Nothing.
Enjoy
There comes a time where dreams really do come true, but nightmares always follow.
He had imagined it.
Staring into the deep sea of color, her eyes holding his, back in Kai's office that night, with one hand hiding his fingers in the slit of her black dress, skin warm to the touch, the battle during the dance resuming between them, softening for a split second as they thought of expressing their dark desires to one another, the smell of perfume lingering in the air.
He had imagined it.
To press against the red painted lips, seeking the truth behind her words said in rage, in fear, betraying what she was, the first crack in the facade, the skin tender and soft against his own. He could feel the grip of her fingers at his arms, moving up and to his neck, cradling his face, holding him against her, keeping him from escape.
He had imagined it.
His hands would have moved, the one at her wrist gone and holding the curve of her back, to pull her against him, keep her close as he raised the dress, her claws working on his belt. Her teeth catching his lower lip in warning if he tried to stop, he couldn't even if he had tried.
He had imagined it.
The pleading whine, her need for him, god did it sound beautiful to hear, the sun blinding him, a thrust forward, his hard member harsh and possessive, claiming her, filling her perfectly, two souls who had found their pieces in one another. His name slipping from her painted lips, quickly silenced in his risky move to make himself whole against her again. Mine she had called him.
He had imagined it.
He needed the dress off, it had not been enough to satisfy just a slip of control, he needed to drown his own sanity to savor in the moment with her.
To lay her bare before him as she did him.
To reveal the naked truth of the other.
Tuesday 6:45PM
Location: Konoha Underground District
Teasing him about it had not been the path she took, not yet at least, she simply gave him a knowing look with a subtle smirk as they had left at their stop. He remained uncomfortable, stuck in thoughts behind his facade of focus, she didn't need to guess how he had completely lost it for those seconds staring back at her, mesmerized as she had been.
Oh.
How she wanted him to lunge forward and claim her then and there, feeling slick between her legs at the sight of his hunger, the impulsive thought to forget her underwear truly a move to tease the man, to remind him she was happy to be used for her own enjoyment as well. Easy on the eyes, a better target if she wanted to amuse herself with appearance, or the witty banter back to her, he played just as she did.
Predators fighting for the top, but spilt blood wasn't the goal this time. Easy she had thought, but she knew better, he was not simple minded, his plan successful, minus the unexpected breakup scene she had excitedly broken up. The happy coincidence of seeing the woman in the halls that afternoon aiding her in keeping the predator focused and useful to herself, selfish with things that were hers.
It would have been a scene to have him act on the desire clouding his gaze, hungry, hiding her own lust behind her focus, the chase creating a sparked fire that refused to go away at the sight of him. It had been a still in her thoughts when she had him on his knees before her, aiding in their escape, looking down coldly at a man who had offered help, his release when the agents came almost a relief to her. Odd. Another thought of only him, no way to escape the need of his hands, hands of a lover, ones she wanted to mark her skin as his again.
No.
Focus.
His wanted ties severed, his leash gone, free as she was, now the true test began, how would he hold up to his promise.
Their location the filthy underground of Konoha, the territory she had claimed since she first came to Konoha four months back. Hiding in plain sight was always the best route to go with, and Mistress excelled in using her death to do just that.
The strange darkened barren streets, the blonde walking casually at his side, lost in her own thoughts, his eyes darting briefly to her a few times as he continued to keep hidden under his hood, freedom a block away, the ride more than uncomfortable, he had thought of other ways to get under her skirt during the walk.
The Safe House.
"Seems cozy" her first response, flat and unimpressed, trailing after him as he entered the abandoned complex to the fourth flour, the only one occupied, the room practically barren.
A desk and chair he had worked at, where a dining set should have been, files tucked away and others sprawled to the side to be looked at later, stacks of boxes moved around, some opened, some closed, a coffee table near a couch he had slept on more than once during his death, unable to make it towards the bed when his mind grew weary of crowded thoughts. A bedroom to its far right, and bathroom connected.
Simple layout, not as nice as his old home used to be, but for the past three years he had been slowly accumulating secrets in the room, hidden riddles and files from level one only he, Shino, Kakashi, and Tsuande knew about, missions they had succeeded in with his lead. The window in the back, large and spilling hints of the evening light inside the dark room before he switched the dim lights on, turning the darkness into yellow shades, truly a room meant for the insane.
"Apologizes that it's not a five star hotel, Princess" he rolled his eyes, snarky, quickly falling back to uncomfortable at her quick wit.
"I see you're still moody about your blue balls, crybaby" he heard the tease in her voice, amused even now, before her curiosity took her away from him, thankful that the devil seemed eager to seek knowledge rather than keep at her quick lash at him, happy to avoid the argument in his current state. The day brutal, his arm still buzzing with pain, first thought following his duffel bag dropping near the desk, his own health.
With a sigh, he turned and headed for the bedroom, seeking to aid himself while the weasel peered curiously out the large window into the streets below. Quick to peel the hoodie off, the sleeve beginning to soak, her torn shirt remaining, now red, the thought of why it had to be Shiho who became the unexpected still running its course through his mind, no longer innocent, the bullet meant for the woman he had promised to keep safe while back at headquarters. She had still gotten shot once, the vest taking the blow, the shot only angering her enough to slam the agents head viciously into a wall three times before she had casually taken to his side to continue the escape.
Truly a cruel woman, trouble with every step taken, a weapon all on her own, more useful at his side than against him as she had been.
"Got a suture kit in this doomsday bunker?" The sudden call for him, a packed suture kit already in his hand as if she had read his mind, he stepped toward the door, a jab wouldn't hurt to fix his mood.
"It's called a safe house" he corrected her, returning from the room, seeing her waiting at the desk, perched at the edge with boots raised to the chair, knees together, temptation threatening his focus as he neared "bunker would imply I'm waiting for a war to start"
"A war we will prevent" she nodded confidently, a flash of worry following his determination to the statement, her encouragement better this time around "sit" the simple word, her eyes set and focused on him.
"I can do it myself" he muttered, ready to continue the personal task alone, this type of aid hadn't been in the truce.
"I wasn't asking, Nara" her tone warning and low "sit, now" a command and he sighed as he obeyed, pointless argument to be made if he didn't listen. Settling down, left arm facing her, she began.
The flash drive hidden in the room.
The instant warm touch of her gloved hands relaxing his arm as she began to wipe the damp cloth he brought against it, her bloodied shirt set aside on the edge of the desk while she worked quietly, proud to know he only winced once when she first started. A few inches more and he'd have had a hole in his arm, a three inch line of torn flesh past his bicep, luck on his side. He moved a cigarette to his lips in the still air, a quiet he enjoyed, the lighter in his hands, a nagging question, answered.
Clink.
She stilled briefly to the noise, only a second, blinking once before continuing as if nothing had occurred, the action noted without giving himself away, the same had happened that morning after the fight in the shower, but she hadn't said anything then either. His eyes wandered, he couldn't help himself he guessed, his focus set on the concentration behind her narrowed gaze, softer, as she used the clamp to run the needle through the flesh, as if she had done it countless times before. Still wondering who the hell trained this woman, parts of her still unknown, a puzzle he found intriguing all on its own.
His distraction taking his interest, his eyes shut, lining up the thoughts, organizing them in the silence.
Motherly nature, he remembered her saying that, hard to subdue in women, the nature of caring for others, was this why she sat quietly near him, focused, sewing a stitch into his skin? Protection maybe? Eye for an eye, he ventured. Maybe she just didn't want to see him bleed out, he had proved as useful to her as she was to him, knowledge to be shared between them as soon as the search calmed on the streets outside.
Family ties, his legacy team, his childhood reminder, each member beginning their basic training at twelve as he had, but she had started differently. A royal member to a prominent family in Suna, the impenetrable fortress, in a land of savages as Tsuande had said, her voice laced with disgust and bitter hatred, but why? Sure the woman was cruel, his escape with her proven quite a endeavor, admiration coupled with a slight fear prickling at the back of his neck, a weapon, a woman who did not fear death. Had Temari sought basic revenge?
No, she had trusted him and spoke her truth, it had been Tsuande who couldn't handle it, blinded by her own past, who allowed her own revenge to cloud her judgement, he wanted to hang his head in shame, knowing that the scar between them was not one to heal easily, if ever. A drag knowing he was now forced to drop his title to aid his nation, for Asuma, for Mirai, for his father who had been proud to hear him become the leader of the agency, a title that held no meaning anymore. Like coating a broken vase in a new layer of gold paint, just a mask, a lie.
He was a wolf, nonetheless, a leader willing to do anything now, to stop everything, his new ally one he could trust to aid him. Her secrets along with his could keep the public from knowing the truth, a truth he knew would destroy nations and build walls at their borders for years to come if they didn't stop it. The third war simply put on hold. She trusted him and he trusted her, but a nagging thought remained, how tight was the leash at her neck, free but still in chains, who truly controlled the true leader of Suna?
And why did she have to be such an attractive woman?
Addicting this feeling, he had never quite had with any other woman he had been with, he wasn't much of a fighter, always finding a easy way to avoid conflict, but she managed to boil his blood in a single look. One that challenged him, one that spoke sonnets of lust and sin, of anger and bliss, of soft caresses and harsh punishments, proud as she was, he had already seen the crack, the slip in the facade, of his name moaned and her tears bitten back. Truly an acquired taste and he was growing hungrier by the second.
A fleeting thought he had suddenly of peeking under the skirt, longing for a view, wishing for a taste, an invitation hard to refuse, craving her like that first drag of a cigarette, lewd bastard he thought instantly and sighed. Releasing the trail of smoke away from her, he peeked a eye open when she spoke suddenly.
"Smoking is a bad habit you know" her muttered words accompanied with a wave of her hand at the cloud threatening to come near her.
"So is killing people" he jabbed back, a ghost of a smile as he observed her work to distract himself.
"I didn't kill anyone today, kept my word, you should be proud of that" she tied the next stitch, her grin threatening to spread wider, amused.
"Overjoyed" his eyes rolled back as they shut, the drain catching up to him, but curious as she was. A list had been made, questions to be asked and hopefully answered "Where did you learn to suture anyways?"
"Suna" he scoffed at the reply "when I referenced Suna I don't mean the actual city"
"Two separate beings" Shikamaru drew out knowingly, that thought figured out during the morning, after his breath of fresh air, mind cleared and ready, and her wet body pressed against his during the fight under the waterfall in the shower. She had won, or he had let her?
"Now you're getting it, genius" she grinned, this time a flash of her teeth, before settling as she explained "Suna is the people, and it is from my people that I learned how to act" she paused furrowed her brows for a moment in search of the word "normal to simply put it"
"Nothing is normal about you" the instant statement met with a scoff and small pull at her lips.
"Blame that on the top of the hourglass, I've got generations of tyranny blood in me all going back to nomadic clans that used to roam the deserts before the countries were even made official, generations of stubborn people who refused to let a little sand and sun keep them from surviving" she reached for the damp cloth to wipe the blood that threatened to drip down his arm "do you remember that man you saw at Kai Yoshito's mansion? The one with all the scars on his face" he nodded to her after a moment "his name is Shira, and he used to be a well respected lieutenant under our general's command, before he disobeyed an order and was sentenced to death" a slight tense accompanying the cruel punishment the man could have suffered "He is the one who taught me how to sew skin" after her careful wipe she set the cloth aside to run the next stitch, light in touch as to not cause pain to him further, her next jab amusing him "comes in handy when idiot men, such as yourself, throw themselves in the path of a bullets"
"The word you're looking for is thank you" his attempt met with resistance.
"More like stupid" she smirked, catching his eye roll with a short laugh, one he relaxed under, tingling under the sound "it'll make for a memorable scar at least" an opening made, he took a unexpected turn from the path, about how she always seemed to slip a stray detail or two during a simple conversation, useful as it was interesting.
"That scar on your side, who gave you that?" he asked, throwing caution to the wind, ready to settle a storm if she threatened with it.
"The shot to your side, who gave you that?" she fired back after a hesitate pause.
"Lucky guard got me in River a few months back, didn't have a vest on" he replied instantly, shrugged and kept at his question, determined "so who did it?"
"Why do you care?" The irritation behind her tone, the stray bit of confusion, defensive, noted and ignored.
"Eye for an eye, my business is your business remember" he threatened to smirk, catching her off guard as she shut her insult and thought about answering.
"Itachi Uchiha gave me this" the mention, Shikamaru glanced away briefly, surprised, not what he had expected. Temari kept at her work, his name spoken carefully as if saying it too loud would make the rogue agent suddenly appear, he waited for an explanation, a reason why a former peacekeeper would attack her, of why she had a deal with him in the first place, as Sen had confessed once. Seconds feeling like minutes before she sighed "I was alone in Iwa collecting intel about nine years ago, it's where I first met Itachi, while he was still a peacekeeper. Our paths crossed, we fought and he nearly killed me" she huffed annoyingly at her confession "one of the very few men who have ever went against me and almost won" she glanced at him, searching his thoughtful look for a moment before turning to the stitch at his further silence "I do not fear men, but he is someone I am cautious about, because he can kill me if he wanted to" she turned her gaze back to him, softer he thought the way the teals relaxed for a moment "unlike you, he lacks remorse, he is what I am, barely human, someone who can take life without feeling it"
"You make yourself sound like a monster" quiet as he finally spoke, she leaned back at his words, a slow narrow in her gaze, debating whether to speak about it.
"Suna taught me that there are monsters out there that need to be killed" she had said once.
"I was nine when I killed my first man" Temari began simply, the light in her eyes dulled, reminded, growing colder as she spoke "a man who had stolen from the market, sentenced to death by law, by old rules. My father commanded me to stand before him and show the people the power our family had, so I stood there watching him bleed out for minutes after I slit his throat with a dagger. I was told not to cry, I didn't feel it, I didn't know who the man was, I had no ties to him, I simply obeyed, because it was expected of me" she paused briefly, but carried on just as calmly "it was always simpler to obey than get punished by him, so I listened" she shrugged, her perfect facade unbreakable, reminded of what Tsuande had witnessed during her time in Suna "I have only ever felt one death and it was" she paused "my fathers" she leaned back, eyeing her stitch, making sure it was lined perfectly contemplating, absently grabbing the gauze wraps as she finished, her gaze turned to his, daring "so you tell me what I am if I am not a monster"
A child that had needed protection, she had never been innocent, never had the chance to, a survivor from hell itself.
"Why would Itachi let you go then?" He asked instead, watching her careful movement of wrapping a bandage around his arm, not to tight not to loose.
"Because I made myself useful to him" not a crack as she turned back to the stitch, casual even "I was worth more alive than dead, and in exchange for my help keeping Wind borders in check, he let me go and didn't tell your agency, the only thing that kept me alive that night was that deal" she huffed "since then we on occasion would aid the other during our missions outside borders, ones that threaten stability towards our countries" she furrowed her brows "I hadn't seen him since my mission in Kumo a couple years back, until I came here" she leaned back with a shrug "I thought it was strange that he decided to come back to a Konoha after avoiding it for so long" his brows furrowed deeper, a pin in the thought, why would Itachi suddenly come back? Kakashi had been gone a few months prior in Kumo, his mission to look for the rouge agent yielding an ally instead, from what he remembered. He kept quiet on the matter, kept with his own knowledge for now, had Tsuande known he was here?
"So why take his brother Sauske then, if you're friends with the guy" that feeling again, nope he was not, just a fleeting troublesome thought.
"Itachi is not my friend" the statement firm and with a amused scoff at the end "I do not trust him outside of a mission as I am choosing to trust you right now" she glanced back at him "we simply use one another when needed as it is a part of our deal, Itachi never misses a shot, and I do not hold back as you saw" he glanced back to her, the tip of the cigarette hanging off his lips almost forgotten as he listened "he knew I would have found out about Sauske sooner or later, and knowing me" she sighed to herself, finishing the wrap on his arm "it would have resulted in far more destruction than just his brother going through a couple of weeks of torture" irritation quickly flashed on her face "a pointless dead end really, led to nothing" a pause, a subtle shake of her head, as if she was keeping something to herself.
"Odd, don't you think?" He ventured after a minute, smoke blown out, ready to see what she knew.
"What?" Distracted as she worked.
"Itachi letting his own brother be tortured for nothing, compared to you" he glanced over to her, her brows furrowed deeply in thought "who would burn down an entire city if someone thought about hurting her brothers" she pulled back and looked down to him, that soft gleam again.
"That is because, I would sacrifice my soul for my brothers, I would do anything for them, because they are all I have in this world that keep me sane, keep my from becoming nothing" the intensity of her words, her true end goal, to keep her family safe, a new wave of determination swept over him, to aid not just the nations, but her. Something stronger than simple fear. Her eyes dropped and she leaned back into the wound, he ignored the ache of the firm press to test the wraps "But Itachi is already nothing, he believes in the many over the few, he would sacrifice anyone for everyone" her voice lowered for a second, bitter "even his own brother, the last family he has left" she quickly glanced at him, his gaze hadn't left her since she spoke "that is why I could never trust him, he has nothing to lose, and when you have nothing left, you become a monster"
A question, why didn't she just kill him?
An answer, because she had more to lose, ties that kept her human.
"I heard about what he did to his family when I first started, the agency lost good people after he went rogue" Shikamaru muttered, reaching his right hand to the back of his neck and rubbing the sore muscle. The death of Sauske's family had been a shock to the clans, the rouge agent's involvement having been hidden to keep the public of their town from knowing. The reasons still remained unknown after all these years.
"Cheer up tall, dark, and brooding, you'll get a headache if you think too much about it" he scoffed and grinned at the unconcerned hum in her voice, a lull he found soothing, a glint of mischief in her eyes "now thank the crazy woman who just stitched up your ex's official it's over message" she leaned back on her hands, a satisfied grin in place, knees still locked together.
"I'm convinced all you women are just out to get me" flexing his arm tentatively, testing how much he ached, eyes wandering dangerously.
"Wait until Sen finds out I got hurt, she won't kill you, but you'll get an earful" he groaned when she laughed, light and teasing in his misery "remember you're mine, and that means your death is on my hands" the grin meant to comfort, make him question the threat.
"Truce" he reminded her as he stood, glancing at the wrapped bandage and back to her.
"We never agreed to threats being a part of the truce" she pointed out with a smirk, knees swaying loosely side to side, teasing a invite right before his eyes as they dropped down and back to her in the same second, catching the meaning with a slow glare.
"You have made my life hell today" he stepped closer, fearless of the heat sparked from before, eyes narrowed, a fight readying "do you realize that?"
"And I have enjoyed every second of it" the subtle twitch, a lie seen in her eye. Staring back into those shades of sea, he knew he was going to hell some day, so he decided that he might as well sin with the angels until he got there.
Feeling the press of her hand against his chest as he closed the distance, her first instinct to keep her space safe from his touch, the claws at her hands reluctantly sheathed for now as he leered over her, hands pressed on the desk of either side of her.
Shadow above the sun, an eclipse.
"Have you really?" The slow question, low, the memory of the night in the mansion, the one where she, for the first time in a long time, could not make a decision. To see what he knew or to kill him for what he didn't. The way she wanted to grab him to allow him to taste, a kiss that would have sentenced him to death, his touch different than others, seeking rather than forcing her to submit, almost as if he had pleaded with her in the silence. Her choice had been based purely on surviving the night, she never hesitated, so why had she?
Even now she refused to give up her secrets to him.
The moment her lips parted, words stilling past her breath, he had already moved to take away the lie from her, keeping her honest. Alone now, the memories played, the touch of the other welcomed.
Song Suggestion- Noah Cyrus- Again
A hand raised, she didn't hesitate to reach for it, stilling her grip tightly at his wrist, her silent demand to not touch her, disobeying as he fought to reach out, softly stroking his thumb to the edge of the bruise at the side of her lip, the dark gleam in his eyes shadowing in guilt. Unexpected, teals widened, her heart beating faster than any chase she had ever been in, a lover's touch, soft, caring, gentle as she had been stitching his wound.
Cooling a fire in the confusion, as her grip loosened on his wrist, a impulsive urge to lean against his hand, to allow herself to feel it, feel the cold hand against her blushed cheek, suddenly starved for his touch.
Trailing the thumb down to her chin, his fingers followed to hold her still and bring himself closer, her fight gone the moment he brushed softly against her lips. She had watched, every single movement, watched as he leaned in, watched as she gave in on the first move and shut her eyes. The press tender for only a moment, a touch to share in their secret, to spark the warming fire that had cooled her rather than burned her skin.
His hand lowered to the edge of her shirt, tugging it up and over her head, only releasing her lips to pull it off her, their connection returned with eagerness, a bite to his bottom lip, to pull him closer, a deep kiss to heal the mark afterward. Her curled fingers dragged down his bare chest to the button of the jeans, making quick work to cease his already hard member against her hand, to aid and release him from his confines. The impatient touch enough to force the groan from his mouth against hers, pulling back, eyes meeting, the lustful hunger growing, guards down.
No lies.
His eyes dropped, his memory renewed, she smirked and he made the first move. Leaning forward a quick press of lips in thanks as he moved down to her neck, a drag of lips and teeth against the bruise from before. The sigh of relief that escaped her reddened lips turning into a gasp as his hands found her hips, digging his fingers into her skin and dragging her to the edge of the desk. Dangerous legs wrapped around him, closer he got, the grip at her hips pulling her against him, ignoring the ache of his arm, finally feeling the press of his freed member against her slit, soaked, ready, but where was the fun in winning a fight on the first move?
His lips on her neck moved down, his grip on her hips dragged backwards against her thighs, moving away from her, the connection between them gone, each craving for the other to return. Leaning back against her palms, body arched, serving him what he wanted, what he had silently asked for, his lips left her neck to work down her body.
A press of lips rough against her neck, her breath caught, eyes shut, a bite to her collar bone, a lingering growl from him vibrating against her chest, rare impatiences, her breast suddenly exposed by a firm hand around the cup of the bra, the hard nipple already sucked into his mouth, her moan forcefully released and body withering with the pleasure, his hooded glare turned up to her, watching the beauty behind the sound.
"You really are a starved man" her deep sigh as her head rolled back, his lips dragged down to her abdomen, pressing into her next sharp inhale.
"I'm just thanking you" innocent with a shrug, a glance up, the hooded teal gaze, a challenge.
"Then thank me properly" even a breathy whisper, he was sure the entire city could hear her, and if not, he'd make sure they did.
"If that's what the princess wants" lowering down, the oasis waiting for him, his throat parched.
"Don't keep me waiting" a beautiful threat, as he lifted the skirt, purposefully slow.
"That would be rude" he agreed, hooking her leg over his right shoulder and pressing down eagerly against her soaked lips, the moan that buzzed around them, he wasn't sure if it was hers or his.
To silence her words, to hear her sounds, the way she carefully kept her left leg from accidentally hitting his wrapped arm when her legs jerked at a sudden flick at her clit, her hand quickly taking to grip his loosened hair, to hold on as he lifted upwards, enough to tighten his wandering hand at her hip, gripping the flesh under the teasing skirt and bring himself closer to her end.
"Shikamaru" he played out her melody of soothing whispers, a name, his name, the touch of the other craved. Selfless to give more than he took, but selfish in the offer she gave, she wasn't his, but he'd leave his mark anyways, her next moan a reward, the octave higher than her normal sultry voice.
His effort to breath her air in stronger, a hand to her abdomen making it the edge of her ribs, feeling the inhale, aiding his push down, making her bend her arm and fall back into the desk, laid across the scribbled notes she had set aside before demanding to aid him. The gasp as he lifted higher and devoured her, eyes shut, focused, her legs bend and held tightly, making his mark against her wet lips and working out a peaking climax against her clit, the pleading whine for him felt against his fingers as he drove them in forcing her end to near, fighting her grip to his hair to finish her off on his terms. The strained scream, his focus on only her pleasure, of keeping her under his control, his worship at the altar complete as he felt the throb against his fingers, her fall from grace relaxing her bent body to lay flat and beg for air.
Slow, taking in each second to memory, finding bliss in his own victory to thank her for her aid, he straightened, taking in the short breaths and quiver in her lips, eyes hidden behind the smudged mascara, absently dragging a tongue against his bottom lip, savoring in the taste as he moved to hover over her, hands pressed on either side of her body, careful with the pressure on his left. The subtle shift, her last breath, teals opening to instantly catch his, to see him above her as she recovered.
To match the other in breath, her hand lifted, a hesitant pause only lasting a second before she fought it and brushed her fingers under his chin, delicate and soft, he dared not move as if he'd spook her.
That smile followed the unpredicted gesture.
Troublesome.
"Something wrong?" The nagging sixth sense of caution, like a gun to his head.
"Not at all" a lie, her distraction.
"Temari" an attempt to sooth the demon, to keep her quiet under him, keep the angel she had exposed hidden, his body tensed when she spoke, feeling the shift against him as she raised her leg, the boot to his chest a reminder that at least he had tried.
"I just decided how to make it up to you" he lost the moment the smile made itself known. Stumbling back into the chair, a shove to get him away, once again made a witness, and she leaned up to sit before him.
The falling sun shining at her back, framing the goddess before him, awed into silence as he stared back at heaven's gates. Golden hair unruly and wild framing her teasing look, bruised lips and the click of her tongue as she smirked. Rising from the desk, the flare of the mini skirt and bounce of her hidden breasts leaving him a mute, mind blank, the unexpected, his initial plan forgotten to play along.
Beautiful.
Simply a demanding itch to scratch, he reminded himself hopelessly.
"I'll do all the work while you sit back and continue to thank me" a step towards him and she settled in his lap, pushing herself onto his member without a moment of hesitation, his breathing stilled, shocked in the blinding bliss, holding her to keep grounded, but she refused to move after, tight and gripping, her climax from before starting again. The nightmare, god how he wanted to suffer in it for the rest of his life.
A moment to catch his breath and she glanced down, his eyes followed, a perfect view right in front of him and he got the silent cue to drag his hands from her legs to her bra, a finger hooking into the strap to give him a view. Genius or not, he still struggled to unclip it the first time, the second thankfully doing it for him. The reveal of kiss marks and hardened nipples already waiting for him.
"Now be a good boy" he mouth went dry with the sultry voice, he swore his eyes rolled back when he heard it "and thank me properly for my protection" her fingers trailing up his arm, avoiding the stitch on his wound, pain fading into nothing but attention on her. Speechless, thoughtless, surrendering himself to her, he held her hips close and leaned forward to her breast, no hesitation in filling his mouth and thanking her, his tongue pressing against the firm nipple, the moan against it bringing her hand to the back of his head, fingers gripping into his loosened hair, massaging, moving him to her own needs, and finally she moved her hips for his needs.
Taking and giving.
The rise and fall, knowing right now he was willingly bent to her command, begging at his altar, all control hers, along for the ride, thoughts silenced as he continued his endless worship. Selfishly claiming what she offered, sucking one nipple than the other, a hand raised to hold her breast, a perfect fit if he had to decide now.
Savoring the surprising moment she held onto him, both hands moving to his face, pulling him back to guide him to her lips, moving her hips against him, his hands simply meant to follow her lead now, keeping his thoughts quiet and settled, almost peaceful as they kissed.
"Tell me" she began breathlessly, pulling back, curious, his foggy gaze turned to look at her, rays of the sun still peering behind her, an angel "what did you think about on that train?" with the mouth of the devil.
"Things dirtier than those floors" distracted, but able to respond, his breath caught with a heavy pant.
"Be specific" a short grin, but curious.
"Do I have to?" She pressed down suddenly, fighting against his grip and stopped moving entirely, stilling the pace into nothing, his member throbbing in the silence, aching. Threatening his very sanity with the move, debating whether to follow through with annoyance or amusement, his blood boiled nonetheless, and she knew it.
"Be specific" she repeated firmly, to give in and play along with her attempt at torture, or fight back.
"Would you like to hear about how you came for me or I you?" She looked thoughtful for a moment, biting her lip, his skin tingling as she absently dragged her nails against his chest.
"Surprise me" she decided.
"It really would have been rude of us to fuck in front of everyone" a flash of her teeth, wondering if she would move now, she didn't.
"I'm sure it would have been a sight to see" that sirens song drawing him in, motivation to please her, to give her whatever she asked for.
"A princess getting fucked against those doors, screaming my name, it would have made the top of the morning paper" she smirked and slowly rose, he almost sighed in relief when she did, the right move against her as she went back down, taking him in slower, rewarding his obedience "or would you like to hear about how" he glanced past her gaze, an idea to test waters, hand trailing up her side lightly, avoiding the scar, to seize a breast in his grip, thumb at her hardened nipple, stroking softly, able to think clearer "I would have kneeled before you, as one should do to royalty" words slipping out, her breath stilled for a moment, lips parted as he gazed back up to her, the sun shining in her stare, her attention all his, he continued down the path intrigued by the sudden intensity of her gaze, the widen as his hand trailed up to softly slide against her blushed cheek, kind in his caress and words, and she allowed him "Temari, you are not a monster, you are a beautiful woman, and I will protect you, if you will let me" a whispered promise.
The third tie.
She did not respond with words at least, speaking through her movement as she pressed forward, her lips to his, begging the connection of a lover's tie knotted and tangled, seeking not taking.
Not making love, not fucking, but two wandering souls attempting to intertwine with each other, desperately trying to make themselves whole, finding their missing pieces in one another.
"Thank you" the whisper so quiet he couldn't figure out if she had actually said it, her lips quick to silence any hesitation, his grip tightening to keep her close, fear that the corner he had put her in would result in a fight back, by finding the unpredictable breeze against his skin comforting.
"Temari" he mumbled against her, soothing, not sure if she heard him speak under their quickened pace, her body leaned away to balance her as he aided her rise and fall, rougher in driving himself into her, to be a part of her memory, claiming as his lips pressed against her skin to aid in cooling her, gazes turned to one another, searching for lies, finding none.
No longer just an itch.
"Now come for me, Princess" when he spoke his own command, her mouth dropped, breath held and she hid her expression, her cracked facade, in the crook of his neck as her body withered above his. The beautiful bliss hidden, her eyes shut and the cry of her whimpered scream that followed was buried into his shoulder along with her teeth, he didn't feel it until after the release. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close, protectively, warming himself with her heated body, buried deep inside and groaning against her as warmth claimed his member, shameless releases met together, the aftermath of sticky cum dripping out of her, as they sat in silence, going unnoticed.
Their secret.
His fingers trailing absently against her back, to awaken her, her arm just as gripping around his neck and shoulders in an embrace, his own eyes shut and inhaling the airy smell of her hair in the silence, savoring in the moment as he had the fourth time, the quiet plea to be laid bare before the other.
Peaceful, this quiet was different.
"Tie?" The first mumble against his neck, her lips bruising softly against his skin, her arm loosening around him.
"What?" He managed, but remained in his own peace.
"Are we tied?" She pulled back slowly, leaning away from him, but still in his hold.
"No" he met her gaze, the sun still refusing to stop its teasing shine around her golden frame, the soft smile only aiding his fleeting troublesome thoughts of reaching up to brush a thumb against her lips, to admire the goddess "you're ahead by two, Princess" he grinned to himself, admitting as he shut his eyes, too much to witness, to overthink "you won this morning in the shower too"
"Good, I like winning" she laughed, light and teasing, feeling the lulling vibration against him, determined to do anything for her, he wanted to grin, to join her, looking up to bask in the beauty, a glimpse of heaven, his perfect distraction only temporary.
Everything always was.
He held onto heaven as tightly as he could, pleading silently on his knees, before hell came to take her away from him.
His embrace momentarily tightened with the thought, keeping her against him, she stilled in his hold, tense, before he let himself remember, no touch, ink to paper this was.
"Shikamaru" his name no longer sweet, not a dream, but a bitter command, a nightmare, one he had to obey. Leaning away, slow, putting each second to memory, she backed away just as slowly, each aware of the others hesitation. When she stood off him he took a moment to rub his sleepless eyes with a hand, now exhausted fully, hiding from his brief hesitation to follow the command to let go of the warmth she offered.
Feeling cold.
"You should get some sleep" she didn't look at him, grabbing at her discarded shirt to put it on, shameless in being physically nude, but once again laid bare against him, the truth that didn't need to be spoken.
"You should sleep" Shikamaru countered half heartedly, reaching his right hand to already pull his pants up, slowly adding his left to button it up, slow in looking back at her, still avoiding his gaze.
"Blood loss, sex, and maybe an hour of sleep last night, isn't good for your health, Nara" nagging him now, he almost groaned when she send a glare his way, as if warning him to keep quiet against what he had seen, at what she had admitted, how well she hid her own sudden discomfort to it all.
Temari wanted him to lie.
"Fine" he muttered, avoiding the argument, moving towards the bed room in the tense silence.
Reminded.
She had only been his for a night, nothing more past his bedroom door.
Suna.
Ten years ago.
Song Suggestion- Apasha and Waisu- Majesty
The intricate underground tunnel system under the city of Suna, one of its many secrets kept from prying eyes, led the general's rough steps down the lamp-lit sandstone path.
A lamp in one hand, a clean silk robe in the other, alone, and his glaring look passing the halls towards a separate locked section, the iron door only able to be opened by his key, the end of his golden handled dagger made into the hourglass that symbolized Wind. Baki shut his eyes for a moment, hand hesitating at the door, knowing who stood behind it, who had convinced him, after a year of demanding, to allow her to truly began her training.
"Temari?" He glanced into the darkened room, entering with the lamp first, pausing his first step in when he smelt the scent of metallic blood in the air, looking to the floor a pair of chains that had once been on her wrists. His brows furrowed and Baki looked around the walls of the room before he saw her, his confusion softening to concern.
Her body hunched over in the corner, dirtied knees drawn in as she hugged them, golden hair messy and clumped in wet sand, quiet. The robe she had on before torn around the room, the chains that had been at her wrists thrown on the sand in the middle of the cell, her dirtied arms had been covered in dried blood, her own.
"Temari?" He tried again, voice quieter, a slip of hesitation to near her still form. Baki had seen the elites trained many times before, seen them mumbling insanities for weeks, seen them scream their throats raw, even seen a few claw their eyes out during the initiation, but silent was a rarity, controlled, Sasori had been the same.
Temari shifted suddenly, her head rising to meet his stare, as he attempted to figure out how to approach her. The color from her dull gaze turned up to look at him, dark and lifeless, cold, her lip busted and a trail of blood from a hit to the side of her head. She stared back, quiet, as if trying to figure out if he was real or not before moving her arms down to the sand below to aid herself in moving to stand.
As she stood, wincing, unconcerned of her nude body before him, she stumbled a step back with a annoying huff, hand pressed to the sandstone walls she had clawed the day before. The screams that had echoed the halls four days ago had been silenced into a quiet hum of nothing.
"Take it easy, Temari" he set the lamp down and stepped forward in a rush to aid her, a stern command to listen to his plea "the venom is draining to the body and you will be exhausted for a while" standing before her, grabbing her arm to help her stand, the touch quickly causing her to fight back and push away from him.
"Fine" she mumbled quietly, jerking away from his aid, feeling the searing hot burn instantly from the touch "don't touch me" she rasped louder, holding her arm away from him, adding quieter "just don't touch me"
"Are you fine to walk?" Baki managed, gripping the robe tighter in his hands as he watched her lowered gaze stare into the ground for a few seconds before responding.
"How many more times do I need to do this?" Another mumble, but clearer, stronger.
"Until you no longer feel weak from it" after his own hesitant pause he sighed and took a careful step to her side to draped her bare back with the robe, she allowed it.
"So more than once" she sighed and looked away from him, gripping the robe around her shivering body, but the air was warm, not cold.
"If you want to stop-" he tried to offer her way out, but already knew what she would say, what she had promised before she had been chained in the room and injected with the venom of the Black Sun scorpion.
"No" louder, she looked up at him, eyes narrowed "I won't stop until I am unbreakable, I need to be" still stubborn as she had always been, the broken child he had guarded a few years back no longer existed in the young woman. Once forced to kneel before her father and obey, as the people of Suna did, now her fight back against his reign was beginning, and he would aid her no matter what.
"Even unbreakable, a diamond can still cut through the toughest of stone" worry in his gaze, but forceful in his words, to remind her "You insisted on this even after I told you how dangerous it can be" his gruff voice lowered but softer "I knew it was a bad idea in the first place but-" she groaned loudly cutting him off with her dry throat cracking at the end in her sudden frustration.
Angrier she got.
"Stop regretting this, I am no longer a weak obedient princess, Baki" she bared her teeth, a slow quiver of her lip as she forced the cold glare at him, his face blurred she spotted those dark glaring eyes, hatred for her, her father's gaze blinding her for a moment "Suna needs us to be stronger" she shut her eyes, willing the image away, forcing with all her might to calm as she had found out it helped keep the voices quiet "Gaara needs us" when she let her blurry vision open again she saw the real him again, Baki remaining untouched by the sudden hallucination.
"Very well" he sighed and lifted his head steadily keeping with her pace as he moved down the hall, forcing himself to ignore the stumble that made her pause against the wall briefly before continuing as if nothing happened, fighting her own bodies limitations to keep moving "then know that this will only get worse, you will be stripped of everything and you will become nothing to be molded into a fearless elite"
"Don't underestimate me, Baki, you know I can't fail them" her final words as they stepped out into the chilly night air of Suna, her gaze quickly looked to the starry sky, eyes wide and awed as if she'd never seen them before, yet so far away to touch the dying suns that lit the black abyss above her.
Her ties the one thing that had given her that control in the cell, reminded that the world was bigger than just the walls that hid her home, that hid the secrets of Suna.
When she stood before her youngest brother five years later, aiding their escape, the bright innocents behind his gaze, untouched and holy he was, the tie to him stronger than any others, her eyes softened and hell's grip on her released for a moment, able to touch the light of heaven for the first time in years.
A promise made to remain human for him.
Tuesday 11:17 PM
His touch lingered.
Not the bruises, no, those did not hurt, his marks welcomed, the words had been like needles, like a tug around her throat making it harder to breath, choked. Spoken now and unable to be unheard, keeping a place in her mind as she shivered.
Almost as if she needed to hear it, but too stubborn to admit it.
Strange, the feeling, of being suddenly cold, she never got cold, even with freezing desert nights, she was the sun, her body warmed with her life's purpose, with her promises and secrets. Even the scotch bottle she had found wasn't warming enough.
Was this because of him?
No.
He was simply a protector, a connection to the other side, she was trusting him to help her, to ally himself with her, a partnership, just with sex. Friends with benefits for the time being. She was not his, not now, not ever. Not a lover. No. A man she could only use, nothing more. A toy on the side, she tried to convince herself, a man she could use to aid her, in more ways than one she realized.
She was meant to be used, used to serve and protect.
He had used her or she had him?
Confusing the mindset of someone who overthought his one move, those stupid words made a promise, the scotch already making it to her mouth in the debate, frustrated. Men fucked and left, that is how she did so as well, they did not stay around, so why should she? Lover's touch, did he create a tie? No, she would never allow it. Follow the terms of the truce, protection given for the assurance that they would succeed, nothing more. A simple primal urge, both predators benefiting from the others fight back, fucking with feeling, she had called it before.
Simple explanation.
Just a itch she hadn't had scratched in a while.
Easier to achieve the end when another knew their physical body better, knowing what made them moan and tic, what made her eyes roll back and legs shake, what a simple flick of a sharp tongue could do making her scream his name out like a plea to stop the torture. Submitting at will, not forced to kneel, relaxing in the trust of what a drag of hands down her spine could make her whisper. A secret revealed, because of a gentle touch to her lip, too kind, too blind to be as cold as her, too long since her skin had cooled to a simple ember.
She wanted to test the theory out again, a sudden craving to hear the truth from him, or a beautiful lie she could not figure out which it was.
His touch lingered, and she felt it.
"He is nothing" she whispered to herself, brows furrowed and fuming in her own thoughts, insanity she called it. Focus. Unable to as she dwelled on those final words before submitting.
"You are not a monster, you are a beautiful woman, and I will protect you, if you will let me"
"Nothing" she repeated to herself stubbornly, glaring into the streets around the underground, a tap of steps heard in the distance, the wood creaking on the stairs outside the apartment door. A key turned and the door clicked open, Temari let out her breath and tensed, ready to move towards it, thoughts forgotten.
"Shikamaru?"
That voice, annoyingly familiar.
"Blondie" she called out, calmly, forcing the alert response to quiet in her bones, relaxing against the window still as she had been sitting at, a bottle in hand and wearing a hoodie to big for her she had found in the cold apartment, underwear in place this time.
"My name is Ino" the first response, a note of irritation in her voice, Temari rolled her eyes away, now longer seeing a threat, lacking interest now "Where is he?"
"Asleep" she muttered, her partner in the deal laid in the room of the apartment sleeping off his own exhaustion. Her own body still awake with the aid of the bitter green pill swallowed that morning, one that gave endless energy and strength, an aid to her own bodies limitations, a secret from Suna.
"Then what are you doing up?" She bit back some of her heat at the sight of the blonde sitting alone in the windowsill, looking innocent, but a predator nonetheless "thought you'd be asleep too"
"What are you doing here?" Temari shot back, a hint of snarky, batting away the blonde's nosey nature "thought you'd be in hiding too"
"Ok we aren't playing a game of twenty questions again, Temari" Ino huffed, irritated and fighting her own raise in her voice, as she went to step towards the room.
"Don't wake him" Temari firmly said, a command, glancing back out the window into the cracked streets of the underground, adding quieter "he's exhausted, so let him sleep" with the remark, Ino stilled in her move to go to the room and glanced at the seated blonde, seeking her answers elsewhere.
"Heard he got shot" Ino muttered.
"He'll live" Temari hummed in response, faking disinterest.
Silence.
"You know I don't trust you, right?" Ino crossed her arms, brows furrowed when Temari sighed, almost annoyingly.
"I never asked you to trust me, now did I?" Temari rolled her eyes, wanting to ignore the blonde, wanting her quiet back, but this quiet was different and she didn't quite like it as much as his. It was suffocating. Feeling the blue gaze of Ino still on her, attempting to pick apart her stoic pose and with a heavy sigh, forced to accept that if she trusted him she had to trust his family as well, though not as softly as she had been to him "are you going to stand there and keep glaring at me, or do you want to join me for a drink?" she tilted her head to look at her "Ino" the blonde slowly relaxed her arms and moved towards her, cautiously, as expected, she softened her look and held the neck of the bottle towards her when she came closer.
"I hate scotch" Ino muttered giving a curious look to the brand.
"So do I" Temari shrugged and sighed, relaxing into the side of the window, watching Ino "but it's all he has in this doomsday bunker" a snort escaped Ino as she spoke glancing back over to Temari.
"Did he tell you it's called a safe house?" Ino deadpanned.
"Yeah" Temari grinned slowly and shared in the amusement as Ino tilted the drink back with a disgusted look "what brings you here anyways?"
"I just wanted to update him about everyone" she cleared her throat, attempting to swallow down the shot smoother "since we can't communicate with electronics while we're in hiding" Ino glanced back at the bottle, quieter now "I wanted to let him know we all made it out safely so he wouldn't worry" ties that were needed not wanted, family.
"You are his family, yes?" Temari dragged her knee up to hug them as she watched the blonde nod proudly, happy in the memory, worry sparked behind her blue gaze as she looked back to her.
"I call it our twin connection since we grew up together, Shikamaru is practically my brother" her fond grin quickly crushed with annoyance and her plucked brows furrowed "when he's not being a jackass or running off on his own doing" she paused glancing back at Temari "other stuff" she muttered uncomfortably with a blush.
"So you care for him, in your own way" Temari ignored the remark, reminded that Ino had a interesting way of pulling secrets out herself, Sen always one to read into others as her leader did.
"Sometimes he just needs a kick in the right direction" Ino leaned against the window, close to her bent legs, tensing as she glanced over to Temari's curious stare, leaning away slightly from her "I don't mean a physical kick, you know"
"It worked for me" Temari shrugged, watching the next shot swung back, nervous under the narrowed teals "got him to see what was right in front of him, got him to see who was really betraying our countries"
"Also left a bruise" Ino moved the scotch back to her, still making a face from her second shot.
"Those go away" Temari swung back the bottle, the bitter taste long forgotten "physical pain is easy to endure, because skin can heal, but pain taken to the mind is much harder, it's more dangerous than any cut to the flesh, because of how long it can take to heal, if ever" With her statement Ino looked from her to the floor, thoughtful, and back to her.
"So how many times did you get injected?" She ventured.
"More than once" Temari smirked as Ino attempted to have her previous question answered, the blonde huffed in response grabbing the bottle as it returned to her.
"You're still mean" she muttered, going for her next shot.
"I didn't get this far in life by being nice to everyone" Temari stated with a shrug and leaned closer to her, dropping a bare leg to hang off the side and look closely at Ino's' dimmed features, the only light shown from the street lamps outside "You can stop worrying"
"I'm not worried" tensed under the quiet glare now, confused by the sudden closeness, her attempt at intimidation a success, her high ground aiding her in listening, aiding Temari in grabbing the bottle back.
"One thing you should know about me, Ino, is I hate liars" she spoke quieter, bottle now in hand as she leaned back, waiting for her confession, seeking to sooth the worry.
"Can you make sure he doesn't get hurt or killed, going rogue, doing what we did, is dangerous" she quickly glanced at Temari "for all of us and he would have never made this decision if he didn't have to" Ino looked down into the floorboards bringing a hand to rub nervously against her arm.
"He came to me back in River" Temari began quietly, letting out a sigh, eyes shut "and I was to stubborn to see that he meant well, so I am to blame for this as well, but sometimes you have to break a few rules in order to accomplish a mission" Her eyes opened, turning them to the quiet blonde as she leaned her head against the window, the thoughts of Baki returning as he fingers gripped the bottle tighter "I trust him now, therefore I will protect him as if he was one of my own, I promise you this much"
"Thanks" Ino muttered, the smile offered, real, worry still lingering regardless "well good night Temari" he offered a wave as she moved away to the door.
"Night, Blondie" she called after her, quieter.
When the door shut, she let out a sigh and held the bottle in her lap again, a temporary relief, a way to stop feeling the grief, to stop feeling everything.
Nothing.
Mourning loss had forced her down, to calm her, remind her, it's as if Baki had known, the stubborn old fool. She shut her eyes briefly and grinned to herself, as she had joked with him once, even the dead could aid the living. Even as a child, he had been a gruff old man to her, only seen when needed, only staying as long enough to throw a life lesson her way, old saying and riddles that made her contemplate and think.
Her private lessons with her brothers a bore most days, her father's demands for perfect children keeping her on guard every day. Some days easier to avoid him others near impossible when a command was forced. Baki remained a constant, in a way preparing her for what day it would be, good or bad, she had always looked up to him for guidance. Her training complete, he began to aid her in the way to stand behind and lead, simply a man who had created the weapon to be used against Lord Rasa, his dead daughter more than willing to keep the country safe from what had once been endured.
The feeling for him, the grief, still lingered.
Clink.
"Can I ask you something?" The smell of smoke followed his voice.
"You just did" the impulsive response met with a scoff, teals peeking open to glance at his approach. Shikamaru moved away from the doorway he had been leaning on to come towards her perched body at the window "why are you up anyways?" Keeping her voice even, observing the dragging pace, still tired as he had been before, less tense than he had been after seeing the crack in her facade, the embrace had been cooking to her skin, soothing, and she stubbornly did not want that tie to him.
Nothing.
"Nightmare woke me up" he admitted, a yawn drawn out with his words "that scorpion venom lasts a while, doesn't it?" she nodded, with a curious hum in her voice as she asked.
"What was it about?" Leaning against her palm, ready to listen for her own gain.
"Ironically, I got shot" she snorted and laughed, quieting the sound into her palm, sure that the grin on his face was just as amused as she was. The breath of fresh air opening up the conversation, unknowingly to her, he was just as curious "How many times did you have to endure it?" casual, blowing out smoke, ready to stop asking if she shot him down, but she spoke.
"Thirteen times" she furrowed her brows and scoffed "no wait, fourteen, I almost forgot you tried to subdue me with it"
"I would apologize, but you started it, woman" he scoffed and blew smoke away muttering a hidden admission "and you fight dirty sometimes so had to do something" he shrugged.
"I only fight dirty when I have to" she flashed a smirk, ego stroked at the comment, always having her own backup plan of fighting didn't work, but seeing through his distraction, her guard down now. A fleeting though of how annoyingly challenging yet easy it was to talk to this man, she gave in "so what is it you wanted to ask me?"
"I need you to take me to see Itachi" he stated quietly, looking back to her, to catch the subtle narrow in her eyes, colder at the mention.
"Why?" She asked her tone dropping lowly, wary.
"Person of interest" he shrugged, sluggish with sleep still.
"Be specific, Nara" unchanged and serious.
"I've got a feeling that he might be involved with Tsunade" he sighed leaning against the window beside her legs, trailing his dark gaze from them to her glare as she listened "he was spotted in Kumo last year, so why would he come back to Konoha now, why at the same time you were ordered to come here, also at the same time Orochimaru took over Suna" the peeling gaze set on her, seeking truth, she inhaled once, thoughtful "his file had always been pristine, never failed a mission, so why would he fail shooting one man?"
"You ask a lot of questions for someone who's supposed to have all the answers, Nara" she muttered, feeling the frustration prickling on her own back, going for the bottle, but he had already taken it in hand with a sigh.
"If you want I can drag on about philosophical bullshit of why I do it" he swung back the bottle and set it further from her when he was finished "or you can just tell me and save us both the trouble, Princess" daringly stupid as he was arrogantly smart, she leaned back slowly, keeping her honest, the smile that followed, in disbelief at his audacity and relief in her choice in trusting him. As much as she wanted to to knock the snarky grin off his face a part wanted to test her lingering theory, she wanted her simple explanation to all of him.
Fated to meet Temari had decided, when she stood in the back of the crowd across the street, watching Dai Shimaru speak ill of Wind and her brother, the hidden ruler of Suna. Her glaring look turned up to the perch Itachi was at, hidden behind a covered window, ready to take out his target on cue, but she had been distracted. Head lowered and peeking up curiously to watch as the leader of the agency crossed her path, a unpredicted sighting she hadn't anticipated. Shikamaru passing her with Kiba and Sai at his back, speaking to the earpiece in his ear, a flash of annoyance, and something mumbled about lighter security than usual, her doing of making sure the start of the attacks began on her terms, thought neither got what they wanted.
A bullet that missed and a man who still ended up dying.
She hadn't meant to look up at him the first time they truly met, when she had crashed into him at the Iwa embassy, her purposefully move to grab the key card away from him, to have him blinded to her own knowledge of intel gathering at the embassy herself. She had almost forgotten to stumble in her words and keep speaking Iwaian, that second long slip was enough to annoy her the rest of the day, while the agency scrambled to figure out who had intervened their mission. It had been step one to get to the head of the beast.
The unexpected sight of him leaving Hidan's room that night, the way he paused and looked at her, recognizing her as if they had known each other before. Her escape had been close, she had sent her ladies to stall them, to keep herself hidden, but when they finally locked eyes again and he spoke her name, the danger had been too real. Doomed to fail, or a new plan to succeed?
Slowly, but surely she had to trust him now to keep her secrets as well.
"I will take you to him" she nodded, agreeing, and raised a finger "under one condition" revealing what she had truly used Sauske's prolonged torture for, what he had been seeking since she had paused and hid the knowledge from him "neither of us can kill him, because his death is already promised to another, to someone I used as my backup plan"
"Sauske" Shikamaru nodded in agreement, confirming his own suspicions "I'm starting to understand why your training with the venom is hidden from other nations" he mumbled blowing out the last of the smoke cloud.
"If there is one thing I know, for certain" she sighed, her gaze set to the streets, crowded with every overthought feeling, of her brothers, of her family, of her distractions hints earlier, he had questioned and she had quietly sat at the window contemplating it, his words just as dangerous as hers, and she finally admitted it out loud "is Itachi Uchiha never misses his target and he missed Dai Shimaru on purpose" she clicked her tongue, just a subtle glare forced his way "but you already figured that out, didn't you, genius" she drew out mockingly.
"Maybe" Shikamaru muttered and leaned away with a tight smile, glad to have gotten what he wanted, at least she had figured it out, stepping back towards the room, relaxed enough to know she would aid him through the endeavor of finding the missing puzzle pieces to the real reason why the preparations for war had started, soon he would know everything, from all sides "night, Temari" he called back quieter, feeling the teals at his back as he moved away from her.
Nothing, she stubbornly lied to herself.
"Shikamaru" she stopped his turn back into the room, looking back to see her glaring out the window now, tense and uncomfortable "it's cold here" her admission keeping them both still for a moment.
"Do you want to come to bed?" His simple question, she contemplated entertaining the guilty pleasure, to test the theory, and dramatically released a sigh as she stood from the windowsill.
"If you insist" she'd die before she admitted to her hidden craving, a need for him, a want to be laid beside him, to be close to the soft touch from earlier, to the words he had said. Technically it was a bedroom she was entering into, so she could keep it behind closed doors.
"You could have just-" he began, stilling against the doorframe as she shoved a hand into his chest pushing him back, glaring up at him, no lies he reminded himself.
The truth lied with her.
"Shut up or I'll kick your ass again" her threat made, her secret exposed, she entered the room and climbed into the messy bed warmed from his sleep a few minutes ago.
"Troublesome woman" with a sigh, a grin hidden at the view, he slid in after her, laid beside the stubborn woman, tensing when she turned into him, hiding her face into his bare chest, ready to settle down, the quicken of his heartbeat slowing as she warmed him, as he warmed her. A arm wrapped around her body, hesitant, but she didn't move, forcing herself to relax, to trust him as he brought her closer, a silent agreement added to the truce.
The bottle left behind on the windowsill.
His bed no longer cold.