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"So, not that I'm complaining, but what made you want to treat me to dinner?" Naruto asks after they've made a sizeable dent in their massive dumpling order and Shikamaru's pouring them saké refills.
Shikamaru raises a brow at Naruto in the way he does when Naruto's being dumb. Naruto continues to look at him expectantly.
"You've just been busy lately. I figured this is a good excuse to catch up."
"Ugh, yeah. I swear granny's sending me out of the most boring missions on purpose," Naruto groans, plucking up another dumping. "I'd rather be looking into Sasuke's whereabouts, but she keeps saying she'll let me know when they have a lead."
There's a flicker of annoyance in Shikamaru's expression, but it's gone so fast Naruto doesn't know what it was specifically regarding.
"She's right you know, there are more important missions to be handling instead of blindly chasing after him."
"I doesn't feel that way," he replies, tilting his head, "to me Sasuke should be top priority."
Shikamaru sighs, and it's a sigh Naruto doesn't immediately recognize. These days Naruto is able to differentiate all of Shikamaru's huffs, from ones of annoyed indifference, to exhausted dissatisfaction and anything in between. He watches Shikamaru gaze downwards into his sake cup and he decides that sigh must be one of disappointment and resignation.
"What?" Naruto asks, knocked off guard by having such a noise from Shikamaru being directed at him.
"Nothing," Shikamaru dismisses, frowning before draining the glass and setting the newly empty glass aside.
"Nuh uh," Naruto shoots down his attempt to dodge the question. "Why'd you sigh like that?"
"I just think—" Shikamaru starts to blurt before realizing he's started speaking and shutting his mouth with an angry furrow in his brow.
Naruto comes to the conclusion that Shikamaru's hiding something from him. He doesn't like it. Shikamaru isn't all that complicated of a guy, and usually he's happy to share his unfiltered thoughts and opinions with Naruto, a kind of honesty that Naruto's come to treasure and rely on.
"Come on, Shika, spit it out."
Another sigh, this one blown through his teeth. A sure sign that Shikamaru's patience with him is running out, but Naruto's never known when to quit.
"I just think that you're so hung up on a guy that never even gave you the time of day that you're missing opportunities right in front of you," Shikamaru snaps out.
Naruto blinks at him, "What's that supposed to mean?"
A pained look crosses Shikamaru's face, like Naruto just opened an old wound. "Figure it out," he huffs, rising from his seat, "I couldn't make it any clearer for you if I tried."
Naruto's so startled he doesn't move fast enough to stop Shikamaru's exit. He's out of their booth and around the corner before Naruto knows how to respond. He feels wildly off balance, and now Shikamaru's not even here to explain what just happened.
Missed opportunities?
Naruto's still frozen and puzzling over the words when their waitress hustles back toward the table.
"Don't worry, hun, you're partner covered the tab already. It's a shame your date had to end early, but if you want anything else just let me know, it's all been squared away," she tells him with a warm smile and a comforting look in her eye.
Naruto's mind hones in on her use of the word date.
Was that what this was? A date?
He sends the kind woman away with a smile, even as his stomach lurches. He shovels down one of the few remaining lukewarm dumplings just to have something to do.
You share food on a date right? He's sure Sakura's babbled about at least that much. And usually one person pays for the other, right? But Naruto gets other people to pay for his food all the time. The again, Shikamaru did make a point to pick him up in person instead of just meeting up somewhere else.
A date? But people do romantic things on dates. Does Shikamaru want to do romantic things with him? Would Naruto like that?
His fingers twitch around his chopsticks.
Was Naruto really so hung up on Sasuke that he had missed this? Shikamaru had even said there was an opportunity right in front of him. And Shikamaru had literally been sitting in front of him when he said it. Of course, he had also immediately fled afterwards without properly explaining that to him, leaving Naruto to feel extremely dumb sitting here puzzling it out alone. Did Shikamaru really think that had been clear? Did he forget who he was talking to? Smart is not often a word used to describe him.
Is that even what he meant, that Naruto had an opportunity to date Shikamaru if he wanted? Or is Naruto just wildly running off course and drawing the wrong conclusions like he's prone to?
Naruto growls at his own trepidation and slams his chopsticks down on the table as he stands. He throws a hasty thank you to their hostess as he marches by and then races off in the direction he assumes Shikamaru would have taken. He avoids the main thoroughfare and ducks down one the the more direct alleys leading towards the Nara home.
For the smartest guy around he really could be a total idiot. Making Naruto feel like a fool and expecting him to read his unspoken intentions. Shikamaru knows that's not how Naruto's brain works. He's not good at implied social cues! They always fly right over his head.
Naruto's hands curl into fists as he jogs down the cobblestone lane way.
What an asshole Shikamaru is for assuming Naruto knows how he feels. If he had known, he never would have brought up Sasuke! Naruto's thick, but he's not so callous as to spit in the face of Shikamaru's feelings like that.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
He shouts the other boy's name when he finally catches sight of Shikamaru's back on the next turn. Shikamaru startles and turns to wearily watch his approach.
"Naruto," Shikamaru coolly greets, so carefully guarded Naruto growls at him.
"Why didn't you just tell me it was a date?" Naruto cries, his frustration making his voice crack. "I feel like such a fool now, Shika. I promise I didn't know."
Shikamaru's eyes momentarily blow wide before he's immediately tugging Naruto into his arms and wrapping him in an embrace.
"Shit, sorry, Naru," he murmurs next to his ear. "I didn't realize I was being a dick. I just assumed we were on the same page without bothering to actually confirm it."
Naruto garbles out something approximating a laugh, and replies, "You're not normally one to make me feel that stupid." Naruto expects it from some of the others. It kinda hurts way more to have his needs ignored so hard by Shikamaru, but the other's immediate and genuine apology does help soothe the hurt.
Shikamaru tisks his tongue and squeezes him a little tighter. "Shit, I'm an idiot. I got into my own head. Focused too hard on what I assumed you felt, that I ignored what was actually happening. It won't happen again, seriously, I promise. Yes, that was supposed to be a date."
"Good," Naruto says as he pulls back from Shikamaru's embrace to look him in the eyes. "Because no matter what you think, I don't want this to be a missed opportunity."
"Okay," Shikamaru agrees with his smallest smile. Naruto likes this one the most, it's his most genuine. "Then let's start over."
"Start over?" Naruto blinks at him, uncomprehending.
Shikamaru's smile grows into his usual pleased smirk. "Naruto, would you like to go on a date with me?"
Naruto's answering smile blooms across his cheeks unbidden, all his worries fading at once.
"You better believe it," Naruto enthusiastically chirps.
"Then, this time, I promise I won't sabotage it," Shikamaru chuckles with a rueful and self-deprecating look of his face.
"And I promise to not bring up Sasuke," Naruto offers in return.
"Deal," Shikamaru readily agrees.
"Cool," Naruto says, a mischievous idea building in his head, "but you have to kiss me now."
Shikamaru blinks slowly at him. There's a faint blush pooling on his cheeks. "What? Why?"
"As payment for me putting up with you," Naruto cackles at him.
Shikamaru's brows fall and he swiftly squashes Naruto's cheeks between his hands in retaliation, causing him a squawk in protest.
"Well then, what do I get for having to put up with you, huh?"
"You get permission to kiss me, duh," Naruto garbles despite his squished face.
Shikamaru sighs (this one is his resigned but amused one) and stops pining Naruto's cheeks. He leaves his hands lingering there instead, cupping his face instead of abusing it.
"If you're sure," he relents.
"I am," Naruto eagerly tells him.
Naruto's never had much interest in kissing, but he thinks he understands everyone's crazy fixation on it after Shikamaru's lips slot with his. Their noses are a bit squished, but having his entire world focused down to the feeling of Shikamaru's mouth pressed against his makes his entire body tingle.
Shikamaru's hands leave his face when he pulls back and Naruto suddenly thinks he's way too far away from him now.
"Happy now?" Shikamaru asks, glancing away and trying to play it cool despite his flushed face.
"Yes," Naruto breathes. "Can we do that again?"
Shikamaru garbles a choked off groan and stares at him with narrow eyes of disbelief. "I mean— I guess so, but not here."
Naruto is so not letting this chance disappear. He needs to take advantage of it while he can. He suddenly understands what it means when everyone whines about being horny teenagers. He grabs hold of Shikamaru's hand.
"I've never felt like this before," Naruto freely admits. He's practically buzzing with excitement. "I've never even been interested in this before."
Shikamaru looks intrigued, "Really?"
Naruto laughs at his sudden focus, "Yeah, only you could make me feel like this, Shika."
Shikamaru looks extremely pleased by his words, "Good. Then I guess I'll have to capitalize on this exciting, new opportunity."
"I'm at your mercy," Naruto solemnly jokes, and he's rewarded by Shikamaru's façade cracking as he laughs.
"Careful, Naru, don't tempt me like that," he warns with an alluring glint in his eyes.
"I would never," Naruto lies, trying to bite back his impish smile, but Shikamaru's unimpressed look tell him he fails. Naruto is suddenly very interested in finding out what Shikamaru would do with him if he had free rein.
Shikamaru sighs, but this time, it's the one he makes whenever he's feeling particularly fond of him but doesn't want to admit it. Hearing that one always feels like a win.
"If I take you back to my place, will you kiss me again?"
"… Yes."
Naruto eagerly hauls him off without any further discussion. Their replacement date is just going to have to wait.