Midmorning found Lee standing at the refrigerator in his kitchen, staring pensively into the chilled interior. Sports drinks, health drinks, water bottles and health food lined the shelves. After a moment passed, he closed a hand around one of the eggs that he kept in the built-in holder in the door. In his other hand, he grabbed two bottles of water and turned, aiming to step to the counter. He made a move to close the fridge door with his foot; he slipped in the process of doing this. He would've caught himself, had sand not stopped his rapid descent to the floor. He found himself set gently back on his feet, the sand disappearing to the doorway of the kitchen.
"Gaara." Lee smiled, walking the remaining foot to the counter. He didn't look at the sand-nin as he reached up for the bowls, but a smile played over his lips.
He jumped with a hand found his still-bare side; the shinobi looked down at Gaara, the younger man not only slimmer but shorter as well. A question danced across his features, his brows furrowing.
"I just…" Gaara started, his voice soft and halted, "I wanted to make sure that you were real."
With a smile, Lee closed his hand around Gaara's, still on his side.
"I'm real enough." He chuckled, leaning forward to kiss the redhead's forehead. The younger man cringed, leaning away a instant, and then responding to Lee with a weak smile. Lee shook his head slightly.
"Gaara…I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know…" Jade eyes glanced away, and then slowly returned to Lee's face, "I'm just not used to anyone touching me."
"Ah, well…" strong arms snaked around Gaara's waist, the bowl that Lee had been holding forgotten on the counter, "It's not all that bad. Physical contact."
Gaara went rigid, before relaxing against Lee, his motions still tentative, "I'm just…"
Lee moved to put a finger to Gaara's lips, "shh. I know you've wondered what it feels like. The warmth of someone else's skin, someone's embrace." Lee laughed, "just enjoy this, I won't let anything happen to you."
With a slight grumble, Gaara let his head rest against Lee's shoulder, uncertain. It was a moment before he broke the silence.
"Someone told me they loved me a long time ago. But I think that even they were afraid to touch me." The sand-nin's voice was soft, his breath warm against Lee's skin when he spoke, "I can't understand why you don't fear me. Why you haven't realized what a disgusting monster I am and pushed me away."
Lee tightened am arm around Gaara's waist, shifting to twine his fingers in soft red hair, "It's because…I don't know either. You don't frighten me. At one point in time, I would have said that you scared me, perhaps. But you seem too…simply too beautiful. I believe that had you been treated differently when you were younger, you never would've formed such a wall around yourself. A chrysalis of sorts, one that you've never come out of."
Lee paused to sigh into Gaara's dusky hair, breathing in the warm scent of the desert and exotic spices, "Maybe you'll let me help you. Let me help you break through and become the wonder that I know you are."
Gaara's hands tensed on Lee's back, "but…I'd still be myself. Hideous."
"A friend of mine once told me that caterpillars are always disgusting looking, but they always turn into beautiful butterflies." Lee chuckled, shifting away from Gaara, loosening his grip on the younger man. He turned back to the counter, pausing to tuck a thumb under Gaara's chin, smiling into his eyes.
Gaara returned the smile with his usual stony look, until Lee darted forward to catch his lips in a quick kiss.
And this time, he didn't flinch away.
Authors Note: I'd like to say thanks to everyone who's left reviews on this story. It's really, really encouraging to know that there's people out here who love my work—I love all of you. Ah, I'm also wondering if anyone wants to do fanart for this (since I'll be doing some pictures for it myself). I'd be overjoyed to see art of my story. Well, anyhow…I basically wanted to say how grateful I am for all of your support. I haven't gotten a single flame for this, something that I'm kinda surprised at! But…I'll continue to work hard and bring you more of this story. I know that this chapter didn't have much—it was basically for the purpose of Lee's speech about the whole butterfly thing. I do hope that you enjoy. Ah, and if you can tell what friend it is that told Lee about the bugs, you get an e-cookie. XD