AUTHORS NOTE: Waaaay back in chapter 53, Kakashi sends Paccun out to the Nara household to let Shikamaru's parents know that their son is safe. Hoping that they might even give him a little credit for thinking about notifying them. I wonder if, given the pug's sassy attitude, that's ever going to happen… xD
I will take request for side notes throughout the main story, if there's a moment you feel like you've missed, let me know in either the reviews of by dropping me a note. I make no promises, but I'll consider every prompt ^.^
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Side notes to
Hidden Feelings, Hidden Lives
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Addition to chapter 53: This Is Challenging
Drabble title: If Only They Knew…
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"He still hasn't come home…" Yoshino sighed as she flopped down on the kitchen chair beside her husband. The table was littered with his paperwork, and she had to really look for a place to put their cups down.
"Give him time…" Shikaku's tone was distracted as he reached for his tea. But just as his fingers were about to close around the cup, it got snatched away, his wife's tone bordering on angry as she all but yelled at him.
"Are you insane?! It's less than half an hour until midnight and he's been gone for most of the day! He only came home this morning, Shikaku!"
"I know," Sighing quietly he tore his gaze away from the file he'd been reading, looking his wife in the eyes as he reached for his tea again. Once his drink was secured, the man pulled a little face, "So… What did you say to him to make him flee the house like that?"
"Ah! How dare you!" Jumping to her feet, Yoshino rested her hands on her hips, "I'll have you know that I didn't do anything! All I did was ask him how his mission went!"
"Uh-huh…" Raising one eyebrow, he leaned back in his chair, "And after he went on for about fifteen minutes about how it was utterly boring and how he didn't even get paid in the end you said… What exactly?"
Straightening her back, she shrugged a little uncomfortably as she looked away, "Alright… I may have asked him why he couldn't just tell me he's gay himself. And…" Her already soft tone dropped even further till her voice was almost too quiet to make out – a clear sign that Yoshino realized she'd been in the wrong, "I might've asked him about that guy he liked… Or more like, what he likes about guys… If there's anything in particular he's attracted too… Stuff like that…"
For a few seconds he stared at her in complete silence. Then, blinking, Shikaku pulled a face, "What was his answer?"
"What he likes about guys?" Yoshino's smirk looked wry, "Dicks…" Sighing, she dropped herself back in the chair, her fingers toying around with the corner of one of the files sprawled out on the kitchen table, "Then he stormed out… Hasn't come back yet…"
"Dear…" A soft sigh left his lips and Shikaku shook his head just a little, "You can't honestly blame him for wanting to be anywhere but near the person who's asking all kinds of embarrassing questions. Even," Holding up one hand, he silently asked his wife to keep quiet just a little longer even though it was clear she wanted to speak up, "Even if that person is his own mother. I have no doubt in my mind that he wants you to be okay with it. But the reality is…" Worrying the inside of his lip, Shikaku reached for the cup of tea he's set down earlier, "The reality is… I doubt he's actually completely fine with it himself yet. And so… You asking questions probably freaked him out…" Looking at the love of his life, Shikaku had a concerned look in his eyes, "I'm sorry, Dear…"
"No… It's okay. You're probably right… I just wish he'd let me help him, you know?" She lifted her gaze, tears pooling in her eyes, "After all this time, we've yet to even really talk about it!"
"Maybe the kid doesn't wanna talk about it. Maybe it'd be better for him if you just go about your daily lives and not make such a big deal out of everything," Two shocked pairs of eyes turned to the open window, blinking simultaneously as they caught sight of Paccun, comfortably sitting on the windowsill. He jumped down, deftly avoiding landing on the counter and instead touching his paws to the kitchen floor with only the softest of thuds.By doing so, he disappeared from view for a few seconds, but the little pug quickly reappeared, jumping up on the table. Without stopping to ask if that was okay, he forced Shikaku to quickly get rid of the paperwork that was now suddenly in danger of getting a paw print pattern, "Anyway, that's just my two cents about it. And I actually didn't come here to bother you with my own views on the kid. I'm here because Kakashi sent me. Apparently Shikamaru's really tired, so he's crashing at Kakashi's tonight," Pausing for less than a second, Paccun quickly gauged if the small lie he was feeding the two was actually believed. When it seemed it was, he took a chance and added one more line. After all, he'd promised Kakashi he'd make sure him and the kid were left alone tonight. Apparently they had something to talk about. Paccun didn't really care all that much. What he cared about was that if he managed to persuade the Nara's to leave those two alone tonight, he himself would not be called upon for at least another two weeks. Unless there was a dire emergency of course, but if he was completely honest with himself, Paccun would rather be bothered by Kakashi daily than have the guy die on him, "Kid was practically asleep at dinner, so Kakashi had to carry him back. Guy's still tired from his own mission, and his place was closer…" He let the sentence hang in the air, allowing the humans to make of it whatever they wanted.
To Yoshino, it seemed the pug shrugged apologetically and she sighed softly. It made sense. Picking up her – now cold – tea, she hid behind the cup, "Was he… I mean… Do you know if he'd been… Crying?"
Clearly surprised, Paccun cocked his head, "You mean the kid knows how to do that? Great. Think he can teach Kakashi?"
Confused to the point that he almost forgot their current situation, Shikaku raised his eyebrows, "Why? Why would you want him to cry…?"
"I don't know if you've noticed," The pug deadpanned, "But I'm a dog," At the humans' silent chuckle, he mentally sighed, "No really, I am. And the thing about dogs is, when we see our human sad, we wanna comfort them. Dry their tears so to speak. Kakashi's sad a lot. But we never get the chance to help him out. I'm a dog. I need the chance to comfort my human. Deal with it," He sounded a little annoyed, looking away in a manner to seemed to suggest that his own words embarrassed him somewhat.
Deciding not to push the matter any further, Shikaku nodded at their unexpected guest, "Alright, we'll just let Kakashi take care of him for now. But please relay a message to our son. Tell him…" Swallowing hard, he suddenly realized he'd never been this invested in his son's life before. Somehow, the obvious fear that Shikamaru had felt about coming out to him had sparked his feelings of fatherly love and his wish to protect his son like nothing else ever had, "Tell him we'll try not to make this any harder on him than it already is. And that we love him. Please."
Nodding, Paccun jumped off the table again. Leaving the way he came without another word.
Yeah right… My two weeks start right now. Not like the kid needs to hear your poorly worded attempt at being a parent. Probably only gonna upset him more. Besides… Can't go back now. I'm a dog, I have a damned nose! They both wanna do each other so bad they reek of it! And I don't wanna see it. No sir. I am free for two freaking weeks, and the summon won't end unless I want it to. Time for me to go have some fun over at the Inuzuka compound. I know a couple pretty ladies that'll be happy to see Paccun has returned!