Reasons To Love You

Reason 2

Shikamaru's POV

You listen to me, always listening to me. Even when I'm upset and mumbling under my breath, you're there listening to me, bending down to my height to catch my curses. Sometimes whenever I try to get my point across I'm drowned out, you stepped up and shut them up so I can talk. You're keen like that. 

You know I have a thing for obscure historical facts. It creeps you out whenever I pull together a new PowerPoint but you let me present it and talk endlessly about it even though we both know that you have no interest in it. I don't care, however. I love that you make me babble about my new facts. You take notes, ask questions and even point out some new areas for me to go and look into. 

You let me feel seen, that I'm the only one in your eyes whenever I open my mouth. Do you know how that makes me feel? I get nervous but your eyes tell me to take my time and that loosens me up for the time we spend together ahead. Sometimes I think it goes in one ear and out the other but that's not the case. You're listening to me. You're seeing me and I can only turn away when your eyes settle on me with that unknown emotion burning through. 

My heart's never safe around you Naruto. You're killing me whenever you look so smug about making me on edge. And don't get me started on whenever you tilt my chin up to face you. Don't do that! That's for romance stories! What makes it worse is that you do it like second nature, I don't like how that makes me feel, burning me in my chest as I lose my breath. You don't know what it does to me but I suspect you do. 

You're too close, so close I can see the faint freckles on your cheeks, I doubt you notice them. What are you doing so close to me, your hand on my waist makes me tremble and I know you know because you hush me, telling me it's okay. It's not okay, you're just teasing me. Stop it Naruto it's a mean tease and I'm not laughing. 

End of POV

"Why are we here still?" Shikamaru groaned as he watched Naruto set up trip wires for Monday. 

"I won't be here Monday so they can't pin this one on me," Naruto chuckled softly as he finished his trap before packing up his duffel bag. "Come on and watch your step." 

"Why do I have to be involved?" Shikamaru wasn't complaining as Naruto took his hand smoothly and led him through the maze of wires. "And why aren't you coming in on Monday?" 

"I like spending time with you and as for Monday I just have something to set up elsewhere," Naruto gave him a vague answer but Shikamaru knew Naruto would tell him in time. "Watch your landing." 

Shikamaru jumped over a wire but stumbled into Naruto's chest. The blonde wrapped an arm around his waist and held him tightly. "Told you to watch your landing." 

"Shut up," Shikamaru mumbled as he stood upright but Naruto's arm around his waist didn't move. Silence engulfed them and Shikamaru gritted his teeth as his chin was tilted up to Naruto's direction. "Stop it." 

"What?" 

"You're making me nervous," Shikamaru got quieter as Naruto leaned down closer to him, their breaths mingling. "This is what I mean." 

Naruto smiled, he wanted to do something else but it seemed Shikamaru already had different plans as he pulled away. He frowned, luckily it was too dark for the other to see. Naruto sighed and settled for another time, he would have other opportunities.