"Shikamaru! What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm about to get a piece of that cake before Chouji devours all of it-"
"That's not I mean.." she looked away in frustration. Her cheeks crimson.
Shikamaru snickered to himself. He had gotten his fill of fun riling her up this morning. Now he had dragged her to the table of desserts, despite her numerous declines. He clutched her hand tightly in his. "A man has to be bold to get the attractions of the woman he lo…-li- likes. He likes."
Temari turned back to him, with a brow raised, the agitation she felt melting away, "Oh... so you've been dragging me around because you like like me?" She teased.
Shikamaru let out a sigh, thinking he might regret this admission of affection, "Yes, Temari of the Sand. I like you. I am trying to make a bold confession here," he exasperated, waving their joined hands in front of her face.
"Hand holding meets the threshold for 'bold' around here?"
Shikamaru glanced at her. Then his gaze shifted to behind her, focusing on the huge blown up painting of the happy married couple. Naruto and Hinata were gifted a huge collage painting, that retold the story of their first kiss- a dastardly kidnapping, the moon, Naruto and Hinata's brave heroism, a fake marriage then of course the cracking and vandalism of the moon. The painted had exaggerated the story, adding on hearts, flowers and somehow, butterflies... butterflies on the moon really made it garish in Shikamaru's opinion.
"Alright, it's not Naruto-level bold," he conceded. He cleared his throat, "Ahem- as I was saying. Temari, as cruel and harsh as you are, you are a pretty remarkable woman. I enjoy the time we spend within and outside of work and I like you more than a Shinobi Alliance colleague. I would also like to continue holding your hand in the future."
Temari smiled as she looked at him,"Are you going to sign off with "King Regards, Shikamaru"?"
"Go ahead and scoff at my affections, woman," relaxing his disgruntled face, he lifted his glass of sake to his lips with a smirk, "But I know you feel the same way." He smugly took a swig from his glass.
"Excuse me?!" Temari questioned him, flustered.
He leaned toward her. "Lady Temari of the Sand- is that make-up on your cheeks?" Temari felt his lips by her ear as he whispered, "Or are you still blushing?"
She felt her blood rush to her ears. Temari pulled her hand from Shikamaru's and brought it to her face, looking away. He had her there. And now she knew her cheeks were an even darker of red. It was really clear she liked him too. If she didn't, she would've broken his arm this morning.
Annoyed at her sudden withdrawal, Shikamaru put his glass down on the table behind them. "Geez your cheeks are really red, Temari. You should get Ino or Sakura to medically examine you," Shikamaru told her with concern, placing both hands on her face. "And you're so warm, practically feverish." She felt his little fingers caress her jaw. His left thumb rubbed her cheek.
Before her head could explode, she pulled his hands away and exclaimed, "It's the sake! I get red when I drink!"
Shikamaru was about to point out her obvious lie when he lurched forward. His drink splashed onto his sweater and onto Temari's sleeve. Kiba had jumped from behind him and put an arm around Shikamaru's shoulders. Kiba started shouting, "Drinks! On! Narutooo! Tell me you're-hic- You're coming! Man!"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Kiba." Shikamaru assured him, in a flat tone.
Satisfied, Kiba got off Shikamaru's shoulders. Shikamaru in turn nudged Kiba away from him, guiding him in the direction of the rest of the party.
"I cannot imagine you spending the evening with a crowd as wild as that," she said, gesturing to Kiba who had stumbled into rowdy B, who had started a rap battle in the middle of the garden with Naruto. Tenten was screaming Neji's name, cursing him for forsaking her with 'this idiot'. The idiot she was referring to was Lee, who in turn was in tears from not being able to dance for Naruto's wedding guests.
"Oh I don't intend to…" Shikamaru told her honestly, turning to grab his sake glass. He picked up an open sake bottle and poured some of the sake that Kiba had splashed from his cup. "I'd much rather spend the evening alone with you…" He topped Temari's glass off too before giving it back to her. Noticing Temari's eyes watching him, he realise he might have sounded too forward. He quickly added, "… I mean- only if you'd like to, of course," he cleared his throat, "I am still your escort in the village. I will take you wherever you'd like to go. And you probably have to pack.. you'll be leaving tomorrow morning.. according to the schedule I found- I mean read. Received. I received your itinerary-"
Temari looked at the man beside her, rambling on. Shikamaru cleaned up well. He looked so handsome in his simple turtleneck and blazer. His face had grown more rugged. Temari's eyes traced the outline of his face, thinking about how his jaw was more defined now and even his shoulders … She really did like Shikamaru. And when he tried, he was very attractive. From their playfully stoic conversations to their long work days and even their early morning 'escorts' out of the village- she always had a fun time with him.
When he grabbed her hand in front of everyone, she felt nervous at first. His touch had created butterflies in her stomach. Yet she never wanted him to let go. His hand around hers just felt right. Temari was not as skilled in the world of relationships as she was in the world of war. But she was considering that it Shikamaru was right. Though she'd never admit it. It was the right time for both of them to take their relationship to the next level. And following this 'bold confession' of his, Temari was sure that she wanted it too. Which made it perfect for what she had decided to do.
"Alright," Temari finally said, stopping Shikamaru's rambling. She downed her glass of sake and set it on the table behind them, "Then I want you to escort me back to my place."
Shikamaru stared at her in disbelief. Firstly, her glass of sake was very full and she had drank it all very quickly. Secondly, he was just not expecting her to say that. "Oh did you want to start packing?" Shikamaru asked.
No," Temari said gently, grabbing his hand back into hers. She pivoted so she was standing in front of him. Her eyes locked onto his. Shikamaru stared into her pretty slanted green eyes, and he saw something he recognised. She had that look in her eyes. The look when they first step onto the battlefield. It was a look of decisive confidence. The kind of look a predator has before it pounces on its prey. The look of a woman with a plan.
"I would like you..." She put her free hand on his chest and slid it up into his blazer, "to spend the evening with me."
Shikamaru gulped.
Temari leaned into his ear and whispered, "Let's go."
"Y-eah. Of Course." Shikamaru let go of his sake glass, and before it touched the ground, he had led her away from the party.