title: terms of endearment
requester: lapse in judgement
pairing: NejiTen
prompt: muffin
summary: It was amazing how he managed to turn tentative questions into definitive statements. Clearly, Hyuuga Neji needed to be taken down a few notches and she was just the girl to do it.


notes: NejiTen! Maybe this will move my muses along, yes?

disclaimer: Absolutely not mine.

"How about sugarplum?"

"…Are you retarded?"

She laughed, short and sweet, and he didn't regret the lack of characteristic composure in his last comment.

"No? Hm…pumpkin patch? Or maybe babycakes…oh wait no, that's Sasuke's."

"…Tenten…"

"No, no, wait! I've got it."

"…"

"…"

"Well?"

Tenten huffed, clearly offended by his lack of interest. She didn't understand why he was being so difficult about it. All the other boys had them—

(even Sasuke, she thought, and if Sakura can get that EmoKid to loosen up and take it, then she should be able to do the same for her own ball-and-chain)

albeit, not by choice, but who cared about little things like free will? It was totally overrated, in her very honest opinion.

"Tenten. You are listening, of course."

It was amazing how he managed to turn tentative questions into definitive statements. Clearly, Hyuuga Neji needed to be taken down a few notches and she was just the girl to do it.

"Ne, Neji, sorry. I got distracted. But aren't you going to ask me what it is?"

"…Must I?"

"Yes, you must."

"…" He sighed, as if hoping to communicate to the world at large how truly selfless he was, putting up with such bumpkins

(and yes, he loved her, as wholly as she might have wished, and yes, no arguments there, but really—)

"Is this absolutely necessary?"

Tenten pouted.

"Of course it is! Do you think I'd embarrass you if I didn't think it was worth it? Now come on, and let me tell you, yeah?"

"…I don't have a choice."

(and then she smiles, artlessly brilliant, effortlessly beautiful, and he thinks perhaps it might be worth it—)

"All right , Neji. From now on, your new pet name is…"

She smiled, impishly.

"…muffin."

Neji despaired.

This was written a frillion years ago, but I forgot to upload it because I'm ridiculous. :)