Wow, this got a lot of follows, I'm flattered! I hope you guys continue to enjoy!
Shikamaru walked balk to Temari's apartment, a bag of groceries in each hand. Shopping had been uneventful. Night had now fallen and, in contrast to the Leaf Village, Suna felt desolate and poorly lit as he weaved his way through the narrow streets. The temperature was also dropping and he shivered as he got to Temari's door. He opened it with a shadow so he wouldn't have to adjust his bags and set the groceries onto the kitchen table.
"Oi, I'm back!" He called loudly, closing the door behind him and beginning to pull the groceries out of the bag. Halfway through he changed his mind and headed upstairs to check on Temari. She was pretty much the same, though she was now awake...and angry.
"Where the hell have you been?" She demanded from her bed, glaring at him under her covers even though he could swear he saw relief hidden in her eyes.
Shikamaru was startled, "I went out to buy some food...didn't you read my note?"
"No, where is it?" He pointed to the desk. "Idiot," she snapped, "you think I'm in any condition to get up and look at that? Even so how would I know it was there?"
Shikamaru exhaled through his nose. Hoping to diffuse the situation, he decided to play meek. "Sorry, you're right. I should've known."
"Damn right you should've," she grumbled, turning her back to him, "some genius."
What a drag, Shikamaru said inwardly, I guess this is what Kankuro and Gaara meant when they said 'irritable'. Guess it was too much to hope for that she'd be less harsh around me. Outwardly, he said, "are you hungry?"
"No," she snapped, her back still towards him, "I just want to get some more sleep. Go away."
Her words stung, and it was with a little heat in his voice that he replied. "Fine. Get better." He turned and left the room, slamming the door perhaps a little harder than he should have. He made his way down to the kitchen, hungry and cranky, and began fixing himself up a meal. He first turned on the stove and began cooking some beef. He also heated up a pot of water, which he dumped some ramen noodles into. It wasn't fancy, but it was easy and filling.
So he sat in Temari's kitchen, alone, eating ramen under the pale light, feeling sorry for himself.
He was eventually interrupted from his pity-party when he heard a fit of muffled coughing from the living room. Rolling his eyes, he continued to eat his ramen.
Eventually Temari dragged herself into the room, holding onto the wall for support. Her eyes were squinted against the dim light and she sniffed loudly. "That smells good," she mumbled, "what is it?"
"Ramen." Shikamaru said shortly, not looking at her.
"Where's mine?" she asked, and his eye actually twitched.
"You said you didn't want any," he reminded her, "...you also told me to go away." He added mildly, taking a kind of savage satisfaction as the shame appeared briefly on Temari's face.
"Yeah, well, I'm sick." She said defensively, going over to the table and all but collapsing onto a chair.
The Nara rolled his eyes, knowing better than to expect an apology from Temari. He said nothing and continued to eat.
"Would you make me some?" She finally asked. As if on que, her stomach grumbled loudly and pathetically.
He sighed, taking another bite before standing up. "I suppose." He walked past her towards the stove, but she caught his arm and he froze.
"I don't want you to go away," she said quietly, not looking at him. "Just so we're clear," She quickly let go of his arm and proceeded to sneeze messily into a tissue.
There she is, my princess. Shikamaru thought dryly as his girlfriend inspected the tissue and winced. However, her words made him happy and he made his way to the stove and began cooking her some ramen in much better spirits.
"You're humming," Temari noted from the table as he flipped over the beef.
"Mm..." He stopped.
"Don't stop."
A smile pricked at the corner of his lips and he let the tune continue to flow from his mouth. He finished cooking her food and brought it over to her. She was once again red-face and not looking at him, mumbling a "Thanks," as she took the hot bowl and chopsticks. "It's not Ichiraku, but hopefully it'll get the job done," he said through a yawn, sitting across from her.
Temari took a bite. "It's good." She said, and took another bite.
Shikamaru just looked at her as she ate, soaking in how...Temari, she was. Even when sick as a dog, he had to fight the urge to just...hug and cuddle her. He choked back a snort on how he thought that series of events would go if he tried it. Needless to say it involved a trip to the hospital and several wind-inflicted cuts.
Meanwhile, Temari's face was getting redder and redder as she stared determinedly at her ramen. Shikamaru took note of this and, before he could stop himself, said, "you're awfully cute when you're blushing, y'know that?"
Temari's eyes flicked to his face and, if possible, got even redder. "Th-thanks," she stammered out, "uh...you too?" she winced instantly and looked back down at her ramen.
Shikamaru just shook his head and smiled at her. "Oi, Temari, look at me."
Hesitantly, Temari raised her eyes and met Shikamaru's. He stared her dead in the eye and said gently, "Relax."
Temari seemed surprised by his words. "Re...relax?"
"Yeah!" Shikamaru said, leaning back in his chair. "I can tell you're nervous and there's no reason to be. I'm just here to hang out with you and take care of you."
"But I-"
"I know you're new to this," he cut her off with a knowing nod, "but so am I. Just do what feels natural. Don't let there be any pressure. There wasn't any before, when we were just friends."
"Do what feels natural?" Temari's eyes quickly flicked to his lips and then back to her ramen. She quickly took a bite. "I...don't know if that would be appropriate," she mumbled through her noodles.
It was Shikamaru's turn to blush as he took in the meaning of Temari's words. He smirked, "as if I'd kiss a sick person. Talk to me when you're feeling better, though."
Temari's eyes widened and she quickly buried her face in her hands and groaned, "you're going to end up killing me, y'know that? My heart can't take all this stress and embarrassment. I'm going to keel over."
Shikamaru chuckled and Temari uncovered her face and smiled at him, both still a little red in the face. Temari ate the last of her ramen and sighed in content. "Thanks for that," she told him as he got up and cleared their dishes.
"Of course." Shikamaru said with a smile, "it's nice to get to do boyfriend things for you."
"It's nice to have boyfriend things done for me," She admitted. She coughed into her sleeve and cleared her throat, "especially by you," she added.
"Oh? I bet I'm fulfilling your adolescent dreams, cooking you dinner in your kitchen," He joked, returning to join her at the table.
Temari rolled her eyes, but her returned blush betrayed her. "You wish. It wasn't that far back."
"I bet it was and you're lying," he teased.
"It wasn't." She said firmly.
"Really? It was for me." Shikamaru admitted almost off-handedly.
"It w-" Temari faltered and looked him curiously, "wait, really?"
"Oh yeah," He closed his eyes as a smile played on his lips. "Once you saved me from Tayuya, I knew I was in trouble. I'll never forget that smile you gave me. I tried to deny it as long as possible, but it never really worked..." he opened his eyes and stared at her curiously, "So when did it start for you?"
Temari put her hand to her chin and thought about it. "I mean, I thought about you a lot ever since our fight, but it was more of a 'I hate that arrogant jerk' thing."
Shikamaru nodded, "understandable."
"I dunno, I guess that time you came to escort me out of Konoha at the crack of dawn before the Chunin exams is when it really hit me, but if I'm honest it might even go as far back as the time we were at the Konoha hospital waiting to see if Choji would be ok."
Shikamaru was quiet as he remembered that day, the intense fear that he would lose his best friend and the pretty yet frosty girl sitting across from him, berating him. "I cried in front of you. I was so embarrassed after." They both laughed.
They fell into a comfortable silence which was quickly broken by a yawn from Temari.
"Alright, let's get you to bed," Shikamaru said, getting up from the table. Temari gave no protests as he scooped her up and carried her bridal style up the stairs to her bed. He deposited her on the bed and she settled in.
Once under the covers, she turned onto her side to look at him, knelt beside the bed with his elbow on her mattress and his chin resting on his hand. "Where are you staying?"
"I dunno," Shikamaru shrugged, "I kinda forgot to ask Gaara. Can I just stay on your couch?"
"Of course," Temari nodded, "I don't have any spare blankets though."
"I survived a war, I think I can tough it out on a couch with no blankets."
Temari nodded, "okay, great."
Shikamaru stood up and smiled at her, "goodnight then."
"Ah...actually," Temari looked up at him with...dare he say bashful eyes? "Would you mind staying with me until I fall asleep? I normally don't have any company when I'm sick and having you here is...nice."
Shikamaru tried not to grin like an idiot and sat down on the bed next to her. He tentatively reached out and used his fingers to brush her bangs from her forehead.
Temari, red faced, nestled into her pillow and gave a little sigh of contentment. Shikamaru leaned against the headboard and removed his hand to put it behind his head.
"I don't think I said you could stop that," Temari mumbled sleepily.
"Troublesome woman," Shikamaru whispered back, returning his hand to continuously brush the hair from Temari's forehead. He looked down at her near-sleeping form and warmth flooded through his body. He took a mental picture.
"Goodnight, Shikamaru. Thanks for being here." She whispered.
"Goodnight, Temari."
Okay, so this is the end of day two. He has five more days before he has to be back in Konoha, but two of those days are travel time. So we've got what...anywhere from 6-8 more chapters of this I would guess. Hope you're all enjoying! Please leave a review if you are, they really motivate me!