Days, they dragged on lazily before them. From the top of their watchtower, Chouji and Shikamaru let it pass by without comment. Action was great and productive, but inaction can be equally great at times.
Chouji blinked at a cloud that resembled a shuriken. He said so to Shikamaru between mouthfuls of potato chips, and Shikamaru just nodded his agreement. His short black lashes cast shadows on his smooth cheeks. One languid hand sought the bag of chips. Chouji didn’t look at him, but just continued to munch away.
“Have you ever…” he started, but then stopped. Shikamaru licked the salt off his lips and looked up at Chouji from where he lay.
“What?”
There was nothing for a moment, but Chouji heard Ino’s voice in his head as clearly as if she was on the roof with them.
“Does Shikamaru ever talk about me?” Blonde glimmering hair on the flower-shop counter as Ino leaned her head on her arms. The heady scent of flowers overwhelmed him. She blushed as she said it, her fingers picking at a pile of receipts.
Don’t look at her. Chouji replied something vague and averted his eyes.
“Can you…will you ask if he…” an embarrassed sigh. “It’s silly.”
He went home soon after that, drunken with the scent of the store and uncertain about what to feel.
“Have you ever thought of Ino as more than just a friend?”
Maybe he shouldn’t say it, and keep it to himself. But he did it because she asked him to do it.
Shikamaru didn’t answer right away, but a slight blush undermined his noncommittal expression. “Not…particularly. But sometimes…”
He didn’t finish his sentence and reached for another potato chip. That was all right. Chouji knew what would be coming next anyway. He just turned back to the clouds.
Perhaps in another time and place, they would be rivals.
But inaction would suffice for today.
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Chapter notes: This is my first Naruto fanfic (well drabble, really) ever. ^_^ Comments/rants are welcome!