflexive fear (and, gods, if someone had told Madara that he would see the White Demonafraid six months ago he would have laughed in their face). It did mean that Madara had to dial down his own praise and approval to keep from overwhelming the younger man but he was willing to sacrifice his enjoyment of that for the brother’s to have a better relationship, he was good like that.

Not to say that Madara didn’t slip it into conversation from time to time just to see Tobirama blink at him in that slightly stunned way he had that made him look like one of his summons that had run into a glass door (a memory Madara treasured even if he had pretended not to have seen it – no need to piss off the leopards), but he had toned it down instead of up the way he wanted (after all, step six was supposed to last just about forever). What he had done was start with more touching, carefully guiding Tobirama with a touch at his back when they walked together, brushing their fingers when handed something and even getting in a few stimulating taijutsu spars that Madara enjoyed far more than he should. All in all Madara was quite happy with how his self-imposed mission was going, happy enough he was humming softly as he washed the dinner dishes one night a couple of months after they returned from the mission when he heard a loud knocking on his front door.

A little baffled as to who could be visiting Madara kneaded a little chakra to check as he dried his hands and his eyebrows flew up at the feel of Tobirama standing at this door feeling very agitated. What in the world-? A little faster than he would have for anyone else Madara moved to the door and opened it just as Tobirama was raising his hand to knock again, catching the upraised fist in his hand and cradling it gently rather than letting go as he asked, “Tobirama?” he kept his voice low and soothing, flaring his chakra to reassure the agitated albino. Tobirama licked his lips and opened his mouth and then froze, clearly struggling as Madara’s worried frown deepened until Tobirama choked out “Tea?” in a shockingly plaintive voice and as Madara ushered the albino into his house and headed to the kitchen to make more of the special tea, absently giving Tobirama his back without a thought in his worry (and…well, pleasure that Tobirama had come to him when he was upset, kami that was exactly the thing to make him preen).

After they were settled at the table with the calming tea- the first cup of which Tobirama had drained with worrying speed before Madara poured him a second- Madara carefully asked about what had happened, watching Tobirama spin the cup in his fingers for a long moment, looking at a loss. “Hashirama – he – Mito, oh kami, they’re pregnant. Well – Mito is pregnant, Hashirama is over the moon and I just…” ah, this….was not what Madara had expected but he maybe should have. There were lots of reasons that Tobirama could have mixed feelings about this but, what specifically was it? “Ah,” Madara ventured “what’s wrong?” ugh, not the best way to phrase it but, well, the best Madara could do right now. Tobirama snarled and leapt to his feet, pacing through the room with clear distress for a long moment before he forced himself to speak, “I don’t – I don’t know! I just….I, all I can think about is Ita and Kawa and I couldn’t protect them and I don’t want to run the risk of caring when they’re so venerable- babies die from things all the time!- and now I won’t – I won’t, I-” he was clearly stuck, face twisted in a snarl and wringing his hands and looking so distressed Madara didn’t even think before he acted, standing and rounding the table in a few steps to draw the unresisting man into his arms, cradling Tobirama to him until the tension abated and the albino relaxed into him piece by piece.

It was a heady feeling to feel this strong, wild, nearly feral man go soft and pliant in his arms, soft white hair brushing his cheek as Tobirama tentatively tucked his head in the crook of Madara’s neck. He smelled ever so faintly of ink, weapons oil, and tea with a hint of whatever Hashirama had made for dinner and the scent of ozone and Madara felt his stomach drop as he realized with a earth shaking jolt that he would never be able to smell those things without thinking of the way Tobirama felt pressed against him. Oh. Oh kami. Oh eternal flame. How – how had Madara never realized – oh Amaterasu. He should have seen this, should have realized before now, should have known when he first looked at the soft blush and went ‘huh.’ that this was where this was headed (though how could he have ever anticipated this? Ever understood how amazing Tobirama actually was under his armor or how dearly Madara would want to keep him once he got a chance to know Tobirama. How could he have ever known that Tobirama would be so….good?). Carefully Madara gathered Tobirama even closer, letting himself nuzzle into the white hair a little and just breathing Tobirama in, relishing the way the albino’s tension was leaking away the longer he was held. Kami yes he should have seen this before, but he was so glad that he had it now, no matter what else happened.

Eventually Madara asked lowly, “Tobirama?” and the albino nuzzled closer as though trying to hide in the Uchiha. “Hashirama’s heir will be the heir to the Senju. What – what will I be then?” the words were almost lost in his shoulder where Tobirama was folded over him and Madara felt his eyebrows jolt up in surprise, that, that was not what he had expected but on second thought it did make sense; especially given what Hashirama had said about the way they were raised and how much Butsuma put on Tobirama being the ‘Heir’. Well, alright then, gently Madara rocked then slightly, humming thoughtfully. “I think that we need to give you and I official titles.” He said finally, smiling a bit as Tobirama stirred against him, feeling the confused frown on Tobirama’s face against his neck. “You won’t be the Senju heir anymore but its going to be a long time before a child is going to be ready to take anything over- if ever, given half their genetics-“ Tobirama snorted at his grumbled aside and Madara smirked, pleased “and even so, you are so much more than just the Senju Heir Tobirama, just think about how much of a mess it was when you were gone! You are vital to the village and it is about time that was recognized officially. After all you’re the one that is always saying that the village has to be bigger than just the clans? Just because Hashirama has a child does not mean that you will be less needed, by him, your clan, or the village. And-“ he hesitated and then plunged on “I certainly won’t stop wanting you around just because Hashirama had a brat to coo over and making it even harder to keep him on task”.

At those words Madara could feel the heat of Tobirama’s blush where they were pressed together and the way Tobirama tried to burrow further into him to get away from the combined praise and sentiment. The albino grumbled wordlessly into Madara’s collar, twisting just enough to set warning teeth on the Uchiha’s neck (and no Madara didn’t have to throttle down a shudder at the feeling, he – oh whatever, he totally did), “It would be good to get you officially recognized as well Madara, you do to much to just be unrecognized” and yes, Madara could admit that that…felt wonderful to hear. (Some days it was easy to feel like he was ignored by the village, or unwanted, given the way many flinched back from him and the distance that Madara was all too aware of between him and his clan who would rather speak to Izuna than him if they could. It was easy to feel in the shadow next to Hashirama, like he was lesser for lacking the other man’s easy temper and unthreatening façade- and it was a façade-, so being recognized by Tobirama? That was…wonderful.)

“All right” Madara said “we’ll work on that. And Tobirama, have no doubt that if anyone threatens the children of this village I will rip them to shreds” at that he flared his chakra threateningly, startled and delighted when Tobirama shuddered against him; a faint thready gasp slipping out and making the Uchiha wonder if maybe, just maybe – “don’t stab me for this” he muttered, shifting back enough to brush a kiss over Tobirama’s brow before pulling back and meeting those lovely red eyes over the blush Madara liked so much. For a moment Tobirama searched his face and then his mouth opened on a gasp before Tobirama surged in, pressing their mouths together in a hot kiss Madara instantly rose to meet. Clutching the slimmer man to him harder than before as he supped from thin lips, kissing like they needed it to breath; hot and deep in a way Madara hadn’t anticipated as Tobirama cupped his face in one hand and tangled the other in Madara’s long hair.

Kami it was good, it was so good, Madara never wanted to stop kissing Tobirama, never wanted to let him go, never wanted to breath anything that didn’t smell of ink and tea and weapons oil. But eventually they had to part, lips spit slick and red with kissing as Tobirama pressed their brows together, his red eyes dazed and half-lidded as he licked his lips, “I want – I don’t want casual” Tobirama forced out and Madara’s heart soared, face splitting in a wide grin as he impulsively grabbed Tobirama’s slender waist and lifted the other man enough to spin then around, laughing when the albino yelped and clutched at his shoulders – but notably didn’t fight it even though he easily could. “Neither do I” Madara promised, forcing himself not to offer Tobirama a place in his clan if he was never going to be the Senju heir; it was a bit early for that and Tobirama might take it wrong anyway. “I want everything not casual with you, you are far too rare and precious for me to ever let you go if you are willing to be mine” and just like that Tobirama blushed and shoved his face into Madara’s hair to hide, curling closer instead of further away.

“You know you’re rather wonderful Madara,” he muttered and Madara’s heart skipped a beat “I won’t say this often but, you’re my favorite person to spend time with and the one I seek out for no reason other than I like your presence” oh, oh no. This, this wasn't fair. He was blushing wasn’t he?