Naruto: Courage

She called him Crybaby-kun.

The nickname became their private term of endearment. She liked calling him that as she smiled sweetly and draped an arm around his shoulders, three parts teasing and seven parts tender. Her fingers traced from his eyelids to his chin, following the path of his tears from all those years ago.

Whenever she did that, Shikamaru would turn her face toward him and kiss her, saying she still couldn’t forget something from so long ago. “That’s women for you…” The corners of his mouth curved beautifully as he teased her, full of confidence and affection.

Because it was something about Shikamaru, she couldn’t forget. She didn’t say it aloud, but he knew. Shikamaru loved Temari not for her striking looks, but for the gentleness and tenderness she showed only to him, hidden beneath her tough exterior. People said she was so independent she hardly seemed like a girl. Whenever Shikamaru heard that, he’d grin in the most irritating way. “Of course you don’t know. I’m the only one who gets to see her feminine side. You could call this woman stubborn more than capable. Take off that fierce exterior, and underneath she’s as gentle as water.”

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