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Obviously Madara was aware that Tobirama was a shifter, all the Shinobi in the village were so no one ever mistook Tobirama for a giant wolf and tried to attack him. But until now Madara never had the chance to see him shifted, he just knew a general proscription of what his shifted form looked like.
His imagination was woefully lacking. The wolf in front of him is massive, it's coloring somewhat similar to Tobirama though it has darker fur in some places. Most interesting though is the fact that the wolf had the same red markings on his face. Madara had always assumed the markings were tattoos or makeup, but there was no way they came through on his wolf form if they weren't something more.
Hashirama told him that when Tobirama shifted he became very instinct driven, it made sense. This however does not.
There Madara is enjoying an early morning solo training session before having to go into the office when without his notice Tobirama sluggishly walks up to him and rubs his massive wolf face into Madara’s bareback.
Madara jumps three feet into the air and spins with every intention of murdering whoever snuck up on him. Expecting it to be some foolish Shinobi, only to instead see a massive wolf that could only be Tobirama.
Figures Tobirama would take an opportunity to embarrass Madara, they were constantly trying to one up each other. Much to Hashirama's consternation.
He isn't sure Tobirama's reason for it, but he likes to think Tobirama does it to flirt the same way Madara does. There is no one Madara enjoys arguing with more than with Tobirama.
“Don't you dare tell anyone about this!” Madara fumes, scarcely hiding back the sharingan in his surprise and irritation. No matter his feelings it smarts to have been surprised like this.
Tobirama just lets out a pitiful whine and rubs his face against Madara's abdomen this time.
Madara looks down in concern, “are you hurt? What's going on?”
All he gets back is more whining. Madara suddenly realizes why he was able to be surprised so easily, Tobirama has dangerously low chakra. “What the hell are you doing out and about with chakra so low! You need to get home, or better yet the hospital.”
Instead of turning around to leave Tobirama just flops to the ground and lays his heavy head on Madara's feet.
Madara feels his concern growing, so he slowly down next to Tobirama, who thankfully lifts his head so Madara's legs aren't stuck at a weird angle.
As soon as Madara is seated Tobirama crawls forward a bit so he can lay his head and paws on Madara's thighs.
With no idea what is going on, and no idea what he's supposed to be doing in a situation like this Madara begins to pet Tobirama's surprisingly soft head.
It takes minutes for Tobirama to seemingly fall asleep, occasionally letting out little pained whimpers.
Madara has no idea how long they spend sitting like this, with his legs going numb forcing him to circulate chakra to prevent it, when Hashirama finds them.
“When neither of you showed up this morning I worried you were arguing again but decided to leave you to it as you usually don't resort to violence. When you still didn't show up I had to use nature chakra to find you both. I honestly expected to find you both half dead from whatever massive fight you must have gotten into. This is not even the last thing I would have imagined, I never would have imagined I'd walk up seeing.”
Madara has to admit, Hashirama looked completely baffled. He's pretty confident he has never seen him look quite so surprised and confused.
“How many times do I have to tell you we don't hate each other?” Madara huffs.
Hashirama rolls his eyes, “you say that yet you argue, get into actual screaming matches and oftentimes physically shove Tobirama into walls. So excuse me, and everyone else in the village for not believing you.”
Madara can't really argue with that. He does have a tendency to throw Tobirama into walls and get up into his face when they argue. He just looks so pretty pressed against a hard surface, how can he be expected to resist that?
“Regardless, I don't hate him. Though I don't have an answer for you on this,” Madara gestures wildly towards Tobirama and himself, “all I know is he suddenly found me and decided he needed cuddles and has been sleeping for who knows how long, it's got to be at least two or three hours.”
Hashirama deflates a bit, “he must have been more injured than he admitted to last night. He got back from that urgent rescue mission last night but he told me he was fine. The only reason for him to have shifted was if he was concealing injuries hoping his rapid healing in his shifted form would prevent me from finding out about it.” Hashirama lets out an exasperated huff, “I'll see if I can wake him and get him to come to the office with me.”
Madara's eyes widened in alarm. “You just said he is injured! Now you want to force him to work??”
“No! I'm going to get him to come to my office with me, he can lay by my desk while I work. Normally skin contact is best but obviously that isn't an option today.”
Now it's Madara's turn to be confused. “Why are you making him stay with you? Is he a threat to himself or others? He seemed perfectly friendly to me this morning. And why the floor! He shouldn't have to recover on the floor,” Madara narrows his eyes at his friend in disapproval.
Hashirama laughs, “he needs his ‘pack’ near him when he is healing like this. It speeds up the process when he is wrapped up in our chakra. I have a meeting with the Hyuuga clan head so I can't be away from the office, plus I'll need to help Tobirama with some of his paperwork. I don't want him getting behind while he's injured.”
“If he needs his pack, why isn't he with you? Why did he come to me?” Madara stops his petting in his confusion and is rewarded with a sad whine and a nose pressing into his stomach.
He looks down but Tobirama looks to still be sleeping so he resumes rubbing the wolf's head and ears.
Hashirama watches them in amazement. “I suppose I'll never be able to doubt you again. For Tobirama to be this open and vulnerable he must have great trust and affection for you.”
Madara looks back up, “why don't I take him home with me instead. You can have Izuna bring my work home to me. I don't have any meetings today.”
“Are you certain? Just because Tobirama came to you doesn't mean you have to care for him.”
“I know that!” Madara snaps. “But if he wants me today I want to be there for him.”
Hashirama nods with a soft smile, “I suppose I owe Mito a month worth of dinners. She's been insisting there is more to your relationship but I didn't believe her.”
Madara feels his cheeks heat and hopes he isn't blushing terribly. “Shut up and go to work, I'll get him home. Send Izuna with my stuff,” Madara responds gruffly trying to mask his embarrassment.
Hashirama just laughs and leaves with a wave.
Madara sits for a while longer before deciding to wake Tobirama to bring him home. He thought for a second about trying to carry him but his wolf form is massive.
The walk to the Uchiha compound is hilarious, nearly everyone they passed stopped and stared with their mouths dropped open. Though if they knew it was Tobirama and were shocked to see them together or simply because Madara was with the largest wolf any of them have ever seen or heard of was difficult to say.
Tobirama for his part kept close to Madara, constantly rubbing his body against Madara's legs nearly tripping him multiple times.
Once they are inside Madara tries to decide where the best place for them to sit is, probably on the tatami. Madara would pull a cushion over for himself and let Tobirama lay his head on him again. That way he was near the table and can work while Tobirama rests.
When Madara goes to grab the cushion he realizes Tobirama isn't with him any more. A quick search of his house reveals Tobirama has apparently decided to make himself comfortable in Madara's bed.
Not how Madara imagined getting Tobirama into his bed, but if this is what he needs Madara is more than happy to share his bed.
Madara flops down next to Tobirama with a book grabbed from his bedside table fully intending to rest next to the grey and white shifter.
Tobirama decides to once again surprise him by sticking his cold nose up Madara's shirt trying to force it off him.
Now with a flaming red face Madara follows Tobirama's awkward request and pulls his shirt off. As soon as it's off Tobirama is crawling up his chest to lay his furry head right on Madara's chest.
Well Hashirama did say Tobirama did best with skin contact.
So he supposes if it's his duty to help Tobirama heal faster. His happiness has nothing to do with the trust this implies, he's just happy to be helping.
This isn't a crush thing, this is a being a good person thing. Obviously.
It's nearly dinner time before Tobirama moves, to Madara's shock it isn't to get up but to shift back into his human form.
His completely naked human form.
It takes all of Madara's self control not to take advantage of this and commit his naked backside to memory forever.
Madara tilts his head to look at Tobirama's face and snorts a laugh at the bright red blush and wide eyes taking over Tobirama's face.
“Sleep well?”
Tobirama chokes and throws himself back, only to realize he's butt naked and quickly throws his hands down to cover himself. His blush goes from his face all the way down, and Madara can't stop himself from following it.
“Madara? What? Why are you in my room?” Tobirama asks in a panic, quickly grabbing a blanket on bed and covering himself as quickly as he can.
“You seem to be confused. You’re in my bed.”
Tobirama looks back and forth and somehow he turns even more red. “I- uh. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t remember coming here.”
“I didn’t mind. I like that you felt safe enough to come to me when you needed comfort. And I certainly didn’t mind you laying on me.” Madara doesn’t know what possessed him to say that, but the words were out there, and it was true. He had enjoyed Tobirama laying on him. Especially naked. He had to really stop himself but imagining what things they could have gotten up to if their relationship was different.
“W-What?” Tobirama is stuttering in a way he’s never witnessed before. But he doesn’t look upset so he decides to push things further.
“I doubt you are fully recovered. Why don’t you come lay back down with me.”
Tobirama looks like he’s debating it, and Madara is pretty sure he’s going to say no, maybe call him a pervert and hiraishin home. Instead Tobirama says: “can I have some clothes first?”
He has to bite down a little disappointment at not getting to see more of Tobirama’s body, but he’s very pleased Tobirama is choosing to stay with him.
Maybe after Tobirama has rested more and recovered they can have a conversation. They can talk about why Tobirama felt safe with him. And maybe if he might be interested in seeing where life might take them if they move things in a romantic direction.