Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Temari's work schedule returned to 'normal'. Her employees didn't leave the office with tears as often. Office work was also left at the office. No more long hours or 'homework' unless the deadline was near. Shikamaru returned to religiously sending her messages. Although recently he has turned to trying to talk on the phone more. Her work schedule remained hectic, thus their dates remained sporadic.
Temari liked to think she knew a decent amount about the people who worked for her. So when Naruto started to avoid her like the plague she knew something was wrong. It was a recent development too. She was tempted to ask Shikamaru about it. But if Naruto was going through something personal she did not want to intrude.
If it was something that warranted time off, Naruto would speak to her.
If he could stand to be in her presence for more than 3 seconds.
At first she tried to brush it off. Perhaps he was worried about something he turned in. Maybe it was a health related issue. But then he actively ran away from her any time she even looked in his direction.
She could have cornered him and demanded to know what his problem was. She didn't because she had much more pressing matters to worry about. It only became a problem when she needed to speak to him about his piece for their upcoming project.
It wasn't something that could be discussed over email or the phone. The project guidelines had changed. She needed everyone who was assigned onto the project to sit down with her. They needed to salvage what they could and not lose valuable time.
Except he refused to set up a time to see her.
Temari was losing her temper. Some others on the project tried to speak to her on Naruto's behalf but she was not having it. Naruto needed to speak. If somehow he messed up or lost his piece then he needed to man up and admit it.
So in the pretense of leaving for a meeting she 'left' on the elevator. Her office floor all began to loosen up. They calmly chatted among themselves. Helped each other on their respected pieces and generally soaked in the calm atmosphere. It was easy not paying attention to who entered and left the elevator. They didn't expect their boss back for at least an hour.
So when Temari came waltzing back in not 12 minutes later everyone was left shocked. She didn't speak. She walked with a purpose. Her eyesight was on Naruto. Her prey was detected. No one dared to move as they watched in horror as she stalked to his cubicle. His friends noticed too late, they couldn't intervene.
Temari finally stood outside his cubicle with fire in her eyes. He was going to answer for his actions.
Naruto was oblivious to the dead silence of the floor. He was furiously typing away and mumbling under his breath. He was on a roll! A burst of inspiration and his fingers couldn't stop. Until a hand slammed onto his desk.
Naruto let out a startled "what the hell!"
Then he turned and made eye contact with his boss.
His face turned pale and he began to sweat profusely.
"Uzumaki we have a problem."
Naruto didn't say anything. His mouth clamped shut.
"Is there something more important than a meeting with your boss?"
Wide eye stare.
"I do not appreciate running around trying to locate you."
Scared whimper sounds escaping his lips.
"If what you're going through is something of a private nature, get up, and walk into my office. Otherwise you will share with everyone why you are avoiding me."
A small sweat puddle was forming on the floor.
"Uzumaki!"
Naruto was not a man who buckled under pressure. But in that moment his brain relived what he was so desperately trying to bury deep in the darkest corner of his mind.
~Flashback~
Unless demanded by work, Naruto did not work on Saturdays. Today he had a brainwave. He was typing on his home computer when he got stuck. His vocabulary wasn't the best but he knew someone who could make words sound nice.
His good friend Shikamaru!
He saved his draft onto his USB and went to pay his lazy friend a visit. He was probably gonna disturbed his sleep but Naruto knew his friend wouldn't mind. After all, this piece was sure to get his boss's attention!
Arriving at Shikamaru's apartment complex he parked in a guest spot and ran. He needed Shikamaru's help now! Before his burst of inspiration left him! Naruto was nearing his destination, he could see Shikamaru's apartment number on the side of the building.
When the last person he expected on the plant came out the door.
Naruto was lucky he was able to stop himself before he got too close.
And by stopping himself, Naruto managed to trip over his own feet and face plant onto the concrete.
Ignoring the searing pain on his face, hands, and knees Naruto lifted his head up. He didn't dare move off the ground. His jaw dropped at what he saw.
Temari and Shikamaru walking out. Both with their hair down. Shikamaru topless, and Temari not looking like her usual 'I'm worth a million dollars' self. Was that a smile on her face?! They were walking somewhere together!
It was only when a stranger asked him if he was ok did Naruto leap onto his feet. He ran behind some bushes to get a better look.
Oh. My. God.
Were those scratches down Shikamaru's back?!
Why were Temari's clothes wrinkled?
Why was she even at his place?!
As he was asking himself all these questions, he witnessed something he never thought would happen. Shikamaru kissed his boss.
Shikamaru
Kissed
His
Tyrant
Boss
And she didn't push him away or beat him down!
Naruto fell to the floor again. What was happening? This...this isn't…
What?!
He couldn't deal with this. Oh no. He couldn't make eye contact with Shikamaru if he tried. He needed to get out of here!
Naruto crawled away from his hiding spot. Once he was far away enough he got to his feet and started running back to his car. He stopped half way. The two falls onto the ground almost made him forget why he came to visit Shikamaru in the first place.
But he couldn't face him! Not after that!
Naruto ran his fingers through his hair. He tugged at it and started stomping in place like a child throwing a tantrum. Ok! He had an idea!
He would just leave his USB on his door mat. Then he'd message Shikamaru later saying if he could take a look at it. That way he could freak out at home but still get Shikamaru's help at the same time. Perfect!
Naruto ran back to Shikamaru's door. But as soon as he stopped in front of his door he spotted Shikamaru coming around the corner with mail in his hands. He hadn't noticed him yet so there was still time to drop his USB and run.
But he couldn't.
Shirtless Shikamaru was proudly displaying bite marks on his torso/shoulders. Not small ones either.
Huge, red, love bites.
Naruto's brain started shutting down.
Holly.
Fucking.
Shit.
He slept with his boss.
Shikamaru slept with his tyrant boss.
Shikamaru had sex with Temari!
Naruto couldn't handle the situation anymore. He hadn't realized Shikamaru spoke to him when he opened his mouth.
He could only scream.
As this memory finished playing in his head, once again, Naruto couldn't handle the pressure of the situation. He knew Temari was yelling at him. He could see her mouth move and her eyes burn with rage. He could faintly make out his friends making their way over to his cubicle.
He could only scream:
"I have diarrhea!"
Naruto bolted from his chair and ran. He ran past his boss, past his friends, and past his fellow coworkers. He yanked open the door that held the staircase. (It was technically only to be used in case of a fire or similar emergency). Naruto ran down the stairs and didn't look back.
Everyone was completely dumbfounded.
Temari just stared at his empty chair.
The gang, if they weren't at work, would have fallen to the ground from their shock.
No one dared to make a sound.
Temari. Was. Furious.
She sat at Naruto's desk for a few minutes. She found the files she was looking for, emailed them to herself, and stood up. She was seriously contemplating firing Naruto over this stunt. She liked his work and his work ethic but this was crossing a serious line.
She addressed the entire floor.
"Uzumaki is no longer part of the project. You may tell him the next time any of you see him. If he dares to come back, he may not have a job."
She returned to her office with a loud slam of her door.
Almost everyone had tears down their faces. She looked ready to fire them all!
The gang began to sweat. Naruto would be devastated if he was fired. But what the hell was he thinking?! Shouting something like that at the boss! They returned to their desks but opened up a secret chat.
"We have to fix this!" Sakura
"How the hell do you fix that?" Kiba
"The idiot should have taken time off." Sasuke
"Poor Naruto." Hinata
"Our poor dear friend!" Lee
"It's not like we can ask Shikamaru for help. It would be too suspicious!" Ino
Everyone, expect Hinata, banged their head onto their keyboards.
"We gotta find some cover story for this!" Ino
"HOW?!" Kiba
"Think of something!" Sakura
"Perhaps some family emergency?" Hinata
"Shouting 'I have diarrhea' doesn't help that case." Sasuke
"A medical problem?" Lee
Pause. Brain storming.
"Maybe the doctors say his ramen habit has affected his colon." Sakura
"And he's upset that he can't eat his favorite food!" Ino
"This sounds stupid." Sasuke
"It's better than nothing!" Kiba
Everyone agreed this terrible story would be better than whatever story Naruto could come up with. Hinata took it upon herself to send the message to Naruto to try and save his job.
He didn't answer.
At the end of the work day the gang were worried. Naruto didn't answer any of their messages. He also didn't come back to work. Temari hadn't come out of her office since the incident. Everyone slowly left the office.
It was roughly 6 pm when Temari finished her work. She sighed heavily as she rubbed her sore shoulder muscles. Today was a shit day. She would have to work at home for hours for the next week to play catch up. Naruto's piece had a good foundation but because of the change it needed heavy revision.
On top of her regular work from the old bats, this was going to set her back. A lot.
As she was packing up her stuff she heard a knock. She paused in her movements. Surely she was hearing things. It was too early for the cleaning staff to be here.
Another knock.
Temari tensed. Who could it be?
"Uh Temari? You still here?"
Naruto?
Temari left her desk to open her door. There stood Naruto, flushed face, staring at his shoes.
"The work day is over. Go home."
"I came to apologize."
"Go home Uzumaki."
Naruto dropped to his knees. Forehead and both hands touching the ground.
"Please accept my deepest apologies!"
Temari was a bit frazzled at the display. She's never had anyone show this level of regret to her. It made her feel awkward.
"Stop groveling and stand up."
"I'm sorry I embarrassed you today. I recently witnessed something...off and I'm not handling it well. But it's no excuse!"
Temari merely stared.
"I'll do anything you ask with no complaint! Get your coffee, dry cleaning, carry you on my back if you don't want to walk! But please," if Naruto could lower himself more onto the ground he would. "Please don't fire me."
Silence.
Naruto shook as he waited for her to say anything.
"You will remain off this project and future projects until I deem it necessary."
Naruto lifted his head. "R-Really?"
"I had trust in you Uzumaki. I no longer do. Your poor actions, followed by your extremely vague explanation, leave me doubting your character."
"I'll make it up to you! Believe it!"
Temari shook her head. She knew he would. That was just the kind of person he was.
"Until further notice you will be nothing but an assistant."
"I'll work hard to get back in your good graces!"
Temari waved him away. "Go home."
"I'll walk you out!"
"No."
"B-But that weirdo could be out there!"
"Excuse me?"
"The person with the food. You know the doughnuts? It's better to leave with someone instead of alone."
"Uzumaki, while I'm glad you think of others well being, I am fine. It's not an uncommon occurrence to leave the office late and alone."
"B-B-But that was before the weirdo!"
Temari sighed. He was too good of a person to simply 'abandon' her.
"Very well just this one time."
Naruto stood from his kneeling position and grinned.
It would be easy to ask Shikamaru what exactly was wrong with Naruto. It would be easy to get information on all his friends. It would be easy to have fired Naruto. She could have made this whole situation easy for her.
She didn't.
She didn't want to mix her relationship with Shikamaru and her work. She didn't want to probe into the domestic lives of her employees. She wanted a clear distinction of her work life and personal life.
The second she mixes the two, it would be chaos.
Instead she would continue as she normally would.
She was going to make Naruto's work life hell.
For the most part I liked how this turned out. Didn't like the ending too much but I couldn't think of a better way to end the chapter. What do you guys think? Thank you for reading and be sure to leave a review! I love knowing everyone's thoughts!
Thank you:
V
JiaFei