Being the protégé to the Hokage had its advantages. Running from Shikamaru, not wanting to spend the night on the streets was not how Naruto wanted to end his night. He came to his second home, and if he broke into Kakashi's stash of sake then, well that was his business. He had calmed down more rationality pushing aside the blind panic and reminding him that Shikamaru wasn't cruel. He wouldn't treat him differently, he probably wouldn't even tell anyone about the new information he had. He took a long swig of the sake using the burn in his throat to weigh his mind down and keep reassuring thoughts. I won't lose what I've built, he thought to himself. Shikamaru was my first friend and he knows how being alone again would affect me. He was sat on the floor leant against the wall under the window sill.

The clock on the desk read 3:22am and Naruto groaned at the reality that he had no sleep, he couldn't go home, and Kakashi had given him the day off to recover from the stag do.

"Fucking feelings" he spat taking another drink.

"Need some company?" A familiar sing song voice asked. Naruto sat up stretching his neck passed the desk to smile at Hinata.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" He asked waving her inside and in followed TenTen

"We dropped Temari off at the Nara compound" she smiled "we weren't ready to go home yet"

"How was the stag?" TenTen asked sitting down and crossing her legs

"It was good, Shikamaru interacted. He's probably passed out on my couch"

"Your couch?" Hinata asked frowning

"He was drunk, wanted to play shogi and insisted my place was the way to go" Naruto shrugged

"Did something happen?" TenTen asked looking at Naruto with worry and he chuckled and shook his head

"Just feeling..." he trailed off

"Like it's glaringly obvious you're alone and behind all your friends?" TenTen supplied taking the bottle and having herself a drink. Naruto felt guilty, the only friend they had lost in the immediate group was Neji, it was clear to everyone what he meant to her and the fact he lived and Neji's life was literally thrown for him had him struggling to face TenTen and Lee these past years.

"Something like that" he said swallowing back the lump in his throat. He had no doubt if Neji was alive now he and TenTen would have been years into their relationship and happy. "This is Kakashi's by the way" he pointed out to see the colour drain from her face and a look of horror pass over her while Hinata put her hand over her mouth. He laughed truly amused by the reaction. "Don't worry, this is on me" he told them and TenTen punched him in his left arm and glared at him

"Ass!" She hissed and he laughed

"Couldn't help it" he smiled at her

"So why are you not getting started with someone?" She asked and looked at Hinata for a moment as she joined them on the floor. His love life was always brought into question, now he had his choice of the village. It always baffled people that he hadn't actively tried to date passed Sakura's set ups. He shrugged and debated just being honest, they wouldn't judge and then people would just stop fucking asking. Hinata had looked at her hands a light blush colouring her cheeks and he remembered her confession, he remembered her jumping in front of him before Neji dived in the way. It's not like he hadn't thought about it in the past, telling her he wasn't close to where she was, that he liked her, he found her attractive. Maybe he could grow to love her too if he just spent more time with her alone. Maybe she was supposed to push out these feelings. Shaking his head at the thought, because she deserved more.

"Not really ready to try my hand at a relationship" he finally answered and TenTen nodded

"I get it, I'm the same"

"I'm sorry" He said while Hinata put her head on TenTens shoulder while weaving her arm with the other girls. TenTen nodded with a sad smile, a thanks.

"I miss him" she admitted "but he knew what he was doing. You freed him, and he was able to choose. I don't think you completely understand what that meant to him, you know!" She softly smirked trying to make light of it, the shadow of a smile that played on Naruto's lips definitely helped show she succeeded a little bit. He took another long swig of the sake

"Are you sure you are okay, Naruto?" Hinata asked her eyes clearly showing her worry, it made him anxious just looking

"I'm good. Don't worry about me" he lied and heaved himself up before putting the lid on the bottle and returning it to the bottom of Kakashi's drawer. He was now convinced every hokage had that little compartment specifically for the purpose of hiding their stash of liquor.

"You are drinking alone in the dark" TenTen pointed out raising her brow skeptically "that isn't a sign of being okay"

"I just like the peace" he said "Come on let's get you gu-"

Feet hitting the ground loudly and cut him off. He tensed waiting for whoever was in such a hurry to burst into the office only for the tension to turn into nausea when he felt the chakra signature. Ah shit.

"Naruto!" Shikamaru called as he rounded the door and halted looking between the people in the room. He was breathing rather heavily, did he run the whole way? Naruto wondered. His hair was back up, loose and strands were falling down his neck and the side of his head. his jacket was back on but he hadn't even bothered to fasten it. It was a first for the girls to see him look so dishevelled. Naruto had seen it, not quite like this, but when Shikamaru really trained with effort, it was never a bad sight.

"What's the matter Shikamaru?" TenTen asked stepping up to him. He shook his head at her waving a hand dismissively

"Nothing. I just came to find Naruto. He bailed on me" he shrugged casually "Can we finish our conversation?"

No, Naruto thought

"Sure" Naruto said cursing himself. The girls said goodbye and left the office to the two men. Naruto didn't want to talk about this and he certainly didn't want to have this talk ever, but the girls were here and he couldn't just be suddenly hostile.

After the building was clear Shikamaru groaned and slid against the closed door.

"Can't believe you ran" Naruto commented but was only met with a glare. Don't lighten the mood, got it. "We don't have to talk about it" he deadpanned

Shikamaru looked pissed off, not the reaction Naruto was imagining but then again he really had no idea how it would have gone. Naruto didn't move from the desk, Shikamaru only watched him face like stone. Only when Naruto leant against the desk did his expression soften a little and he sighed pushing himself and crossing the room to stand across from Naruto

"I'm sorry I've caused you so much pain" he said his voice felt like it ran through Naruto and his heart picked up. Did Shikamaru's voice always do that? Naruto was dazed looking up to the slightly taller man, his mouth slightly open as he was running the apology over in his head trying to figure out if he had ever heard it before. Only to be snapped back into the present by the hot, calloused hand on his cheek. Now his heart was pounding, like a drum was pounding but inside his chest... what? The air felt light and before he could figure out what was wrong with the air, or his lungs, lips were on his. He didn't move, his mind fizzled out as all he could see was Shikamaru's face close to his, eyes closed. It wasn't until the Nara wrapped his arm around Naruto's waist and pulled him against his chest that Naruto's mind caught up.

He kissed me!