Chapter Text
Holding Hands [7]
Holding hands is such an innocent romantic thing, perhaps usually associated to young lovers, those who have just started a relationship. And why wouldn’t it be? Imagine holding the hand of the person you’ve agreed to start a relationship with, your treasured and beloved partner, having butterflies flutter in your stomach at that fact would be expected. Although for Shino he has almost always unconsciously connected it with teenage love, slightly convinced that the longer one was in a relationship the novelty of the act would soon fade. Why? Because if one action was repeated enough times it becomes a common occurrence and therefore loses the excitement of doing said action. It’s rare for him to see old married couples or even middle-aged couples hold hands after all. It must be connected to young love is it not?
So why is he a blushing mess when Shikamaru nonchalantly threads their hands together while they’re sitting beside each other on the couch, relaxing after a long week of work? There’s nothing too exciting going on, they’re in their pajamas, sitting on a couch, reading together while holding hands, nothing else. Yet why does his heartrate spike, his cheeks flush, and his eyes look away in shyness? They’ve been in an exclusive relationship for seven months now and this is certainly not the first time they’ve held hands at all. His reaction is a bit perplexing.
Shino does try to focus on the book he was reading instead of the heat coloring his cheeks, but a gentle touch on his hand draws his attention for too quickly and intensely. Without looking, Shino can feel Shikamaru lightly trace idle patterns across the back of his hand with his thumb, all the while reading through the paperwork he brought with him to finish before going to sleep. It’s surprising how focused Shikamaru could be while they were holding hands when Shino was struggling to retain his own focus. And every time Shino tries to move his hand away Shikamaru would hold on tighter without missing a beat.
The longer the gentle movement continues the harder it is to get back to reading and eventually Shino tries to retract his hand. However, Shikamaru knew what Shino was doing and instead of letting his boyfriend pull away he moves his body as if getting pulled along. Both of them fall flat on the couch with a soft groan from Shino with Shikamaru laying on top of him, their hands still linked together.
Shino huffs with a playful roll of his eyes at his grinning boyfriend. “You are a stubborn one.”
“I couldn’t let you run off now, could I?”
Shino shifts his gaze to the side. “I just needed a break that’s all.”
Unfortunately for the young Aburame, Shikamaru was far too observant. And instead of taking Shino’s answer at face value, Shikamaru continues to lay his head on Shino’s chest and brings their linked hands to his face-level, leaving a searing kiss on Shino’s hand.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
On the third time Shikamaru looks up and sees exactly what he wanted to see – Shino’s flushed face and shy gaze. A teasing grin finds itself plastered on the Nara’s lips, the young man far too pleased to also hear his beloved’s heartbeat pound faster with each kiss.
“You are adorable.”
Shino groans and tries to squirm away from Shikamaru without much success as the shadow nin moves up and brackets his arms on either side of Shino’s head. Finally letting go of Shino’s hand but exchanging that with peppering kisses onto the pouting Omega’s face.
“Shikamaru what’s gotten into you?” Shino asks when he notices that his boyfriend was being clingier today than usual.
“I love it when you lose focus whenever we hold hands. You also blush like crazy and you get shy even if it’s just the two of us.” Shikamaru moves them around so he’s the one below while he embraces Shino to his chest. “I love holding your hand. Feeling your warmth, tracing those scars, knowing you’re right beside me. I love it all. I love you Shino, so much that holding your hand feels like the first time all over again.”
Shino buries his face into Shikamaru’s chest as the Alpha says all this so openly and it’s a strong comfort when he feels Shikamaru’s heart beat just as fast as his does when they're together.
“I thought I would get used to holding hands with time. It turns out the longer we’re together the more I look forward to these types of activities with you.” Shino moves his head to look at Shikamaru before saying. “I love you Shikamaru.”
Perhaps holding hands didn’t have to be exclusive to young teenage love after all.
Your hand in mine, my hand in yours
Saying yes has truly opened doors,
Routes I never thought my life could take,
New happy memories I didn’t think I’d make
And as our hands be linked remain,
Our promises to each other aren’t in vain,
So breathe my love and hold me close
We’ll thrive through life’s thorn or rose