“No, he still deserves that. His veins are filled with sarcasm, not blood.”

Genma smiled faintly. “Actually, I’m pretty sure it’s blood in there.” One hand lifted from the pastry box long enough to flick through a brief ANBU sign—medic—and indicate himself. “Insider knowledge.”

The pause after he spoke said more, though, a silence full of weighty thought that Asuma hadn't realized he'd missed. A thin line formed between Genma's brows as he stared down at the pastry box on his lap, clearly contemplating how to phrase whatever it was he wanted to say next. Asuma settled back against the bench to wait him out.

"I'm getting yanked out on a mission later this afternoon," Genma said eventually, "as soon as they patch up my abdomen the rest of the way." He glanced over sideways, gauging reactions, and leaned against Asuma's shoulder once more. “Hatake—my whole team—they’re a good team. Not the same as our rookie team was. Probably better.”

Asuma tipped his head at Genma’s statement. There was something more behind Genma’s words. “I don’t doubt it. Think they’re up for this next mission?”

"It's not going to be an easy one. Classic ANBU." Which, in Genma's typically understated manner of speaking, meant 'very unsavory killing to do that might end with us all dead'. He looked up from his pastries. "Are you gonna be all right until I get back?"

Oh, Genma.

"Yes," Asuma replied, if not firmly then at least honestly. "I have a lot of paperwork to keep me company. And my sister. I'm staying with her for now, at least until the powers that be decide what to do with me."

Some of the tension eased out of Genma's face, fading away with a relieved little sigh. Asuma much preferred the smile that replaced it. "Good. We'll go out and celebrate you being home as soon as I get back. You'd better take wall duty if they give it to you, so you can be there at the gate to greet me."

Asuma wrinkled his nose. "You would give me the boring job."

"You just had a whole year and a half of excitement," Genma replied with a chuckle. "Think of it like rice at the end of a spicy meal." And it seemed as though he might say more, but just then a nurse in faded grey scrubs emerged from the hospital and zeroed in on them.

"Shiranui-san," the nurse said, "Nohara-sensei is ready to see you now."

Genma nodded and set aside his box and bag of fruit. "I'll be right there." As the nurse retreated to a respectful distance, Genma stood and dragged Asuma up into an embrace.

"You... be here. When I get back from my mission." Genma's fingers bit into Asuma's shoulder. "Got it?"

"I will," Asuma promised. "I'll see you soon. At the gate.”

The hug tightened, briefly, before Genma let go. He reclaimed his items of tribute from the bench, and with a more reserved nod of parting, allowed the nurse to escort him away.

Asuma stuffed his hands in his pockets and watched until the hospital swallowed them back up. The constant flow of foot traffic seemed more grating without Genma’s steadying presence, abruptly louder and closer than he’d thought before. Compared to this, or the constant social interaction that escort duty required—or, hell, even spending more than an hour in his sister’s house—wall duty sounded absolutely spectacular.

Maybe he should look into that. Scheduling a fitness-for-duty exam and adding the assignment preference sheet to his pile of ‘welcome back’ paperwork would be a good start to the process, at least.

So. Just go do it, then.

Asuma took a breath, pulled his hands from his pockets, and walked back into the hospital.