In the name of love (original version)

Chapter 20

Shikamaru's POV

I woke to the feeling of something, or rather someone, pressed against my chest. I felt his warm breath against my chest, his hand holding onto my shirt like his life depended on it. I snuck a glance at his face to see a calm and relaxed expression. He looked as if nothing troubled him, and I wished things would be that way. He began to stir, his face contorting in what seemed like agony. "No, please d-don't" he muttered, I instantly knew what he was dreaming of and began to shake him awake.

He woke with a start, his eyes flew open and his grip on my shirt tightened. "S-Shika," he said his voice filled with fear. Tears spilled from his eyes as the nightmare played again in his mind. "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere," I said, he looked up at me, his eyes filled with relief that his nightmare hadn't suddenly come true. More tears spilled as he told me about what he saw while I drew shapes on his back to calm him. "I can't wait to get this over with, so we can move on" he muttered.

I felt my heart clench. I knew he was grieving, but by his smell and demeanor, I could tell his depression was flaring up. I pulled him close to me, giving off a comforting smell. After a few minutes of this, he was calm and almost asleep. Then Menma, Mito, and Naruko burst into the room. "Oh sorry, did we wake you guys?" Naruko asked, "Just Naruto" I replied, and she muttered an apology. They came over and plopped on the bed after closing the door. "I'm bored," Menma said, we all agreed, "I wanna go visit Kakashi," Naruto said. I sighed and got up, and soon as I did, he latched onto my back and I went through the motions of getting both of us ready. "Who's Kakashi?" Menma, Mito, and Naruko asked in sink. "You'll see," Naruto said, then went to sleep, activating the death grip. 

"Shikamaru, Naruto, What the heck are you two dimwits doing here?" he asked, with a grit tooth smile on his face. I already knew Iruka was inside and we had interrupted them. Then Iruka popped up at the door with a devilish smile and sex-tousled hair. "Come in," he said with the most murderous smile. I almost turned around and ran, but Menma, Mito, and Naruko, even Naruto pulled me into the house. 

"So introduce us, then explain why you are here at 7 in the morning," Iruka said, "Uhm these are my siblings," Naruto said, he then introduced them one by one. "Any way we're here because we're about to go on a mission and probably won't be back for a few months," he said, Iruka and Kakashi shared a look. Kakashi sighed and then opened his arms, and Naruto walked over. They hugged for about ten minutes, while Iruka and I cooked breakfast. None of us said we were going to this, it was just a series of eye contact. This seemed to freak out Menma, Mito, and Naruko. 

"Pause, how the fuck did you read each other's minds like that" Naruko said, "yeah like you didn't even say anything you just acted" Mito added. I shrugged, "you live with someone long enough, you just know" I responded while I cooked the pancakes. Slowly we all fell into light conversation. Everyone was smiling and laughing. I felt slim, warm arms wrap around my torso, and a short body press into my back. Neither of us said anything as we stood there, basking in the peacefully chaotic air. Both of us silently using the standing cuddle to say everything that needed to be said; neither of us want this moment to end. As soon as the pancakes were done and plated, I turned around and pulled Naruto into a hug. I heard him sigh, sounding content yet troubled. After what felt like an eternity, Naruto pulled away and helped me bring the food to the table. 

✨~AN~✨

Hi everyone, I'm sorry for not posting for so long. I'm feeling a little bit better so I'm going to try and update this story. Thanks for reading this story!