Deep End (ShikamaruXOC)

5.

We had traveled through a fair amount of the land of earth before the sun started to set and we found ourselves moving to find tree cover and a place to camp for the night. Genma had informed us that after tonight we should make it there rather early in the day tomorrow. Once we had found a patch of trees that seemed suitable out of the stone forest where we would be more vulnerable if we had set up there. I had been sent off in search of firewood while Shikamaru and Genma set up camp, it didn't take too long though to gather some fallen branches a break of a sustainable amount of firewood for us. I made my way back quickly and saw Genma and Shikamaru standing with arms crossed in front of one another. They had cross looking faces and I could sense the tension in the air around them, I cleared my throat to announce my arrival back and Genma turned to look at me, the anger draining from his face.

"Choi, thank you for collecting firewood. Here," he walked towards me with arms extended, "I'll take that and get a fire started for us."

I nodded and gave him the wood in my arms, "Thank you Genma."

Shikamaru quietly walked over to his pack and started to lay out his sleeping mat. Why were they being so weird? What did I walk in on exactly?

Shikamaru's POV

Tch, who did Genma think he was anyway? Ever since we were at the inn last night, he's been on some funny business with Choi, and I was not going to entertain it. She had gone to take that bath last night and almost as if on cue Genma and I locked eyes knowing what was most likely going down in there. He had smirked triumphantly upon hearing a splash of the water and I could have fucking hit him. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious as to what she was thinking and fucks sake what she looked like in that state, but it was a matter of respect and privacy. I would think Genma of all people would understand that, but then he had to go and start teasing her for it this morning when we went to leave the inn. What did he want with her anyway? He's at least a decade older than us.

When we stopped for the evening, I sent Choi to get firewood wanting to have a word with the floppy haired jonin. I approached him and asked him just what the hell that was about and reminding him he needed to be respectful of her privacy no matter how horny or deprived he was.

"It's not about that Shikamaru and quite frankly it's none of your business," he countered, standing defensively.

"Tch," I mimicked his stance, "look just stop being inappropriate towards Choi, got it?"

His eyes narrowed, "What do you have feelings for her or something? Because according to Choi she doesn't have any for you."

My heart fell, but I didn't let it show as I let my rage continue further, did she really say that?

It was about then that Choi had come back and I couldn't say anything further, I also couldn't bear to look at her after hearing Genma's words. I guess it was foolish of me to think that there was a connection after all these years of childish antics and bickering, but it hurt to think she didn't feel anything towards me. Especially the way she looked at me last night, she didn't even try to hide the way she studied me before we sat down for dinner together. Then again after her bath, her doe eyes looked at me in shock when she saw I was still awake and I saw the blush she desperately tried to hide under her covers. I could have chalked it up to her being embarrassed about potentially being heard in the bathroom, but there was something behind those eyes that told me it was more than that.

I wanted to believe there was more to our childish rivalry than her really having no feelings towards me.

Choi's POV

We sat around the fire in silence, Genma and Shikamaru never making eye contact as we ate our food pellets and kept warm with the sun fully set now. I watched Shikamaru especially, he hadn't looked at me since I'd come back from getting firewood and for whatever reason, it made my chest tighten and feel hollow all at the same time.