It All Started With A Smell

Terrifying and Powerful

As sleep slowly left his mind and his eyes creaked open he registered two things. The first was that there was a pressure on his chest and stomach, and the second was that there was a large figure looming over him. He had no time to determine if the person was friend or foe before a hand was clamped over his mouth. His eyes snapped open fully, his arm tightening around the body pressed against his own.

"Shhh." A finger went to the lips of his attacker. "Not. A. Word."

The attacker looked at Shikamaru's chest, making the boy look down. Naruto half laid on him, her face, whilst half covered in bandages, was relaxed and peaceful. She had a fist full of blanket pulled up to her cheek, her lips parted as she breathed evenly. She looked peaceful and for the first time Shikamaru wondered how anyone could think Naruto was a boy. There was the mildest flush to her skin, one of her legs sliding between Shikamaru's knees as she buried her face into his stomach. His net shirt allowed him to feel her warm breaths hitting his skin. His arm was still around Naruto, but with her shifted position his hand had moved up her side more. Noticing where his hand was coming dangerously close to he moved it an inch towards her back, being discrete. Naruto sighed, the rush of air tickling his stomach.

The man who silenced Shikamaru removed his hand from the boy's mouth, delicately scooping Naruto up and easily rolling her away from the boy. She unfolded into her new position comfortable, not once waking. There was no saving him if Naruto wouldn't wake up. All she did was pull the blanket up more to help block out the sun.

Shikamaru was smart enough not to make a sound, to not try and wake the girl up. Instead he had to allow himself to be dragged roughly off the bed and pulled out of the window. His assailant held tight to his arm as they jumped up towards the hospital roof. When they reached the top he was dropped onto his bare feet, his shoes and jacket being thrown to the concrete in front of him.

"I'm going to be nice enough to assume you behaved yourself, and I'm only doing that because I've known your father since he was a kid. And the Naras have never shown themselves to be perverted."

He had thought this man was intimidating when they first met but now his very presence was lethal. A strong urge to grovel at this man's feet washed over Shikamaru but he held himself back. He had to be careful though. Jiraiya was a formidable man who did not appear to like Shikamaru at that moment. He would have to watch how he started to get an explanation out of the man.

"Lord Sage, what is this about?" He figured starting with his title was his best bet.

"You have feelings for Naruto." Jiraiya crossed his arms, pulling himself up to his full height which easily towered over the boy. "But Naruto isn't a normal kid."

"I'm aware of that."

"Not the- healing!" Jiraiya snapped. "Children who have been treated like Naruto has can go a certain number of ways. Naruto's particular path is going to cause you problems."

"Are you giving me advice to win Naruto?" He knew he shouldn't have spoken the moment the man's face tightened.

"No because Naruto is not a prize. You win a prize, not a person. I will accept the word courting. And no, I'm not helping you court Naruto. I am stopping you from hurting the kid as you bumble around. Like I was saying people who go down Naruto's path are one of the hardest to court. Whilst they tend to have a strong understanding of themselves they find it hard to read those around them." The man crossed his arms, looking as though he was in agonising pain with each word.

Shikamaru nodded along, taking in every word. It was somewhat amusing to him to hear the self proclaimed pervert say 'courting' as though it was the only word that didn't turn his stomach.