It was a breezy but still warm day in Konoha, and Shizu could feel the heaviness of an impending storm in the air. They didn't get the summer heat waves that Suna did being in the desert, but they also didn't get the sweet reprieve of cool nights. Regardless, Shizune pulled on her long, purple kimono over the netted baselayer and secured it with a lavender sash as she always had for as long as she could remember. Her sleeves were longer now, her sash secured tighter. People assumed Shizu wore her long kimonos for simplicity or modesty's sake, but as she overlapped the edges of her robe further, she knew it had more to do with her insecurities than anything else.
While she was comfortable in her skin, she wasn't curvy and bold like Tsunade or smoldering and mysterious like Kurenai. She wasn't even eye-catching like her apprentices Ino and Sakura. Shizu considered herself pretty plain and would catch herself sometimes being envious of pink hair and blue eyes before shaking herself of those thoughts. They can't help how they looked anymore than she could, and life was about more than appearances. On her way to the office, Shizune tried to get her mind off of her discouraging thoughts from earlier and will the frown from of her face.
Her day carried on as it usually did, paperwork, mission reports, managing staff, but the storm she felt in the air earlier began to sweep through earlier than she expected. As the sky darkened and small droplets began to pitter-patter against her window, and Shizune sighed as she felt herself losing focus on work. By the time Shizune was getting ready to leave the office, the thunder was really rumbling, and the droplets had become sheets. Sighing slightly, Shizune decided to wait out the storm in her office, and because she had been working here for so long, her office had transformed into almost a second home for her. As she settled into the lounge chair with a warm cup of tea, she let herself enjoy the rare moment of rest, and before she knew it, Shizu was drifting off into a quiet sleep.
As the evening was fast-approaching, Kakashi decided to leave for the day. It had been surprisingly calm that day as the rain seemed to lull the village into tranquility, and he'd happily spent the day reading his favourite books. Kakashi wished there could be another installment in the series, but that train of thought became decidedly depressing. On his way out, he peered into Shizune's office, the door slightly ajar, and Kakashi was surprised to see her dozing off. Shizune didn't just doze off. In some moments, he'd doubted that she even needed sleep.
He debated waking her to tell her to go home, but he decided against it and instead draped his Rokudaime jacket over her as she slept. He'd noticed her shivering at her desk earlier. As he leaned over, Kakashi couldn't help but see that the shoulder of her kimono was askew, and her silken hair was feathered across her jaw. He could see the tantalizing whisper of her collar bones, and the steady rise and fall her chest highlighted the hollows at the base of her unmarred neck. Kakashi took a few moments to take in the sight in front of him before he turned to leave. Kakashi knew better than to be caught staring at an unsuspecting kunoichi.
The next morning, Kakashi saw his cloak had been returned and was currently draped over the back of his chair. The day progressed as usual with Shizune briefing him on the day's tasks, signing papers until his hand was about to fall off, and sending diplomatic envoys to various lords and ladies of the Fire Country. When Kakashi put his jacket back on later that day to greet some lords visiting from the outskirts, there was a faint, lingering scent of jasmine that he found surprisingly pleasant. It was so light that he might have missed it if not for his heightened senses, but now that he could place her scent, it was everywhere. The subtle smell of Shizu was like a sweet a "Hello!" every time he walked onto their floor, a "How are you?" as he walked past their offices, drawing his attention when she stood next to him.
A few weeks passed by after the jacket incident, and with the hectic nature of their work, Kakashi had almost gotten past his mild infatuation of his assistant. The scent of jasmine still drew his attention, but less and less so each day as their interactions became scarcer. Shizune had taken on more responsibilities at the hospital in the past month, and Kakashi welcomed the reprieve from her work ethic. Everything had returned to normal, as he lounged in his office, deciding to worry about the repercussions of his recesses later.
Later came that next Thursday when Shizune returned to the Tower. It was already late into the evening, and she was still pouring over papers and permits that needed to be approved before the end of the week. Kakashi's procrastination with her gone had really done a number on her inbox, and she'd had a veritable fit about it with her admin staff. She was concentrating on her next task at hand as she set a pile of files onto Kakashi's desk for signature, making sure the silver-haired man completed as much as possible before leaving for the evening. As she was leaning over his shoulder, he peered at her with subdued curiosity, the smell of jasmine that he'd unknowingly missed wafting with her movements. As she began leaning away from him, Kakashi wondered what it would take to break her concentration.
The slightest smirk played across his face as Kakashi reached his hand up, fingers outstretched, just dusting the lightest brush of his fingers through her hair and watching it feather back down to her jaw. The bewildered, wide-eyed look on her face as she whipped her head toward him let him know that he'd succeeded in his little mission.
"Did he just do that? It must have been an accident, your eyes are playing tricks on you," she thought, trying to will her suddenly thumping heartbeat to steady.
But he continued, with his thumb running up her jaw. Her skin felt electric in the wake of his motion, derailing her train of thought as the current from his gesture radiated through her. The pressure of his fingers as they rested along her neck exhilarated her, her heady eyes betraying the effect of his touch already. He took this as a cue and sat a bit straighter, closing the gap between them. Carefully, slowly pulling her down to him, he pressed his clothed lips to her gently parted ones with conviction. Her hand rose up slowly to grasp the fingers still on her neck as her other hand curled around the edge of his desk, steadying her form from the shock, reinforcing the reality that this was actually happening.
"Why don't we call it a night, Shizune?" Kakashi asked as he pulled away, an amused twinkle in his eye as he'd clearly stunned the woman, "I don't think we'll get anymore work done tonight."
Shizu jolted out of her reverie and took a step back from his desk, the glee she was feeling was quickly fading into nervousness and worry. She tried to shake the shock she was feeling and bowed slightly before turning to leave, partially finished paperwork long forgotten.
"Y-yes, Ka-kakashi-san, -sama," Shizune stuttered out, her mind still in a haze, "Tomorrow, yes, well. Good night!"
Shizune bolted as fast as she could back to her apartment cursing herself for getting caught up in the moment. She should have slapped him, but instead, here she was flustered and running away. But...it had been so, so long since she'd indulged in the touch of another. He did initiate it, right? It's not like she did anything wrong by responding.
Of course, Shizu had had the occasional suitor in the villages where she and Tsunade travelled often. They were usually civilians and tended to be gentle and hopeful, a refreshing change from the volatile world she lived in. Sometimes the suitors would be wanderers of their own accord whose paths intersected with her own enough for sparks to fly. But, this was so different. This felt so real, so tangible, less fleeting. Maybe because Shizune wasn't facing the eventual 'goodbye' that she'd had to face in the past, but this could be just as fleeting, of course. Even moreso than the men she met in her travels considering who this was. The man did have a reputation, after all. She couldn't help but wonder if there would be a part two.
"No! None of this matters. He's your boss, stop it!" she scolded, a frown gracing her face before loosening into a pout, "But, that kiss…wow..."
I'm not really a fan of the 'innocent Shizune' archetype - especially since in one of the omakes we specifically hear her speaking about relationships & intimacy & body-image with Kurenai. It's clear that she thinks about and desires these types of things, and it seems silly to think that she traveled the world in her twenties without so much as having a fling. I mean...the girl's got needs and a whole world of men for the taking. Though, that doesn't mean she has very good game, of course.
Also, thanks again to treyabarton for the beta read! You're the best :D