disclaimer: I may own this one-shot, but Naruto isn't mine. cries a river of tears

To Keep You Safe

Lee was excited when he heard Gaara was returning to Konoha. Of course, he remembered that the sand shinobi tried to kill him, and he just barely survived that operation, but he also knew that the sand demon within him was under control. "I hope his flames of youth are still shining brightly," he commented to his teacher.

"I'm sure his are, my youthful pupil," Gai-sensei grinned at his student, his teeth flashing and him giving a thumbs-up--the "good guy pose".

Lee trained and waited, as days went by, for Gaara and his siblings to arrive to Konoha. Finally, they arrived on the third day.

Lee's hands were badly scratched, and he was busily bandaging them up. Gaara was watching frum up the tree, but Lee was oblivious to this. The young red head watched as the Leaf Shinobi wrapped his bleeding hand. He jumped down from the tree, landing behind Lee, startling said ninja.

"Why do you train so hard?" he asked, gazing at Lee's newly wrapped hands.

Lee followed Gaara's gaze to his hands, and smiled. "I have to be the best I am able to be," he replied. "Then, I'll be able to live without regrets."
Gaara's eyes looked down, ashamed. "I've killed so many people," he whispered, barely audio. "I used to believe I lived only to kill people other than myself, but-" A pair of arms wrapped themselves around the Sand-nin as tears began to fall from his eyes.

"Shh," Lee cooed sofly, holding Gaara against himself as he felt Gaara cry against his chest. "Things will get better." Lee began rubbing circles on the younger's back. Soon enough, he began rocking Gaara slowly, sid to side, as he comforted his weeping friend, whispering encouraging words into Gaara's ear.

Once the sobs died down, Gaara found himself in Lee's embrace, sitting in the taijutsu-specialist's lap, with his head tucked under the darker-haired nin's chin. He glanced up, green eyes locking with black, before snuggling closer to Lee, sighing contently as he began to doze. (A/N: You can't really call it sleep, can you?)

Lee chuckled softly, before placing a kiss on Gaara's forehead. "And as long as I am able," he whispered, "I'll train to keep you safe, from other nins, and the demons who dare try to hurt you."