The first time Shikamaru told Neji he loved him, there was no romance involved. No flowers or wine, or gourmet candle-lit dinners.
They were sitting across from eachother; Shikamaru with his legs crossed comfortably, Neji with his folded neatly beneath him and his back at a stiff ninety degree angle. The shogi board on the floor between them had their full, undivided attention.
Shikamaru made his move, capturing one of Neji's pawns; it was insignificant and the smug look on the Hyuuga's face as he returned the favour showed as much. There was comfortable silence as Shikamaru examined the board, as if he were planning his next move. They both knew that he had nearly immediately come up with a counter for Neji's attack, but for the sake of the Hyuuga's pride, and the sake of enjoying the game, he drew it out as long as he could.
Neji would never say so much, but he was both offended by and grateful for the gesture.
Shikamaru took his turn again, finally; his lazy stare focused solely on the board in front of him. The wooden piece made a light clack against the lacquered board, and then it was silent again.
Neji looked over the board carefully, there were so few moves left that he could make. If he wasn't cautious, he'd be checked by his next turn. His slender fingers stroked his chin unconsciously, and he hummed softly as he worked out a mental strategy. At length, he found course of action and raised his arm to make his move. Shikamaru's voice surprised him, though, and he nearly dropped his knight.
"I love you." was all he said. There was no preparation, no warning.
It shocked him.
And the way Shikamaru said it--in that lazy, bored way that he says everything. He might very well have been talking about the weather.
Neji stared at him for a long time, that knight in his hand still waiting to be placed. He was too shocked to even consider hiding it; not that is mattered because Shikamaru was still staring at the board waiting for his turn. It wasn't until Neji started to wonder if maybe he'd imagined it, maybe Shikamaru hadn't said anything at all, that the genius finally raised his head enough to meet his gaze. Everything on his face read impassive, uninterested, bored. But Neji noticed the small, deep-seated bit of anxiety in his eyes and couldn't help but smile.
He kept Shikamaru's gaze as he nodded toward him briefly, and then placed his piece. He never took his eyes away, not once, as he sat up on his knees, and leaned over the board, carefully so as not to disturb their match in progress. His eyes didn't leave the Nara's until their lips touched, and his eyelids finally slid shut.
It was brief, and chaste, and he could feel the languid smile form on Shikamaru's lips as he pulled away and sat back on his heels as if he'd never even moved in the first place.
"I love you, too, Shikamaru." And they both smiled as they returned to their game.
Neji was checked by his next turn.