[The line of his mouth tightens. Those words hurt. He'd hoped everything he let out last night, before and after the drinking, would take the edge off of them, but he can still feel them settle like a terrible weight in his chest all the same. Teeth gnashed together, Shikamaru hardly breathes.]
Why? [Still he grins, and it's not even forced anymore.] It sucks, but... I'm proud of him, you know?
[Maybe it won't stop hurting at all, he realizes. Like how after he was shot, his gut would ache sometimes when it rained. But even with all of that, his father poured his sweat and every brain cell into the war. Even in the end.
It sucks. It sucks so much. But it would be an insult to Nara Shikaku - to the legacy of his father - to let that get him down forever. He's going to remember it and carry that pride with him wherever he goes. And so Shikamaru breathes, and closes his eyes to avoid that green gaze.]
Besides, I didn't come here for sympathies. I wanted to thank you.
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Why? [Still he grins, and it's not even forced anymore.] It sucks, but... I'm proud of him, you know?
[Maybe it won't stop hurting at all, he realizes. Like how after he was shot, his gut would ache sometimes when it rained. But even with all of that, his father poured his sweat and every brain cell into the war. Even in the end.
It sucks. It sucks so much. But it would be an insult to Nara Shikaku - to the legacy of his father - to let that get him down forever. He's going to remember it and carry that pride with him wherever he goes. And so Shikamaru breathes, and closes his eyes to avoid that green gaze.]
Besides, I didn't come here for sympathies. I wanted to thank you.