An Overflow of Caring (Naruto, Shikamaru/Chouji, #27)
Title: An Overflow of Caring
Author: saralee1
Pairing: Nara Shikamaru/Akimichi Chouji
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: #27 - overflow
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi, not me.
Notes: Takes place towards the end of the time skip. Beta by glenraven; all mistakes left are mine.
~An Overflow of Caring~
They sat on one of the rooftops -- specifically, the one Shikamaru had declared his favorite years ago when they became friends. Just like that day, it was another perfect afternoon for cloud watching with a light breeze blowing and puffy cumulus clouds dotting the sky. In the present day, however, Shikamaru had challenged him to a game of Go.
Chouji put aside his past remembrances and tried to concentrate on his game. He picked up a stone, letting it warm between his fingers, as he contemplated the board. He wanted to offer Shikamaru a challenge for once. His friend was busy brooding on his last mission, running scenarios through his head. Chouji knew Shikamaru only challenged him when he felt he'd been an unsuccessful shinobi, just as he knew pointing out that no one had died wouldn't help his friend move on. Chouji finally set his stone down with a satisfying click and connected two of his chains. He leaned back to watch Shikamaru glare half-heartedly at his own stones.
From what Chouji knew, the mission had been a success. The family Shikamaru had been escorting had all arrived safely at their destination, and the trip had been almost completely uneventful. They'd been attacked by bandits once -- eight of them -- and in the ensuing melee the family's daughter had tripped over a discarded kunai and broken her arm. The family was satisfied with Shikamaru's performance, but Shikamaru only concentrated on the fact that someone had gotten hurt who shouldn't have.
Shikamaru placed his stone and captured one of Chouji's chains. It was one of his longer chains too.
Chouji couldn't see anywhere he could go that wouldn't also help Shikamaru somehow, so he passed. He had a feeling the game was almost over anyway. Like he'd suspected, Shikamaru passed as well. They counted points, and Shikamaru of course won.
Shikamaru started collecting his stones and asked, "Another game?"
Chouji didn't like his friend stewing, even if he knew Shikamaru would be fine by tomorrow. So he leaned across the board and kissed Shikamaru. The kiss was brief and chaste, for all that it was on the lips, and Chouji was pleased to see Shikamaru's glare gone when he leaned back.
Shikamaru blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. "Why'd you do that?"
Chouji hadn't given any thought to how Shikamaru would respond, so he supposed that was as good a reaction as any. He shrugged and smiled at his friend. "Because I wanted to." There were more reasons than just that for why he'd done it, but that one was the biggest and covered the others.
Shikamaru sighed but smiled as he did it. "I'm tired of playing. Let's watch the clouds instead." So proclaiming, Shikamaru lay down and pillowed his head in his hands.
Chouji put the game board off to the side. He dug out a bag of chips, opened it, and ate the first one. The first bite was almost as wonderful and perfect as the last, though he liked every bite. He didn't lie down, but he did offer the bag to Shikamaru.
Shikamaru took one and handed the bag back to him. Before he could take another, Shikamaru grabbed his hand and threaded their fingers together. Now one-handed, Chouji looked down at their clasped hands. It'd make snacking a little more difficult, but somehow he didn't mind.
Author: saralee1
Pairing: Nara Shikamaru/Akimichi Chouji
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: #27 - overflow
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi, not me.
Notes: Takes place towards the end of the time skip. Beta by glenraven; all mistakes left are mine.
~An Overflow of Caring~
They sat on one of the rooftops -- specifically, the one Shikamaru had declared his favorite years ago when they became friends. Just like that day, it was another perfect afternoon for cloud watching with a light breeze blowing and puffy cumulus clouds dotting the sky. In the present day, however, Shikamaru had challenged him to a game of Go.
Chouji put aside his past remembrances and tried to concentrate on his game. He picked up a stone, letting it warm between his fingers, as he contemplated the board. He wanted to offer Shikamaru a challenge for once. His friend was busy brooding on his last mission, running scenarios through his head. Chouji knew Shikamaru only challenged him when he felt he'd been an unsuccessful shinobi, just as he knew pointing out that no one had died wouldn't help his friend move on. Chouji finally set his stone down with a satisfying click and connected two of his chains. He leaned back to watch Shikamaru glare half-heartedly at his own stones.
From what Chouji knew, the mission had been a success. The family Shikamaru had been escorting had all arrived safely at their destination, and the trip had been almost completely uneventful. They'd been attacked by bandits once -- eight of them -- and in the ensuing melee the family's daughter had tripped over a discarded kunai and broken her arm. The family was satisfied with Shikamaru's performance, but Shikamaru only concentrated on the fact that someone had gotten hurt who shouldn't have.
Shikamaru placed his stone and captured one of Chouji's chains. It was one of his longer chains too.
Chouji couldn't see anywhere he could go that wouldn't also help Shikamaru somehow, so he passed. He had a feeling the game was almost over anyway. Like he'd suspected, Shikamaru passed as well. They counted points, and Shikamaru of course won.
Shikamaru started collecting his stones and asked, "Another game?"
Chouji didn't like his friend stewing, even if he knew Shikamaru would be fine by tomorrow. So he leaned across the board and kissed Shikamaru. The kiss was brief and chaste, for all that it was on the lips, and Chouji was pleased to see Shikamaru's glare gone when he leaned back.
Shikamaru blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. "Why'd you do that?"
Chouji hadn't given any thought to how Shikamaru would respond, so he supposed that was as good a reaction as any. He shrugged and smiled at his friend. "Because I wanted to." There were more reasons than just that for why he'd done it, but that one was the biggest and covered the others.
Shikamaru sighed but smiled as he did it. "I'm tired of playing. Let's watch the clouds instead." So proclaiming, Shikamaru lay down and pillowed his head in his hands.
Chouji put the game board off to the side. He dug out a bag of chips, opened it, and ate the first one. The first bite was almost as wonderful and perfect as the last, though he liked every bite. He didn't lie down, but he did offer the bag to Shikamaru.
Shikamaru took one and handed the bag back to him. Before he could take another, Shikamaru grabbed his hand and threaded their fingers together. Now one-handed, Chouji looked down at their clasped hands. It'd make snacking a little more difficult, but somehow he didn't mind.