Shikamaru walked back into the living room after slamming the door. He had reluctantly stepped out to talk to his father, who was none too happy that his son hadn't come home in the past couple of days. Truth was he had no intention on going home that night. It was late, he was tired and Kiba and Ino insisted he stay. Their conversation escalated from a calm argument to yelling with seething anger. It seemed to have ended abruptly with a harsh statement. "I'm moving out!"
He quietly walked straight into Ino's arms. Kiba and Ino were sitting on the couch, waiting with concern clearly in their eyes. Of course, they knew things weren't settled between Shikamaru and his father. They hadn't been getting along lately, in fact, Shikamaru had been seriously considering moving out of his parents' home because he was tired of being told what to do, but he stayed only for his mother. Tonight, that changed. He could no longer take his father's overbearing ways and he had just left him cut with angry words at their front door.
Ino held him tight, while Kiba reached out a comforting hand to his face, wiping the tear from Shikamaru's eye. "It's ok." She said, attempting to comfort him with a soothing hand rubbing his back.
"So.. What happened?" Asked Kiba, lowering his hand to Shikamaru's arm. Holding it there comfortingly.
There was a pause. "I told him I'm packing up my things tomorrow." Came the reply laced with pain and bitterness.
Kiba nodded, exchanging glances with Ino. "You're gonna stay with us then?" The blonde woman asked.
"Yeah.. If that's still ok.."
"Of course, man..." Kiba smiled at him, but it quickly faded. "..Did he say anything about me? ..I thought I heard my name."
Shikamaru shifted, still hugging Ino. "...It doesn't matter.."
Kiba sighed. "I know he doesn't like me much, but I wanna know what he said."
"Why? It doesn't matter anyway.."
"Because it's about me, I think I have the right to know."
Shikamaru's eyebrows creased. Ino felt him squeeze her middle, so she stroked his loose strands. He had let his hair down earlier before his father had decided to drop by unannounced.
"He doesn't like how close we are..." He said finally.
Kiba shook his head, knowing full well that Shikaku never liked him. Partly because he didn't like dogs or the Inuzuka for having them. He had gotten closer to Shikamaru while courting Ino; Kiba would go to him for help since the ponytailed man had known her since they were children. It wasn't until their recent visit to see Naruto in the states that he and Shikamaru had gotten more comfortable with each other. Having comforted the latter through a strained friendship with Choji.
Kiba sighed. "Oh well.. He can either deal with it or get off your case, but I don't even understand why he has such a problem with me. I've never done anything to make him hate me. It's not like our dogs run amok and scare your deer, and I sure as hell haven't said a damn thing to him!" He was raising his voice.
Shikamaru reached an arm for him and Kiba took his hand in his own. Pondering for a moment, his eyes shifted from the floor to the dark haired man.
"Would your dad have a problem if you were gay- are you gay?" He asked suddenly.
"N-not.. Completely.." Shikamaru averted his eyes for a second, a light flush stinging his cheeks.
Of course, Shikamaru was in love with Temari for the longest time, they had dated for a while, but broke up about a year ago. He still harbored feelings for her even though he had let her go. Kiba knew this, but the brunette had allowed the two of them to become closer. During his misunderstanding with Choji, Kiba held him often in order to console him. It had been purely platonic until then, he had felt something there, but wasn't sure if he should say anything.
Kiba squeezed the hand he held. "Shikamaru..."
"What?.."
There was a moment of hesitation before Kiba half smiled. "Ino told me I should wait but.."
Shikamaru lifted his head from Ino's shoulder. "Tell me anyway..." He pulled away from her to sit closer to Kiba.
The brunette looked for approval in Ino's eyes. She simply blinked with softened eyes and smiled gently, kiba didn't need her to voice it.
"Well... Remember when I said I had a crush on you?"
"Yeah.." Shikamaru replied, recalling the night they light-heartedly discussed crushes at Naruto's.
"..I still do.. And.. Well... There's something I want to ask you.."
Shikamaru waited.
"Actually, I'm not even gonna ask it, I'm gonna say it... I have a crush and... I really want to kiss you..." Kiba, squinted one eye assuming the worst.
He opened it to face Shikamaru, their eyes met.
Ino held a hand to her lips, hoping this wouldn't end up badly. She noticed Shikamaru scoot closer to her brunette husband. Yes, she had married Kiba during their visit to Naruto's over the winter break. Almost all their friends were there and it was a beautiful time, but she knew of her husband's crush and it had never bothered her. She cared about both men and would do anything to make them happy, though confident that her man would think of her as number one. She felt however, that people could have more than one soul mate.
"Then why don't you?.." Shikamaru asked, holding Kiba's hand tightly.
Kiba blinked, not sure if he had heard correctly. "What?" He lifted his free hand close to Shikamaru's face, holding it there before pushing some strands behind the man's ear. "Really?"
The dark haired man nodded. Ino smiled, quietly observing what was unfolding before her eyes.
The spiky haired brunette, leaned in, both hands now holding Shikamaru's face. Their lips brushing against each other lightly, before he pressed a gentle, lingering kiss.
They parted and looked into each other's eyes longingly. "Don't stress." Kiba whispered to the blushing ninja. Shikamaru wrapped his arms around Kiba's neck, the latter embracing him tightly.