Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Gaara is unwilling to forgive himself. Not for what he’s done to those in his village, not for what he has done to those closest to him, and not for what he has done to Rock Lee.

He stared down at the sand armor thinly veiling his hands.

—Sand coffin.

He didn’t deserve forgiveness.

He was undeserving of Rock Lee, and yet, Lee seemed to think otherwise—that fact disturbed him. He was weak in all the ways that mattered; his defenses would crumble if Lee would so much as ask him to lower them. And that fact also scared him. He was able to resist sleeping, he was able to resist the temptation of befriending others, and accept the loneliness that came with it. No one deserved to be at his side, not if their very lives were at stake by simply doing so. And yet, with every smile, with every simple word, Lee tempted him in a way like no other. It almost made him believe he was normal… but for as much as he craved it, craved Lee and his ever compassionate smiles, he wasn’t worthy of him.

It had been years since he’d harmed his closest companion. They’d gone on multiple missions since then, and it’d become their normal to hang out after each one—battered, bruised, tired, and all. Regrettably, it was usually Lee that took the brunt of it, often insisting that he should wait for him to look “presentable” before they went out to eat. Though Gaara, for however insistent the other was, couldn’t say he’d ever mind seeing Lee in whatever “unpresentable” state he claimed to be in. If anything, he believed it was his fault for failing, time, and time again, to properly protect him. But Lee always won their disputes, because Gaara was not one to refuse him, and Lee was not one to back down.

Lee had long since forgiven him for the Chunin exams, saying it couldn’t have made him happier to have fought on equal grounds. He’d smiled as he told him that his insistence on going all out had only fueled his own desire to become stronger. He had assured him that he’d been partly to blame for having pushed himself past his limit, and that the fault had never lied solely on him. Gaara knew this. That didn’t make it right. What Lee had described hadn’t been him, it’d been the one tail’s instincts that had taken him over then. It’d been the images of bloodshed that had driven him, the instinct to kill. How Lee could ever stand beside him again, was beyond him.

Lee was simply too kind.

It was in his moments of weakness that Lee managed to make everything seem right. He made everything seem possible, always encouraging. Gaara had seen throughout their countless battles how he’d push himself past his limits, treating his wounds as mere inconveniences. Gaara watched as he’d smile even then. It pushed Gaara onwards, and it left him hurting all at once. He wanted to punish himself for having dimmed the very smile that he had grown to cherish so much, so badly.

An agonizing scream, the sharp sounds of bones crunching under sand—

Sand Coffin.

Gaara’s own two hands had confined Lee to his bed, ruined his chances of achieving his lifelong ambition, and nearly killed him during his recovery. All out of his very own volition.

I almost killed Lee.

His pen fell from his grasp, face paling. The sound was lost on him, his body still as the racing rhythm of his heart resounded against his eardrums. Loud and repetitive.

I…

He would have been the cause for the light in his eyes to have succumbed to his injuries—to the very injuries he’d inflicted upon him. To have shattered all that Lee had worked for, to have selfishly broken him.

He would’ve killed Lee.

He shielded his face in his hands, shaking. His breathing began to turn shallow, memories of Lee on his hospital bed rushing through his mind. Gaara’s sand broke from his gourd with a loud pop, rushing to create a barrier around him.

Gaara shook his head; Lee was alive. He was fine. He was breathing. It’s in the past, he’d vowed to never harm Lee ever again. Lee is fine, he repeated, fighting the urge to seek the man out. He tried to recall what usually calmed him, what usually made the pain bearable, but ultimately, his mind circled back to Lee. Lee’s smile, his hands, his voice, his hair, his face—Lee, Lee, Lee.

Gaara's heart sank further, struggling to bite down the feelings that resurfaced, the very ones he swore he couldn’t feel. He wasn’t allowed to feel this way, he reminded himself.

He’d hurt Lee.

And Lee…

Lee had…

“Gaara…” Lee started, his voice soft, and slightly worn out—it was enough to capture his full attention. He dug his nails into his palms, bracing himself.

He was afraid of what Lee would say. Gaara stared down at his balled up fists, in an attempt to avoid facing it. But what he found instead was yet another confrontation. He was trembling. His eyes stung, threatening to release tears he hadn’t realized were there to begin with.

He shut his eyes, hoping they would die down. He felt like a child again, shielding his eyes to avoid seeing the aftermath of the horrors his sand had committed. But when he finally felt the courage to open them again, instead of the looks of fear he was usually met with, he felt the warmth of Lee’s hands.

“It is alright, I do not resent you for it.” Lee smiled, tenderly holding the very hands that had once damaged him. The very hands that had once rendered his body useless.

“If I had, I wouldn’t have fought alongside you. I stood beside you in battle today because, truly, I do not hate you, Gaara-san,” he said, shaking his head, “I forgave you the second you put your life on the line to save me back there. The second your sand shielded me because, if it hadn't been for you, I wouldn’t be here, able to see my friends again, and to follow through on my dreams like I plan to. And I think…” He broke off, raising his gaze to look at him.

Gaara held his breath.

“You should forgive yourself, too.” Lee’s smile brightened, tightening the grip on Gaara’s hands as if to emphasize his point.

He froze. Lee’s gaze was full of sincerity, he realized. It was a look he had seen many times in the eyes of the ninja in Konoha, but he had never experienced the sight directed towards him. It was something he was only meant to see from afar, to be granted it was out of question. And yet, here Lee was, looking back at him with such blatant empathy. It blinded him, numbed his senses, and drew them all towards Lee instead.

To others, he imagined it was something of an ordinary occurrence, but to Gaara, it felt as if he’d been seen for the first time in his life. As if, for a moment then, he could allow himself to simply be Gaara. Without the responsibilities of Kazekage, without the shame that came with being a host for the one tail, or the guilt that came with his inability to control the beast within him. He felt as if he were simply himself at the moment. And that feeling alone made his vision go blurry, tears resurfacing.

He hurriedly wiped his eyes, attempting to even his breathing. His thoughts ceased when he felt Lee’s weight against him. His breath caught as the action finally registered; Lee was hugging him. His arms wrapped around Gaara’s shoulders. He was unsure of what to do, but Lee was close. So close, he could smell the faded scent of his shampoo—it was something so mundane, it felt familiar, almost. Comforting. He wanted to be closer then, and without thinking, his arms pulled Lee in, settling around his back.

Gaara stilled when Lee spoke again, breaking him out of his trance.

“We should hang out again, my friend,” Lee said, the content evident in his voice.

Friend, he repeated.

Gaara held him tighter, “Okay.”

He would’ve found himself smiling, had the shinobi before him not begun coughing violently, his wounds finally catching up to him. He heard Lee laugh sheepishly once he was fine again, apologizing for simply clearing his throat. Gaara ignored him in favor of helping him up instead, frowning when he took in the other’s condition.

He’s in no state to walk, he realized. The thought made him wince, having recalled Lee comforting him mere seconds ago. It should’ve been the other way around, idiot. He didn’t have enough chakra left to carry the other in his sand, and helping him walk would only cause him pain... He frowned, trying to think of a solution befitting for the other, when Lee interrupted his thoughts.

“I know it's rather rude to ask this of you, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to walk in my condition,” he explained, sounding almost embarrassed to admit the extent of his injuries. Lee coughed again, this time drawing out a small bit of blood.

Gaara instinctively zoned in on it, he bit his tongue the second he caught himself. He was a monster, he reminded himself. Even if Lee was kind enough to forgive him, he knew he still wasn’t deserving. He owed Lee more than he knew.

“Would you mind carrying me back?” Lee asked, turning red at the request, “I know it’s not convenient for you, and well, it’s absolutely fine if you don’t want to! I can simply—” Gaara cut him off, promptly kneeling down in front of him, and tugging him forward.

Lee yelped as he fell, quickly wrapping his arms around Gaara when he moved to stand up. It had slightly tipped him off balance—given that Lee was taller than him, and heavier as a result—but Gaara couldn’t find it in himself to care. It simply meant he had to grow stronger.

That day, Gaara had carried Lee on his back the entire way to Konoha. Neither had spoken a word on the journey, and if Gaara had felt Lee smile into his shoulder, he’d never mention it.

Because, perhaps, he’d been smiling too.

Gaara stared blankly down at his paperwork, his sand laid askew across the room. His heart remained uncontrollable, but for a different cause this time.

If Lee would have asked anything of him then, would he have given in?

Yes.

Yes he would have.

He dropped his head against the table, face flushed.

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

It was later that week, on his usual hang out with Lee, that he considered distancing himself from him. He knew what he felt for Lee was beyond the constraints of friendship, and that Lee himself did not reciprocate. Gaara was not at all well-adversed in anything love related, but he also wasn’t dense.

There had been many instances in which—according to Temari—he had slipped up.

He vividly remembered avoiding Lee’s offer to visit Konoha for weeks, solely because he hadn’t been able to control his expressions around the hyuga clan's Neji. He’d practiced in the mirror relentlessly—going as far as smiling to nothing but the wall in front of him—until he realized he was simply a lost cause. He had failed over and over again to form a semblance of pleasantries with the man.

And Lee had not only failed to notice his apparent unease with Neji, but had also mistaken it for shyness—as if being Kazekage had yet to improve his social skills. And truthfully, he would’ve felt disappointed that Lee had thought as much about him, but that misconception had saved him from revealing the truth, so he had reluctantly let it go.

His unease, however, had only worsened when Neji had caught onto him pretty early on, and had assured him there was nothing between him and Lee. He had wondered then, how someone he had only met on occasion, had been able to realize he’d been so stupidly jealous, when Lee had yet to.

But the answer had been a simple one; Lee only ever thought of him as a friend, and had likely never thought of him in such a light. Had never thought that he could get jealous, because their relationship was nothing more than that. It was friendly.

It was this very conclusion that drove him now. He couldn’t shatter Lee’s image of him.

“I’m busy today. I’m sorry,” Gaara said, determined. He had to distance himself sooner rather than later. He knew his feelings would ruin this anytime now, he just had to make sure Lee wasn’t around for it. He wouldn’t allow it.

Lee frowned, “You are? Why didn’t you mention it before?” He asked.

“Something came up last minute.” Gaara explained. Lee looked to sympathize, knowing his schedule was often packed. His eyes met Gaara’s then, matching his own eye level.

He noticed they were around the same height now—and he regret that he did. He wished he didn’t notice Lee´s height, or his eyes, or his… lips

“I could join you on your errands, if you’d like?” Lee offered, waiting expectantly.

Gaara shook his head. He had to get a hold of himself. “It’s fine, you should spend your time on something worthwhile. My errands aren’t… interesting,” he said instead, looking anywhere but at Lee. He hoped Lee would leave it at that, tell him he understood and that he wished him luck. It was only paperwork waiting at home for him anyway—admittedly, it was all that would wait for him, without Lee around. He’d miss him a lot. More than he wanted to admit. He looked back up at Lee, trying to memorize his face.

He paused, Lee looked…

“It isn’t often I get to see you, Gaara-kun.” Lee smiled sadly. “Even if it is errands, I would still like to spend more time with you,” he admitted, gaze shifting downwards. It wasn’t like Lee to be so… down. He sounded disappointed.

Gaara felt a lump form in his throat. Lee was being vulnerable. Lee missed his company, just as Gaara missed him.

He sank.

“Then, would you mind if I accompanied you for a while?”

He sank further.

“I… I would like to spend more time with you, as well.”

He was drowning—though he supposed, even if he was completely hopeless, Lee’s smile made it all worth it.

Lee looked happier now, his expression bright again. “Of course!” He replied.

Gaara nodded, a slight smile forming on his own face. He wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to say no to Lee.

Their relationship consisted of a dynamic similar to that of a cat and mouse—except he was a fleeing cat. He ran and ran and ran, and for as much as he tried to distance himself, Lee found his way back to him. He would ease back into his life like he belonged there, like it was where he was meant to be. By his side, for as long as he continued to seek him.

Gaara clenched his jaw—no. He had to suppress these feelings—he felt his chest ache at the thought. Gaara grit his teeth, paying it no mind. He had to. He had to because Lee was not safe with him. He couldn’t be at his side. It would only bring him harm. None of his selfish desires mattered in the face of Lee’s wellbeing, and whatever that cost him, he was willing to pay. If it meant he would be left alone, and without companionship for the rest of his life, that was fine. He wasn’t human, he was a weapon. These feelings that suffocated him so, he would learn to give up. They didn’t matter.

“You’re in love with him, Gaara.” Temari sighed. She was giving him a look, a look of pure sympathy. One that left him staring back at her, eyes flickering, and disbelieving. Her face had remained truthful despite it all, and he couldn’t have helped but believed in her admission.

Gaara shook his head. It doesn’t matter. He swallowed, the memory leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

“No, he definitely likes you.” Naruto nodded, arms crossed, and face serious. “He talks about you a lot, y’know? And then, think about your letters, Gaara!” He said, gesturing. “I mean, geez, the guy runs through ink like I do instant ramen!” Naruto grinned, giving him two thumbs up to reassure him.

He frowned at the memories that resurfaced. It’s not true, he reminded himself.

He felt a hand press against his forehead. Lee’s hand. He resisted the urge to sink into the feeling.

“Are you alright? You look a bit pale, Gaara-kun.” he said, raising his other hand to his chin, thinking. “Have you overworked yourself lately?” he asked, trailing off, “Come to think of it, Sakura-san said Lady Hokage’s been doing the same, as well… It must be hard being kage.” He concluded, offering him a sympathetic smile. “Still, that’s no reason to neglect your health! You cannot help others if you're not in good shape yourself!” Lee shook his head, disapproving.

Gaara fought back a smile at that, resisting the urge to point out the double standard in Lee’s words. But he had self restraint, so instead, he nodded back, assuring him he would take better care of himself.

Lee looked happy with his answer, moving to ruffle his hair. It was playful, and he supposed he should be used to it by now, but he had never quite adjusted to physical touch. It’d taken a lot of practice for his siblings to so much as pat him on the back, and yet with Lee, his sand only ever slightly stirred.

He bit his tongue, trying his best to maintain composure. It was thoughts like these that made his mind wander. He lowered his head in an attempt to hide his face, only to end up holding his breath when Lee began tracing the scar on his forehead.

Gaara felt his face turn hot, his heart attempting to rip right through his chest. He was almost worried it would, but the thought was long gone by the time he realized how loud his heartbeat sounded.

He soon became worried Lee would hear it.

His eyes widened when Lee stood closer.

Shoot.

His sand stirred again.

Lee frowned, assessing him. “I think we need to check you into a hospital, Gaara-kun. You might’ve caught a fever.” Lee said, a worried expression overcoming his features.

Lee’s hands suddenly took hold of his face, lightly turning his head to check for any injuries. “I do not think it is an external wound, so a simple check up would do… unless you’d prefer to take medicine on your arrival to Suna?” He mumbled, contemplating the options to himself.

Lee was close. Too close. Not close enough.

Gaara quickly nodded, “I have medicine back home.” He said, hoping Lee would let go before he did something he’d regret.

Lee nodded back, “Okay, but you have to eat first. Medicine works best on a full stomach.” He reminded him, finger wagging. “I’ll cook you a meal once we arrive.” He grinned, “Tenten taught me a new recipe I’d like you to try first!”

Gaara’s heart skipped a beat—he wondered if it was possible to die from something so endearing. “Sure.” He replied back, biting his cheek.

Lee stepped back, slipping right beside him, as he nudged him forward. “Do you want to walk today, Gaara-kun?” He asked.

“Yes, I…” He paused. Would it be strange to say he wanted to cherish his time with Lee? “I’d like to spend more time in Konoha.” He said. Gaara looked away again, choosing to stare at the shops around them rather than face his white lie. “I don’t get to visit your village often.” He wasn’t bad at lying, but the guilt weighed on him when it concerned Lee.

Lee nodded, “That is true. I stop by bookshops when I visit Suna. I’ve realized it helps to take a souvenir as a memory.” He said. Lee stopped walking forward then, gently tugging Gaara elsewhere. “Maybe we can find one for you here.” Lee grinned back at him.

“Is this a flower shop?” He asked as they walked in. The outside had looked relatively decorative, various potted plants on display. He wasn’t sure if they were simply for display, or if they showcased what the shop itself sold. The bell chimed as they walked in, the place was much larger than he’d expected, and the scent of flowers wafted through the air.

“Yes, it’s run by the Yamanaka clan! Their sign is a bush clover.” Lee explained, pointing to the leaf sign on his own headband. “Sakura-san recommended this shop to me when I was searching for information on flowers." He explained, "I wasn't sure where to start, but Ino-san agreed to teach me the art of flower design, and I was truly impressed with her arrangements!” He said, lifting his fist the way he usually did when he was moved. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to grow my own flowers ever since—I’ll admit I haven’t gotten far, but I’m sure I’ll get there soon!” He said, a determined glint in his eyes.

“Yes, I’m sure you will.” Gaara nodded. “The only plants I know how to cultivate are the ones in my greenhouses, but I can lend you some help, if you’d like?”

Lee beamed, “I would appreciate that! Thank you, Gaara-kun!” He smiled at him, cheeks turning a wonderfully rosy color.

One Gaara couldn’t help but be drawn to.

He smiled back, wondering how Lee could manage to rival even the loveliness of the flowers adorning the shop.

Gaara felt his own face warm up. He shook his head, turning to distract himself. If anything, he should try and figure out how his mind had become so befuddled. His hands moved to touch a sunflower’s petals behind him.

He wondered which flower would suit Lee best. He looked up again, glancing at Lee’s silky black hair. His gaze drifted down to his eyes, he realized Lee was looking at a small cactus in awe. And when their eyes met again, he was practically glowing.

“Look, Gaara-kun, it's a small cactus!" He grinned. "Its pot is even smaller,” he said, eyes adoring as he held up the cactus to show him.

Gaara tried touching it, before his sand beat him to it. It rushed to cover his hand. He sighed, before looking back up at Lee. “You like cacti?” He asked, curious. He hadn’t known such a thing up until now. He was honestly so used to the sight of the plant, seeing it here, all nice and polished, sold along with the rest of the colorful flowers, that he’d almost wondered if it belonged.

Lee nodded, “Yes, they are rather admirable plants. Their endurance is strong, and they can survive in even the harshest of environments! It's remarkable how they can persevere by simply retaining rainflow.” He said, smiling as he tapped the small flower on the cactus.

Gaara had to agree, though he’d never thought much of the plant, hearing Lee sound so passionate about it, it hadn’t taken much else to convince him. “I hadn't given them much thought...” He admitted. “...but, it seems you know more than I do.” He said, offering Lee a small smile. He was surprised Lee could even find himself to like the plant when it hardly grew anywhere but in deserted areas—areas like his own village, in Suna.

Lee laughed. “Do I?" He asked. "I did not expect to best you on your knowledge of cacti, Gaara-kun.” He said, a cheeky grin on his face.

“Indeed, it seems I’ve lost this one.” He replied, his smile growing into a proper one.

Lee nodded, his grin remained, even as he began setting down his cactus. He turned to inspect another potted plant. “What is your favorite plant, Gaara-kun?” He asked, his fingers lightly adjusting a lotus petal.

“A lotus.” He replied, watching as Lee's fingers paused.

“Oh, I can see why, they are quite beautiful!” Lee perked up, picking up the plant he’d been fiddling with. He cheerily presented it to him.

“They are.” Gaara agreed, before smiling to himself. “They look best in ponds, however.”

Lee tilted his head sideways, “Do they? Perhaps I should take you to where I train! There’s a lotus pond nearby, it’s in full bloom this season.” He said.

Gaara nodded, “If you are free tomorrow, I’d like to come then.”

“Alright, tomorrow it is!” He assented, picking up the small cactus again. Lee held it up right beside the potted lotus, as if examining them together. “They do compliment each other.” He said, a small smile on his face as he held up the two plants.

Gaara watched him in silent adoration. It was a silly thought, but, somehow, he almost wished he were the cactus.

He bit his cheek, moving to make himself useful. He offered to carry the cactus for Lee as they continued to walk throughout the store. They’d stopped by to check out flowers Gaara had yet to see every now and then, and Lee had shared various information on the plants he wanted to grow, until they’d decided that it was about time to head back to Lee’s apartment.

They were approaching the cashier, Ino—who greeted both him and Lee happily—when he remembered he'd been planning to pay for the cactus. He hurriedly turned to check his side pocket. “Please have some cash,” he mumbled to himself as he pulled out his wallet. He audibly sighed when he saw his prayer had been answered. It almost seemed as if he’d come prepared, but truthfully, Gaara had no idea he’d even had his wallet on him. He figured Temari must’ve left it there for him, as he himself never remembered to carry it. Truthfully, this was the only time he’d ever needed to.

Lee was talking to Ino now, chatting away with her as he set down their plants. Lee paused mid-conversation when Gaara turned to hand Ino his cash. He held Gaara's hand back before pulling out his own wallet. “I’ll pay this time, Gaara-kun!” He smiled.

Gaara shook his head. “I can, it’s alright." He replied. "You like this cactus, Lee.” He said, as if that were reason enough alone. And, truthfully, it was.

Lee shook his head even harder, “No, it’s fine. I’d like to gift you this lotus as a souvenir.” He countered. “It’s like you said, Gaara-kun, you don’t get to visit often; think of it as a welcome gift.” He said. Gaara opened his mouth to retort, but Lee was quicker, “Gaara-kun, you’re kazekage, I cannot allow you to leave empty-handed.” He proclaimed.

Gaara shook his head again, smiling, “I want to gift you this as a friend.” He said. “I’m not here as Kazekage, Lee, I’m here for you; as Gaara.”

Lee blushed, “Oh.” He paused, before turning his gaze away. “I would still like to—“

“Gaara-sama!”

Gaara stiffened, before turning to see Matsuri rushing towards him, a bright smile on her face.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t know you were with Lee-sama!” She apologized, turning to greet Lee as well.

Lee smiled back at her, “It is alright! You do not need to apologize!” He assured her.

She nodded back, sheepish. She gave Gaara a small wave, before deciding to explain herself. “I’m here with my family to visit my aunt,” she began. “I stopped by this shop to get her a small gift, but then I saw you from the other side of the store, and I figured I’d come say hi… but I guess I got a little carried away.” She laughed, as happy as he knew her to be. It reminded him of how far she’d come since he first trained her.

“Not at all, it’s nice to see you.” He replied, unsure. Kankuro had told him to work on his politeness, but he didn’t know if any of that really mattered around Matsuri. She’d heard his conversational skills before already—and they weren’t exactly great.

Matsuri looked pleased with his answer, however, nodding. He was glad she hadn’t noticed how rigid he sounded, or at least if she had, she made no mention of it.

“I had no idea you had family here, Matsuri. It must be nice to get to visit both Suna and Konoha!” Lee grinned.

Gaara felt relieved then, glad Lee was leading the conversation. He’d had zero idea on how to proceed, small talk had never been his strong suit to begin with, and outside of training, he wasn’t used to speaking with Matsuri.

“It sure is! I do love the weather here.” She smiled, before her gaze drifted towards Gaara again. “I must admit, I do prefer Suna, however. It's a personal bias of mine.” She shrugged, “I did grow up there, after all.”

“I understand, it is rather easy to miss home.” Lee nodded, sympathizing. Tenten often complained that she missed Konoha when they were off on far-away missions. Lee never quite understood missing anything but a warm bed at night, but he knew his friend was saddened by their long departures, and that had been enough for him to empathize with her. He did love to travel, but he also understood how it could cause some people distress.

“Yes, I do tend to get homesick.” She replied, before looking to contemplate something. “Speaking of home… uhm, I was wondering if you’d be free later today, Gaara-sama? To—To hang out with me, I mean. If you’d like to, that is?” She stuttered, face red.

Lee watched as Gaara contemplated his answer. He almost flinched when Gaara glanced over at him then, as if looking for approval. Lee wanted to nod, to give him a small thumbs-up, to give any sort of sign that he was cheering him on, but instead, he looked away. He didn’t want to see it—Gaara accepting Matsuri-san’s offer as he turned to apologize to him. To say he’d decided to leave with her, while he was left to return to his apartment, where the ingredients for his newly learned recipe sat unused. He swallowed, trying his hardest to disappear into the background, to blend in with the flowers around them. He fiddled with the roses next to him, waiting for Gaara’s inevitable response.

“I apologize, I plan to have dinner with Lee tonight.” He replied.

Lee's eyes widened.

“Oh! In that case, would you mind if I tagged along?” She asked, hands clasped together as if she were pleading with him.

Gaara paused. On one hand, he’d been looking forward to sharing a meal with Lee, but on the other, it seemed cruel to simply leave her out because of his selfishness. He had no right to claim Lee’s time for himself. He glanced over at Lee again, it was his apartment and his time. He wondered if Lee wanted her there, or if he too wished to be in Gaara’s company. He already knew the answer, however.

He bit his cheek, “I—”

“Gaara-kun isn’t feeling well, we were planning to stop by the hospital to get him checked out.” Lee explained, hands pressed together in apology. I’m sorry, Matsuri-san, just for today, please lend me Gaara-kun’s time!

Gaara watched him, stunned.

“Really?!” She gasped, eyes widening. “I’m so sorry, Gaara-sama! I hope you feel better soon! Uhm—“ She paused, rummaging through her pockets. “Here! I don’t have much but please accept this!” She said, offering him a candied apple.

He accepted it, dazed.

Lee had covered for him.

Why?

“I hope you get better soon, Gaara-sama. Please rest for today.” She said, bowing. “I’ll take my leave now!” She said, waving goodbye to Lee and him as she exited the store.

Gaara snapped out of his trance when he heard the bell chime again. He realized she hadn’t purchased the gift for her aunt.

Ino cleared her throat, catching the attention of both of them. Lee looked sheepish beside him, bowing swiftly. Gaara felt bad for making her wait, and even more so for making Lee apologize on his behalf again. He bowed, regretful. He was worried he'd upset her, but when he met her eyes again, she was grinning.

“Just buy each other the plant they like!” She said, grabbing the cactus and placing it in front of him. “You buy Lee this…” She began, sliding the lotus over to Lee, “...and you buy Gaara this one.” She concluded, brushing her hands off. Her smile grew when Lee nodded in understanding.

“You’re right, Ino-san! Thank you.” He said, handing her just enough for the lotus.

Gaara paid for the cactus right after him, and he smiled when he saw Lee hold his cactus up again, proudly. The bell chimed once more as they left the store, walking down the street, in direction towards Lee’s apartment. He felt an urge to ask Lee about what happened earlier, inside the flower shop with Matsuri. He bit his tongue, contemplating.

“Lee—”

“Gaara-kun—”

They turned to stare at each other, taken aback. Lee let out a laugh, and Gaara couldn’t have helped but followed his lead, smiling.

“Sorry, you go first.” He said.

Lee shook his head, “It's alright, it was not anything important.”

“Anything you say is important.”

Lee laughed at that, the rosy color returning to his face, “Then why did you…” Lee paused, seeming to think it over. He glanced back over at him.

Gaara prompted him, “Why did I…?”

Lee turned away, “Why did you turn Matsuri-san down?”

He was nervous, Gaara could tell. He wasn't sure why he was, but he knew that it was awfully endearing.

He always was.

Gaara smiled. “It’s like I said, I want to spend more time with you, Lee.” He replied.

“Yes, I know, but wouldn’t you prefer to… spend time with someone you like?”

“Someone I like?” He frowned. “But I like you?”

“N–not as friends, I mean!” He cleared his throat, “Matsuri-san was asking you out on a date, Gaara-kun.”

Gaara frowned, thinking back on his interaction with Matsuri. He couldn’t recall anything that particularly stood out to him—not outside the candy apple, at least. If anything, she’d spoken to Lee more than she had with him. “She was?” He asked.

Lee quickly nodded.

“Oh,” was all he said. Truthfully, he didn’t know what else to say.

Lee let out a small laugh; it was a soft, barely audible laugh. “I see, so you didn’t know.” His gaze lowered, but his smile remained. Gaara felt he had messed up somehow.

“If I had, I still would’ve turned her down.” He clarified. “I would rather try your cooking.”

Lee froze, “…really?”

“Yes, I do prefer homemade meals.”

“No I—thank you, but, would you really have turned her down if you knew?”

Gaara nodded, “What about you, Lee?”

“Yes?” He asked, confused.

“Why did you tell Matsuri-san I was sick?”

He paused. “You are, Gaara-kun.” He said, but he knew that wasn’t the truth.

“Oh. You were worried?” Gaara asked, seeming to understand.

Lee couldn’t lie to him. “Well, I am, but that is not why..." He swallowed. "I wanted to spend time with you, too.” He smiled, sheepish. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted the same, but after you turned Matsuri-san down… I acted rashly." He admitted, rubbing his neck.

“Perhaps we both did.” Gaara said. “We haven’t seen each other outside of missions,” he began. “The prospect of sharing a meal together, like we have before… I didn’t want the opportunity to pass me by.” He revealed, unsure.

Lee nodded, “I see.” He said, grinning. “Me neither.”

Gaara returned the smile, before he felt a cool breeze sweep past them. He realized it was getting dark out, as the sun began to set. He knew that meant he would only have a couple hours left with Lee. He contemplated it for a moment, and soon, he'd made up his mind. He lifted his hands, sand engulfing them both in an instant. The very next moment, they stood atop Lee’s apartment balcony several streets away.

It wasn't until they'd arrived that he realized he'd used his ability on Lee without his permission. He panicked, turning to apologize. He was scared Lee would be upset with him, but the words died on his tongue when he finally saw Lee’s face. He looked happy. His eyes were closed as he took in the night air, arms leaning against the balcony railing.

“This is nice, Gaara-kun, isn’t it?” He smiled, eyes reflecting the night sky.

Gaara paused, eyes wide. “Y-yes.” He stuttered after a beat.

Lee isn't scared of me.

It wasn’t until later that night, when he tasted Lee’s cooking—Japanese curry (perfect for his recovery, Lee had said)—that he realized the phrase kill them with kindness rang true. They’d had a small dispute over who would thank who first for the gifted plants when, ultimately, they’d decided to count down and say it together.

And when he’d used his sand to travel back to his office again, he'd looked down at his small lotus, tracing the details engraved on the pot, and found he missed the sound of Lee’s voice already.

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

The cool breeze swept through the forest, the grass swaying along with it. He closed his eyes as he basked in it, the tree he hung from, shielding him from the brightness of the sun. It was calming, and he realized then, that this village was far different than his own. In the wind country, the breeze was strong enough to knock you off your feet. Here, it made the flowers dance in its wake; delicate and gentle. He almost wished he could sleep, to allow this place to soothe him.

Gaara was startled from his thoughts when he heard loud yelling from afar. He was torn on whether or not to search for the source, when he heard it again. The voice sounded like it belonged to someone young.

He felt his curiosity spike then. He had yet to meet someone his age in this village. He silently hoped his assessment had been right, as he dropped down on his feet. He followed the sound atop the trees, using them as a pathway to find the mystery person. He was nearly worried he’d lost his way, when he saw him. A young boy, who—to Gaara’s delight—looked about his age, with long black hair, braided down his back. Gaara knew that he’d found the person he was looking for.

He gently sat down on a nearby branch, watching. He was too scared to approach. What if he ran away from him, just like the rest of them?

The boy was sitting beside a pond, cooling off. His eyes were closed, basking in the sunlight, much like Gaara had been earlier, in the shadows. He was sweating and out of breath—Gaara figured it was from all the yelling he’d been hearing. He watched as the boy suddenly lifted his arm, forming a fist with his hands. He looked to be solidifying his resolve, but Gaara was unsure as to why.

His eyes widened when he saw the boy dunk his head into the pond water out of nowhere—his sand awoke, itching to pull the boy away—but then he came up again, spluttering. Gaara’s eyes widened—his sand, for the first time, had reacted to save someone. He watched him intently, trying to pick apart what made the boy different.

He frowned when the boy suddenly spit out large petals, rubbing at his eyes with his shirt to dry them off. When he opened his eyes again, he looked horrified. He picked up the discarded petals, holding them between both of his hands, before trying to piece them back together with the flower it had been ripped apart from.

Gaara wondered why the boy cared so much about a random plant, when there were still plenty of other ones around him. It intrigued him to see the boy flounder around for some petals. His heart skipped a beat, he found the boy amusing, but there was also something else. It was the familiar pull he felt in his chest, except it didn't hurt this time. He tugged at his shirt, confused.

“I am sorry, lotus! I have torn your petals off by accident, please forgive me!” The boy suddenly cried, cradling the petals as if they were something precious.

“I must accept punishment for this! For wounding you, I… I will punch this log two-hundred times!” He declared, clenching his fist again, before he bowed down once more to the flower.

He began verbally counting each punch he completed, and Gaara was left confused. The boy was hurting himself, and it did not sound pleasant. It seemed he was struggling to stay upright as he swung, but he did so anyway. He remained standing even as the sun began to set. Gaara watched as he yelled out challenge after challenge to himself, his voice nearly failed him, but his eyes remained determined all throughout.

Gaara stayed the whole time, stayed until the moon had settled, and the boy had left. He’d stared at the spot the boy had once stood in, before coming down and laying next to the pond himself. Breathing in the scent of the forest air, slowly, he regretted having not approached the boy. Gaara had a feeling that, perhaps, he would’ve accepted him. He sat up again, reaching out to pick up the flower—or rather, what was left of it—examining it carefully in his hands.

He’d taken its remains back to his bedroom in Suna, writing down the name of the flower so that he would never forget it. Never forget the lotus, nor the boy whom he had seen that day.

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

The next weekend, Gaara had only missed Lee that much more. His council had seemed dead set on disputing his title as Kazekage, and the man before them expressed that very sentiment. Gaara was attempting to avoid eye contact—something Temari had said was supposed to be polite, as he had a tendency to stare—but it only seemed to worsen the situation. The man looked back at him nervously, looking for a sign of approval from him, but Gaara was unsure as to what that entailed from him. He stared back at him then, nodding, the man began shakily dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief.

Temari had definitely been right. He looked away, sparing him. He knew his council members weren’t exactly his number one supporters—in fact, they seemed to be quite the opposite—but that didn’t mean their demands were to be expected.

“What?!” Temari yelled, cutting off, and startling the messenger.

“Why do these old ass guys care so much? So what if Gaara doesn’t have a damn mate, has he not proved himself enough already?” Kankuro muttered. He rolled his eyes when the man cleared his throat at his crude language.

“The elders insist that it's customary for the Kazekage to have one. They argue it’s necessary to carry on the tradition, and that it would be an insult to those before Lord Kazekage to ignore such an important union.” The man briefed them, clearly only relaying what had been said to him. Gaara almost felt sorry for him, having only hired him because of how much he loathed dealing with the council members himself.

He suddenly felt all eyes turn to him, awaiting his response to the demand. It was true Gaara wanted to prove himself, but to find a mate, whoever that may be, was something he hadn’t foreseen. He wasn’t sure if he was even ready to consider someone other than... He bit his tongue.

After a long beat of silence, with no signs of cooperation from him, Temari clapped her hands together, drawing the attention of those in the room towards her.

“Look, we could just fake a relationship; you don’t necessarily need to jump to the extreme and bond with someone.” She shrugged. “We’ll just announce you’re taken. That way, you can “break up” once the council’s off your case, without having to deal with the risks of a soul pact,” She explained. “Just pretend to be in a serious relationship, and then those old men will probably back off.” She suggested, hoping her casual tone would sway Gaara’s judgement. If she played it off like it was no big deal, perhaps her brother would consider it.

Kankuro looked between them. He watched as Temari tried to feign nonchalance, and as Gaara’s expression turned thoughtful. He wasn’t exactly up to butting in and adding his input to the mix, but when he eventually looked back at Temari, he internally groaned. She sent him a glare so harsh, he had no choice but to concede his previous mindset. He reluctantly turned to help his sister out before Gaara could intervene.

He cleared his throat, ready to throw in his measly five cents. “Uhm, we could even help you pick out a girl reliable enough to be in on it?” He said, unsure as to whether or not Gaara would even care, but if anything, it only seemed to worsen his mood. He gulped, “Or, y’know, unless you have someone in mind? So long as you trust them, it’s bound to work.” Kankuro tried again, “Anything to get those gramps to back off.”

Once again, their stares gravitated towards their brother; awaiting the sole response of Gaara.

Gaara forced himself to forgo his selfish emotions, reasoning with himself. Anyone would work, the less he knew them the better. He wasn’t interested in such an affair. And if it was only for show, he surmised that the search would be quite short. Gaara was willing to accept the presence of even a stranger, so long as it meant his role as Kazekage remained unquestioned. He’d known that becoming Kazekage wouldn’t be easy, but still, to be tested even after having become one was surprising. Even for him. To be forced to fake an entire relationship—or rather, to choose a partner, was not exactly something he wanted to partake in. He turned his gaze back towards his siblings.

“If you can find someone willing, I suppose the plan is worth trying.” He finally settled.

His siblings nodded in understanding, quickly shuffling out of the room right along with their new hire.

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

Temari groaned, having exhausted almost all of the eligible girls in their village.

Maybe someone from the Leaf would do?

It would certainly help them out politically, but just who was willing to fake a relationship with Gaara of all people. It had been hard enough getting omegas from their own village to trust her, who knew what those from neighboring villages would think. Offering such a vague notion; a potential relationship with their Kazekage. It was no wonder people thought she was trying to scam them…

She’d nearly worn out her voice attempting to convince anyone to have a little faith in the Kazekage’s own sister. And to make matters worse, it was just her luck that the ones she’d nearly succeeded in, had their parents intervene midway. Because, as it turned out, there were plenty of people willing to offer their hand, but unfortunately for all of them, the older folks in Suna weren’t so understanding. Not in her own validity, but simply in their trust in Gaara. She'd wanted to retaliate, to get angry at them, but her own conscience had stopped her. She'd once been just like them, after all.

She sighed at the memories that resurfaced, nearly arriving at Konoha. The trip hadn’t been more than a couple hours, but her patience was wearing thin. She was damn near ready to ask the leaf's Hokage of any eligible partner within an arms length, when she abruptly came to a stop in the presence of another’s chakra. She swiftly landed on a tree nearby, observing the target from a safe distance—having already exerted herself on her trip here. She slowly drew her fan, before finally recognizing the figure’s haircut; it was undeniably Lee’s. She dropped her guard, grateful it was him.

Temari approached him with a smile, before she quickly became aware that he was working out. Lee was shirtless, shouting out a number with each push-up he completed—he was on his 4,505th, apparently. It was clear he’d been practicing for hours on end. Normally, she would’ve left the man alone, having already seen he was busy, but right now, she was more than willing to ditch niceties if it meant her stupidly long search could end.

Lee pushed himself off the ground upon finally noticing her, smiling back. He hurriedly hopped on over to greet her, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his discarded shirt.

“Hello, Temari-san! What brings you here?” He asked, as formal as usual.

She rolled her eyes at the familiar tone. “You’re around Gaara's house more than I am, y’know? You can drop the formalities.” She shrugged.

Lee blushed, admittedly embarrassed to have been told off in such a blunt manner. He waved his hands around frantically, “I’m sorry, but I cannot! Out of respect for—” He began, before being cut off by her.

“Do you know of any single omegas over there in Konoha?” She asked, leaving Lee at a loss for words. Undeterred by his lack of response, she carried on, “Preferably someone brave enough to handle Gaara?”

“Gaara?” Lee froze again, Temari raised a brow. She’d never heard Lee drop honorifics before. She was almost worried she’d broken him, when he raised his head again. He looked to be thinking her question over, but his expression was unreadable.

That definitely seemed to have caught his attention, she noted. Curious, she ignored his silence in favor of explaining what she was referring to. In hopes Lee would be of help, she detailed what their mission's goal was, and even recounted how she’d been unfortunate enough to run around her village all day. And soon after having wrapped up the long descriptions—that wiped almost all of her remaining brain power to voice—she glanced over at Lee again, attempting to gauge his reaction.

“Gaara-kun’s looking for a mate, then?” He said, voice low.

Temari caught the return of honorifics. She hesitantly nodded in response, confused by his reaction. Maybe he’s worried Gaara would struggle to acclimate? “It is fake, but who knows? They might grow on him.” She assured him.

“I see.” He grinned back, nodding. But Temari noticed the smile didn't reach his eyes, nor was it as cheerful as before. It almost looked sad, and she couldn't help but feel guilty. It felt as if she’d broken some bad news to him. What else could it be? She paused, struggling to piece together the reason. Thinking back on Lee’s relationship with her brother, she wondered whether she’d missed something or not.

However, unable to come up with any decent theory, and unable to break through the sudden morale drop in Lee, she supposed she could simply ask him. She was too curious to let it go, and she figured she might as well be upfront about it. She wasn’t keen enough to pick up on anything, but when the wind suddenly picked up again, Temari finally caught sight of the expression he wore.

She faltered. She could tell then, that her hunch had been correct. Lee wore an expression full of undeniable sadness. A face full of regret and longing. It was a face she’d seen before.

It suddenly clicked then. She recalled a memory from months back;

“You’re in love with him, Gaara.”

Of course, she sighed. The idiots were both in love with each other. She rubbed the back of her neck, knowing what she had to do now.

“What about you? Would you be up for it?” Temari asked. She knew what she was doing was a bit nosy on her part, and maybe even too plotting, but it wasn’t like she was doing this for nefarious reasons. She knew what her brother was like, and she also knew the way her brother looked at Lee. It bore such a striking resemblance to the face Lee made, she’d nearly stopped dead in her tracks at the sight.

Gosh, what am I even thinking? If anything, she was doing the two morons a favor.

Lee’s eyes widened, “What do you mean?” He seemed taken aback, and Temari could’ve sworn she saw the hope in his eyes. Though it was gone as quickly as it’d appeared, replaced by a look of skepticism. Temari had nearly groaned at the sight, having already seen that exact expression on multiple others earlier. His eyebrows were furrowed, trying to pick apart what she meant.

His eyes suddenly seemed to register something—Temari felt her own hope raise then. “Oh! You mean to help Gaara-kun find a…!” He visibly swallowed, “A mate.” He said, voice quiet again. She watched in slight amusement as he shook his head, almost forgetting she was there.

Though Lee was always quick to recover, promptly smiling back at her. “Of course! I would be more than happy to aid in their search.”

Temari resisted the urge to drag the man back to Gaara’s place, in hopes he finally took a hint when she locked him up there. She was positively over looking for her brother’s potential spouse, she figured she might as well look for a permanent one. Temari massaged her temples, wanting nothing more than to rest already. If she could avoid doing such a tedious task ever again, she was willing to put in the effort.

She sighed, summoning her last bit of patience. “No, listen. What I meant was, do you want to be Gaara’s mate, Lee?”

“Me?!” He yelped. Lee looked alarmed, before he looked to consider it. Temari waited for a reply with bated breath, looking at him worriedly.

“Gaara-kun should take his time searching for his special person. I know what his council expects of him, but you cannot rush such a decision. He deserves to choose… to choose who he holds dearest to him.” He nodded, seeming resolute in his statement.

Temari wasn’t fooled for a second. She saw through his firm words, and his balled up fists. She saw the expression of a man who wished the words he said were about himself. Two could play at that game, she decided. She could be persistent too.

“Aren’t you an omega, Lee?” Temari asked, already knowing the answer.

Lee flinched, “How did you know?”

“I recognized the packaging of those pills you take. It’s the same as mine.” She shrugged. She’d seen the pills he carried with him on multiple occasions, but she’d never expected to have ever brought it up. Not until now, at least.

“Oh.” He realized Temari was admitting to being an omega as well. He nodded in understanding, but he remained undeterred. “Still… I do not think he should be forced to settle for me, Temari-san. He has many duties to fulfill, and it would be unfair to choose even his personal relationships for him. He deserves to feel… a true bond.”

Temari sighed, this really wasn’t gonna be easy, huh? It was clear to her that he needed reassurance. She wondered why both parties were so hell bent on being a so-called “burden” to the other, but she figured the answer was far too complicated for her to mull over. All she knew was that it was hurting both of them to hide their feelings, more so than it would to simply get it off their chests.

She fixed her gaze on Lee. “I know it isn’t exactly my place to say this, but Gaara needs you. He needs your help to pull this stunt off. No one from our own village was willing, no matter how reasonable our intentions were.” She explained, pinching the bridge of her nose at the reminder of all her failed efforts. “Really, think about it… you know Gaara better than I do. I’m sure you could be of great assistance to him,” she said. “He wouldn’t be able to do this without you, Lee. Please.” Temari pleaded, slightly taken aback by her own words.

No, whatever helps move the cause along. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that Lee was a hard guy to convince. She silently wondered if she’d be here all day, dreading the prospect already. She felt like one of the leaf ninja, reciting motivational speeches every chance they got. She crossed her arms. No, no way. This was different.

Lee suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder, startling her. “You’re right. Forgive my ignorance, Temari-san. I cannot fail a friend in need. If Gaara-kun is willing to accept me, I would be more than glad to help him.” He nodded. “Please, take me to him.”

Temari’s eyes widened, slowly nodding in agreement. Why had she been so worried, anyway? She smiled.

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

“Alright! We found you a perfect match, Gaara!” Kankuro grinned. “Or, Temari did, I just get to deliver the news.” He shrugged.

“Who is it?” Gaara asked, expression neutral. He couldn’t say he’d been expecting them to have found someone the very same day he asked them to begin searching, but he also wasn’t entirely looking forward to playing house with a stranger.

“Lee,” Kankuro said. “Bet you weren’t expecting him, huh?” He smirked, placing the written-up contract on Gaara’s desk. “Honestly, neither was I, but hey, it works out! How about it, then? We should probably get planning if you’re good to go.” He said, nudging the papers closer to him.

Gaara ceased his writing, looking up at his brother. He hoped this was some sort of joke—the kind that Temari insisted he was too blunt to get. He figured that’s what it was when he remembered what Lee’s trait was to begin with. He was a beta.

“Lee’s a beta, Kankuro.” Was all he said, resuming his writing. He supposed he always got worked up when it came to Lee.

Kankuro clicked his tongue, “Gaara, obviously he isn't if Temari chose him.”

“Right. Lee’s an omega.” He deadpanned. Why was Kankuro messing with him right now? He was in no mood to joke around, not with all the preparations he had to make. He was already regretting having agreed to his siblings proposal, his entire job that day had revolved around the complete stranger he was meant to host. Needless to say, he’d had better days.

He was shaken out of his thoughts by his brother—quite literally. His head swayed back and forth from Kankuro’s grasp on his shoulders, harshly shaking him.

Kankuro glared at him. “Yes, Gaara. He is.” He retorted, drawing out every word.

He hung his head when Gaara showed no response. “C’mon man, I’m serious! Lee’s an omega, he’s able to work with you, and is pretty darn willing to, alright!?” He said, exasperated. “Just give it a shot.” He sighed, hoping their odd back and forth would end sooner rather than later. Was that too much to ask for? It was at times like this, he remembered Gaara was the youngest.

He let go of his shoulders then, looking back up at him. He was ready to scold him for being so stubborn, when he noticed Gaara looked taken aback. He was staring—and not in his usual, menacing way, but in a surprised way. Kankuro eyed him warily.

“What? Do I have something on my face—” He frowned, “Wait, don’t tell me it’s my paint!” He groaned, moving to search for his mirror. He’d been told far too many times how creepy he looked when it smudged. It was no wonder his brother looked so scared, he probably wasn’t used to seeing his hard work all messed up. He figured he’d grab his paint supplies while he was at it.

Gaara paid him no mind, however. He'd realized Temari had unknowingly set him up. He couldn’t—he shouldn’t bring Lee into this. Much less be in his vicinity. He’d been content with meeting up with him every now and then, exchanging letters at the end of the week was fine too. Never mind the small gifts, but this? This would ruin him.

The very prospect of Lee pretending to love him sent his mind into a frenzy. He knew he wouldn’t be able to handle it, his heart would always get ahead of him, and he would be left feeling unsatiated. He would grow greedy. He’d disgust Lee eventually, it was only a matter of time. Gaara was simply a ticking time bomb at his side, waiting to detonate the second Gaara grew too complacent.

Why did Lee agree to begin with? What had Temari said to convince him? …Did he know it was fake? Had he agreed to it regardless? Or had he… Gaara bit his tongue, willing himself to shut up. A sliver of hope, and here he was, ready to throw it all away. He couldn’t be with Lee. He was no good for him, he reminded himself.

“Gaara, there’s nothing on my face, why were you even staring…?”

He was no good. He was a monster. Lee deserved better… he couldn’t…

“I can’t fake it.” Gaara stilled, clutching his pen.

Kankuro spun one-eighty degrees, a confused expression on his face. He raised a brow at Gaara, signalling for further context.

Gaara didn’t catch his silent plea. He was too busy staring a hole through his desk, contemplating what he’d say to Lee when he arrived. How would he even explain himself?

“Oh,” Kankuro suddenly mumbled. Gaara looked up at him. His brother sighed, “You’re not up to it, huh?”

“…Is it Lee?” He asked.

Gaara stood, hands drawn tight, as he shook his head. “It’s not. I’m the problem. He doesn’t deserve to be tied down to me, not even for some facade.”

Kankuro frowned, “But what if he wants to be?”

“He doesn’t. I would only hurt him.” He grit his teeth.

Kankuro made a face of disapproval, “You don’t get it, Gaara. I mean, what if turning him down hurts him more than you know? What if he…” Kankuro hesitated, as if unsure whether or not he should follow through on his words. As if Gaara wasn't supposed to hear it.

He had to, though. If it concerned Lee, he had to know. “What?” He urged.

Kankuro sighed, shaking his head. “No, what if he wants to, Gaara? What then?” He backstepped, hoping his brother would understand what he was trying to get at. “Would you refuse him?” He asked.

Gaara paused. Lee doesn’t, he reminded himself. He didn’t.

And even if he did, Gaara would…

He would…

He didn’t know what he’d do, he realized. He’d never considered it. If Lee asked, would he be able to refuse? He didn’t wish to deny him, but…

Kankuro placed a hand on his shoulder. “Be honest with him, Gaara. If you can’t do it, you can’t. Simple as that.” Kankuro said. “But at least let him know why. Don’t let some misunderstanding complicate things for you, alright? Honesty is the best policy… or whatever they say.”

Gaara kept quiet for a moment then, and Kankuro began worrying he may have pushed his luck, but then he heard Gaara begin mumbling something.

“...do you think Lee…”

Kankuro blinked, “Huh?”

Gaara bit his lip, hesitating. “Do you think Lee likes me?” He finally said. He’d asked the question to Temari and Naruto before, but it seemed he could never be too sure.

Kankuro sighed, “Gaara, I think the answer’s obvious to everyone but you.”

Gaara frowned, lips turning downward in thought. He was unsure as to what his brother meant by it.

Kankuro took notice of his confusion. “I was hoping you’d figure it out yourself, but I guess you can’t fight the inevitable, right?” He shrugged, “Anyone with a functioning pair of eyeballs can tell he likes you, Gaara.” He said.

Gaara felt his throat constrict. “What do you mean?”

Kankuro looked at him, deciding, before he spoke, “Talk to him. I could stand here all day and list off all the signs he likes you, Gaara, but we both know you won’t accept anyone but Lee’s answer.” He waved off.

And he was right. As much as Gaara wanted to believe them all, he couldn’t. It had to be Lee. He had to ask Lee how he felt.

Gaara nodded in silent agreement, and Kankuro offered him a small smile in return. He understood.

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

Gaara had been left awaiting Lee’s arrival in Suna, his mind set. He knew what he had to do. He would tell Lee the truth; that he couldn’t do it. He’d explain that it was his own fault. And as for revealing his own, messed up feelings… Gaara was still unsure. On one hand, he agreed with Kankuro, but in truth, he was far too scared to. He was afraid of losing Lee, afraid of what his pathetic love for the man would mean for their friendship.

Gaara stared down at the paperwork before him, attempting to solidify his resolve. He was going to deny Lee. He was going to say he’d found someone else, and that Lee shouldn't trouble himself with such a bothersome mission. That’s what he was going to say, the words were already perfectly recited in his mind, ready to be recited the second Lee walked into the room. He just had to keep his distance. It was simple.

But when the man himself entered, Gaara’s words failed him.

Lee stood straight, as if ready to strike a business proposal. The gesture made him feel simultaneously amused and worried. He wondered why Lee was being so rigid about the ordeal, when his thoughts were cut short by Lee.

“I'd like to help you, Gaara-kun. Please allow me to.” He said, bowing. Gaara was left perplexed by the action, before Lee’s eyes found his own. Lee’s gaze was pleading. “I know what is required of me, and I am willing to offer my hand if you would accept it.”

Gaara felt his heart skip a beat. It was clear to him then, that only the cruelty of the one-tail would be able to resist Lee’s offer. And without the fox rearing its ugly head, Gaara was simply of no use. He tried his best to control his features, looking back down at his desk.

He saw Lee’s hands fidgeting with his shirt out of his peripheral vision. He realized Lee was growing wary, eyes watching him as he patiently awaited an answer.

Answer.

“If that is what you wish.” Gaara finally said, trying his best to keep his voice steady. He could hardly hear himself over the erratic rhythm of his heartbeat, sounding over and over again in his ears. Gaara bit his tongue, willing himself to meet Lee’s gaze—his breath caught, left in sheer amazement at the sight. His face is almost as red as my hair.

Gaara shook his head. No, he'd meant to turn him down. Why couldn't he?

Was he that weak? …Could he take it back?

Lee began fidgeting once more, as Gaara’s staring began to wander, his eyes searching for an answer he knew he couldn’t ask of the other—it was no one’s fault but his own. Lee cleared his throat, undoing the silence that had taken over the room. “Of course! To help you with such a mission would be a great honor, Gaara-kun!” He declared, voice wavering despite his determined tone. Gaara noticed he wouldn’t meet his eyes then.

He was lying. About what, he didn’t know. Is the mission a nuisance to him, perhaps? Gaara could see such a theory proving correct, but it was Lee he was talking about. Lee wasn’t the type to lie so blatantly. It had to be something lying beneath his words. He was masking something, Gaara was sure of it.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He offered instead. Lee quickly shook his head, but Gaara pressed further, “I can handle a mere stranger, Lee. I’m sure Temari would find a decent enough person regardless of—”

“I wanted you to take your time finding a proper partner… your special person.” Lee began, his voice softening as he continued speaking. “Initially, I had been against this mission. And I even suggested you defy your council to Temari, but…” Lee scratched his neck, “She told me of the struggles you were facing, and I—I have to admit, it’s rather selfish of me, but I wished you would’ve confided in me with such issues, too." He looked back up at him, "I had no idea you were going through such a hard time, Gaara-kun. I never even thought you were looking for…” He trailed off, voice strained.

Gaara watched as his friend struggled to keep his composure, watched as his face fell with every word. And he couldn’t bear it. He rushed to his side, enveloping him in a hug. His arms tightening around the other, wishing he could soothe away the pain he’d seen on Lee’s face. He felt Lee tense against his touch, slowly settling against him once recognition hit him. Lee’s own arms soon reciprocated the action.

All at once, a wave of relief washed over him, the sound of Lee’s soft laughter filling his work space. “I'm sorry, it’s silly of me to worry over such a thing. I know we can only meet so often, and our letters aren’t the most convenient for such discussions. It’s not your fault, really, I simply need to—”

“It is.” He replied, dropping his head on Lee’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure to visit you more often, and I’ll make sure you’re the first I notify when matters like these occur.” Gaara assured him, tightening his hold once more. He didn’t want to let go.

“No, it’s alright! You really don’t have to worry about me!” He said, breaking apart slightly to look at him. Lee gave him a bright grin, and Gaara could say no more. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t follow through on his word, however.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caught their attention then.

“Alright, lovebirds, please save the performance for the council to see.”

Gaara recognized the voice instantly, reluctantly letting go of Lee as he turned his attention towards the two intruders. He wanted to be upset at his siblings for having intruded, but he couldn't deny the truth; it’d been his siblings who’d brought Lee here.

Temari greeted Lee with an enthusiasm he had yet to see from her. He’d nearly asked her why she was so cheery, when he was distracted by his brother instead. Kankuro was moving to hug Lee, his arms open and inviting.

Gaara stared. The disapproval practically emanated from him. His brother seemed to be in too good of a mood for his liking, and he couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of uneasiness. Though, much to his relief, Kankuro had caught on without him intervening. He smiled back nervously at him. He looked as if he’d been caught doing something wrong—Gaara supposed he had. He tucked his arms right by his side, back where they belonged. Kankuro shot him a quick thumbs up, before approaching Lee again—greeting him like he normally would.

Gaara quietly wondered what made his siblings become so interested in Lee overnight. He knew Lee was extremely outgoing, and as such, he made friends with just about anyone. His siblings were no exception. Gaara was aware they hung out during his visits to Suna, whenever he wasn’t around to accompany him, but it was especially at times like this, that he had to remind himself he wasn’t Lee’s only friend. Gaara had a tendency to avoid visits to Konoha for that very reason. For the very selfish reason that he simply could not endure watching Lee’s closest—or rather, closer friendships play out before him.

And though that was true, he’d never expected such a feeling to have been directed at his own siblings. It was foolish of him, he had to admit. It wasn’t as if Kankuro would sweep Lee off his feet the second he took his eyes off of him… And yet, he stood in this very room with an ache in his chest, a gnawing ache. It was one of envy. It reminded him of what his growing fears were, and he hated every second of it. He held an envy for those who had fostered and grown relationships with Lee that he couldn’t dream of ever replacing. He knew Lee cared for him, and that it was simply his selfish thinking that provoked him, but Gaara found it hard to ignore regardless. The unfounded, waking worries of his, that all voiced the same thought; that Lee would return someone else’s advances in the very same manner he had Gaara’s. It was a worry he shouldn’t have. And yet he stood.

Lee’s laughter was the sound that brought him back to reality. He felt his features soften despite himself. Lee was recounting one of his missions, his voice proud, and his mannerisms animated—he recalled hearing of the mission in his letter the week prior. Lee’s hands always seemed to follow his speeches, and sometimes, he’d even reenact his battles. Gaara thought it only added to his charm. He slowly found himself focusing back on the conversations taking place, his attention held by Lee alone.

Temari, ever the opportunist, was quick to catch on.

“Sorry, I’m not sure what happened after that…” Lee trailed off, thinking. His eyes brightened after a pause, a lightbulb having gone off in his head. “Neji—Neji-san would, though!” Lee replied, relieved to have found an answer to Kankuro’s question. He glanced over at Gaara for only a second before smiling back at Kankuro. He wasn’t used to using honorifics with Neji, but he knew Gaara didn’t like it when he used honorifics with him, and not others. When he’d first figured it out, he’d almost gotten his hopes up… but he knew it wasn’t anything other than platonic jealousy. He was jealous of Neji’s friendship with him. Nothing more. He focused back on Kankuro, who seemed to have another question in mind.

Temari jumped at the opening, having finally caught Gaara’s attention. In her haste, she had cut Kanukuro off in the middle of his follow-up question—not that she had noticed. “Well then! Have you and Gaara decided to go through with the plan?” She asked, smiling.

Lee grinned, nodding back at her. “What would you like us to do first?” He asked. “To alert the council first would be a good start, but you must have a plan afterwards?” He looked at her, expecting.

“I do, but you pretty much got the gist of it.” She shrugged, grabbing Kankuro’s shoulder then. “Me and Kankuro here are going to break the news to the council members, but after that…” She paused to look at Gaara, she held back a smile once she saw he was too busy watching Lee. It was obvious how nervous he was, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him act so on edge over someone’s approval. “After that, you two will need to sell the act to the public. We’re going to need to know your schedule in order to set that up though.” She said, looking at him expectantly.

Lee nodded, “That’s fine. Though my schedule is only busy when I’m assigned missions—besides then, I’m free. I only train in my spare time.” He explained. “I think Gaara-kun’s schedule would be harder to work around.” He said, a grin on his face.

Temari shook her head, turning to respond. She knew her brother had cleared his schedule already.

“I can make time.” Gaara countered.

She held back a laugh. It was amusing to see Gaara put up a front, but on the other hand, she was grateful he'd agreed to participate to begin with. She’d been worried he’d be too scared to cooperate. Gaara was the type to shut himself off when he was frightened, and she knew this mission did as much. But seeing her brother’s face now, her hope in him increased. Just a tad bit.

Well, it’s progress anyhow.

Lee’s smile grew confident, nodding. Temari almost looked away; his smile was blinding her—and it wasn’t even directed at her. She wondered how Gaara was unable to tell his feelings were reciprocated. Lee was practically radiating it.

“Great!” Lee replied. Temari began explaining to him how she would accompany him back to Konoha, in order to inform Lady Hokage of their arrangement—admittedly, they wouldn’t let her in on the full truth, but they needed her approval regardless.

She had already discussed their living arrangements, and the overall requirements of the mission, with Lee separately. To her surprise, Lee had agreed to almost everything except monetary compensation for his time. She’d been taken aback by it, and had almost argued against it, but Lee had remained firm on his stance, and she’d been left with no choice but to let it go. She was sure her brother would say otherwise if she let him know, but she'd decided it was best to leave the decision to Lee—even if that meant Gaara had to be left in the dark about it.

They spent a couple hours discussing matters further, going as far as planning Gaara and Lee’s day to day schedules on paper, before Gaara had intervened and decided they’d done well enough. And although she had originally planned to escort Lee, he’d been the one who had ultimately taken up the task. Temari hadn't put up a fight then, but she had soon come to regret that. The entire trip back to Konoha, she'd felt like a third wheel. It’d gotten so bad, she'd let out a sigh of relief, believing she’d been saved, once they had arrived at the Hokage’s office.

That small relief had, too, disappeared the second she realized the leaf's Hokage proved to be rather headstrong, insistent on keeping as many shinobi on duty as she could. And that sentiment was only further solidified by them attempting to occupy Lee’s time, as Lee was a rather formidable ninja, and a valuable asset as a result. Lady Hokage—much like Lee, if she was being entirely honest—had remained obstinate despite all her efforts. And it was only after a dreadfully long back and forth with their own stubborn Kazekage, that she’d allowed for Lee to stay in Suna, so long as he remained on duty to report to his most urgent missions. Temari knew Gaara wasn’t exactly all for the condition, but again, the decision had fallen on Lee. And Lee had agreed.

After a tower of paperwork, that had both of their kage’s looking awfully pale, they'd shaken hands and left the village. Gaara had reluctantly bid goodbye to Lee, after having dropped him off at his apartment. Though, had it not been for Temari, who’d taken matters into her own hands to break the two apart, she worried their Kazekage would’ve gone MIA on them.

“Sorry.” Gaara mumbled, “It seems I get carried away when it comes to Lee.”

They were entering their village now, and Temari couldn’t help but laugh at how boyish Gaara seemed. Their Kazekage had a crush, and he was being awfully obvious about it—she wondered what Gaara’s fanclub would say if they knew.

“Don’t worry, Gaara.” She smiled. “I won’t tell Lee about this.” She said, making a sign to show her lips were sealed. Gaara nodded, smiling back as he lifted his hands, summoning his sand. Temari used this as an opportunity to strike.

“Not until your wedding, at least.” She joked, walking towards her apartment once the sand had cleared.

Temari watched, startled, as Gaara stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his own feet once he’d registered what she’d said. Her inability to hold back her laughter only seemed to fluster him further. She laughed even more then, and it wasn’t until she pat him on the back, apologizing through a barely restrained grin, that she truly saw the reaction her joke had caused. He was completely red. From his ears, to his cheeks, to his entire forehead and neck. Temari’s eyes widened.

She realized her brother was absolutely done for.

He was undeniably in love.

Rock Lee, huh?

── ⋆⋅ꨄ︎⋅⋆ ──

The very next day, he’d found himself eating ramen alongside Naruto. Shielded by the lights inside the restaurant, it had come as a surprise to him when midway through a conversation with him, he'd glanced outside, only to find the sun long gone. Save for the stars illuminating the sky, it was dark. So dark, he felt that even Lee had fallen asleep by now.

Lee had a tendency to train past sunset, not of his own intent, but simply because he often got too carried away. Challenging oneself was detrimental to improvement, especially for shinobi, whose entire purpose was to persevere in the face of adversity—Gaara knew this. That didn’t mean he had to like it, however. Especially not when Lee, sincerely dedicated to the shinobi way, was someone who took challenges very seriously. He found it admirable, but he also cared for Lee. He cared so deeply. Seeing Lee struggle, and push on despite it all was incredible in its own regard, of course, but it also made his heart hurt in a way he could only describe as terribly, terribly, painful.

It scared him sometimes, how much he loved Lee. He often wondered if he was even right to call it that. Was this love? It was a question that he debated often, because he had yet to feel so… strongly towards someone. He had never felt such a demanding feeling, a burning desire to hold the attention of another. It fixed his entire feeling, his entire passion, his entire being towards a sole person.

His doubts led him to this place, to Ichiraku Ramen, the only place he’d been sure to find Naruto. It was rather comical how often the blonde frequented the restaurant. Gaara figured the owner had Naruto’s order memorized by now… if anything, it seemed Naruto’s patronage alone was enough to keep the shop running.

He glanced at the man in question, who was currently far too busy slurping away at his ramen bowl. Gaara braced himself, he had been unsure as to whether or not he should ask—he had deduced that Naruto was probably the most qualified to answer. The two of them shared similar circumstances, and well, everyone knew Naruto was in a relationship. He sighed, knowing he had to ask. It was sort of out of left field, and he had no idea how to preface it, but it wasn’t as if it was that grand of a question. And yet, Gaara had been eating through his nerves the entire time. He balled his hand into a fist, conjuring up his courage. He stiffened as he turned to face Naruto, resembling a pile of sweat. He swallowed, letting the words fall from his mouth.

“How does love feel?”

“Love?” Naruto perked up, wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand. “Hm, I guess it kinda feels like your heart’s getting punched a whole lot—at least that’s how it is for me. You feel like you’d do anything for them, y’know?” Naruto said, grinning. “And then, when they’re not around, it feels pretty damn awful. It’s similar to when you’re bonded! You just miss' em’ a whole bunch.” He explained, shrugging.

“You feel that way about Sasuke?” Gaara asked, trying to picture feeling so enamored by the dark-eyed shinobi. He recoiled at the thought, regretting having ever tried.

Naruto laughed, the kazekage unable to hide his grim expression. “Geez, are you ragging on me for being all sappy? I answered your question, man! At least cover another round.” He chastised, playfully teasing him as he spoke through spoonfuls of ramen. “...I mean who wouldn’t like him?” He mumbled to himself, a small smile on his face.

Gaara caught it anyhow, and his eyes widened despite himself.

Did he look like that when he spoke of Lee?

Sometimes, Gaara couldn’t help but see himself in Naruto. It seemed every time they met, he would come to realize they really weren’t as different as he’d once thought. He just wished he’d been half as lucky as Naruto was, falling in love with someone who loved him back. He had a real bond. And in some ways, Gaara envied him. He wished, hoped, and prayed Lee would feel the same way he did. He didn’t want to feel so shameful for loving Lee. Lee was… He was incredible. He was someone worth loving with your entire being. Anyone who got to know him liked him; he was friendly, outgoing and always respectful. He was strong, compassionate, and… And he was too good for him. He couldn’t help but think that if he were anyone else, he might’ve stood a chance. Though he knew he didn’t want that, to achieve Lee’s love only through being another. He selfishly wished Lee would like him as he was… but he knew that was no reality. He’d long accepted it was simply another pipe dream of his. One he couldn’t help but dream of.

He never could help himself, could he?

He handed a bill over to the cook.

“How did you forgive Sasuke? For hurting you?”

“Ah, well, I never really held it against him. It’s kinda pathetic to admit, but I loved him even then. Nothing really deterred me… I just knew he had his reasons and that was enough for me.” Naruto replied. “So, I guess I forgave him because I loved him,” he said. “Though Sasuke says it’s because I’m too stubborn for my own good!” He laughed. “I can’t say I regret any of it though…” He trailed off, the wide grin on his face, slowly softening. A tender expression of affection began to overtake his features then. His gaze seemed elsewhere, lost in thought. Before noticing Gaara staring, that is.

Naruto suddenly flushed, clearing his throat. “But don’t go around telling Sasuke, alright?! He’s already way too full of himself, as is!” He warned, “Just yesterday, he refused to see me off for a mission just because I forgot to take the trash out! The nerve of that guy, I swear!” Naruto shook his head, getting worked up at the memory. Gaara was pretty used to it by now, but it never failed to amaze him how clearly Naruto expressed his love for Sasuke. Though he supposed Sasuke wasn’t any better… He grimaced, recalling how Sasuke glared at him whenever he came to pick Naruto up. The blonde had a tendency to pass out after drinking past his limit… which wasn't much, but Gaara never knew how to stop the guy. He figured Sasuke was the jealous type, and honestly, it didn’t take much effort to find out. But, what he had yet to figure out, was why Sasuke seemed to have it out for him specifically. Naruto always clung to Sasuke like an oversized puppy, so he wasn’t exactly sure what prompted the harsh stares.

Gaara wondered if he’d ever pull off such a bold stunt; glaring at people to back off. His mind instantly reminded him of Neji then. Memories of how much he’d struggled to shake the man’s hand resurfacing. Right along with ones of Lee’s voice, the way he called Neji’s name so warmly, the way he would laugh at Neji’s antics, the way he’d compliment Neji during spars. It rushed to the forefront of his mind all at once, and for the second time that night, he was left feeling regretful for having entertained his thoughts.

He shook his head, frowning. He never liked thinking of Lee being affectionate towards others, it was simply one of his many faults. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise... Lee. Lee was too good for him. He could hardly imagine Lee being the jealous type. Though he supposed he’d never get to know. He bit his cheek instinctively. It’s no use getting somber now.

“What’s got you so down, Gaara? You thinking about Lee?” Naruto squinted, as if attempting to read something off his face. He silently wondered if Naruto was somehow a mind reader, or if it was possible he was simply being too obvious.

“…Yes.”

Honesty was the best policy?

“What’s wrong?" He asked. Naruto looked around then, before whispering behind the back of his hand, “Did you also get the silent treatment?” Gaara stared back at him, blinking. An expression of pity met him, and before Gaara could correct him, Naruto had already arrived at his own conclusion. “It’s alright, I have plenty of experience there, man.” He assured him, patting him on the back sympathetically.

Gaara held back a laugh. He wished he had.

Naruto ruffled his hair suddenly. “Don’t worry! I’ll give you all the dating advice I got!” He declared.

He’d nearly spit out his food at the contact, rushing to hold back his sand. He shook his head hurriedly, “No, it’s just…” He frowned once it registered.

Dating?

But he wasn’t…?

“Naruto, do you think I’m dating Lee?”

“Yeah?” Naruto frowned back, confused. He was waiting for Gaara to elaborate, but when Gaara simply stared back at him, frozen. Naruto’s eyes widened in realization. “Are you not!?”

“I asked you if you thought Lee liked me.” Gaara said, just as confused.

“Right! But I totally thought you needed reassurance or something! I thought you were—I don’t know man, having trouble in paradise? Or whatever they call it!" He explained, growing more bewildered by the second.

Gaara remained silent, unsure of what to say. He wasn’t dating Lee, but if Naruto thought he had been, then…

Naruto coughed, embarrassed, he switched the subject. “Why aren’t you dating, then? I mean, if he likes you, and you like him back?”

He couldn’t.

“I hurt him.” He said, without thinking. “And Lee doesn’t like me.” He added.

Naruto shook his head, “He does, Gaara, even I can tell. And Sakura says I’m as dense as they come!” Naruto paused mid-gesture, realizing he was insulting himself to prove his point… but it was too late to take it back. He could only hope it helped sway Gaara, even slightly. He wondered if this was how Sakura felt when she was tearing out her hair, trying to convince him Sasuke did, in fact, like him back.

This was definitely payback, huh?

“Just for a second, pretend you have zero doubt Lee likes you; wouldn’t you date him?” He asked.

“Yes.” Gaara nodded, slowly turning red once he realized what he’d said.

“Then why not?” Naruto asked, serious.

He was a coward, that’s what—but Gaara could never admit that. The mere possibility of rejection, of ruining what he was already blessed enough to have, deterred him. He didn’t want to hope, to push his luck, only for it all to come back and laugh at him in the face.

“You’re scared, huh?” Naruto said, and he understood. He’d spent countless nights tossing and turning, trying to gather all his might to confess to Sasuke. He had gone on a whim, believed he was bound to be turned down, and had only been set on confessing in order to be truthful to Sasuke—or so he had thought. He’d practically memorized the feeling, the night he’d laid his emotions bare to the one man he loved. It'd felt like the greatest feeling in the world when he’d realized that, all along, Sasuke had loved him back.

Naruto wanted Gaara to achieve the same, because he knew what the kazekage was going through. He’d lived through it.

“I felt the same as you back then, before I confessed to Sasuke. I was so scared he would leave me for good—or worse, that things would never go back to how they were, not once he rejected me…” He began. “But! You have to see it through, Gaara! Because I was a thousand percent sure Sasuke was gonna turn me down immediately, but he didn’t! And you can gather all the courage you have to try and find out, or you never will. And then you won’t know if things could’ve turned out the way you’d wished for all along.” He explained, hoping he was getting somewhere.

“That’s kinda the whole point, y’know? You find out, or you don’t.” He paused, thinking. “So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think you should try to find out, because, believe it or not, you definitely have a shot, Gaara.” Naruto said, moving his bowl aside. He turned to face Gaara, watching as the Kazekage contemplated his words.

Naruto smiled. “And well, you could keep debating it over and over again, and I could keep sitting here, telling you how obvious it is that bushy brows is super duper, totally, into you, man, but you’ll never find out for real unless you actually ask him out.”

Gaara nodded, looking down at his hands that remained clasped together. He’d heard this before, from Kankuro, and he’d known then that his brother had been right. He knew it now too.

Naruto continued, “Just take my word for it! You can even bury me six feet under this old man’s restaurant if I’m wrong! Believe it!” He said, slamming his fist down on the table. Naruto quickly apologized when the old man began scolding him, promising to keep it down. He sighed once the old man turned away, muttering a retort under his breath.

“Okay.” Gaara replied, startling him.

“Okay…?” He asked, confused.

“Okay.” Gaara repeated.

He was agreeing.

Naruto's eyes widened in understanding. “Really?! Did my pep talk really work?!” He yelled, completely baffled.

Naruto paused. “Damn… maybe I have a talent for this.” He muttered.

Gaara almost laughed at that, nodding. “Yes. Maybe you could help me figure out what I should do next,” he said. “I’m not sure how to...” Gaara trailed off, scared to even say it.

Naruto grinned, “Leave it to me, Gaara!” He said. “ I’ll invite Sakura over tomorrow, and we’ll help you think of something—if there’s anyone who can help, it’s her.” He assured him.

Gaara hoped he was right.