"Damn it," Shikamaru whispered under his breath, glaring at his erection as hot water pelted off him.
He turned the dial up and sighed. Nothing, in particular, had happened, just thinking about Neji had his member standing proud. After he, Neji and Sasuke joined the second group from Konoha in Kumogakure the team had unanimously decided to treat themselves by staying in the village for a night where they could utilize one of the highly endorsed onsens. For obvious reasons, Shikamaru had been one of the four ninjas voting against the stay— Chōji, Sai, and Neji were the others.
Shikamaru braced an arm against the wall of the shower and leaned his forehead into the crook as he cursed under his breath again, fingers working up and down his engorged muscle rapidly. He for one wouldn't be joining the others in the hot spring after his shower, Shikamaru wanted nothing more than to go straight to bed and have a dreamless sleep. Dreams centering around Hyūga were no longer enjoyable now that Sasuke's conceited face kept disturbing him through the night.
With another pump Shikamaru hung his head back and quietly groaned Neji's name. He panted softly and watched his specimen wash down the drain. Part of him had to wonder if he was jerking off in the shower too often, maybe just getting under the water had triggered his erection. Shikamaru rolled his eyes annoyed with himself and shut off the spray. Another heavy sigh passed slightly swollen lips. He tied a towel around his hips, working another through his hair as he rounded the corner and nearly bumped smack into a smirking Uchiha.
"Well, well. That was quite a long shower. Thinking of someone?" Sasuke jibed.
"Tch, you wish." Shikamaru ignored the slightly older man and continued toweling his hair.
"Oh? Do you always groan your captain's name in the shower? Or just on special occasions?" Sasuke's eyes gleamed with mischief.
Damn it to hell!
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Shikamaru shifted his eyes away.
"What is it that draws you in, I wonder." Sasuke tapped his chin and braced a hand on one hip which he cocked outward. "Is it the long hair? Unique eyes? Perhaps his masculine jawline?"
Shikamaru snorted and rebutted, "Sounds like you've got a crush."
"You ought to know, seeing how you can't bear to be apart." Sasuke teased.
"I didn't request this mission; I was assigned." He reminded the annoying Uchiha.
"Bet that made you feel all giddy." Sasuke wiggled his brows.
"Knowing you'd be here? Not the first word that comes to mind." Shikamaru returned.
Sasuke forfeited a chuckle, but amusement still flickered in his obsidian eyes. "You're way out of your league, Nara."
"Yeah? If I get a stick as far up my ass as the one you've got do you think it'll help my chances?" Shikamaru asked.
"Crude. Your deflection only confirms your jealousy." Sasuke stated.
"Of what exactly, bird man? From where I'm standing, you're just Neji's friend as well. Maybe you're out of your league."
Not Shikamaru's best come back by a long shot, but between his brain still tingling with the pleasure of release and whatever it was about Sasuke that short-circuited his temper, Nara was having difficulty using his supposedly genius mind.
"Ever wonder why we spend so much time together?" Sasuke mused.
"You're partners, moron." Shikamaru shot down.
"Is that the excuse he gave you?" Uchiha flashed his teeth.
"It's a fact." Shikamaru rested the towel on his shoulders, gripping either end to keep it in place instead of snuffing Sasuke.
"Plenty of long, grueling nights in the field, cooped up in a tiny tent. Adrenaline is running wild. Things can happen." Sasuke shrugged.
"Sounds like your imagination is what's running wild." Shikamaru bit his tongue from the effort of not hitting the bastard.
"Denial will get you nowhere." Sasuke reminded the shadow wielder.
Shikamaru growled, "Neither will taunting. If you're trying to get a rise out of me—"
"I would never!" Sasuke feigned surprise, a hand on his chest as he gasped. "It seems like the only thing getting a rise from you is thoughts of Neji in the shower."
"It's not fair!"
The haze between the pair dispelled instantly, both snapped their heads towards the loud blonde male stomping into the locker room. Kiba and Neji were with him and seemed thoroughly agitated. Out of the five of them, Neji was the only one donning a white terry cloth robe; everyone else had towels hanging from their hips.
"It's standard practice for captains to be given a private spring, Naruto. Stop whining." Neji insisted.
"Too good to relax with the rest of us, Princess?" Kiba sneered.
"More like too tired to engage in this argument," Neji responded, his eyes narrowed.
"Get real, Hyūga. You don't want to join us because you don't want anyone to know your shitty personality is overcompensating for your pint-sized dong." Kiba barked.
Neji was so used to Kiba continually challenging him that he didn't even seem angry when he muttered, "Don't be vulgar."
"Ah, that explains the robe!" Naruto agreed suddenly, an ah-ha moment sparking a rather animated nod.
"Fellas," Sasuke interrupted. "Don't you think we're all a bit too mature for tasteless antics?"
"Don't even get me started, Uchiha." Kiba jabbed a finger at him as he spoke. "With an ego as enormous as yours, you probably haven't even got a set of balls under there!"
Too many things happened in one second for Shikamaru to process what was going on before it was too late. His sights had been fixed on Neji the entire time, admiring the Hyūga's brunette locks swept up in a messy bun atop his head when he noticed the look of panic flash over the elder's face. Neji knew precisely what the taunt would make Sasuke do. Apparently, this wasn't the first time. Sasuke blinked indifferently, shrugged and untied his towel then spread it wide to flash his comrades. Shikamaru was grateful to be next to him and out of view.
"What the—" Kiba gasped.
"Pervert!" Naruto shouted.
The duo ran out in a blur, screaming expletives about how they'd just been violated. Neji punched Sasuke's shoulder hard enough to make him take a few steps back.
"You are far too loose about that sort of thing." Neji scolded.
Sasuke shrugged again and readjusted his towel. "Got them to leave, didn't it?"
Shikamaru had to wonder if something was going on between the ANBU partners. Neji didn't so much as flinch when Sasuke flashed; he'd just rolled his eyes. Although maybe that meant Sasuke, for whatever reason, was frequently revealing himself which said more about the overconfident brat than Shikamaru cared to know.
"You coming, Shikamaru?"
Neji broke his thoughts, paused in the doorway to kick off his sandals. Shikamaru processed the gravity of the situation he was in. Neji would be naked. Neji naked and wet. Neji naked and wet and sweaty. No, he couldn't let his mind wander there again, or he'd be unintentionally showing off his goods sporting a tent with his towel.
"I'm pretty tired, thinking of heading to bed." Shikamaru lied.
Probably, he'd go straight back to the shower where is mind could roam free. Neji nodded indicating he understood, the glint in his lilac eyes suggested he might be disappointed.
"Thanks, pal," Sasuke announced and slapped Shikamaru's back with a wink once Neji was gone. "Now it's just Neji and me alone in our private spring."
Shikamaru's mouth twitched. No way in hell. He stomped past the smug prodigy and power walked his way beyond Neji so he could discard the towel and hop in without the awkward nuisance of being stared at if they went in before him. To his dismay, it was Sasuke who joined next, plopping down unceremoniously and uncomfortably close to Shikamaru.
"Smart man." Sasuke approved.
Shikamaru merely rolled his eyes.
"Now for the best part."
Instead of asking, he followed Sasuke's stare across the spring and became frigid at the sight of Neji dipping a leg in to test the temperature. He was grateful for the steam, both because it disfigured Neji's naked form and gave his face an excuse to be bright red. Even though he couldn't make anything out, Shikamaru kept his gaze trained on the heaps of steam where his lap was. Sasuke on the other hand bluntly continued to stare, his dark eyes predatory as Neji waded his way over. Shikamaru elbowed him, Sasuke chuckled.
"Couldn't resist the appeal of the hot springs after all, eh, Shikamaru?" Neji's smile reached his eyes.
"Something like that," Shikamaru mumbled.
Mild irritation flickered in his stomach when Sasuke directed Neji to sit on his other side, successfully making himself the wedge between them. Fantastic. Hot springs were supposed to be about relaxation, calm feelings and peaceful thoughts. Shikamaru had a war raging inside of him which he blamed entirely on Sasuke Uchiha. Yes, there were times that he found it difficult to be around Neji because he felt so strongly, but he had managed boast-worthy control over himself and never felt uncomfortable. Tonight, was very different.
He was acutely aware of Neji's naked body on the other side of Sasuke— who's nakedness he was also unfortunately forced to acknowledge. There was no doubt in the genius' mind that if it were just him and Neji on a mission together, he wouldn't feel so damn nervous. At best, his face would flush a little then he would reign himself in and focus on Hyūga as a friend and nothing more. The problem with Sasuke being there was it required him to see Neji in a different light, more specifically Uchiha propelled him into that red zone.
The man got under Shikamaru's skin easily, and that was irritating, too. Nara did not care what people thought of him, what people wanted or expected from him. He was content to be himself and to hell with anyone who wasn't satisfied with his what you see is what you get attitude. Because of this, he was used to being at odds with people and infuriating them with his indifference to almost everything. Sasuke had pinpointed the one exception, Neji Hyūga, and would not let up. Talk about troublesome. Shikamaru sighed as he stretched his limbs, accidentally laying his hand on top of Sasuke's.
"Whoa, Shikamaru, if you wanted to hold hands, that's all you had to say!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"You troublesome bastard!" Shikamaru snarled.
Neji looked between the two of them; brows raised sky high. Sasuke defused the situation seamlessly by claiming he was exhausted and excused himself. Yeah, right. Shikamaru was sure being a constant pain in the ass was tiring.
"I know it's hard, fellas, but resist the urge to ogle my ass when I exit," Sasuke called over his shoulder.
Shikamaru thudded his head back against the ledge, Neji's laugh echoed around them.
"How the hell do you put up with that egotistical prick?" Shikamaru asked.
"I swear he has redeeming qualities." Neji let out the last of his chuckles with his response.
"I'd love to see a few of those." Shikamaru murmured.
Shikamaru exhaled slowly, closed his eyes and basked in the comfortable silence while refusing even to entertain the thought of his very naked roommate sitting a few feet away. Now, this was much better. No Sasuke, no subordinates, just Shikamaru and Neji the way it ought to be. He didn't even need to think about laying the groundwork for their next moves on the mission, that burden fell on Uchiha's lap. Complicated romantic sentiments aside, this was the one thing he missed the most ever since joining ANBU, just lounging with Neji.
Even if they never spoke a single word to one another, he found tranquility in the older man's presence that even cloud watching could not guarantee. The bond between them, the influence of their relationship had made such an impact on Shikamaru he could scarcely recall life before Neji. It still rattled him to his very core how fierce and deeply rooted their understanding of one another went. Without words, they could convey to one another whatever needed to be said, whatever their mouths could not voice, whatever their minds never found a way to express. And Neji always knew Shikamaru.
The times when their schedules kept them apart for longer than a week were the most difficult for them both and equally the most profound examples of how important they were to one another. Shikamaru could be found pacing the apartment, bothered by his thoughts with no way of release until Neji walked through the door. He felt like he was losing his mind when the older man wasn't around for so long and Gods it was such a noxious addiction, but Shikamaru didn't care.
He needed Neji. Their eyes met in the same earth-shattering stare every single time, and without fault, Hyūga would draw him in and press their foreheads together as if to say I need you, too. The sensations seducing him in the most platonic way imaginable down to the very depths of his soul were beyond Shikamaru's control. He wouldn't have it any other way. A quiet chuckle roused him. Shikamaru cracked an eye open taking in Neji's wry smile.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I think between your slouching and the steam your hair is ready to burst free," Neji informed.
Shikamaru felt along the top of his head, fingers rounding a distinct bulge protruding from the base of his hairband.
"Troublesome." He grumbled.
"May I?" Neji asked softly.
Shikamaru raised a questioning brow until Neji tipped his head forward indicating Nara's hair. He swallowed hard, mouth cracking from lack of moisture as he nodded. The water sloshed gently as Neji scooted close enough to reach a tentative hand up and tug free Shikamaru's hairband, silky damp locks falling to frame his face and graze his shoulders.
"W-What?" Shikamaru stammered, very aware of Neji's awestruck gaze.
"Apologies." Neji averted his eyes. "You've never worn it down before. I didn't know what to expect."
Shikamaru opened his mouth to speak but paralyzed when long fingers brushed across his scalp, carding gently through his tresses. Neji seemed pleasantly surprised, lips quirked to a small smile even after he'd withdrawn his hand and settled against the ledge. Shikamaru's fingers twitched, itching to tug free the loose bun from atop Neji's head and dive into chocolate locks. He leaned back instead and closed his eyes. Thoughts of taking a nap nipped at his conscious, alerting Shikamaru that he'd unwound a bit too much. Then again, that's what onsens were for. He could go to sleep right here and now.
The water shifted again, but before he could react Neji had swung a leg over to straddle him, delicately seating himself on Shikamaru's lap in half a second. Shikamaru's eyes snapped open and bulged, focused on Hyūga's playful expression not missing the flash of mischief twinkling in opaque orbs.
"Is this what it takes to get you to look at me?" Neji asked, tilting his head.
"What?" Shikamaru rasped.
Apparently, that was his brilliant catchphrase of the evening.
"You've been ignoring me all night long. I finally get you alone, and you won't spare me a glance." Neji elaborated.
Shikamaru was sure his brain was seconds away from exploding. For starters, Neji was sitting on his fucking lap, and in a matter of minutes, the blood pounding in Shikamaru's skull would travel south and not getting any attention would no longer be a problem for Hyūga. The tactician hadn't even digested that Neji wanted his attention and wanted to be alone with him.
"Still ignoring me." Neji all but sighed.
"No," Shikamaru instantly deflated, his voice thick, stern, final. He drug his palms up Neji's back following the contour of his spine. "You always have my attention."
Neji's nose grazed along the side of Shikamaru's maddeningly slow, their eyes never breaking contact. Fuck, Neji would be the death of him tonight.
"Yeah?" Neji purred.
"Gods, yes," Shikamaru growled.
He licked his dry lips, losing Neji's stare for half a heartbeat as raw hunger flashed through Hyūga's features.
"What the heck are you guys doing?" Naruto chirped.
Shikamaru looked over Neji's shoulder, zoning in on the blonde at the other end of the spring, puzzlement etched on his dopey face.
"Should've known a prickly jerk like Neji enjoyed getting it up the ass."
That was Kiba, just to the left of where Neji had been sitting earlier.
"Ignore them, Shikamaru."
Neji's fingers slid across his jaw, tilting his chin as if to prompt a kiss. One which Shikamaru would gladly oblige to, teammates be damned.
"You stupid Nara. Didn't I tell you he's out of your league?"
Shikamaru blinked once. Twice. Again. The body on his had never moved and yet the silver eyes he'd been staring into moments ago were onyx. They were Sasuke's! Sasuke frowned at Shikamaru. Shikamaru shouted, swatted at Sasuke's smug face and screwed his eyes shut.
"Wow, you were really out for a few minutes."
Shikamaru dared to open his eyes. No one was sitting on him. Kiba, Naruto, and Sasuke were nowhere to be found. Neji was still beside him, bewilderment, empathy and amusement circling his mesmerizing eyes.
"I fell asleep." Shikamaru breathed in relief.
"You certainly did," Neji confirmed.
Shikamaru combed damp locks from his face. "Guess I'm too relaxed. I should probably get out of here."
"Go rest." Neji urged. "You need it."
"Yeah…" Shikamaru figured Neji didn't realize how true those words were. "Night, Neji."
"Pleasant dreams, Shikamaru."
He hoped the fuck not.