Shikamaru ran a casual hand through Naruto's blonde hair.

-----

Sasuke. That was all Naruto could ever think about.

Naruto had tried so hard, fought for so long, just to get him back, even when Konoha gave up on him, even when Sakura came to accept that Sasuke was gone forever. Naruto didn't give up though, he never did, until – it was too late.

By then Sakura had moved on, choosing to stay with Lee. He was someone she would never be able to love as much as Sasuke, but she knew that she could count on Lee for the rest of her life, and that was all that mattered at the end of the day. Her wounds would never heal, but at least she could turn to Lee.

Naruto had been advised by Baa-chan to do the same, but he didn't. He simply couldn't.

He couldn't forget the times they'd spent training together, yelling at each other, even the fight at the Valley of the End. He couldn't forget that Sasuke had been his best friend, his brother, everything.

Instead, he turned to Shikamaru.

He was the only person, he decided, who was most like Sasuke.

Shikamaru's a genius, has dark hair, doesn't talk much, gets annoyed at him…

…as long as the person reminded him of Sasuke, Naruto didn't really mind who he was. Besides, Naruto couldn't find anybody else whose expression of disdain was closest to Sasuke's other than Shikamaru's.

-----

Shikamaru gingerly removed himself from Naruto, who clung on to him even when he was asleep. The blonde was so afraid of losing someone else that he held on so tight, such that sometimes it left marks in Shikamaru's skin.

He grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the bedside table and shuffled out of the room.

Every night he would ask himself, why, why did he bother staying with Naruto when he knew right from the start that he was just a replacement for Sasuke?

Leaning wearily against the balcony, he lit a cigarette and brought it to his lips.

How long more would he be able to cope with Naruto muttering Sasuke's name in his sleep, instead of his?

Shikamaru inhaled deeply. He'd always had a soft spot for Naruto. The other nin was loud and irritating, but nevertheless he was endearing. Stupid, adorable idiot. Who never failed to surprise him, a trait he found intriguing.

So he couldn't say no, when Naruto came to him, eyes burning with hunger, desire, lust, but devoid of any more hope, or even the innocence they bore when he was younger. He simply couldn't.

He scowled, and threw the cigarette butt over the balcony ledge. The whole thing was so damned, freaking troublesome; he should have been colder to start with. But he was already stuck in this situation, so there was no point in dwelling on what he should have done.

Damnit! It would be even more bothersome to leave Naruto now, since he'd gotten himself so deeply involved. In fact, he admitted silently, the reason didn't just end there. He just couldn't bear to leave Naruto broken. Not again. Naruto probably couldn't take being alone again.

Naruto shouldn't have to go through hell once more.

Sighing, Shikamaru made his way back to the room. It was just the way things had to be, even if he would only ever be a mere substitute.

------

Naruto stirred in his sleep, the warmth that had been right next to him was gone. One of his hands reached out to his side, only to find that no one was there. Drowsily, he mumbled,

"… … Shikamaru?"