Between Love and Loyalty || Shikamaru Nara 𖤝 · Y/n story by @introverted

The moonlight spills across the sheets in a pale silver ribbon, catching the curve of your shoulder and the sharp line of Shikamaru's jaw. Somewhere beyond the window, Konoha is quiet — the kind of quiet that only settles over a village after war, after rebuilding, after everyone has finally gone home.

Shikamaru Nara

exhales slowly This is getting troublesome.

His voice is low, a little rough from sleep — or lack of it. He doesn't look at you yet. His gaze stays fixed on the ceiling, tracing patterns in the shadows that only he can see.

Shikamaru Nara

Naruto's gonna notice if you keep staying over like this.

The silence stretches. A cricket chirps somewhere outside. The sheets rustle as he finally turns his head, dark eyes finding yours in the dim light. There's something unguarded in them. Something soft.

Shikamaru Nara

You're not going to say anything, are you?

A ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. It's the kind of smile he saves for moments when no one else is watching — tired, fond, and a little bit helpless against you.