Maladaptive

VII. Rickety Intellect

Letter, calls, research and repeat. Shikamaru had to endure this repetition for several weeks. At first it was fine, but the constant trip to the local library to use their computers was a hassle. However, Temari unlike him, enjoyed reading. Something he quickly picked up on. Whenever she had a day off and he was going to the library. She would ask to join him. Of course he would not say she could not. However, this could put his little secret in jeopardy if she ever came over to see what he was doing but, they were at the library. He could not be doing anything to dangerous, right? Either way, she would usually be in a far corner of the library with a fortress of books around her and hiss at anyone who came close to popping her personal 'bubble'. Shikamaru avoided disturbing her unless it was necessary. He used the time here to take background checks on the possible recruits. Very rarely did he find anything that as very suspicious and nine times out of ten, It was almost guaranteed for anyone to join and the requests were flooding.

'No wonder why he gave me this job. Who the hell wants to accept invitations?'

This evening, it was around midnight and Shikamaru sat alone in their office room. He was filling out a few papers for Choji and just relaxing in a space to himself. Temari was in their room finishing up paperwork for her job and he had figured she had gone to sleep. He had left the room to refill his small glass of whiskey and upon returning, found Temari standing over the desk and flipping through his papers. His heart slammed against his chest cavity as she asked without making eye contact with him,

"What is this Shikamaru?"

His grip around the glass tightened as he was lost for the exact words to tell her or if he should continue his lie. He walked toward her and carried an innocent look as he placed his glass next to the papers and sat down in the office chair and told her with an ignorant undertone,

"It's something a friend - "

She placed her index finger over his lips and straddled his lap with the papers in her hand. She held the papers between their faces as she continued to read and then said with a menacing kindness asked,

"Shika ~ I will give you one chance to tell the truth. These looks like papers look like recruitment papers they use for the NKR. Only you don't work for them. So mind telling me what these are?"

"How do you know I don't work for them?"

"Ah, why would you? We both have plenty of reason not to work for them. Plus if you did, I am sure you would not have so much free time. Now I will ask you one more time, if you lie. I will proceed to beat you unconscious and wake you up by bathing you in a tub of rubbing alcohol."

He had a nervous laugh trying to show he was not nervous and said,

"Well - I kinda' got involved with the resistance. I'm a recruiter. Sorta'."

"And why couldn't you tell me this sooner? You must know I've known for a while."

"I figured you wouldn't understand but, How did you know?"

"Ha, well for one, how the hell would you be able to bring in so much money without an actual job? Seems a bit fishy and the only way you would be able to bring in that much money in such a short time is through illegal means. Two, you ran into the Hawk. Knowing him, even if he did survive I know he could not stay out of trouble and, the resistance is probably the best bet were to find him. Yet he is more of a lone wolf... Anyways yes, I've known for a while you were up to something."

She turned around to find his glass and took a sip of it. She turned back toward him and leaned her forehead against his and with a faint smell of alcohol in her breath added,