The Things That Don't Match

Chapter 4

Shikamaru sighed and dug around in his pocket for his keys, it had been two weeks since ‘the breakup’ and he was wondering what this week had to throw at him. He had managed to get Naruto to sleep with him the past week, regardless of the first minor interaction, and as such Naruto had been getting sleep. Things had actually been rather calm lately so maybe he was just being cynical in waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He stepped into their apartment and was welcomed with the sight of a pale Naruto murmuring into the phone he clenched in white fisted grasp.

Best not to get your hopes up. Shikamaru leaned against the wall and waited for the call to be completed. He watched Naruto pace and sit, the hand not attached to his cellphone trembling, and felt anger. Whatever this person was saying was hurting Naruto, was making his skin pasty when he had just started to recover and smile again, and Shikamaru didn’t appreciate this in the least. Whoever was calling was going to find that out too, he could bide his time if he had to.

When Naruto hung up Shikamaru pushed himself off the wall and touched the figure hunched in on himself on the couch.

“All you alright?”

Naruto buried his face further into his knees as his arms tightened around them, “No,” Naruto whispered.

Shikamaru carded his hand through his friend’s bright blonde, soft strands. His hair was getting long.

“Who was it?”

Naruto looked like he wasn’t going to answer before he mumbled a name, “Sasuke.”

Shikamaru refrained from sighing. Of course, it was always Sasuke, he should have known. Only Sasuke had to ability to make Naruto regress to this, maybe not only Sasuke but he was the only one that used it. A question came to mind, why was Sasuke calling when they broke up?

“What’s wrong? Why was he calling?”

Naruto shook his head, “Nothing, we’re broken up now; leave it alone, Shika.”

So Naruto did know why he was calling but didn’t want to answer. Shikamaru sighed, all of this was just troublesome, he’d have to wait until Naruto was ready to tell him or the answer made itself apparent.

Shika nodded, “Have it your way. What do you want to do?”

Naruto drew into himself, “I just want to go to sleep.”

The Nara looked at his watch, it was 10:00pm, sleep would be fine.

“Did you eat yet?”

“No, I’m not hungry,” the blonde put the heels of his palms to his eyes and pressed, “I just want to go to sleep, I’m getting a headache.”

Naruto unfolded himself from the couch and made his way toward Shikamaru’s bedroom before turning briefly, “There’s food in the fridge, I didn’t get a chance to make anything today, sorry.”

Shikamaru waved him off, “Give me a few minutes and I’ll join you.”

Naruto had probably spoiled him and his taste-buds for life. He was forever cooking and even when he was at Sasuke’s house always made sure to leave ready-made meals in the fridge or freezer for him, there was always some even when Naruto was home just in case. Shikamaru looked around in the fridge before pulling out a container with stir-fried rice vermicelli. He dished the food into a plate before sticking it in the microwave, covering it, and setting the timer for two minutes.

When the microwaved beeped to signal the food being done Shikamaru grabbed a fork and got the food before digging in, Naruto’s food was always good even when it was being reheated. He savoured the taste of the shrimp, chicken, and sausage with the noodle and crunchy cabbage along with the hint of lemon he could detect. He remembered a time long ago, before Sasuke and Naruto had even known each other, when Naruto had just started cooking; he would experiment with things and they played a game where he would make Shikamaru try to guess the different foods and flavours, he wasn’t such a good cook back then but he had passion and his cooking had improved. Shikamaru was proud of his friend even if he didn’t say so, he went from someone that dabbled to a world class chef that had his own establishments and politicians and famous people everywhere eating from the palms of his hands.

Shikamaru quickly finished up and washed the dishes before heading to his bedroom. He felt a wave of anger and sadness wash through him when he found Naruto curled upon the bed with the blankets over his head. He stripped off his clothing and pulled on a pair of pajama pants before climbing onto the silk sheets and putting his back towards Naruto- he wasn’t sure if his friend wanted to be left alone but if Naruto didn’t he could spoon him.

Naruto immediately attached himself to Shikamaru’s back and turned him so the could be face to face. He would have felt amusement to the slight look of surprise on Shikamaru’s face when he was turned but he wasn’t in the mood right now. He wrapped his arms around his Shika’s waist, fingertips brushing along that silky skin and rested his head on Shikamaru’s chest, curling around him. Shikamaru was always there for him and believed in him when no one else seemed to, he was the best friend a guy could ask for. Naruto drifted to sleep with those thoughts on his mind, one hand reaching up to unconsciously grip smooth, brown strands.

Naruto woke up to something attacking him, he automatically rolled over and pinned the person hitting him to the bed until they stopped moving, he opened his eyes and gasped, “Sasuke?”

Sasuke’s dark eyes were spitting fire, “You fucking bitch! So this is why you didn’t want to get back together? Because you were cheating on me with him?”

Naruto blinked, confused. What was Sasuke talking about? He looked where Sasuke was looking and suddenly everything clinked. Sasuke had seen him sleeping with Shikamaru and the position they were in and of course automatically assumed the worst.

Shikamaru was sitting on the corner of the bed looking at them with a blank expression on his face.

Naruto shook his head and let his hold on Sasuke up, “I really don’t want to get into this now but I haven’t cheated on you Sasuke, not that it matters since we’re broken up.”

Sasuke glared at him, “But I bet you wanted to! If you didn’t he did! And we’re not broken up.”

Naruto rubbed his temples, fighting a headache. He went still when he heard Sasuke’s words and turned to him, “Do not bring Shikamaru into this,” his voice was quiet and a little cold, “This is between me and you. We have problems, we have always had problems and I decided that I was no longer willing to put up with them.”

“What!?” Sasuke sputtered, “We were fine. You were no longer willing to put up with our problems? You act like you’re an angel.”

Naruto sighed, “I really don’t want to get into this. Can we just let it go?”

Sasuke crossed his arms, “No. You’re going to realize, like always, that you want me. And then you’ll come crawling back. So tell me why you’re prolonging this, is it because I broke it off and kicked you out?”

Naruto saw red for a moment, “Shut up,” he whispered.

Sasuke went quiet in shock and Shikamaru looked at him concerned.

Naruto continued, his voice really quiet, “Do you want to know what you’re problem is, Sasuke? You keep on pushing, you keep on taking, and you don’t listen. You take everything and I’ve got nothing left to give you, my loving you isn’t enough and it never has been. My problem was that I thought it would be and that I wasn’t willing to let you go earlier. You make problems where there are none, you push to see how far you can go, how much you can get. The last time you broke up with me I told you that if you did this I wouldn’t be coming back. I’ve reached my limit- fuck I passed it years ago. You’re draining me.”

“Stop it,” Sasuke whispered, shaking his head, “I don’t want to hear this.”

Naruto smiled but somehow it seemed twisted, “No. You weren’t willing to let it go so now you will listen until I’m done. Eight years, Sasuke, eight years and you still keep me at a distance. You tell me your family isn’t comfortable with our relationship, that they haven’t quite accepted it but that’s not true. Not everyone in your family may like me but they accepted me years ago; it’s you that won’t accept this, us, and I don’t know how to change your mind so I stopped trying. You keep on anticipating that they won’t approve of me or whatever we’re doing but that’s because YOU can’t. Nothing I do is never enough for you, I gave up politics for you, went to cooking school instead. I gave you everything. Everything isn’t enough so I’m done trying.”

Naruto ran a hand through his hair and looked at both people in the room with him, Sasuke looked stricken and Shikamaru looked surprised.

Naruto shrugged, “I don’t have anything left to give.”

Naruto got up and pulled on some clothes, “Please leave the key I gave you on the way out.”

“Wait!” Sasuke got up, “I’m sorry. I’ll try. Don’t leave me.”

The blonde shook his head, “Trying isn’t enough, I’ve been trying for the last eight years.”

“I thought you loved me,” Sasuke accused.

“I do,” Naruto replied, “But I’m not doing this to myself anymore, I can’t keep doing this anymore.”

“You, you can’t break up with me.”

Naruto shook his head, “It’s not about who breaks up with who, it’s never been. If it makes you feel any better you can break up with me. I don’t care. I’m going now. Have a nice life. I’d say let’s be friends but I don’t think I could manage that.”

“No one will accept you, you know. Your deviant behavior in bed. I bet if your precious Shikamaru knew what you liked, what you need he’d run from you; I accept you, you can’t leave me.”

Naruto shook his head, “But that’s just it, Sasuke, you don’t. I guess if you don’t no one will, but hey, what’s new?”

The door closed behind him and Naruto took his keys out, getting into his car. He drove till he got to the airport, took a lot of cash out of the ATM machine and got on the first flight leaving.


A/N: Over 1000 hits! Yay! I actually considered saving the confrontation for another chapter but thought it would be better together. Those that have already read this fic will also notice that I've changed it's format so there's now spaces between the writing. Do you guys like it better like this?
bijouxbroussard- Thanks! Shikamaru is my favourite character too.