Six years ago.
Shikamaru, Age Seventeen
"No"
He'd said that word a million times at this point, a million and one times only hurt him further, Asuma was not giving in. Straightened his fighting stance, Shikamaru repeated his response, his mentor shouting back at him from his own position behind a punching bag.
"Yes" Asuma groaned as he stepped after him, moving past the punching bag to follow his student.
"Asuma please don't make me lead this" Shikamaru caught his breath, wiping the back of his arm against his drenched forehead, his mentor's calm explanation of the mission they had coming up, turned into the test he'd been dreading for weeks, the one where he had lead a level one mission purely on accident.
"When will you learn to step up, Shikamaru?" Asuma furrowed his brows, wiping at his own brow with his sleeve, the dojo air stale with the outside doors closed.
"Just because I got lucky last time, doesn't mean I should be leading a mission" he moved to the bench, hoping distance would encourage Asuma to leave him alone "I'm not ready" he added firmly, a useless move to show his reluctance, Asuma never backed down, he should have known it was pointless arguing in the first place.
"I know that you are ready to lead this" Asuma followed after him, slower than his student as he had rushed to sit and grab his water, an hour of constant movement still fueling his adrenaline, but his body was aching, worn from the stamina drain.
"I'm not" he added quieter as he settled, absently tucking a stray strand of hair from his face behind his ear. Thinking, deciding a new plan as he looked up, an idea making way "Sauske can do it, he likes leading and bossing us around, so let him lead the mission" his suggestion brushed off when Asuma settled to his side with a drawn out sigh, on the verge of disappointed.
"Shikamaru, I'm not training Sauske" he added evenly, low voice turning to Shikamaru, serious "I'm training you to be lead agent, so that means you'll have to lead eventually" Shikamaru avoided the gaze for a moment, the reminder that Asuma had been training him since he was twelve, training him for this his position for years "listen, I know you don't feel ready, but when you took over after Kakashi got shot, you saved everybody, we could have lost six agents, and because of you, we only had one injured" he grinned proudly at him "you saved the mission and your team, if that's not leadership then prove me wrong, genius" he offered a smirk, baring the side of his teeth at him, knowing he was right.
Overthinking reared it's ugly head.
"What if I mess up this time?" He tried to stop the question before he could say it, but worry still remained heavy on him.
Luck that all he was pinning his first accidental win on, risking quick and rash moves to spare his teams location from being found out, the few seconds they had behind a shipping container the only time he shut his eyes and sorted his racing thoughts, and when his eyes opened the only path taken had been the right one. To him an accident, to the agency a success, and to his mentor, it showed that had been right to pick him for the mission, to pick him to play the part of leader when the unexpected happened.
"We all learn from our mistakes, even great men fall sometimes" Asuma ventured with a low hum in his voice, as if he knew about it all to well "it's what they do after they get up, that determines their future" his words of wisdom spoken, Shikamaru glanced over at him, hesitant.
"This is such a drag" finally giving in after a moment, he attempted to force the headache to still, rubbing his eyes with a groan.
"That's the spirit kid!" The slam to his back, meant as a reward, making him wince and cough for a second, rough, Asuma always was, agents always were "Now let's go make the Nara name proud"
"You sound like my dad" Shikamaru grumbled as he stood, reluctant, but ready for the second half of training.
"If his knee hadn't given out, he'd be the one busting your ass right now" Asuma gave a shrug, his old comrade retired just last year, leaving his son to take over, a new legacy making way.
"Do I at least" he ventured with a sigh, defeated in arguing any more, looking back to Asuma "get to pick my team?" that familiar throaty chuckle echoing into the dojo.
"You're the lead on this mission Agent Nara, all the decision are yours"
Tuesday 5:18PM
Location: Konoha Intelligence Agency
Mission: The Troublesome Escape- Part One
The quiet.
Once it had been just what he needed, silence to think, eyes closed, fingers linked together as he sorted through the paths he needed to take, a calm way to control his thoughts when they merged aimlessly behind his dark gaze. Overthinking had always been a struggle for him, with so many options, so many variables and unexpected obstacles, he did get stumped from time to time.
Even great men fall sometimes, it's what he does after, that determines his future.
She had told him, words had failed, attempting peaceful means had not aided him, and she had known it would not. The scars of the past were simply reopened as they had never healed properly to began with. Betrayed, failed, and sentenced to death, reminded that checkmate did not end with her.
Revenge between old friends had clouded reason.
"Don't" he muttered into the silent room, still staring at the door, three minutes had passed, feeling the gaze at his back since he had chosen his own side. The path of the people, not those above them.
"It's not worth mentioning" the soft voice behind him, the true one from this morning, as if she had felt the last words with him.
Asuma had let her live, made sure to let Yashamaru know, knowing the path the woman behind him would take, he knew, he had prepared him for this nearly six years ago, to lead, to fix what was broken. Shikamaru had been right to seek her, seek truth and trust in Asuma's past, his fall now given to his student to uphold and finish.
Just did it have to be so troublesome?
"Though" Temari hummed behind him, hearing the metal of the cuffs slide on the table, seeking his attention in the quiet room "I do believe you just got fired, didn't think she'd do that"
"I did" he muttered, dropping his head with a sigh, bringing a hand to rub his neck, aid his mind to still and focus, to keep the word traitor from his thoughts "well, this is a drag"
"Already giving up?" Mocking, he swore it was her default mode.
"Thought you'd be taking your own side in all this" he turned back to her, to look upon his distraction, upon the very woman who had already leaned back in her chair to catch his gaze, teals bright under the light, her smile amused that he dare question her, a comfort he realized.
A truce made.
"Remember Shikamaru" and he did "you and I signed a deal last night" a smirk "a few times actually" she tutted calmly, scolding his doubt, reaching into her shirt with a hum in her voice "I am choosing to trust you, because you see outside the lines"
"I stand outside your metaphorical hourglass is what your trying to say, isn't it?" he rolled his eyes over to her, watching her pick at one of the cuffs with a sly grin turned back to him.
"We can talk dirty later" truly the lull of this woman's voice was like a melody he wanted to listen to day and night, since when did he sound like some dead poet? "right now, it's my turn to lead" the final click, her cuffs free, she rubbed her freed wrist, her pin slipped back into her shirt before she held the cuffs with a finger towards him "should I save these for later?" his grin hard to hide, amused as she was, he sighed, gesturing to her with a wave of his hand.
"And how does the infamous Little Weasel" he mocked her nickname, her eyes narrowed slightly, but humor filled the teals "plan to get out of here? Like I said before, the doors are shut closed and can only be opened from the outside"
Temari sighed.
"I've got a little biology lesson for you, Nara" she stood stretching, sitting for hours had made her stiff and sore, lowering her arms behind her back as she made her first move, a step "The weasel is a small mammal, lean and fast, but innocent looking, people don't think they are dangerous at first glance, but they are predators nonetheless" she smirked, he furrowed his brows suspiciously, watching her near him, the tap of her boots light on the floor, stalking "when backed into a corner, a weasel fights to survive, and I've been put in many corners" voice like a siren, the devil he reminded himself, his black tie already in her hand, the memories beganning to blind him when he looked to the sun "And in order to survive this" she pulled him towards her, a tug, his eyes widened "I have to use what I've got available, which just so happeneds to be you"
"Temari" realization hit him like a ton of bricks, she wouldn't? Right?
"I'll make it up to you later" no smile, her words a whisper and if he tilted his head and squinted really hard he could see a apologetic note to it.
Her hand tugged once, it was all she needed to pull him down with a harsh jerk, just enough to wrap the tie around his neck. Her grip tightened, his gasp silenced and she pulled the lead down, forcing him to his knees, his struggle for air cut off completely, hands useless at his neck, but he didn't move, didn't fight back, he could only look, frozen in place. Kneeling before her, refusing to look away from the cold controlled gaze down, teals lacking all shine, emotionless, the reason she could not have ties to him, so she couldn't feel it.
Shikamaru stared back at the altar he had worshiped, the goddess merciless and unforgiving, and he gave in to aid her.
Trusting.
A buzz at the door.
"Agent Nara!" Her hand loosened as the door opened, his throat released and he gasped, barely hearing his name past the ringing in his ears. Kneeling on all fours, he reached for air, using a hand to loosen the tie around his neck and force his blurry sights up, catching sight of her in the edges of his vision.
She stood, straightening, the florescent glow of the room shining around her as his vision cleared, a demon disguised as an angel. A single inhale taken to catch her breath, not a hair out of place as she glanced back at him, the sun returning in her gaze, along with annoyance that he was still down, trying to calm his panting. Two agents down, one leaning against the wall with a slumped head and his companion laid a few feet on his back groaning.
"Are you coming or are you going to sit there and keep staring?" His groan following as he made his way to his feet, a stumble and comment at the ready.
"I'm adding no choking to the truce" he rasped, quickly stepping past her, part one, complete, the method used to be argued about later, her comment after making him tense, wrong mindset to be in, truly a shameless woman.
"Shame, I like getting choked"
"You could have faked it or something" he glared over to her, unconcerned with him, cold and controlled as she had been back in River. Reminded of how she had shot a man a few inches from his face, her aim just as easily could have killed him.
"Stop complaining, Nara" she rolled her eyes keeping her pace a step behind him, ready to use him as a shield if he thought about betrayal "this is your plan, not mine, all I needed to do was get us out of there" her part had been played, using the weapon appropriately, the recoil still felt around his neck. As they went to turn the corner, the stomp of dress shoes came down the hall, expected obstacle, he slowed.
"Agent Nara" the command to stop, he stilled and raised a arm stopping Temari behind him, the predicted path that he was no longer a agent now coming true. Two agents had come to get him, both with their guns raised when they saw the approach, saw their attempt at escape. Tsuande wanted him arrested, and he knew it would be a matter of time before the whole agency knew that, traitors would not be tolerated "we are here to detain you" two guns aimed at him, but he waited, the unpredictable day ahead began to move on her own, a woman who did not obey anyone. Temari stepped around passing him as she moved towards the two "following orders from Director Tsuande, you are hear by no longer a peacekeeper and therefore are wanted- stop Miss" she didn't "I said stop or we will shoot" she still didn't.
"We said stop!" The partner of the agent who had spoken, shouted now, the few feet they had from the two was crossed and she had ducked, the first shot fired, a arm twisted, a scream of pain, the sound of a gun dropping, another missed shot, one got a fist to his jaw while the other a kick to the chest, he knew how much that hurt. Standing back, simply a witness to chaos in her mortal form, he sighed when the last shout was silenced, he probably should have warned them, stepping over to her when it was over.
A part of him wondered how he ever was able to pin the woman down, outside of their fights she was untouchable.
"No guns" he muttered putting a hand out to her, teals glaring from him to his hand and back, debating, before she huffed and handed the gun over "try not to kill anyone" he glanced at the two agents, both out cold, a black eye for one, a bruise on the chest for the other, slipping the gun to the back of his belt, saved for a backup plan.
Now loyalties were tested, not by her, but by him. He moved down the hall, heading for his legacies quarters, a simple sluggish walk he usually made in the mornings, now set at a brisk pace, each step planned ahead of time in the quiet he had during his death, beside him, she followed, matching his pace, testing him silently, mistrust vanishing with each step they took.
The turn, the final one, only a few feet from the double doors and he stopped when they opened. He raised his gun, glaring pale eyes and long black hair tied back low, his partner beside him a woman, hair tied neatly in two buns on the top of her head, once his comrades in arms, his team, now questioned when they raised their guns to him.
"Stop right there, Shikamaru" Neji's cold calculating gaze, unsure for only a second before it hardened and remained that way against his former lead agent. Beside him TenTen seemed nervous, brows furrowed, thoughtful, her breath too still, she was deciding.
"Neji" he called out to him, one hand drilling the gun at him the other stilling to his side. Temari waiting and observing as he had, watching to see who would follow.
"Our orders from Tsuande are to detain you and kill her" Neji glanced past him for a moment to Temari, her glare returned just as coldly as his. Shikamaru remained unmoving and with a short glance to TenTen, his gaze catching the subtle widen of her eyes as she realized. Ino's late night aiding him, seeking allies in his own family ties. All who needed to know already knew, it was now their choice to either help him, or stand in his way.
The silent showdown coming to a conclusion.
"Sorry Neji" Tenten sighed, voice forced to remain strong, shutting her eyes and turned her gun towards him, raising it to his head.
"What are you doing?" Neji stared back at her in disbelief, unable to form words, looking quickly from her to Shikamaru.
"Helping our leader, now drop the gun cause you know I won't miss this shot" she made a calm move to twitch her gun down, her aim perfect, he gapped for a moment more before giving in.
"TenTen" Neji slowly lowered his gun to the ground, his gaze remaining on hers, agents were meant to be emotionless, their work their life, but the reluctance in each of them was felt.
"I'm really sorry, but this is important, trust me" she reached down to her side and grabbed her keycard handing it to Shikamaru as he lowered his gun and grabbed it from her "get moving Shikamaru"
"I owe you one" Shikamaru muttered in passing, using her card at the keypad. As he slipped past the doors, into the room he used to enter every morning, it was empty, screens blank, people missing, aside from a pair standing in the back and waiting on him.
"You made it out of there already?" Choji called out for Shino's side, with a huff in response, his throat aching with the reminder of how he escaped, he kept his pace towards the back.
"Shino, the flash drive" skipping formalities, glancing back as Temari looked around the room, curiously inspecting the layout as she walked over to them.
"In exchange" Shino leaned back in his chair linking his hands before him with an expectant brow raised behind his glasses, a fight ready with his next words.
He sighed.
"Temari, he wants one of those scorpions" he glanced back at her, her brows quickly furrowed as she stepped forward to glare at Shino.
"Absolutely not" the calm in her voice left her, her composure turned to quick sparked irritation.
"Do you really want to argue this?" Shikamaru muttered, pointlessly glancing between the pair, a moment before time pressured her and she straightened.
"Kankuro is going to kill me" she muttered under her breath, blew out air and pointed at Shino "fine" raising her index finger "one scorpion"
"Two" Shino raised two fingers up, calm and cool.
"One" she snapped louder.
"Two" remaining unfazed by her.
"This isn't a negotiation you two" Shikamaru groaned, putting a hand to his head.
"One" Temari repeated firmly.
"Better than none, I guess" Shino muttered, disappointed and turned to his desk grabbing a flash drive from one of the drawers "everything is in there, every level one mission, every file and every hidden report, but be careful where you open it, it uses a lot of storage, so no laptops, also try a private server, you don't want to be tracked" he handed the flash drive to Shikamaru "everything from Tsuande's personal archives as well"
"All this for a scorpion?" Temari muttered beside him, argument forgotten, brow raised at Shino in question.
"I'm a collector" he gestured to his display of terrariums and turned back to the desk with a shrug. Choji moved to Shikamaru's side keeping with him as he headed for his desk.
"You ready for this?" The worry in his friends voice, unsure, but always standing beside him.
"No" he sighed, moving a stack of files from his desk to a duffle bag "but I don't have a choice anymore, Tsuande won't back down, so we have to do this on our own" he grabbed the prepared bulletproof vest from his desk, his already worn under his button up, turning to Temari and handing it towards her.
"Do I have to?" she glared at the thick black fabric, hesitant in grabbing it.
"Do you want to get shot again?" a groan to his question, snatching it spitefully away from him, Temari grumbled to herself as she slipped on the vest.
"It's stiff, ours are more flexible than this" she twisted in the vest, getting a feel for it, hating it instantly "how do you even move in these?" he smirked.
"I believe it was you who said, use what you have available" he threw a taunt at her, glancing back to his desk finishing his packing, slipping the flash drive into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
"You're going to hold that over me for a while, aren't you?" Watching him carefully, a roll of her eyes following his next rant, his plan, her trust needed, her information just as valuable as the one he had on the flash drive, and eye for an eye she had called it last night.
"You can add that to the list" he turned back to her grabbing his duffle bag to his shoulder and began counting on his fingers "choking me, shooting me, blowing me up, poisoning me" he raised two fingers at her "twice" his complaints met with a sly narrow of her eyes.
"Fucking you" she added with a smirk and raising her hand to wave five fingers at him, grinning wider when he shot her a annoyed look under his blush. Choji standing back with a slow widen of his eyes at them, listening in, he had avoided telling his friend why Ino had looked uncomfortable and blushing while talking about the Mistress of Suna "look on the bright side, Nara, at least you have me to protect you, just like that time back in River"
"So far your protection" his eyes rolled "has caused Kiba to leave and go to therapy, Ino to chew my ear off about how mean you are, Sakura to go missing, and Sauske to hit you" he listed the news of his teams well-being, all watched under a unconcerned look back at him.
"He hits like a pussy" she scoffed and crossed her arms.
"You are unpredictable" he pointed a finger at her, she glared at it.
"Thought I was lawless" batting his hand away, leaning closer to growl back at him.
"This is what I meant when I said you are too dangerous to be on your own" he leered down at her, control threatened, teals turned up, heated and burning.
"You make me sound like a savage" and her tone changed, distrustful, ready to strike, his tie in her hand and jerked down to level his gaze to hers "regretting this already?" No. The instant thought, even now he couldn't bring himself to think it, let alone speak it, he'd still rather get shot than forget her.
Two predators fighting for dominance, heated glares turned to the other, bodies close and burning.
"Oh" the drawn out realization, the sudden interruption to the match, they both glanced over to Choji as he looked between them "so this is why Ino was acting all weird earlier" he hummed knowingly "explains so much" his cheeky grin turned suggestive between them.
"Choji" Shikamaru muttered, shoulders tensing with the gesture, Temari scoffed and released the tie letting him straighten away from her.
"Don't you two have somewhere to be?" Choji turned away, unconcerned, keeping the secret, leaving his friend to head to his own desk, his own backpack waiting.
"This is such a drag" he mumbled to himself stepping towards the doors, the stomp of her boots following after him.
"So I take it you've been talking to your people" she spoke once they made their way down the halls, so far barren and quiet.
"You're not the only one who has a family around them" he glanced over to her, a brief exchange before she grinned and kept to herself. Returning to the focus, the escape he planned, he tapped the earpiece and called in "Ino?"
"You got out already?" Ino's surprised voice, fumbling with the mic to talk back to him.
"Don't ask how" he pointed a side glare at Temari, a smug grin returned, ahead of their timing, but free from the interrogation room "update"
"Alarms disarmed, thank Shino for it. Tsuande has left the building already, so I'm guessing she's already on to you"
"Figures" he sighed, he tightened his grip on the duffel bag, frustrated in the news, in the knowledge that words hadn't helped, the last ones spoken still clinging to his thoughts.
"All set and ready" she added "and already spotting your first troublesome task of the day"
"How many?" He asked.
"Four" he glanced over at Temari raising four fingers to her and pointing right, she nodded and stepped ahead of him a turn made to her right and she disappeared around the corner a few paces ahead of him, shouts quickly following. He paused at the end of the hall, only enough to watch an agent stumble backwards towards him, a simple throw of his leg forward and the agent tripped and fell on his back, head hitting the floor, a groan before his head slumping to the side, easy down. Stepping around the corner fully, he could only stand in silence, a witness to chaos.
Three down, one standing.
Cruel became a understatement for the woman, she really was a weapon.
Her grip on one agent's hair, pulling him away from the wall she had slammed him into, a stain of blood left behind, his limp body dropped carelessly. Her new focus set on the first man she had knocked down, groaning as he attempted to sit up, met with her cold gaze tilted down to him.
"Are you down the west wing yet?" Ino chirped in his ear suddenly.
"Just about" he muttered and winced when her boot connected with the side of the agent's face and he fell back again, out cold.
"Too lazy to fight, Nara" she glanced up at him, a innocent weasel, but a predator nonetheless, a hand at her hip, catching his staring with her brow raised.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself" he scoffed, pulling himself away from staring, stepping around the unconscious trio, breathing thankfully "wouldn't want to step on your toes, Princess"
"Can't say that I'm not having fun" she agreed with him, stepping onto one of the unconscious bodies, a muffled groan coming from the agent as she followed Shikamaru down the path "haven't had to fight without a weapon in ages" she grinned at her own comment, excited for the challenge.
"You don't really need a weapon to fight anyways" he added with a quick glance at her "you kinda are one" he sighed, though seemed amused by it "and I should know that better than anyone" with the realization that no matter how he steered today there would be many injured if he didn't stick to the most barren of paths.
"Don't know whether I should feel insulted or complimented by that" she raised a curious brow at him, peeking forward to look at him, distracting him in looking ahead.
"It's a compliment" her grin expected, a blush following, he fought back his own at the gesture.
Beautiful.
"So" his brows furrowed quickly as Ino called in, hearing their conversation, making him tense and remember he should be mindful as she could hear everything "are you just gonna let your new girlfriend fight for you?"
"Why do you have to do this to me, Ino?" He mumbled, glaring ahead annoyingly, Temari straightening back at his side, absently listening.
"She's mean, hot, but mean" Ino snorted, his discomfort at the scold glanced at by the blonde at his side, catching the teals for a second as Ino rambled on "all the women in the world and you find this one to jump into bed with" he glanced away from her.
"Just stop bringing it up, it's complicated as is" knowing trying to whisper was useless.
"Everything about you is complicated" Ino huffed with a jab to follow "including your taste in women" his brows furrowed further, now seeking to annoy her back.
"I've seen what kind of men you've dated, Ino" smug in calling her out "so don't judge me"
"Ok so a few jerks thrown into the mix isn't so bad" he could practically hear her eyes roll over the mic "but I'm not the one flirting on a mission" he tensed "Princess"
"Tell Blondie" Temari interrupted his one sided conversation, glancing back to him, raising her voice loud enough "to stop yapping unless she has more heads for me to crack open"
Silence.
"Told you, mean" Ino muttered quieter "and violent"
"Troublesome women everywhere I go" dragging a hand across his face, a groan following. He mapped out his path, Ino calling in from time to time to steer him away from the lobby of agents, only passing a handful of others in the process, easily subdued by the pair, keeping the escape towards the back of the building, towards the car made ready by Lee, aiding the jailbreak, an ally.
"Spotting two coming down to your left" Ino called in, keeping professional, mostly "bet your girlfriend is gonna love who it is"
"Two" he glanced over to Temari, already alert as they slowed to the end of the hall, just spotting the flash of bandages on the two men heading their way. With the realization of who was coming, Temari grinned and turned the corner, Shikamaru sighing as he stepped to her side, glancing from the pair to the hourglass in her amusement.
"Hi boys, ready for round two?" the pull at her lips, the shocked and fearful expressions of Izumo and Kotetsu quickly turned from her to Shikamaru.
"Just step aside or she will hurt you guys again" his calm plea spoken, Kotetsu and Izumo nodded quickly and moved to one side of the hall, remaining there are they passed, the mocking smile from the woman who had beaten them making them tense uncomfortably as the pair left around the corner.
"Last hallway Shikamaru, you are free to go" Ino buzzed out and Shikamaru sighed in relief, two turns and down the stairs, that was the plan.
"Alright, get out and keep hidden until it's all clear"
"Don't worry about us, worry about your girlfriend" he groaned.
"Goodbye Ino" quick in grabbing the piece form his ear, tossing it aside, no electronics to be tracked, freedom close, the woman at his side glancing back at him, a brief exchange knowing part two was almost over.
The corner ahead, the pair stepping out, stilling when someone spoke.
"Stop right there"
The familiar voice.
Shikamaru stopped, a arm drawn out quickly to pull Temari behind him, to move back around the corner, but the sound echoing in the halls made him realize what had happened in the moment.
A bullet meant for her had hit him instead.
The shot, a graze of the bullet to his left arm, he looked down slowly, painful sure, but as he used his right hand to cover the wound, his first instinctual thought to hold pressure, he looked back to Shiho in disbelief, her hands shaking as she attempted to steady the gun again, her first time.
No longer innocent.
"Huh" Temari glanced from his arm to him "guess I was right about other women wanting you dead" turning her gaze back to Shiho, the shock of the first shot still lingering, but quickly shaking away as she forced herself to speak.
"I said stop, Shikamaru" she shook the gun before her, hands shaking still, but determined behind her glasses "stop this whole plan you've got going on and just give up now, I don't know what it's about, I don't know what you did, I never do" she took a breath "but I know Tsuande wants you stopped along with her"
"Shiho, put the gun down please" his calm plea, the woman wasn't budging, but the one beside him did move.
The grin slowly spread across her lips, the devil making way.
"So this is the ex girlfriend" she drew out the words, Shiho quick to turn her gaze to Temari, forced to listen to her "seems you have a thing for blondes, Nara" and she moved, the tap of her boots light as she stepped away from Shikamaru, subtly inching closer to Shiho, a wolf stalking a nervous rabbit, prey that dared fight back "do you think we should tell her" Shiho's brows furrowed, confused "about our little secret?" she took another step, paused as the gun pointed to her now, the grin that followed, knowing and deceitful, daring Shiho to shoot.
After a moment, the wolf took another step in the hesitation, curious the rabbit was.
"Why don't you tell her?" she glanced back to Shikamaru, frozen to his spot holding his bleeding arm, still stuck in disbelief, sights set on the rabbit as she looked over to him, seeking truth, offered only lies as he looked down, following Temari's lead now "tell her" the rabbit looked back to the predator stalking her "about how I screamed your name all night long while we fucked" the gun fired at her truth, bullet lodged into the ceiling, Shiho's wrist gripped tightly in hand and her throat in the other as she pushed her into the wall "it's one thing to point guns at your ex, but at me? Not very smart of you, dear" voice calm, leaning closer to Shiho, glaring past the glasses, a final strike "he's mine"
His death was on her hands, she had made that promise.
"Enough" gaining back his voice he stepped towards her, holding his bleeding arm still, wanting to grab her away, to leave the innocent alone, but stopped a step away, a warning look shot back at Temari "we have to go"
Temari released her, her point made with a scoff, listening to him, teals never moving past the woman's frightened stare, pinning Shiho into the wall with the look alone, her prey frozen in fear. Grabbing the gun from Shiho's hand, her touch pulled away and Shiho gasped dropping to the floor in the same motion, her chest shuddering under the now rolling teals as Temari stepped away, gun in hand and moving past Shikamaru casually as if she hadn't done anything.
Shikamaru resisted, the urge, the habit of aiding, of protecting what had been once been a taste of normalcy, he had left because he had been living a lie. Work and life were supposed to be separate, but even he knew he wasn't normal, no agent truly was. He opened his mouth, torn to speak, to find a way to apologize, but it was not in the plans, it was the unexpected. Shiho stared up to him, silent as he was, waiting, but when his mouth shut and he wordlessly turned his gaze down the hall, he stepped away, keeping quiet, keeping the secrets.
Lying as he always had to her.
Song suggestion- Camlyio- Trouble
An escape so close by she could taste fresh air, but it wasn't what she wanted.
She wanted the truth.
"I know you're just dying to ask" Temari called back to him, teals remaining at the door, as he managed to make it to the hall, a staircase to the parking deck at its end.
"Did you have to do that to her?" the blood boiled, but his tone was quiet, forced to remain calm, the display crueler than any he had ever witnessed, and she knew it.
"Eye for an eye, Nara" she drew out, reminding him "I got hurt, you get hurt, each of us aided the other, and to me, we are now even" she glanced back briefly, bluntly stating "I did you a favor anyways" keeping her slow pace forward, waiting, her glare darkened when he spoke, his fight back, the test was at its final question.
The lover's tie.
Where true loyalties lied.
"A favor?"
She sighed.
"Even now you'd still lie to the poor thing" Temari stopped, turning her head to look back at him as he stepped closer, a strike to break the mask "you must have been a terrible boyfriend to her"
"What you did was unnecessary" he inhaled sharply, sparked, but not enough.
"It's a easy decision, my life or hers, survival instincts Nara" she shrugged, unconcerned "I didn't kill her, so you can mend your little pathetic romance with her when this is over" she turned to face him, leering up into the dark eyes, darker now than the soft amber flecks she had seen during the morning spent alone, she suddenly hated the memory, the way it played in her head, almost blinding her "that's if she doesn't shoot you again, you idiot!" she snapped, her bite back making his chest heave, teals forcing him to remember, to remember everything around him. Forced to remember who she was, chaos, a weapon, nothing more past his bedroom door.
Trouble.
"You are an infuriating woman" spoken through gritted teeth.
"But you seem to like that about me, the way I make you lose it, lose your own control and disregard the rules that have been keeping you blinded" she hummed knowingly, darker the gaze went "if you're having regrets, turn back now, run away, give up, break our truce, figure out some other way to stop this, because I do not tolerate dead weight" she jabbed a finger into his chest swaying him back "and I do not ever apologize for the things I've done to get where I am, I am a survivor, and fighting is all I have ever known" she inhaled sharply trying to remain calm at her own memories "and I will continue to fight until I no longer can" she stepped closer, just a step away from touching, seeking truth "so I ask you this, Shikamaru" a lean away from remembering "are you a sheep or a wolf?"
Silence, why did she have doubts suddenly?
"The way you encourage people needs a lot of work" still irate at the sight of her, stilling the fire when she pulled a grin back at him, one he hadn't seen before, grateful.
The second tie made.
"Gets the job done" she hummed softer, reaching into her back pocket, pulling out the flash drive she had stolen and lifted it up to him "I trust you now, Shikamaru" the quick look down to it then back to her, he grabbed the flash drive with a sigh, remaining quiet as she turned away from him, heading for the stairs of the parking deck, boots stomping with each step, the sharp edge of her command returning, back to normal, no longer soft "now move, crybaby"
"I'd prefer idiot" he called after her, stepping quickly to open the door with the card and glare at her in passing.
"Tough luck, crybaby"
You could not compare her to another woman, she was like no other, an acquired taste, not for everyone, but he had gotten used to her, he even, dare he say, craved her.
Whether it's sighed in blood, sweat, or cum, once the ink hits the contract, an unbreakable deal is made.
A truce.
A promise.
The purr in her throat, she wasn't sure if he was doing this on purpose or simply couldn't resist fighting back against her a third time when she had attacked first. Seeking to learn more of his knowledge, to reveal his secrets, but he seemed to have had the same plan as she did, great minds thought alike she guessed. She hadn't met a man as hungry as he was, his worship shown through the greed of his tongue against her slit, pussy wet and warm, drinking her as if he'd been parched for years.
A wolf who had been starved at his leash.
She allowed him his fill, allowed him to mark and ravish her, to bite and use her, to satisfy himself, leaving behind marks she would look back on and surprisingly shiver at. Men did not make her need, sex was easy, a want for temporary relief. What she didn't know at the time, was his conquest would create a web around her heart, the one she was told to keep open.
The rhythm of his tongue, already taught how to play her. Most men were just lucky to be picked once, but a third time, and the man had already studied her body long enough to find each spot that gave him the reaction he wanted, like her words, his touch was purposeful.
Playing her like a song.
"You thirst as if you'd never seen water before" her words moaned into the cold still air of the room, the smell of sex lingering around them, her body laid bare against the sheets and his touch against her legs cooling her skin, keeping her warm, not burning hot.
"I haven't drank in a while" he grunted between her legs, eyes downturned and staring back at his own oasis "and you are offering, so" his voice lower, vibrating her body in a shudder with the connection of his lips to hers again, his gaze turned up to watching her, watching the sharp inhale as he continued where he left off, content as she was, but her curiosity was sparked, she wanted to know what he could offer her beyond the bedroom door, that is, if they ever decided to leave the little slice of heaven they had created.
Why so hungry?
"So this truce" she paused, her breath caught suddenly, a flick of his tongue on her clit causing forgetfulness, her eyes shut and head rolled back into the pillow with her whining moan after his warning for her to silence, but Temari was not one to obey so easily, she did not bow to men, they bowed to her "what are the terms?" she fought against the threat, the warming pleasure, his grip tightening on her legs to still her as he glared back at her disobedience, distracting him from his task at hand. Dark eyes staring back across the curve of her toned abdomen and past the heaving chest and breasts to her parted reddened lips, the sound rolling down her body to him as he pulled back reluctantly.
"Do you want me to explain it while I'm down here enjoying myself?" brows furrowed, annoyance starting with the realization she wouldn't give in until she got what she wanted.
"You can try" she encouraged with a sly grin at the ceiling, challenging him, motivating him to follow her orders, to satisfy her curiosity.
"That's impossible, Princess" he glanced down once, longing for silence, then back up to her as she scoffed, sitting up on her elbows to look at him.
"Nothing is impossible" she smirked over to him, a taunting memory ready to torture "just difficult" he gave her a moment, a brief time to think, before answering.
"Sounds like a lot of work" he sighed, leaning against her thigh, absently running his fingers along the skin at her hip, gentle in touching the bruises, a glance down and remaining there.
Starved.
"Lazy man" the insult met with a narrow of his lids, he hummed, thoughtful, dangerous, her eyes widened as he released one of her bent legs, using the same hand to glide across the skin of her inner thigh, playing her body, slowly relaxing the leg into the bed as he moved from his laying position to kneel before his altar, to continue his worship as their eyes met.
"Troublesome woman" two fingers already inside her, deep and commanding, her lip quickly caught in her teeth, refusing to make noise to his own disobedience towards her, his task of drinking complete, his new focus, controlling the pace of her orgasm.
"The terms, now" she demanded, laying back to glare at the shadow above her, stubborn even now, her win no longer in sight, a tie between the two so far, and she refused to lose against him again.
How dare a shadow rise above the sun.
"Say please" calm, she wanted to rip him into shreds with her bare hands, but he had taken that option away from her.
"I will not beg" fingers gripping the sheets, occupied in keeping her grounded, keeping the pleading whine from escaping, torture.
"You've done it once already" he reminded her, gripping tighter at the leg resting on his shoulder "so I know" a harsher stroke, fingers bent, a thumb to her clit, circling, controlling "I can convince you to do it a second time" she managed to still long enough to fight back, the bliss burning in the distance, wanting nothing more than to jump into the fire, needing him to push her.
"Your arrogance will get you killed" she managed the threat, barely, her body betraying her, the low voice against her skin, a soft kiss to it, soothing the fire, finally doing its work of making her arch her back, a desperate plea threatening to let loose, beginning to wither under his calm control, her fight back hopeless now.
"You can try" his pace changed, a single finger stroking inside all on its own, one spot needed, a final hit "I'll even let you go first again"
She submitted to him.
"Shikamaru" her eyes shut tightly, his name spat through her teeth.
"Yes?" calm, she hated it at the moment.
"I need you to fuck me" with her sinful confession, she just parted her eyes to witness the smug grin, not a simple minded man at all.
"As you wish, Princess" his fingers gone, her climax threatened to fall, to become nonexistent, and he moved between her legs to aid her, a press of his hard member against her aching slit, soaked and throbbing, begging for him, needing to be filled, to make whole again as he pushed into her. The relief finally releasing her voice with the connection, the moan long and too painful to contain anymore.
"The terms" he hummed above her, thoughtful, a hand to her thigh, another holding himself above her, setting a grinding stroke as he spoke "no killing each other"
"That was a given" she smirked, he silenced her humor with a thrust, keeping at his pace not hers.
"This also includes no shooting, no knives, no poisoning" he added with a scoff at the memory, dragging a hand against her thighs to her knee "and no explosives in abandoned buildings"
"I have been told my foreplay is quite dangerous" she laughed through her panting, a test, one he didn't know he failed with his next words.
"I wonder who told you that" his next thrust harder, angered by the idea of another touching her, a slip on his calm control, strange he had wondered at the time.
"I still have secrets you don't know about" she hummed in her victory, an opening made, to use him as he used her. Defiance, he realized, even with control no one could tame the goddess of chaos, her mortal form simply a disguise.
A perfect distraction.
"No secrets" the subtle growl behind his voice, firm in the demand, sparked fire behind her gaze, seeking to fight back now, to argue over the other, predators battling for dominance "we need all the information the other has, we work together as a team"
"Now that's not fair" she wrapped her legs around him, gripping tight, bringing his fall down into her, his elbow just catching himself from losing all composure, glaring back at the teasing teals, amused to see her win appear in the distance again "I believe in give and take, an eye for an eye, Nara" hands trailing across his back, claiming skin under her claws, leaving her own marks behind, he hissed with the strike, but never stopped his push into her, member throbbing harder with her words, harder with each stroke, seeking now for fight back just as dirty as she did.
"I am giving" slow and low, soothing, betraying "and you are taking" her gasp silenced, his thrust forward harsher, rough enough to claim her voice in the moment, keeping her quiet, keeping her tongue twisted and claws sheathed "Temari" her name, her real name, a knot made without her even realizing it, the man was not simpleminded, the ties he created were silent and as purposeful as her moves.
The control given and she relaxed, trusting him.
His touch was that of a lover, he simply learned how to tie tangled knots without her noticing, like a shadow, not seen, not heard, not felt, until it was too late.
"One more thing" she panted, holding the back of his neck with her clawed fingers, relaxing them to bring him close, touching his damp forehead to hers, breathing the same air as he did.
Her need for him.
"Yes?" a quiet hush in his voice, fighting against instincts, fighting the grip from hell, to listen to the holy words from heaven. To be a saint against her demons, his promise to be seen through, content in watching hell burn beside her.
His need for her.
"No lies" she whispered breathlessly against his lips, waiting for him, he had made her patient now.
"No lies" he agreed and obeyed the demand to kiss her, their press feverish, hungry to claim the other, to keep grounded alongside each other.
Their lips parted, eyes refusing to turn away from the other, guards down, the truth behind their facades seen by their souls, the end met with a connection of bodies and his name echoing behind closed doors.
The first tie made.
Tuesday 5:40PM
Mission: The Troublesome Escape- Part Three
"That was easy, almost boring really"
Cheerful.
The woman was fucking cheerful at escaping. Grinning wide and openly to him, betraying her entire mood inside headquarters, a part wondering when she decided to switch. With Lee aiding them, having waited by the new car, their things ready to go, he had thanked him and the two had left, minutes remaining before the agency would start their hunt outside of the building.
"Of course you would think that" he groaned, holding a hand to his stinging arm, a reminder of the ties he needed not the ones he wanted.
He wanted a normal life, always had, but agents needed to be dedicated, their dangerous life was everything to them.
"Don't start whining about it" she smirked "crybaby" with her tease, a look to his arm, she began stripping the black leather jacket off and pulled at the hem of her shirt up and over her head, leaving herself in nothing but a bra.
Reminded how she had no shame as Ino had put it.
"What are you doing?" His glanced over catching the scene, watching her tear at the fabric, his eyes wandering to the tanned skin, spotting the scar he had touched that morning, running a few inches horizontally at the side of her ribs. Remembering to not touch it or her, touch is for lovers she had said, a fleeting thought mixed in with one's about the mission at hand, part three making way, and the wound on his arm now being her main focus.
Overthinking stopped for a moment.
His main focus changed, his eyes dropping despite himself, lewd bastard he though instantly, a short glance at the breasts pushed together and suffocated in the bra. A far away memory of how they felt and tasted under his tongue and hands, realizing she had just turned towards him and he forced his stare away back onto the streets of the city.
"Making sure you don't pass out from blood loss, genius, do I need to explain everything to you" his eyes rolled "now start stripping Nara" she ripped at her shirt, stripping a piece of fabric apart and looked to him, a subtle blush, fingers tight on the steering wheel, glaring ahead into the road as if looking at her was forbidden, easy win, suggestive and sly "hungry?" he sighed at his loss, caught, keeping calm, refusing to look her way as he moved to strip the suit jacket off, a quick glance at his arm, the sleeve soaked but thankfully the now red stained white button up remained hidden under black suit jacket. Temari leaned over to him, space invaded whether he wanted it or not, working at his buttons, going under his arm at the wheel and beganning to inspect the wound.
"You've got some luck Nara" she scoffed amused "or that woman was just a shit shot" she began to wipe at the blood, listening as he sighed, a part still remembering the final look as he lied to Shiho again.
"That woman has never held a gun before in her life" innocent he thought instantly, he had dirtied her hands and it was his fault "she's not an agent" his grip tightening on the wheel when she spoke under him.
"Why would you be with someone like her, she's like glass, delicate, weak" Temari peeked at him briefly "I could have knocked her down with my pinkie" he remained quiet, uncomfortable, a new hit required to annoy him enough to tell her "did you love her?"
"Can you stop sticking your nose in my personal business?" He tensed, she could feel the stiff muscle as she wrapped her torn shirt around it.
"Truce Nara" snarky in reminding him "your business is now my business" she tied the fabric around his arm, keeping it tight enough
"That is not-"
"I'm making it a part of the truce" she declared, interrupting him. He glared down to her.
"You can't-"
"I just did" her words final, he just caught the annoyed glare back up at him as she pulling away from his arm and settled into the passenger seat, leaving his shirt open in spite.
"Ino was right" he moved to button up the shirt as best as he could with a single hand "you Suna women are mean" he muttered with a sigh, accepting the truth.
"And you Konoha men are soft" she shot back, putting her jacket back on over the bra, zipping up and ignoring his eye roll at her statement "how much longer?"
"Two minutes" his focus returned, his count to six pm, their subway train would be on time, but would they? His arm aching still, suit jacket hiding the blood, but when his breath released he was sure the plan would pull through. Temari nodded as she pulled at the ties in her hair, letting loose her true identity in a wave of unruly wind blown gold strings.
Both cold and controlled as soon as the car stopped, focused on the mission. He grabbed the duffel bag from the back of the seat as they stepped out walking to the back, the trunk opened and each grabbed a backpack, Lee doing his part in aiding their escape. Turning, each taking a even pace alongside the other they moved towards the subway station a block away.
"Try not to get caught, Nara" her final taunt met with a restrained grin, attempting to hide his amusement as they split to either side of the subway station, blending into the crowd. Already knowing the tracker in the car would have brought the agents out into the open, attempting a futile chase against two great minds who had linked together against a common enemy.
The Little Weasel's plan making way, her grand escape, and he was just along for the ride.
Slipping into the bathroom and into one of the stalls, he wasted no time in stripping the suit jacket and button up off his body, his vest following, careful in slipping the oversized hoodie over his head, keeping her torn shirt in its place, keeping his wound from dripping down his arm as he manged to wash some of the stained blood off after. As he changed out of the suit and into the casual cloths he finished by releasing the tie in his hair and wrapping half up, no longer wearing their mask but his own.
Nothing more than a normal man blending in with the crowd.
As he stepped out, slouched and dragging each step casually, holding the duffel bag to his side like a gym bag, the flash drive tucked away in his jean pocket along with Asuma's lighter, his head lowered past a pair of familiar suited men, agents moving down the evening crowd in search of them.
Seating himself in the subway train, duffle back behind his legs, he glanced under his hood, the section barren with a few stray people entering. When the train moved his eyes shut in relief, the breath he'd been holding finally escaped and they had made it just in time, that was if she actually made it here.
His distraction truly was a variable he couldn't expect, about as predictable as a blinding storm on a calm day.
The flare of a green mini skirt caught his attention, something oddly familiar about those legs when he noticed the combat boots, he worked his gaze up to witness her teals waiting for him. Temari smirked, quick and teasing before she turned and sat herself across from him on the empty row, knees together hands shoved into the leather jacket, new white shirt in place. Wild golden hair, edged and messy, bangs hiding parts of her face, mascara darkening her eyes, enhancing her teals. A completely different woman to anyone around them. The bruise to the side of her lip still remaining, a reminder that he had once again been too late to stop it, to stop Sauske from striking her. Vowing then that no one would touch her while he was around, they were now a team.
Glancing down, he'd blame it later on his eyes growing weary, watching the even rise and fall of her blushed chest, the slight bounce of her peaking breasts as the train moved, his mark just peering around the curve of her breast, his touch on her skin and the memories played before he could stop it.
She had said she would make it up to him, no, he couldn't do this anymore, not that at least, nothing but a deal, she had only been his for a night, ink to paper, partners in crime, nothing more past his bedroom door. One of those experiences you only get once in your life, one he savored while he had it, had her. A breath of fresh air, that's all, but why was he suddenly holding his breath.
Her gaze, the teals peeking under her lashes as she quietly observed him back, and he forgot about everything, mind threatening to go blank. Had he been staring? Had she? Her eyes wandered, turning down the isle one way then the other, her lip curled, he swallowed as he watched the gesture before she shifted, trouble.
His gaze dropped to her bare knees, just catching the view as she spread them apart far enough, her movement to cross them giving him just a glimpse, his eyes widened, no underwear. No limits with this one.
Once was a mistake.
Twice was simple curiosity.
But five times, even he was surprised at himself for keeping up.
He hated temptation, but who could resist a addiction?
And he let the day dream play out behind his focused gaze, the path led by lust, the devil controlling his sinful thoughts for a moment.
A taste of the divine, right between her legs, a sudden craving to kneel before the altar and beg for mercy, his throat parched as it had been last night. Pathetic he told himself, the way he'd lunge forward and drop down to his knees before her, looking up to her for approval, to plea for her to spread her legs and let himself enjoy what she had to offer. To beg for her to allow him to claim her, to devour her.
Hungry.
A fleeting scene where she came to him, to aid him, to gift him with a press down against his throbbing member, to satisfy him, control him. To share in their secret once more, to feed his addiction to the touch of her warm skin, to accept the claws at the end of her fingers as they claimed him just as willingly.
Mine, she had called him.
The way he'd simply grab her, pulling her up to him, a press of lips brief, rough, her skirt lifted and her push to the train doors her punishment, lifting and sliding into her, to warm his cold skin against the fire she offered. To punish her for the dirty thoughts that followed the look that lasted too long. Uncaring that the witnesses around him would hear her shameless cries for more, her need for him, his need for her.
A nightmare disguised as a dream, or was it the other way around?
He knew that the thirty two seconds caught staring back at her teasing teals had created over eighteen different scenarios of how to fuck her in the train cart alone, imaging how many more he could come up with if giving the chance. He was sure her subtle smirk knew what he was thinking as she glanced down once, one perfect brow slowly raising, and back to him making his blood boil instantly, knowing he couldn't keep lies with her, only the truth.
If he had to pick a way to die, having her near by didn't sound so bad.
Truly a troublesome woman.
The woman won the match with a single gesture, one move, catching and holding onto his eyes, amused, and he turned his blush away, realizing he'd been caught, glaring at the floor of the subway until their stop, keeping his hoodie stretched over his lap to keep his secret from all but her. Swearing he heard her laugh, keeping the sound in her chest, keeping it from escaping past her smirk at his further silence.
At least she trusted him.