The Kazekage's steps were audible as he headed toward the kitchen. Any day now he would give up and attempt sleeping. He was practically dead on his feet. Two days she thought. I have two days to think of something. Maybe he'll be asleep by then. When he came through the door he hesitated, looking over to the empty seats beside her. "Where is Kankuro?"
She grit her teeth, looking at him a second before she was prepared to. He arrested her gaze and the excuse she was going to make caught in her throat.
She had never in her memory lied to him. But she had seen others do it, many years ago. It never worked out well for them. She struggled against her fear. That was then. This is now. He was changing, always changing. She just had to give him something believable.
"He's… Late." She finished lamely.
He held her gaze for a moment longer before sitting down. She relaxed immediately, willing herself not to slouch. She looked over at him but he was busy serving himself, movements sluggish and lids drooping. Why had she been so terrified? It had been more than a year since he killed someone outside a mission. And almost three years since he did it with malice.
When they had both lapsed into an almost comfortable silence he glanced her way again. Then to the door, before turning fully toward her. She couldn't help but look at him, chewing slowly as he stared. Finally he spoke, eyes imperceptibly narrowing.
"Well?"
"… Well what?"
"What's going on with you two?"
She grit her teeth, letting her irritation show.
"That idiot ran out with his friends. I thought he'd be back for dinner, he said he would, but um… He probably got his head caught in a drain or something." She made a vague gesture. "You know how he is."
"… Yes. I do." He stood; slowly unfolding himself before turning toward the hall. She hurried after him, reaching out to grab his arm but hovering an inch away when he stopped to turn back to her.
"You don't have to go find him. He's safe within Suna's borders."
"Which friends did he leave with?"
"Uh.." She took a half step back. "I wasn't paying attention. They all look the same to me anyway. You know that."
He nodded slowly, lips thinning as he looked right past her.
"There are not theater showings tonight because of the new moon. There have been no imports of lumber, iron, oil, or puppetry mechanisms since the dry season began. And he has been intercepting my messages for the last week." Her mouth went dry.
He didn't move but she suddenly felt his gaze boring into her. "If he leaves his room, he leaves for a reason. Do you know who he left with?"
"No one." She took another step back.
"You lied."
"I… I had-I meant to keep you from being worried." She felt the room closing in around her as he watched.
"Look Gaara, I know you're probably angry-" He blinked once. Slowly. "-but can you trust me? Trust us?" There was an imperceptible amount of time as he considered her words.
"Fine." She released a breath she didn't know she was holding, legs trembling as he turned back toward the kitchen. He gave her one last glance.
"How much time do you need before I launch an investigation?"
"Three days."
"Then you have three days, starting when Kankuro left." That's two days, twenty-two hours. She listened to the sound coming from the kitchen as she leaned against the wall. It took her a long time to head back and shakily lower herself into the chair.
It's been three years since he attacked with malice. Three years and you're terrified. She gave him a long, hard look. He was more alert than before, she had to focus past the familiarity in his face to see it for what it was.
The leathery black skin around his eyes dominated his face, darkening it, so she focused on his neck. It was thin, she noted. Very thin, like a child's. His wrists too, were small and pale. If she looked hard enough she saw an adolescent in the Kazekage robes, gaunt and weary. His hair was tousled around his head like normal, but she didn't appreciate how juvenile it made him appear until that moment. In her nervousness it almost made her chuckle. Bed head. Like Kankuro, only thicker and coarser-looking. But still a bed head.
He looked up at her scrutiny, watching her nervous smile appear.
"Are you happy I gave you time?"
She nodded quickly, trying desperately to find the teenage features now that his voice was added to the image. It was too dark; too coarse and purposeful. It frightened her on a base level, but she clenched her fists under the table and continued to look at him.
"I'll give you more time then. If… If that would…" He trailed off. She watched him struggle for words before a genuine smile lifted her features.
"Just trust us Gaara. Ok?" He relaxed, leaning forward. Her smile grew.
"Can't you trust us?"
