Modern AU

Definition- Shundere refers to a character who is sad and very depressed. While a full smile on the Shundere character's face might be out of the question, their love interest can help them open up and feel accepted. They have a tendency to ignore and avoid other people. 

A broken doll. 

That's what Naruto Uzumaki was in the eyes of Shikamaru Nara. A broken doll, beautiful, immaculate but had a manufacturing defect. Dull blue eyes, hollow without a pupil to be seen. He was enraptured by the look, not that he would admit it to his friends. They were idiots, couldn't appreciate true beauty when it was in their presence. He would watch the blonde to make sure nobody causes him trouble but even those who tried to talk to Naruto got ignored. He avoided the college population like a plague. 

Today it was nearing winter, the first snowfall and he had managed to catch Naruto gazing at the fall of snow in the park that was on the way to school. He was dressed scantily from what Shikamaru could see under the heavy coat that was left open and he was enthralled by the sheer sexiness of it. How could someone so depressed still have the sanity to make sure they eat properly, dress up beautifully and take care of their hair all while looking so dead? It made him giddy just a bit, he had to admit Naruto was his type when it came to features but it was his eyes and whiskers that really made him like the other. 

That and the fact Naruto didn't like to hassle himself, he was depressed so he was quiet and Shikamaru liked quiet. His friends would surely try and steer him away from the perfectly placed together mess that was Naruto to someone brass like Temari. He didn't have a thing for being subtly abused by a feminist. He had a thing for soft boys in dresses that were delicate in nature. He wanted a tan porcelain doll and he was looking at it. 

He got closer to Naruto and noted he was just staring blankly at the falling snow. And with how scantily he was dressed he figured he was cold. "Naruto?" He called out softly, the long-haired blonde closed his eyes and sighed quietly. 

Naruto's eyes turned to him, not his body just his eyes. Those blank eyes pierced the other's very being and everything he stood for. "The boy who likes me, hello," It was said in a tired slight drawl. "Isn't school starting?"

"It is but you seemed much more interesting and you are so I stopped," Shikamaru responded honestly. 

"Because you like me?" 

"I do, I really do like you," Shikamaru found himself saying much to his surprise. 'Those damn eyes are a witchcraft that I've fallen into.' 

"Why?" Naruto shrugged which made his coat drop off his shoulders. Shikamaru noted that the blonde shivered a bit but nothing more. 

"Because you're a damn aesthetic and I love it." 

That earned a slight smile, barely a twitch of the mouth but it was there. Shikamaru grinned at it and called it a victory. "You stare at me a lot, makes me nervous. No one bats an eye at me," Naruto looked down and shifted away from Shikamaru slightly. 

"Because you're beautiful Naruto and I would like to date you," Shikamaru stood his ground despite wanting to bring him in his arms. Naruto shook his head to shake the snow that was piling on his head. It had begun to get heavier and they could hear the bell toll at a distance. They didn't move, however. 

"They'd make fun of you, you're popular. One of the big three of the wealthy families of Konoha," Naruto's eyes dropped a bit, almost like he was saying that he was sadder than before. Shikamaru didn't care about appearances, he was a lazy, entitled brat and he would get the doll he wanted even if he had to work for it. 

"I don't care about that; I've spent the last two years loving you and I just want a chance with you. I won't overstep my boundaries, I'll do whatever you want to make you comfortable but I want to call you to mine," Shikamaru said as his now cold coffee was tossed into the trash nearby. 

Naruto rolled his head to the side and reached out with dainty fingers to clutch onto Shikamaru's jacket. "Just don't ignore me when I want attention and we'll be fine."

Shikamaru grinned and nodded. 

****************

It was sickening really. That's what Ino and Choji thought when Shikamaru formally introduced them to Naruto over the monthly family dinner they had at Ino's home. Their fathers were best friends so it was expected. Ino had Sai, Choji had Karui and Shikamaru had Naruto. They didn't have expectations of Naruto to eat the professional meals, prepped by world-class chefs correctly with several utensils placed out in front of him. 

'Commoner,' Ino thought snidely as she watched Naruto during the first course. However, to the shock of everyone besides Shikamaru Naruto ate the meal using the proper utensils. Not only that he did so managing to look awfully beautiful. His hollow eyes made them shiver however, how Shikamaru loved him was beyond them.

Yoshino and Shikaku tried to bond with Naruto since they've known about him for a long while since Shikamaru was that obsessed with him. It was adorable really how Shikamaru could be so cruel to others but become a complete puppy with Naruto. Naruto was polite with them, didn't smile but you could tell he was happy to be chatting with them. As the night rolled on at Ino's home Naruto ended up looking at pictures concerning Shikamaru's childhood that Ino kept in meticulous details. 

"You are so cute," Naruto compliment as he saw Shikamaru sleeping in the Nara Forest with a butterfly in his hair. 

"So, I'm still cute?" Shikamaru asked placing his arm around the blonde who tilted his head in amusement. Naruto's face was blank but after 3 months of dating, Shikamaru could read him like a shogi board. 

"Yes, but you filled out quite nicely." 

As they talked quietly to themselves Ino and Choji were talking to each other and decided to approach Shikamaru afterward. They didn't have to wait long as Yoshino needed to get to know Naruto more and Shikamaru told her to treat him gently. When he was out of the room Ino and Choji sat across from him. 

"Naruto? Really?" She asked and Shikamaru's eyes went cold. 

"Problem?" 

Choji knew where this was going, hands were about to be thrown. 

"Temari is such a better option Shikamaru, she comes from a good background, has perfect grades, and likes your lazy ass," Ino tried to persuade him but Shikamaru wasn't having it. 

"And Naruto has all that and so much more. I'm not a damn masochist, I've seen the way she treats her boyfriends and if you think I'm submissive Ino I'm seriously considering if you really know me," Shikamaru scowled at her before turning to the big man of the group. "And your input?" 

"I have no problems with your choices Shikamaru I'm just concerned as to how healthy this relationship really is. I don't want to see anybody sad or upset and that blank face must get to you at least sometimes," Choji reasoned. 

"Since we're all taking shots at my partner let me take shots at yours," Shikamaru said as Ino opened her mouth to say something. "Naruto's blank expression doesn't bother me, I'm happy with him. He's the reality for me. I'm not the one dating a delusional artist who has no plans after college than sit in Ino's mansion and paint. Ino, you have no leg to stand on because he's admitted it." 

"Choji I love you but Karui is obviously just here because her parents forced her to be friendly with you since Chouza dug them out of debt. Naruto however has a stellar family that's doing much better off than your twos families combined coupled with the fact despite his obvious depression he's much well put together than any of your partners who plan to leech off you two." 

Bitter words but true words. 

Ino ran off in tears and Choji shook his head and got up. It's the third fight they've ever had but Shikamaru knows they'll recover, just needed space and time. 

**********

A year into their relationship and weeks before graduation Shikamaru broached the subject of Naruto's blank eyes. 

"Can you tell me why you are the way you are?"

Naruto hummed as he pulled his feet to his chest. "Does it bother you that I am the way I am?"

"Certainly not darling but I want you to be even happier."

"At first, I thought our relationship would end after a month, people criticized you for doing it and it caused a strain with your group of friends. But I was happy you stood by your decision when previous lovers would cave under the pressure. That was the first instance of happiness you gave me. And as time went on you defended me every step of the way, including me into things so I didn't feel left out anymore, and even though you didn't know, you were making me extremely happy. I am happy that I met you Shikamaru, happy I gave you a chance because you've made me so happy in one year than I had ever been for the last 5 years." 

Shikamaru watched Naruto starting to cry at the end of it but something else made him really happy than Naruto's outer shell finally coming down. It was the fact that now he could see Naruto's pupils. His eyes were still dull but not he removed the hardest outer shell to be allowed to see his true eyes. 

That made him happy.