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Typical Friendship
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So he saved his life, after he'd almost given him a fate worse than death.
But that was the shinobi way, and so later Gaara found himself saddled with a tearfully grateful Lee and a foreign concept called friendship. Whatever blankly indifferent stare would be countered by an unabashed flash of grinning teeth, every monosyllable reply defeated by fanatic enthusiasm. The fact that it'd been an order played no note in the lucridious harmonics of Lee's mind- even after Gaara's blunt statements- and his sand siblings were included in the impromptu mini celebration Lee held. It was vaguely awkward on the guests' part, as if they weren't quite sure why they were there and were instinctively suspicious of the unnaturally friendly overture, but only Lee could have pulled it off.
Only Lee would have managed to try to thump the blood-haired prodigy on the back as a friendly gesture, and not ended up spending the rest of the week admiring the paint job of the ceiling in a hospital ward. Eventually even the sand decided to ignore all the friendly thumps and whacks Lee seemed obliged to grace his nearest companion- usually Gaara, of all people, nowadays- when he was caught up in the Springtime of his Youth. The young sand nin was mildly dismayed when he found even his natural defense had abandoned him to the likes of Lee.
Truth to be told, Gaara didn't understand what was happening. No one would have foreseen the unlikely and strange friendship between the two- their characters clashed almost as loudly as the green suit and the crimson hair. But everyone encouraged it as much as they could- Temari and Kankuro almost desperate in their attempts to sweet talk an oblivious Lee. Because for the exuberant taijutsu specialist, there was nothing underhand about his attempts of friendship. It was simple, sincere and unerringly steadfast, like almost everything he did- he'd conveniently forgotten to who he owed his near-fatal injury in the light of Gaara saving his life. To the Konoha genin brought up on tales of comradeship and loyalty by Maito Gai himself- in his mind, he practically owed his unlikely savior his support, at the very least. And Rock Lee never did anything at its minimum.
A strange sight they made, and one of them was a touchy one regarding curious stares, so everyone made sure not to notice them walking down the streets when they did. In fact, they were so good at not noticing them that it became an unwritten rule- sunday crowds parted like waves for them in the busy Konoha market, with every head determinedly looking at everything but them, especially the one with the gourd. No one wanted that misunderstanding of What Are You Looking At to happen again.
The accused, with the exception of Naruto and Lee, was quite possibly the only one who didn't know the whole of Konoha (and the Sand village) was secretly rooting for the continuation of their friendship. After trying and failing to shake off his sudden self-proclaimed Best Friend, the shorter boy had resigned himself to having a disturbingly green second shadow. It was... not as bad as it'd seemed at first. His infamous short temper was lost to Lee, where the hardening of eyes, stiffening of body and subtle whatnots usually just meant a greater burst of energy from Lee, all directed to cheering him up. But somehow being actually physically violent towards him was... not an option. Lee trusted him. Really trusted him. As a friend. And through all the exuberant yelling in his ear, he had never once mentioned what Gaara had done in the past.
It was a strange feeling, Gaara decided later, in his usual insomniac night when it was too early to be really called morning. But he'd felt worse in life, and acceptance... was far from the most unpleasant.
It wasn't all friendship and happy endings from there, of course. Years of bitter isolation and having a crazed demon half in control perpetually wasn't the best of places to start. But the upcoming successor to the Green Beast of Konoha turned out to be, ironically, the perfect companion for Gaara. Instinctive walls of defensiveness and crumbled before the sheer sincerity of Lee's tirades. Despite the young sand nin's socially handicapped skills, there weren't any awkward silences in their conversations- not that either would have thought it was awkward if there were- since Lee did most of the talking. Lee found quite possibly the only person in living in Konoha that didn't throw him out when he knocked on his door at five in the morning. Eventually, he found himself opening his door at four thirty and finding Gaara already calmly waiting outside. And for the Sand's weapon, he would find someone who genuinely fought him and told him seriously in his face that he was crazy for not liking dango.
Not the most perfect relationship in Konoha, but it didn't mean it wasn't any better. It couldn't last because impossible things can't last but both didn't know what impossible meant and so it would. If they were outcasts in their own ways then what better way to be misunderstood together, and have someone to be understood by? Later, Gaara would learn how to laugh and Lee would realize things said calmly could have a better effect than promising impossible challenges. Later, a two way conversation would be a possibility and trust would be a given. Later, the headaches and bloodlust would come back (because they never really went away) and Temari would find herself screaming for Lee. And when it's over, Gaara would find that his sand didn't make him invincible and whatever debt Lee felt he owed him would be repayed a hundredfold.
But for now, friendship was just another duty to be done and a old longing to be explored. But both were starved for acknowledgment in different ways, and what each knew how to give would be what the other needed, so for now, that was also okay.
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because you're weird, like me/ am not / yeah, whatever
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So I finally succumbed to the calling of manga, and was halfway through chapt 215 when Gaara appeared to save Lee. For some reason, I cracked up, and this thing practically wrote itself. Scary thought, that. After I was done, I suddenly realized: Oh damn. I hope Gaara did save Lee ('cos I hadn't read 216 yet) or this whole thing is screwed. But heck, here's what happens when random inspiration strikes and I write on crack.
... I should really try to concentrate on that sasusaku fic now.
Thank you to all who reviewed, especially dobyuk princess who is a wonderful reviewer. ::hugs:: Comments greatly appreciated, requests taken, per usual.