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Shikamaru had known Tayuya wasn’t going to exactly have FUN this afternoon (he isn’t having fun either, to be fair; they aren’t here for themselves) but her constant vulgar complaining is starting to really grate on his nerves.
They had agreed mutually to indulge Temari in a hike to a local lookout spot on their visit to Suna, and had likewise agreed that Tayuya should bring up the rear of the party where Temari couldn’t hear the majority of her grumbled protests. But even the more patient Shikamaru has his limits.
He’s on the verge of telling her he’ll make her carry the scrolls if he hears her say ‘fuckin’ sand’ one more time. Only the effort of pulling off the wrap shielding his own face and nose from said sand stops him.
But the sudden absence of Tayuya’s complaining, an hour and some into the trip, gives him pause, even when he’s been silently praying for it for the last twenty minutes. He didn’t actually expect her to stop…
He glances back to find she’s fallen further than a few steps behind, still moving in her stomping determined way, muttering under her breath, but clearly struggling to pick her feet up from the shifting sands.
Shikamaru looks ahead to where Temari is plodding happily up the side of the dune ahead of them, unbothered by the hot breeze or the grit it stirs up. He whistles sharply to call for her to stop and at once she does, straightening up taller.
She turns back toward him, her hand raised to shield her eyes a bit more from the sun, gold hair whipping around the edges of her face as she steadies herself against the fresh gust that sweeps over the ridge. Shikamaru likewise braces himself against the burst of wind.
Tayuya sways like a limp branch. She has to tap a hand down on the sand to get her balance back, giving a streak of curses under her face cover that sound… off.
“Your knees holding up okay, Yuya?” Temari calls out and Shikamaru shuffles back down the shallow incline some ways to offer her a hand. Weird terrain like this always does a number on her knees and hips. Maybe they should have…
And then she really looks at him and Shikamaru feels his stomach torque. Her eyes look empty. She reaches out to put her hand in his outstretched one and misses by multiple inches, slumping forward onto her knees with a groan.
“Tayuya!” He’s bolted forward to catch her before her head can hit the sand, but she sags into his arms in a horrifyingly boneless way that makes him curse. Even over the whistle of the desert wind, he can hear Temari’s sharp gasp and the beat of her sandals down the slope to their side.
Before he can think of suggesting it Temari has her fan spread out and jammed into the sand, creating as much shade and protection as she can between all of them and the midmorning sun.
Tayuya is half with them, conscious enough to try to hold her own weight and mumble in protest as they jostle her, but struggling to stay aware.
Temari’s hands meet Shikamaru’s across her slack torso in a panicked rush to pull their companion’s flak vest and shade-layers off, their worry overlapping one another’s in turn.
“Oh damn it, all the cold packs are done for.” Temari hisses, flinging the vest aside as it comes off.
“Already?” Shikamaru jolts; his still feel fine. “Why the hell didn’t she say-?!”
“Ugh! You know her!” Temari growls, stripping the hat and sand-shield off of Tayuya’s sweat-damp head. Temari’s expression twists with worry as she peels long red locks away from the other woman’s just-as-red cheeks. “This kind of thing can sneak up on you even if you aren’t the stubbornest bitch alive, honestly. We need water.”
Shikamaru has already hauled their water scroll from the side of his pack, summoning one of the larger jugs with a pop and a puff of smoke. It’s thankfully still cold to the touch and he uncorks it practically as Temari is asking him for it.
Shikamaru sloshes it over Tayuya’s hot skin and underclothing as Temari holds her steady, dousing her head and neck as much as they can without flat up drowning her.
Tayuya jolts and curses as the cool water flows over her, and her half-lidded eyes pop wide open. She is disoriented for an encouragingly brief moment before full awareness snaps back to her. Shikamaru knows it really isn’t funny, she’s just collapsed for pity’s sake, but he can’t help but smirk at the confusion and sheer betrayal on her face as she goggles at him through her dripping bangs.
“What the FUCK, Nara!?” she splutters, and for once he’s relieved to hear her swear. If she can still use 'fuck’ properly in a sentence she’ll probably be okay.
“You passed out, you idiot.” Temari scolds from behind her, though Shikamaru can hear the relief in her voice despite it, see the tremble in Temari’s hands as she pulls Tayuya back to lean against her chest.
“Your cold packs were shot,” Shikamaru says with a sigh, shifting to kneel in the dampened sand closer to Tayuya, instinctively reaching to grasp one of her scarred knees. His thumb works absent circles on the side of her kneecap as she sags against Temari, catching her breath. She still looks too flushed for his liking.
Temari pats the back of her fingers along Tayuya’s neck and jaw. “And you’re still burning up.” she tuts, summoning her best 'bossy older sister’ aura. “Drink something before you combust, would you?”
“Gonna go ahead and remind you that you’re the ones who made a northerner hike across the fucking scenic-ass desert with you.” Tayuya grouses, squeezing some of the water from her hair with a shaky hand.
“You literally said 'It’s just some goddamn sand, I can handle it’ when we left.” Shikamaru reminds her with a huff, lifting the remains of the jug to her mouth rather than hand it to her when she’s still half-cocked. She drinks it down without hesitation, with the greed of someone who has not quite realized their thirst until presented with a means to sate it.
Tayuya adds her hand to his arm, nudging him to tip the container higher as she drains it, and he tries not to be alarmed at how weak the pressure she adds is. Her touch is still warm and unsteady, but she’s there when he looks into her eyes at least. She grips his arm a little more firmly as they lower the empty jug together and he knows at once she can read his fearful thoughts all over his face.
“Why didn’t you say the packs had worn out?” he asks, unable to stop himself, even though he knows she’s not fit for a confrontation about it just now.
“We only have so many spares, I didn’t want to have to swap out so soon!” she protests. “I just thought I could stretch it a little further, you know?”
“Fuck’s sake, Yuya…” he groans, setting the empty jug aside with a thump.
“Hell, do I look that bad?” she asks him, with a sulky expression tinged with embarrassment at her poor fortitude, and Temari sighs heavily behind her, rubbing the firm muscle of Tayuya’s arms in soothing sweeps.
“Well…” she hedges. “You’ve looked better, love.”
“Maybe we oughta do this on a day with shittier weather,” Tayuya suggests sullenly, rubbing her flushed brow with a shaky hand. “You know, less sand blowing in my face, more cloud cover…”
“Maybe we ought to sort out a ride instead of me trying to show off my pathfinding.” Temari sighs, and that’s when Tayuya’s fingers slide up to thread between hers.
“Oh for - don’t do the fuckin’ blame thing, blondie. I’m fine.” She groans, rolling her eyes so hard Temari can hear it. It’s a remarkable degree of confidence from someone lying wet and heat exhausted in the dirt, but Tayuya has always had a knack for backing her bravado with an attitude unsquelched by anything, even borderline heatstroke.
Tayuya pulls Temari’s hand from her shoulder around to her chest, pressing the other girl’s palm tight over her heart. “I’m fine,” she repeats, gentler. “You two’ve got me.”
Shikamaru sighs heavily, squeezing Tayuya’s knee, his concern finally ebbing away into fond irritation.
“You’re so much damn trouble, you know that?” he huffs, and Tayuya laughs a little, mustering a wink through her damp bangs.
“Lucky for me I’m so fuckin cute then, huh?”