Happy Thanksgiving! I'm trying to update as many of my books as possible in a desperate attempt to convey my adoration for you. Is there a book you want to see updated? Even if it's already been updated, maybe you want more of it! Drop a comment, folks UwU

What are you guys thankful for?

Third person pov

Ethelia was quiet as Obito dabbed the blood away, keeping her eyes on her feet. They hadn't grabbed her boots on the way out, leaving her in a pair of mismatched socks. Obito didn't say anything either, but a frown had etched itself deep in his face. He was careful not to hurt the girl before him, who was shaking just a little, though it wasn't too noticeable. He was close enough to take note of it. He wondered if she'd kill him if he tried to hug her.

"Are you okay?" He finally asked as he finished cleaning the blood away from the area. A little had gotten in her hair, but he'd gotten pretty much all of it from what he could tell. The cut was small, but the areas around the scalp and forehead tended to bleed a lot. He was just glad she didn't need stitches. He guessed that lesson with Rin really had payed off.

"Yeah." Ethelia muttered, though Obito didn't look convinced. 

"It's not your fault, you know." He said. Ethelia flinched away from him as he dabbed the cut with antiseptic, earning a small, pained hiss from her. He winced a little, twisting the lid back onto the bottle. At least now it wouldn't get infected. "It's really not, Ethelia."

"Yes it is." Ethelia muttered, not daring to look at the Uchiha. "I should have just... told him. Or stopped, you know? He was so against it. I just..."

"Hey, don't say that!" Obito grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eyes. She tensed, her eyes teary and face pale. Her lips quivered, and he knew she was on the verge of losing it completely. He could feel her chakra, bouncing and molding in unnatural ways. Despite that, he didn't feel she was near exploding. Just distressed. "I'm glad you became a ninja. You dad is just scared because he doesn't realize how strong you are yet! He'll come around." He removed his hand, putting his hands on her shoulders instead, as if to steady her.

Ethelia gazed into Obito's sure eyes, and she felt her heart beat quicken. She felt her tears fight against her as she held them back, stinging her eyes threateningly. The tremors wracking through her body became more evident, and she realized, with some amusement, that she was panicking.

"It's okay." Obito assured, wrapping his arms around her. She didn't make a disgusted noise, or witty retort about how physical contact was the bane of her existence. She didn't try to pull away, or cringe and mutter about how she better get a shit ton of fries for this later. Instead she leaned into him, and returned the hug, sobs wracking her body as she buried her face in Obito's shoulder.

"It's all going to be okay, Ethelia. It's going to get better." He assured her, rubbing her back in the most soothing way he could manage. She nodded slightly against him, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. What the fuck was she doing? She wasn't a pussy. She was a fucking badass who was going to blow shit up. Kick ass and take names. Rocket through the sky like a search and destroy missile, drilling through her enemies with chakra alone, or something cool like that.

Obito had this certain smell about him. Ethelia knew that was creepy, but she couldn't help but take note of it as she inhaled to try and calm herself. He smelled faintly of ash and freshly upturned earth. He was warm, oddly enough smelling vaguely like caramel and what was quite possibly basil. 

Obit would have stood there all night if that's what Ethelia needed, but she pulled back after only a minute, looking sour as she begrudgingly wiped her face. Obito grinned at her, pulling out the small pad of gauze. She offered a small smile back, lowering her gaze again as he put in its place, ready to tape it down. She let him. He could see that she was a little better, her chakra settling, but she was still hurt. He was glad she was at least calm.

They finished up in the bathroom, and soon Obito found himself sitting on the couch with her. She sat on her own cushion, and him on his own, both an awkward distance away. They were quiet, Ethelia staring at the ceiling, and Obito at her. Her eyes weren't swollen from crying anymore, but they were still a little red, as was the tip of her nose. He couldn't help but thing that she still looked pretty. He knew that thought was vaguely inappropriate in this situation, but he couldn't help himself.

"I can feel you staring at me." Ethelia's gaze shifted to him, and he tensed a little. Awkwardly, he laughed, his cheeks pinkening with embarrassment. 

Ethelia was no idiot. She acted like she didn't know, but it had clicked some time after that babysitting mission. Obito's crush had shifted from Rin to him, and moreover, she'd gained feelings for him as well. Feelings were pesky things. She could remember realizing they were there. Horrified didn't even begin to cover it.

"Sorry." He grinned sheepishly as Ethelia shifted, tucking her legs partly under her body, resting her cheek on the side of the couch to stare at Obito right back. He felt his cheeks redden slightly as she gazed at him with furrowed eyebrows and a tight-lipped frown that told him she was deep in thought.

"It's fine." Her gaze shifted downwards, to her lap. "Thank you."

"What for?" Obito looked thoroughly confused. "Anyone would have done what I did!" He insisted. Normally, he was cocky. He took pride in anything he did right, but this wasn't the time or place. He didn't feel proud that he'd had to pull Ethelia from her home. He didn't feel proud that she'd gotten hurt. He felt upset, with himself and with Ethelia's dad, that it had happened at all. 

"Not just that." Ethelia sighed, eyes flickering back up to Obito. "You buy me food all the time, and you've been by my side since the whole Ryuki thing, even when I'm rude. You just... care, I guess. It means a lot." Ethelia's gaze shifted away again, focusing on something else. Obito felt his cheeks go red.

"I-I care about you, that's all!" He sputtered out.

"I know." Ethelia noted. "I care about you too, Obito."

"You do?" Obito asked hopefully. Rin had been one of his first crushes. The few others he had had found him annoying. They didn't wait to get to know the real Obito. First impressions were important, but Obito refused to believe they were everything. That they decided the way the other person thought about you forever! Ethelia seemed the same way. Or maybe she didn't think first impressions were important at all.

"Yeah." Ethelia sighed heavily. "I do."

"I-Is that a good thing?" He checked, because she didn't look as happy as he felt. 

"I guess it is." She snorted a little. "Who knows. Want a hug?"

"Me?" Obito squeaked out, cheeks going red. Ethelia was asking him for a hug? Was it because they'd just... sort of confessed? There was a chance she cared for him in a friendly way, he knew. She was hard to read, especially when she was in a morose mood like this. She'd just sort of shut her... face down or something. No emotions she didn't want the outer world to see slipped through. He had to admire that. He did that too... but not with her. He didn't have to when she was around! His smile was real when she was involved.

"Do you see anyone else in the room?" Ethelia scratched the back of her neck, sitting up straighter. "Is that wrong? I'm really not too good at all this... emotional, human-y stuff. But you just saved me from my apparently-abusive drunk of a father, and now we're here talking feelings." She seemed upset about the father thing, but it wasn't as bad as before.

"I-I'd love a hug!" He grinned widely. She rolled her eyes, but crawled forward anyway. Obito captured her in his arms with a bright expression on his face as she settled there next to him. She shifted to get comfortable, her arms slipping around his middle reluctantly. Not like she had anywhere else to put them. Obito kept an arm around her shoulder, letting her mold into his side.

And they simply sat like that. No more words were needed between the two. They were content, and that's all both of them needed at the moment.