A Troublesome Series of Events

Sorry I was away for so long! I moved on Monday and then went to Anime Boston (and cosplayed Shika ;D) this past weekend, so I was busy. BUT I'M BACK NOW. ;D So you guys get to suffer again. -rubs hands together and grins-

yaoilovergirl: LOVE. Thank you! I'm glad you like it so much! Also yey for recruits of this pairing. >D I hope you like this chapter as much!
lexjamandme: Hopefully you like this chapter ending better. ;D
Admiral ShadowWolf: When we wrote it out, we couldn't decide who to feel more sorry for. D: HERE IS MORE FOR YOU. HEARTS.
Tellnoone_Noonetells: There will be plenty of more drama, but there's a quick fix now~. xD Hope you still like it!

Thank you to everyone else who reviewed! ;w; I couldn't think of a personalized response that wasn't lame for you guys. BUT YOU STILL GET MY LOVE. -noms-

...It was going to be a short update, but I combined two chapters since I've been gone. Don't expect updates as often, though, now because Luney and I only have two more chapters pre-written. BUT WE SHALL TRY OUR HARDEST TO KEEP WRITING FAST.

--

Shikamaru froze and his eyes widened. He hastily pulled away—a few hairs tearing out in Sasuke’s grip—and leaned back, panting softly as his face fought between paling and blushing.

“N-naruto… I…” He stopped, knowing there was nothing he could say.

Sasuke had already snapped his head forward, the moment he heard the dobe’s voice. He forced himself not to swallow or show any signs of nervousness. He didn’t know if him saying anything would help or ruin the situation. He chose to remain quiet on this.

“Shikamaru… Why..?” Naruto’s hand dropped back, arm stiff from his raging emotions. He was nice to Shikamaru, supportive, there for him in his time of need and all he got was the friend card. Sasuke helped rape him, watched Orochimaru actually do it without lifting a finger, and just… gets his affection?!

He dropped his head, feeling tears begin to swim in his azure orbs. Why did Sasuke get everything!?

“When did… Sasuke… get back, huh?” He asked threw bitterly clenched teeth.

Shikamaru bit his lip, feeling guilt drop his stomach like a stone. He couldn’t give Naruto a good enough reason and that made himself feel worse.

“Last night,” he muttered, glancing off to the side. “We… we were going to go see Lady Tsunade after… er, eating.” He internally winced at how bad that sounded, shifting his gaze to the food—which was probably overcooked by now.

Naruto lifted his head, feeling lost and dejected but he refused to just fly into a rage and start yelling. He wasn’t as mature and suave as Sasuke, but he was better then he used to be. And he would show Sasuke, right now.

“I… Just… Good… for you… two.” He swallowed, feeling his eyes burn with the wetness of his tears. He turned around, leaving his back to the scene, blinking and feeling the hot liquid start to roll down his cheeks.

“I’ll go now.” He said, hardly above a whisper. “I won’t… tell anyone.”

“Naruto… I’m sorry,” he said, not sure what else he could say. He had known it would be hard to tell him, but this was definitely the worst way to find out.

“No, Shikamaru. It’s okay.” Naruto said, waving his hand dismissively even as his shoulders began trembling with his emotions. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, leaving dark spots on his clothing as the rivulets collected and dripped from his chin. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

Sasuke’s brows drew together. He didn’t want Naruto to leave like this, like he was abandoned and replaced again. But what could he say? ‘I’m sorry I walked in and stole the person you liked while getting over me, ruining the life I abandoned you to. Friends?’

Shikamaru shook his head and stood up. He took a step forward then stopped, sure that any physical contact would break any control the boy had. This was why he hadn’t wanted any relationships before—they always caused too many problems.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

Naruto almost turned, but caught himself. With Shikamaru standing, he wouldn’t be covering the bared dick of his once friend, the one who’d stabbed him through the lung, hurt him and Sakura deeply with his betrayal. An image of his current crush about to gulp down his old crushes erect cock flashed through his mind and he clenched his eyes shut, a whining noise coming up.

“I have a lot to be sorry for.” He said softly, walking away. He paused at the door, wondering if there was anything to say. Wondering if Sasuke would speak up. He heard nothing.

“Bye.”

Shikamaru stayed frozen to the spot, debating whether to go after him or not. He wanted to smooth this over, but wasn’t sure how that was possible. And he still had to eat and get Sasuke to the Hokage’s Tower.

He sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms.

“You can go talk with him.” Sasuke said. He stood up, pulling the borrowed boxers up and zipping the pants up again, buttoning them. He stepped around the other standing male, walking into the kitchen and surveying what had happened to the food.

“I do know how to feed myself.” He said with a somewhat pained half-smile, trying to interject some humor into the situation.

Shikamaru lowered his hands and looked over at Sasuke. He offered a small smile before muttering a thanks and running out after Naruto. He didn’t know what he’d say, but he couldn’t just let him leave like that.

Sasuke rolled his eyes at Shikamaru’s reaction. He didn’t seem that heartless to people, did he? He shook his head, beginning to mess with all the food Shikamaru had left behind.

“I do know how to feed myself. Just not very well…” He muttered out loud as he threw the food together in one bowl, starting to eat it without really tasting it. He was too busy wondering how it would go with Naruto.

--

Shikamaru searched around Konoha for Naruto, stopping at all the places he knew the other frequented. He checked Ichiraku’s first, but doubted he would be there. Once seeing he wasn’t there he moved on quickly, heading out to the training fields.

Naruto sat in the bough of a tree, legs curled up to himself with his arms wrapped around them. He was at one of the many training grounds, in which he’d already destroyed the surrounding area with a mixture of rasengan and his bare hands, his knuckles now bloody. The tree he was sitting in was the only one standing for some distance, the others reduced to splinters and cracked limbs, many stumps littering the area around the one surviving tree.

Shikamaru stopped as he caught site of the field, a frown quickly forming. He figured the other would be burning off some steam but it was worse than he thought.

“Naruto,” he called out as he walked up to him, pace slower than when he was searching. He was slightly out of breath but didn’t think anything of it, just hoping Naruto wouldn’t try to just leave before talking.

Naruto’s slightly puffy eyes slid towards Shikamaru, sore redness rimming his bright blue eye. He didn’t bother lifting his head from his knees, or running away. He already felt terrible enough for the destruction he’d forced onto the training ground, ripping apart many trees that had lived longer than him. He didn’t need to feel pathetic by turning tail.

“What.”

Shikamaru inwardly winced, guilt building at how the fox-holder looked. He hesitantly sat down on the grass next to the tree stump. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I… I’m sorry,” he said again. “I didn’t want for you to find us like that. I really do appreciate what you’ve been doing for me, Naruto. Don’t… don’t think that I don’t. I just…” He trailed off, not knowing what to say.

Naruto’s eyes moved forward again, not looking at Shikamaru as he floundered for his apology speech. The fox vessel was finding it hard to care at the moment.

“You just like Sasuke more. I get it.” Naruto said simply. It wasn’t like it hadn’t happened before to him. He should have been used to it by now. Over two years of Uchiha absence must have desensitized him from that sort of thing.

“No, I… I don’t know,” he muttered weakly. He wasn’t good at this sort of thing, damnit. It was Chouji who was good at making people feel better.

He sighed again, a soft groan mixing with it. “Naruto, ah… There’s… something Tsunade and I didn’t tell you about… about this whole situation.” He paused and bit his lip before continuing, “There are three who could possibly be its father; Orochimaru, Kabuto, or… Sasuke.”

Naruto’s eyes widened, sliding back onto Shikamaru. He couldn’t help but lift his head a little, the shock forcing a surge of energy through his heavy body, making him feel small tingles of rage and betrayal throughout his being.

“So he can just show up, and because his DNA might be growing inside you, he just automatically gets your affection? Just because he might genetically be the father, might, he gets to be with you?!” Naruto yelled, dropping one leg down and clenching his fist on the other.

Shikamaru flinched a little at the words, staring down at the ground. He knew it sounded stupid, but there was so much more going on. He felt torn.

“He left Orochimaru on his own. He risked coming into Konoha, without knowing I was pregnant, to see me. He… I think he deserves a chance, at least.”

Naruto clenched his fists harder, pushing a little more blood out of his self inflicted wounds. The pain helped him focus, not lose control to his emotions, but the focusing just made his anger that much sharper.

“Oh, I think that was a little more than a chance Shikamaru.” He snarled, hating himself in the back of his mind for the way he was acting. But he’d truly thought that, with time, he could grow on Shikamaru and they could make a good family. He’d actually let himself fall for that idiotic hope of happiness, again.

Shikamaru bit his lip, knowing he deserved that verbal jab. He kept silent, not knowing what else to say. What could he say? Anything else would either hurt the other ninja more or it would be a lie.

“He’s giving up his search for his brother to stay,” he finally muttered quietly. “I told him if he left, he shouldn’t ever come back. He chose to stay.”

“Oh, and that makes it all better? He can stand by and watch you get raped, but if he comes back and promises to never leave again you’ll drop everything and go down on him.” Naruto whispered hotly, tears pricking at his eyes again. He jumped down in a swift, violent motion, grabbing Shikamaru by the shoulders and hauling him to his feet.

“But if I promise to never leave, if I keep my hands off you while you go through therapy from being raped, if I try to make you happy while no one else seems to give a damn about you beyond the weirdness of the baby, I get thrown the pity friend card!” Naruto hissed out, lifting Shikamaru off his feet bodily, arms trembling from his rage and hurt.

Shikamaru started, staring at Naruto with a small trace of fear in his eyes. He knew the other wouldn’t do anything to hurt him—he trusted Naruto completely—but it was still unnerving to be on the receiving end of his rage.

“N-naruto…”

“I… I…” Naruto’s eyes took in the emotion flitting over Shikamaru’s. Fear. Of course, he just had to instill fear into the one he liked; the one he was trying to get to like him back. His eyes softened from his anger, deepening with sadness.

“Shikamaru, I like you. A lot. I… used to like Sasuke too. It’s just not… fair.” He whispered, lowering his arms so that Shikamaru was placed on the ground. He could feel tears, more of those damn salty rivers, spilling from his eyes once again and he hated himself.

Shikamaru sighed and brought his hands up to wipe away the tears gently.

“I’m sorry, Naruto,” he muttered softly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Naruto looked up, seeing a soft, pitying look coupled with the gentle touch. His self-loathing flared under the attention, his heart beating faster as his impulsive nature began to take over from his eroded calm. He didn’t want Shikamaru to feel that way. He didn’t.

“I don’t want to hurt you either. Or lose you.” He said. With that he took a step forward, grasping Shikamaru’s chin and kissing him as deeply as he dared, tongue refraining from delving into his undoubtedly hot cavern.

Shikamaru’s eyes widened and he gasped in surprised. He moved his hands down to rest on Naruto’s shoulders. He kissed back hesitantly, feeling incredibly confused for once. He had always had lingering feelings for the Uchiha, but... Naruto had always been there.

Naruto felt some of his anger dissipate with his surprise. He’d really expected Shikamaru to push him away. He didn’t have it in him to feel angry at Shikamaru kissing back, assuming it was out of some sort of pity or need to apologize. He could only relax somewhat, letting himself wrap his arms around Shikamaru’s shoulders and lick at his bottom lip, most of his emotions turning into hormones at the sign of acceptance.

Shikamaru automatically parted his lips, flicking his tongue out against Naruto’s. He wasn’t sure if he should be doing this, but he didn’t want to just dismiss Naruto. He was one of his best friends and he had been starting to care for him, but…

He closed his eyes, forcefully pushing those thoughts away. It wouldn’t be good to dwell on it either way.

Naruto kissed back with energy, letting all his pent up emotions flow into his actions. Before he could register it he found himself pressed against Shikamaru, the Nara’s back pushed into the bark of the last standing tree. His hands were already half way up the other boy’s shirt, his knee rubbing at Shikamaru’s groin.

Shikamaru groaned softly into the kiss, grip tightening on Naruto’s shoulders. He shuddered at the cool air hitting his skin as he rolled his hips down against the others knee. He broke the kiss to catch his breath, panting heavily.

Naruto couldn’t help but be more turned on by Shikamaru’s reaction. He couldn’t help himself; all his repressed sexual urges were surfacing, demanding he rip the clothing off the other as fast as possible. He barely had the will power to keep from actually tearing the cloth away, yanking Shikamaru’s limbs around until he had him fully nude, pants and boxers crumpled down at his ankles.

“Mmm, Shikamaru…” He whispered, licking his lips as he lowered his mouth, biting and sucking on his nipple. His hands went down to grasp his limp shaft, pumping hurriedly while rolling one of his balls in his palm.

Shikamaru leaned his head back against the tree, arching his back a little towards Naruto. He shivered and squirmed against him, releasing another quiet moan. Naruto was much more intense than Sasuke and he was surprised that he really enjoyed it.

Naruto made a low, growling noise in answer to Shikamaru’s moan. His hips began slowly moving, despite not being pressed against anything as he’d drawn himself back in order to have room to touch. He alleviated this by moving forward, spreading his legs and straddling one of Shikamaru’s thighs, keeping the hand towards the Nara’s genitalia on his balls and stroking with the one now crossing his stomach.

“Yes, you like it, don’t you?” Naruto breathed, biting onto Shikamaru’s neck just over the curse mark, as he began moving his hips again, sliding his cock over the smooth muscle of Shikamaru’s bare thigh with his trapped erection.

Shikamaru cried out in surprise and pleasure, his nails digging lightly into Naruto’s shoulders. His hips bucked forward a few times before he climaxed suddenly. He panted heavily and sagged against the tree, moaning out the other boy’s name softly.

Naruto felt the body under him tense after crying out, a hot wetness suddenly coating his fingers. He paused in his actions, pulling back to look down at the flaccid length, thick ribbons of semen sticking to his fingers. Although his cock twitched at the sight, he drew away from where he’d been thrusting against the boy.

“Shikamaru?” He asked, voice rough and husky with his lust even as confusion showed on his features. That was too fast and abrupt, from what he’d been told of the Nara’s sex life by the Hokage and his own experience with sex and orgasm.

Shikamaru opened his eyes and turned his gaze to Naruto, pleasured flush deepening into an embarrassed one.

“It… The curse mark, it’s sensitive,” he said in way of explanation between pants.

Naruto’s eyes widened, before he shook his head. The curse mark. Orochimaru, the rape, the child. Sasuke. He lowered his face, eyes wide with shock. What had he just done?!

“Shikamaru, I, I’m sorry! I, I just, I wanted to be with you, and the whole Sasuke thing, I, if I couldn’t be with you I just, wanted to be able to have you, you know, I mean, jeez, what the hell was I thinking?!” Naruto rambled off, taking steps back from the other boy. He didn’t want their first, and probably only time to be some sort of pity sex. He wanted it to mean something.

Shikamaru frowned slightly and sighed. He pulled up his pants and fastened them before shrugging his shirt back on and moving forward.

“Naruto, it’s okay,” he said. “You didn’t hurt me either way.”

“But I could have!” Naruto said desperately, raising his head and giving Shikamaru wide, anxious eyes. “I didn’t want anything but the sex. I, I just, I wanted to get off. Anything to be able to spill on you, in you, fill you up and tear you apart. It, it wasn’t, not like I would have wanted our first time to be…”

Shikamaru sighed and moved to stand directly in front of Naruto. He lifted a hand to cup the others cheek. He shook his head, smiling faintly.

“Naruto, I trust you. I know you wouldn’t have done anything bad to me. So stop being troublesome,” he said, smile forming into a smirk.

Unconsciously leaning into the hand, Naruto closed his eyes, letting out a breath. Shikamaru just didn’t get it. It was almost like when the fox’s blood lust came out, only… he knew it was all him. It freaked him out, to find that there was a part of him so like the fox. That he’d almost ruined what he wanted from Shikamaru, all because of teenaged hormones.

“…You shouldn’t trust me so much… when I’m like that.” He said softly, not wanting the touch to leave. He just wanted someone to hold him now, to reassure him. He wanted Iruka-sensei to take him out to ramen, or Kakashi-sensei to bug him about vegetables. He wanted something he was used to, normal, comforting. Not all these confusing and irrational thoughts about sex, affection, love and where the line was for each.

Shikamaru released another sigh and leaned forward to give a small peck to his cheek.

“Well, I do. So, um, was there any reason you came over?” he asked, attempting to change the subject to something else.

Naruto winced slightly at the reminder, skipping over the why and getting to what he’d found. He turned his head away from Shikamaru, digging into his pockets and pulling out the money.

“I had money to take you out to eat.”

“Oh, well… I haven’t eaten yet, if you still wanted to,” he said with hesitancy. He was sure Sasuke could find something to do and he wasn’t stupid enough to go running around Konoha by himself. “Just as long as I get back home before nightfall.”

Naruto narrowed his eyes, pocketing the money once again before crossing his arms in a huff. He tilted his head, eyeing Shikamaru, before speaking.

“You’ve got Sasuke to take care of. The sooner he sees Old-lady Tsunade, the better. Even I know that.”

Shikamaru nodded, frowning a little. “Yes, I know that. But do you know how many will see him going there this time of day? And who probably wouldn’t hesitate to attack him despite me being an escort? It would be easier to get him there right before nightfall where there are less people around to spot him before the Hokage makes a decision on his punishment.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling like he shouldn’t even have to explain this. “Besides, he’s not going to be running around on his own.”

“It didn’t look like you guys didn’t plan on doing much outside anyway…” Naruto said softly, his eyes sliding off to the side. He didn’t think the memory would ever not sting. “But if you really want to just ditch him, fine. I can’t control you.”

His frown deepened and he took a step back, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “If you’d rather I leave you alone, I will.” He couldn’t tell what he should do, what Naruto wanted him to do. His genius didn’t include reading emotions or responses, just probabilities and solutions.

Naruto sighed, scratching the back of his head. He sucked at these kinds of things, he hardly knew what he wanted let alone how to tell Shikamaru!

“No, Shikamaru, I… I just… I guess, all I want is the same chance Sasuke got. I mean, I might not be the kid’s biological father, but, I, I could still be a good father…” Naruto trailed off, his automatic smile fading around the edges.

“Naruto,” Shikamaru started, frown lifting a little, “you would be a great father, whether it’s with me or not. I… I do like you, Naruto. It means a lot to me what you’ve done. But… I also like Sasuke.”

“But, why?! Why can Sasuke be so… cruel to you, but you like him more than me? What is it about Sasuke that everyone likes so much?!” Naruto said desperately, eyes wide as he made wild gesticulations, feeling his jealousy rise up against the Uchiha once again.

“I care for you both,” he said. Shikamaru looked away, biting the inside of his cheek. “And he wasn’t ever cruel to me when I was there. There was no way he could have stopped Orochimaru without worse things happening to both of us. In a backwards way, he helped me.”

“But… But… Why can he just show up and get to be the father? Why is it that I have to fight for your affection, and he can just show up and have it?” Naruto asked, dropping his hands to his sides. He felt like a petulant child with all the why’s, why’s, why’s and his repeated use of the word ‘fair’. Since when had anything about his life been fair.

“Because it could be his, Naruto. He… has a right to know his child,” he said softly, wishing he could explain some other way.

“But that doesn’t mean he has a right to be with you!” Naruto said hotly. “Just because he betrayed this village, joined up with a murderous bastard, and happened to stay there long enough for you to come along and be experimented on, doesn’t mean he should get the privilege! He can know the kid without being the main father; he could be like its uncle. You don’t have to act like a father to become close to a child.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Shikamaru said, closing his eyes. “But the fact that he helped me, cleaned me up after being raped, and fed me when I couldn’t even move… he deserves a chance, too, doesn’t he?” He held himself back from yelling, knowing it wouldn’t help Naruto or the headache that was forming.

“And I’m not saying you don’t either,” he continued, feeling tears prick at his own eyes now. This was too much for him to understand. He felt them increase with the thought that he wished Asuma-sensei was still alive to give him advice over shogi. “I like you both; can’t that be enough for right now?”

“How can it… I… Shikamaru, I know in my head it should be, but… I’m not smart like you, I can’t control my brain, I can’t follow it. I can only feel… hurt… and angry… and, and, I don’t like it, I don’t, but I don’t know how to not feel!” Naruto spoke in a rushed explanation, his eyes pleading, wishing for Shikamaru to understand.

“I don’t want you to stop feeling,” he said, shaking his head. Looking back over at Naruto, Shikamaru pushed back the tears and let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not smart at this sort of thing. I don’t know what to say or do; all I know is that I like both of you. A lot. And I can’t choose, not right now at least.”

“Then I don’t think spending the day with me would be a good idea, Shikamaru. I don’t know what would be good, but spending time with either of us doesn’t seem like it. I mean, when you want to make a decision, yeah, but… not now.” Naruto said, surprised at himself for the idea.

Shikamaru bit his lip, looking to the side again. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” he muttered. He didn’t really like the idea, but he didn’t see any other solution without out-right dumping one of them. And he definitely didn’t like that idea.

Naruto swallowed, hanging his head. He’d been given a chance, but he still somehow felt like he’d already lost to the Uchiha. Probably because Shikamaru won’t get to stay away from both of them, he’d be forced to go back to Sasuke as soon as the sun began to set.

“What a time for me to be right, huh?” He said, donning his fake smile and crinkling his eyes up to keep from crying again.

“There’s…” Shikamaru paused, shifting his gaze back over to Naruto but still not turning his head. “There’s no way you’d be okay with me seeing both of you?”

“…What?” Naruto’s smile faded slightly, eyes scrunching up in confusion. Date… two people… at once? He knew Shikamaru wouldn’t be cheating on him; it couldn’t be cheating if he knew but… it didn’t really… click in his mind.

“Well… I… guess… not… What?” Naruto felt stupid for his response, but he couldn’t wrap his mind around the concept properly. Share Shikamaru? It seemed simple enough, easy enough, and yet… no. It didn’t quite fit right.

Shikamaru sighed and turned his head, taking a step towards the other boy. “I’ll spend time with you both. I don’t want to avoid either of you. And if… if Sasuke has to be put under surveillance—which I don’t doubt he will be—he might end up just staying with me. If that’s the case, then, to be fair, you’re… also welcome to move in. If you want,” he finished, a light flush dusting his cheeks barely noticeable.