I forgot where I left off when uploading these. I have a lot to catch up to.
Humour.
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[Shikatema prompt: Temari is invited to her first girls night by Ino, which prompts the boys to get a table near them to spy (see Shippuden ep.232). Then, when things get too detailed about their relationship, an embarrassed Shikamaru drags Temari home. ]
She really didn't know why she was here.
But there was something endearing in the way Ino had knocked on her door at six am that morning (because something about her guide wouldn't be awake at the time – she didn't blame the Konoha-nin; she was entirely right) and had invited her to their girls-night-out. She wasn't entirely sure what the whole hush hush was about – but maybe it was more of a cultural difference, seeing as Ino was at least treated like a girl. (There was more to say about Suna politics but she kept most of it to herself.)
When she found herself seated in the barbeque restaurant, she was soon so enveloped by such girlish chatter that she sunk further into her seat and picked at one of the meats grilling in front of her. She didn't really do well with these crowds – after all, raising two brothers only furthered her tomboy personality along with her lack of female friends. But she had to give it to the girls – they weren't exactly girly (they might have been three or four years ago, not so much now) but they knew how to keep up idle conversation.
"-and remember during the chuunin exams, when you guys faced each other?"
"Yeah. I seriously hated you back then."
"Details. What I want to talk about is another match that was interesting, hmm, Temari?"
She choked on her water.
She should've known the blonde had some kind of ulterior motive.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said evasively, closing her eyes and instead focusing on downing another mouthful of water without choking this time. When reached over to flip the meat, she noted the two girls exchanging a pointed look (even though Hyuuga shrunk into her seat and pigtailed buns-girl aggressively stabbed another piece of pork into her chopsticks) before they turned back to her.
"You know what we're talking about," prompted Ino, "you and Shikamaru."
Temari took a slow breath, disguising her exhale into her glass, though it betrayed her as the insides fogged. "What do you want to know?" she asked humourlessly, though the Konoha-nin did not pick up on her sour tone and instead launched in enthusiastically.
"Idunno, just asking about how you two are doing, and all," she replied, her voice innocent but at the same time, scarily testy, as if she had done these interrogations before.
She narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what to tell you," she responded indignantly, trying to make sure her cheeks didn't turn red. Luckily they hadn't served her alcohol – that would definitely had gotten her talking – instead she was just able to maintain her dignity, raising her head and continuing, "he's my guide, that's all there is to it."
The looks the girls exchanged were eerily accusatory, snide, and even amused. "Are you sure," asked the blonde, her voice almost shrill with excitement, "Shikamaru doesn't wake up for anyone – not even training-"
But before Temari could shoot back a biting retort, the table next to them squeaked. They had their privacy curtain drawn for obvious reasons, but she could still hear snickers from the other side, along with a hassled and familiar sigh.
She smirked.
He just couldn't stay away, as usual.
Temari wasn't one to reveal her love life to other people, let alone other Konoha women who were familiar with the man she was intimate with. Then again, opportunities like these rarely presented themselves, and who was she not to take advantage of them? She contemplated how much she should reveal, if only to punish him for daring to eavesdrop on her little outing. Though she hardly thought it was to his own volition – he was probably in the same boat as hers, dragged out by another loud and enthusiastic blond.
And though the girl's voices dropped considerably (the pink-haired medic nin looking particularly ticked off when she put two and two together), Temari said, this time a little louder, "I guess you're right. I don't know why he arrives as early as I do to some of our meetings."
From the outside, absolute silence. A couple of sniggers broke out before they were cut off abruptly.
Ino leaned in. "And?"
"And nothing," she said, louder still, "he makes it so we act like we don't acknowledge each other's existence." She watched the blonde's face fall before she smirked, threw back her head, and called, "But when we get back to my place, oh boy, lemme tell ya, he is great in be-" Their privacy curtain all but ripped from its hinges as the dark-haired shadow nin shoved the innocent white fabric to the side, his cheeks flaming but his eyes narrowed.
"Shika-" Ino's voice cut out as one hand swiftly covered hers, the other grabbing Temari by the collar and pulling her off the seat.
"Not cool," he hissed, his breath tickling her ear.
Thank God they didn't give her alcohol, or even that would have probably reduced her to a bumbling mess.
"I thought I'd fill in the gaps since you obviously left Ino out of the loop," she replied slyly, to which he sighed.
"Troublesome," he hissed, though he snagged his fingers into her fabric and began to drag her away.
"I'll fill you in next time," she called cheerfully to Ino, who could only watch, dumbfounded, as she let the man drag her off their booth and out of the restaurant.