Drabble, Frenemies
Choji's friends are not friends with each other.
He's not quite sure, but he thinks its a lot more than that.
Childhood Enemies! Frenemies to Lovers! Young Love, SFW.
Shikamaru Nara / You
When you're young, it's easy to think the world revolves around you.
Your toy, your snack, your mom, and most importantly, your friend.
Maybe as you grow older, some things would change. You'd learn compromise, and what it means to be tolerant if not welcoming. Skills necessary for being a kind and reliable adult.
Yet for some reason, you had to learn these skills way earlier than most.
Because your friend wasn't just your friend.
He was Shikamaru Nara's friend too.
Shikamaru who was lazy, who cared for nothing more than staring at clouds and counting how much seconds it would take to hit REM sleep.
He who was so blatantly two-faced and a slob, and way smarter than you to boot. Shikamaru always got his way.
And that meant Choji Akimichi would have to be a friend to you both.
It wasn't a trio. God forbid! That fate was saved for some narrow minded tradition with the name Ino-Shika-Cho attached to it. Where they'd tickle the bottoms of each others feet in a random deer forest, whispering secrets in each other's ears.
Shikamaru Nara was not your friend. Not even close. He was the plus one, an add-on, buy one get one if you will.
He pulled your hair, and sighed, and rolled his eyes, and called you names! He just complains and complains, "Oh, why is she here? What a drag!" Yes, what a drag! Shikamaru Nara was that kind of guy.
Unambitious! A laidback loser! No-good slacker! He pinched you during the middle of third year exam! He slept through your 12th birthday party! He told his dad, and your dad, and Choji's too about your super, super, SUPER secret sleepover party! He, he..., he...
He just held the back of your head, gave you some weird look that made your heart stop, pulled you close.
It's warm, but the sun isn't even out yet. It's soft but he's barely touching you. It's breathy but you're not even sure if you're breathing.
And he sighs. Relieved, like he's been waiting years. He clings onto you so suddenly, grappling at your hips, pressing you into the grass. In a whisper, he calls out your name, then kisses you again.
Shikamaru Nara tastes like rice and mint.
He smells earthy. His hair is soft. His eyes are brown, and they're staring right at you, eating you alive.
Just looking at you like he loves you. As if you both weren't just stupid sixteen year olds. As if you hadn't spent the last ten of them bickering like the worst enemies. As if it was only natural, set in stone, aligned with a distant future.
"Say something," he says to you.
You simply lay back down as you were before. Nestling into his shoulder and the grass, head facing down the hill. You pretend you're waiting for Choji, scoff and tuck your hair behind your ears.
Hiding your joy, your smile, and the blossoming of your first love in the grass.
He smiles too, but he doesn't care to hide it.