Shikamaru woke up in a world of pain. His head ached, his cheeks stung, his neck stiff, his ribs felt broken, his jaw felt numb, and his right hand felt like a thousand hot needles were stuck on it. He groans, tries his best to re-organize the flood of memories that comes pouring through his now conscious mind and fails miserably.
He lets out a startled yelp as someone slaps his right cheek.
"Oh, you're awake."
He opens one bleary eye, immediately regretting the action.
Should have stayed unconscious, he thought.
In front of him stood one of the most troublesome women he knew. Temari.
"What happened to me?" Shikamaru rasps, his voice sounding odd, unused and dry.
Temari looks at him, a thoughtful expression on her haggard face. She then takes a seat in a pallet next to him, and places a plate of delightful smelling mush in her lap.
"An enemy nin, impersonating one of ours, attacked you. Your right hand was impaled by one of his poisoned kunais, you broke 3 ribs when you fell from that tree you were on when you took the hit. You were lucky you didn't break your neck. You were unconscious after the fall, and we took you to one of the med tents. You've been asleep for 12 hours." She said, a look of concern gracing her features.
Shikamaru sighed. He gave her a nod of thanks and took in his surroundings.
They were inside one of the larger med tents. A dozen pallets occupied by injured nin, several of them empty, including the one Temari was sitting on.
"How are we holding up?" he queries, looking at injured nins, hoping he wouldn't see anyone he recognized. He rubs his cheek thoughtfully, he glances at her, "Did you slap me?"
She gives him a wide toothed grin and shrugs.
"About a dozen casualties in our division, dozen more injured, we're fine." She pauses, glancing at the plate on her lap. "It's 7 in the evening, and everyone's eating supper, I thought I'd be nice and bring you some."
"Thanks." He says, his stomach grumbling at the sight and smell of food. "What is it?"
"I have no idea." She smiles. "Tastes like boiled leather. I did season it with salt and pepper though, so it should be tolerable."
"Yum. Smells delicious." he says, voice sounding oddly sincere. Weeks of war rations can do that to you I guess, Shikamaru thought glumly. Shikamaru sits up, facing Temari, and starts looking for a spoon. Spotting one in Temari's hand, he reaches for it, only to be slapped away.
"You're shaking. You haven't eaten in, what, two days? You're right hand's a mess, and your left is trembling like a leaf. I'll feed you." She says, face haughty and imperious.
He gapes at her, unbelieving. Sputters like a fish out of water before finally saying,
"Are you mad? Do I look like some invalid to you? Just give me the damn spoon." He reaches for her hand and takes another attempt at the spoon.
"No." she leans away, smiling. Eyes looking at him with mischief.
"Stop being so troublesome, woman. I'm hungry." He sighs and sits back, waiting for an opening.
"Then let me feed you. You're the one who's being troublesome." She takes the spoon and dips it in the plate. Leans in and aims for his mouth. "Say ahh"
Shikamaru grabs her right hand with his left and prevents her from spoon feeding him. He tries to take away the spoon but Temari deftly avoids his prying fingers and kicks his shin.
"Ow! What is wrong with you! Damn, I hate it when you're bored." Shikamaru mutters while rubbing his shin, he scowls at her darkly.
"Stop whining, crybaby, I know you're hungry. Just be a good boy and let me feed you." She tells him, barely hiding the laughter in her voice. She holds the plate in front of his nose and teases him. Temari knows she's won this round as she hears Shikamaru's stomach grumble.
"There are a dozen injured nins in this tent and several med nins walking around. It would be embarrassing, Temari, if you were to feed me, while people are watching." He growls at her, anger barely in check.
"Exactly!" Temari exclaims, grinning at him triumphantly.
"Ugh! Never mind, I'm going back to sleep. Just leave the plate here if you have any mercy left in you." Shikamaru lies down, exasperated. Not in the mood for Temari's antics.
"Aww, don't be like that, here, just one bite? Please?" Temari leans in for the kill, her elbow resting on his chest, a devious smirk on her lips. Shikamaru could not help but blush at the way Temari was leaning down on him, her breath tickling his neck, despite being troublesome, he had to admit, Temari was one hell of a woman.
"Ehem"
The effect is immediate. The two of them stiffen up. Temari slowly distances herself away from her prey. Shikamaru sits up slowly, careful not to injure his right hand.
"Gaara"
"Kazekage-sama."
"Am I interrupting?"
"Yes."
"No."
Shikamaru scowls at Temari, she smiles back playfully.
"Is there something I should know…?" Gaara asks, a hint of unease in his expression.
Temari leans back in her pallet and laughs her head off. Shikamaru shakes his head negatively, smiling at the kazekage sheepishly.
"Don't worry Gaara, me and him would never happen. The guy's a chauvinist pig. The laziest and most annoying person I know, I'd most likely kill him than end up with him." She chokes out between laughs, her body shaking with mirth.
"She's right, your sister's bossy, annoying, and too troublesome to be with. With all due respect Kazekage-sama, I'd rather die than be with your sister." Shikamaru exhales, his voice tinged with sarcasm, clearly annoyed by her laughter.
"Whatever." Gaara says neutrally, though with a bit of relief, if you know him well enough, Shikamaru notes.
"Sister, I need you to come with me to the command tent, we'll be meeting with some of our officers, and I may need your input."
"Okay, lead the way, Gaara." She sighs.
Gaara gives Shikamaru a nod of farewell and heads toward the exit. Temari slowly gets up to follow. As Gaara walks out of earshot, she bends down and whispers. "You got lucky crybaby."
"Go to hell."
Gaara exits the tent, soon followed by Temari.
Shikamaru stares at the exit and exhales a breath he didn't know he was holding. He slumps back in his cot, relief evident on his features. Finally, some peace and quiet.
"Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru groans and turns toward the exit. Eyebrows raised in annoyance.
Temari, half hidden by the tent flap, hand pointing.
"Eat it while it's hot. Get well soon, lazy. Take care."
He glances to his right and sees the mush they call 'food' and nods at her in thanks.
She gives him a dazzling smile, all teeth, and disappears from view.
He shakes his head, takes the plate and spoon with his left hand, a smile now playing on his face.
"Troublesome."
AN - whew... i dunno where this came from... i think i was half-asleep when i wrote this totally random fic, but i think it's kinda sweet... anyway, watcha guys think? reviews make me smile :)