Difficult Engagements
Chapter 24
Dungeon Crawl.
Gaara POV
The grey skinned shark perked up as he instantly recognized the state I'm in. That is a man who understands blood lust in its purest form. I usually don't invite people to join, but I don't want to go feral, and he seems like he'd enjoy it too.
"Zabuza, you want to have some fun?" I need to get this aggression out before I go fucking feral.
A sharp grin cuts across his face like he hasn't seen a good day in a long time, "Yeah."
I have control.
I go to the commander, my voice constricts tightly as I say "Get a group of Beta for around the inn. No one in or out, until I return."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage." The commander is shaking, it's kinda pathetic. I'm not sure how he got so far being so afraid. He can smell the anger radiating off of me. I don't hide it out here. There is no need to.
I'm angry.
"Haku keepin' Naruto safe?" it's almost not even a question. He knows his mate has a job. He knows his mate is good at it.
"Yes."
"Good choice." he pauses, "The Betas are overkill."
"You haven't seen over kill."
"Oh?" he's excited.
This is going to be fun.
At the gate of the city one of the scouts comes to us letting me know the general direction of the rogue alpha den.
I let loose a bit of my sand and scattered it into the wind in the same direction. Closing my eyes, I become one with the earth as it is one with me. Feeling aimless as the breeze that meanders through the world. It's freeing. I'm able to explore everywhere the wind might blow.
The Tourist Town that definitely carved its existence into the mountainous terrain slowly blends into the background the further I travel. All visible signs of life seem slowly to disappear the deeper I go. A vast drying landscape is set before me, its a sea of golden waves that appears to have no beginning nor end.
Until, there, only a little ways away, out on a cliff side, there's no mistaking it, the Alpha Den.
Risky staying so close to the town you are invading.
It's almost like they want to be found.
I split the rest of the troops in two. As close of an even split of both alphas and betas as I can for both. Half stay here to ensure there's no stragglers going to attack. The other half are instructed to wait an hour before coming to join Zabuza and I at the cliffs.
Me and my new friend are going to have some fun.
It takes less than 30 minutes for the two of us to make it to the outskirts of a town surrounding the mine.
Arriving here, it is a surprisingly strategic spot for this group. They can easily harass and plunder traffic from anyone traveling Konoha to Suna. Any poorly defended caravans or travelers that come this way would be easy pickings for any sized group of bandits, especially a group of Alphas.
It is my mistake for not noticing this weakness in my country's defense sooner.
The mountain's foot rises quickly, with the sand giving way to slopes of orange red stone. A well traveled path winds up between different ledges and plateaus that support the many building remains of the former mining compound.
The right side is dominated by larger industrial buildings that in the past would have smoke rising from their chimneys. It would have held the sounds of workers and their machinery. Now it lays barren in this wasteland.
Opposite the rusted refinery is the remains of a hastily made mining bunker, resting on the level above what appears to be an old bar and general store. Their only source of entertainment before the mine shut down years ago.
The dry air is filled with the smell of Omega fear and despair. It drifts out from the mine's entrance, down the main road that we stand before. The stench is so palpable, even with all the Alphas that must reside here, all we can smell is Omega. It overpowers all else.
We come around a bend on the main road, there are two dead horses sprawled before us, blocking the path. The metal brand on the leather saddlebags mark them as once belonging to one of my scouting groups. Each has several red wood arrows sticking out of it. The cliffside presses close to the trail here, it's a perfect spot for an ambush.
I can't wait.
They are probably above us right now.
Watching.
I confidently stride forward, waiting for them to make a move.
When it doesn't come fast enough, I shout back to my confused partner "Zabuza, this way."
That should get their attention.
Fait rustling can be heard from above. The sound of a taut string pulling back a limber wood. There's four of them. Before the sound of the arrows whistle through the air, my sand firmly envelops their bodies.
The bows snap first under the pressure. Then the tantalizing sound of broken bones. Their screams muffled by the weight of sand pressing down on them. Blood oozes from their bodies only to be absorbed by my sand. I feel all of this and more as my hand clasp firmly shut.
"So that's what you were doing." Zabuza grins out.
As soon as I'm sure they are dead, I release my hold. Letting the squished remains of their forms land haphazardly over the edge of the platos above us. I left their bodys, mostly, intact to show the shark what I could do. He seems to like it.
"I said we were having fun today." I lead my new pack mate into the unknown.
A rectangular, carved entrance is supported by thick wooden beams, scrawled on top is the name Yamanaka. Proud as if they wanted you to know exactly who's den it is. It doesn't matter.
In The Wind, everything is my territory. So pathetically mark your den however you'd like, you're surrounded by my sand. In the end, out here, the sand will destroy everything within its grasp.
It's only a matter of time before they all die.
Two alphas openly stand guard, if you want to call it that, nearly midday and they are thoroughly drunk off their ass. Sitting ducks barely paying attention to their sounding. Too confident in the group at the choke point.
"Why did we get stuck with bitch duty! It's sooo hot." one of them grumbles out.
"Because someone can't be trusted around the Omega's." the woman states.
I motion to my partner, seeing if he wants to take these two on. A grin of excitement grows on his face.
"One time!" shouts indignantly, before mumbling to himself.
The woman doesn't give him any breaks, "Yeah! One time. Now we're stuck out he-"
The breakneck speed the shark moves with his sword is quite impressive. Almost invisible as he glides through the two, removing their heads in one swing of his large sword. Blood now decorates the wall behind them, splattering across the name of their leader.
Wasting no time, we follow the cart tracks that lead us into the nexus chamber within the mine which is left eerily empty. The center of the room houses a turntable fixed to a path that leads further into the depths of the mine. Thick wooden arches remain between each pathway, acting as supports for the ceiling above us.
The air inside is cool and humid, a stark contrast from outside, and it is filled with that acrid stench of Omega's in distress that burns the inside of my nose. There is no greater warning sign that something isn't right than a distressed Omega.
Everything inctual inside me lights up, telling me I have to fight. My skin itches knowing I have to find the source of this distress and destroy it completely. It's the only way to get solace.
In the distance to the far right of us, there is a faint, echoing, chirping?
Following the sound takes us along a minecart track to the right, between two pools of mud. The cavern is filled with the stench of beast and the sounds of savage snarls with rattling metal. A group of wild dogs are chained to an iron rod driven into the base of a stalagmite protruding from the earth.
They are confined here. No matter how hard they pull at their leads the three won't reach their target. A small box cage, partially submerged in the mud beside. The top corner holds an exasperated, golden-feathered bird that tweets desperately for freedom.
I retrieve the bird from the mud, it's not native to Suna. The dogs are driven into a frenzy at my action. Taking away their desired possession causes them to yank the iron rod that holds their chains. Unfortunately for them, they cannot move.
"You're too sensitive." The shark says to me, "I thought we were here for fun."
Goating me to go further.
"We are."
I place the bird box safely atop the table across the room. There was a hand drawn book resting on top of it, opened up to the middle page that wasn't quite finished yet. This must be the person's guard spot… they aren't here.
Incompetent, like everyone else here.
Back to the nexus chamber, no time for distractions. Using my heel, I slide it across the earth focusing my chakra into a seismic wave. The entire dwelling is made of earth and various ore, no one can hide from me here.
"The dens this way. There's three just on the outside and about thirty-five inside the den."
Zabuza raises an eyebrow, he doesn't question how I know, he just says "Thirty-eight? This is going to be fun."
We follow the fixed path letting the sparse lanterns uneven light guide us through our journey.
The previously abandoned mining tunnels are barely held up due to the rot on the previously built wooden structures. The deeper we get into the cave the less stable the beams are. This section of the mines is many times more deadly than the last, not attributed to any man, but simply due to neglect.
Our tight passage climbs steeply upward as we take ourselves deeper into the unknown. We continue up beyond another set of uneven steps, curving eastward as we go. Finally making it to a larger cavern.
The group of three inside.
I hold my hand out into a fist.
The shark stops his movement, ready for anything.
I release three digits, letting him know how many are there. Then point two to myself, after which I cup my hand to my eyes in a visor motion. Then my hand twists into an unidentifiable signal, not meant for the shark, but for my sand.
My sand slowly pours around their feet unnoticed by the group. No one pays attention to sand in a desert. Zabuza just watches at the ready.
Perfect.
In an instant there is a vice grip at all of their limbs. Bruising first, then crushing bones, before finally tearing each one away from the main body.
The sound of their screaming is nothing compared to that of their crunching bone and ripping of flesh that echoes through my body. It gives me some much needed satisfaction at my actions. The stench of fresh blood now fills the room.
"They know we're here." Zabuza finally speaks.
"There's only one way out."
The Shark just laughs. If the screams and scent of blood doesn't alert the others, his echoing laughter will.
This is going to be fun.
This room, now stained in a dark red, marks a juncture of three tunnels. The one we came from, obviously. A tunnel not bothered to be lit marks where the previous miners abandoned their task. Fragments of rock scattered along the ground with tools buried beneath them. Nothing is down there.
And of course, the tunnel that interests me the most, has a large metal door with light leaking through the seams. The cracks between the door is where the air is most pungent.
The den.
Dragging my foot across the earth one more time I send out a shockwave of chakra out from my body. The largest, yet weakest, group is in the back. Two stand in the middle. The rest are scattered around the rest of the dwelling each varying in strength. Nothing impressive though.
"Should we knock?" the shark jokes.
"They already know we're here." The sounds of slight shuffling inside confirms that.
"Well if they are expecting us." he knocks on the door.
Sounds of heavy latches being undone are heard clanging behind the metal door. The knob starts to twist open. A waft of cold air runs through the newly made cracks in the door into the hallway.
Fuck.
I hold Zabuza back before his instincts kick in.
Before us now stands a freshly presented Omega, with how young he is it's probably his first heat. He wobbles forward like a newborn fawn, struggling to find support on his own two feet. Clutching desperately to the door frame he was instructed to open.
"Fuckin' cheep trick, ya' bastards." the shark yells realizing why he was restrained.
The way he talks, he reminds me of Naruto.
I loosen my sand on his arm that was ready to strike, giving him free access to his body. With his new freedom the shark grabs the wrist of the Omega in front of him dragging him behind us. The boy stumbles, falling to the ground at such a quick motion. He'll probably have bruises, but he'll be safe.
"Stay." Zabuza said as he kicked the door completely open.
We open into the blinding light of a large round cavern with a breeding bench firmly displayed in the middle. I glance around the room, little nests are built in different crevasse for each of the members of their group.
No Omega's in any of them.
They all are securely bound on the deepest edge of the cavern. Each sporting a collar and a chain that keeps them fixated to the spot. The sick freaks are tormenting their entire existence. It's obvious to see who's been here the longest. At least it will be easy to keep them safe during the fight.
There are 6 ornery Alpha's in total, it shouldn't take long for the two of us. I'm kinda disappointed, I was hoping for a fight.
"You don't like my gift?" the wolf in the center feigns disappointment. He seems to be in charge of this shit show. Black hair, black eyes, and pale skin.
Perfect.
Not him, but it will do.
"I figured two large Alpha's like you would love that beautiful piece of art I gave you. Never touched by anyone else. Perfect to train however you'd like." he draws out.
While he's talking I slowly move my sand behind him to make a wall between the Omega's and the rest of the room. No one seems to notice. The wolf is taking center stage and all of the audience's attention.
"I'm happily mated! I don't know about him," the man next to me shouts, then questions me, "but probably?"
I just nod. I wear my mark proudly. I'm not sure what Naruto and I are, and the middle of a battle doesn't seem like a good time to figure that out.
I point to the man in charge "I want him."
"Oh? Which part of my collection do you want? I'd be happy to give them to you if you leave us alone."
Before he turns around to notice what I've done, "You."
"I am sorry, my beautiful body isn't for sale."
It's like he wants to piss me off.
It's too cramped here for my new friend to use his sword. The five other Alphas are practically frozen in place waiting for their pack leader to give them the signal. At least the black haired man should put up a good fight.
"I'm not here for the Omega's you can barely keep alive. Do you know who I am?" I'm not dressed in any marking garments and this man definitely isn't from here.
"Afraid I don't." He says using the bench more as a podium now.
"You must be new here. The others here know who I am. That's why they are cowering."
"Who are you?" He is hiding it well, but there's fear in there.
Let's make it show itself.
"Ask one of your men." I look at the fear filled group of Alphas, all have their tails between their legs in submission.
"Ka-Kaze- Kazekage." One of the men managed to let slip, I just smiled in acceptance.
"What do I owe the honor for such a company?" There's the fear, let's add some more. He knows he's out ranked. He knows who I am. Let's make sure he knows what I've done.
"My mate heard what you were doing. It made him upset. I don't like it when he's upset… Maybe one of your men can tell you a story of one of the times someone made my mate upset." I look at them expectantly. Normally I'm not too proud of my past, but the fear in their eyes is just what I need right now.
"Well?" the wolfs voice subtly shakes as he asks the cowering group behind him.
"Don't be shy." I add on.
"Please don't hurt us!" another one shakingly shouts out.
"I'm waiting." I want this room to know what's going to happen to it.
"We should surrender. It's been awhile, but the last time The Kazekage was upset over his mate, he destroyed 4 cities in a couple of days. Not even the Kyuubi could stop him. The only thing that stopped him was boredom." the female alpha said, trying to appear more confident than she really was, appeased my request. Not entirely true, but not entirely false either.
"Why would we surrender?" the wolf questions his pack.
"Do you really think you're stronger than 4 cities… or any country he's taken over for that matter?" she says again.
"I hear you're more of a man who likes to make deals. So why don't we make a deal, you let me go, and you can keep all of your Omegan Citizens with no fight." the wolf tries to be cunning.
"Look behind you." I wait for him to follow my command, "I already have them."
"Ya can't really make a deal with a product you don't have. Besides, we came here for a fight… and I wanna fight." Zabuza butts in.
"Well I am a generous host, but I don't think I can give you that." The pale man tries to find something to bargain with. "Have you ever heard about Root?"
"Danzo's organization?" The shark says.
"So you have. Well I can't tell you anything about them." the wolf sticks out his tongue revealing a seal, "but if you remove this, my tongue will no longer be tied."
"I know all I need to know about that organization." I didn't come here to learn anything.
He seems shocked at this, "Are you sure?"
"Yep." I came here to have a good time, not to worry about anything else.
The control I have over my sand is impeccable, being able to target even the smallest parts of the body. Let's start with his fingers. Before he knows what happened, my sand takes each digit in its grasp. I lift his body up about a foot off the ground by his ten fingers above his head. Then I twitch my own, causing them to completely disappear under the weight of my sand. His body quickly slacks onto the ground with nothing to support it.
His scream echoed throughout the den striking more fear in the others, and excitement in my friend. Blood pours out from his hand spilling the iron rich liquid onto the ground beneath him. I don't want him to bleed out, just yet, I use my sand as a pseudo tourniquet on his upper arms slowing the bleeding.
"You fuck these Omega's an inch to death." Mentioning over to the breeding bench. Wrapping his bottom limbs, before cracking them away from his body. Bones jutting from skin - more red liquid on the ground.
"You raped them until they became a shell of themselves. How many of them are in an Omega Fog from your pitiful Alpha Commands?" Rhetorical question to the now silenced man.
He's fully covered except for his face. I pulse the sand in construction motions around his whole body. Pressing down just enough for him to lose the air from his lungs, and releasing so he can regain it. I control his breath.
I control his life.
I control his death.
"Most of them are half starved. You can't even take care of them, and you try to call yourself Alpha's…" I pause my actions to look at him in his cold dark eyes drenched in fear, "Pathetic."
That was the final straw. I crushed his body into a fine dust, absorbing the remains into my sand. Practically nothing exists to remind the world he was here in the first place, except the blood splattered name on the front door.
The rest of the alphas in the room let a sigh of relief escape upon the completion of his death.
"Why do you think you're free just because your leader is dead? You helped him do this. You stood by him every step of the way. You're going to die just like him." I announce.
Remembering my new friend's current predicament, I form some of the sand into a sword small enough for these quarters just for him. Then I use some iron kept in a smaller container on my waist to strengthen it with a magnet release.
"Here." I hold out the newly made weapon for him.
"For me? You shouldn't have." Zabuza really does seem touched by this sentiment.
His speed is almost unmatched by anyone else in the room. For such a bulky guy I wouldn't expect him to be this fast. He glides through the air the same way his blade does. He is so attuned with his weapons to the point he practically is one himself.
Curious.
The female alpha from before accepts her impending death. I think she's hoping for a quick one after seeing the show I put on of the pack leader's demise. Kneeling with her arms behind her back and head down, it's almost admirable, almost.
I hear the noise behind me of the shark's slaughter as I say these words, "You accept death?"
"Yes, Lord Kazekage." her eyes never leave the ground… Naruto would grant mercy.
"Why?" I ask.
"I know when I've lost." Her head is pulled forward and her shoulders back, so her neck is fully exposed for the cleanest swipe of a sword.
"No. Why join them?"
She stays quiet for a second, "I had no other options."
I glance at the nest made for her by the Omega's. Compared to the rest in this room it is not the largest by any means, if anything it's the smallest, but it is the best maintained. The best sign of a good Alpha is a well maintained nest. The size of a nest is generally the rank of the alpha in the pack.
"Go on."
"After you took over, you did a lot for the country as a whole," her voice starts to waver, "but the small towns on the outskirts are still suffering. This used to be a good mining operation, great trade roots to Konoha, I was in charge of the store. Since Kyuubi left and your war efforts started… smaller mines like these suffered."
"How?" mines should be a booming industry, we need all the resources we can get.
"We can really trade with other countries, with you at war with most of our other buyers. And the crown buys only from top companies. If you're lucky you get bought out by one of them… If you're like us, unlucky, you die out. It's too much work to get a government contract."
I need to fix that.
"If I ask one of the Omega's about your constitution, would I be upset with their answer?"
"I have two that would vouch for me, I don't know about the rest." she answered truthfully.
Naruto would give this woman mercy… I will as well.
"Stand." I can find use for this one.
She followed my order.
"We keepin' one?" Zabuza said, surprised.
I just shrug.
"Lead them out." I command the alpha in front of me, dropping my sand shield that protects the Omega's.
Again, she followed my command without a single protest or noise. As she said, two of the Omega's from the group seemed pleased that she was still standing in the midst of this slaughter. The two happy to see her, are the first she unlocks from their chains. She does the rest after securing their safety.
Zabuza stalks over to me, I expect I'm going to have to explain myself for my actions to him.
"Never pegged you as a monologue guy." Almost entertained with the thought. On closer inspection I noticed the blood splattered over his own clothes. We are the same.
I shrug, "It would have been over too soon if I didn't."
"Who were you thinking about?" Accepting that as an answer.
"Uchiha." The name escapes my lips like venom.
"Lucky you. Guys basically a dead ringer for 'em." Staring at the few remains left on the ground of the man I just killed.
"Never met him."
"For the best. Bit of an asshole." I don't know if he's just saying it for me, but it sounds nice.
"I heard." I just realized, "You're not afraid of me?"
"No," the shark shakes it off, "My line of work, you get hired by a lot of crazy guys, and honestly ya' not even top 5."
"Kyuubi number one?" Might as well know the leaderboard my name doesnt grace.
"Actually the Uchiha… never could pin him down." I'm still not sure if he's just saying this for my sake.
"Hn?" but it seems like my decisions were right.
"Kyuubi and you, classic crazy, both driven mad by instinct. Dangerous, yeah, but easy to understand." the shark elaborates, while comparing me to the worst person in the world, "Uchiha. Too fuckin' quiet. Never knew what was going on in that head of his… Knew it wasn't good though. He waited till the last minute to intervene, while everyone was bleeding out, acting like he saved the goddamn day. Like he wanted his dick sucked for serving us table scraps."
Zabuza points at me, "I'd rather have an alpha at my neck about to kill me lookin' for his mate than that. 'Cause at least I knew what you wanted."
"Sorry." I probably shouldn't have done that.
"Woulda done the same thing for Haku." he's not lying.
"I know you would."
He doesn't seem like a good man, but he does seem like a good Alpha.
We usher the group out to the main nexus of the caves, there's a little over 30 of them. All of different ages and backgrounds. The alphas couldn't steal enough to barely keep themselves alive and healthy let alone a group this large.
What were they doing with all of them?
"Thank you." The small boy from before, now slightly injured as predicted, said to Zabuza.
He has scrapes on his hands and knees from the fall and a large purpling bruise forming on his arm where the shark grabbed him. Nothing that will last longer than a week or scar. His body is now covered by some of the clothes the other Omegas brought out with them.
They all seem very grateful to no longer be in that predicament, but too afraid to voice any praise to us. I don't deserve any.
I didn't do this to save them. I should have done this to save them. I did this because I was angry. I did this to sedate my blood lust. I did this, because I didn't know where the Uchiha was, and this den of lust filled alphas was the next best thing.
I can't lie to myself.
"I was hoping for more."
Finally back in the hotel room, Haku is just styling Naruto's hair. My fox seems a bit more responsive than he was when I left. Sipping softly on a cold citrus soda through a straw, humming to himself.
His handmaid seems almost paralized with how saturated the smell of blood is on me as I walk into the room. It drenches my sand and permeates out from the gourd on my back. He's afraid to look into my eyes as I make my way to them.
"Blood?" The word falls out of Naruto's mouth like a child, with big innocent eyes looking up at my own.
"Yes, little fox, blood." I can't lie to him.
"Oh... okay. Not yours, right?" he hesitantly touches my cheek.
"Not mine."
"Are you still mad at me?" Naruto asks, eyes diverted to the ground.
"I was never mad at you."
"Promise?"
"I promise, little fox. I could never be mad at you."
"Okay." he outstretched his arms to welcome me home.
I accept his welcome, scooping my perfect little fox into my arms. The blonde greets me again with smiles and rubbing his cheek into my neck. Taking in my scent and giving me his own.
Naruto never really minded the stench of blood.
He looks mad at me now, nose scrunched up in disgust, "Alpha."
"That's my mates smell." Haku answers for me, waiting desperately for my response. The Omega's body is tense and ready for his next move. He thinks I killed him.
"Your Handmaid's Mate and I had some fun today, little fox. He helped me relieve some of my stress. The shark will be back here shortly, he's just talking to some of our friends about some of the activities we did today." I say this to Haku, but direct it at my little fox.
"Gross shark smell. Slimy." he pinches his nose.
Haku just softly giggles at this, before pushing himself off the bed. I guess it's best that another Omega doesn't like your Mate's scent.
"Well little fox, with your Mate here I don't think it's polite for me to stay any longer. I'm sure the Kazekage is well equipped to take over my duties bathing you for tonight. It might help get rid of the stinky shark smell you don't like." Haku says to the whole room.
I just nod.
Naruto speaks for us, "Bye bye, Pretty Omega."
Pretty Omega?
Pale, brown hair, brown eyes, Haku is rather plain looking. Unassuming even. I thought that is what made him good at his job, blends in the background well.
"Naruto, you spoil me with compliments." he giggles as he leaves the room. "Never stop."
Naruto POV
10 Years Ago
I look around. Where am I?
A round room with a huge bed in the middle, it's got my teddy bear on it. It's not my room. I'm in my friend's room. Someone is in front of me… but who?
My eyes focus. Red hair. Teal eyes. A scar. Love.
Gaara.
"What if I'm not an Apha?" I'm so worried that he'll judge me for this… I don't know why he never judges me.
My best friend blinks twice before looking me up and down, "I don't think you have to worry about that."
I feel the smallest pain in my stomach, "But what if I'm not…"
"Then you're not. You can still kick anyone's ass so why would it matter what you are." the redhead said so simply, like it was an immutable fact. He always makes everything feel so easy.
"You sound like my dad."
"Your dad might be right sometimes. If you can kick someone's ass, why would it matter if you were a Beta?"
I don't know why this hurts more, that Gaara said my father can be right or that he can't even fathom me being an Omega.
"What if I'm not a Beta either?" It's best not to talk about either of our fathers.
"Oh…" He gets it now.
He's talking in his own head now… I don't break him from it though, I usually do, but not this time. I want to take as much time to process this before I hear his response.
I am not eager to hear his response to this.
The air is heavy, I can practically hear the conversation he's having in his head with Shukaku. I bet that demon is having a field day with this. Probably glad that he's finally better than the fox, it's obvious what Gaara's going to present as.
The future Alpha in front of me finally realized I'm not going to break him from his own thoughts this time, "Then you're an Omega."
He spoke those words with no judgment.
"Yeah, I'm an Omega." This is the first time I say these words out loud and I'm saying them to the only person I trust with this secret. Gaara would never betray me. He is my best friend.
"If you want, we can probably keep it secret for a few more years."
"We?"
"Yeah, I know your father." I knew my secret was safe with him. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." I'm showing all the tell tale signs. I won't present for a while, but I can see it when I look at myself in the mirror. My features are getting softer… everywhere.
"If you say you are, I have to believe you. I just don't see it." He looks at me very scrutinizingly, before shrugging.
"Let me prove it to you. What do I smell like?" I practically shove my newly developing scent gland to his nose.
He sniffs, "Sweet."
"Only Omega's smell sweet." I'm curious, "Can you make out what I actually smell like?"
He gets closer to the gland on my neck, "Citrus. Oranges?"
"Are you making fun of me?"
His face squints in confusion, "Why would I do that?"
"Because orange is my favorite color, are you making fun of me? That I wear so much orange that I smell like them now too?" I huff and cross my arms.
"No. I would never make fun of you." he wouldn't.
"Fine."
"There's also honey in there…" he seems embarrassed or something, "so it's not just oranges."
"Okay… yeah. That sounds nice or whatever. Sweet, too, see I told you." At least I don't have a bad combination, or am too sweet… I heard you could be too sweet. Not like I care or anything.
He seems hesitant to ask, "What about me?"
"Oh!" I kinda wanted to know myself, "I mean you might have to move your shield for me to get a good smell now. I don't know if you want to do it."
"umm… Okay." he looks around to make sure we're alone.
A small section bubbles over to expose the most vulnerable part of his body to me. Slowly to not startle him, I move my head over taking a small inhale of his scent.
"Earth… like rich earthy clay."
"That's probably just my sand."
"It's coming from here." I don't touch him, I know he's too sensitive for that… probably more so in this spot.
"Maybe I'm just not close enough to presenting to smell like anything."
"No, this is you, you smell like the earth… And there's more…" I get closer again trying to find that secondary scent, "Water… sticky water. Like a cactus."
"Now who's making fun of who."
"Gaa', I'd never make fun of you." I wouldn't, "besides I like it. I think it's a nice scent. You smell like the earth and the most resistant plant on it. A cacti can survive anything. They're resilient and strong… and have these pointy things to keep them safe. It's a good scent and you should be proud."
"Oh." he's got a blush on his cheeks, I have to compliment him more or something, because he's never used to it, he always gets so embarrassed, "I like your scent too."
"Good. Oranges and honey. Earth and water. They go good together, don't cha' think?"
"Umm… Yeah."
"That's probably why we're such great friends, Gaa'." Even though we've been friends forever, I feel like he has such a hard time accepting it sometimes, like he doesn't think he deserves it or anything.
"Maybe."
"Definitely!" I pull Gaara into a hug, I can feel Gaara's shield closing shut.
"Natuto. What are you two doing?" Kyuubi says, while our parents walk in on us.
"We just wanted to know what I smelled like." I say defensively.
"It will be hard for either of you to know that just yet, neither of you have presented." My dad tried to explain, but I could smell Gaara's scent perfectly.
"But I could smell Gaara just fine, he smells like earth and like water from the sweet cacti."
"I'm sure the earth is just from his shield. The cactus smell will probably bloom to a richer scent later after he presents… but it's nice to know you could smell it now," My dad elaborates, "it must mean you two are really close."
"Yeah he could smell mine too, he said it was like-"
Before I could finish, Gaara said "Burnt forest."
Oh right… only Omega's smell sweet. I almost gave it away.
"Oh Kyuubi, that's so close to yours." my dad says with a forced joy before smelling the top of my head, "I don't smell it yet… you just smell like my little kit. I guess you'll always be my little baby."
"Dadddd…."
My head feels so heavy… I barely lifted it off this man's chest. Where am I? I feel like I'm swimming. A tub? Who's chest is this? I smell… Blood?
Gaara.
Did we fall asleep here?
The blanket from the bed fills up the tub with us… it smells just like us… it makes such a nice little nest in here… did he do this for me?
"Morning." he said sleepily.
For someone who said he couldn't sleep, he sure seems like he can. It looks like he definitely got some last night.
"You… You were my friend."
He chuckles, "I've been telling you that. Yeah, I was your friend."
"No." I elaborate, "You were my friend that I told I was an Omega."
"Oh. Do you remember?" He's holding back excitement.
"Yeah." he looks so hopeful at my words, "I mean kinda, more just that."
I don't want to get his hopes up too much. He seems to ground himself more, knowing that I don't fully know who he is. At least he's not a liar.
"Yeah. You thought I was making fun of you or something." he seems to be trying to remember the day as well.
"That I wear a lot of orange, so you thought I smelled like them too." I helped him out.
A huge smile ripped across his face as he just laughed, "Yeah, you always wore this bright orange jacket."
"Coming from the guy who's entire wardrobe is red and black."
"I look good in those colors." he does, but still I have no idea how he does it in this heat, "I wasn't making fun of you. You look good in orange. Probably the only person who does."
"Yeah. You said I could kick anyone's ass… Was that true?" I'm hoping to get more information about myself from him while he's still in a talking mood.
"Yeah… Fuck, you probably kicked mine countless times." Gaara smiles as if he is completely lost in memories.
The Kazekage seems so strong, I can't believe I ever kicked his ass, "You're so weird."
"Huh?" this almost seems to break him out of it.
"You're smiling saying I kicked your ass like you enjoyed it or something."
"Not at the time, but it's a nice memory."
"Getting your ass kicked?"
"When you put it that way… Maybe I'm weird." he shrugs, the joyish mood seems to dissipate off his face as he gets back into reality, "I don't mind it."
I shift my body atop his to feel a slight pain at my thighs. Looking down I don't see anything, I'm wearing my night clothes again. I move the night shirt away to see half healed bite marks around my inner thighs. I don't remember him making these.
"They will go away in a few days. My Chakra slows down the healing process for you. Sorry." his teal eyes look at me with remorse.
Gaara bit all around my thighs as if he was trying to claim them for his own. I feel my neck to see if I have a claiming bite there as well. It's surprisingly bare, it feels so empty. He didn't claim me last night. I try to feel other parts of my body to see if anything else, but I don't notice any pain anywhere else.
"Why were you so nice to me?" I probably shouldn't have asked this question… but I want to know.
"Huh?"
"Last night?" I don't want to elaborate.
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't really do anything… to me." This is embarrassing.
"To you?"
"Yeah you know…"
"No. Tell me." He is firm but has an undertone of concern, or fear, in his voice.
"Don't make me say it."
He just sits in silence for a while. His eyes look far off. I don't know if he's trying to think of what to say or if he's waiting for me to elaborate.
"I mean," I hold up the blanket that was around us to make a point, "I have never even really had a nest before… and"
"It's just a blanket." he's trying to diminish it. It's not just a blanket! it's… it's… safe.
"Yeah! And no ones ever done something like that for me before… Okay! People just kinda do whatever they want to me… I just kinda get pushed from place to place… no… ones… ca - "
I can't control myself… but I don't want to admit all of this out loud. Everything feels frantic. I feel like I'm under attack… my heart is racing.
My cheeks feel wet. Am I crying?
Gaara pulls at the blanket that pushes me back into his chest. I just kinda sob into it for a while… He's just holding me. Letting me cry this whole time. Pulling the blanket closer to me. It makes me feel safe. I don't know how much time has passed before I stop crying.
"I'm sorry." Gaara eventually said.
"For what?" he didn't do anything. I'm the one who freaked out.
"The blanket, I didn't know how much it meant to you." his voice is so calm, but his heart is beating fast.
"It's stupid. Don't be sorry."
He doesn't push it.
"I just wanted… to thank you for being so nice to me." I say again.
"You don't have to." he just doesn't get it. I need him to understand that I do. How important it was to me.
"Yes I do... I've shared it before… once," thinking of Itachi, I struggle to remember it fully, "but everything happened really fast… I didn't really know what was going on half the time… it felt good... I think… it was just a lot."
Gaara looks really angry at that… did I piss him off? He's not talking. I should not have brought that up. I want to sink back into my skin.
I fill the still air with the point I was trying to make earlier, "but… last night, with you, I don't know… everything, it felt, felt good… nothing felt forced… it felt natural, with you… I never thought… I didn't think, ya know, it could feel that way… you were just so nice… it just.. I don't know… I'm sorry!"
I don't want him to be mad at me… Things were going well yesterday.
He still feels like he's far off in his own head, "Hey, I want you here. I was saying something. I want you to say something."
Gaara seems to collect himself after I call him out, "Naruto, you don't have to thank me for taking care of you. I'm your mate. That's what I'm supposed to do."
I can feel the heat filling my face with a blush, "Shut up!"
"I thought you wanted me to say something?" he's teasing me.
I hate it here.
"Naruto, I really do like you. I know you don't fully understand that, yet… but you seem to be giving me a chance and I'm not going to fuck it up."
Okay, maybe I don't hate it here.
"... I guess."
He has such a stupid smile on his perfect fucking face.
I'm kinda hesitant to ask this question, I don't know if I want to know the answer to it, "How did you get so good at handling heat symptoms?"
"Oh…" He pauses as if not knowing what to say.
"Ah! It's okay! You don't have to tell me." I look away from him to the other side of the room. I don't know why I'm kinda jealous, it's not like I didn't have a partner before him.
"It's not my first time doing this."
"Oh… Yeah… of course not!" I knew that was the answer… I didn't want to hear it, but I had to ask such a stupid question. "You're an Alpha… The Kazekage, of course this isn't your first heat spent with someone. It was stupid of me to think it was."
"I probably shouldn't tell you this," he seems really hesitant to say the next words, "but they were with you."
"No. They weren't." Besides Itachi, I've spent all my heats alone. If he's going to lie, at least make it believable. "It's fine if you spent them with someone else, but don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying." he says it so matter-a-factly. "I knew I shouldn't have told you that, though."
"Look, I believe that I know you now and that we were friends or more or whatever. But I don't believe that I would forget spending a heat with someone."
"Naruto, you barely remember your heats as they are. How many days do you think are past?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" he just looks at me, "None, It was just last night… Now it's morning."
"It's been two days."
"No, it hasn't." I don't feel weak or dehydrated, or anything, it couldn't have been that long.
"Yes, it has." He pauses, "Let's drop this okay. I shouldn't have told you that. You just got out of a heat."
"No. Why are you lying?" Why won't he tell me that it's with someone else. I'm not stupid. It's fine.
"I need you to trust me, and just drop this."
"If you need me to trust you, you shouldn't be lying."
"Naruto, I wouldn't lie to you about this. I still need you to trust me. I don't want to overwhelm you, you just stopped crying over a blanket."
"It was a nice blanket!" I defend my actions.
"It was your nest, I know, but your emotions are going to be all over the place today. You just left a heat, your body needs some time before it adjusts, okay?"
"Look, I can handle you being with someone else you know? I'm not so overly emotional that I can't."
"You're emotional right now, and that's okay. We're going to ride it out together. I just need you to trust me that I know what's good for you right now." he's so fucking patronizing right now.
"Then tell me the truth." stop fucking patronizing me, I'm not a kid.
"You can feel other people's emotions, right?"
"Yeah…" I haven't told anyone that.
He puts my hand over his chest, protecting it with his own, "Then you know I'm telling the truth. I'm not good at handling heat symptoms, I'm good at handling your heat symptoms. So I need you to trust me."
He's not lying.
I don't like this. He knows so much about me… he knows more than I do. I just met him two days ago… four days ago?
I don't know.
It's all too much.
When did I stop breathing?
"I need you to relax." the redhead's voice then softens, "Can you do that for me?"
No.
I need to breathe.
I take as many breaths as my body will allow me. I keep taking as much as I can, but it doesn't feel like I'm filling my lungs at all. I increase my intake to the point where I'm practically pantining.
My skin prickles like a thousand little needles stabbing in and out of me in rapid succession. If it weren't for the overstimulation I'd be numb by now.
I'm scared.
I can't be here any more, the walls are closing in on me. I have to leave. The door is just over there, I can get out of here. I just have to make it to that door and I'm free.
"Stop. Naruto." Gaara commanded me.
Click.
My brain felt unlocked and empted at these words. All movement in my body stopped for a split second. I feel my eyes widen as I try to focus on anything in front of me. The only thing I can see is the Alpha in front of me.
In Gaara's words, the Alpha in front of me had full control over my body and mind. My body is rigid and unable to move because of his command. I'm frozen in place only able to watch what he wants.
Stop.
"Remember the other day?"
No.
Stop. I can't speak, the words are locked in my throat.
"It's okay that you can't speak right now."
Stop.
No, it's not.
"We're going to try breathing again. Just like at the oasis. I'm going to command you through it. It might be scary at first, but trust me."
"Breath in."
It isn't until he commands me to do it that I know how to take a single breath of air in. My lungs finally fill. I feel his finger tap against my arm, Once, then again, then again.
"Hold."
The breath stays in its place.
One. Two. Three.
"Breath out."
It finally escapes.
One. Two. Three.
"Hold."
I'm empty again.
One. Two. Three.
I don't know when it started happening, but eventually they stopped being a command. I still followed though. That was terrifying, it's less so now.
"Breath in."
One. Two. Three.
"Hold."
One. Two. Three.
"Breath out."
He stops, but I manage to breathe on my own again.
Gaara lets me know, "You did good."
I didn't do anything.
"Look, I know it sucks right now. You don't know what's going on and you have to trust basically a stranger who knows everything about you. I'm not the best at this taking care of you thing either."
"You did just fine." I don't know why I always want to come to his defense.
"I can take care of your physical needs just fine." he says as if that is a fact, "It's your emotional ones I have an issue with… You were always better at that than me. Over time I got better, but I'm still not good at it."
Gaara continues, while gesturing to me to get up, "Come on, we're gonna get out of here. No more heavy lifting today. When we get to the capitol I'll answer any question you have, but right now, no more questions, we're going to go to the soft bed, and relax. Okay?"
I said I would trust this man.
"Okay."
What's up demons? It's ya' boi.
I chose a happy memory, Naruto deserves it.
So the hardest part of this is I was really debating on doing the final Naruto scene in this Chapter back in Chapter 22, so you really felt that Naruto had no memory of what happened to him in his heat. Then I was going to show the two Gaara chapters. I just didn't like the movement of it all.
In case anyone forgot, because it was back before we met Gaara, Naruto still has light PTSD from all the shit with his last heat. Gaara doesn't know anything about this yet(I even have him saying exact or similar phrases that Kyuubi said). Also while Gaara says he understands the memory loss, most people have issues with actually understand it. So he brings up things from the past not realizing how bad it all is.
With both of these in play, Gaara accidentally triggers panic attacks and it makes it harder for Naruto to trust him, even though he said he would.
So the emotions thing is going to be explained more in a later chapter, but it is mentioned as a special power of the Kyuubi that Naruto gets because he's inside him on the Naruto wiki. I just decided to roll with it for this fanfic. Because I thought it was funny that understanding basic human emotions was considered a special power that only Naruto could possess because of a demon inside of him.
The next chapter we're gonna be hanging out with Itachi again. It's been awhile.
TigrezzTail ngl, your comment in the last chapter inspired me to write a scene. I was gonna put it in this chapter… but I already gave Naruto a panic attack, so it will be in a later chapter. Can't have too many sad things happening to that boy in one chapter. I'll let you know what scene it is when it pops up.
Haku is just impressive. It's hard for him not to impress people. Haku was also lightly testing Gaara in there, and he also passed.