"Neji! Come sit here!" He heard from his left, he knew it was Tenten's voice but the name sounded wrong coming from her in that tone. He stayed still and looked to the left slightly and saw Tenten waving as Neji came their way, taking a seat next to Lee who was sitting next to a now pouting Tenten. "Neji I meant here next to me." She didn't get an answer and Lee seemed to sigh and ignored her. Shikamaru noticed that Lee had matured, no longer did he burst out into anything loudly about youth and such. He grinned and looked at Choji elbowing him so he could grab a chip. After he managed to get one he leaned forward and ate it knowing Neji was watching him he finished it quickly and then put his head in his hands that were propped on his knees. "Lee! Switch me spots!" Shikamaru glanced over and notice Lee shake his head and sit back against the chair.
"Sorry Tenten." She looked taken aback then really pissed; she threw herself back against the chair and started sulking. Shikamaru couldn't help but chuckle a bit. He sat up and looked around again at everyone who was there. Tenten, Lee, Neji, he, Choji, and Ino took up one row, but Shikamaru wanted to see everyone else. Shino and Sasuke were sitting next to each other, the blush on their faces giving them away even though they had their signature stoic looks. Naruto came out and stood next to Tsunade, he didn't say anything to her, so Shikamaru knew he was really nervous. Sakura came and sat next to Ino, it was known that they were secretly dating but no one could prove it. "Please calm down; this is so unbecoming for you while at a wedding." Lee said not daring to glance at her, Shikamaru knew from having talked to the green clad man that he'd secretly loved Tenten since he knew her, but once she let him know how she felt and that she could never love someone like him, she wanted more of the serious type. He'd changed after that and yet she still didn't return his feelings.
Gaara, now arriving, looked around and walked purposely to someone Shikamaru hadn't expected. Gaara stood next to Kiba until the dog man looked up and the smile on his face told him everything he needed to know and Gaara taking a seat next to him confirmed it. Everyone seemed to be coupling up, or had someone they were trying to get and most looked like they succeeded, except Lee and himself. All the seats were full and it seemed everyone was here so Shikamaru sighed and sat back just as it was made known the bride was coming. Turning he watched with most everyone else as Hinata made her way down to Naruto, but Shikamaru was watching Neji, who had never taken his gaze off of Naruto.
When Hinata stopped next to Naruto and the wedding commenced Neji visibly froze, and Shikamaru couldn't help but sigh. He placed his hand against Neji's side and noticed the older man's twitch. He started to pull his hand back but saw Neji's head shake and so left his hand where it was, sometime during the ceremony Neji placed his hand on Shikamaru's and they both couldn't help but feel somewhat content. This feeling, plus the shock he'd gotten when he placed his hand over the others, scared him and he wanted to run away, far, far away. Once the ceremony came to a close and everyone dispersed to go to the after party –cough- uh, reception Shikamaru stood up letting Neji's hand fall from his. He knew this wasn't the place or time to talk to the older man and said person looked to be on the verge of tears.
"Neji!!! Aren't you coming to the reception? You're the cousin of the bride, you have to go." Shikamaru slowed and glanced back at the trio. Neji had stood and his head was lowered.
"No…" His barely heard answer reached Shikamaru's ears and he knew he wasn't going either. He walked slowly with Choji and Ino, the blonde getting into a fight with Sakura about something until Choji made them blush at how cute they both were together.
"I'll see you guys later; have enough fun for me tonight please." He said as he slowly walked away, he wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone and he wanted to be alone. He speed up until he got closer to his secret spot but stopped short upon coming into it. There, sitting in the middle of the clearing was Neji. He was on his knees, head in his hands and his shoulders were shaking. He heard the sniffles and the broken sobs from where he stood and Shikamaru's heart broke.
He rushed over and pulled Neji into his arms holding onto the man for dear life. When that thought crossed Shikamaru's mind he realized, this man in front of him was his life, he had been since he'd met him. He laid back and pulled Neji down with him and he couldn't help but let a few tears fall for this man he loved. He knew right now his feelings wouldn't be returned and that was fine with him as long as he got to hold onto him for now. He loved the feel of Neji lying on top of him, the warmth the older man had and the smell of his hair. When Neji started to calm down Shikamaru didn't move, he held onto Neji, this time he wouldn't walk away. He'd face him and his feelings.
He didn't have to as he thought he would have because as soon as Neji stopped crying he fell asleep. He sighed and stared at the darkening sky and saw there were no more clouds to stare at, they'd all gone away for now. Neji shifted to get into a more comfortable position and Shikamaru smiled, the older man was a quiet one and a deep breather as he slept. When the sky got dark Shikamaru sat up trying not to wake Neji, he didn't know what to do as he stood, holding the man bridal style. He started to leave for the Hyuuga mansion and just when he was almost there Neji shifted and blinked up at Shikamaru.
"Shika… maru… what… what're you doing?" He said calmly looking up at him, knowing he was being carried. The younger man stopped and set Neji on his feet and then looked shyly at him.
"You were crying, I was holding you and you fell asleep. When it got dark I decided to take you home, and that's where we are now…" He kicked at an imaginary rock and looked down at his feet. Neji looked at him trying to figure the younger man out. "Hey... uh… do you… would you want to hang out some time?" Shikamaru couldn't get the words out nor did her really know what he was asking. Neji couldn't help but notice the way the younger man's voice wavered and how nervous he looked.
"Yes. That'd be nice." He saw the smile start to form and Shikamaru looked up at him. "Are you doing anything now?" Neji asked and Shikamaru shook his head. "Good, you can come with me. I should go make sure my teammates are ok. I hope Lee didn't start drinking again." Shikamaru smiled at the memory of Lee when he got drunk. He nodded and they headed off to check up on their teammates. When they got to the reception most everyone was either drunk, not there or passed out. Shikamaru left Neji's side to go over to Ino's side. She was passed out with her head on the table in her arms. He didn't see Sakura anywhere. Choji was sitting a few seats down asleep, Shikamaru doubted that he'd been drinking, that wasn't Choji. He sighed and poked Choji until he woke up.
"Yo, Choji, will you take Ino home?" The bigger man nodded and sleepily got to his feet and made his way over to the blonde. He turned to look at Neji who was suddenly trying to pry off a drunken Tenten. Lee was nowhere in sight so no one could help Neji out; except him. He walked over and took one of the girls shoulders and she looked up at him. "Tenten, why don't you go home?" She got this look on her face and he was suddenly scared for his life but he stood his ground and returned her glare.
"You can't have him. Nara, I know what you," She hiccups a few times Shikamaru shakes his head pulling her away from Neji and personally taking her out of the building and toward her home not looking at Neji. "Where my Neji go…?" She asked as she looked around not finding him and completely unaware of Shikamaru.
"What do you know about me?" He asked her and she blinked up at him. He could feel eyes on him and someone following them and he hoped it wasn't Neji, but he needed to know what she was talking about, he needed to know if anyone knew of his feelings for the older man.
"You… Tch, I know all about you and those feelings of ... 'cuse me…" She leaned away from him and threw up and he started panicking inside, he didn't know what he'd do if Neji found out before he was ready to hear it. He didn't want him to find out from anyone else either.
"Fuck… You're so bothersome." He put her arm around his shoulders and continued to help her home, it seemed like she passed out until they got to her house. She pushed him away from her and the look of pure hate from her suddenly clear eyes made him rethink having brought her home.
"You're bothersome, you… you who think that someone like Neji would love, would be tainted for. You gay queer, stay the fuck away from Neji or I'll kill you." She turned away and went inside leaving Shikamaru on the door step. His body shook and the pent up feelings he's been holding onto for years started trying to come out. He held them back as he turned away from the door and started back down the path. When he got on the other side of the gate he stopped and looked up shocked.
"Neji…" He didn't know if the older man had heard Tenten but he didn't stay around to find out. He took off running and didn't stop until he got to his spot and he collapsed on the ground. He didn't know when the tears started but as he stared at the stars above he let them flow, the tears didn't stop until after he fell asleep.
When Neji arrived he didn't go and pull Shikamaru into his arms like the younger man had done for him, he didn't say soothing words or try to comfort him and it bothered him that he did that. What's wrong with me? This man has helped me and I can't return the favor? He mentally kicked himself and was about to go do just the same as Shikamaru had done until he noticed the object of his thoughts had fallen asleep crying. This made his chest hurt and his eyes tear up but he didn't move until this feeling subsided. Once it did he walked over and sat next to the Nara and just looked him over.
The tan skin, it made Neji wonder how soft it was. The brown eyes he knew that lay under those closed lids made Neji want to wake the other man up so he could look into them. His hands, one laying by his head the other laying over his stomach, made Neji wonder if they'd fit with his hands. As Neji sat there wondering different things and looking at different areas of Shikamaru's body he slowly came to realize a few things.