Two Ways to Comfort a Shinobi

 

By the time Iruka waved goodbye to Naruto at the stand, the sun had already started to set.  Out from under the cloth panels of the ramen stand Naruto emerged to walk on the main street. Shops and restaurants had just turned on their lights or lit their lanterns hanging in front for evening customers.  Konoha’s night life was rousing and yawning into full alertness. 



Unsure of where to go Naruto opted to walk along the streets towards where his apartment was waiting for him after so long.  He knew it was still being kept under lock and key, reserved with the rent paid by Granny Tsunade for the 2 and ½ year period.



He passed by a stretch of road that led past a dango shop.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw a girl with four pigtails walking alongside a figure with hair done up in a pineapple hairstyle. Both of them he’d seen earlier today when he’d found out about everyone’s promotions, so he walked right past them thinking they were busy.  Right now he didn’t feel in the mood to talk to either so he just gave a grin and waved.



Wait, Iruka had suggested he talk to Shikamaru. But Shikamaru was just walking Temari towards the inn.  Who knows but he would probably go inside and…



Naruto hid behind a tree and watched the couple crossing the street. He felt pretty silly spying on an old friend but was that a pang of jealousy he felt or something else?  Shikamaru kept his hands in his pockets while Temari stopped to face him.  Gripping the bark, Naruto waited to see if the reason she was leaning towards him was for a kiss.  But Shikamaru’s hand only reached out to open the door for her so she could go inside, not to hug her.



Raising his hand to his mouth Shikamaru let out a big yawn and turned around.  Naruto darted behind the shadow of the tree and decided to look like he was just walking out of a store.  Once he took a step out from behind he froze.  



“There you are. I thought you were spying on me, Naruto,” said a voice from behind him. 



“Shikamaru,you knew I was there?” the blonde asked.



“It was obvious from the way you just suddenly vanished from sight after I caught you watching Temari and me,” came a half chuckle.  From the light of the lanterns and streetlamps enough shadow existed to stretch back towards the figure posed behind him.



“I wasn’t spying like THAT, I mean I just…” Naruto nervously chuckled. 



Shoulders rising and falling, Shikamaru rolled his eyes and sighed. “Then what WAS it like Naruto? I knew you were troublesome but c’mon.”



Naruto would have hung his head if Shikamaru wasn’t using his shadow possesion jutsu just now. He answered,  “I just wanted to talk to you, without interrupting your date.”



Laughter met his ears. “My WHAT?  I thought Temari told you we weren’t like that!”



Forced to turn around and walk towards the Nara, Naruto blushed deeply.  Right in front of Shikamaru he stopped walking, only able to watch the shadow ninja release his sign so he could move on his own.  “Oh… oops my mistake…”



“So what did you want to talk about Naruto? Instead of being so troublesome and spying on me you could have just come over and asked,” Shikamaru sighed, stuffing his hands in his pockets.



Naruto’s cheeks still burned strawberry pink, just barely visible under the streetlights.  He took only several steps forward and glomped the Nara in a big hug.  Hearing the yelp and outrush of air in surprise he clung tightly worried that Shikamaru would try and break away.  How he’d missed the hugs he got from the shadow user. With temari there he didn’t want to embarrass his friend doing this.



“You’d kill me if I did this in public, in front of that girl,” Naruto chuckled.  



“Troublesome blonde, you’re right, but you didn’t have to wait to give me a hug hello,” Shikamaru mumbled, wrapping his arms around Naruto.  “But could you let go a bit? I’m having trouble breathing.”



Releasing his grip a bit Naruto giggled, “Eheheh sorry Shika.”



Shikamaru stepped back and sighed, still resting his hands on Naruto’s shoulders while the blonde kept his hands on the Nara’s hips. He could see the mesh armor covering Shikamaru’s wrists and ankles sticking out from his pants and shirt sleeves. Just like the shirt he wore under his old grey green shirt with the circle with the line through it. “It’s ok, but your strength is troublesome.”



“Well… I just uh… wanted to hug you, and talk… but I didn’t know if you were busy and all.”



“What are you doing now?” Shikamaru asked as he squeezed Naruto’s shoulders.  

Both hands slid down and wrapped loosely around the blonde, pulling them so Naruto collided with his front. Light flickered off the metal plate attached to one of Shikamaru’s arms that bore the Konoha symbol on it.  Years ago he wore his bandanna buttoned to his shirtsleeve but now it looked as if it were sewed to the long sleeved black shirt the Nara wore under his zipped up chunin vest. 



Puzzled but not complaining from the physical contact, Naruto felt another blush spreading over his face.  Shikamaru had renewed the hug once more by folding his hands behind Naruto’s back so they were only three inches apart. “Uh well… I was gonna go home and see my apartment. It’s probably all dusty and dirty.”



“Knowing you you’ll need some help,” Shikamaru smirked and lifted a hand to cup Naruto’s cheek.  



Nervously Naruto blurted out, “Don’t tell me a lazyass like you’s offering to help me, Shika.”

Fingers traced the three whisker scars on his cheek before Shikamaru looked him right in the eyes.  “I may be lazy most of the time, but there’s probably so much dust there the spiders are having a party.”



Naruto stuck out his tongue and pulled a face. “Eww, spiders.”



“Don’t tell me you’re scared of them like you are of gh…”



Squeezing Shikamaru tightly Naruto hissed, “Don’t say that word, Shika! It’s not funny!”



“Easy there, calm down.  I didn’t mean to spook… I mean I didn’t mean to rile you up.  Relax. Honestly you’re so hyper I have to knock you out to stand still troublesome blonde,” Shikamaru tried to reassure him with a serious frown. 



Naruto’s bottom lip stuck out in a cute pout. Deep blue eyes lost themselves in Shikamaru’s brown ones and he mumbled, “Shika ah… I um…”



“What now?”  Shikamaru managed to get out before Naruto backed him into a wall and stopped his next words with his mouth.

Instantly Shikamaru let go and raised both hands to cup Naruto’s face. Feeling Shikamaru’s hands on his cheeks instead of him trying to run away, Naruto let out a sigh of relief and leaned more heavily against the taller shinobi.  Warm lips parted to allow Naruto’s tongue to slide past them.  A low groan echoed in Naruto’s mouth after their tongues met.



One of Naruto’s hand left Shikamaru’s waist and shaked up his front towards his cheek.  Seizing it Naruto suckled on Shikamaru’s dancing tongue and inhaled through his nose so he didn’t have to break the kiss for air.  To the other side Shikamaru shifted his face for a better angle to align their mouths.  This way he could continue deepening the kiss that burned through them both like fire.  



“Mmmm….” the Nara hummed once they broke the kiss panting.  Whatever frown or scowl Shikamaru had before was gone with a strange blissed out look Naruto only saw on the Nara when he was sleeping peacefully.



“That was the other thing I wanted to do but not in front of Temari,” Naruto admitted sheepishly, enjoying how good and right the Nara’s arms felt around him. 



“It could have been funny even if it was troublesome,” Shikamaru said with a smirk. He leaned in for another quick kiss before he pushed Naruto lightly away.  In response to the hurt look the Nara reached over and clasped his hand so their fingers threaded together.



“Does this mean you’re going to help me with my apartment for sure?” Naruto asked.



“Someone has to.  It’s troublesome to come home to an empty apartment and it sucks,” Shikamaru answered, letting Naruto lead him down the busy street towards his home.