7: Striking
He knew her appearance was striking. He knew she turned heads when she walked in the street. He knew that ever since she had become a key figure in keeping the peace between nations she had also become the most eligible bachelorette in her village. What killed him was the fact other people knew it too; or even that despite everyone around her knowing it, Temari seemed oblivious to the blatant fawning.
He was in town on a mission with Kiba and Sakura. Things had wrapped up sooner than expected so Shikamaru had decided to spend some time getting to know his girlfriend's home. They hadn't made anything official yet; it wasn't as if he expected people to know she wasn't a bachelorette anymore (God, he hated that word), but he couldn't help but feel pangs of annoyance as his tour of Suna got slowly more and more derailed.
As the two of them walked through the streets of Suna, he noticed for the hundredth time how beautifully untamed everything about her was; her smile, her hair, her demeanour. He loved seeing her free and relaxed instead of confined to the reserved Union persona she had to adopt when she was there. He kept on telling awful jokes just to make her laugh so he could see that face again. It was still so foreign to him to see her smiling and laughing with him – if he was honest that was not the Temari he initially fell in love with – but he loved this side of her even more.
"Princess Temari!" A voice called from their left.
"Oh, hello Kiyoshi, how are you?" Temari said politely.
"I'm fine, please, take some vegetables. You do so much for our village, let me repay you." The young man, who looked better than Shikamaru hoped, held out a ready-tied bundle of vegetables to Temari.
"Oh no, I couldn't Kiyoshi, I'm just doing my job. Please take care."
"Wait-" he almost whispered as she strode on, radiating confidence and composure.
"Lady Temari! Please accept these clothes as a token of my appreciation for all your hard work." Another young man bowed and handed over some clothes to Temari, awaiting his praise.
"Wow, thank you, this is too much," she started to say.
"No thanks needed, Lady Temari. Do you have plans for tonight?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow in disbelief. He'd never felt so invisible.
Temari raised her eyebrows and chuckled, "Yes, I'm sorry but I'm quite busy this month. Maybe some other time?" Shikamaru realised how much Temari had softened; a remark like that would've granted a slap out of the old Temari.
As she proceeded to point out multiple, similar-looking buildings and explain what was what, five other men stopped her in the street to offer her everything from candles to new windows. She one-by-one politely declined each man and simply apologised to Shikamaru.
"I'm really sorry. I don't know what's happening recently but it's getting worse than it used to be."
"It's alright," Shikamaru said, thinking it was entirely not alright, "it's not your fault." He knew full well in his head that it was her fault; she was too gorgeous to not be noticed. Everything about her was striking. But he would never blame it on her for looking too good; he had fallen for her the exact same way these guys had.
They were on their way back to the hotel when Man No.8 came sweeping towards Temari.
"Good evening, Lady Temari. Care to join me for dinner?" For some reason, No.8 really got under Shikamaru's skin. Maybe it was the way he had turned up in a suit with flowers for Temari, which any idiot, Shikamaru thought, would know she hated. Maybe it was the way he refused to acknowledge Shikamaru's presence next to her. Or maybe it was just the sleazy way he said "Good evening". Whatever it was, No.8 made Shikamaru snap.
"I'm sorry but she's not free. We're going to dinner tonight. And even if she was free, she would not be spending the evening with someone like you." Shikamaru glared at the man, right through his shades.
"I'll be waiting," No.8 said, turning around, "for when you're free again." He winked at Temari and slinked away.
"What a creep," Shikamaru sniggered, but when he looked down he was met with a glare from Temari. Her angry eyes pierced his.
"You are not my guardian or protector for the night, okay? You don't get to come to my village and talk to people like that, and you definitely, definitely don't have the right to decide who I go to dinner with or not. God," she stormed ahead, almost leaving Shikamaru behind, speechless.
"Temari, wait." He caught up with her quickly. "You're right, I'm sorry. I just... I hate how all of these random strangers get to tell you how they feel about you in public and I don't. I love you and I don't want all these people to think we're just colleagues. But if you really want to date Mr. Suit and Flowers I won't stand in your way." She gave him a reluctant smile.
"It was a nice suit, to be fair. Oh, come here." She gave Shikamaru a hug and kissed his cheek in front of the whole street. "I don't care who knows. This jealous thing is not a good look on you, so I'm ending this now." She laced her fingers into his and walked the rest of the way with her hand in his; and that was the last time Temari got her groceries for free.