Chapter Text
Today, she was going to be brave.
Naruto smoothed down her baby blue sundress for the tenth time in as many seconds, giving a final slow twirl around the elongated mirror. Her cerulean colored eyes examined every fold and wrinkle, her fingers wrung together as she questioned whether to change into yet another outfit. She did not usually fret like this, certainly not over fashion or her looks, but with the looming dinner coming up in a few short hours, she found herself uncharacteristically nervous.
"You look beautiful."
Naruto met the darkened eyes of Shikamaru through the mirror she was posed in front of, his blazing gaze searing her very being as she nervously broke eye contact. "Thank you, Shika."
He let his hair down today, a sight that was quite rare for her to be subjected to. She covertly examined him in the reflection, his soft locks slicked back rather than tied up in his usual ponytail. He wore a pair of black slacks and a forest green dress shirt that had the first few buttons open, teasing Naruto with the peak of chest that she could see. Some deep, primal part of her wanted nothing more than to twist her fingers into his hair — having the loose tendrils wrapped around her digits as she pulls him in closer to her and sinks her teeth into his bare neck.
Patience Naruto, she reminded herself, you'll have the opportunity for bravery later.
She blushed prettily as Shikamaru stepped up right behind her, his hand coming to softly caress her bare arm as he steadily met her wide-eyed gaze in the mirror. She was a vision. A perfect work of art sculpted delicately by Kami himself. He gently brushed her loose hair over her shoulder and let his lips gently leave a small kiss in the crook of her neck.
"Come on, we're going to be late." His voice was low and his eyes glazed over as he took a step back, but if he didn't force them to move soon then he was liable to do something very very stupid.
Naruto gulped, her fingers clenching into a fist as she forcibly tore her eyes away from the ridiculously attractive ninja behind her. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to spend an entire evening with his old teammates and Kurenai, pretending to be in a loving couple without breaking and doing something incredibly stupid… something like jumping him right there on the dining room table witnesses be damned type of stupid.
"Yeah," she slightly cleared her throat to get rid of the huskiness that definitely took over her vocals, "We should go."
Shikamaru smirked slightly, and fuck if that wasn't the hottest thing Naruto had ever seen, and curled his fingers with hers as he pulled her out of his apartment, "I'm going to have fun getting you of this dress later."
That. Fucking. Tease.
He chuckled at the blush that quickly colored Naruto's features as she silently cursed up a storm. Really, it was unfair just how aware Shikamaru was of her attraction towards him. Fucking unfair.
Choji took another bite from his chips as he glanced at the uncharacteristically silent kunoichi walking next to him. Ino had met him in front of her family's flower shop, and other that a quick wave and hello, she had been quiet and contemplative.
The last time he has seen her this way was after the latest break up with Sai, and the tears that followed that small reprieve of loudness was not worth it.
Hesitantly, after several minutes of this eerie silence, he spoke up, "Umm Ino? Are you okay?"
Ino hummed, "Have you seen Shikamaru lately?"
Oh. So that's what this was about.
Choji stuffed a few more chips in his mouth before answering, "Not since that night we had barbeque together a few days ago, no."
"So, you haven't seen him since that Naruto thing came to light."
Which was something Choji still couldn't believe. He had been on a quick mission for a few days when the news first broke across Konoha. So when he came back to the whole village basically raving about their hero and strategist finally finding love with each other, he almost couldn't believe it.
Almost.
Because unwittingly he remembered how Shikamaru looked at Naruto that day at the barbeque. How his eyes softened when he caught her gaze from across the room. How the corners of his lips twinged up in amusement when Naruto was being her hyper, stuttering self. How his fingers twitched on the table, almost itching to touch the beautiful blonde beside him. How he never acted that way when he saw Temari.
"No, I haven't." He shrugged as he answered, "But it makes sense."
Ino's neck almost snapped with the force it must have took to quickly look at her teammate, "What do you mean?"
Choji scratched the back of her neck, "Well, I mean, you know, Shikamaru has always had a weakness towards beautiful women. And Naruto is a lot more beautiful than most. Plus, ya know, she's here in the village and going to be the Hokage, and ya know, not from another village." The unlike Temari was unsaid, but clear as day.
"So, she's hot and loyal to Konoha? Is that all it takes?"
"Well, no." Choji took another bite as he thought about how to frame his thoughts, "Naruto is passionate. Passionate about everything she cares about. I'm not going to presume to know what she's like in a relationship, but I'm going to assume that her passion will also translate to that."
Ino crinkled her nose in disgust, "Ugh, if you're talking about their sex life I don't want to hear it."
"What? No! I'm saying that if she finds someone to care about and love she's going to care about and love them with her whole being. She's not going to do things by halves — including taking care of and reminding Shikamaru how much she cares about him. Knowing Naruto as well as I do, well, I can't think of a single person strong enough to resist falling for the sheer warmth she's capable of exuding. Especially someone as cool and logical as Shikamaru."
Ino stayed silent for a few moments before speaking, "He was really missing that with Temari, wasn't he?"
Choji shrugged, "You know Shikamaru isn't the type to share details about his relationship. While I have no doubt that he really did love her, I don't have a hard time seeing why his eyes now stray to Naruto."
Ino sighed, "Well, let's hope that the idiot doesn't mess this up. She seems to be good for him. And we know how apathetic he can be, I don't think Naruto would settle for anything other than complete and utter devotion."
Choji couldn't imagine his lazy apathetic friend ever changing. But for Shikamaru's sake, he really hoped so. Naruto really was too good to be true.
Well. Choji officially takes back every thought that crossed his mind about how emotionless his best friend could be. He glanced quickly at Ino to make sure that he wasn't going crazy and just seeing things, and he almost took a sigh of relief when he saw the unhinged jaw of his friend as she stared at the couple before her.
Shikamaru and Naruto sat on the floor of Kurenai's living room with Mirai, toys surrounding them as they kept the little girl entertained. A wide grin overtook Naruto's features as she laughed unabashedly and loud, as Naruto often did, as she reenacted the Second Shinobi War with the action figure of the Third Hokage that was firmly in her grasp.
She looked beautiful. Her blonde hair was loose and fell in soft, princess like waves down her back. She wore a light blue sundress that somehow only made her eyes sparkle even brighter than usual, and watching her smile and playing with the three-year-old Mirai, who was obviously enchanted by her Naru-nee, only made the gorgeous kunoichi look more like a work of art than usual.
Shikamaru clearly agreed, if the soft smile he bore and frequent glances towards his lover could be believed. As Mirai was distracted by a toy on the floor, Shikamaru took the opportunity to pull her in for a quick kiss before releasing her, chuckling softly at the red hue that hastily overtook Naruto's tan features.
"What the fuck?" Ino softly exclaimed.
Kurenai giggled as she poured her late husband's students another cup of tea, "They're quite cute together, aren't they?"
Choji didn't even touch his snacks, "He's smiling. Like, actually smiling."
Ino nodded empathically, "He kissed her. In front of us. Publicly."
"He's smitten with the girl," Kurenai shrugged, "What did you expect?"
No. This wasn't him being smitten. He was in love with Temari, and they've been together for like four years, and despite spending a great amount of time being their third wheel Ino had never seen Shikamaru act like this. Never seen him smile so kindly. She's especially never seen this stoic, serious shinobi pull in his girlfriend for a quick kiss.
This was so much fucking more than smitten.
"He really loves her, doesn't he?" Choji softly asked, careful not to let his voice rise high enough for the two ninjas and toddler to hear him.
Kurenai shared a quick glance with Ino before tossing her gaze back towards the happy couple cheerfully playing with her daughter, "Yeah. Yeah, he really does."
They silently drank their tea as they watched the happy scene. Naruto flinging to her feet and tossing Mirai into the air. Shikamaru leaning back to watch them with a barely concealed grin.
"I want that," Ino whispered, "That sheer happiness just being together in the same room. How his gaze doesn't tear themselves away from her no matter how much he tries. That's… damn, that's true love. Right?"
Kurenai hummed, "It's the beginning of true love, certainly. But love, oh true love is certainly more than that. It's choosing each other over and over again. It's coming together to work on your issues as a unit. It's loving each other, being kind to one another, showing each other grace even amid the biggest argument of your life. It's choosing to put aside your damn pride and apologizing because nothing is more important than preserving the relationship you had worked so hard to nourish. It's commitment. It's a promise you make. That is love."
Ino thought of Sai, of the arguments that get hashed and rehashed, of how he never learned how to emote, of how that frustrated her every time a hurdle emerged in their relationship. Of how she refused to apologize and refused to tell him how to fix it, because dammit he should know! … right?
"And you think this is the start of that real, true love?" Choji asked.
Kurenai smiled knowingly, "Well let's see. Since the start of this relationship, they've already had to deal with the stress of a previous lover, the entire village weighing into their relationship, whatever weird political ramifications I'm sure Shikamaru has thought of, the judgement of their friends, and yet they're stronger than they've ever been."
As they watched Shikamaru intertwine his fingers with the ever-blushing Naruto, they all collectively thought, yeah, maybe that is true love.
They arrived home fairly late into the evening, the sun long having retreated into the horizon. Naruto watched as Shikamaru strode into his apartment, placing their to-go containers of leftovers Kurenai had lovingly packed for them into the refrigerator.
Naruto clenched her finger nervously. Damn, this was so fucking hard. She had faced down the toughest advisories of the world, had survived countless battles and wars, but this was perhaps the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
She was world renown for her bravery. It was time to prove it.
Shikamaru lazily sauntered back into the living room, "I think the evening was a success, don't you?"
"Yeah," Naruto nervously giggled, "Your teammates couldn't stop staring at us."
Shikamaru smirked, "Probably just enchanted by how stunning you looked tonight."
Fuck. Him saying things like this was both helping and not helping. Naruto steeled her resolve.
"Hey Shika, can you help me with the zipper of my dress?"
Naruto gulped at the look of want in his eyes. It was a stupid excuse, and they both knew it. Naruto was a kunoichi, not only that, but she was one well known for her mastery of the kage bunshin. She didn't need help with her zipper.
It didn't stop Shikamaru from stepping up close to her, his breath tickling the back of her neck as he dragged his fingertips down her spine to slowly, painstakingly, almost lazily bring down the zipper.
Naruto bit her lip, and with the bravery she always boasted to possess, allowed her dress to fall to the floor. She stepped out of it and spun around to face him, almost tripping when she saw the hunger that took over his gaze.
She wore a white lingerie set that she purchased with Sakura earlier today, the pinkette basically forcing her to buy it and swearing up and down that it would suit her perfectly. By the look in Shikamaru's eyes, it looks like she was right.
Shikamaru felt his heart stop beating in his chest. Fuck, she was absolutely and utterly delectable. The white lace only extenuating her gorgeous curves, and fuck was this girl trying to kill him? He had spent the last few weeks exercising every matter of self-restraint he didn't know he possessed, almost killing himself in an attempt to reign himself in, because he knew what a truly stupid, idiotic idea actually sleeping with Naruto could be.
But her standing there in virginal white, her hair loose and her crystal blue eyes glancing at him shyly through blonde eyelashes, looking absolutely angelic… well. Shikamaru was strong, but he wasn't that strong.
"Fuck it."
He had her in his arms within seconds, picking her up as though she weighed nothing and wrapping her legs tightly around his waist. His lips were upon her quickly, mercilessly kissing her and sucking and his fingers gripping her upper thighs as though they were his lifeline and salvation.
If Naruto thought he was adept at this sort of thing before, then fuck this… this was something else entirely. He was done holding back, done trying to reign himself in, done trying to convince himself he didn't want to bring this gorgeous blonde to absolute ruin. She was his for the evening, and he was going to enjoy every. fucking. second of it.
He had her on his bed before she could have a single coherent thought, hovering above her looking like a god who has been brought to earth, "Are you sure about this?"
Naruto squirmed beneath him, "Shikamaru, if you don't fuck me tonight, I'm actually going to hunt you down and murder you in cold blood."
Shikamaru didn't waste time smirking or making a teasing joke, he just dove down and bit her neck, his fingers trailing up and down her body as though trying to memorize the contours of her figure.
Her eyes flipped into the back of her head; moans being unwillingly dragged from the back of her throat as he attacked her neck with lips and tongue and teeth. He played with her body like a fiddle, his fingers dragging to find the spots most likely to get her to whine and squirm — playing her like an instrument to the song only he could conduct.
Her bra was unsnapped and tossed to the side with one quick practiced motion, his gaze reverent as he finally had her chest bare. His finger softly came up to trace her mounds, fascinated by the squirms and whines he dragged from her lips as he softly circled her nipples and cupped her, "You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I have ever been lucky to gaze upon."
"Shika," she moaned, "please."
She didn't even know what she was begging for, but Shikamaru definitely did. He lowered his lips to her chest, his hands coming to grip her tightly as he attacked her breasts with the same devotion he showed her neck. Naruto couldn't stop the loud cry that tore from her throat if she tried.
She wrapped her fingers into his hair, yanking wildly every time he used his tongue to flick her. She had never felt like this in all eighteen years of her life — like she was being worshipped. Like she could have this sexy, strong, insanely intelligent man drop to his knees if she merely batted her eyes in his direction. Like she was worthy of it.
He lifted off of her slowly, his fingers momentarily releasing her (which no, she did not whine in annoyance when he did so) to unbutton the rest of his shirt. Naruto watched hungrily as he tossed the offending garment to the side, her fingers slowly tracing the planes of his taught muscles as he hovered above her.
"You're so hot," she whispered as he ran his fingers through his hair, his bicep bulging with such a simple action.
His eyes had sunk from chocolate brown to an onyx color she has now attributed to lust. "Naruto, I'm going to ask one more time. Are you sure?" His voice was husky and sultry and so very obviously juggling on the edge of complete and reckless abandon, and even if Naruto was unsure before, this scene would have sent her tumbling over the edge.
"Shikamaru," she gazed steadily into his eyes, "Please, please fuck me."
Her panties were quickly torn away from her, absolutely ruined but she couldn't find it within herself to care. He took a few seconds to admire her below him, completely naked and blushing and waiting in anticipation for him.
"I am going to ruin you." He promised, his silky voice wrapping around each and every word like a silent prayer,
"Fuck, yes. Ruin me, please, I beg you."
His fingers trailed downwards from her chest, watching in fascination as he left behind a trail of goosebumps in his wake. She was so reactive to him, her body attuned to his every touch. It was so. fucking. irresistible.
His fingers quickly found their home between her thighs, a single digit slipping in easily, and holy fucking shit she was so wet for him, and relishing in the sound of her surprised gasp. Naruto squirmed beneath him, her eyes closed, her teeth sinking her into her swollen bottom lip.
He lowered himself to whisper in her ear, "Have you ever touched yourself like this, Naru?"
She shook her head, "N-no."
"So, my fingers are the very first to be inside of you?" He curled his finger softly as he teased. Holy hell, he was enjoying this so much more than he ever thought he would.
"Y-yes you b-bastard." She spat out as her back arched with a moan.
Shikamaru hummed as he suddenly added a second finger, loving the way she cried out in response, "You're so ready for me Naru, so wet, so eager. Have you been thinking about this? Imagining me sinking inside of you and worshipping your body?" He took a nipple into his mouth and softly bit as he pumped his fingers back and forth, curling his fingers expertly to best draw out her screams.
"Stop — ugh, s-stop teasing me y-you bastard!" She managed to cry out.
Shikamaru smirked down at her, "As you wish."
His tongue joined his fingers and she could basically feel him smile between her thighs as she screamed. She wanted to send a present to whoever the fuck taught Shikamaru how to do this, because this… this was the greatest feeling of all time.
He lapped her up as though she was the first bowl of ramen he has seen after days of hunger. She wildly squirmed and he held her down roughly to continue his devotion. She felt something bubbling up slowly build up in her belly, a taught rubber band that was liable to snap at any second. And then she felt his teeth softly clamp down on her.
She wailed out as she felt a wave crash inside of her, a relief after minutes of tension, yet she wasn't given a second to recover.
"You're so taste so fucking good," Shikamaru whispered as he licked up the juices off his chin and slowly took off his pants, "So fucking good."
He was large, Naruto could recognize that even with her absolute zero experience. She had been in a warzone, sharing tents where modesty was a luxury they oft could not afford, so he was hardly the first man she has seen completely naked. But holy fuck if he wasn't the most attractive. His hand buried inside of her, his hair loose and wild from her pulling, his pupils blown wide and glazed over as he licked her all over.
He entered her swiftly, crashing into her in one quick motion so as to ease her pain. But she was a kunoichi first and foremost, so after a quick flash of hurt, all she could feel was his being buried deep within her and holy fuck fucking finally.
He didn't give her much time to recover. After swiftly glancing at her to ensure she was no longer in pain, he began to move. Naruto's eyes flipped over because if there was truly a heaven on earth, it was right here between these sheets with Shikamaru.
He angled himself in deep inside of her, exiting and entering in with a thrust so deep she almost cried actual tears. Just when she thought she could not take anymore, just as the rubber band in her tummy was bound to snap, he picked up speed.
He gripped her ass he thrust himself into her again and again and again as she cried out, the waves crashing around her once again. Fuck, he could do this all day. Fuck sleeping, eating, working, cloud watching — all he wanted to do was fuck Naruto until she could no longer scream.
As Naruto clenched around him for the third time, he finally allowed himself to join her over the edge, spilling himself inside her with a ferocity he had never felt before.
"Shika!" She cried as he moaned in her ear, pumping once, twice more before exiting and flopping onto the bed.
He struggled to catch his breath as he looked at the absolute goddess beside him, a thick sheen of sweat pooling on her neck that he couldn't help but lick up.
"Fuck, Shika," she gripped his arm and shot him a wide tooth grin, her whiskers wrinkling in joy, "Why haven't we done that before?"
He was so utterly, completely fucked.