endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2010-11-22 09:27 am
endless_scrolls) wrote2010-11-22 09:27 am
Childish Promise
Title: Childish Promise
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: AU!Crossover
Word count: 2101
Character(s): Tenten, Aburame Shino
Pairing(s): Slight Shino/Tenten if you kinda squint
Warning(s): Fluff. Adorable fluff.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Inspired by [ THIS ] thread. ...Because this is what happens when you feed the plot bunnies too much with cute and love. And because they're adorable in any universe. 8|... ♥
Dedicated to:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
semchance. They can be cute together any time you want~
For years, ever since she was barely old enough to understand the importance of what they did, she had known that this day would come; that she would eventually be faced with this decision. It was the lot of every guardian to struggle with placing their trust in an outsider. And though the young witch was normally a good judge of character, Tenten had always feared that she would make the wrong choice. Mistakes were possible, after all, even with the most cautious of people. And then everything they had worked so hard to protect -- all the generations that her and the other families had given in service -- would have been for nothing. All because of her error.
But there was something to be said about the amount of assurance she felt concerning this decision. Concerning him.
"So... your family runs a nature tour."
The evenness of his words indicated that it was nothing more than a casual statement meant to clarify what she had already mentioned during previous conversations. That, the young girl could contend with; had already grown accustomed to the way he would seek validity and explanation through simple phrases and references so that he could better understand. It was who he was and had always been. But there was no helping the hint of curiosity in his tone as they continued their trek up the mountain path etched into the well-worn dirt. Like he was drowning in water and reaching out for a lifeline. With reason, Tenten supposed, especially considering the way she had been acting since meeting him at the airport.
"Nature hike, actually," she corrected with a small glance back at him, "Sort of... among other things."
"Other... things."
Breathing in, she adjusted her pack and quickly forced out a smile to pacify his inquisitive nature, as well as to calm her own anxieties over the situation. "You'll see."
All through the journey up from Chengdu, and probably weeks beforehand when she had first made the suggestion for him to come visit her during the summer holiday, the young witch had been struggling with how she was going to explain the truth behind her family business to him; the importance of their duties and in keeping their closely kept secrets. Because if Tenten was to reveal the whole of her world and purpose, she had to be sure that he fully understood the weight and responsibility that came with such knowledge. But anything she could come up with seemed foolish and came out as nothing more than ancient mystic nonsense, even in the wizarding world. They were unfounded claims and illogical reasons which pressed on the very things she knew were important to him. Shino was an intelligent wizard, after all. He enjoyed his facts and figures almost as much as any true Ravenclaw would. Almost as much as she loved the art of learning and knowledge. -- Why he hadn't been sorted into Ravenclaw House like she was, Tenten would never know. -- He had to believe her words for it to mean anything.
"Where are we?"
Squinting into the distance, the young girl quietly made to search out a familiar landmark along the path that she could judge from. "Along the border between the Sichuan and Qinghai providences. Near Tibetan territory, if I remember correctly. We should be coming across a gate point soon." And even as the words came out, Tenten's eyes had settled on the sign post that marked one of the many rest stops stationed along the trail. "Come on, there's one right up there."
Without thinking, Tenten reached out and grabbed the cuff of his shirt sleeve, pulling the young wizard along as she started sprinting along the road towards the sign post. It wasn't until they were halfway up the hill that the realization hit her, and it took every bit of the girl's self control and will not to blush at the invasion of his personal space as she dropped his hand and continued the rest of the way to the designated rest stop where there stood a little concession stand at the foot of a rock cliff. Pausing a moment to catch her breath -- to allow Shino to join her at his own pace -- Tenten gave a greeting wave to the person behind the counter before motioning for Shino to follow behind as she walked on behind the counter.
Through the little hut and out the door in the back, they went. All the while, she could feel Shino's cautious gaze fall on the back of her neck several times. But despite the added pressure and growing weight of his unspoken questions, Tenten had remained quiet, only directing her attention forward as she headed to the rock wall that lined the clearing behind the shop. -- The constant movement of her feet and extreme focus did well to distract her from the real concerns that were pushing against the very barriers of her mind. -- Only then did Tenten finally glance back at her companion to ensure that he was, indeed, still there following behind her.
After a quick scan of the area to make sure no one was watching them, Tenten tapped out the access sequence against the cliff face. A single knuckle was all she needed to mimic the size and width of a wand while her eyes sought out the appropriate spots to rapt against. And afterwards, it was only a matter of waiting a few seconds before the rocks began to shift. For either one of them who had traveled through the gate to Diagon Alley behind the Leaky Cauldron, it was nothing out of the ordinary and hardly held the same instance of wonder when all it led to was a small little room of glass and metal.
Seeing his silhouette shift out the corner of her eyes, the girl attempted no explanation. Instead, she simply stepped in and waited for him to do the same. The moment he did, the doors slid closed and outside, they could see as the rocks rearranged themselves back into place. And then they were moving.
Under normal circumstances, the stretch of silence that followed after was something that wouldn't have been such a big deal for them. They had spent entire afternoons together in the library or out in the courtyard or even in the stands of the Quidditch field without ever uttering a word to each other. It was, for her, what had marked his friendship apart from the others. The reason why he had been chosen to share her secret and risk exposure from any miscalculations on her part. But the mystery and ambiguity surrounding his arrival and their long journey to this point had been enough to fill that symbiotic relationship with so much unwanted and unnecessary tension. And worst of all, none of it had been any fault of his.
Coming to that realization, the girl lifted her head up and zeroed her eyes on the young man standing on the opposite side of the cabin, taking in his stance and recognizing the discrepancies in his changed demeanor. The normal angles of his shoulders seemed sharper in their tenseness. The soft lines of his jaw were now clenched with definition, telling of his own anxiety. And the gentle arch of his brows that were usually only reserved for her seemed too creased and furrowed with confusion and uncertainty. She had done that to him, intentional or otherwise. And with a level of determination, she decided that she needed to fix it.
"...How long have we known each other, Shino?"
He remained still for a moment, as if he hadn't heard the soft murmur of her voice. Then, just as she made to call out his name again, Shino lifted his gaze as well, aiming it up towards a high corner in thought. As if he were considering and counting the long timeline of their friendship before finally answering. "...Three years."
"Since you came to Hogwarts," Tenten agreed with a gentle nod, "That's a long time."
Tilting his head, she watched with some level of relief and calm as a familiar brow lifted a minute fraction questioningly. Deliberately. Ever subtle with most of his gestures and appreciative with her quick and often correct interpretations, it was a clear sign that he was tired of dancing around the subject. And if that weren't enough, his next words hammered down the final nail to any doubt. "What's this about, Tenten?"
Letting out a soft sigh, the young witch pushed off from where she leaned against the cabin wall and took careful steps in approaching him. This was not a conversation to be made from across even such a distance. He needed to see and feel the weight of seriousness that came with the turmoil that raged within her over this. And just as she stood in front of him, the elevator stopped, finally reaching their destination. Looking up to him and drawing his attention, she hovered her hand over the panel switch that would open the doors. "What I'm about to show you, you have to swear that you won't tell another soul. No one, not even your father."
There was a moment where the young wizard simply stood there gazing down at her, as if he were searching for the answers in the neutral curves of her face. As if he could make such a decision based on the thoughts that were crowding around within her mind. And then, after another instance, Shino gave a shallow dipped of his chin in a barely notable nod. In agreement to her terms. But even that wasn't enough.
"Pinkie swear?" Bringing her free hand up, the witch extended her tiniest finger and waited for him to do the same. It was an extremely childish gesture, she knew. But in the whole of their friendship, it had become the greatest mark of trust and honor. There was not a single soul more honest than a child's, after all. And no bond stronger. So when she finally felt his slightly larger finger lightly curl around hers, Tenten could not stop the smile of relief from pulling at her lips. And with renewed confidence, she pressed on the panel and ushered him forward.
The elevator doors connected to a shallow corridor, a bright light streaming in from the other end only mere meters away. And as their footsteps echoed against the rock walls, Tenten could hardly contain her excitement as the moment of truth drew closer and closer to its climax. All the while, the young man seemed content with remaining as neutral and unassuming as possible. Stepping out into the light, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the shift in scenery. But once they did, she was greeted with one of the most beautiful sights in the world. It was like a tropical valley paradise hidden within the mountains and covered in a veil magical of secrecy, tucked away from the world so that it could continue on undisturbed from life's evils and cruelties. But while she had grown up with such a sight -- and no matter how many times she was blessed enough to witness it, it would never be less than breathtakingly beautiful to her -- Shino had not.
Reminded of his presence, the young witch glanced back at him and found the Aburame heir still huddled somewhat in the dimness of the passageway. Smiling at his caution, she gestured him forward. Which was only greeted with a wary and confused furrow of his brows. But he stepped forward nonetheless. And just as Shino took his last step into the light, a great shadow zoomed up in front of them, blocking their view of the valley and casing a momentary shadow over the both of them before wheeling back and gliding out into open air where it could be better seen. Gold and red shading with a distinctly forked tail, Tenten couldn't help but smile as the North Korean Forktail showed off it's aerobatics. But a sudden snap of Shino's head out the corner of her eyes drew the young girl's attention away from that and the select other creatures that had come out from rock grooves and the thick forest below to focus on the deep furrow of his brows. In confusion. In a wordless question.
And though there were probably a thousand things she could have said in that moment, the young witch could only think of one. "...Welcome to the Qian Dragon Reserve."
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: AU!Crossover
Word count: 2101
Character(s): Tenten, Aburame Shino
Pairing(s): Slight Shino/Tenten if you kinda squint
Warning(s): Fluff. Adorable fluff.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Inspired by [ THIS ] thread. ...Because this is what happens when you feed the plot bunnies too much with cute and love. And because they're adorable in any universe. 8|... ♥
Dedicated to:
semchance. They can be cute together any time you want~For years, ever since she was barely old enough to understand the importance of what they did, she had known that this day would come; that she would eventually be faced with this decision. It was the lot of every guardian to struggle with placing their trust in an outsider. And though the young witch was normally a good judge of character, Tenten had always feared that she would make the wrong choice. Mistakes were possible, after all, even with the most cautious of people. And then everything they had worked so hard to protect -- all the generations that her and the other families had given in service -- would have been for nothing. All because of her error.
But there was something to be said about the amount of assurance she felt concerning this decision. Concerning him.
"So... your family runs a nature tour."
The evenness of his words indicated that it was nothing more than a casual statement meant to clarify what she had already mentioned during previous conversations. That, the young girl could contend with; had already grown accustomed to the way he would seek validity and explanation through simple phrases and references so that he could better understand. It was who he was and had always been. But there was no helping the hint of curiosity in his tone as they continued their trek up the mountain path etched into the well-worn dirt. Like he was drowning in water and reaching out for a lifeline. With reason, Tenten supposed, especially considering the way she had been acting since meeting him at the airport.
"Nature hike, actually," she corrected with a small glance back at him, "Sort of... among other things."
"Other... things."
Breathing in, she adjusted her pack and quickly forced out a smile to pacify his inquisitive nature, as well as to calm her own anxieties over the situation. "You'll see."
All through the journey up from Chengdu, and probably weeks beforehand when she had first made the suggestion for him to come visit her during the summer holiday, the young witch had been struggling with how she was going to explain the truth behind her family business to him; the importance of their duties and in keeping their closely kept secrets. Because if Tenten was to reveal the whole of her world and purpose, she had to be sure that he fully understood the weight and responsibility that came with such knowledge. But anything she could come up with seemed foolish and came out as nothing more than ancient mystic nonsense, even in the wizarding world. They were unfounded claims and illogical reasons which pressed on the very things she knew were important to him. Shino was an intelligent wizard, after all. He enjoyed his facts and figures almost as much as any true Ravenclaw would. Almost as much as she loved the art of learning and knowledge. -- Why he hadn't been sorted into Ravenclaw House like she was, Tenten would never know. -- He had to believe her words for it to mean anything.
"Where are we?"
Squinting into the distance, the young girl quietly made to search out a familiar landmark along the path that she could judge from. "Along the border between the Sichuan and Qinghai providences. Near Tibetan territory, if I remember correctly. We should be coming across a gate point soon." And even as the words came out, Tenten's eyes had settled on the sign post that marked one of the many rest stops stationed along the trail. "Come on, there's one right up there."
Without thinking, Tenten reached out and grabbed the cuff of his shirt sleeve, pulling the young wizard along as she started sprinting along the road towards the sign post. It wasn't until they were halfway up the hill that the realization hit her, and it took every bit of the girl's self control and will not to blush at the invasion of his personal space as she dropped his hand and continued the rest of the way to the designated rest stop where there stood a little concession stand at the foot of a rock cliff. Pausing a moment to catch her breath -- to allow Shino to join her at his own pace -- Tenten gave a greeting wave to the person behind the counter before motioning for Shino to follow behind as she walked on behind the counter.
Through the little hut and out the door in the back, they went. All the while, she could feel Shino's cautious gaze fall on the back of her neck several times. But despite the added pressure and growing weight of his unspoken questions, Tenten had remained quiet, only directing her attention forward as she headed to the rock wall that lined the clearing behind the shop. -- The constant movement of her feet and extreme focus did well to distract her from the real concerns that were pushing against the very barriers of her mind. -- Only then did Tenten finally glance back at her companion to ensure that he was, indeed, still there following behind her.
After a quick scan of the area to make sure no one was watching them, Tenten tapped out the access sequence against the cliff face. A single knuckle was all she needed to mimic the size and width of a wand while her eyes sought out the appropriate spots to rapt against. And afterwards, it was only a matter of waiting a few seconds before the rocks began to shift. For either one of them who had traveled through the gate to Diagon Alley behind the Leaky Cauldron, it was nothing out of the ordinary and hardly held the same instance of wonder when all it led to was a small little room of glass and metal.
Seeing his silhouette shift out the corner of her eyes, the girl attempted no explanation. Instead, she simply stepped in and waited for him to do the same. The moment he did, the doors slid closed and outside, they could see as the rocks rearranged themselves back into place. And then they were moving.
Under normal circumstances, the stretch of silence that followed after was something that wouldn't have been such a big deal for them. They had spent entire afternoons together in the library or out in the courtyard or even in the stands of the Quidditch field without ever uttering a word to each other. It was, for her, what had marked his friendship apart from the others. The reason why he had been chosen to share her secret and risk exposure from any miscalculations on her part. But the mystery and ambiguity surrounding his arrival and their long journey to this point had been enough to fill that symbiotic relationship with so much unwanted and unnecessary tension. And worst of all, none of it had been any fault of his.
Coming to that realization, the girl lifted her head up and zeroed her eyes on the young man standing on the opposite side of the cabin, taking in his stance and recognizing the discrepancies in his changed demeanor. The normal angles of his shoulders seemed sharper in their tenseness. The soft lines of his jaw were now clenched with definition, telling of his own anxiety. And the gentle arch of his brows that were usually only reserved for her seemed too creased and furrowed with confusion and uncertainty. She had done that to him, intentional or otherwise. And with a level of determination, she decided that she needed to fix it.
"...How long have we known each other, Shino?"
He remained still for a moment, as if he hadn't heard the soft murmur of her voice. Then, just as she made to call out his name again, Shino lifted his gaze as well, aiming it up towards a high corner in thought. As if he were considering and counting the long timeline of their friendship before finally answering. "...Three years."
"Since you came to Hogwarts," Tenten agreed with a gentle nod, "That's a long time."
Tilting his head, she watched with some level of relief and calm as a familiar brow lifted a minute fraction questioningly. Deliberately. Ever subtle with most of his gestures and appreciative with her quick and often correct interpretations, it was a clear sign that he was tired of dancing around the subject. And if that weren't enough, his next words hammered down the final nail to any doubt. "What's this about, Tenten?"
Letting out a soft sigh, the young witch pushed off from where she leaned against the cabin wall and took careful steps in approaching him. This was not a conversation to be made from across even such a distance. He needed to see and feel the weight of seriousness that came with the turmoil that raged within her over this. And just as she stood in front of him, the elevator stopped, finally reaching their destination. Looking up to him and drawing his attention, she hovered her hand over the panel switch that would open the doors. "What I'm about to show you, you have to swear that you won't tell another soul. No one, not even your father."
There was a moment where the young wizard simply stood there gazing down at her, as if he were searching for the answers in the neutral curves of her face. As if he could make such a decision based on the thoughts that were crowding around within her mind. And then, after another instance, Shino gave a shallow dipped of his chin in a barely notable nod. In agreement to her terms. But even that wasn't enough.
"Pinkie swear?" Bringing her free hand up, the witch extended her tiniest finger and waited for him to do the same. It was an extremely childish gesture, she knew. But in the whole of their friendship, it had become the greatest mark of trust and honor. There was not a single soul more honest than a child's, after all. And no bond stronger. So when she finally felt his slightly larger finger lightly curl around hers, Tenten could not stop the smile of relief from pulling at her lips. And with renewed confidence, she pressed on the panel and ushered him forward.
The elevator doors connected to a shallow corridor, a bright light streaming in from the other end only mere meters away. And as their footsteps echoed against the rock walls, Tenten could hardly contain her excitement as the moment of truth drew closer and closer to its climax. All the while, the young man seemed content with remaining as neutral and unassuming as possible. Stepping out into the light, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the shift in scenery. But once they did, she was greeted with one of the most beautiful sights in the world. It was like a tropical valley paradise hidden within the mountains and covered in a veil magical of secrecy, tucked away from the world so that it could continue on undisturbed from life's evils and cruelties. But while she had grown up with such a sight -- and no matter how many times she was blessed enough to witness it, it would never be less than breathtakingly beautiful to her -- Shino had not.
Reminded of his presence, the young witch glanced back at him and found the Aburame heir still huddled somewhat in the dimness of the passageway. Smiling at his caution, she gestured him forward. Which was only greeted with a wary and confused furrow of his brows. But he stepped forward nonetheless. And just as Shino took his last step into the light, a great shadow zoomed up in front of them, blocking their view of the valley and casing a momentary shadow over the both of them before wheeling back and gliding out into open air where it could be better seen. Gold and red shading with a distinctly forked tail, Tenten couldn't help but smile as the North Korean Forktail showed off it's aerobatics. But a sudden snap of Shino's head out the corner of her eyes drew the young girl's attention away from that and the select other creatures that had come out from rock grooves and the thick forest below to focus on the deep furrow of his brows. In confusion. In a wordless question.
And though there were probably a thousand things she could have said in that moment, the young witch could only think of one. "...Welcome to the Qian Dragon Reserve."