he's tired. his eyes are heavy. still, he makes it to the couch, sits besides temari and lies his head onto her lap without a word. it's been a long day; she knows. she always does.
late nights at the office were getting more and more common this year. temari tried to stay with him when she could, but she could only make up so much fake work before shikamaru or kakashi caught onto her lie. neither of them would ever kick her out, but the way they started worrying about her not getting enough to eat, or not getting enough rest, usually made her so angry with their hypocrisy that she would end up storming out. by the time she made it home, she always regretted leaving. but he pride didn't let her return.
when he's finally home, she can measure how tired he is by the speed with which he lies on her. tonight, it is immediate, and temari is instantly filled with worry.
her fingers are sure and nimble at removing the tie in his hair, then she presently begins running her fingers through it. shikamar is tired, but temari is tense, and the fact that he hasn't noticed worries her all the more. she inhales, preparing to speak, and feels him stiffen. (maybe he does know; and maybe it would be kinder of her to let him sleep).
"i didn't marry you so you could spend every waking minute at the hokage's office, you know."
her fingers don't still, but shikamaru does impossibly further.
"do you regret it?" he shifts, allowing his words to me mumbled by her yukata.
"no. but i do think you're taking shitty care of yourself."
shikamaru sits up, and she can instantly see that his eyes are full of regret. "i'm sorry," he speaks softly, though not because he doesn't mean it. he wraps her in a hug and temari melts against him, almost against her will. he shouldn't have the ability to get her to surrender just by touching her.
forcing the rest of what she wants to say out of her mouth takes a lot of her.
"don't just say sorry, be sorry." actions speak louder than words; it's a philosophy she holds dear, something she has always lived by. he could apologize one thousand times, but if he never changed... his word would cease to mean anything.
"i'm..." she knows he wants to say he's sorry again, and she's happy that he doesn't.
"i love you, shikamaru, but i didn't marry you to never see you."
he would have to do better.
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