Hashirama was never really all that close to their mother, being the oldest of four. Her attention was always on his younger brothers. She died when he was very young, leaving him with hazy memories of her. The only physical proof that she ever existed is Tobirama.. her spitting image. Is it really so wrong that sometimes all he wants is for the mirror of his mother to hold him close and hum him to sleep? His Tobirama, always caring for him, protecting him from himself and his father.
Tobirama was his father's prized possession. Forged in the fire of his mother's womb and his father's love as the perfect, obedient, placating weapon. Of course he feels like he's melting every time Hashirama praises him, like their father never truly did. Feels like he's floating when Hashirama drinks to excess, and his eyes go dull in that same way their father's did right before he made Tobirama useful.
Their parents adored each other, Hashirama vaguely remembers that. Butsuma made sure that everyone knew just how much he adored his perfect wife. There was never any shame about that in their home, never any real privacy. If he thinks hard enough he can remember their father keeping their mother on his lap, whispering to her, watching for the smirk she'd always give in reply. They were perfect for each other.
Tobirama doesn't really have any memories of his own, but he became a vessel for Butsuma's. "Just one more son" he'd whisper, slurring in Tobirama's ear and reeking of intoxication and sweat. "Remember when we made Itama? I know.. I know I said he would be our last but, you just do it so well.." and Tobirama would play the part until his father fell asleep, warm and heavy around him.
Neither of them can help but want to keep that love, obsession, and that fierce loyalty alive.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Pairing: Senju Butsuma/Senju Tobirama
Summary: For the sake of his own clan mates' continued survival and safety, Tobirama is wed to Butsuma as part of the deal to assimilate Tobirama's old clan into the Senju.
These are the days of Tobirama's new life with a new name and new path to walk, guided by his new husband and clan head.
Premise: Tobirama's old clan was too small and too weak, they could no longer handle the pressure from bigger and stronger clans so they turned to the Senju, seeking help. Tobirama, as the strongest sensor of the continent and the strongest shinobi his clan has is offered to the Senju clan head as repayment for allowing the clan to be assimilated into the Senju. What could Tobirama do but agree?
Note: no incest, Tobirama and Butsuma are not related in this fic. Future unhealthy relationship that is explained away and allowed to continue but both parties are consenting to it, i guess it would be consensual but neither sane or safe lmao
Anyways I said i wanted to write it and so i did lmao. Feeling kinda feral HAHAH werwerwer energy, just bc nobody is joining my butsutobi party but i get it, i have difficult tastes :')
Hashirama doesn't attend meetings as the heir. As such, Tobirama is his substitute. His father says its better this way, as he'll be Hashirama's heir one day. He says he may as well learn how to now.
Tobirama doesn't mind the extra responsibility. In fact, he finds it fun. He gets insight into how the clan is run, and he is able to help it run smoothly.
His father catches him up late at night, scrolls laid out across his desk. He sets a hand on his head and urges him to bed. "Even Yosan-no-Mikoto* needs his rest."
Tobirama preens at the smile in his voice, and the bubbling amusement in his chakra. He fights off his own grin and obeys.
He likes filling in as heir, right by his father's side.
He does not like being alone.
His father steps out for a moment, just a moment, to see what the head mednin is summoning him for.
The elders lunge at the opportunity, though only their chakra shows it. They all know how vulnerable he is without guidance.
"Is something the matter, Tobirama-sama?," Elder Kyo questions, his eyes relaxed and posture betraying nothing.
Tobirama keeps his eyes down, focused on the scroll in his hands. "Not at all, Kyo-sama."
"You seem rather tense. Have you been training too hard?"
Inhaling slowly through his nose, he prepares himself. "Of course. As the future heir, I must push myself beyond my limits. If I am to serve the clan-"
"We all know you could care less about the clan, Oni," Kyo interrupts, linking his fingers together. "Come now, you can be honest. It's all for him, isn't it?"
Ah. This again. He sighs and shuts his eyes.
"I live to serve the clan, which includes my father-"
"Your wielder, you mean."
"Oh leave him be, Kyo." Elder Sota comes to his rescue, though likely just to spare him the embarrassment rather than out of any respect for him.
"Of course he's going to value Butsuma-sama over the clan, he's his consort on everything but paper."
Tobirama jolts, eyes widening at the statement. He presses his tongue to the back of his teeth, trying to keep his hands still and his mouth shut.
After a beat, the elders chuckle at the 'joke'.
"Perhaps that's why he's so tense today," Elder Takahiko surmises, a wry grin on his face. "Wasn't it the anniversary of something yesterday?"
Tobirama lowers his head slowly, shoulders hunching. The ink on the scroll blurs in his vision, the symbols swimming.
"Aa, of his marriage with That Woman. Knowing him, he probably drank himself half to death and took it out on his poor son," Elder Fuguraka contributes, "The head medic is right outside, perhaps you should ask him for a healing, hm, Tobirama-sama?"
Tobirama's lips part. He forces himself to speak. "N.. No, I'll be.. fine. I'm.."
"What was that, Tobirama-sama? You'll have to speak up. You see, our ears have gone bad in our old age."
Tobirama's face begins to feel hot. He balls his fists in the fabric of his hakama pants. He can feel tears welling up in his eyes.
He bows his head to the table, squeezing his eyes shut. "I-I..! I am well!", he insists, louder. "I-I must t-thank your ven-venerable selves for your concern..!"
"Oh, so polite. What did Butsuma do to ingrain that lesson into your head? You're on your knees so often, thanking everyone around you. Do you do that for your Tou-chan, too?"
Tobirama chokes on his breath, pursing his lips and shaking his head. "Y-You're mistaken, K-Kyo-sama! Chichi-ue is a v-very respectable man, h-he would not stoop to-"
"You don't have to lie. We've all seen you walk in here with bruises beneath your collar. Is he rough with you? Do you like it?"
Tobirama grits his teeth, shame burning through his entire body.
"I-I..!"
"I think we're done here."
Tobirama's head whips up and around to face the door. He can't make out much other than his silhouette, but he can sense who it is.
"B-Butsuma-sama!," Elder Takahiko laughs, "You're back, so soon!"
Tobirama lets out a noise that must sound like a dying kitten.
"Yes.", his father intones lowly, gathering the scrolls on the table and rolling them up. "And I will be taking my leave with my son. We will discuss these.. accusations of yours at a later date. Alone."
"I assure you, it was all in jest," Kyo attempts. "We-"
"I've heard enough. To insult my name behind my back is one thing, but to bring my son into it? I'm disappointed in all of you." His jaw is set and his gaze is firm.
"I leave for one moment to attend to what could have been an urgent matter, and your first reaction is to make my son out to be a whore. I believe we have some boundaries we need to discuss."
His father sets a hand on his shoulder. "Up. We're going home."
Relieved to be out of this situation, he scrambles to his feet, tailing his father's heels.
They walk in silence for a long time.
"Do not let them talk to you that way," his father says quietly after a while.
"..Hai, Chichi-ue," he agrees easily, his mind swimming with their words.
He nearly runs straight into his back with how quickly his father stops. He turns to face him.
A hand grasps his chin.
"You don't seem to understand. Do not let them talk to you that way," he growls, his chakra swimming with anger.
Tobirama's breath catches in his throat and he focuses his vision on his chin, tense.
"You are my second son, the next heir. You are a higher ranking as you are now than they will ever be. They must fear you. You are mine, and they cannot speak to you in such a derogatory manner."
He tries not to let out any sort of pathetic noise, but with his father's chakra so close to him radiating so intensely, he can hardly focus. He catches that he is his father's, and not much else. He clings to that knowledge.
After he does not respond for too long, his father softens. His hand moves from his chin to his cheek. His chakra retracts.
"You're too overwhelmed to hear me much right now. I'll tell you again later. Let's go home."
Tobirama nods quickly, trying not to lean into his touch. He tells himself he doesn't miss his chakra spreading out so harshly, and that he didn't enjoy how intense it felt.
He follows his father home, and when he's dismissed, collapses onto his bed.
Every time the memories of what the elders said resurface, he pushes them down by smothering them with the lingering sensation of his father's chakra.
your teeth filing tags...💖 A few days later they're in his study. Butsuma wants his dutiful son on him if he's stuck doing paperwork for the next few hours. Tobirama knows how to be obedient, but chichiue filed his teeth down for a reason. He wants to bite so bad, his face tucked into Butsuma's neck. So instead, he asks if Butsuma would bite *him*. And he is all to happy to comply, biting down, painfully hard. Tobirama tenses like a bow, before relaxing entirely
Hello ANON?? YOU FUCKING GENIUS?? Love to you 1000 times. Tobirama with the imprint of Butsuma's teeth on him. Tobirama's blood on the surface because of it. Tobirama starts to wear turtlenecks.
