The Choices Between Friends

A/N: I have not abandoned Choices... not by a long shot. But life often gets in the way. I will update when I can. (It will NOT be weekly or probably every other week... but I will get this finished!) Special Thanks to FairyNiamh for being my sounding board, sister, and ever patient beta. *hugs*

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Chapter 23

Hard at Work

 

"What time do you have to leave Tesoro?" Neji sounded disappointed, but even he wasn't sure if it was due to how casually Kiba had left or the fact that he was about to loose the very comfortable life size body pillow he was snuggling.



Naruto snuggled down under the covers more. "Gotta open up at eight, so I got about thirty minutes," Nara cuddled closer to Nar and kissed his golden cheek.



The light whip like scars were barely noticeable at a distance, but up close you could make out the lighter honey tint the scars held compared to the golden tone the rest of the handsome face bore. Neji's eyes were tracing the lines, but the other scarred man said nothing. Neji and Naruto had a lot of similarities. They both had scars from their childhoods, visible and hidden.



Naruto snuggled with them until he had to leave. All three were reluctant to part. The brunettes didn't want to let the pretty blond out from under the covers. Naruto finally had to resort to sliding down under the blankets to the foot of the bed. He reappeared with his blond hair wildly mussed and his cheeks flaming. "Gotta go open up. Jeez! Perverts!" He was teasing and Neji chuckled darkly at him. Shikamaru just stuck his tongue out at his goofy friend.



Naruto grinned at Nara. He looked pointedly at the tongue and jibed. "Not now, but maybe later," Nara rolled his eyes as he pulled Neji closer. Naruto blew a kiss at them as he ran for the door. If he stayed much longer, he'd never make it out at all.



Neji and Nara snuggled up and fell asleep without a word. It was just too warm and comfy with another strong body so close and cuddled together. A few hours later, Neji woke to the sound of his cell phone. He had a text message. He flipped the annoying thing open and smiled when he realized that the unfamiliar number was Nar.



Text Message: GET UP! Kiba's coming for lunch. Wanna join? Maybe u could bring it?

Lazy ass'll sleep all day if we let him.



Neji glanced over at the sleeping Nara and smiled wider. Nara really did look comfortable enough to stay put all day. He nudged his sprawled lover. Nara grunted. Neji nudged again. Again Nara grunted, but one eye cracked open enough to glare at Neji. Neji laughed. "Nar and Kiba would like us to bring them lunch."

 

Nara's phone sounded as he grunted again and nodded his agreement. He reached for it, to find a text message from a classmate. Apparently he'd missed a big lecture on something or other, he wasn't awake enough to care what class it was. He'd be fine. He was a genius, school never stressed him. Neji shook his head at what seemed to pass for communication with the other brunette.



Neji responded to Nar.



Text Message: What do u want for lunch?



Nar's reply:



Text Message: U 2!



Neji actually giggled at the mischievous blond.



Text Message: Really? Both?



Neji asked, playing along.



Text Message: Yup! Double dip of brunette with a creamy center.



"That cheeky little...!" Neji gasped.



Nara rose up enough to look over his shoulder. He read the message and snorted. "Told you. Insatiable," He chided the beautiful man. Neji shook his head and sent Nar a message confirming the time.



Naruto could go months without sex, but get him in any kind of relationship and he had a tendency to overwhelm his lovers. He usually went more for the barely a real relationship, more just good sex kind of thing and even then he usually managed to wear out his partner.



Those were the kinds of relationships he usually stuck with because there was less of a chance of getting hurt if he didn't really care about the jerk screwing him. He had his friends to provide the truly meaningful relationships. If he needed to have sex with someone he cared about, he went to Nara.



Naruto sighed as he slid his phone into his pocket. Nara had called him 'beautiful' while he'd ridden his friend's cock last night. It had been so different than it had ever been before. Even withstanding Neji and Kiba's presence; the feel of Nara below him, the way those brown eyes looked up at him. Nar had felt... 'loved'? He'd always known that Nara loved him.



All four of them loved each other, but Naruto wasn't stupid. He knew that there had always been a possibility that he and Nara could have really 'loved each other', but he'd thought that that chance had passed. He thought that they'd chosen not to, to protect their friendship. Now Nar was wondering if Nara had always loved him like that.



Had the brunette kept it hidden all this time? Nar was just beginning to admit that that was just what he'd been doing too. Naruto Uzumaki was in love with one of his best friends; Shikamaru Nara. 'What does that mean? What about Neji?' For all his teasing Naruto felt very nervous about seeing the two sexiest men he knew in just two hours.



Kiba had strolled into work with a huge grin on his face. He couldn't help himself. He knew that none of the jokers he worked with had ever had a night like he'd had last night. He smirked evilly all morning.



Nar's text message came at a bad time. Kiba was hanging head down inside the trunk of a car. His co-workers had been on him all morning about his goofy grin. His cell phone was lying on his workbench and before he'd realized it had rung, one of the nosey bastards scooped it up and tossed it across the shop to another nosey ass. Kiba stared open mouthed for a moment, then proceeded to curse so vehemently that it was a miracle that the paint on the walls didn't peel off. A very violent game of 'keep away' ensued.



After using a creeper* as a skateboard to catch up to the bastard who'd just caught his phone for the third time. Kiba took a flying leap and tackled Mizuki to the floor. They both landed hard. Kiba knocked the older man's head against the concrete for good measure as he retrieved his phone and stood up.



Kotetsu was laughing so hard he couldn't stand. The shop manager stepped out of his office then and gave the spikey haired man a rap on his dark head with his knuckles. "Get back to work you jackasses," Raidou was a rather imposing figure, with his scars and all, but all Kiba could do was grin at him.



He responded to Naruto's offer of lunch with the other two, with an all caps 'HELL YEAH!' He was grinning when he looked up to see Mizuki holding an ice pack to his head and whining to Kotetsu. The other just winked at him. Poor Mizuki, Kiba almost felt sorry for him. Showing weakness around Kotetsu was like waving a red flag under a bull's nose. It'd be another hour before the whiner realized his mistake. Mizuki was NOT a fast learner. Oh well, not his problem.



Kiba knew what Nar was up to. The blond was determined to make sure Neji stuck around. Kiba figured that Nar was a little worried about leaving Neji and Nara alone together for too long. The two 'thinkers' might just over think this thing and then they'd be back where they were yesterday. He smiled. Nar was clever in a sweet almost unnoticeable way.



Neji practically had to drag Nara out of bed. He was only half convinced that the lazy man was playing with him, until they both stumbled into the shower. After all the time he'd spent cajoling the other out of bed, there wasn't enough time for them to bathe individually. Neji pulled the curtain closed and turned to see a sinister smirk on Shikamaru's face. The tattooed man seemed fully awake now.



"You planned this," Neji accused flatly. Nara didn't deny it. Neji shook his head. "So what is your IQ score anyway?" Shikamaru chuckled, but didn't answer as he advanced on the pale man with a washcloth in one hand and a bar of soap in the other.



Neji's eyes widened in mock terror as a smile bloomed upon his lovely face "Oh my!" was the only intelligent thing he managed to say for awhile.



Rules! Neji groused to himself. Nara had tortured him in the shower only to tell him that they couldn't go any farther 'because of the rules'. Neji was now walking down the street carrying a sack and two drinks and trying to will away his obstinate arousal. His only consolation was that Nara was in a similar state of distress.



Neji had made sure of that. The other man was grumbling under his breath and throwing angry glances his way. It was the only 'satisfaction' Neji could have right now, so he took pleasure in every grumble and glare.



Nar was nervous. He looked up at Kiba, anxiety written all over his face. His friend smiled reassuringly at him. When Nar gives himself away, he really goes all out. Kiba tried not to worry too much. The blond would be fine. Nara would make sure of it, right? The sound of footsteps from the back were a thankful distraction.



Kiba glanced up from where he was draped over the couch. Nar’s boss gave him a greasy grin. Kiba rolled his eyes and flopped back down to sprawl across the couch. Genma took a moment to rake his eyes over the muscled scruffy brunette.



Nar cleared his throat. “Um, Genma?” He knew he’d regret asking. “Weren’t you gonna go out for lunch?”



“Will in a bit. Just remembered something I have to do. Don’t mind me. Enjoy your lunch with your friend,” The older man winked at the blond and strolled toward the back of the shop.



“Nar, your boss is a perv,” Kiba said tonelessly.



The blond sighed. “Yeah, I know.”



When Nara walked through the door with a face like a thunder cloud, Naruto’s heart hit the bottom of his stomach. Then Neji passed through the door and gave Nar such a sweet smile that it sent warm tingles through Naruto’s body clear to the tips of his toes.



“Still hungry Tesoro?” Neji winked at the cheeky blond and was rewarded with a gorgeous blush.



Nara set the sack and drinks he’d been carrying on the counter and flung himself down on the couch and a rather lumpy Kiba. “Ooof! Jeez! Bony butt!”



Nara just grunted, turned, and buried his face into Kiba's chest. “I’m up. I’m here. Don’t ask for anything else,” Kiba laughed and wrapped his arms around the slender man's back.



"Well, 'hello sunshine'!" Nar teased as he emptied both sacks, chips and sandwiches from his favorite sub shop. The blond gave a silent, Yay!



"Not my fault," The brunette groused and pointedly stuck his tongue out at Neji. It was as good as an accusation. Neji just laughed softly. Nar and Kiba turned to him.



"What did the big bad pretty boy do to our poor wittle Nara?" Kiba asked in a sickening sweet voice and earned a punch in the ribs. He tightened his arms around the other man to prevent any more hits. Nara glared at him, struggling for a moment before deciding that getting his arms free was just gonna be too much work.



Changing tactics he let out a totally fake sob and sniffed before whining, "Neji," sniff  "Neji tried to molest me in the shower," Another pointed sniff. "And I told him not to, 'cause of the rules..."



The phony wail was more than a little over the top. "And he was mean, and made me walk all the way here with a hard on!" Nara had to hide his face in Kiba's chest, because he just knew if he looked at Neji's face right now he'd die.



Neji's eyes were as big as saucers. He was blinking rapidly and trying to think of a response. Naruto had his head down on the counter and was sobbing as he tried to breath around his giggles. Kiba was biting his lip and watching Neji with malicious amusement.



A slightly rough voice overrode them from the back of the shop. "Feel free to close the shop for 'lunch'. But I get to watch," Four heads swiveled and rose to look at the sandy haired man who was practically drooling where he stood. "I love you Nar. You are the best employee ever," Genma said with a dreamy smile.

"Nar," Kiba and Nara said in unison. "Your boss is a PERV!"



The blond sighed resignedly. "I know."



Genma just laughed and winked. "I'll be in the back. Call me when the good stuff starts."



Neji turned to Naruto. He wasn't sure how to react to this. "Is this normal? Is it okay? Do I need to 'talk' to him for you, Tesoro?" The last sentence held an edge, something they hadn't seen from him yet.



It was Nar's turn to blink in surprise. "Um, no. It's okay Neji. Gen's harmless. Really!" Shikamaru and Kiba were watching them. Kiba looked satisfied and nodded to Neji in acknowledgment. Shikamaru looked a little overwhelmed. His dark eyes were misty and he had to look away as he blinked rapidly and buried his face in Kiba's chest once more.



Naruto grinned foolishly as he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "Um, lets eat, okay? Kiba's gotta head back soon."



They dug in and didn't say much for a bit. Neji and Nar stood at the counter and Nara ate while perched in Kiba's lap. They looked so natural like that. It still amazed Neji that three people could be so comfortable with each other. He wanted that so badly, that close comfortable interaction.



His hand slipped the few inches separating them to caress Nar's golden fingers absently. It was so nice to just touch someone with no fear of what they might want from him, no worry of ulterior motives. They just wanted him, that was the only motive. Neji had never felt so free.



Naruto's head dipped down as a blush stole across his lightly scarred cheeks. Neji's cool fingers were stroking over his. Nar seized the opportunity and twined his golden fingers with Neji's. The warm fingers squeezed Neji's in a way that made his stomach flip and his eyes close as he hid his emotions. Old habits die very hard.



Kiba announced a little too loudly, "Gotta get back to the grind. Hop off school boy!"



An exasperated grumble rang from the back of the store. "Damn! No fun!"



"Perv!" Kiba shot over his shoulder as he slapped Nara on the ass and quickly dodged the responding blow. The scruffy brunette ruffled Nar's blond hair affectionately. "I'll give ya ride after work, airhead."



“Naw, I'll walk to Nara's place. You get supper and meet us there.”



Kiba pinned Neji to the counter and whispered softly. "I really wanna kiss you right now, but there's no way I'm givin' Nar's pervy bastard boss any more masturbation material," Instead, Kiba's hip slid skillfully against Neji's groin as he bushed passed and out the door. "Later."



He didn't know where it came from, but a low growl slid up from Neji's chest as he watched the man walk away. Naruto's fingers tightened momentarily, flexing against his own and Neji turned to him. The blue eyes were heavy lidded and his breathing was a little rapid. He couldn't have stopped himself if he tried, Neji leaned over the counter and took Nar's plump lips in a gentle but firm kiss.



When he pulled away to let the blond breathe, Nar whispered hoarsely. "Do that again."



Neji leaned in, but Nar stopped him. "No, well yeah, but the other...." Neji was at a loss for a moment before his eyes narrowed and a low purposeful growl rumbled through his chest. Nar gasped and kissed Neji breathless.



Nara watched them with a awestruck smile. The men in front of him parted only slightly. Both were breathing a bit heavily and Nar was shaking just a little bit. They looked so good together. Shikamaru was hard from watching them and only wanted to see a whole lot more. He stayed still hoping that they would forget he was even there.



Neji's pale hand came up to caress one scarred cheek and Nar leaned into the caress almost nuzzling Neji's hand for more attention. Neji smiled one of those unguarded smiles that Nara knew had to be rare and precious. Nar kissed the pale palm, then a pink tongue slid out to lap gently at the elegant long fingers. Neji groaned deep in his throat.



Nar didn't stop there. Plump rosy lips slid over the artist's index finger and sucked gently at the tip before lightly scraping strong teeth along the sensitive skin. Neji shuddered and his eyes flew open. "Tesoro," He gasped. Blue eyes rose to violet and for a heartbeat of time there was nothing in the world but the other.



"Holy crap! Don't stop!" The air was split in a harsh shout. Nara turned to Genma and shot him a nasty glare. "What?! That was fucking unreal!" Nara's dark murderous eyes narrowed further and Genma was a little surprised that such a thing was possible. "What?! It's my shop. You don't want me to watch, then don't do that shit here!"



"You are absolutely correct," Neji said with a different heat in his voice. He turned to Nar and lightly brushed his fingers across the kiss swollen lips. "We will continue this later Tesoro. Where we won't be hindering your employer in any way."



"Nooooooo!" Genma whined. "That wasn't what I meant!"



What could only be labeled as malicious smirk glued itself on Nara's face. Neji only turned his cold eyes on the irritating man and spoke calmly. "You will of course behave yourself and in no way make Nar uncomfortable over this incident."



It wasn't a threat, felt more like a fact to Genma. The older man's eyes widened a bit. 'Just who does this damn kid think he is?'



"While we're on the subject of behavior," Genma said in a snide voice. "You hurt that kid and I'll make sure something very heavy lands on both of your legs," Genma nodded once to Neji, turned and went into the back again.



Nar's eyes were huge. "Holy cow! That was so messed up!" The blond started laughing and just about couldn't stop.



Neji couldn't help but smile after Nar's giggles infected Nara and the two of them were laughing themselves into exhaustion. Nara was curled on the couch and Nar was splayed across the counter. Neji just stood there shaking his head and smiling.

~*tbc*~

* a creeper is the little bench with wheels that mechanics lay on to slide underneath a car.  (Also called cradle, a flat framework on casters, on which a mechanic lies while working under an automobile or the like).