The redhead decides he doesn't mind Naruto's rough pats on the back or Lee's one-armed hugs. Kankurou occasionally ruffles his hair and Temari sometimes embraces him if nobody else is there to witness it, and that isn't bad either. His chest doesn't feel so heavy any more, and not everyone remembers him as the boy thrown out of public school for violence. Gaara's still not sure why Lee freezes when leans he over his shoulder or reaches around him, but figures it isn't important until the frequency goes up.
Lee stares at Gaara's chest.
He looks at his shirt, wondering if something is wrong with it. The fishnet doesn't seem to be torn anywhere, and it was too hot to wear anything over it. Gaara stares back, expectant.
After several moments, Lee snaps out of it and blushes. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I just, um," he wrings his hands a bit, "I don't know many people who wear shirts like that, so I wasn't expecting it!"
Gaara doesn't see what that has to do with anything, especially because that statement is inaccurate, but decides to leave it be. Arms over his head he arches his back and stretches.
Lee gulps loudly and cleans his room with a vengeance.
When Lee's pathetic excuse for a guardian is called out for a three-week business trip, his mood flags noticeably despite the fact that he's seeing his uncle no less than usual. Gaara offers to spend the night, and they have a minor disagreement when it comes time for bed.
"I'll sleep on the floor, you take the bed."
"No," insists Gaara, "It's your bed."
"You're my guest; of course you get the bed!"
He stares at Lee until the teen sighs. "Okay, we'll both sleep on the floor."
"That's foolish. We can both take the bed."
Lee turns white, then red, then nods shyly and squeezes himself into the corner. Gaara watches him for a while, eyes passing over the squirrels on his pajamas and his sleeping face. The borderline insomniac decides he likes what he sees and drifts off.
The second time, Lee doesn't squish himself up as much. Gaara stares at the strip of skin visible when his friend's shirt rides up.
The third time, Lee is restless and wakes up with an embarrassing problem which Gaara politely ignores. They pretend it didn't happen.
The fourth time, Lee sleeps naturally and his limbs flail all over, and the redhead isn't sure why he doesn't mind.
The fifth time, Gaara shifts closer than usual and Lee's arms curl around him automatically, which is surprisingly nice. The other boy smiles in his sleep, but runs from the room when they wake up like that. Lee doesn't stop apologizing until Gaara declares, "I didn't mind. It…was warm." Lee doesn't stop blushing until he starts making breakfast as a distraction, and doesn't speak of it again. Lee avoids him until Naruto yells at him for being stupid.
For their sixth sleepover, Gaara invites him over when he finds out his father was called to an emergency meeting and won't be coming home.
It feels strange wearing a shirt to bed in his own room, so he doesn't. Lee spends a lot of time looking elsewhere. Gaara stares at his collarbone and wonders why it's so appealing.
Once again, Lee tries to put the maximum amount of distance possible between them but it falls apart as soon as he's actually asleep. This time, Gaara rolls over intentionally and puts his arms around the other teen, wondering if it'll feel the same. He feels possessive and protective and it's warm enough to lull him to sleep. The reason he feels that way still eludes him.
He's always been a light sleeper, so he always wakes up at the same time Lee does. He feels his friend go stiff then try to wriggle out of his hold but Gaara pulls him tighter, stopping all protests.
"G-Gaara?" his voice wavers.
"I like this. I don't want to move yet."
Lee's hands are trembling as they press into the small of his back, returning the hug and pushing them closer. The nature of the embrace changes, and Gaara finally figures out what it was he's been missing all this time. His hands tangle in short black hair as he pulls Lee's face down for a rough kiss, awkward and needy. Once his friend gets over the shock, he's kissing back with every ounce of previously pent-up passion.
Gaara nestles against his friend, relishing in the warmth.
"I didn't know you felt that way about me." Lee's voice is soft, as if talking too loud will ruin the moment.
"I didn't realize until just now."
"Well, I suppose that's one way to confess. But, um, I mean, we shouldn't have…" Lee's face is red, then he changes gears and his eyes are determined. "Gaara, will you go out with me?"
Gaara thinks about kissing on a regular basis, on falling asleep next to somebody, and on holding hands. The red-haired boy isn't sure what exactly dating or love entails but figures Lee will be able to show him. He nods, and Lee looks so happy he wonders why his friend didn't ask sooner.
Notes: Edited since I'm uncomfortable posting lime content on FFnet and want to stay well within the T rating.