They say their goodbyes and part.
Sasuke goes home, allows the cat to cuddle into his chest and sleeps.
He has no nightmares for the first time in days.
Sasuke ends up sleeping all throughout that day and through the night. When he finally wakes he's groggy and slow, disoriented from losing consciousness for so long. He guesses that not sleeping for so long made it so it was easy to slip into a small coma when he finally relaxed enough to close his eyes.
Gaara is the first thought that pops up in his sleep-addled brain when he opens his eyes, remembering finding him and talking to him. Drinking tea with him. Watching the sunrise with him. How Gaara seemed to know what to say and do to make Sasuke release some of his burdens and breathe.
Sasuke lies in bed, his arm thrown across his eyes to block out the sunshine streaming in through his windows, and sighs. He feels better. Less like something is squeezing his lungs and choking him. He can breathe a little easier.
Something as simple as just confiding in someone could help so much? How was that?
He told Gaara about his brother. He told him everything.
Aside from the elders and Kakashi, only Naruto knew the whole story about Itachi, but now…
He wanted to tell Gaara. Something in Sasuke felt like Gaara was a safe person to share those secrets with.
He said his brother shouldn't have hurt him. That...that shouldn't be what family did. He's never had anyone say that to him before, and now Sasuke can't stop thinking about it. It's such a new perspective that he isn't sure what to think.
Sasuke considers the idea. He turns it over in his head, trying to figure out what he thinks of that statement.
Family shouldn't hurt you.
Hm. Seemed sound, didn't it?
Sasuke didn't know all the details of Gaara's relationship with his father, but he assumed Gaara had a similar experience. Being hurt by someone you trusted. Your family. Maybe that's why he knew what to say. What would get through to Sasuke.
And...well, the thought that he isn't to blame both troubles and relieves him. It means that...it isn't entirely his fault, but then if he didn't deserve it...well.
Maybe…it was true. Maybe he didn't deserve it.
His family was murdered when he was seven. Now that he thinks about how young that is, even Sasuke's guilt addled brain can't fully blame himself for his older brother's actions at that young of an age.
His trusted big brother killed everyone Sasuke loved, and taunted him, scaring him on purpose to further traumatize him. Even told him that he was so useless he wasn't even worth killing. Even going so far as to return and kick the shit out of him and torment his mind until he fell into a coma.
That seems like quite a lot for a child. And the more he thinks about that he can only confront the fact that Gaara was right. What he said made sense. His brother shouldn't have done that to him.
Itachi was wrong. No matter his intentions, there had to have been another way. Right?
The more he thinks about it, the less it all seemed to be his fault and more like he was just lucky to have made it out alive and even relatively functional.
Sasuke made mistakes, of course he did, but...maybe...
He sighs, leaning back on his bed and staring at the ceiling. This is making him tired.
But maybe it was...good to figure some things out. Put some things into perspective. Actually face the memories and try to reason them out, no matter how much it hurt.
Sasuke usually made an effort to simply not think about the things that happened to him, but that didn't seem to be doing much good for him. Ignoring it all only made it so he broke down at random, suffering panic attacks or flashbacks of something that he's usually trying so hard to suppress. It all came bubbling up anyway .
Maybe actively confronting his memories would actually provide a measure of peace.
Or at least make him understand why all that happened.
And it all seems to go back to Gaara once again. He was the only one who told Sasuke plainly that he could tell him whatever he wanted. Or nothing at all, if he chose.
Gaara didn't judge him. He didn't look at Sasuke with any doubt or scorn, or even with pity. Not even when Sasuke himself thought he deserved it.
He went from someone that Sasuke only thought of in relation to Naruto - to someone Sasuke thinks about all the time. He spends an unreasonable amount of time wondering about Gaara. What he's doing, where he is…
And he's getting more comfortable with how often he thinks about the redhead. They see each other pretty frequently, so he's never far from Sasuke's mind.
He used to wonder why he was so hung up on Gaara, but now he rarely questions it.
Now he just wonders why his chest does that thing it did whenever Gaara smiled at him.
He spends the day reading once again. It's not a terrible way to spend time. Sarada is set to arrive in a few days, so Sasuke guesses he'll be busy soon enough. In the meantime he makes sure his daughter's bedroom is set up, thankful for Gaara's help in picking some furniture for her.
They'd agreed that if she didn't like it she could pick out something else, but Sasuke thinks she'll like the red bedframe and dresser he and Gaara found a few days ago. She likes red, at least she did . He hopes that hasn't changed since he's last seen her. Which was...a year ago? Longer, maybe?
The thought upsets him, so he tries not to ruminate on it. He wonders if she'll like it here. It was nothing like Konoha. The two villages had two completely different ways of doing things. Konoha was crowded, green and bursting with color. Suna was very different. Down to the pale pink buildings and greenery that grew on them. It was colorful, but a bit more….settled. Sasuke hasn't really spoken to anyone yet - and probably wouldn't for a while considering his comfort zone seemed to be Gaara and his family for now - but he could see the culture was very different here. It was a breath of fresh air for Sasuke, but how would Sarada like it?
Would she be upset to leave her friends and her mother to stay in a new place with a father she hasn't seen for almost a quarter of her short life? Sasuke hopes that thought is just his brain ruining things for him, as usual. The closer it got to her arrival date, the more he worries. Would she like it here? Would she like him?
Sasuke looks around his apartment - now less scarce with Gaara's help - and wonders if a little girl would enjoy living here. What if she hates it? What if she hates Sasuke?
What if Sasuke isn't equipped to take care of her? What if he failed? What if she ended up hating him and never wanting to spend time with him again?
He's already failed her so much already -
But...he remembers Gaara saying that children just needed parents who really wanted to do better. That puts his mind at ease after hours of thinking himself in circles.
Sasuke did want to be better. For her.
That night he gets a hawk from Konoha. He recognizes Naruto's handwriting immediately.
In his usually messy scrawl he's written that Sarada is set to arrive on the 2:30 train from Konoha in three days.
Sasuke feels well enough the next day to do some grocery shopping, and he gives the tiny black cat an apologetic pat for being so out of it the last few days before he leaves. He decides to get her something to make up for it, though honestly it doesn't look like the cat holds anything against him anyway. Sasuke guesses that's why people had pets in the first place. Animals didn't judge you.
Sasuke keeps his head down and keeps to himself, quietly thanking shop keepers before moving to the next stall. Thankfully the sun is starting to go down, and he doesn't have to try very hard to avoid any crowds.
He remembers that he can't successfully avoid every social interaction though when he goes to buy some rice at the shop closest to his home.
The woman at the counter looks at him for a moment, then her face lights up in recognition and she grins. Sasuke wonders where the usual gruff old man is. That's who was usually at the counter.
"You're new here." She says, looking at him curiously.
"I...am." Sasuke says, taken aback.
"We don't get too many new people. Especially around here." She says, "What's your name?"
"Sasuke." He says after a moment, unsure how to respond. He was unused to people speaking so casually with him, even still.
Sasuke's social skills still needed work, but they always have . He was never much of a socializer.
"My old man said something about a new, dark-haired broody guy who started buying his rice here. Said he had sad eyes and hid behind his hair all the time." She says, smirking, "I guess he means you!"
Sasuke frowns, unsure what to think. Brooding? Is he? Why do people always call him that? Naruto has called him that, too. He feels a flash of indignation. He's defeated gods, you know.
"Oh." Sasuke says, dully.
"Don't be mad." She laughs, "Papa is just like that. I'm Yū. Nice to meet ya!"
"Hello." Sasuke says, blinking at her.
"And now that we're friends, lemme give ya an extra scoop, huh?!" She grins, snatching the bag from him and opening it, adding another scoopful of rice before tying it again, "There ya go!"
"Oh, you don't have to-" Sasuke tries.
"You are such a gloomy little thing!" She grins, "Papa was right! Anyway, don't worry about it. Welcome to Suna!"
Gloomy? Really?
Well, maybe she made some sense. Sasuke can only imagine how he looks. His hair obscuring more than half his face, hanging past his shoulders and a perpetual frown painted on his features. He was paler than usual and had bags under his eyes, that much he knew. It would take a few more nights of sleep for them to go away. Sasuke tried not to look into the mirror too often (it usually only served to depress him with how tired or dead he looked on any given day), but he was still aware that he looked... exhausted, to say the least. He'd stared at himself in the mirror for an inordinately long time this morning, trying to get his hair to look a bit less insane before giving up. His hair wasn't pin straight like his brother's, or his mother's. Sasuke's hair grew in waves that tangled and flew about his face. They were even more apparent now that his hair was the longest it's ever been. He didn't bother with getting it cut anymore. He really didn't trust anyone close to his face with scissors.
"...Thank you." Sasuke says, frowning and taking the pouch she hands him.
"Sure thing! See ya!" She cheers as he walks away. Sasuke gives her one last curious glance, wondering how some people could be so open and friendly like that. To strangers, no less. Naruto was much the same way. Gaara too, actually. Though a lot more quiet and under the surface.
He puts the rice in the bag slung across his hip, zipping it and trying to remember if he needed anything else.
After deciding his list has been taken care of, Sasuke is about to head into another bookstore when he spots Gaara. He's trailing Kankuro and Temari, looking far away as his siblings bicker at the market stalls. Sasuke can't hear them, but Gaara looks completely checked out either way.
Sasuke doesn't give much thought to what he does next.
"Gaara!" He whispers. Thankfully the marketplace isn't too busy, and the man actually hears him.
Gaara turns, brows furrowed in confusion as he looks for the source of the voice. When he spots Sasuke, he brightens a bit. Sasuke feels himself have a similar reaction. Gaara gestures to his siblings, then seems to mouth 'hang on' before he waits until they've both turned their backs.
Gaara slips away from them and quickly ducks into the bookstore alongside him, peering out the window in the door to make sure he made it away unnoticed. They continue to bicker, oblivious to their little brother's absence for the moment.
Gaara sighs in relief.
They're pressed close - crammed in the entranced of the small bookstore, shoulder to shoulder. Sasuke's heart starts to pound, though he isn't too sure why.
"You looked like you could use some help." Sasuke says. Gaara gives him a small smile, looking up at him.
"Thanks. They were bickering about dogs , if you can believe it. I thought I was going to lose my mind."
Sasuke smiles a bit, "I guess it's a good thing I came long then."
Gaara gives him his own small smile for that, and Sasuke feels a lot less tired than he was before he came along.
"Yes. It is." Gaara says. Sasuke feels his face color.
He forces himself to say the first thing that comes to mind so Gaara doesn't notice.
"I was…looking for more books," Sasuke says, holding up the volume in his hand, "Do you want to-"
Gaara nods, "Of course."
Then something passes in Gaara's eyes.
"Are you alright?" He asks, "Have you been sleeping?"
"A bit better, actually." Sasuke says, "You?"
"I can say the same, thankfully."
"Good."
They wander the shop for a bit, reading the backs of books and comparing favorites until they're sure that Gaara's siblings are no longer outside the store, then they slip out and down the street.
They don't really have a destination in mind, they simply walk and make conversation, enjoying each other's company.
Gaara stops them as they move to turn down another market strip, pointing to two figures in the distance.
"Kankuro and Temari." Gaara says, peering around the corner. His siblings are clearly looking for him, eyes scanning the crowd and turning every which way.
Without a thought Sasuke takes his sleeve and pulls him down another street, evading the pair looking for their little brother.
When they're far enough away they slow down, back to simply wandering about. Sasuke's eyes catch on an unfamiliar structure.
"What's that?" He asks, looking at a very, very green building. He doesn't remember the ANBU telling him about that place during his tour before he moved in.
"Oh, Rock Lee's dojo." Gaara says, sounding proud, "He's opened them all over the hidden villages. I'm told the people like it."
Sasuke blinks at the building. He hasn't even thought about his former classmates in ages.
"Hn." Sasuke looks at the building, unsure what to feel. Rock Lee, huh?
"That's...good."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah I…" Sasuke trails off, unsure what to say for a moment, until he gathers his thoughts, watching people come in and out of the building, "I'm guessing it's popular."
"I can't say I spend much time here, so I'm not sure. Kankuro oversaw the construction and business dealings on Lee's behalf. He's here more often than I am." Gaara says, "Taijutsu isn't a particularly strong skill of mine."
Sasuke looks at the building, eyes scanning the ornate green dragon on the door, "You still use mostly ninjutsu, don't you?"
Gaara nods, "Yes. It's what I've always been more comfortable with."
"You should still learn, though. Just in case something happens to your sand." Sasuke says.
"Lee offered to train me, but as much as I enjoy Lee's company, I'm sure his training would probably be intense enough to kill me." Gaara says, looking troubled.
"I'll train you." Sasuke says, with little thought. What was there to think about? Gaara needed to learn a skill and Sasuke knew that skill very well.
Plus, he remembers Gaara trying to throw a punch when they were children and he can't say he's not a little worried.
"W-really?" Gaara asks, "You don't have to, Sasuke. It's fine-"
"That's something you should know." Sasuke says, "To keep yourself safe if anything happens."
"Yes, but-" Gaara seems to flounder for a second, thinking of what to say, "I really don't have any affinity for it…"
"All the more reason to practice, isn't it?"
"I...suppose you're right." He says, "But I will warn you, I'm a terrible student and I can't take direction."
"I once had to teach Naruto how to filter water on a mission when we were twelve." Sasuke says gravely, "Nothing can be worse than that, I assure you."
Gaara gives him a sympathetic look, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
"Thank you. That day was one tragedy after another." He deadpans.
Gaara lets out a small laugh, and Sasuke smiles, just a bit. It's nice to be able to make light of things with Gaara. As much as he enjoys their more intense talks, he also likes...this, just talking about nothing serious at all. It came just as easily to them.
"Fine. I'll attempt to learn taijutsu again. Just don't be too appalled when I'm as terrible at it as I remember." Gaara says.
"I doubt you're as bad as you think."
After almost running into Gaara's siblings on two other streets, Sasuke suggests they hide out in his apartment. He doesn't know what makes him suggest it, but he reasons that they won't catch them there, so why not?
Gaara agrees, clearly thinking the same, and they make their way to Sasuke's corner of the residential district. Gaara looks over the books Sasuke bought that day, and before they know it Sasuke's leading him up the familiar steps and rummaging around for his keys.
Sasuke unlocks the door and steps aside, letting Gaara inside.
The omega looks around, and Sasuke tries not to stare or feel too nervous.
"You say you need help picking things out, but you seem to be doing just fine." Gaara says, eyes roaming the furniture, "You do like blue."
"Is it too much?" Sasuke asks, frowning.
"No. Not at all. It's very nice. But most importantly," Gaara says, "Do you like it?"
"I think so."
"Then it's perfect." Gaara tells him. Sasuke thinks that over and decides it...makes sense. He is the one who lives here.
"I don't know what to do if Sarada hates it, though." Sasuke says, dumping his bag on the couch.
"I don't think she's really going to really be invested in that, Sasuke." Gaara assures him with a small smile, "I'm sure she'll be more occupied with spending time with her father."
Sasuke supposed that made more sense. Maybe he's just nervous at the prospect of his daughter rejecting him, or feeling like she couldn't be comfortable here. Too unlike her mother's home for her to really be at ease.
"What if she doesn't like living with me?" He wonders aloud, "Why would she? I barely-"
"Sasuke." Gaara says, suddenly in front of him and looking up at him with a steady gaze, placing hands on his shoulders to ground him, "You're overthinking it. It's okay."
Sasuke pauses, Gaara's touch calming him.
"She'll be happy to spend time with her father. Trust me. She won't be thinking about the apartment. Breathe. You're doing fine." Gaara tells him, giving him another reassuring smile.
Sasuke takes a breath. Right. Right.
"Besides." Gaara says, turning back to the space, "You did well. It looks like a home. She'll be comfortable here."
"Thanks." He says, "Though you did help."
"Only a bit." He concedes.
"You can sit wherever you want." Sasuke says, realizing that Gaara is the first person he's had over since he got here. It was fitting, he supposed.
Gaara's sand quickly removes the kunai hidden under the chair he sits on, obviously deeming the weapon too dangerous to be near the redhead. The sand immediately moves it to the counter and out of the Kazekage's reach.
Sasuke picks it up, looking at the sand that swirls around the Kazekage.
Interesting. At least Gaara's shield was thorough. Sasuke doubts Gaara even knew it was there, but his sand obviously did.
"Sorry. My shield can be a bit too overprotective sometimes."
"It's fine. I'll hide it somewhere else."
"Hide it?" Gaara asks.
"They're hidden around the house." Sasuke says, "Just in case."
Gaara nods, understanding on his face though he frowns after a moment, "You know you don't have to do that. You're safe, Sasuke."
"Until I'm not." He says simply.
"Well, yes. That is technically true, but…" Gaara stops for a moment, thinking, "Oh. Is - no one here is bothering you, right Sasuke?"
He's confused for a moment until he realizes Gaara's asking if anyone here is hurting him - the Kazekage's response to Sasuke's constant vigilance and weapons hidden around his home. He probably thought Sasuke was being threatened by someone and just not saying anything about it.
"Oh. No." Sasuke shakes his head, hair falling in his face, "Everything's okay."
Once again, Gaara is concerned for him and Sasuke isn't completely sure what to do with it, but it's progressively getting easier to accept that the redhead clearly cares about him, and what that means. It meant that he would want to know if someone here was making Sasuke uncomfortable.
The Kazekage had nothing to worry about, but Sasuke finds himself appreciating the consideration anyway.
"You're sure?"
And there it is again.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sasuke says, flushing the slightest bit, "It's nothing like that. Really. Just...habits, I guess."
"Alright." Gaara says, accepting as usual, "I understand that. If it makes you feel safe then I suppose I have nothing to worry about."
Sasuke nods and then looks away, trying to convince himself that he's not trying to hide his red face behind his hair even though he definitely is.
"Thanks for...caring enough to ask, though." He says quietly, face reddening further.
"Of course." Gaara says.
And that's the end of it.
The thought that Gaara worries about him makes that place in his chest tighten and squeeze, and he doesn't know how to respond to it.
Sasuke appreciates the inherent trust Gaara seems to have in him, though. Gaara helped Sasuke a lot, but it was like he didn't doubt that Sasuke was completely capable of taking care of himself as well. Even when he didn't fully understand, Gaara didn't tell him he was wrong. If that was how he felt comfortable, Gaara accepted it.
They move on to talking about books once more as they get settled on Sasuke's couch before the cat finally wakes from whatever corner of the house she's been sleeping in and wanders over to Gaara, meowing for attention.
"She's cute." Gaara says, patting the cat's head. The feline immediately reaches for his hand with her paws and pushes her head back into his palm, wanting more head pats.
"A little nuisance, more like." Sasuke says, raising an eyebrow at the cat. She leaps into Gaara's arms, looking happy with the attention.
"Have you named her yet?"
"I thought I'd let Sarada pick."
"She'd like that."
"I thought so."
"From the stories you tell I expected a little hellraiser." Gaara says, scratching the cat behind the ears, "Not this affectionate little thing."
"She's only acting like an angel because you're here." Sasuke says, "Usually she's on the counter trying to get into the cabinets."
"Really? But she seems so sweet." Gaara says, and the cat blinks big black eyes up at the Kazekage before she snuggles back into his arms, starting to purr.
Sasuke narrows his eyes at the ball of fur (and maybe he's slightly jealous of the feline, but he doesn't think about it) and frowns.
Sasuke gently pokes at the cat's nose, "Don't pretend to be so innocent. He already knows how you chew the curtains and go through the trash can."
She only sneezes in response.
Gaara laughs again, and Sasuke finds himself smiling a bit.
They read at Sasuke's place for a bit, sitting close on the couch with the cat between them. Sometimes their hands touch as they pet her, and Sasuke shoves his face in his book to hide the heat that explodes in his face each time.
He notices that no matter how many times their hands touch, neither of them stop or react. The cat is just thrilled to get so many back scratches, and refuses to move.
Gaara offers to make them dinner once the sun goes down. Sasuke doesn't mind that at all, and so he trails Gaara around the kitchen helping with whatever the omega tasks him with.
They make miso soup and noodles, side by side as they move around the kitchen, talking.
Sasuke makes sure the water doesn't bubble over and tells Gaara about the nosy-but-well-meaning shopkeeper he met today. Gaara chops the vegetables and tells him about what Kankuro and Temari were bickering about, sounding fondly exasperated.
The smell of warm food and easy, light-hearted conversation makes the house feel a bit more comfortable. This might be the most comfortable he's felt in this apartment since he got here.
Something about being side by side with Gaara relaxes him, and makes it all feel...easy, somehow.
Sasuke isn't sure how to articulate it, but it's...good.
The cat darts around their feet as they set Sasuke's small table, and Gaara waves the little thing away from the soup, smiling lightly. They sit down to eat, continuing their conversation as they give in and feed her scraps from the table.
They take care of the dishes together, side by side. Gaara washes and Sasuke dries as the cat lounges on the counter next to them, lazily pawing at the soap suds.
When they finish they spend some time just entertaining the cat with the mouse toy Sasuke bought her that day and talking until the sun sets completely and the village lanterns are lit. They're in the middle of discussing some immigration plans Gaara's working on when they're interrupted.
The knock at the door is a surprise, but Gaara just frowns at the scent he can pick up from behind the door. It's not one Sasuke recognizes, but Gaara seems to. He goes right up to the door and looks through the peephole.
"ANBU." He says, opening it. Sasuke wanders closer, curious.
The woman is tall, and bows to the Kazekage before she speaks.
"Lord Gaara. We've finally located you. Lady Temari and Lord Kankuro were worried."
Gaara frowns, "Why? I'm an adult. I'm fine."
"They would still like for you to stay close, sir."
Gaara sighs quietly, "I suppose I've been caught now." He turns to Sasuke, looking somewhat flushed, "I should probably get back before Temari and Kankuro start knocking on doors themselves." Gaara says.
"I'll walk you home." Sasuke offers.
"You don't have to if-"
Sasuke shakes his head, "It's dark. I should walk you home."
Gaara's face goes a bit pink, "I would like that. Thank you."
Gaara pets the cat once more before he leaves, smiling gently as she paws at his leg.
The Kazekage mansion is only a short walk, and far too soon for either of their liking they're at Gaara's front door, about to say goodbye.
"This was nice. Thank you for today." Gaara says.
Sasuke flushes, "Sure. Yeah, it was nice."
"Have a good night. Be careful getting home."
"You too. Thanks."
His sister throws open the door before Gaara can even touch the handle, looking ruffled and worried until she lays eyes on her brother looking up at her.
"Gaara! Where have you been?!" Temari fusses, "You've been gone for hours! We went crazy looking for you-"
She scolds him until her eyes land on Sasuke, who stands behind her brother. The Uchiha gives her an awkward little wave, and she pauses.
"...oh. That explains it. Hey, Sasuke."
Kankuro appears next to her, "Oh. I knew it."
Gaara's face goes pink, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Temari raises an eyebrow, "It means I should've guessed you two snuck away together."
"You and Kankuro were annoying me." Gaara says, stepping inside before turning back to Sasuke.
"Good night. See you soon?"
"Yeah, of course." The Uchiha nods.
Sasuke gives him a wave and a small smile, nodding to Temari and Kankuro and turning to leave.
Temari watches him go before turning to her brother, who places his coat on the back of a chair and begins to pick up Shinki's toys that lay scattered about the carpet.
"So where were you two, anyway?" Kankuro asks.
"Sasuke's apartment." Gaara says simply, tossing a toy truck into his son's toy chest. Temari raises her eyebrows, putting a hand on her hip. Kankuro looks like he swallowed a lemon. Temari ignores him.
Kankuro always became such an obvious big brother whenever Gaara wandered off, and especially now that he's hearing that his little brother was at an alpha's apartment. No matter how old Gaara got they'd always flip whenever he wasn't in their sights. It was in their nature.
"His place, huh?" She says, sneaking a glance at her little brother's neck.
Unbonded. No bite mark. That was good.
A bite would complicate things. And well...
Well, maybe it wouldn't come to that. Maybe they were just close friends. Close friends who went on dates without knowing they were dates.
She frowns. Who is she kidding? Just because Gaara is oblivious doesn't mean she is.
Temari watches her brother unpack his things from the shops for the day, looking more settled than she's seen him in a while.
For some reason it was like those two were hitting all the boxes for obviously dating without knowing it. She frowns, amazed at how oblivious two people could be. It was impressive, really. If a bit worrying. She knew her brother was a bit socially ungraceful and missed a lot of social cues, but he really didn't see what he and Sasuke were doing wasn't necessarily what friends did.
Friends didn't go on dates multiple times a week. She knew Gaara left to see Sasuke a few nights ago, too. He didn't come back until early morning, smelling like the alpha. They were always finding ways to see each other. Sometimes multiple times a day. Temari took to checking Gaara's neck for any mating marks, just in case.
Friends didn't look at each other how those two did.
No, they weren't just friends. Whether either of them knew that or not.
"So what did you two do today?" She asks casually, taking a sip of tea. Her brother begins to talk, innocent and unaware of how his words come across.
"...went to a few places in town, talked a bit, then went to Sasuke's apartment and made dinner. Why?"
So, a date. Another one.
She shrugs, trying to play it off as harmless curiousity, "Just asking. Seems like you had a good time."
Her brother's scent goes sweet, content.
"I did."
Temari and Kankuro share a look, before looking back at their little brother.
"That sounds nice." Temari says.
"Oh, uh-" Kankuro starts, rubbing the back of his neck before pointing to an assortment of flowers on the kotatsu.
Temari watches Gaara's eyes land on the bouquet, confusion clear on his face. Oh yeah, she'd almost forgotten about that.
"Shira left those for you."
Gaara frowns.
"Flowers?" He asks, rising from his place on the floor and making his way to the vase. He picks it up and examines it, checking the card. He reads it and goes red in the face, frowning deeper.
'Blossoms as beautiful as you.'
Temari watches her brother's face change from confusion to discomfort.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." Gaara says quickly, crumbling the card, "Why did he leave these? Did he say anything?"
"Not really, he just asked the guards where you were and then asked them to deliver it." Kankuro says, "When I came back from my workshop it was just sitting here."
"Why is he always doing such strange things?" Gaara murmurs.
Temari and Kankuro share another look. The man had been chasing their brother for a while, but it's like Gaara didn't even notice what the alpha was doing.
Their brother was painfully oblivious of any and all romantic advances toward him. They'd seen Gaara bluntly disregard alphas completely innocently, not fully understanding (or trying to understand) why they wanted to be so close to him. Maybe Gaara had some idea, but not much. He didn't seem to care. He treated alphas who were drooling over him just as distantly polite as he did everyone else, never batting an eyelash at their advances, if he noticed at all.
"Maybe he likes you." Temari offers. Gaara just blinks at her.
"I would assume he does. We work together every day. I just don't really understand why he's trying so hard to be my friend. I'm his boss, nothing more. It's a breach of quite a few workplace guidelines, I'm sure."
Temari sighs, rolling her eyes, "I don't mean like that, Gaara. And I think you know that, deep down."
"Then what?"
Gaara sets the vase down, going back to putting Shinki's toys away.
She sighs and Kankuro rubs a hand over his face, sighing, "Oh, nevermind."
Sasuke's apartment smells like Gaara, and the last thing he thinks before he falls asleep is that he wished it did all the time.
