Knock. Knock. Knock.
Groggily , the brunette shuffled from his place on the couch, wiping the dried drool from the corner of his mouth and reaching to open the door. He opened said door, bracing himself for the impact of one of Kiba's hugs but what he saw made him freeze on spot.
Gaara.
Gaara. And flowers.
A lot of flowers.
Gaara holding a lot of flowers.
He blinked a few times before shaking his head, dismissing it as a dream, he went to shut the door again. One sandal clad foot shot out to stop the door from closing. Lee now knew this wasn't a dream. So he hardened himself and glared at the redhead.
"What do you want?"
Gaara repressed a wince at the cold tone Lee used against him. Never had he heard such ice in any tone. And he was a King. "I, uh, came to explain myself." Right, he wasn't going to back down now. He was going to make things right.
Dark brown eyes narrowed dangerously and small arms folded themselves against a chest. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say."
"Come on, Lee, stop being a bitch." An eyebrow raised and the door was moving again, "Okay okay ! I'm sorry ! I didn't mean it like that … Can you give me just five minutes? Let me explain," And when it looked like it wasn't working, "Please."
Shocked at the almost desperate nature of the prideful teen, Lee let up a bit and nodded curtly, bracing himself to reject any and everything. Meanwhile, Gaara released the breath he was holding and handed the bouquet over to the smaller boy with his best smile. Lee didn't even blink. He took the flowers and stared at the Sabuku, waiting.
Taking a deep breath, Gaara began. "Do you remember that night when you 'saved' me ?" Lee nodded in response, "Well, I was on my way home from Sasuke's. We had a slumber party of sorts. The point of the story is, I wasn't at home for a week by then. Let's just say you weren't the only surprise I had gotten that day." He took another breath, "Ten-ten," He pretended to not notice the way Lee's spine had straightened slightly, "She's my sister's best friend and her father had made some bad investments, really he's just an uncontrollable gambler, and they were bankrupt. So being the robin hood Temari is, she vowed to help them. But Ten-ten's dad is an old geezer and wouldn't accept the help from any outsider … that wasn't joined to the family. So Temari had volunteered me to marry Ten-Ten. She forged my signature on the marriage documents and when I got home, I was a married man."
Lee didn't know if he should feel sorry for him, laugh at him or just stare at those lips. He decided he didn't have to answer and just did the latter.
Gaara took a step forward and Lee snapped back into reality, stepping backward. "But before I'd even arrived home, I was in love with you. I tried getting out of the scandal but Temari wouldn't let me. If you think I used you, you're wrong. I'm only happy when I'm with you. I love you and no one else. When you accepted me as your boyfriend, I tried harder to get out of it but Ten-Ten and Temari were relentless. That day, I was talking to her, begging her to let me out of it. She refused, being the evil bitch she really is. She knew how I felt about you, she knew and she wanted to tear us apart. So she came to school that day, she set it all up. I hid everything so you wouldn't get hurt. I…I wanted to tell you but I knew you'd hate me. I..I didn't want you to hate me. I'm so sorry, Lee. So very very sorry. Could you please find it in yourself to forgive me?"
Lee blinked back tears and bit his lip. "I…I can't."
"Bu-But I .. I don't …"
"Gaara, I do feel sorry for your predicament. And I'm happy you told me. But that doesn't change the fact that you lied to me and that you're married. You should've told me from the very beginning. You lied, Gaara. Who knows what else you'll hide from me in the future? I…I can't. I can't trust you."
Gaara wasn't so sure what that immense pain in his chest was, what that feeling of ripping and tearing forcefully was, what that death hold around his heart, boulder in his throat was, but he was sure of one thing. He didn't like it. He was also sure that Lee was the only one who would make it go away. So in desperation, his body lunged toward the boy, grabbing him and crushing him against himself. The desperation rose and his hold tightened.
Lee was suffocating. It wasn't because of the hold he was in, but the emotions that were banging against each other in his mind. Each battling the other for dominance. That and the urges of his body were making it every hard for him to think straight. So he did what felt natural to him. He shoved Gaara away with all his might and retreated to the safety of his home. He bit his lip and curled into a ball, listening to the impact of Gaara's punches and kicks against the wooden door. He listened as they faded slowly, listened as they stopped, then when it was all over, he listened and wrapped himself in the silence that followed …
-o000o-
He breathed in and out. Trying to calm himself but to no avail. He jumped around in his little spot, trying to steady his nerves but that wouldn't help either. It had been a week since Gaara appeared on his doorstep. He hadn't heard anything from the redhead since then. He was wrong to be anxious seeing as he had sent the Sabuku away himself, but none the less, he found himself hoping that Gaara wouldn't have given up on him so easily. He shook his head to dispel the thoughts. He had pushed him away so he would pay the consequences. The only thing was, Lee wasn't sure if that line was about Gaara, or himself.
But this wasn't the place to think about such things. He had to focus on the obstacle up ahead. He breathed out again and tried focusing on breathing alone. Easier said than done, when the door to the bathroom burst open and the green spandex clad sensei rushed in to hug him.
"Oh Lee, this is it ! This is it ! Can you smell the youth ? The beautiful, beautiful youth ! The Tournament ! Oh , I'm so excited ! You're up next," Then he hoisted his foot on the counter, gave a blinding smile and a thumbs up to Lee, the other hand on his side, "Good luck, my boy !"
Lee gave him a small smile before Gai disappeared. He stared at the door for a while before looking himself in the mirror. He nodded determinedly and clapped his hands together. Yosh ! He ran outside of the bathroom and hit into a wall. Well, by now he knew, wall meant one thing. Or person at that. He slowly looked up to see the gorgeous face of Sabuku no Gaara. More like Ten-Ten no Gaara, Lee thought.
"Oh, hi Lee. Forgot you were competing. Good luck." The Adonis uttered before being beckoned to another part of hallway.
Lee stared after him and ignored the painful tug on his heart. This was what he wanted. This was what was meant to be. So why did he want to cry ?
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome our next competitor, Rock Lee of the Leaf Dojo !"
Slapping himself lightly, he put on a bright smile and ran out of the hallway and unto the padded floor of the dome. Lights flashed everywhere and voices melted into each other, mixing themselves with the screams of excitement and clapping in the air. Lee waved to the spectators and slowed to a jog towards the center of the square pad where he'd be fighting and where the ref and his opponent were waiting.
He shook hands with the young man and waited for the ref to signal the start. He was so focused on watching his opponent that he hadn't realized the hesitancy of the ref. When he did though, he straightened his stance and looked at the ref, who was looking up, towards the direction of the judges table. Confused, he followed the gaze and raised an eyebrow at the sight.
Gaara.
Gaara. And a microphone.
Gaara with a microphone. And speakers in the background.
What the fuck ?
"One, two, three, four." Then a recognizable beat started in the background and Lee couldn't help the blush that came on his face, or the giggle that threatened to expose how he felt. But the eyebrow was still raised, "You know that I'm a crazy bitch, I do what I want when I feel like it ! All I wanna do is lose control, oh oh. But you don't really give a shit, you go with, you go with, you go with it .. Cause your fucking crazy rock and roll !" Gaara jumped from the high table unto the mat ten feet below. "You said hey, what's your name ? It took one look and now we're not the same. Yeah, you said hey , since that day, you stole my heart and you're the one to blame. Yeah !"
Gaara then switched to the mic on his head, throwing the other somewhere over his shoulder. He threw his hands into the air and pointed at Lee. "And that's whyyyyy I smile. It's been a while, since every day and everything has felt this riggghhhht and now, you turn it all around and suddenly you're all I need, the reason why-y-y-y I smile, I-I-I-ile …"
Then the beat changed and Lee's face got hotter. "Every night up in the club, getting money with 'em thugs, thought I'd never fall in love, then there was you, and I don't want to be a player no more. Every night up in the club, checkin' with another boy, thought I'd never fall in love, then there was you. Boy, you changed ma mind." He finally made his way up to Lee. He smiled and held Lee's chin with his thumb and index finger, tilting the younger's head back so he could look into his eyes, "One look, and just one touch, and I knew he was the boy for me, like no other I have seen. They say that I'm trippin but I know what I want, this boy here is different, he got something that they don't."
Then the beat changed again, to a slower, more romantic beat. "Chest to chest," He pulled Lee closer, " Nose to nose," He bent and rubbed his nose lightly against Lee's button one, " Arm to arm, we were always just that close," He entwined their fingers, "Wrist to wrist, toe to toe," He pressed his lips against Lee's, not kissing just touching, "Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose. So how come when I reach out my fingers, it seems like more than distance between us?" Hurt flashed in those endless eyes and Lee melted on spot.
"I know I'm not perfect person for you. I've lied and hurt you. But if I could, I'd have grabbed your hand that night and never went home. I'd run away with you. Just me and you. I really am sorry for everything I've done. You don't have to forgive me, but I just want you to know that, for me, there's no other person but you. I love you, Lee." He smiled, "I love you enough to let you go. I just want you to be happy." He leaned forward and kissed Lee's forehead.
Lee tightened his hold on the Sabuku's fingers. "You told me you weren't going anywhere. I want to hold you to it. We can work out this Ten-Ten bull together," He cupped Gaara's cheek, "I love you too so don't hide anything else, ok?"
"Shit, if I knew it was gonna be this easy, I would've made up with you along time ago !"
Lee raised an eyebrow.
"I know you love me." Gaara whispered and swung Lee around in his arms, dipping him and wiggling his eyebrows before pressing his lips to his beloved, for a kiss that shook the dome.
And what came next is for another chapter. ;)