Labor Force Liaison

Chapter 9

Neji glanced toward his clock. Well, where his clock was supposed to be. It didn’t take much more than that for everything to click. He didn’t know how he missed the heart beating under his head. The Hyuuga stretched, then turned to look at the person lying next to him. It was easy to tell he didn’t have on any clothes just from the outline of his body. His hair appeared to be attempting a jailbreak. Surprisingly, it was a cute look. That’s when Neji’s stomach let him know his mind was on the wrong subject. He slid out of Shikamaru’s limp grasp, heading toward the kitchen. The Hyuuga started to work in the kitchen, making omelets for both of them. No matter how lazy Shikamaru was, he knew the lazy technician would never pass up on food that was already prepared.
“You still here?”
Neji glanced over to see the Nara stumbling toward the kitchen.
“Obviously. I wouldn’t just leave. I just got hungry.” Neji commented, seasoning the omelets as he spoke.
“I smelled.”
Neji looked back to Shikamaru before frowning deeply.
“You have a boner.” Neji said plainly, not looking pleased about it.
“Yeah and my ass hurts. So. It’s just morning wood, anyway.” Shikamaru defended, standing near the stove and Neji.
“You can’t come in the kitchen with a boner…and you’re not wearing any clothes.” The Hyuuga countered, appalled that Shikamaru was still standing there like that.
“….It’s my kitchen. I stand in it with boners all the time. It’s just a spot in my house.”
Neji’s jaw tightened, and pointing toward Shika’s room.
“Get out of here right now. Handle…that. Get dressed. You’re not eating until you do. Don’t even question me. We eat then we go to work.”
Shikamaru didn’t attempt to argue. He sighed melodramatically and headed back to his room.
Neji smiled when Shikamaru returned, dressed, with no signs of a boner.
“Thanks.” The business worker said, handing Shikamaru a plate.
Breakfast was uneventful. There wasn’t much talking, mostly just eating. Though the events from last night was first thing on their minds.
“You’re driving us to work.” Neji commanded, washing their plates and cups.
Shikamaru grabbed his keys, but didn’t seem too happy about it.
“Why? It’s my ass that’s hurting. You should drive.”
“I made the food, and we’re at your place. You should drive. I would drive if we were at my place.”
Again, Shikamaru let the argument go and drove them to work. Arguing with Neji was too troublesome in his opinion.
“I guess I’ll see you at lunch or something.”
“I’ll come down and tear you away from your important video game or high-priority nap when I can eat with you.”
“Don’t be jealous.” Shikamaru said, smirking as he headed downstairs to Technical Support.
Neji was much more productive at work that day. In fact, the Hyuuga, overall, was much easier to deal with.
A knock came at Neji’s cubicle, a secretary walking in.
“Wow, Neji. You look so happy today. Did you get laid last night or something?”
Neji looked up from his computer, surprised to hear such insane office banter. How rude could she be? Trying to hide the truth even though his cheeks were giving him away, Neji managed a snort.
“That’s none of your business. Besides, I’m not anymore different than usual. What do you want?”
“Well, something happened. You look a lot happier and relaxed. Oh, right. Here’s your new laptop. It just came from Tech Support. You got your promotion. They’re moving you in a bit.”

Behind her, Neji could see Kabuto, staring at him. Did he remember about last night? He shook that stare quickly, her words sinking in. He what?
“I…excuse me? I…got the promotion?”
The shock hung on his face so long that the secretary had to giggle. He looked back to Kabuto, but he was already gone.
“Yep. Aren't you excited? They’re moving you to that corner office. The one by the fountain. You have to meet with CEO after lunch. Don’t forget.”
“I…have to go—to the bathroom, yeah, bathroom.”
Neji put the computer down and took off to the bathroom. He looked around to make sure no one was around then checked the bathroom in the same way.
“FUCK YEAH!! FUCK YEAH!! Yes Yes Yes YES!!!” Neji danced around the bathroom wildly.
It didn’t occur to him just how he was getting the promotion. Just getting it put him on top of the world. Regardless, he deserved this promotion anyway. After he was done privately making a fool of himself, he fixed his dress shirt and pants. Walking calmly out of the bathroom, Neji noticed it was time for lunch. He headed straight down to Technical Support to share the good news.

“Oh hey. Heard about the promotion. We had your laptop down here.” Shikamaru muttered his eyes glued to the game he was currently playing. “Is it lunchtime already?”
Neji shook his head at his b-well…his friend’s obliviousness.
“Promotion’s great. Yes, so c’mon.” the Hyuuga replied to each statement in hopes of hurrying the lazy Nara along—not that it worked.
Shikamaru took five more minutes before adhering to Neji’s complaining.
“I heard the lunchroom has some free food today.” The Hyuuga shared, looking around a little lost.
“I know a shortcut.” Shikamaru shared, leading the way.
The Nara glanced back at Neji again. All day, he just kept thinking about last night. Sure, he admitted to being attracted to the other, but many of his thoughts were leading back to the way Neji was using his tongue…or the way his body looked when the moonlight hit it the perfect way. Fuck. They rounded another corner, leading them down a hallway Shikamaru never saw people come down. He stopped.
“You lost?” Neji asked, suddenly finding himself against a wall.
“What are you do—“
Shikamaru caught Neji’s lips, silencing the other in a deep kiss. Neji didn’t resist, his hands shyly resting at Shikamaru’s hips. Eventually the technician broke it, sighing. Now he could think clearly.
“I took care of the pictures. After lunch, things’ll get interesting. I sent a little virus around.”
Shikamaru started to walk once again. Neji was still against the wall, confused. Getting himself together, he followed along. Those pictures…what had Shikamaru done with them?
“Wait. What did you do?” Neji called out.
All Neji got from Shikamaru was a little smile. That made the promoted worker much more uncomfortable. Who knew what that guy had set-up? As long as it didn’t mess up his promotion, he didn’t care at the moment. He wouldn't mind another kiss like that either.

Shikamaru and Neji sat together in the company lunchroom, eating quietly.
“So what did you do?” Neji asked after swallowing his bite of pizza.
“For the eighth time—You’ll see. Don’t be so troublesome. Not like you can lose your promotion. Just gettin’ a little payback. You don’t wanna get anymore phone calls do you?” Shika muttered, taking a sip of water.
Neji definitely didn’t want any late night calls; well he could stand Shikamaru’s late night calls. His mind wandered for a moment to the kiss moments ago. Neji had to admit. It was pretty hot. Fooling around at the work place.
“What are you thinkin’ about?
Neji almost blushed. With the control of a crooked politician, Neji shrugged.
“Just about the promotion. Hasn’t sunken in yet.”
“Ah.”
“I have to meet with Orochimaru.”
Shikamaru didn’t say anything to that, simply continued to eat.
“Make sure you check your computer before you head there.”
Neji stopped chewing, staring at the lazy technician.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Just check your computer.”


Neji looked around his new office in awe, checking out the fountain. Even with a closer view, he couldn’t really tell what it was. This was truly awesome. He took a seat at his desk, checking out the nametag on his desk. He turned on his computer after remembering Shikamaru’s suggestion. An email popped up saying that his meeting with Orochimaru was in a few minutes. The Hyuuga didn’t know what he was supposed to do. He didn’t see what Shikamaru even did. Maybe he was just joking. As soon as that thought went through his head, an Internet browser popped up. Neji’s eyes widened.
“Holy Shit!”
The Hyuuga wasn’t the only one to say that. He heard several expletives shouted through the office, followed by hysterical laughter. Shikamaru set Kabuto up a new myspace page. Topping it all off was the gallery of photos he had. All of Kabuto’s pictures were set-up at the top of his page, changing slideshow style. After looking for a moment, Neji had to snicker. It was really well done. This meeting might be much more interesting.


“Oh. Mr. Hyuuga. Right this way.”

Neji was led into Orochimaru’s office where Kabuto was already inside. Neither seemed to care about Neji’s presence at the moment.
“We’re a laughing stock thanks to you. Those photos have spread all over. You can’t work here anymore. You’re fired.”
Neji did his best not to smirk. Kabuto’s face reddened and his jaw bulged. His eyes trailed to Neji, accusation visible in them.
“Fine. Fire me. But before I go, I need to inform you of something. “
Kabuto produced a dvd case, tossing it to Orochimaru.
“I suggest you call Shikamaru Nara to your office as well.”
Kabuto’s look of hurt transformed before Neji’s eyes. He looked like a winner.

Shikamaru walked in, bored look on in his face as usual. He knew there was no way they could pin that website on him. He was better than that.
“Yeah? You called me up here?”
“Yes. Take a seat Shikamaru.”
Orochimaru started the video, the picture showing an empty hallway. It remained that way for quite some time. Orochimaru didn’t look to patient.
“What is the point, Kabuto?”

Shikamaru and Neji soon came walking down the hallway. Then it happened. Shikamaru had kissed him. It was that kiss from earlier. That wonderful kiss from earlier.
“That’s the point, sir. Office relationships, especially same sex relationships, aren’t permitted. Any sexual contact on company grounds warrants termination.”
If it were possible for Neji to get any paler, he was past that. His face was chalk. Orochimaru didn’t look pleased. His serpentine eyes shifted to the both of them, his expression fairly unreadable.
“He’s correct. You two brought your relationship on company grounds. Simply being involved secretly, I could allow. This, I will not. You both are fired as well.”

((I won’t make crazy promises. Update will happen eventually. Think December, around Christmas break. Read…review if you want…mostly read. Review if you want me to get all tingly from the love.))