Gaara walked into a lonely bookstore that nestled between two tall buildings. It was down a commercial street so foot traffic was normal. The inside was cramped with stacks of unsorted books by the doors and register. Cases lined up to the ceiling with every genre he could imagine. That old book smell pushed into his face with every step, he could see the dust sparkle through the large uncovered front window.

It was a popular store being by the surrounding university, students lingering there between classes. Especially during textbook season, they sold a great selection of used and re-purposed textbooks for cheap.

A boy with bright blonde hair and goofy smile came out from the back, "Gaara?"

"Yes, that is me." Gaara said softly, taking in the whole place.

When he was talking to the manager on the phone for the interview he said he wouldn't be able to show up for his first shift. Gaara assumed this would be a co-worker then. Everything about this boy was bright, his hair, his eyes, his smile, his orange shirt. It was all a little exhausting to look at.

"I guess I should welcome you to Hidden Books!" His face lit up, slamming a palm on the boy's back before taking an apron out from the counter desk.

Gaara choked back a cough, pausing before taking the uniform, "Thank you." He slipped it over his head tied it in the back.

"I'm Naruto." The boy leaned over counter, Gaara felt the casual tone set in, "I work here with Iruka, you've met him yet?"

"Only over the phone."

"Yeah, he's like that. I always have to look after the store when he goes to his new job, and he is out a lot!" Naruto complained, face gone sour, "If I wasn't going to school I don't think he would've even considered hiring someone else!"

"You go to school?" Gaara was curious, he didn't look like the studious type, resting his hands on the counter. It was just before noon so the place was quiet, a good time for training if he was going to get any.

Naruto smiled big again, sitting up on his stool, "Yeah! I want to teach like Iruka! He's a professor at the university I go to. Maybe I'll even be the principle, that's a dream I'll work for."

"I considered going to school." Gaara smiled softly at the thought, something about Naruto made his chest feel not so empty. It was hope.

"Why don't you?"

Gaara quickly frowned, reality rushing coming back, "I just moved out for the first time. I don't have the money or time to be doing that now."

"I'm sure there's a way if you just-" Naruto started but got cut off by Gaara wondering off into the store to take a look around.

"I think you should teach me how to do handle the store." Gaara's throat strained, not wanting to feel the pain twinge in his chest.

[x]

It was the first week in and Gaara made a stunning employee. At least that's what Iruka told Naruto who told Gaara. The red head still had not met the owner properly. Only in passing where he would travel to and from work. He found out quickly that Naruto and Iruka live together upstairs.

Naruto, being the not as stunning employee would close up the shop to nap upstairs during his time off from school. He would complain he couldn't get his school work done if he had to be in the store every day.

Gaara on the other hand was very diligent with his work. He would recommend books for shoppers and tidied what was never tidied. He would dust and sort the stacks that clumped around. He even brought in a few plants of his to brighten up the place. They sat proudly at the sunny side of the counter.

He was given the opportunity to not just work full-time, but train to manage in place of Iruka so he could focus on his teaching job. Iruka liked how well he fit into the bookstore routine and how much he and Naruto got along. Naruto spending most of his time off studying in the bookstore with Gaara, keeping him focused and having fun.

It was Gaara behind the counter on his stool. The one that didn't wobble. None of the wood grained furniture in the place matched and it didn't bother him as he pulled out a book to scan through. It was quiet and one of his plants wasn't looking too good, he wondered if the soil he used was wrong.

Naruto tumbled down the stairs with no warning, taking his seat behind the counter. It was a shorter, cushioned chair between Gaara and the stairwell. He has a small set up of make shift desks he used to study at.

"Gaara, I have the biggest test on shit I don't know this afternoon, you got to help me!" Naruto wailed, plopping down six of his textbooks down making the table shake.

"How did you let this happen." Gaara said flatly, peering over his book. He wasn't annoyed with him, he liked having Naruto around. But if you gave into him he gets too riled up.

"The other tests I had this week distracted me!" Naruto growled, flipping through his books. He did look stressed, so he decided to give him a break.

"Where are your notes? Let's make some flashcards." He sighed, putting his own book down. Naruto's eyes widened in shock. Maybe he forgot them. He shot back up the stairs and Gaara turned back at the store. It was morning, only older people come in to look around and not buy anything.

That's when a brunette with a white leather jacket pushed through the door, bells jingling to pull attention. Gaara looked him up and down, sizing the type of customer. He sized something else, the boy who walked in was gorgeous, light lavender eyes crossed the room and missed him completely. Gaara assumed he was a student, he had a gray satchel on, it looked heavy but he held it fine. The boy pulled a long ponytail out of his jacket taking out a small paper list to began scouting around.

Gaara felt a lump in his throat as his brain told him to greet him. He just watched as the boy's back turned to him, following down the first aisle. Naruto whipped back down and yelled out, "Welcome to Hidden Books!" before taking a seat with Gaara, "Got the notes, where are the cards?"

Feeling stunned, slow motioned as he pulled out the desk drawer, handing out index cards to write on. "Who is he?" was all he could mutter, taking his eyes off him at last.

Naruto's face scrunched in confusion and Gaara nodded towards their only customer. The blonde leered at him closely, letting down his binder of notes. "He looks familiar, either comes in here a lot or goes to my school."

"I've never seen him." Gaara bit his lip and flipped through some notes, scribbling out titles on his cards.

Naruto shrugged, "Why do you want to know?" took Gaara's cards and wrote answers on the back.

"Doesn't matter-" He whispered, eyeing the brunette coming closer to the register and crouched over to make himself smaller.

Naruto watched his friend more confused than before, making himself bigger, standing so he could see him over the counter. "Finding everything?"

There was silence as Gaara wouldn't look up to see the conversation. Being nervous already with customers, this guy unknowingly made his ears burn red just by walking in.

"Textbooks?" A soft, masculine voice asked. Gaara stuck his head up to answer. He knew that one.

"In the back corner, by the storage door." He said quickly so Naruto wouldn't answer. His face still felt warm but met eyes with him. They were light, cold but concentrating.

"Thank you." He said with a gentle smile and turned back around, making his way to the textbooks. His hair swung around as he did, instantly making Gaara's face flush red.

Gaara took in a breath and tried focusing on Naruto's index cards. His hands felt numb and he gripped onto the paper. What was that feeling? How did his face light up like that? His head felt light.

"Hey, you're going to crinkle that." Naruto grabbed the paper out of his hand and wrote on it. "Are you okay, Gaara? You're acting weird."

"Yes, I am fine." Gaara leaned back, feeling the back counter against him. "I'm going to take my break. Watch the store for a few minutes?"

"Are you serious? I got studying to do!" Naruto bit his cheek, "You're just like Iruka!"

"Five minutes, I'll get coffee." Gaara tried smiling at him, "I know how you like yours." he said, leaving his apron and taking out down the street.