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This is slowly turning into a Kiba/Temari fic. I'm unsure how to feel how this.
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My Boss The Genius
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INTERLUDE TEN
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"Do you think it was them?"
Temari looked over at Shikamaru, who was surrounded by FBI agents, talking about the break-in. Kiba and Shino were there, Hinata standing next to her fiancé, Naruto, who was holding her hand gently. Included in the little impromptu group huddle was Tenten, Ino, and Sakura, and by default, Temari because she was herded into the group with them.
"There's no evidence," Shikamaru said, frowning in thought.
"I think it's pretty obvious though," Tenten said. "We had a high-profile agent in there, not to mention the two ladies who managed to survive Hidan's attack at Cocoa Bean. If this was any old burglar, what's the point of hitting a bridal store? All transactions are done through credit card. There isn't any cash to steal here." Temari admitted, painfully, that Tenten was right. What was the point of that break-in? Shikamaru knew she was right too and his frown grew deeper.
"But why didn't he engage then?" Sakura asked. "SWAT Team couldn't find him when they swept the place. You really think Hidan would just run away once the alarms started?" Shikamaru shook his head.
"No, he wouldn't," he sighed. "And I doubt he walked in there without knowing exactly where you were. So why..."
Ino, who had been looking at everyone during the team brainstorm, finally stepped forward. "Alright," she said authoritatively. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm dead exhausted. Let's reconvene in the morning to figure this out, okay?" She went over to Shikamaru, grabbing him gently by the arm. He allowed himself to be pulled away, his eyes flickering over each of his agents. In his eyes was a single command: do as she says.
None of them argued.
Naruto wrapped his arm around Hinata, leading her away to her car parked in front of the store. Their heads leaned close, and he was whispering something to her. Sakura took Sasuke by the hand, and he obediently followed as she tugged him along to his car. There were no words spoken between the two of them, just a quiet presence that settled. Tenten turned away when her phone rang, speaking laughingly to the person on the other line, though Temari heard the underlying exhaustion in her voice. Shino and Kiba talked briefly, before the former left alone. Then, Kiba turned to her.
"Ready to go?" he asked. Temari was confused, looking over at Tenten who had hung up and waved her fingers cheekily at Temari. Kiba chuckled. "Tenten's boyfriend is just about ready to acupuncture a guy to death if Tenten doesn't calm him down soon. She asked me to take you home while she manages damage control." Temari nodded, her head ducking down, wondering why her cheeks flushed at the idea.
Kiba led them both to his car. He told her offhandedly that Shino was getting a ride with Tenten, because his place was on the way where she was going. Temari nodded at this, not sure why she cared so much. When she got inside, she almost had a heart attack at Akamaru in the back seat, who grinned wolfishly at her.
The car started, and by then mostly everyone had left. Except for Shikamaru and Ino. Kiba made a quick stop by Shikamaru's car, rolling his window down.
"Hey dog-breath," Ino grinned, waving. Kiba snorted at her.
"Banshee. You guys aren't going home?" he asked, not noticing Temari who was not looking in their direction. She didn't want to look, because she didn't want to see how they were standing. Were they holding each other? Were they standing apart? Was Shikamaru looking at her? What was the expression he was staring at her with? There were so many questions, but Temari didn't want to answer any of them.
"We'll be out soon," Shikamaru said, his voice husky from the late hour of the night. "I just want to make sure the staff and the cops are okay before we head out." Kiba chortled.
"Every the workaholic, aren't you? I never would have guessed," Kiba said.
"And it's all thanks to me!" Ino exclaimed, sounding ridiculously proud of herself. Temari heard Shikamaru sigh and mutter, "Troublesome woman," before she finally gave into temptation and looked over Kiba's shoulder at them.
Ino was leaning on Shikamaru's shoulder, the left part of her body blocking the right part of his. Their hands and arms were hidden from sight, and Temari didn't want to think they were holding hands behind Ino's back, but she did anyways.
Kiba's car continued past them, and Temari resisted the temptation to look behind her. This time, she succeeded. She wondered if that was a good thing.
(Temari saw Kiba smile at her from the corner of her eye and decided, yeah, it was.)