What A Drag... || Shikamaru x reader

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Edited: 30/05/24

Reuploaded: 06/06/24

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I basically ran home after the funeral was over. I couldn't stand the stares, the pitying words.

I threw the door open and ran in, collapsing against the wall as the emotions finally started burning.

The door flew open again and there was Shikamaru, his gaze was filled with something like sorrow and fear.

It was hard to look at and immediately I felt my tears that'd been fighting to break free as I'd ran home start to fall.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a tight hug. My tears forever falling despite the warmth and comfort I felt in his arms.

"I didn't ever tell him I loved him, or hug him and tell him I was proud, or that my Mother's death wasn't his fault. I didn't do anything that makes me look like a daughter who deserves to be happy again," I cried into his shirt, we dropped to the floor, and I kept a tight grip on him as if I let go, I'd lose him too.

"Listen, you did tell him all that. Yeah sure, it wasn't in words, but it was in your actions," Shikamaru told me, holding me almost as tightly as I was him, "you're crying because you loved him and now you miss him. You told him to be safe before every mission because you loved him. You told him you were proud of him by taking everything he taught you and making yourself stronger than before. You told him your Mother's death wasn't his fault by reminding him every day that he still had you."

"You deserve happiness. You need to just cry all of this out so you can find your happiness again. You may think that now because your Dad is gone, that you're alone but you're not. You've got my Mum, Dad, our friends and..." He trailed off before his voice fell to a considerate whisper, "you've got me. I won't let you be alone. I'll be here to be your shoulder when you cry and if you cry so much you can't walk or speak, I'll be your legs and voice so you can rest again."

I looked up at him. He was looking down at me with so much sadness and worry that it hurt me to see it.

"Thank you, Shika," I whispered before hiding my face in his shirt again.

"Anything for you, n/n," he whispered back, resting his chin on the top of my head and then picking me up and carrying us to the sofa. He sat down with me beside him and got comfortable so that I could lean on his shoulder.

Time seemed to stop, and the world seemed to gain just a little bit of colour again.

Shikamaru is my rock. My trigger and...

Wait—do I love him..?