surprise again!

The Mechanics of Law
Chapter Seven: De minimus

de minimus:'About the smallest things.' Various legal areas concerning small amounts or small degrees

Tenten and Neji had both been busy since the conference, so when Tenten told him she'd been roped into going out for drinks with her work pals, Neji surprised her by asking to come.

"This isn't your kind of place" she warned him for possibly the 100th time. "It is the epitome of a dive bar."

"I'm less surprised at that, and more surprised you have anywhere you can say you go frequently. "When would you even have time to go?"

"Used to go frequently," she corrected. "The other mechanics like to go on off hours. The food is good, the beer is cheap, and even Genma and Kakashi float in and out depending on the night. I was part of our Garage's dart league team, but I bowed out with classes."

"You play darts?"

Tenten shrugged. "A little. Maybe some pool."

"Will you play tonight?"

"Why?" she grinned at him. "Want to try your luck?

"I might have some experience with both billiards and darts," he said loftily. "Certainly enough to keep it entertaining."

"I look forward to it," She laced her fingers in his as they walked toward the door.

"Likewise."

He gave her hand a squeeze, letting go only to open the door for her. She quickly found his hand again and navigated the crowd to what was obviously the Garage's established table.

"Tenten!" Kotetsu and Izumo chorused, as several other mechanics lifted drinks or nodded in greeting.

"Geez, guys," she laughed. "You'd think we hadn't seen each other in days rather than a few hours ago."

"That was then, this is now," Kotetsu said seriously.

"And now is when some of the guys at the precinct said they could beat us at darts."

"Is Genma here?"

"He is," Kotetsu grinned. "And he already took bets for this evening.

"Bets?" Neji raised his eyebrows.

"Genma always has a bet going," Tenten sighed. "I'm guessing this one is because of darts."

"It is," Izumo nodded gravely. "And the honor of our garage."

"So where is Ibiki?"

"He won't come," Kotetsu sighed. "He has a lot to do tomorrow."

"Alright," Tenten looked at the table. "So how many do we need?"

It wasn't long before Neji found himself immersed in a competition between the mechanics of Ibiki Morino's Garage, and a handful of local officers.

Neji wasn't allowed to join, because even though he was a loyal customer, he was not associated with the Garage. Fortunately or unfortunately, Ibiki's brother dropped in right before the competition.

Idate was begrudgingly allowed to qualify, probably because the other side thought he'd be no competition.

Neji was mildly miffed to see Idate was excellent at darts.

He was smugly pleased, however, to see that Tenten was better. And not just than Idate, but than anyone throwing. When she sat down next to him between rounds, he leaned over to murmur, "So you are a little good at darts?"

"You asked me if I played," she said, mischief in her eyes. "I only play a little these days. I happen to be excellent at darts."

"So, I've noticed. I am guessing the same applies for pool."

Tenten only shrugged, and he felt his heart warm.

About halfway through the match, Naruto slid into a seat next to Neji.

"Naruto," Neji raised his eyebrows. "What are you doing here?"

"Genma messaged Kakashi who messaged me," he held up his bright orange phone. "Thought I'd come out and watch Tenten kick some ass – especially since Lee is busy."

"She is quite good," Neji nodded toward her.

"She was a champion at the YOUTH program," Naruto snorted. Even Gai wasn't able to beat her after a while."

"And in pool?"

Naruto held up her hands. "That one you have to find out for yourself." He held a hand up to flag a circling waiter, and ordered a beer. "I'm surprised Idate is here," he said casually.

"Just in the area, it seems," Neji replied coolly.

"Mm."

Neither said much more, because the game was getting intense.

It was all down to Tenten's last throw – and then suddenly the game was done, and a groan came up from the precinct while the garage erupted in cheers.

"That's our girl!" Idate hooked an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. "I wonder that they even let you play anymore." He grinned at her. "C'mon. Let's go get the next round of drinks."

"Sure," Tenten laughed. She stopped by Neji and Naruto's table first. "You boys need anything?"

Naruto held up his mostly full drink, and Tenten put a hand on Neji's arm. "I know it is loud," she met his eyes. "Do you want to get going?"

"And ruin your celebration?" Neji arched an eyebrow. "Never."

"Then I'll bring something back," she smiled, all dimples, and winked. Neji watched her join her friends at the bar where she got pats on the back, and begrudging congrats from the other side.

Neji turned to see Naruto watching with an odd look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

Naruto took a sip of his drink. "Just…thinking. About Tenten."

Neji frowned. "And?"

"Idate," he finally said. "He…he and Tenten have a complicated history."

"She's told me they used to date," Neji mused.

"High school," Naruto agreed. "And on-again-off-again for a long while." He took another sip and sighed. "He's a good enough guy, but sometimes he isn't a good enough guy around her."

Something stuck in Neji's gut.

"Should I be worried?"

"Nothing like that," Naruto was quick to assure him. "It's just Tenten has always been very generous with her time. Sometimes I don't think he realizes that they aren't 15 and 17 anymore. That she has other priorities and friends."

Neji looked over in time to see Idate leaned against the bar talking to Tenten, her eyes bright with the win of the game, his alight with maybe something else.

"Forget I said anything," Naruto waved his hand in the air. "Ten is much better with her boundaries now, and she has you. That alone makes most of the issue go away."

"Glad to be of service," Neji grumbled.

"C'mon," Naruto half smiled. "I know you are crazy about her – and the feeling is mutual. Tenten is exactly who she says she is, and you see and accept that. That's something special."

"She doesn't give herself credit most of the time," Neji agreed, "but she is unapologetically herself."

"And that's where we come in," Naruto smiled – widely this time. "To remind her she is awesome, and never alone."

Neji had to agree with a nod only because Tenten came back with her hands full. She set a pitcher of water on the table, two stacked cups tucked in her arm, and an unopened bottle of hard cider under the other, with a scotch, neat, in her hand.

"I'll drive," she smiled at Neji. "This is a one-and-done, and I'll have loads of water before we leave."

Knowing arguing would be silly, Neji sipped his drink as she took her seat next to him.

She gave his hand a squeeze under the table before asking Naruto about Iruka and the house and his birthday, and….

And as she spoke, Neji noticed Idate watching her with the kind of expression that made him quietly lace their fingers under the table.

Maybe Naruto wasn't worried – but Neji was.

Tenten was to be trusted implicitly, in all things, at all times.

And if she had trouble with boundaries, he would be right next to her to protect her peace and her time.

Even when the entire team returned to the table and the conversation was raucous and animated and far too loud, he found himself anchored in her presence. He marveled at how she handled people so well by just being who she was – and it made him proud.

It made the news he was saving that much sweeter – and his worries slipped away like the condensation sliding down the water pitcher.

If he was with Tenten, nothing could be wrong.