Chapter Text
He heard wrong, right? Gaara didn’t say what he thought he said, right? There’s no way Gaara said he didn’t love him. He had to be joking. There was just no way. Not now, not after two and a half years of painfully pining after the redhead. Not now, not when they know and understand each other better than most.
But Gaara's face was serious. He was not joking. He didn't love him. When asked if he loved another, Gaara gave a very honest, "No. I don't. Not at all. After the life, I've had...I need to re-learn what that is." Is that it? Is that all it was? A rejection based on nothing more than forgetting what love—genuine, tender, beautiful love—was after a whole childhood of pain?
A slow grin grew on Naruto's face and he chuckled. "I can teach you and then....you'll learn to love me to." He has to because Gaara has no choice. Not anymore. Not after he chose wrongly.
