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Kind of an anti-climatic chapter, maybe, yes?
Apologies for the wait, folks. I didn't really know where this story was going.
I actually still don't really know where this story is going...
Eh. I'll figure it out. In the mean time:
ENJOY! :)
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My Boss The Genius
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PART EIGHT
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Uchiha Sasuke cared little for the social grace needed to handle what seemed like a delicate situation. That may be because he didn't really have any sort of ability or skill pertaining to handling these types of scenarios, but that was okay. Shikamaru was the negotiator, the one with the silver tongue (i.e., the manipulator); he and Naruto were just there to point and shoot.
That being said, Sasuke did not at all care about the awkward vibe he got once entering the Nara's apartment. The female was a small blip on his radar, unrecognizable but still monitored in case she turned out to be some psychotic fangirl. The only ones he cared to address were the Nara and the lapdog.
"Your post was outside, mutt," Sasuke said drolly as he breezed into the penthouse, his gaze on Shikamaru but his words directed towards Kiba. The agent's eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms but made no other sign of moving. Naruto followed in after Sasuke, no visible sign of injury on him and toting his usual bright grin. Sasuke had his hand bandaged, but otherwise looked fine. "What the hell are you doing in here?" he demanded to know, and Kiba shrugged.
"Just checking up on him," Kiba said. "I saw the door open and went inside to make sure everything was okay." Sasuke's brow arched in mild surprise, and he turned to Shikamaru with that expression. The Nara was nonchalant about his idiotic mistake in his own security, even yawning and scratching the back of his neck to showcase his utter lack of concern. This was why he hated geniuses. They all thought they were invincible or something.
"You wanna die, Nara?" Sasuke asked him, glaring now. He had been assigned by the higher-ups to protect this stupid genius with his full arsenal, because of course the bureau couldn't stomach losing one of their prized Naras'. Personally, Sasuke hoped the guy dropped off the face of the earth. Damn lawyer was getting on his last nerve.
"Yeah Shikamaru it's dangerous leaving your door wide open like that. You know, for a genius you can be pretty stupid," Naruto piped in, using Sasuke as an elbow rest, which got him a nice bruise in the chest where his partner jabbed him two seconds later. Shikamaru simply shrugged and yawned again, leaving Temari to blink somewhat stupidly from the side.
"But that-," she started to say, trying to tell them that was her fault only to be cut off when Shikamaru's voice overpowered hers.
"Reminds me," he said, looking over at her (which may have made her heart skip a beat but it's not like she'd ever tell anyone that), "I need a detail on Temari too." Too? That implied that he already set protection for other people, but it wasn't as if she cared much about that at the moment. Because a Sabaku does not need to be protected; people need to be protected from a Sabaku.
Sasuke looked over at her, and really looked at her this time. Her hands clenched into fists when he gave her an uninterested once-over and then turned to speak again to Shikamaru, as if she wasn't even in the room or something. "Why do I need to expend more men to protect her? Isn't she just your secretary or something?"
Just his secretary? Tall, dark, and suicidal has effectively found the means for ending his existence.
"Protect me?" she scoffed, catching the chauvinist's attention, "Your men would need to keep up with me first." Shikamaru grinned lopsidedly at her retort. She supposed it amused him to see someone else on the receiving end of her ire when it was usually directed at him. The only thing the grin did to her was make her heart skip a beat. Uchiha Sasuke simply scowled at it – and her.
"Temari got in Hidan's way when he tried to shoot Ino," Shikamaru informed him, switching suddenly into a steady and serious tone. "Not many people have the guts to stand up to him; he'll want to know who she is. If he establishes contact with her, we might have a chance to bring him down." Sasuke titled his head slightly to the side, interested in the idea. Temari just started as she looked at Shikamaru incredulously.
"You want to use me as bait?" she snarled, her voice rising. As if! A Sabaku was not a chess piece for some idiot to move around as he pleased! Love or her life or not, Shikamaru had no right to make her decisions for her. And that was exactly what she was about to tell him (barr the 'love of her life' part) until he turned to face her. He seemed... conflicted.
"We don't want you to be bait, Temari," he said, "but regardless of whether or not we get a guy to tail you, it will still happen. You're new to him; he'll want to study you. And eventually, he'll try to talk to you." A shiver crept up her spine at the thought of meeting that maniac again. There had been a glee in his eyes when he fired that first shot, pleased when blood spurt from Ino's shoulder and delighting in the agony that twisted her face. Temari had been glad that he had not looked at her then, because she wasn't sure if she would freeze up or lash out.
"Fine," she said curtly, crossing her arms. "But don't expect me to hide behind some muscle-headed idiot." Shikamaru smirked in amusement, having anticipated that response from his fierce and entirely-capable-of-handling-herself secretary. Sasuke just grunted in acknowledgement, but Temari wasn't sure he really cared what she wanted. Naruto grinned and laughed.
"I like you," he told her. "Why didn't you ever join the bureau?" Temari just shrugged, unsure how she was supposed to respond to that.
"Who the hell am I supposed to give her, then?" Sasuke growled, gnashing his teeth. Most of the guys who worked for him were men. Shikamaru sighed tiredly, plopping onto his couch and grabbing a smoke. He lit it slowly, as if purposely trying to antagonize the pretty boy standing in front of him. He took a long drag, also exhaling slowly until he saw the faintest twitch of a brow. Smirking, Shikamaru leaned back into his couch.
"Tenten," he said. "Hidan's never seen her before, so she can go undercover." Sasuke scowled.
"Hyuuga will never go for that," he reminded the genius, who simply shrugged.
"She's got him wrapped around her finger better than you think," Shikamaru smirked. "And if he still resists, I'll talk to him." That was code for: despite the fact that you're head of my security detail, I still outrank you. Do what I say.
Sasuke tried not to grind his teeth. "Understood," he growled darkly, before turning on his heel and stalking out the door. Naruto followed with a lighter bounce in his step, looking over his shoulder to grin cheekily and wave. Shikamaru saluted him with his cigarette, but otherwise no one else moved. Kiba had remained silent as he stood vigilantly at the window, and his attack dog Akamaru was sitting attentively at the door.
"So I take it you two know each other?" Shikamaru asked after it was silent for about a minute, growing weary of the inconspicuous glances the two of them kept throwing each other. Kiba scratched the back of his head, shifting from foot to foot while Temari quickly looked away, her neck growing hot. Shikamaru would have rolled his eyes at the awkwardness, if his cell phone had not started to trill from the coffee table. Swiftly, he answered with a bored, "Yeah?"
"SHIKAMARU!"
Temari and Kiba looked over sharply at the phone, the shriek so loud that it echoed through the room. Akamaru even looked up, his teeth bared because he thought that it was a threat. He calmed when he saw Shikamaru's bored stare, settling back into a sitting position.
"Yes Ino?" the lazy genius asked. Her voice quieted down, and Temari could not hear Ino's next words, but still turned away, not entirely confident that she could stomach seeing the range of emotions playing across her boss's face. Just listening to him speak to Ino was hurting her; that dull, familiar ache settling in her chest. But despite all the hurt, Temari still caught herself looking back at him.
"I'm fine, troublesome woman. It was just a scratch."
Pause.
"Ino, I'm not bleeding everywhere. It was just a scratch."
Pause. Eye roll.
"A scratch is a scratch. I'd tell you if my guts were spilling onto the floor."
Murmuring. A heavy sigh.
"I just said I wasn't—ugh, what a drag. Give Chouji the phone."
Pause.
"No, I am not trying to avoid talking to you. Just give Chouji the phone."
Longer pause. Groan.
"No that's not why—wait, how do you even know about that?"
Short pause. Eye twitch.
"Troublesome blonde idiot."
Pause.
"Ino, you were just hospitalized, of course I'm going to assign you a bodyguard."
Pause. A grin.
"No, it's not because I think you're weak."
Pause.
"You know why."
There was another pause, but this one was longer than the rest. A soft smile spread slowly over his lips during the silence, and he leaned into the phone, as if that little action brought him closer to the person on the other line. Contentment washed over his face, his eyes slipping closed as peace settled over him for the first time that night since Temari had come over. A part of Temari marvelled at the power this woman held over her genius boss, but the other part curled into a ball and cried at the injustice.
She could have had anyone. With her pretty face and the shiny locks of her platinum blonde hair, Ino could pick and choose from a breed of perfect men. But Temari did not have that luxury, with her eye for practicality and her aura of indifference. Men did not flock to her like she was Aphrodite personified. Men didn't even look at her. And the one man who she thought might actually want to be with her, who made her think she could be beautiful, had already been ensnared by the true personification of a Greek goddess.
The pause was broken when Shikamaru chuckled quietly, the sound catching Temari's attention. She turned back to him, hearing, "Whatever you say, troublesome woman. I gotta go; get some rest." They exchanged goodbyes, short in length but agonizingly long for Temari to endure. Her patience wore thin, the apathy she tried so hard to keep in place breaking faster and faster the longer she stayed in his apartment. So quickly, Temari began to gather her things.
"Leaving already?" Shikamaru asked her, already hanging up. She nodded curtly, shouldering the strap and briefly glancing at him. The apathy wore away faster when she looked at him, when she saw what she couldn't have even though it was right in front of her.
"I've overstayed my welcome," she said, "and I have some files to go over before tomorrow." She started for the door, resolute and almost desperate to leave. But then Shikamaru called out to her.
"Wait."
Being as weak as she was, Temari turned.
"Yes?" Her face was carefully blank, fingers clenching around her purse strap. The emotion had to go somewhere, after all. Shikamaru jerked his head to Kiba.
"Take him with you." Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to protest. "I don't want you walking home alone," he said sternly. "And it's just for tonight." Indignant, but understanding his reasons, Temari snapped her jaw closed, but acquiesced and turned again to leave. She didn't wait for roguish FBI agent or his guard dog, simply sweeping past the door towards the elevator. She didn't wait for them to enter either, the sliding doors closing on their shocked faces. Temari couldn't find it in herself to feel guilty then, alone in the mirrored elevator, the liftman having gone home for the day. It was hard to feel anything else except the lone tear that trickled down her cheek.