Work Text:
Pasubali
/pɐ.suˈba.li/ (noun)
- an act of stalling or holding back instead of being fully direct or certain
Sometimes, Shikamaru wonders if they're even together. Aside from the fact that not a single soul knows about their relationship but themselves, they also barely see each other. It's not like he wanted these arrangements for their relationship but he couldn't exactly go against it when Temari was the one who insisted on this kind of setup. He specifically couldn't care less if everyone knows, Temari however hated the idea of “parading” (as what she liked to call it) their said relationship. She reasoned that they needed more time to know when they'll be ready to tell her brothers ( he has no idea what she means by “ready”).
Being in a long-distance relationship only complicates things further. They can't see each other unless one makes the effort to visit and even that requires its own set of rules. Temari is strict about it. Every visit has to have a pretext… a mission, a business trip, something that makes sense to everyone else. And Shikamaru goes along with it, even if part of him wonders why wanting to see her isn't a reason enough.
So yeah, it was all Temari. He couldn't really go against everything she decided because one wrong mistake from him can jeopardize their relationship. He didn't exactly like to be on her bad side. Despite her temperament, her troublesomeness, her unpredictable decisions, and every shortcomings she has, Shikamaru knows how much she means a lot to him more than anything else. He’s no expert on relationships, but he knows exactly that she's the one he wouldn't want to lose.
Although occasionally, Shikamaru couldn’t help but wonder if she truly felt the same way he did. Especially when Temari denies their relationship with such ease, as if she’s just brushing dust off her sleeve. It happened too many times he couldn't keep the count but there were few remarkable ones.
Naruto and Sakura
The first person to ask about them was the last person Shikamaru had hoped for. If you’re hiding something, the last person you’d want to find out is Naruto. He was a meddlesome nuisance. He asked too many questions and wouldn’t stop unless he got what he wanted. He was the kind of person who respects no boundaries. So the moment Shikamaru and Temari caught a glimpse of the blonde ninja approaching from the crowd, they knew they were screwed. To make matters worse, as if Naruto’s nosy ass weren’t troublesome enough, alongside him was a certain pink-haired kunoichi. He had no grudge against Sakura. If anything, he looked up to her dependability when it came to serious matters. However, Shikamaru knew better than anyone that he couldn't be too trusting on someone who's friends with Ino. Girls would always be girls. They would gossip and spread rumors.
Shikamaru and Temari stopped on their tracks as the two members of Team 7 got close to them.
“Hey, hey, hey! Look who we have here!” Naruto beamed, patting Shikamaru's shoulder. His eyes lingered a little too long at Temari before looking back at Shikamaru. Suddenly, a big smug appeared on Naruto's face and cleared the few inches distance between them to give Shikamaru a not-so-gentle elbow hit at his stomach. Shikamaru winced in pain.
“Going out for a date, huh?” Naruto spoke in a singsong.
Shikamaru’s expression immediately change into something unreadable. He anticipated the question. He knew one way or another someone would ask. Still, he could feel a lump forming in his throat and the sudden increase of his heartbeat. Thankfully though, he had always been good at hiding his emotions so he pulled off his best nonchalant expression.
Temari on the other hand hardly seemed affected. In fact, it looked like it didn't even bother her at the least. She remained stoic in spite of Naruto's teasing glances.
“Enough with the jokes, I'm only here for Chuunin exams and this pineapple head just happened to be assigned to work with me” Temari retorted. She wasn't entirely lying. Sakura nodded.
“Besides, what makes you think I'll date this guy? You'll have to bury me first before that happens.” She added as if the first statement wasn't convincing enough. Shikamaru felt offended but he couldn't exactly react. And so he decided he would just worry about it later.
Nevertheless, her comment about the chuunin exams seemed to pique the interest of the two, prompting them to exchange glances. And just like that, the topic instantly shifted.
“Chuunin exams… how long has it been? It really takes me back to time” Sakura mused. Naruto hummed in agreement.
They managed to keep the conversation for a couple of minutes reminiscing here and there before deciding to part ways. Sakura and Naruto waved their goodbyes as they walked away.
Shikamaru waited until they were out of earshot. “Was that really necessary?” He asked.
Her look remained the same, indifferent. “What do you mean?” She kept her eyes on the street.
Shikamaru stared at her for a few seconds, not entirely sure what he was looking for. She was hard to read. He had no experience with relationships, so he had no clue what he was supposed to do in this kind of situation. Temari was his first girlfriend, after all. He used to be the type of person who rarely cared about anything.
So why, suddenly, did he care so much about a comment she likely made without a second thought? She had always been straightforward and blunt. Perhaps, he was just overthinking it.
“What?” She asked, now facing him and eyebrows furrowed. He figured he probably had been staring at her for a while.
“Nevermind.” He mumbled.
The Nara Residence
It was, after all, part of his job to ensure that any high-ranking official visiting Konoha received, if not the best, then at least proper accommodations.
However, the festival was just around the corner, and people had been coming in. Eventually, hotels, guesthouses, inns, or anything available had all been fully booked. He had been inquiring here and there but it was to no avail.
He raised the matter to the hokage, but he only replied with, “You'll figure it out”. He couldn't really blame Kakashi. As mentioned, it was the time of festival so it was only natural that the hokage had quite a lot on his plate right now.
He would figure this out. He had to. Temari was coming over for the festival. Not for leisure though. As part of tradition, the annual Shinobi games and competitions were set to take place, where shinobi from different countries were free to participate. Hence the need for representatives of each village for ensuring the safety of not only the participants but also the civilians and tourists. Temari would be staying for about three weeks. It would be the longest she had ever remained in Konoha; usually, her visits lasted only three to five days, strictly for diplomatic purposes. Which meant that now, more than ever, he needed to find her a decent place to stay.
“Why the long face?” his mother asked, setting the plates down on the table.
“Nothing. Just work nonsense,” he replied, dropping into his seat.
“Right.” She gave him a knowing look. “If you keep worrying like that, you’ll end up with wrinkles before you even find yourself a girlfriend.”
Shikamaru coughed at the mention of girlfriend. Technically, he already has one, no one just knew about it. After moments of silence, he sighed. “It’s just troublesome. I’ve been tasked with arranging accommodations for the Suna ambassador but everything’s fully booked now. There’s nowhere left for her to stay.”
There was a brief pause as his mother processed his words. “Suna Ambassador… Temari, was it?” she repeated, a hint of curiosity in her tone. It was no surprise to him that his mother remembers Temari.
He didn’t bother denying it. “Yeah.”
Another pause but this time, longer. Then, as if the solution had been obvious all along, she spoke again.
“Well, that’s simple,” she said casually. “We still have the extra room, don’t we?”
Shikamaru blinked, finally looking up at her. “…You’re not serious.”
“Why not?” she replied with a small smile. “It’s not like we’re strangers to her. She’s been here before, and it would solve your little problem.” She wasn't exactly wrong. Temari had been in their home a couple of times but those were just brief visits. Like the time her mom invited her over for dinner, or the time she would pick him up for meetings or such.
He frowned, already feeling a headache coming on. “That sounds like more trouble than it’s worth.”
“Or,” she countered, placing a cup of tea in front of him, “you’re just overthinking it”.
Shikamaru had no idea what had gotten into his mom and she had suddenly become so oddly determined to make Temari stay with them. But, he had a bad feeling about it. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
Yeah… troublesome. And yet, annoyingly enough, it might just be the only solution he had.
★★★
When he told her the news, she didn't react like he expected. She was calm and indifferent like she always did. Maybe his mom was right and he was just overthinking things. Again.
“Relax. I’ve slept on worst places—cold stones, damp grass, tree branches…you name it. Sleeping under the same roof with you is… tolerable,” she said with a teasing smile when he asked if it bothered her.
★★★
“Not to sound nosy or anything, but do you mind if I ask you a question, Temari?” Yoshino asked out of nowhere while they were having dinner one night.
Temari looked up at her. She paused for a second as if she was considering it then she shrugged. “Go ahead."
"I'm just curious if you're currently dating someone right now—”
Shikamaru immediately choked on his food. Temari froze for a second, her spoon stalling mid-air just as she was about to take a bite. Once she regained her composure, she met Yoshino’s eyes before glancing at Shikamaru, who was currently struggling to swallow a mouthful of his food.
“None… as of now” she replied simply and went back to chewing her food. Yoshino nodded understandingly. Shikamaru, on the other hand, already expected that response but somehow, it was enough to make him upset a little.
“Ah, I see. Well then, what do you usually look for in a guy? Or girl? You know, if you were actually in the market for someone.” Yoshino tried to push her luck.
“Mom, can you please stop—” Shikamaru tried to protest.
“Preferably…” Temari paused momentarily as she met Shikamaru's eyes. “...someone who's smarter than me,” Temari replied matter-of-factly while keeping eye contact with him.
A hot flush swept up Shikamaru's neck, branding his cheeks and the tips of his ears in a vibrant red. That night, he slept with a smile on his face, unbothered for once by Temari’s usual insistence that there was nothing between them around other people. Tonight, he didn't care.
The restaurant owner
After months of not seeing each other, Temari is finally given an errand trip to Konoha. When Shikamaru heard the news, he naturally volunteered to be her escort. Not like she still needed one obviously, he knew she already knew her way round the village but on the pretext that it was a hospitality act to maintain the good relationship between Konoha and Suna, he insisted. The truth was he really just wanted to spend more time with her.
“Your food is getting cold, any plans on eating that?” The voice was obviously coming from none other than the blond konuichi at his front.
She was giving him a scold stare because apparently, he had been staring at his food for more than a couple of minutes now. They were currently eating inside a restaurant right after taking a long stroll in the village.
“Sorry… I was just… thinking” he muttered softly. Temari rolled her eyes and instantly brushed the matter aside before proceeding to eat her own food.
The moment they're finished, the middle-aged woman in the apron who seemed to be the waitress, the cashier, and the cook all at once, walked towards them to give the bill. The woman smiled amicably to the both of them. From Temari’s guess, she's probably the owner of this place too. Considering they're literally the only customers as of the moment, their business must be doing not so good.
“Slow morning, huh?” Temari asked curiously.
The woman gave a slight nod and replied, “It's been slow for quite awhile now.”
“Hmm, your food is nice though. Do you run this place on your own?”
“I have my husband, he's in the kitchen right now. And sometimes my daughter helps, only she has some errands to run today so she's not here.”, replied the woman who pointed at the back of the counter where the kitchen is located at the mention of her husband. Temari gave an understanding nod.
She then grabbed for her wallet to pay for their meal but before she could even hand the money, Shikamaru had already paid the woman their bill with a generous amount of tip too. The woman thanked Shikamaru for his generosity. Seeing this, Temari suddenly grew visibly irritated.
“Take that back, I have my own money” she demanded, causing both Shikamaru and the woman to look at her.
Shikamaru sighed. “You're not seriously gonna argue over this”
Temari ignored him and looked at the woman. “Please give that back to him, I'll pay. I'll even add the tip” she said, her voice was much softer than before.
The woman hesitated but she eventually handed the money to Shikamaru. Only that Shikamaru held the woman's hands insisting to keep the money. He smiled at her softly.
“Please keep it,” he said. He then added additional tip to the woman who was currently holding the money he handed awhile ago.
Now, Temari was angry.
Shikamaru gave her a look and said, “If you want to pay, you can pay me later. What you're doing right now is being disrespectful to this woman.”
When Temari didn't reply, Shikamaru couldn't keep the smile from escaping his lips as if he had just won an argument. The woman too couldn't help but smile tenderly. The woman gave a knowing look to Temari— a look that suggested something like she knows what's up. Temari knew that look more than anyone else and she didn't like it.
“We're not a couple.” She said sternly, breaking the silence. Shikamaru, too, was caught off guard.
★★★
“Seriously, what’s your deal?” Temari snapped, her voice sharper and louder than usual. They walked side by side, but her strides were quick and impatient, forcing Shikamaru to half-jog just to keep up.
“My deal?” he retorted, matching her tone. “You were the one making a scene back there! And what was that about— announcing we’re not dating when she didn’t even ask?”
She stopped abruptly, forcing him to halt as well. He nearly stumbled into her in the process. Then she whirled around and snapped, eyes were blazing.
“She was thinking it! I could see it!”, voice sharper.
Shikamaru let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Right. Is it really that humiliating? The idea of someone thinking we’re together so bad it'll kill you?” The moment the words slipped out, he knew. It was enough for him to earn a smack on the face.
Blood was dripping from his nose but he couldn't bring himself to bother as he watched her figure disappear in the crowded streets.
Team 10
“What happened to your nose?” Choji asked
“Accidentally hit myself while training” Shikamaru sighed as he leaned back on his chair.
“Geez, you're a terrible liar. Seriously, what did you do this time? Because obviously someone did a good job punching the shit out of your face” Ino retorted.
Shikamaru wasn't in the mood to talk about it but the way his teammates were staring at him and waiting for an answer, he knew he had no choice.
“It's not even my fault,” he muttered defeatedly.
Choji and Ino exchanged glances, then both smiled sheepishly. Shikamaru grew suspicious and felt a sense that he wouldn't like where this conversation was headed…
“So it was Temari then,” Choji suggested.
“You know, Shikamaru, I never strike you as a masochist," Ino noted, her eyes narrowing playfully. "I'm not one to judge, but it's just unexpected for you to date a harpy and violent woman.”
“Wait, wait... how did Temari even get brought up? I didn’t even mention her,” Shikamaru asked, looking genuinely caught off guard. He let out a weary sigh and looked away.
“And for the record, she’s not always violent. I just happened to say something that set her off.” He added defensively.
“So it was your fault after all,” Ino replied. “Men…” she added with a disbelieving sigh, shaking her head with a hand on her temple for dramatic effect.
There was a long silence.
“How long have you guys known?” Shikamaru asked silently. But deep down, he knew his friends are not that stupid to not notice.
“To be honest, Choji and I weren't sure at first,” Ino said, leaning in.
“But we always knew there was something up between you two. It’s pretty obvious by the way you’ve been acting when Temari’s around.” Choji gave him a knowing look.
“Come on, dude. You could try to deny it and maybe fool everyone else, but not us. We know you too well. You’d barely lift a finger for something so trivial, yet you’d go to the lengths of dropping a mission just to volunteer as her personal escort.”
“Aaand we also have sources, y’know!” Ino added gracefully.
Naruto and Sakura!, Shikamaru thought. As much as he wanted to argue, it was too much of a drag right now. He took a drag on his cigarette and looked away.
The new assistant
The room was quiet except for the steady rustle of paper and the faint scratch of ink against parchment. Shikamaru leaned back in his chair, one hand lazily flipping through a report while the other held his pen midair, like even writing felt like too much effort.
Across from him, Temari sat upright, focused as ever, scanning a document with her sharp teal eyes.
“Troublesome…” he muttered. “Why do they keep piling these up?”he complained in an attempt to break the ice.
“Because you keep finishing them,” Temari replied without looking up, still as focused as ever.
“That’s not a good enough reason.” he pouted.
“It is to them.” she replied. Indifferent. Like always.
Despite the heavy workload, Shikamaru secretly liked being stuck in the office. It got rid of risking his life on missions, he got to enjoy the quiet atmosphere and it gave him plenty of time to slack off. But most importantly, he got to spend the day low-key hanging out with Temari. He also liked stealing glances and watching her work silently. His thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly slid open.
“Sorry to interrupt.” An unfamiliar feminine voice spoke. Both of them glanced up this time.
A young kunoichi stepped inside, her posture just a bit too stiff, her forehead protector still looking newer than most. She clutched a small folder to her chest, eyes scanning the room before landing on him.
“I was told to report to Nara Shikamaru for assignment clarification,” she said.
Shikamaru gave a small sigh, straightening slightly. “Yeah, that’s me.”
She stepped closer. “My name is Shiho. I just transferred from another unit, so I’m still getting used to things.”
“Mm.” He gestured lazily to the chair across from him.
“You can leave the file there. I’ll check it.” Shiho nodded, placing the folder on his desk but she didn’t step away. The girl lingered a little too long for his liking. Shiho hesitated, fingers tightening slightly against the edge of the desk.
“Actually… before that, I want to take this chance to tell you how much I look up to you. You probably don't know me yet but I heard a lot from you. You're the reason why I'm here.”
Shikamaru glanced up at her again, mildly awkward.
“Yeah? Well, that's ahmm… that's nice, I guess. I didn't know I could influence people like that”, he said awkwardly, trying not to sound apathetic. But really, what else was he supposed to say? He wasn't really used to getting compliments.
Shiho smiled brightly.“And also… I've been meaning to ask but never had the opportunity…” She took a small breath and looked at him seriously.
“D-do you happen… to have a g-girlfriend?” she asked bashfully.
Temari heard every word loud and clear. Of course she did. Before she realized it, her pen stopped from writing. It was subtle but it was enough for Shikamaru to notice immediately.
And just like that, the question wasn’t simple anymore.
Temari was right there. Listening. He knew she was. Suddenly, his mind wandered back to the time they were in the restaurant and how even simply hinting their relationship made her incredibly furious. After that, she ignored him for almost a month and it was hell.
He glanced at her. Temari hadn’t looked up. Her eyes remained fixed on the paper in front of her, expression unreadable. It's as if she hadn’t heard a thing. But he knew better. She was listening. Waiting. Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck, exhaling softly. If she badly wants to keep this relationship hidden for as long as she likes, then so be it.
“…No,” he said, hesitating. “I don’t.” The words came out naturally but it felt so wrong. Now, he wondered how exactly Temari could do it so effortlessly. He knew that's the best answer he could give. If he told the girl he had one without mentioning Temari, she would still probably probe.
Shiho’s face brightened almost instantly. “Oh really? Then I was wondering if maybe—”
“Shiho, is it?” Shikamaru interrupted impatiently. “I'm not trying to be rude or anything but I'm really quite busy right now… I hope you don't mind if you let me finish my work in silence, yeah?” he tried to sound polite as much as he could.
“Ah, right! Sorry for bothering you. Well then, maybe next time? Still, nice to meet you again, Sir!” She quickly straightened, gave a small, awkward nod, and excused herself from the room.
The door slid shut.
Silence returned. But it felt different now. He glanced up. Temari was writing again. Her pen moved just a little too fast, the strokes sharper than usual.
“…You skipped a line,” Shikamaru said.
“I know.” she replied sharply. He could swear that there was a hint of annoyance in her voice or maybe he was just imagining it.
He frowned slightly but didn’t push. They finished the paperwork in near silence.
★★★
By the end of the day, it was obvious. Temari wasn’t just quiet. She was avoiding him. When he spoke, she answered briefly, never meeting his gaze. Even with walking together or working side by side, the silence was deafening. It was deliberate. And it was getting annoying. He finally caught her just as she was about to step out of another room.
“Temari.” he called.
She paused. “…What?” she turned around. Her tone was calm. Too calm.
“You’ve been acting weird all day.”
“No, I haven’t.” He exhaled through his nose.
“You’re ignoring me.”
“I’m busy.”
“You’re always busy. That’s not new.” She shifted her body weight from one foot to another and placed her hands on either side of her waist before speaking.
“Maybe I just don’t feel like talking.”
“Is this about earlier?”
“I don't know what you're talking about” she shrugged.
Shikamaru shoved his hands into his pockets. “You’re upset because of what I said to Shiho.” not a question but a statement.
“I’m not upset.” Temari turned sharply.
“Then why are you acting like I did something wrong?” Shikamaru asked, patience running thin. Silence. She blinked once. And that's the only response he received. He might as well talk to a dead person. He stared at her, already feeling the headache creeping in.
“I thought I was doing what you wanted…” words were spoken softly and slow like he was making sure she would hear it clearly.
She paused momentarily and stared at him like she was looking for words to say. Until she finally did. “Maybe, you weren't”
“What were you expecting me to say then?” his voice almost inaudible, begging.
“I thought you're a genius and you know everything. Maybe, just maybe you should figure that one out.” The words hung in the air. He studied her for a moment. Shikamaru sighed, dragging a hand down his face.
“This is troublesome… It's so hard to understand you. To please you! It's like everything I do is wrong. You're the one who wants our relationship to be a secret, and so I kept it. I listen to every word you say and do whatever exactly you want, what else you want from me?”, he was running out of breath. He promised himself that he would never say words he would later regret but he couldn't bring himself to care anymore.
“I have my reasons. It is more complicated than you think—”
“Everything’s complicated with you!” his voice came off a little bit harsh and loud without intending to.
She glared. Then the uneasy silence once again filled the room.
“I still have work to do.” She turned away and left. Shikamaru stood there, staring at the empty doorway, feeling more drained than any stack of paperwork had ever made him.
“…Troublesome,” he muttered.
He wished he had a cigarette right now.
★★★
“YOU DID WHAT? ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID!?” Ino’s high pitched voice was loud enough to get every customer in the restaurant to look at their table.
"Keep your voice down, Ino! You’re making a scene,” He pleaded. He looked around frantically, trying to catch the eyes of offended customers with an apologetic wince.
"Like I care.” Ino retorted.
“I just never understand how she got mad over that when I only did what she wanted me to”
"You don't really get it, do you? That Shiho-girl was definitely hitting on you and by telling her you’re single, you're giving her false hope. And now, Temari's definitely jealous… All that big brain of yours only to share the same brain cells with the population of those half-witted male who know nothing but to displease women!” Ino kept rambling, still irritated. Choji, uninterested in the topic, already enjoyed eating the food they just ordered.
“Well damn, thank you for that but I would appreciate it more if you'll give me some useful advice instead of insults.” Shikamaru sarcastically said. Ino rolled her eyes before speaking.
“Apologize!" She stated as a matter of fact. “And make sure to put efforts on that! Not just some simple ‘Oh, I'm sorry Temari, I'll never do it again’. You know her more than I do so it's up to you how will you be able to coax her" Choji hummed in agreement but Shikamaru doubted he was even paying attention to their conversation.
Ino was right. Maybe he was really that stupid. It would not hurt to listen to her advice at least once, right?
★★★
The argument lingered between them for two days. Two entire days of short responses, avoided eye contact, and tension so thick even Kakashi had noticed something was off.
“Whatever was going on between you two, you better fix it before it gets in the way of your work” Kakashi told him when he came to the hokage office to submit some reports. He could only reply with a heavy sigh.
Shikamaru was already exhausted.
By the third night, the halls of the administrative building had long emptied, lantern light casting warm shadows across the quiet corridors.
Temari sat alone in one of the side offices, reviewing reports she’d already read twice. She wasn’t actually working anymore. Just straight up avoiding him. The door slid open before her.
“You’re still here?” Of course. The voice came from the very man she didn't want to see right now. Temari didn’t look up.
“So are you.”
“Yeah, well.” He sighed, stepping inside. “Someone’s been impossible to talk to.”
“I wonder why.” The door slid shut.
Silence settled again, but it was more intense now that he entered the room. Temari kept her eyes on the papers even as she sensed him moving closer. He stopped beside her desk, hands in his pockets, looking annoyingly calm for someone who had spent two days irritating her.
“I went to your hotel and you weren't there. Avoiding me again. Still mad, huh?”
“I’ve been busy.”
“That excuse stopped working yesterday.”
She clicked her tongue softly, finally setting the papers down harder than necessary.
“What do you want, Nara?”
His gaze stayed on her for a moment before he answered quietly, “To fix this.” Something in his tone made her chest tighten.
Temari finally looked at him properly. He looked tired. Not physically (though that too) but genuinely worn down. And somehow that annoyed her even more. Her expression softened for only a second before she looked away again. Shikamaru stepped closer.
“Temari.” he called her name quieter, almost inaudible. Almost begging.
“I don’t like fighting with you,” he admitted.
She swallowed. But she remained silent, waiting for his next move. Then Shikamaru reached out, fingers brushing lightly against her wrist. It was gentle, afraid she would pull away. Temari didn’t. His hand slid upward slowly until he was holding hers properly, thumb brushing across her knuckles.
“You know,” he murmured, “this whole secret relationship thing is troublesome.”
Their eyes met. “What are you suggesting then?" Temari responded, staring at his hand caressing hers.
Shikamaru shrugged. "Maybe it's time for us to let everyone know.”
Temari paused for a second and stared at him. Her eyes shifted into something fiercer. But it was an act to intimidate him. "Know what exactly”, she challenged.
Shikamaru pursed his lips, pretending to think for a while before answering her.
"That you technically own my life now” Shikamaru slightly squeezed her hand.
“You make it sound like I'm holding you hostage or something."
“Oh. You don't?" His reply earned a chuckle from Temari. She shook her head in disbelief.
The tension gradually shifted into something lighter. Shikamaru tugged lightly on her hand, drawing her toward him until she stood directly in front of him, leaning against the messy desk behind her.
“We won't tell your brothers yet if you don't want to but no more lying and pretending to other people, how's that?” he asked softly.
“…Maybe.” she teased, a smirk painted on her face.
“Troublesome.”
“But maybe,” she added, stepping closer, “you can convince me”. A faint smirk touched his lips.
He leaned down and kissed her. Temari melted into it almost immediately, fingers curling against the front of his shirt as weeks of restrained affection surfaced all at once. Shikamaru’s hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer until there wasn’t even space left between them. The kiss deepened. Warmer and needier like it would be their last.
Temari exhaled softly against his mouth when his thumb brushed along her side, and she felt him pause briefly at the sound before kissing her again, slower this time.
“You have no idea,” he murmured against her lips, “how hard it’s been not touching you these past two days.”
“Uh huh, which part is exactly hard?"
"Hm. Wanna find it out yourself?”
“Nope."
"Sucks ‘cause it's achingly hard right now”
“That's your punishment.”
“Cruel.”
“You deserved it.”
His forehead rested lightly against hers for a second, both of them breathing quieter now. Then Temari finally relaxed fully against him, arms sliding around his neck. Shikamaru’s expression softened.
“I’m sorry.”
“You better be.”
“Yes, ma’am.” A lazy smile tugged at his mouth.
Temari rolled her eyes but she was smiling now too. And when he kissed her again, there was nothing tense or uncertain left between them anymore.
Sand Siblings
Kankuro narrowed his eyes at the two of them across the room. “Alright, what’s going on? You two have been acting weird all night.””
“Pretty seems normal to me,” Shikamaru answered a little too quickly.
Temari scoffed. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Then you say it.”
After a few months, they finally decided to tell Gaara and Kankuro. However, it was more troublesome than Shikamaru expected. Temari told him that he should be the one to tell them because apparently, he's a man and it's part of his responsibility. The thing is, he never expected this to be that… hard. Mainly because her brothers were still intimidating as ever.
Gaara quietly set his teacup down, watching the exchange with mild interest. “You’ve been arguing about this since before dinner.”
Neither of them denied it. Kankuro pointed between them. “Hold on… why does this feel like I missed several chapters?”
A brief silence followed. Temari grew impatient and decided to finally clear the tension. “We're dating." She said nonchalantly as she crossed her arms.
Kankuro’s eyes darted between the two. Scanning. Analyzing? But whatever he was doing, it made Shikamaru feel uneasy. He suddenly found the wall incredibly interesting. Gods, this is so awkward, he thought.
Kankuro leaned forward. “No way.”
“It’s not that dramatic,” Temari said.
Kankuro pointed accusingly at both of them. “You’re telling me all those meetings, all those ‘political discussions,’ all those suspiciously timed visits—”
“They were real meetings,” Temari cut in.
“And afterward?” he shot back.
A brief silence settled over the room. Kankuro’s jaw dropped. And to make it seem more dramatic, he covered his mouth with his two hands as if he just discovered something unbelievable. Well, technically, it was unbelievable to him. He never imagined his sister would be this… sneaky. It was the only appropriate word he could think of.
Gaara blinked once, calm as ever. “So you’re together.”
Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck. “Have been for a while now.”
“How long is ‘a while’?” Kankuro asked carefully.
“…probably more than a year, three years at most,” Temari admitted.
Kankuro looked personally betrayed. He had always been so open to his siblings. From his first kiss to his first heartbreak, he always told them in oddly detailed ways even when no one was interested.
“THREE YEARS!!?” He threw his hands into the air. “You hid it for that long?”
“It wasn’t hiding,” Temari replied lazily.
“We just didn’t tell anyone.”
“That is literally hiding.” Kankuro corrected.
Gaara took another quiet sip of tea. “I assumed something was going on.”
Both of them turned toward him. Kankuro stared. “You knew?!”
“I had suspicions,” Gaara said simply. “Temari only threatens people that often when she likes them.”
“She threatens everyone,” Kankuro corrected him. Temari deadpanned.
“Not with that level of commitment,” Gaara replied.
For the first time that evening, Shikamaru snorted out a laugh. Temari shot him a warning look, which made Shikamaru fix his composure. He swallowed hard.
Kankuro collapsed dramatically into his chair. “This is unbelievable. I feel sick.”
“You’ll survive,” Temari said.
“I don’t think I will.”
“You’re being troublesome,” Shikamaru added.
Kankuro pointed at him again. “Don’t use your relationship privileges against me.”
“Our what?” Shikamaru asked. Temari rolled her eyes, but her hand brushed briefly against Shikamaru’s beneath the table. He felt it and didn't think twice to wrap her hand with his. It was soft and warm. Enough to make him comfortable.
Gaara noticed. Still, he said nothing, only setting his teacup down with the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
“At least,” he said calmly, “this explains why Shikamaru started volunteering to come to Suna.”
Shikamaru immediately groaned. “Can we end this conversation now?”