Archive of Our Own

The first time you see him is during the chunin exams. 

His affection for the pink haired beauty is plain to see. Well, it's plain to see, because he makes no attempts to hide it.

You can’t blame him. Sakura is a headturner. She always has been. Shiny and beautiful, and nothing like you. 

You watch in awe, as he bares his soul to her, so fearlessly. The rejection is brutal, but he still swears to protect her with his life. The confession might not have won over Sakura, but it leaves your cheeks burning for the rest of the day.

Just by watching him, you quickly learn that Rock Lee wears his heart on his sleeve with his every word and action. 

You wish you could be like that; loud, dedicated, honest.

Fearless.

But you have always been painfully shy, far beyond your control. There's so much you want to say to him already: like how much you admire him - for his bravery, his hard work and passion, but unfortunately the words keep getting stuck in your throat. In fact, just thinking about approaching him at all, makes your head spin.

The words you leave unsaid, soon grow into a feeling that only seems to intensify the longer you stay quiet - and the more it intensifies, the harder it becomes to speak.

So quiet you stay.

The next time you see him is in the hospital. Much like him, you wind up in there yourself, after your match at the chunin exams. 

Your body fills with dread, a cold sensation down your back, when you hear whispers around the corridors about an awful battle that left a young boy disabled for life. 

The sight of him is devastating, and you wail over his unconscious body, like your very heart itself is being ripped from your chest.

It isn't fair. This can't happen - not to him. You have never even spoken to him, yet here you are, a sobbing mess.

You decide to bring him flowers once a week. One fresh lotus, bought at the Yamanaka's every Sunday. 

The lotus of the Leaf Village blooms twice. You recall his words, and they still make your heart flutter. You pray every night that his words come true; that Lee will bloom a second time, all while your infatuation only grows stronger.

You feel so stupid for feeling that way. To him, you're nothing but a stranger - and you stay that way, because once Lee wakes up, you stop visiting, like the coward you are.

Yet... you never stop falling. You never stop watching, either. Your eyes always seek him out, somehow.

You still watch him from afar as he refuses to give up his training. Still cry for him when the passion behind his eyes begins to dim. Still lay awake the entire night, when he risks his life in surgery to pursue his dream once more.

Absolutely almost collapse in blissful relief, when the procedure is a success, and the passion behind his eyes returns. 

He’ll never know any of this, but that's okay. Lee got to bloom a second time like you had prayed, and that's more than enough. 

It has to be.

As the years go by, your feelings never fade, and neither does your anxiety in his presence. Quite the contrary in fact; one glance from him, and you feel like you’re going into cardiac arrest - so frankly, you avoid him, only ever watching from a safe distance. 

You have prayed so often for your feelings to dwindle, but to no avail. It all makes you feel so stupid. What is the point of these feelings, if you can't even utter a single word around him?

Not only is it painful, but you're also beyond embarrassed to feel this way towards someone you hardly know - someone you wish you could know, at least as a friend. Instead, he's barely aware that you exist. He probably doesn't even know your name…

Or so you thought.

You stand frozen in front of Rock Lee, as he bares his soul, just like he did all those years ago, but this time his attention is solely focused on you. The way he calls your name has your knees wobbling like soggy noodles.

“I really like you! Please accept these, and go out with me!” He dramatically bows 90 degrees, whilst holding out a bouquet to you of freshly bought lotus flowers. 

You’re glad that he can’t see the absolute shock on your burning face, as you nearly stumble backwards. 

This can’t be happening.

You pinch your arm hard, but you’re only met with pain. Your heart is pounding so loudly in your chest, that you can barely hear anything else. You reach out with shaky hands, and nearly fall over when your fingers lightly brush against his own. You almost rip the bouquet out of his grasp, in sheer panic. 

He finally looks up, a startled look on his face. Your eyes meet for a second, but you quickly look away, before you can risk another heart attack.

“Uh- Does this mean that you accept?” he asks carefully.

Accept what? What is happening? The cogs in your head are turning to find the right words to reply with; not that you’d be able to say any of them out loud anyway. You're really starting to panic now.

“Lee, slow down, can’t you see that you’re making her uncomfortable? She’s accepting the flowers, not your hand in marriage.” A hand lands on Lee's shoulder, and for the first time, you realize that you aren't alone with him. 

You don’t know for how long she's been there, but Tenten offers you an apologetic smile, and you hate the relief you feel, because you do like him, you’ve been pining for years, but you’re feeling so, so overwhelmed right now, and Tenten is giving you an out. 

You clutch the flowers tightly to your chest, before taking a deep breath. Come on, say something!

“I’m sorry!” you blurt out, then quickly clasp your hand over your mouth. Not that! That sounds like a rejection!  

When you gather enough courage to peek at the boy once more, you wince at the sight before you. 

Sure enough, Lee looks defeated, shoulders slumping over slightly and he is staring at the ground with a frown on his face. 

“No, t-that's not! I mean-” you stumble over your words, feeling dizzy with embarrassment.

The green-clad ninja looks up, confusion painted across his features.

“Th-Thank you!” you manage to stutter, before turning on your heel, quickly fleeing the scene.

Lee stares at the spot you were standing in long after you're gone, before he turns to face his teammate. "Tenten, I am not sure what to make of that reaction. Was I rejected or not?"

Tenten shrugs. "Probably?" she giggles.

♡♡♡

You slam your front door shut behind you harder than intended, briefly cringe, and pray that your neighbors aren't home. You flop onto your bed, and stare into the ceiling as you try to calm your rapidly beating heart. 

Your emotions are all over the place, and your thoughts messy and incoherent. You feel the bouquet in your hand, still clutched snug against your chest. Its presence reminds you that this truly isn't just some self indulgent fantasy, and your heart starts beating even faster.

He knows who you are? He likes you? Why? It makes absolutely no sense to you. He doesn't know you at all. In fact, you're pretty sure that this is the first time he’s ever heard your voice, with how you always clam up around him. 

Your swallow thickly. 

Voice.

Butterflies swarm your stomach painfully, at the memory of how your name sounded on his tongue, and you just barely resist the urge to scream. 

That's enough, you think, your bones jittery and limbs too restless to lay down any longer.

You swiftly get up to put your flowers in water.

♡♡♡

You press your palms against your warm cheeks, as you recount what happened to your best friend. 

Hinata squeals in a way so completely unlike her, that you even catch the usually motionless Shino raising an eyebrow at her excitement, from across the table. 

You are having lunch outside on a picnic bench with two out of three of your closest friends. 

Kiba has run off somewhere in the woods nearby to train with Akamaru, to which you are currently grateful for, not too keen on him learning about your crush. He's fond of teasing, and you don’t think your poor heart can handle it when it comes to your feelings for Lee. 

You have grown very close with Hinata over the years, because of how much you have in common. Two shy kunoichi head over heels for two separate overly energetic, idiot shinobi. Even your reasons for liking them are similar - it is a little uncanny, to be frank. 

It was easy to grow close to Kiba and Shino as well. Between Hinata's and Shino's own quiet tendencies, you fit in quite nicely. And with Kiba being used to both of them, he could easily accept you as well.

Much unlike your own team, who you rarely spend time with nowadays, outside of missions. Even though you've become a capable shinobi over the years, they always mistook your shy demeanor for weakness. They still do, although they should know better by now. 

That's how you ended up adopted by team Kurenai - a team where it's okay to be quiet or shy, because gods know that Kiba is loud enough to fill the silence for all three of you anyway.

Some people think you're even shier than Hinata, but you think you’re equally so. 

Hinata may be shy, but she’s also determined. She’s made herself known to Naruto, and even if he is still much too dense to realize her love for him, she still does her best to subtly aid him, whenever she gets the chance.

And here she is, happy for you. Even though you never even tried. It’s hardly fair. Naruto is an idiot, and you don’t think you deserve Lee.

“What’s wrong? Are you not happy?” Hinata's soft voice snaps you out of your thoughts. You try to wipe the frown of your face, but to no avail.

“I should be, shouldn’t I? But… I’m just so confused about it.” You bury your face in your hands, mumbling the words against your palms. “Ugh, I’m so stupid!” you then exclaim, and Hinata pulls your hands away from your face, holding them in her own. 

“Why would you say that?”

You’re met with two pale eyes filled with concern for you. For a moment, you can’t help but think that you don’t deserve her either.

"I can't properly function within 10 feet of him! I'm not brave like you, Hinata…" Tears well in your eyes, but you refuse to let them fall. "I don’t know what to do." You swallow around the lump in your throat.

"Well, N-Naruto inspires me to be braver. His strength and bravery is part of why I… I lo-love…" she gulps, turning her face away from you, in an attempt to hide her ever growing blush. It's not working. Even her neck, and the tips of her ears take on a bright red. You hold back a giggle.

Although you definitely find Naruto's confidence, and never-ending determination admirable, you'd probably personally describe him as rash before brave. Still, seeing her fawn over him is endlessly endearing to you. 

Hinata clears her throat, "A-Anyway, you must try! If you spend more time with Lee, you may gradually become more natural around him… like you are around us now!"

You glance at Shino who offers a small nod in agreement, and then back at Hinata. 

It's true. You are no longer shy around Hinata and her teammates. But your feelings for Lee are different, and so, a much bigger challenge for your anxiety riddled brain. You simply don't know how to do it. If you did, you would have done it already.

"I understand how you feel though… if N-Naruto confessed to me today, I would be so happy, but I also think that I would pass out…" She shuts her eyes tightly, and shakes her head, as if trying to shake off some invisible force. "Actually, just the thought of it makes me feel lightheaded." 

You smile at her antics. You don't feel like crying anymore, but still, a quiet sigh escapes past your lips.

"But I still don't understand… why? He doesn't know me at all, so why?" Confusion furrows your brow. Hinata looks like she's thinking of the right words to reply with, but the young Aburame from across the table beats her to it.

"If you can have feelings for someone you've never talked to, then so can he." Shino states nonchalantly, chewing on an apple. 

Huh.

Shino isn't wrong of course, you've just never thought about it like that - and now that you are thinking about it, the suggestion just seems... completely ridiculous, actually. 

Lee's presence is loud. 

You can acknowledge that while he may not be everyone's cup of tea (though it is in your opinion that those people have poor taste), you’re certain that most people around the village are at least somewhat aware of who he is. He takes laps around the village on his hands on a daily basis. You are nothing like that!

Quite the opposite actually. You tend to make yourself deliberately invisible to avoid attention, especially around him, so even if he had somehow noticed you, why would he like you? You don’t exactly stand out.

Still, a few days ago you were under the impression that Rock Lee wasn't even really aware of your existence, and that clearly isn't true. 

“Did he not confess to Sakura immediately after they met?” Hinata chimes in.

“W-Well, yes but we were only children back then.” You cross your arms, still not convinced. “Besides I’m not pretty like Sak- ouch!”

You’re interrupted by Hinata flicking your forehead. “Don't talk about yourself that way!” Hinata's voice is as soft as ever, but with an unmistakable edge to how she enunciates the words. Stern. You’re proud that you’re able to bring this side out of her.

“It’s no use comparing yourself to others,” Shino adds, very matter of factly. You smile fondly at him, and then at Hinata. You’re so glad that these guys are your friends.

Soon you hear barking coming from down the forest path, and in an instant, Akamaru's head is in your lap, yapping up at you. You pet him lovingly, and he happily pants in response. 

Kiba plops down next to Shino, before letting out a long yawn, stretching his arms above his head. 

“Is there any more food left?” He sniffs around the table, and you giggle before handing him the last onigiri. “Thank you!” he says with a wink, before digging in.

You’re glad Kiba is your friend as well, you think, as the sensation of Akamaru’s soft fur against your skin, soothes your beating heart.

♡♡♡

You’re lost in thought, while Shino walks you home from a long day of training. 

It’s been a week since Lee’s confession, and you consider yourself lucky that you haven’t seen him since. 

You know you should talk to him, but you really don’t know how to. The whole situation is just so surreal, you’re beginning to think that you were dreaming after all. 

So for now, that’s what you pretend happened, and it’s almost working until Shino interrupts your train of thought from next to you.

“He is watching.” If the words alone aren’t ominous enough, Shino’s voice comes out close to a whisper, and you’re unsure if you even heard him correctly.

“Sorry?” is all you say in response, and the young Aburame walks a little closer to you, lowering his voice.

“Rock Lee. He is nearby.” Shino tilts his head slightly, to indicate his location and you stop dead in your tracks, freezing up completely just by the sound of his name.

“How do you know?” You glare at your friend, but he remains unfazed. It’s unlike Shino to pull pranks, but you still hold out hope that maybe Kiba is just rubbing off on him.

“I put a bug on him,” he states, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world, and for a moment, you worry that your bulging eyes may fall out of their sockets.

“You did what?” you whisper through gritted teeth, in disbelief by what you’re hearing.

“I put a bug on him,” he repeats. “I can use my kikaichu as spying tools by-”

“I am aware of your abilities, Shino, but why the hell would you do that!?” You pull him down by his collar, to whisper-yell in his face, but Shino only adjusts his shades, with the tiniest hint of a smirk on his lips. 

Is he... teasing you? Your stolid friend, Shino Aburame, is being cocky with you. It’s starting to feel like you’ve been stuck in some kind of weird genjutsu ever since Lee confessed to you.

“He has been watching you from afar all week. And he has most likely been watching for longer than that, but I can’t know for sure,” he simply responds, and you feel like your brain might start to leak out of your ears, anytime now. 

Lee’s been watching you? Not only that; he is watching you. Right now. Can he hear you? Has he heard you? If so, how much? For how long!? Your mind is spinning as your shaky hands tighten around Shino’s collar.

“I… What? Why?” is all you manage, your breathing growing more rapid by the second.

“I don’t know. Aren’t you curious?” Shino puts his hand over yours, gently removing them from his collar. “I am. So I put a bug on him,” he shrugs, before smoothing out the wrinkles you left on his coat. 

You just stand there, mouth agape. Shino suddenly leans in closer to you, only adding to your confusion. It’s not like him to initiate physical contact out of nowhere.

“What are you d-doing?” you mumble, attempting to step away, but Shino only follows you.

“Luring him out," he whispers in your ear, and your eyes widen, as your heart starts beating fast.

“No, d-don’t!” You shove him away, and in a flash, Lee emerges from the trees. He stands in front of you protectively, palm firmly pressed against Shino’s chest to keep him at arm's length; and away from you.

“What were you trying to do?” Lee demands, voice hostile in a way you've never heard from him. 

Shino puts his hands up in a placating manner, though he seems overall unconcerned. Unsurprising, since this was what he intended. Traitor, you think to yourself, as your body automatically starts to shake from having Lee this close to you. 

“You were spying, so I lured you out,” Shino shrugs, and you cringe at his bluntness. 

Lee goes rigid, and you watch as the back of his neck rapidly turns red. You feel your frustration rising to the surface, and something you definitely didn’t expect to happen on this day, happens. 

You yell at Shino, right in front of Lee.

“Like you’re one to talk! You-” You clasp your hand over your mouth, heat rising to your face as you realize what you’ve done. Lee peeks over his shoulder at you, shock written in his eyes. 

Shino has the gall to laugh; a thing he so rarely does. It’s silent, but you don’t miss the way his shoulders shake, as he hides his smile in his collar. His reaction gets you all riled up again.

“I think I’ll take my leave before she kills me." Shino bows briefly, barely sparing you a glance before running off. In your fury, you recklessly throw a kunai his way. Shino dodges easily, and soon he’s nowhere to be seen. 

Lee turns around to look at you, a flush in his cheeks. You both just stare at each other for a long, agonizing moment. 

“You…” Lee begins, swallowing before continuing, “you look really pretty when you are angry- I mean, you always look pretty! You just looked so pretty just now, that I felt like my heart was going to stop! UHM, not that I want you to be angry or anything like that! Gosh, what am I saying? Uh…” he rambles, rubbing the back of his neck, as his face progressively turns crimson. 

It's strange to see him so nervous, and all because of you. The thought makes your heart shake.

You’re certain your own face isn't doing much better than his, in terms of color.

He called you pretty.

You really want to say something, but as always the words get caught in your throat. You can barely breathe. 

You start, when he suddenly bows to you deeply. His head is so close to your face.

“And I am so sorry for watching you! I was only curious, because you act so differently around your friends, and when I am nearby you get all quiet, and I just want to be near you and get to know you, but… Oh no, that sounds really bad, does it not?” He looks positively mortified, as he peeks up at you through his bangs. 

You feel quite a bit mortified yourself. The fact that he'd actually noticed how nervous you are around him, has you wishing you could bury yourself alive on the spot. Why can't he just be an oblivious idiot, like Naruto?

Still, seeing the look on his face right now, you feel a strong sense of empathy. How he feels at the moment, is how you feel all the time. You want so badly to comfort him, but your body remains frozen on the spot, his proximity driving you nuts.

“You probably do not like me at all… I just had reason to believe that you might, b-but I was wrong. I promise to leave you alone after this!” he shouts, and you inhale sharply.

He had reason to believe…? No, no, no, to hell with that, he’s not wrong! You can’t let him think that. You have to do something.

“No!” is all you manage to spit out, and you feel the weight of your own embarrassment seeping into your skin, and painting it bright red.

“N-No?” Lee stands straight, his thick brows knitting together in confusion. His eyes are gentle, but you still feel small beneath his gaze. This is why you prefer not to talk at all, because you always end up saying the wrong thing anyway. 

It's not much unlike being on the battlefield, when your body suddenly moves automatically. With the adrenaline pumping through your veins, and your mind dizzy, you do the only thing your stupid brain can think to do, to fix this. 

You step forward and wrap him in a hug.

Lee’s body goes stiff in your embrace, and he lets out a small whimper of surprise. You try your very best not to think too much about what you’ve just done, just in sheer attempt to keep yourself from hyperventilating.

Unfortunately, that’s not quite how your brain works. 

The feeling of his body pressed against yours has your heart thumping violently against your ribcage, and you’re absolutely certain he can feel it, which only makes it more mortifying. The part where you lose it though, is when he comes to gently rest his arms around your figure to return the embrace. It doesn’t matter how carefully he places his hands on the small of your back, your skin still feels like it's being lit on fire. 

Your flight response fully kicks in, and you find yourself squirming out of his gentle hold, and making your escape. 

You barely hear him calling your name, over the loud ringing in your ears.

♡♡♡

You barely sleep at all that night, haunted by your own actions. 

Saying the wrong thing, hugging him out of nowhere and running off directly after. Lee has to think that you're such a weirdo, after all of that. Your skin feels almost feverish with shame, and you toss and turn as your brain plays the scene on repeat behind your eyelids.

Despite your exhaustion, you still agree to spar with Kiba the morning after. You really need a distraction from your cruel thoughts, and this could be your aid.

The last thing you expect (and frankly, you should've seen it coming), is the voice of the very person occupying your thoughts, shouting your name. 

Lee comes running at full speed, and you find yourself shrieking at the sight of him; much to your own embarrassment. You hate the way your body moves to hide behind Kiba, purely on instinct.

"What the hell?" Kiba mutters under his breath. As a reaction to your strange behavior or to Lee's intrusion, you aren't certain.

"I am very sorry for interrupting your youthful sparring, but I really think we should talk!" Lee pants. Seeing someone with stamina like his, so out of breath, has you wondering whether he's been running around the entire village all morning to find you. The thought has you blushing profusely.

"Huh? Well, spit it out then," Kiba urges, looking a little peeved by the hold up.

"Forgive me Kiba, but I am referring to the pretty lady," Lee nods his head in your direction, a flush of pink dusting his cheeks. The nickname sends a surge of butterflies through your stomach. 

Kiba’s eyes widen, as he darts his eyes back and forth between the two of you, and soon a familiar, obnoxious smirk spreads across his face. Oh no. You’re in for it now.

"Oh, I see." Kiba wiggles his eyebrows at you. "Someone's got a crush, huh? What do you think, 'pretty lady'?" Kiba throws an arm around your shoulders, forcing you out of hiding as he snickers into your ear. 

You want to squirm out of his hold, but Lee's presence has your body freezing up once more.

"It is true," Lee admits without missing a beat, and there it is; the reason why you like him so much. Pure, unadulterated honesty. Fearless and unashamed about his feelings, and exactly how you long to be.

But that's not who you are. 

A cruel reminder from the way your body starts to shake beneath Kiba’s weight. This seems to alert the Inuzuka, and his demeanor quickly changes from teasing to protective as he tightens his hold around you.

"Yeah, well I don't think she's interested, pal. Take the hint, and leave," he barks, and you wince at his tone, biting hard into your lower lip. 

Kiba can smell your fear, and you can't fault him for misunderstanding, but this is really bad and not at all what you need, and you can't move a muscle.

"Please, I only wish to speak with her. It concerns something that happened yesterday and-"

"I don't give a shit! She's scared, so buzz off before I kick your ass!" Kiba shouts this time, baring his teeth. His hold on you is stifling.

"Kiba, please let go of me…" you manage to squeak, but it comes out too quiet for him to hear you.

"Please do not misunderstand me Kiba, I have no ill intent." Lee puts his hands up in surrender, his eyebrows tugged up into a sad frown. You hate seeing him that way.

"Don'tcha understand the word no? Go back to bothering Sakura, or someone else who can handle it," Kiba spits venom, and something inside you stirs.

Something about the way he phrases the last part has your blood boiling underneath your skin, and your fists clenching up at your sides. 

You know that Kiba is well intentioned. You know that he's right too. You can't handle it, but you want to be able to, so badly. It feels like he's throwing salt into an open wound.

It strikes you also how exhausted you are of people making assumptions about you. Like how your teammates mistook your timid nature for weakness. How people do the exact same to Hinata, amongst those her own father. How they deem Shino forgettable, only because they keep talking over him.

But what pisses you off the most is the assumption that Lee is bothering you. That his passion is too much for you. As if it isn't what draws you to him in the first place.

Kiba doesn't know this, though. It's your own fault for not telling him. He's only being loyal, only trying to protect you. You chant this in your head as a last resort to remain calm.

“I do not believe I am bothering her, so please do not make decisions on her behalf,” Lee says, a sternness to his tone this time as he continues, “I came here to speak to her, so please let her do so.” 

“She doesn't want to talk to you, moron, she doesn't like you-”

“That's not true!” The words fly out of you, louder than ever. 

You sound like a stranger, even to your own ears, so it's no surprise when Kiba immediately lets go of you, shock written in his wide eyes. 

“And stop speaking on my behalf!” you yell, before storming off, and disappearing into the trees. Kiba sounds like a wounded puppy, the way he shouts out your name, but you’re too infuriated to care.

Leaping from branch to branch, you feel the wood cracking beneath your feet every time you set off, angry tears falling from your eyes.

You can hear someone following close behind you. Assuming that it's Kiba, you stop abruptly, and turn on your heel.

“Stop following me, Ki-” 

It isn't Kiba. Of course not. It's Lee. And he definitely didn’t expect you to stop all of a sudden, as you see his impending figure flying straight towards you, panic written on his face.

He leaves you with no time to react as his body collides with yours, sending the both of you falling to the ground. Lee wraps his arms around you, turning your bodies around to shield you from the fall, before his back hits the forest floor. He groans, and coughs, the air knocked out of his lungs on impact.

"Lee!" You unwrap yourself from him, to inspect the man beneath you. He smiles up at you, but he can't hide the pain slightly furrowing his thick eyebrows. 

You carefully help him to sit up and lean against a nearby tree, before focusing your chakra into your hands.

There's no room to be shy in a situation like this. Your mind won't allow it - only sheer focus, as your green-glowing hands run over Lee's body, searching and mending.

You're no Sakura, but you've healed way worse things than this on the battlefield. Fortunately nothing seems to be broken, but you can't let him be in pain because of you. 

You're so stupid. Why would you stop so suddenly like that? How utterly irresponsible. He protected you, he's hurt because of you. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

You blink the hot tears away, trying to remain focused through your blurry vision. Your mind is blank with only the intent to heal, until Lee's hands gently come to rest on top of your own.

"I am alright," he says, gently squeezing your hands with a soft smile on his lips. 

The butterflies that surge through your stomach are so intense that it's painful, and you find yourself pulling your hands away on instinct. Your stomach drops at the same time as Lee's expression does. Gods, why are you like this?

"I am sorry…" he says, eyes downcast. You bite into your bottom lip hard enough to draw blood.

"Don't…" You choke out, and Lee looks up, hopeful curiosity in his eyes. You swallow thickly.

You're not sure how. Perhaps it's the shock of what just happened, the adrenaline again, or your previous anger still coursing through your veins - a sheer will to prove Kiba wrong, or a mix of all of the aforementioned, but the impossible happens: you find your voice.

"Don't apologize. You s-saved me… thank you," you tell him, and Lee's already big eyes widen, a delightful shade of pink blooming on his cheeks.

"Of course! I will protect the one that has my heart, for that is the same as protecting my very heart itself!" Lee shouts, proudly puffing out his chest. 

Oh. You don't think you'll ever get used to hearing him talk to you like this. Not with how violently it makes your chest squeeze around your heart.

"Lee…" you speak so softly, it's barely audible, but he seems to hear it, if the way he draws in a sharp breath is anything to go by.

"I like the way you say my name!" he yells, almost blurts it, like if he didn't he would simply blow up. You shake your head, as if literally trying to shake off the effect his words have on you.

"Lee… Why d-do you like m-me?" you finally manage to ask the question that's been haunting you for days. The young man merely tilts his head in inquiry.

"Why not?" He blinks, before cracking a radiant smile. You avert your gaze from it, to calm your tortured heart.

"I'm being s-serious. You don't know me. We've n-never spoken, and I'm not exactly… notable. I was surprised that you even knew m-my name, when you confessed." You explain, honestly in awe of how you managed such a long sentence.

"You are notable! I have always known your name!" he responds, prompting a skeptical frown to crinkle your brow. "It is true that I do not know you personally, but I would really like to! I have been curious about you for a while." 

"Curious..?" you repeat, and Lee nods.

"You always seem uncomfortable around me. I thought you hated me…" He almost whispers the last part, as his smile fades. You try to ignore the pang of guilt shooting through your heart, in favor of listening intently.

"Usually, I am not bothered by the opinion of others, but this was different, though I did not yet know why. One day, I confided in Neji about it…"

~♡♡♡~

Lee sighed, watching you and your friends from afar. 

You looked much happier from here, much more relaxed, as you leaned against Akamaru, a bright smile stretching your cheeks as Hinata placed a freshly made flower crown atop your head.

His heart stirred at the sight. He strangely wished that he could see that smile up close - or to be the cause of it, even. But it seemed like he had the complete opposite effect on you…

Sigh.

"What are you doing up here?"

Lee only barely felt the presence of his eternal rival, joining him on the branch that he was watching you from, before he was being chastised for it.

"Are you aware that you're late?" 

Lee could feel Neji's eyes scanning his posture with judgment.

"Gai sensei would give you a beating if he saw you slouching like that," he continued to chide him, but Lee's eyes remained on your distant figure.

"Am I really that terrible, Neji?" Lee asked, and he could feel, without looking, the roll of Neji's eyes. Regardless, his rival sat down next to him with a sigh, before answering.

"At most things, yes. Anything in particular you have in mind?"

"She hates me," Lee muttered, and Neji's keen eyes followed his line of sight down to where you were sitting.

"Oh. Lady Hinata's friend?" Neji asked. Lee nodded his head at the question, and the Hyuuga snorted as if he had said something completely ridiculous. "She does not hate you, Lee."

Confused, Lee turned his head to look at his teammate. Neji looked back at him, a subtle, knowing smile on his lips.

"How can you be so sure?" Lee eagerly inquired, to which Neji responded with a strange look.

"I was under the impression that the two of you knew one another. After all, she brought you those lotuses when you were in the hospital," Neji said, as if it was common knowledge, and Lee found himself gawking at him, jaw on the ground.

He knew that Ino and Sakura brought him flowers, and he just sort of assumed that the lotuses were from them as well. Although, the lotuses did mysteriously stop coming after he woke up. Could it really be…?

Neji raised an eyebrow at his teammates' reaction.

"You seriously had no idea? She cried over your comatose body nearly every day until you woke up." Neji sighed again, exasperated as he recalled the memory. "She most certainly did not make it easy to pay you a visit, without intruding..."

"How… how do you know all of this?" he asked, his words barely connecting, much like the nodes in his brain, as he tried and failed to comprehend it all.

"Hm? I check every room with my byakugan before I enter. It's a common Hyuuga habit." Neji shrugged as if he hadn't just provided him with years old, mind breaking information, and Lee just stared blankly at him, speechless, as his cheeks gradually turned redder.

It seemed to make Neji run out of patience, as he swiftly rose to his feet again.

"It seems to me like she likes you, rather than hates you. I do not know where you got that idea in the first place, but that's how I see it. Anyway, I'll go spar with Tenten since you're so occupied," he said, before leaving Lee to his own thoughts.

Lee mulled over Neji's words long after he left, trying to piece it all together like a puzzle. If what his rival said is true, then why do you try to avoid him so desperately?

Lee was already curious about you before because of this, but now he was beyond intrigued - drawn towards a desire to know you.

So he started to watch you more often, more deliberately, with purpose, and what he discovered swayed his heart until there was no coming back from it.

The sound of your laughter, as you rode on Akamaru’s back, a soft look on your face as you wrapped your arms around the large ninken in a warm hug.

The way you scrunched up your nose whenever Kiba would tease you, your cheeks adorned with the prettiest shade of pink.

How your entire demeanor changed when you sparred with Shino one day, and how absolutely gleeful you looked, when he praised you on your progress afterwards - beaming like the very sun, covered in dirt and panting for air.

But what got his heart racing most of all, is the way that you hugged Hinata. Sometimes gently, like she was the most precious treasure in the world; other times tightly, like you were filled with a love for her so strong, that you were bursting at the seams with it. 

He could almost feel the pressure on his own skin, if he thought about it long and hard enough - and he thought about it very often, too often some would say, wishing it was real.

Tenten called him out on his spying one day - called him a creep, and he hung his head in shame. 

She's right, he thought, though he only desired to be closer to you without scaring you away, this wasn't the right way to go about it.

Though as soon as Tenten was done with scolding him and out of earshot, Neji leaned over to discreetly tell him that you've been doing the same thing for ages; that he's often seen you with his all seeing vision, hiding behind trees to catch a glimpse of Lee when they spar.

The information certainly made his heart race, but it did little to alleviate his guilt. He ultimately decided that he'd been hiding for long enough.

It was time to confess.

~♡♡♡~

When Lee is done explaining, your face feels so hot that you can barely think. 

You don't know whether to be mortified or happy by the revelation - you're frankly still not sure what it is, that he sees in you, no matter how descriptive and flowery he is with his language - but at least you got an answer to the question, that's been on your mind.

Speechless, you only manage to dumbly nod at his lengthy confession. 

"Can I ask you the same thing?" 

"W-What?" You lift your head carefully to meet his gaze.

"Why do you like me?- UH, assuming that you do, of course! Sorry-"

"I-I do!" You squeak, and you're just as shocked by your own admission, as Lee seems to be, his eyes wide and reddening cheeks no doubt matching the color of your own.

Gods, you actually said it! You always thought that you'd surely faint if you ever made the attempt, and for a moment you think that you actually just might - but then Lee smiles at you; the brightest you've ever seen, and you find that it doesn't feel so terrible at all. Just warm. And really, really relieving.

You almost get lost in that smile, before you remember that you haven't answered his question. You gulp, terrified but determined. It's now or never, and Lee deserves this.

"I… admire you. I have always been… like this . Meek and n-nervous, afraid of everything. But you … you are unashamed, brave. Fearless. Everything I want to be. Being around you makes me really nervous…" You hide your face in your hands, "B-But it's only because… I like you s-so much."

You hold your breath, completely still and silent aside from the sound of your heart pounding loudly in your ears. You keep your face covered, until warm hands gently tug at your own.

Lee's smiling face greets you, and he carefully moves closer, trying his best to not alert you.

"Brave perhaps, but not fearless. Feel." He presses your hand to his chest, and you almost jerk away at the sensation. 

Thump, thump, thump.

Lee’s heart thrums against your palm, quick and fiercely. It's almost enough to match the pace of your own.

"Perhaps it will make you feel a little better to know that you also make me nervous." He says, and strangely, it does. 

You keep your hand on his chest, transfixed on the feeling. 

"Only idiots are fearless. It is those who face their fears that are brave - and look at you now." You gaze at your hand as it moves with the rise and fall of Lee's chest, "I think you are even braver than me."

Lee's gentle voice now soothes you, where it would usually send your heart into overdrive. It's enough for you to carefully lift your gaze. When you do, his face is much closer, eyes half-lidded, and the flush in his cheeks more prominent to your curious eyes.

"May I kiss you?" He cups your face in his hands, and you can't tell if it's his warmth or your blood that makes your cheeks burn under his touch. Probably, definitely both, you decide as you look back at him with bulging eyes. 

He quickly removes his hands from your face, as he leans away from you slightly.

"Oh, sorry I got carried away! It was not my intention to overstep!" He bows his head to you in a panicked apology.

You consider the request in your head regardless. Just thinking about kissing him makes you feel dizzy. It feels impossible. 

But… so did touching him a mere few minutes ago, and yet your fingers still tingle delightfully from where they made contact with his throbbing chest. Yesterday, just standing next to him was too much, and now you're sitting here, even able to make eye contact now and again. You're even capable of saying full, coherent sentences to him now.

Perhaps this whole thing is just like… ripping off a band aid. You've just got to do it. Still, the idea makes you feel faint.

But at least, if you do pass out, Lee will be there to catch you. Besides, his lips do look awfully enticing, even as they frantically continue to throw apologies at you.

" Gods, how could I be so careless? I am so sorry, please forget-" Lee goes still when you cup his face, his big eyes staring into yours, enough to make you breathless.

Lee called you brave, so be brave, you tell yourself.

You make yourself quick, not giving your brain enough time to lose resolve, as you lean in to press your lips to his.

He makes a noise, surely in surprise, but the way it vibrates against your lips and into your mouth is enough for your brain to catch up, and you nearly go limp in his arms when he wraps them around you, as carefully as he can.

You must look very pale when he pulls back, because he's looking back at you with alarm in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" He cradles the side of your face with a warm hand, his other placed firmly on your lower back, to keep you from falling backwards.

Not really, you think to yourself, but your face still splits into a smile, because you did it. 

You kissed Rock Lee, and survived it.

Lee smiles back, before taking your hand and pressing it to his chest once more.

Thump, thump, thump.  

Lee's heart is racing even faster now. The feeling is somehow grounding, calming. It really is oddly reassuring. 

"Is that better?" He asks quietly, as he presses his forehead to yours, a dazed look in his eyes no doubt mirroring your own. 

You still feel dizzy, but it's more like a rush now. Like a high, of some sort.

It feels… good, actually.

You nod your head quietly, and Lee's eyes dart down onto your parted lips in silent invitation. 

Thump, thump, thump. The heartbeat beneath your palm increases.

To your own disbelief, you barely even hesitate to close the gap again.

♡♡♡

When you emerge from the dense forest, hand in hand with Lee, you find Kiba sitting on the ground, surrounded by his worried looking teammates as they try to get him to talk. Which usually isn't difficult, hence the great concern.

Poor Kiba looks absolutely devastated, and you feel a heavy pang of guilt settling right into your gut. He's never seen you blow up like that. It must've been really shocking.

Hinata is the first one to spot you, her hand making its way up to cover her mouth, her eyes widening as they catch sight of you and Lee's intertwined hands.

You only let go of him to rush over to Kiba’s side, enveloping him in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry, Kiba." You whisper into his ear. Kiba lets out a strained noise on impact, but soon relaxes into your arms.

"You could've told me…" He mutters in return, but he hugs you back regardless, exhaling deeply with relief. 

"I should've, I'm sorry." You say, though the lack of anger in Kiba’s demeanor tells you, that he already sort of understands why you didn't.

"It’s okay… sorry for talking over you, and," Kiba looks up at Lee, who's standing a few feet away out of respect, "sorry for the hostility… I misunderstood."

Lee bows his head lightly in acceptance, and Akamaru barks happily, sensing the tension leaving the air, as you pull yourself and Kiba from the ground. Lee steps closer to you, reclaiming your hand.

Hinata's eyes dart around from Kiba, to you and Lee, confusion written all over her. Kiba clearly hasn't filled her in.

Shino, however, merely turns to you with his arms wide open. 

"Do I get a hug too?" He asks, and even through his flat delivery, you can this time tell that he's definitely teasing you again. 

The way that he still has the gall to keep going after that stunt he pulled the other day, brings all of the exasperation from then, back into your veins.

"Kick rocks, Shino, I'm still mad at you!" You shout freely, leaving everyone shocked. 

"What?" Kiba laughs, raising his eyebrows, now almost as confused as Hinata.

"Why? I helped." Shino shrugs, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He's hiding a smile behind that collar, you just know it. 

Poor Lee flushes red from next to you, as he recalls the incident, which only makes you more annoyed with the Aburame.

Hinata only looks more confused, "W-What? What did I miss?"

You quickly forget your anger when you turn to your favorite friend with a bright smile.

"Okay, I'll tell you from the beginning." You clear your throat, before you begin to retell all of the events that she missed out on. 

For the next hour the forest is filled with Hinata's excited squealing, while Kiba boasts proudly over Shino’s sudden ability to pull pranks, when you retell that particular part. Kiba takes full credit of course. 

Shino looks embarrassed when the enthusiastic Inuzuka wraps him in a strange embrace to express his pride, if the rare blush that appears on his face is anything to go by.

Good, you think. Serves him right. Hopefully this means he won't be pulling any new stunts for a while.

Out of the corner of your eyes, you catch Lee watching you with adoration as you speak freely in his presence, and in that moment, you really feel it. Shiny and beautiful.

Free.