The Things That Don't Match
Not Quite Right
Chapter 18
When Naruto woke up he was in Shikamaru’s arms and said best friend was watching him. Naruto was briefly disconcerted, Shika never gave up an opportunity to sleep, whenever they were in bed together he always got up first.
Naruto blinked in sleepy confusion and the events of the day before came rushing back to him, he sat up and watched Shikamaru mirror him. The confused crinkle on his brow became a frown, “Are you okay? Why are you up?”
He watched the brunet shake his head, “Nothing, just remembering.”
“Remembering what?” he asked.
“When we were younger,” his friend replied, “Before university, before everything.”
Naruto’s eyes narrowed, something was wrong with Shikamaru but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what, “Is this about last night? Are you still upset with me?”
He was surprised when Shikamaru laughed, “It was never you I was upset at. I just don’t want you to get hurt, by anyone. And now I wonder if it was the wisest choice, if I let myself be blinded by my own weakness and stupidity. I always wonder.”
Naruto was a little bit confused by his friends words but he sensed it would be better not to push, “It’s okay, eventually you’ll get used to Kimimaro.”
Shikamaru smiled bitterly and his heart hurt, when had his friend’s smile become like that? Had he simply not noticed? Naruto almost missed Shika’s response, “Yeah, it’ll be just like Sasuke.”
Naruto felt a twinge in his chest and solemnly looked at his best friend, “I hope not. I’d like to think things will be better between me and Kimimaro, maybe we’ll suit each other more with the things we have in common- the things that won’t get between us. I’ll never know if I don’t try. I’d like to see if it works. I want somebody to love me.”
Shikamaru leaned forward and hugged him, resting his head on his shoulder, “You know I would never stand in your way of that. I want you to be happy, I love you.”
Naruto hugged him tightly back, “I love you too.”
Naruto frowned into the embrace. It had been such a long time since Shika had told him he loved him even though he knew his friend did. There was something very wrong here, what was he not noticing? Shikamaru had just told him he loved him so why did Shika feel so distant?