Naruto awakens to the sound of water running. The broken window has been covered by wood, leaving the room dark. The smell of Gaara's soap wafts from the bathroom, and the sound of heavy breathing brings him to the conclusion that Nara was asleep, and Gaara in the bath. Slowly, he raises himself up off the bed, wincing as his skin pulled against half-healed burns. The feeling of waking up alone is somehow unfamiliar now, with the routine of sleeping all together. Like a family. He glances toward the bathroom, listening as Gaara walks across the bathroom, feet slapping against the wet floor. Naruto's thoughts filter to Sakura; his childhood crush, and how she'd changed. How in the past, he'd imagined this life with her. The thought isn't appealing anymore, though. He shivers uncomfortably, picturing her sleeping with him, in the same bed… he wouldn't feel safe. He sighs, turning to look at Nara, sleeping soundly in the crib next to the bed. He loves this kid, even if he didn't actually take part in creating it; it didn't matter, he still loved him. And now Gaara, he comes to realize, as he reaches forward to pet the bright red locks atop the babies head. He felt his chest clench as he remembers the look of torment on Gaara's face as he used the last of his exhausted power to chase down the ninja who had taken their son. He felt as though he had put that look there. After Gaara had protected him, after he had shielded him from the genjitsu attached to the bell, Naruto had let his temper get in his way. He had broken Gaara's defense and rushed in without a plan. He had gotten caught up in that same Genjitsu again. Naruto hears the shower shut off and the sound of the heavy lid being removed from the ofuro filters through the cracked door. Naruto moves toward it, pushing it open slowly with a soft knock.

"Gaara?" he calls softly, his head peeking in without permission. There is a soft sigh from the bath, and Naruto decides to take it as permission to enter the room fully. Shuffling inside, he seats himself down on the toilet lid and brings his eyes up to make contact with the older boy. Reclined in the bath, pale as snow, was the kazekage. He only took up a fraction of the large bath, making him look small and young as he swished his hands lazily under the surface of the water. He says nothing, but the eye contact is maintained for a while, Naruto being the first to break it as he stands, pulling his arms above his head and popping his shoulders. A solemn pulls across his face.
"Want some company?" He asks, "I think I could use a bath as well."
Gaara's eyes flick up to Naruto's, but he nods, needlessly shifting in the bath as if he needed to make room for the other beside him. Naruto genuinely smiles at the gesture as he pulls his shirt up over his head, his pants and underwear following, each piled sloppily in the corner of the room. Smile still in place, Naruto fills a bucket with warm water, pouring it over his head. Without thought, he lathers his hands with Gaara's soap, washes himself, then fills the bucket again to rinse. With a shake of his head, Naruto deems himself clean and climbs haphazardly into the bath alongside Gaara. Upon sinking below the surface, the tension of the water breaks and water splashes out over the sides of the bath, splashing over Gaara's face as well. The look of blank surprise on the redheads face makes Naruto laugh, and the larger boy flails over to sling his arm around the small shoulders.
"Oh man, that's a funny face," he giggles.

Gaara is not amused, instead, he is focused solely on the contact between Naruto's arms and his shoulders, the way his thigh brushes against Naruto's larger, more muscular one under the water. He pulls his legs together without thinking, eyes trained on the point of contact; hip to hip. Naruto doesn't seem to notice, but he does loosen his grip on the thin shoulders and retreat to his own spot. Resting beside Gaara in the bend of a corner, the blonde reclines back and pulls one hand up out of the water, inspecting his arm as small remains of chakra burns seem to pull themselves together and heal. They spend a moment in silence, each thinking their own thoughts, but the peace is ruined as Gaara flinches bodily, splashing in the water. Eyes wide, he looks down at his feet in the water, entangled with the tan ones of his bath-mate. Gaara has become aware, from their last bathing adventure, that his skin is more sensitive than most. The feeling of the larger feet pressing gently against his own had startled him, but as Naruto captured one pale leg between his own, Gaara could feel heat creeping across his ears. Budding hair rubbed against his hairless calves as his knee rested over Naruto's. Too confused to protest, Gaara allows his leg to rest innocently atop Naruto's. Movement and conversation stall, and there is a moment of semi-comfortable peace.
"Gaara,"
It's a soft murmur in the dim light, calling the attention of the older boy who turns to meet blue eyes. There's a moment of eye contact before Naruto speaks again, still soft, still gentle.
"That ninja today, you…"
Gaara's body tenses, the memory of his loss of control, after so long. He feels so disappointed in himself. Like he's taken ten steps backward, as though he's gone back to the way he was. Bloodlust and fear, a being with no love. No bonds…
The rough hand that comes to rest on above his knee pulls him from his thoughts and he snaps back to the conversation.
"You understood her jitsu, you knew and you tried to protect me…" Naruto's hand clenches in the water, catching Gaara's skin and making him jump. An apologetic look;
"I… I'm sorry, I charged in without thinking and exposed myself to the sound. The bell, it made me see things, and… I lost control." He admits, his hand pressed hard into soft flesh. The heat in Gaara's ears remains, but he's too distracted to care.
"What do you mean?" he asks.

"You… you knew about the genjitsu, you warned me, but I still… I still put you in danger, Gaara." Naruto admits,
"Besides, the only weakness you had was when I broke your barrier, and that could have gotten you hurt."
The downcast blue eyes seemed to tear up in the steam from the ofuro. Suddenly, Gaara understood. Naruto blamed himself for the reversion, for his bloodlust. Small hands grip Naruto's shoulders tightly as Gaara maneuvers himself to stand in front of the other shinobi.
"Naruto, it's not your fault. You were targeted, that was the whole purpose of the jitsu"
his pause only brings more attentiveness to the blue eyes;
"Naruto, I was afraid. Afraid that she had hurt you, and it made me angry, it made me feel… weak"
Gaara can't maintain eye contact any longer, his eyes dropping down to stare at the ripples in the water. He feels inadequate, stripped bare, as though his armor is no longer effective. He expected disgust, like so many times before. The rejection of his emotions, his feelings, the invalidation of his fears; but none of it came. Instead, there was a splash and the secure feeling of arms wrapping themselves around his torso. Gaara's head snaps up to look at the younger boy; arms raised in the air, surprised. The gentlest of squeezes brings Gaara to place his hands against the solid back. He can see his hands, such contrast between the colors of skin. The feeling of Naruto's wet hair against his neck is cold, but the lips against his collarbone are warm, soft. He breathes a sigh of relief, tension seeping from his tired body.
"I guess we both made mistakes." Naruto says, letting him go. They both return to their soaking, still sitting close; skin joined from hip to knee, Naruto's hand draped lazily behind Gaara's head as they dissolve into comfortable conversation about what to do tomorrow.