Rating: T
Words: 1100
Pairing: Shikamaru/Temari
Warnings/Summary: Mostly just a fluff bomb, these two are adorable together, another new ship I didn't need
Author's Note: This is actually based on a fanart that I saw on tumblr and have been trying to find ever since. It was a beautiful piece with Shikamaru watching Temari dancing in the rain. Anyway, enjoy!
"Isn't there anything more interesting to do?" Temari's lower lip curved outward, forming a pout that she would never admit to having.
Shikamaru moved another piece across the board between them, lifting his dark eyes to the woman's face. "Find my company boring already?"
"I didn't say that," Temari argued, brow scrunching in concentration as she took in the positions of her tiles.
Though Shikamaru didn't say it, he had the woman beat in five to eight moves, no matter which path she selected. In the past few weeks, Temari had grown better at the game, but she was still hard pressed to come close to his skill. As he waited for her decision, Shikamaru studied the kunoichi across from him. Lantern light gilded Temari's features, bringing out the golden highlights in her hair and the sun-kissed quality of her skin.
The evening had grown to full night around them, but Shikamaru couldn't bring himself to care. They would say goodbye in the morning, Temari back to Suna, and Shikamaru back to his work as the Hokage's advisor. He'd asked her to dinner, then back to the Nara compound to play shogi. That had been four games ago, but neither had broken away. A cool breeze rippled through the panel that opened to the yard, cutting the summer heat.
Temari lifted her head and tipped it to the side. "What's that sound?"
"Rain," Shikamaru answered, turning to the darkness outside. Soft pattering filled the air, the ground greedily sucking up the moisture as it fell. He should have walked Temari back to her room before the storm started. The signs had been there: the oppressive heat weighing down and the chill that warned a of its coming. He'd selfishly wanted to steal a few more minutes while he could. Almost on cue, a soft rumble of thunder echoed in the distance.
Temari stood and crossed the room, stepping onto the porch that surrounded the house. Frowning, Shikamaru followed. "You should let me walk you back to-" He paused, realizing that Temari wasn't listening. Her green eyes opened wide, full of life, as she watched the ground grow increasingly damp. Shikamaru set down the lantern he carried, watching her.
Tentatively, Temari reached one hand from beneath the safety of the roof. Clear water splashed off of her skin, and to Shikamaru's amazement, Temari giggled. It wasn't as high pitched as Ino's, but it was definitely a giggle of delight. Forcing her sleeve higher to reveal a delicate wrist, the woman let the rain run down her forearm, her other arm hugged around a post. Childlike wonder softened her face.
"I can't believe there's this much water just falling from the sky," Temari sounded much younger than her age.
Of course, Shikamaru realized with a start. They didn't have thunderstorms in Suna; Temari would be unfamiliar with them. It wouldn't be the first time she'd seen rain, of course, but perhaps the first time she could marvel at it freely. Rather than interrupt her facination, Shikamaru sank to the porch in silence.
Finally letting her damp arm fall back to her side, Temari leaped into the rain completely. For a moment, she stood there, face turned up to the sky as the droplets splashed against her skin. Then, she let out another soft laugh. Thunder rumbled again, distantly, but she was too consumed in the feeling of the water to notice any danger.
Shikamaru disregarded it too. More difficult to ignore, however, was the way Temari's robe drank in the liquid, conforming to her body beneath. A blush burned his cheeks as he watched her turn in the rapidly forming downpour. Tendrils ran over her face, glistening in the soft flicker of the lantern light. She danced through the storm, turning her attention back to him. A single eyebrow raised skyward when she saw Shikamaru's face, but a more devious smile slipped onto her lips. "Aren't you going to join me? Surely this is more interesting than shogi."
"No, I'd rather not get soaked," Shikamaru answered.
"Too troublesome for you?" Temari grabbed his hand and tugged, giving Shikamaru the option of pulling her onto the porch with him or letting her guide him to his feet.
The summer rain was warm enough not to make Shikamaru shiver, but cool enough to feel refreshing. The conscious weight of Temari's hand in his made his heart do a nervous twitch. She grinned at him, rain slicking her hair to her forehead and cheeks as water beaded on her eyelashes. She radiated life, and enough beauty to take his breath. If one believed in that sort of thing, anyway. Shikamaru didn't. Temari spun, drawing him in a half dance across the muddy ground, and if his heart pounded louder, it was only mimicking the thunder. It had nothing to do with the proximity of her body to his.
"Don't you love the rain?" Temari asked, eyes still shining as she looked up at him. Her movements brought her almost fully against his chest.
"Yes," Shikamaru answered without thought. The truth was that he hated the rain. It reminded him of another day, icy water slicking armor to his body while washing away the sweat and tears. A flame fighting through, and a tendril of smoke rising in defiance of the weather. He'd understood what sacrifice meant that day, and every day since.
Temari must have sensed the change in Shikamaru as the memory flickered through his mind. Hands fisted against the damp navy of his shirt and drew him closer, though there was hardly space. "Convince me," she breathed, half a moment before her lips found his.
There may have been some truth in the power of emotion. A strange, new feeling exploded through his chest, pushing the other memory back into the shadows of his heart where it belonged. Temari leaned in, body pressing fully against Shikamaru's, and his hands slid around her hips like it was the most natural thing in the world. Thunder cracked in the distance, but neither turned away. If anything, Shikamaru pulled her nearer.
Moments or hours had passed when Temari pulled away long enough to draw a breath. "Mmm," she purred, another sound Shikamaru never thought he'd hear her make. "That's a good start, but I'm not entirely convinced-"
When Shikamaru captured her lips before she could finish, Temari chuckled against them. Somehow, between the heat of her body and the coolness of the storm around them, Shikamaru willingly lost himself. Temari's hands and touch made it hard to think. Maybe the rain isn't so bad, he though, surrendering to the warm feeling growing inside of him.
