#ugh i miss shikatema

[hiccupfound]

Just realized I published my first fanfiction a year ago yesterday...

I’m in shock. I’ve written over 200k words since then and have published 7 stories.

Thank you for the support, and I promise I haven’t abandoned any of my WIPs, but when passions strikes on a particular story I have to take advantage of that!

[misssunflowersandsangria]

Crowns

Happy @naraweek  my deers!  I was going to wait till day 7 to post this but uh it kind of works for today's prompt too!  Yay!!!  I've never done one of those 5 + 1 things so I hope that you enjoy it! 

A Nara's hair was a known and familiar symbol.

Prompt: Timeskip

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Crowns

1- Shikaku/Yoshino 

“I got you!”  Shikaku announced proudly.  He might be considered a genius and excellent strategist but Yoshino managed to always demand the best out of him when they sparred. Ever since they were younger she was always one of the best at evading him and managing to just escape his shadow possession. Whenever he did catch her it was cause for celebration.

Yoshino frowned, annoyed at being caught. She may not have plans to become some great shinobi like him but she always pushed him hard during training. This was to help calm her worries for when he left on missions. Knowing that he was at his absolute best, ready for anything helped quell some of the fear.

Her frown turned into a grin as she looked at him curiously.

“What?”  He asked aloud seeing the change in her expression.

Her hand reached up to trail her fingers along his cheek and up to his hairline.  Her nails scored across his scalp sending shivers along his spine.

“Your hair.”

“My hair?”  He asked curiously, reaching up to touch at his head. 

“It must have gotten caught, your ponytail is coming undone.”  She explained her hands working gently to remove the tie from his hair. Midnight locks fell through her hands and around his shoulders. 

Shikaku just stared as her fingers played through the strands her eyes filled with amusement.

“What’s with the fascination with my hair?”

“Don’t act surprised it's been like this since we were kids.”  She’d only seen his hair down a handful of times and just like now she became enchanted by it. 

The dark locks gave his sharp features a sort of softness. She knew that a Naras’ hair was a familiar and known symbol of their family. It reminded her of the antlers of the deer that they cared for. His hair was strong and healthy. Very much like its owner.  It annoyed her that her own hair wasn’t as well taken care of. Perhaps when she officially became a Nara she’d learn their hair care secrets. 

“I’m just not used to seeing it down.  You look very handsome like this.”  She shrugged but smiled at the blush across his cheeks.  

He caught her hand placing kisses on her palm. “Didn't realize how much you like it.  Okay, for you I’ll leave it down more often.” She grinned biting her lip wondering if he knew how sweet the gesture was.  Not just anyone got to see him like this. 

Her hands tangled themselves in his hair to pull him down for a kiss.  The strands acting like a curtain around them.

Just another day with her Love.  

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2- Shikamaru & Temari

The first time Temari saw Shikamaru’s hair down she stomped off in a rush leaving him standing there perplexed. It was early morning and she’d arrived at his home with little warning or notice. He answered the door with sleep still in his eyes and his hair loose around him. 

The view rendered her still and speechless causing her to forget just why she’d come by in the first place. 

“What’s going on Tem?”  Shikamaru asked with a yawn scratching at his scalp. 

She felt her face heat up and looked away.  “Uh..nothing I’ll see you later!”

He just watched confused as she ran off into the distance. He shrugged hoping that this wasn’t something he’d be punished for in the future. 

Temari couldn’t believe her reaction. It was just some hair. Why did it matter that it made the already attractive Nara even more so? Just because she could easily see herself running her fingers through those loose locks wasn’t a reason to react that way. 

She groaned shaking away images of sweat matted hair that fell around her as they kissed-

‘Stupid not so pineapple head ninja.’

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3- Shika & Tem

“Damn it!  Can’t you tie your hair up?”  Temari demanded slamming her hands against the desk.  

Shikamaru looked up startled, pushing the long strands back.   “What? Why? Does it bother you?”

“Yes, I’m not used to it down! It’s distracting.”

“My hair is distracting?”

Realizing what she admitted she stood up and gathered her things “Ugh, never mind.”  She grumbled before she wrenched the ties from her own hair and dropped them in front of him. 

“I’m going to work from home today.”  Shikamaru stared at her retreating form a soft grin across his lips. 

The next day he found a pack of hair ties on his desk. 

*

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4- ShikaTema

Temari smiled to herself, tucking her head into Shikamaru’s neck. Soft strands of hair tickling her cheek. 

“Have I ever told you that I love your hair down?”  She asked curiously her hands gently brushing stray hairs from his eyes. 

“Do you?”  He asked with a grin. 

“Yes as much as I hate to admit it.  You’re annoyingly attractive on most days but when your hair is down you’re pretty irresistible.”  He just grinned in response before placing a warm kiss against her forehead. 

“I kind of had a feeling.”  He admitted drawing her closer. His own face moving into blonde wisps. 

“Really?”  She asked with an amused expression.

“You could barely look at me if it was down. It was kind of fun seeing you so flustered.” 

“What?” 

“You didn’t notice that I was wearing it untied more often?”  Temari pouted, annoyed and embarrassed that he’d noticed. The soft kiss against her shoulder shifted her thoughts. 

Now that their relationship had changed she had unfettered access. She was the only one that would get to play with the strands and know the feeling of them through her fingers. 

“Fine, you caught me. No more wearing it down in the village when I’m not here.”  She demanded pushing a finger against his chest. 

Shikamaru just chuckled, pulling her in closer. “Same for you my love.”

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5- Shikadai

“Ow. Mom it hurts.”

“Well if you could do it yourself correctly then I wouldn’t have to.”  Temari explained and despite what Shikadai thought she was running the brush through as gently as possible. Her son's hair was naturally very thick and easily became tangled. She had to get hair care tips from Yoshino when she found out that she was pregnant. Knowing she would have to help her son with keeping up the tradition. 

Shikadai would prefer to keep it loose rather than tied up so tightly. It was boring and troublesome but he was sure that one day he’d miss having his mom brush his hair. 

“You have to keep your hair neat. A Nara’s hair-“

“Is a symbol of our clan and family.”  He finished with a bored expression. 

“Yes but you, my little fawn, have the added title of being our prince. So your hair is like wearing a crown on your head. It represents the role you’ll one day step into as the Nara heir as well as the role you'll play in Suna.  Wear it proudly son.” 

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5+ 1- Naras

Temari leaned her head back enjoying the warm water that cascaded through her blonde locks. Shikamaru was sitting behind her and worked the shampoo into her hair massaging her scalp as he moved. The action caused her toes to curl beneath the water. 

“Mm… this feels amazing.”  She sighed, sinking further into the water. Once her hair was thoroughly shampooed he began pouring the water back over. He watched as the rivulets trailed down along her neck, shoulders then down her spine.  It created a golden waterfall along her back. 

Like him, she rarely wore her hair down in public.  Even at home it would often be tied up or pulled away from her face. When it flowed down her shoulders so gently it always did something to him. 

He settled next to her in the bath before pulling her into his arms. Both of them with their hair wet and loose around them. 

She’d found a silver strand amongst raven tresses the other day. It was a stark reminder that they were older now.  Neither of them lamented that fact.  Rather they were thankful that they were able to grow old together.    

Temari’s fingers curled around a dark lock. Just as fascinated as she had been the first time she’d run her fingers through those strands. 

Shikamaru gazed at her affectionately layering kisses along the crown of her head.  Those precious locks tangled in his fingers. 

“I love you Tem.”  Her heart fluttered in a familiar beat.  Through the trials and miracles of life their love endured.  It would continue to do so even when all those threads turned silver.  

“I love you too Shikamaru.” 

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Hope that you liked it! I've been obsessed with the idea of hair down Shikaku ...ugh....and also Shikamaru one day being a silver fox! :D  I have one more ficlet I could use for tomorrow and I don't know I have an idea for Shikamaru's bday but I don't know that I will be able to get it out in time.  Either way, thank you all for reading my sweet fawns!  Love you babeys! 

[cherryblossomshadow]

Masquerade

Summary: "You should be socializing," Temari stated, as if it were obvious. "You’re here as the Konoha envoy, right? You need to be dancing with someone influential."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to correct her, but he found himself asking, “Is that an offer?” His eyes widened in horror when he realized what he had said.

But her ruby lips simply curved into a surprised smile. "It can be," she answered, holding out a hand. 

Day 2: Masquerade

2282 words

Helpful link to AO3

Masquerade

Written for Day 2 of ShikaTema Week 2020 - Masquerade! 

I’m so excited that this event has rolled around again, because ShikaTema Week 2019 is what got me back in the swing of writing (and actually posting 🤭) last year! It means a lot to me to be posting and seeing content for my otp again 😁

This fic is set during the canon time skip. The setting is “just-AU-enough-to-squeeze-a-masquerade-ball-in.” I picture Sunagakure as being kind of aristocratic (with the big clans being the aristocracy) in order to get away with it. If anyone has read the Invitation series by Lord of the Land of Fire, that’s what I’m talking about.

“Come on, Shikamaru.” Ino tried to tug him to his feet. “You have to dance.”

Shikamaru stubbornly slouched further into the cushioned seat he had claimed at the edge of the village square. It had been a long, rough trip, and he had no intention of getting up until they were leaving.

“Well, it is a ball,” Choji nodded in agreement. He shrugged apologetically when Shikamaru scowled at him, but he did not retract his statement.

“And not just any ball!” Ino interjected. “It’s the Suna Masquerade Ball!”

Shikamaru gave an exaggerated groan in response, rolling his eyes for good measure. Secretly, he was glad that he and Choji had been able to arrange the invitations. They hadn’t seen Ino so lively in months. But that doesn’t mean that he wanted to dance.

“Ugh, fine,” Ino sighed. “Alright, Choji, sounds like you’re my dance partner!”

Choji quickly gulped down his mouthful and chirped, “Okay!” He took her hand, and they disappeared into the bustling courtyard. Shikamaru relaxed against his chair as they and the other attendees turned to the raised dais in anticipation. Finally, long low wails of traditional Wind instruments floated across the night wind, sparking movement as it swept over and brought the village square to life. The clamor of conversation softened under the force of the music and the allure of the dance.

The Suna Masquerade Ball was the village’s Event of the Year. The masquerade was ostensibly a celebration of Sunagakure’s founding and was intended for the affluent civilians of Suna. However, according to Ino, it was also a prestigious event for the Wind nobility, and only the most influential among them would make an appearance. Consequently, the Masquerade had become an unofficial summit for Suna and Wind nobility. Not that Shikamaru particularly cared. But talking and speculating about this event had been the only thing that they knew would pull Ino out of her slump.

“But they’re Wind nobles,” Shikamaru had said at one of their team dinners. “I know your dad’s started teaching you politics and stuff, but wouldn’t it be better to focus on Hi no Kuni nobles before you start looking at other countries?”

“But we don’t hold a masquerade ball; we hold some boring banquet.” Ino had rolled her eyes derisively. “After all, we’re allies! I’ll have to learn them eventually.”

“Well, it’s a shame that Lady Tsunade has already chosen her envoys,” Asuma had interjected. And that was that. Ino had sighed, Asuma had asked for the check, Choji had taken the last piece, and Shikamaru had started thinking. He had waited until he was certain of success to rope Choji into his operation, but the two of them ultimately managed to procure an invitation for Ino at the Masquerade. Tsunade had been amused, Asuma had been exasperated, and Ino had been ecstatic. She had excitedly pledged to fulfill all the Konoha envoy responsibilities, though she requested that her teammates escort her. Shikamaru had been reluctant to travel all the way to Suna for a multitude of reasons. But, watching his teammates whirl merrily across the courtyard, he knew for certain that it had been worth it.

Of course, this was the perfect time for one of his reasons to appear in the flesh. He shouldn’t have been surprised. He had spotted her soon after arriving and couldn’t help but notice when she started moving in his direction. He had hoped that she would simply ignore him. But then, she never did make things easy for him, did she?

"What are you sitting around for?" Temari asked imperiously as soon as she was within earshot, everything about her fiery and bold. Her dazzling blood-red mask framed her challenging gaze and matched her ever-present waist sash and her glittering red lips.

Shikamaru wrenched his gaze away and cleared his throat. “What? Am I not allowed to sit?”

Temari scoffed. "You should be socializing," she stated, as if it were obvious. "You’re here as the Konoha envoy, right? You need to be dancing with someone influential."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to tell her that she was mistaken, that he was here as an escort for his teammate, that Ino was the one acting as the Konoha envoy. Instead, he found himself asking, “Is that an offer?” His eyes widened in horror when he realized what he had said.

But her ruby lips simply curved into a surprised smile. "It can be," she answered, holding out a hand.

He gazed warily at the hand, as if it would reach out to bite him, before rising and accepting it. He led her to the center of the courtyard, and they waited for the next dance to start. I'm supposed to be avoiding her! Not dancing with her! he berated himself, even as they began dancing. I didn’t even want to dance! And this was the main reason that he had been worried about running into her. He couldn’t trust himself around her. He always felt off-kilter. And he would just do things - things he would never otherwise consider. As scary and unpredictable as she was, if he were being truthful with himself, he was more scared by how unpredictable he was around her.

Not that Shikamaru truly minded the dancing. Strangely, he found the rhythm in the moves to be soothing. The way they moved together felt so natural. They swept across the courtyard as fluidly as they did the battlefield, moving in perfect sync with each other. What did unnerve him was the closeness. He didn't think he had ever been as close to Temari as he was now, not even in training or battle. Because when they trained, he didn't rest his hands on her hips. She didn’t rest her hands on his shoulders. They didn’t stare deeply into each other’s eyes.

“I’ll admit, I was surprised to see your name on the guest list," Temari began before twisting away in time with the dance. He watched in awe as she weaved around the other dancers, barely paying enough attention to his own dancing. He really should have guessed how much her personality would be portrayed in the way she danced. Her movements were powerful and untamed, exactly as they were when she fought. She glided back into his arms and continued, "Taking an interest in politics?"

"No!" Shikamaru barely repressed a full-body shudder. He'll leave all the political maneuvering to the likes of Tsunade and Ino. He would much rather stick to his battle strategies and his cryptanalysis, thank you very much. “Troublesome,” he muttered.

Surprisingly, she began to laugh at his answer. He blinked, taken aback by how soft she looked. Even half-hidden by a fiery red mask, she clearly wore an ease about her that he had never witnessed in her before. Somehow, she always had a hidden side to reveal, no matter how many times he studied her. Every time he thought he had her figured out, she found a way to surprise him. She was a puzzle he had no hope of solving. A mystery whose solution lay forever out of reach.

“That sounds more like the Shikamaru I know,” she smirked. “I didn’t think you had changed that much in three months.”

“Has it been three months?” he asked, almost missing a step in his surprise.

“To the day.” She nodded.

“Wait, so when is your next visit?” he asked distractedly, his mind turning to his mental calendar. He thought he had her schedule down.

“Why, did you miss me?” She quipped, but her lips curved into an amused smile.

Shikamaru immediately wished he could take his words back. And maybe tape his tongue to the roof of his mouth while he was at it. Why does he keep saying the wrong thing? But to deny it would be to insult her. “Konoha is always honored to host her allies,” he mumbled.

Temari raised a delicate eyebrow above her mask. “Very diplomatic,” she complimented. They danced in silence for a few moments before she spoke again. “To answer your question, no. I won’t be back to your village until the spring.”

Until spring? “But I thought you were coming to the Konoha Winter Festival?” He desperately tried to shove the bitter taste of disappointment down where it belonged.

“I had been looking forward to it,” she sighed. “But I have no reason to go.”

“Oh.”

Even an unsavvy guy like him could tell this was the perfect opening for him to extend a personal invitation. But to what end? She wasn’t the kind of puzzle he was equipped to solve. And he was not in the practice of pursuing unattainable goals. He certainly wasn’t going to begin now.

The dance finished with a flourish of the music, and they bowed courteously to each other. Temari drew back, and he thought he saw disappointment cross her face. But he must have been imagining it. “Til next time,” she told him.

“Til next time,” he echoed.

She disappeared into the crowd of elegantly dressed nobles, and he stared after her far longer than he should have. Shikamaru forced himself to make his way back to his seat only to find Choji sitting there. He avoided his inquisitive eyes and slouched onto the stone bench beside him.

Shikamaru shook his head at his friend’s offer of a foreign pastry, instead asking, “Where’s Ino?” He had lost track of her while dancing with Temari.

Choji pointed her out, where she was dancing with … is that the nephew of the Wind Daimyo? Whoever it was must be hilarious, because they were both laughing exuberantly. He relaxed against his seat with a sigh. As exhausting as the journey had been and as grueling as his dance with Temari had been, it was all worth it to see the light return to Ino’s eyes. These past few months had dragged on far too long. Ever since … Shikamaru roughly shoved thoughts about that traitor out of his head with practiced ease.

“So, how’s Temari doing?” Choji asked.

“Fine,” Shikamaru answered shortly, wishing he could just put the troublesome woman out of his head as easily as he had the Uchiha.

“So, when’s her next visit?” Choji asked curiously.

“Not until spring,” he reported, unable to keep the bitter notes out of his voice.

“Wait, she’s going to miss the festival? I thou-”

“She said she didn’t have any reason to come,” Shikamaru interjected. He could feel Choji’s eyes on him, but he ignored them.

“Hmm, well, that’s a shame,” Choji hummed.

“Is it?” Shikamaru rested his head against the back of the chair, staring into the glittering night sky.

“It is. You should have given her one.”

Shikamaru lifted his head in alarm. “I should have what?”

Choji lifted his chin, as serious as Shikamaru had ever seen his best friend. “You heard me.”

“But … why would I do that?” Shikamaru sputtered.

“You know why.” Choji stared him down. “Ino was right; you do know how you feel, you just don’t want to do anything about it.”

Shikamaru just gaped at him. “Ino … what?”

“I thought you just hadn’t figured it out yet,” Choji explained. “But Ino said you were still confused by your feelings and that’s why you haven’t pursued her.”

Shikamaru couldn’t help but feel bitter that his friends had such little faith in him, though he was still reeling from the fact that his two best friends had already figured out how he felt, and they didn’t bother to tell him about it.

“Well, I have figured it out,” Shikamaru told him needlessly.

“Well, that’s good,” Choji nodded encouragingly. “Now, what are you going to do about it?”

Shikamaru sighed, shifting on the cold hard bench. “What can I do about it? She lives in another country.” He swept his arm out broadly, as if to encompass all of Sunagakure and Kaze no Kuni.

“You could make it work,” Choji said confidently. Shikamaru scoffed, but Choji shook his head with determination. “No, listen to me. Who got us in here?” He waved a hand nonchalantly at the finery that surrounded them.

“Okay, fine,” Shikamaru assented. He knew and Choji knew from experience that if he and Temari put their minds to something, they could make it happen. “But it doesn’t even matter, because she won’t want to.”

“Ino was right.” Choji sighed. “You’re scared.”

Shikamaru felt that was an unfair assessment. “I’m just being realistic!”

“Then shouldn’t this be her decision?” Choji asked. “She should at least know how you feel about her before you give up.” Shikamaru looked instinctively into the crowd again, his eyes immediately drawn to her. “Go. Invite her to the Festival. You can worry about what to do and say there.”

Temari turned, as if able to sense his gaze on her. She tilted her head to side, a slight invitation, but then she turned away. She wouldn’t be seeking him out any more tonight. He would have to pursue her. Maybe some puzzles don't need to be solved, Shikamaru mused. They just need to be attempted.

Filled with purpose, he weaved his way through the courtyard, focused on reaching her. He tapped on her shoulder and took a deep breath when she turned to face him. Strangely, he felt calmer than he had felt all night. “I would like to extend my personal invitation for you to come to the Konoha Winter Festival. If you are willing to make the trip, I would be honored to be your escort for the event.” He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

Her lips curved into a full smile, making his heart stutter. "I believe that can be arranged."

Endnotes: let me know what you thought!

[senbons]

Shikatema Week

DAY 5 -- MARRIAGE

Shikamaru stumbles forward so violently, the front of his shoes catching on what he thinks amounts to little more than a pebble, but his misstep is so careless, he is barely able to catch himself before he lands face first in the dirt below him.

The worst part is, he’d been looking directly at the rock buried in the ground, making hazy note to avoid it, when he’d walked right into the thing.

“God,” Temari drawls, paused a step ahead of him now. “You’re such a fucking mess.”

He looks up at her, beautiful in the amber lamplight, vexation and amusement caught behind her eyes.

“You’re fault,” he says, taking her hand when she extends it. She doesn’t help in heaving him up at all, but acts like she is anyway.

She was the one, after all, who had kept ordering drinks all night, putting one (two?) in his hand even after he had told her he was through.

Temari laughs when he is righted up and the sound is suddenly all he hears. He wants to push her up against a tree and steal the noise for himself, absorb the laughter from her lips.

It’s been a good set of months, maybe even over a year, since he’s gotten really properly this intoxicated. He wonders if he’ll even be able to maintain any sort of erection. He hadn’t been able when he was younger with this much to drink, which was generally fine, because after trying for a bit, they would just pass out, too drunk to be lustful enough to feel unsatisfied. Would it be better now that he was older? Better able to handle liquor? Probably not.

“Let’s have sex tonight,” she says anyway, maybe thinking the same thing after she has stopped laughing. “Nasty, crazy, wild sex.”

Shikamaru lets go of her hand and continues his steps, no more careful than before, further down the street, absently brushing the dust off the front of his teeshirt.

“That’s a very formal proposition.”

Temari jogs a bit to catch up before falling into step beside him.

“I generally like to be clear about things.”

He laughs and smacks her elbow and then decides to jog the last bit of the street before turning onto the one that will eventually lead to the front of the Nara estate. “That’s quite an overstatement, isn’t it?”

Temari murmurs something under her breath while running again to catch up with him. They walk the rest of the way in silence. There aren’t any cicadas out, surprising him when he notices. Weren’t they out these days? A light breeze rustles some trees around them, but other than that, the only sound is the crunching of their feet on the dirt road.

It is a Tuesday night, to be fair, but he is mildly interested by the general silence. It is still early out. He had tapped out of their night pretty early, too drunk to carry on and relatively uninterested in hanging around and sobering up to nicer levels. Neither he nor Temari were particularly social, so they didn’t go out that much to begin with.

They make a left at the entrance to their home, still nothing more than an apartment as his mother still occupied the main house and, probably for a little while longer, neither wanted to live with the other.

Temari takes the few steps up to the entrance quickly, moving ahead of him. He shoves his hands in his pockets as she grabs the doorknob. Her wrist turns and her form moves, ready to push forward in the way experience tells her to, when she is caught short.

Shikamaru, too, at the edge of the porch, weight on his toes in preparation to step into his entryway, almost stumbles back and off with the shorted expectation.

“It’s locked,” Temari says, jiggling the knob again and looking over to the window as though she might get a clue from there.

“Did you lock it?”

“What do you think?” She snaps quietly, pushing enough on the door to rattle it without actually breaking in. “Do you have a key?”

He wouldn’t.

She makes a fist and raps against the door as though someone were inside.

“I didn’t lock it.” She mutters to herself.

In almost falsely coincidental timing, someone calls out her name. They turn around. Two houses down, at the entrance to one of the foot trails into the forest, Maen stands there, looking suspiciously awake.

“Do you need a key?”

Temari steps out to come shoulder to shoulder with Shikamaru at the end of the porch, “why is it locked?”

Maen lowers his head, sort of unsure, and steps forward slowly towards them, extending a large ring of multiple keys forward. “Your mother went around to remind us all to be safe.”

Shikamaru, slow and a little wobbly, reaches to grab the key ring. He tries to send a smile to hide his vague annoyance. “No one is going to break into our house.”

“Best be precautionary,” Temari offers, assertively putting hands on hips. It’s an argument with Shikamaru she’d long given up on, but a point she can still agree with.

“A locked front door isn’t going to stop someone from getting in if they want to.” He says, sorting through the ring for their set. “Woman knows we don’t have the key,” he mutters to himself, too drunk to be dealing with this right now.

When he finds their key and brings it to the front door, he already knows what is going to happen a moment before his hand fumbles and the whole ring falls from his grasp.

He sighs and reaches down to grab the ring again, pausing only when he realizes no jab had come from Temari, even though it was completely inconsistent with her character to not have said anything.

“Can I help you?” Maen asks.

Shikamaru glances back, bent over to grab the ring again. Temari is still facing Shikamaru, face blank. He meets her eyes, but she is offering nothing. Is she angry about something?

“No, I got it.”

Maen looks a little uncomfortable. “Uh, okay. I’m going to go.” He glances behind him and it’s only then that Shikamaru even notices one of the deer waiting ten feet back. “I’ll get them back tomorrow.” Maen swallows and then turns around. When they meet, the deer also turns and walks beside him slowly. Shikamaru stands back up and watches them disappear into the thicket.

He sighs and glances over at Temari again. Her hair is down and tucked behind her ears, her mouth open slightly as she considers him.

She still says nothing though, so he turns back and finds the key again, still slow and head still on the verge of swimming, and then tries to fit the correct one in the lock. He misses the hole once. Then twice. His hands are shaking. He feels like one of those characters in a horror film that is about to die from too much adrenaline.

“Ugh,” he says, kind of laughing, “can you do this?”

And then quickly, clearly without having even heard his words, Temari speaks.

“I’m in love with you.”

There is something in her voice, something so resolute and serious, that he straightens much quicker than his head is ready for. He feels dizzy, but the gravity of her expression, the desperation to get something through to him, is almost sobering.

“I-I know.” He tries, frowning. Shikamaru takes a tentative step to her, unsure. Her shoulders are rigid and the weight of her exhalation moves her whole chest.

I’m sorry,” she continues, her cheeks hollow beneath the porch light. “I don’t tell you that very often.”

His mouth is dry. He takes another step towards her. He thinks on it and remembers, vaguely, saying something about how she was not often very clear not too long ago. He’d been joking, didn’t she know that?

“Temari,” he says, coming to a stop a foot from her. He tries to put intent in his words, hard when he is so intoxicated. When they both are. “I know you do. We’ve been married for four years.”

She frowns and glances at the lock a bit behind him for a second before meeting his eyes once more.

“Yeah.” She nods. “I just don’t think I’ve told you that in a long time.”

And then that’s it, she takes a few steps forward and grabs the forgotten ring of keys from his fingertips and easily slides the correct one in without even really sorting them out.

Shikamaru turns at the click of the lock followed by the familiar creak of their door.

I love you too, he thinks about calling out as she switches on the house light and turns off the porch one. He doesn’t though, following her in and closing the door behind them. It would be redundant now, as the mood had lightened. Plus he tells her often enough anyway.