Shikasaku

Day 5

Prompt: tears gleaming (your smile reflected in them)
Tag: Clan politics

Title:
tears gleaming (your smile reflected in them)

________

Shikamaru sighed for the umpteenth time, and readjusted his head from where he was laying. It was stressful enough after the clan elders broke the news of him becoming the new Nara clan head. His mother had handled that sort of stuff after the war for three years, guess it wasn't enough.

Now they're expecting (more like commanding) him to find a girl and marry her.

The twenty-year-old knew from when he was a child that he was going to be forced into marriage. Young Shikamaru didn't really care much, it was too damn troublesome. He knew what was going to conspire; the elders ask for a matriarch, he goes and finds a suitable one, he marries her, they have children, his legacy passes on and he can finally retire from the shinobi life.

Well what the little bastard didn't know was that his almost adult counterpart would fall in love with a civilian- considering she's the fifth Hokage's apprentice and the strongest kunoichi currently in Konoha, the title falls short. But a no-name is (sadly) a no-name in the end.

A hand runs through his, now loose, locks and he lets out another sigh, but this time it's out of contentment. He gladly gives in to his lovers ministrations as dainty hands (that have healed and broken so many that it's almost scary, but not to him) scratch intricate patterns through his unruly hair.

Emerald eyes peer down at him with worry, "Something wrong?"

Her voice is soft and hushed, it's laced with enough concern that his chest constricts pleasurably. His own hand comes forth and grabs hers from where they're tangled in his hair. He rubs his fingers over her palms, relishing the surprising softness of them, you'd think she would have calloused hands with scars dotting the corners and haggard skin that showcased her victories and hardships.

"It's nothing, just thinking about tomorrows clan meeting" he says, eyes softening as they drink in her beauty. Sakura blushes at his loving gaze but quickly frowns at the mention of the dreaded meeting.

He had announced his concerns a few days ago at one of their dinners. Sakura pretended not to look too bothered but he could tell she was.

"It's going to be fine, Shika. Atleast I hope so" she chuckles, it would've convinced him if it weren't for her hands that had stopped moving.
He looked up at her again, "I'm not letting them shun you away or anything, Sakura. Stop worrying about it so much troublesome woman"

She gives a tight smile in return, shaking her head in mock disappointment, "It's not like you aren't doing the same" 

Cracking a lazy lopsided smile, he leans up to peck her lips lightly, "It's going to be okay, I guess"

_________

Shikamaru wanted to shrivel up in a sad ball of shame and die.

He belonged in the Nara clan for sage's sake, the least problematic clan in all of Konohagakure's history. It was foolish of him to even think his clan would doubt Sakura after witnessing her sheer strength during the fourth war.

He stood, unmoving from where he was leaning slightly over the dresser in the corner if the living room.

Sakura was off to the side, bombarded with curios childish eyes and questions. His father was seated at coffee table, a cup if tea at hand. His mother was smiling excitedly at Sakura, her own tea long finished and now served as a fidgeting toy.

The pinkette looked slightly dazed, he could tell she was yet to process all of the earlier conversations. She was trying to calm down the huddle of pouting children. She looked motherly, soft green eyes gleaming down at the juveniles with apologetic smiles and psts on the head.

Then he remembered the words of one of the elders,

"Well, it's decided then! The wedding will be somewhere around next year!"

He gulped, his throat dry.
Yoshino then took the herd of children out the door and beckoned them both to the other room.

The sliding sound of the door had increased tenfold because of the silence. Shikamaru eyed Sakura, who looked like she was finally starting to process stuff.

It wasn't long before her widened eyes met his. He gave a shrug, an apologetic smile on his face. Her eyes watered a bit, cheeks flushing a pretty pink, "They.."

"Yup"

"So that means.."

"Yeah"

"We're..."

He sighed loudly, a smile blooming on his face as he took tentative steps towards his girlfriend, "Yes, troublesome woman. We can finally sleep in peace now"

He stood mere inches from her, hands cupping the sides of her wet face, eyes searching her own. He had been planning on a better proposal than this- it wasn't even a proposal, he thought, making a note that it wasn't too late just yet. He fancied it could've been on the beach.

Maybe at a party, in front of all of their friends (who didn't know about their relationship)

Or maybe- if he was feeling angsty- on a mission gone wrong while they were at the brink of death.

Or even at a small fancy restaurant.
Anything that was deserving to the angel that decided on blessing his dull life with her presence.

He grinned, his own reflection in her glassy eyes copying the movements like how a mirror would.

"I'm glad"