Winter Wonderland
Rated: T – frequent cursing
Theme(s): Santa
Disclaimer: I'm probably on the Naughty list, so I can't get it from Santa…
Reviewers (who deserve better than me, lol):
DarkAnonymous324: Thanks. I'm sorry you had to wait for this…
Dcfan100: I do, too. C: Thank you. Whoo, high five for another HP-lover!
- Mall Santa -
"So, why are we here again?" Naruto complained loudly, pouting at Hinata. She flushed, hugging his arm tighter to her body as they walked into the mall. Her pale blue eyes darted around everywhere, seeing kids cheering as they ran towards the center of the mall. Hinata started to lead Naruto that way, smiling softly.
"Y-You'll see." Hinata said, voice barely above a whisper. Naruto sighed, letting Hinata lead him, knowing if she wanted him to see it, it was something good. Or maybe a Christmas present… which he hadn't gotten her yet…
"HOLY MOTHER OF RAMEN!" Naruto's yell bounced off the walls, barely echoing around the mall. When they got to the center of the mall, there sat Santa, white beard and all, holding kids in his lap to allow them to tell him what he wanted. But, the thing was, Santa did not have brown hair. Long brown hair, to be exact. Kids all turned to stare at Naruto, and he suddenly got the full blast of an icy glare (the kid sitting in "Santa's" lap started crying).
"Hey, Santa-kun, buddy! Can I…"
"Hey, kid, back of the line." An elf came over, glaring daggers at Naruto. Hinata grinned at her, waving slightly. Naruto furrowed his brows, trying to remember whom the elf looked like. She had honey brown eyes and cinnamon brown hair in thick waves down to her shoulders. Her skin, though it was winter, was still plenty tanned.
"You baka, it's me, TenTen. Can you really not tell?" The elf hissed, glare hardening. Naruto's eyebrows shot up.
"No shit? Really? Wow, I thought your hair would be much longer… and, y'know, curlier…" He said, flabbergasted. TenTen snorted, rolling her eyes.
"Really. No, it'd be way too troublesome if it were much longer. And I straightened it some so it wasn't curly. Baka. And, you know, if you get in line now, you'll be sitting in Lee's lap by the time you get to the front. Neji's shift ends in five minutes; it'd take the line about seven for you to get in line." TenTen sighed, smirking slightly. Really, Naruto could be so… Naruto.
"So it is Neji-san!" Naruto said loudly, grinning at "Santa" (he received another death glare which caused another kid to start crying).
"Wait, that's Neji-kun?" A girl asked, coming over to take a good look at "Santa".
"Uh-huh!"
"Naruto you little shit-!"
A few hours later…
"Naruto-san is dead. So dead." Neji ground out, reclining back against the wall of the shower. The hot water burned against his skin, but it felt good. Though, he had to wonder why exactly they were wasting hot water, seeing as he and TenTen, both clad in swimsuits, were just sitting in the shower stall.
"You said it." TenTen sighed form his side, looking quite tired. Working as an elf trying to protect "Santa" from his fan girls was a damn hard job to do!
"Why can't you be ugly or something?" She asked, opening one eye to look sideways at Neji. He smirked, shrugged.
"If I was ugly, would you like me?" Neji asked quietly, rolling his shoulders. Pulling little kids, from stick skinny to the overly obese, into one's lap for a few hours could really make one's shoulders and back sore.
"I like Lee, don't I? Nah, I'm just kidding. Lee is adorable; I love him. In a brotherly way." TenTen said, grinning as Neji started to growl. He was too damn protective. Neji placed a slick arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his chest.
"Good. 'Cause you're mine." He said sleepily, eyes trained on the drain.
"Well, before the water bill skyrockets, we should get out." TenTen mumbled, though she really didn't want to. The searing water felt good to her sore muscles… but it was starting to feel cold, anyways.
"Mmmmm." Neji agreed, though he didn't move. Neither of them did. They stayed that way for a few more minutes, lulled into a half-conscious state, before the phone rang.
"Effing little… I swear, if it's a telemarketer, I'm going to cuss him out…" TenTen snapped, scowling as she got up. Neji let her, standing as well, rolling his shoulders once more and popping his back. TenTen grabbed her towel before going to get the phone, leaving Neji to shut off the water. He grabbed the fluffy white towel she'd gotten out for him afterwards, heading into TenTen's apartment kitchen where she was, talking on the phone.
"Yeah, uh… what'd I just…? Oh, I was in the shower with Neji… Temari-nee-chan, you little bitch, not like that! We have swimsuits on! Don't 'Suuuure' me, you little whore! You and Shikamaru-san have done the dirty, so you can shut the heck up! Why I ought to—" Neji pulled the phone away from TenTen, holding it to his ear.
"Temari-san, I assure you I've not done anything that couldn't be placed in a PG-13 movie to TenTen… yet. Yes, eventually, I'd plan on that after marriage… Yes, I do plan on that. No, I won't hurt your baby TenTen. Good night, Temari-san." Neji put the landline back on the cradle, raising an eyebrow at TenTen's flaming red face and gaping mouth. He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, murmuring, "Close your mouth, you might catch flies in it."
"You…. You… marriage… what?" TenTen asked, looking like a fish as she stumbled around for words. Yes, she'd thought about her future with Neji, but she never imagined him admitting it. And Temari called her 'her baby TenTen'? And why would she believe Neji and not TenTen?
"Don't tell me you haven't thought about it." Neji said calmly, back to her. The suddenly taught muscles in his back betrayed how nervous he'd abruptly become. TenTen wanted to coo, thinking of how adorable Neji was. He was afraid she hadn't and would reject him!
"D'aw, Neji, don't be nervous. 'Course I have. It's just… I never thought you had… or would admit to it." She hugged him from behind gentle, feeling him relax slowly from her answer.
"That's… good. I'm going to fully dry off and change. Would you excuse me?" Neji said, at the end being released form TenTen. He'd been thinking about it for a while… ever since their 19th Birthday, it suddenly occurred to him that he couldn't make it with out her smile. Neji sighed, wishing he was attending a school closer to TenTen's, but, alas, he was attending he University of Tokyo, a far bit away from Konoha. He dried himself off quickly before exiting TenTen's room, clothes in hand, letting TenTen dry herself and change in her room while he changed in the living room area of her apartment. When she was done changing, TenTen took both her swimsuit and Neji's and put them in the dryer.
"Nejiiii-chan… can I get a message?" TenTen asked, falling to the floor in the living room. Neji smirked down at her.
"Of course, TenTen." Though his shoulders and back already ached, he'd do it. Just for her. Neji straddled her waist before giving TenTen a massage. It took her less than five minutes before she fell asleep, a new record for her. Neji smiled softly when he realized TenTen was asleep, carefully picking up the sleeping 22-year-old and carrying her to her room.
"Mmmm… Neji, stay here tonight." TenTen moaned when Neji placed her on her bed, about to cover her up with her quilt and sheet. His eyes softened as he placed another chaste kiss on her forehead, making her smile.
"Of course, TenTen." Neji murmured, slipping in next to TenTen as she half-consciously moved over for him. Making a sound of delight, TenTen curled up against his chest, falling back into sleep from her semi-conscious state.
"Anything for my future wife." Neji said quietly, loving how the word wife rolled off his tongue as he watched TenTen sleep. He knew where he was spending his whole Christmas break.
A/N: I'm sooo freaking sorry, y'all! Tuesday and Wednesday I wasn't able to get on the computer because of and English project, and yesterday I was running on, literally, all sugar and carbs and crashed, hard, when I got home. I slept 'til dinner, showered, and went back to sleep. I am so sorry, please forgive me! I hope y'all like this one… I made it intentionally sweet at the end. :) Good news is that I'm on Winter break now (two weeks and one day, boo yeah!) so I'll be able to catch up those… hmm, three chapters. Gosh, I'm so sorry, again. I don't deserve you few lovely reviewers, favorite-ers, and watchers…
~ Tobi