Shizune is tired from running errands. Her feet are sore and she's only avoided getting blisters due to the thick socks and extra padding on her shoes.
Tsunade has been running her hard all day to prepare for an imminent council meeting at the end of the week.
There's lots to do and she's mostly done by the time the sun sets.
She looks at her list, finding the piles of folders and papers in their proper places. Letters are signed, documents that need to be signed, missions requiring operations review and authorization.
The last one rings a bell and it's the last item on her list for the day.
She looks through a small stack of scrolls and folders on the corner of her desk since Tsunade assigned Shikamaru to review the plans before presenting them.
There's a potential war brewing on the map coordinates and objectives printed neatly on pages. She hopes there's a chance they might be able to avoid a large scale disaster. If anyone can maneuver Konoha away from so much bloodshed, he's probably their best bet.
She sighs when her feet complain and slides out of her shoes for momentary relief on the cool floor.
Her toes flex as she tries to remember where Shikamaru might be so she can hand him the pile and be done for the day.
She'd seen him a few hours earlier, returning from who-knows-where, looking haggard and drowsy.
Shizune racks her brain, trying to remember who she'd seen him with after he left his debriefing with Tsunade.
She runs fingers through her hair. Her index finger curls around a lock of hair, helping her remember. Hair buns. Dark eyes.
From the way she bright way she greeted him to the concerned look on her face, the girl seemed sweet on him. Shizune definitely remembers seeing him lean against a wall as they spoke quietly, looking a lot less annoyed than usual. He even smiled at something she said.
Then Shizune remembers, the girl had asked permission to use a private study in the hokage's tower. Too bad she can't remember her name. Good thing she doesn't have to run around the entire place to ask where she can find him.
Shizune decides not to slip on her shoes and shuffles down the hallway, breathing easier as her feet expand more comfortably on the floor.
She taps on the door and doesn't bother to hear an answer before opening it. Although she knows Tenten will be studying with a pile of books, she doesn't expect to see Shikamaru napping with his head on her lap. It's extra cute when she sees Tenten be protective and cover his eyes.
While she's delighted about heading straight home to prop up her feet and knock out early, she's also intrigued by the sight.
Tenten looks up and puts a finger up to her pursed lips and points a ballpoint at him.
"Hey," Tenten whispers.
Shizune holds out a thumbs up to let her know she'll be back.
Tenten looks at Shikamaru as the door clicks shut. She had turned off most of the lights, except for a lone lamp on the table she's using to write notes.
The upholstered bench is comfortable enough to sit on, but she worries if his back and legs will suffer once he wakes up.
Shizune walks quickly, a goofy smile overtaking her after seeing such an adorable sight.
With her last boost of energy, she makes it back and quietly opens the door. She tiptoes in, placing the small pile on a corner of the table.
Shizune points to Shikamaru.
"Tsunade needs him to analyze it," she explains in a whisper.
Tenten nods.
"I'll let him know."
Shizune can't help but try to get a look at him.
"Is he OK?"
Tenten looks down, smoothing out the hood of his sweater over his forehead.
"He's tired. Didn't sleep much on his trip," Tenten says quietly.
"Oh," Shizune looks at him sympathetically before looking at her. "I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."
"Tenten," she says.
Shizune commits her name to memory. It's sort of ringing a bell. She'll makes a note to review her past mission reports.
"Nice to meet you," Shizune says before retreating. "Have a good night."
"You, too. Good night."
Tenten offers her a smile before turning her attention back to the books in front of her. She rereads a passage on how to draw a certain shape before turning her attention the diagram of a circular pattern that looks like an eye.
The chapter goes on for about 50 pages about shell, fan and diamond figures before Shikamaru stirs.
She continues taking notes as he moves and she shields his head with her hand from hitting the edge of the table as he sits up. He covers her fingers, squeezing lightly.
Shikamaru sighs loudly.
"You OK?" she asks without looking up up from the page.
"I can't sleep with all the racket at home," he grumbles.
"Construction?"
"Ino and Chouji said they've been jackhammering starting all damn day. They don't stop until past sundown."
"What are they working on?"
"Someone hit a water main and they've been fixing it for a while now. The whole neighborhood is a mess," he yawns.
Tenten turns a page as he stands up, bones cracking as he twists his spine, whining as he stretches to get some of the kinks out of his back and shoulders.
"Better?" Tenten asks.
It always sucks waking up in the middle of the day and it's always hard to tell if naps are more trouble than they're worth.
The most annoying thing about going through the hokage's books is finding all of these folded pages. She very much prefers bookmarks so the pages don't get damaged. Tenten traces a line with her finger and jots down some notes as he sits beside her. She writes down the page number of the book.
Shikamaru turns and finally realizes how the room is mostly dark, except for the table lamp. He knows Tenten was just being thoughtful by dimming the room so he could rest, but he's suddenly struck by how romantic it seems. Maybe the nap slowed his brain function, but he can't help noticing the way her face glows in the soft light.
"Yeah."
He brings a hand up to his neck, wondering he must look like death in comparison, all dark circles and cranky from sleep deprivation, too much travel, very little food and —
"Achooo!"
At least he sneezed into his sleeve and away from her, he thinks miserably as a chill runs up his spine.
She finally puts down her pen and slides her notebook between the pages of the book before closing it. She shuts her eyes, rolling her head over her shoulders. She's not used to sitting still for hours, but she has research to do and she needs to figure out how to create a new technique.
"Come here," Tenten orders.
He shuffles over with a sniffle and plops down beside her. Closer now, he can see she's tired, but soldiers on with little complaint.
Tenten brings up a hand and he's instantly soothed when she touches his forehead. She sort of wonders if he's about to pass out again since he's had a few rough few days and the rest of the week doesn't look any better after seeing others run around endlessly.
"I'm no thermometer, but I'm pretty sure you're running a fever."
Despite the bad news, he smiles at her diagnosis. Shikamaru doesn't do dreamy expressions, but his gaze is awfully soft when he opens his eyes and finds that she's comparing her temperature to his by touching both of their foreheads.
"I think you make a very good thermometer," he says.
He covers the small hand on his forehead with his own and gently guides her hand to his cheek.
"I'm pretty sure you caught a cold," she informs him.
With anyone else, he'd say something sarcastic, but Tenten isn't anyone else.
"Looks that way," he agrees as she runs her thumb over his cheekbone.
Despite being tired, the way he looks at her makes her want to attack him. The time and setting are right—private room, dim lights, no one bothering them.
Except he's sick, so that's a no.
Shikamaru turns his head until her hand is covering his mouth and kisses her palm. Tenten takes her cue from him and turns her hand, moving toward him to press her lips against the back of her fingers as he puckers up and closes his eyes to kiss the other side of her fingers.
"Get better fast," she orders him.
Shikamaru smiles.
Tenten turns away from him, collecting her notebook and texts. As they get up to leave, he spots the pile of paperwork on the corner on the desk she left behind.
"What's that?" he asks
"Your assignment," she tells him.
He sighs.
It's been a long day, but it doesn't have to end so terribly. Tenten leans against the open doorway as he picks up the documents.
"Don't look so gloomy," she says as he turns off the lamp and walks over to her. "Looks like there's no travel involved this time."
Shikamaru leans against the other side of the doorway, that irritated expression settling back on his face. He perks up when she reaches for the hem of his sleeve and pulls.
"Come on, I'll buy you dinner," she tells him.