Gaara's arms were draped loosely around Naruto's shoulders. He released a sigh then leaned forward resting his forehead heavily on the blonde's lean chest.

Naruto gasped in distress as his body instantly filled with tension. His eyes became glazed over and his vision blurred in front of him. He could feel himself slipping into flashbacks. Beginning to panic his heart rate sped up along with his breathing.

No, no, no, no, no…

"Naruto?" Gaara picked his head up to see what was causing Naruto to panic.

When Naruto showed no kind of reaction Gaara leaned back a bit and looked beseechingly at the blonde, "Naruto?" he asked again and stared in shock as the boy began chanting. The blonde appeared clammy as sweat ran down his face and his breathing became more and more labored.

"No…..no…. no...No, no, no, no!"

Not again…

Naruto, it's only Gaara, the Kazekage, your friend.

Naruto completely disregarded the demon in his head and fell back into memories for the second time since his encounter: Rough hands, swift movements, dead eyes. He remembered the pain that shot up his spine, the blood that ran down his legs. He could clearly see Sasuke as he leaned against the blonde's wall with arrogance. He could feel the bindings tugging at his skin, and the smell of his fear tainting the air.

"Sasuke… please… don't…" Naruto whimpered quietly. Gaara stared in shock and felt a myriad of emotions lighting up his body. He didn't know what to focus on, he felt concerned, angry, and confused all at the same time. He reached forward again to touch Naruto's shoulder but was denied. Naruto pulled away sharply and stared at Gaara with fearful eyes seeing straight through him.

"Leave me alone! Please, don't do this to me…"

Gaara felt anger rise in his stomach. So my assumptions of Sasuke were correct. That sick little-

Gaara shook himself from his thoughts and tried to focus on how he should approach Naruto to get him out of his thoughts. "Naruto?" He called softly.

"-ruto?"

Sasuke stalked over to him on the bed. His voice was so cold. His hits stung more than he'd ever imagined they could.

"Naruto?"

Sasuke's face wavered because of a foreign voice. Is someone calling me?

"Naruto."

Perhaps an angel has finally come to save me.

No.

Sasuke laughed harshly at his handicapped victim.

That's not right.

Every snap of Sasuke's hips resonated through Naruto's skull.

No angel would save the likes of me. I'm not worth it.

Gaara watched as Naruto's expression turned even more inclusive. "Shit!" He groaned to himself. He ran his hands through his hair trying to clear his head.

Kit! Kyuubi bellowed in his mind.

You sound angry, my demon.

Would you listen to yourself? Self-pity will get you nowhere!

Naruto visibly flinched and tears ran down his face slowly.

No! What I meant was-

I know what you meant Kyuubi and you're right, I'm just-

Wait! Let me speak!

…alright.

You can't bottle this up inside Naruto. You're suffering and you need to let it out. There's no way that you can go on like this. You were ra-violated a few days ago; you should be weeping, not acting apathetic.

But-

No buts! You have people who are worried about you. Kakashi, Sakura, Lee, Temari, Tsunade, they're all there for you. Not to mention Gaara. Didn't you hear what he said to you Naruto?

Gaara pulled closer to the Jinchuuriki and focused on his body language. His muscles were tense, expression blank, and back stiff as a board. Maybe he could shock him out of his trance? He reached forward and stroked his cheek lovingly. Naruto, what am I to do? Is this my fault?

Naruto gasped. Does he m-mean it though Kyuubi?

Kyuubi chuckled. Boy, I'm just a demon in your body, how would I know that?

Well... I just thought that maybe you had some sixth sense or something…

No, nothing like that. But, I am sure that he's been sincere with you, Naruto.

T-thank you.

Of course. Now go let him know what's going on. I expect you to stop holding things in. If you don't change we'll have serious issues down the line, boy.

Gaara felt dazed as Naruto's expression began to soften slightly. He was not prepared when the other male jumped forward and clung to him in desperation. They both fell to the floor and Naruto climbed into the Kazekage's lap sobbing. The redhead sat up quickly and pulled Naruto into his arms and against his chest.

"Naruto? Hey, what on earth, please let me know that you're okay?"

Naruto nuzzled into his shirt and cried freely. He found it hard to try and make sentences but anyway.

"G-Gaara, I'm s-s-so scared… I don't-t know what I-I should do."

Gaara felt awkward being the one to comfort the wounded but tried his best anyway. He began rubbing soothing circles on Naruto's back and stroked his hair gently.

"Shhh, it's alright Naruto. You have no reason to be in fear; I will stand between you and anything that wishes to harm you in any way." Gaara felt his anger rising again at the thought of Sasuke hurting Naruto the way he had. Sand began to unconsciously swirl throughout the room at an alarming rate. Sand climbed up the walls and scrapped angrily against every surface of the room.

"G-Gaara, are you alright?" Naruto leaned away slightly and watched amazed as the sand created tiny twisters around them.

Gaara quickly pulled himself together and the sand halted all movement. "Pardon me, Naruto. It seems I can't keep my anger in check."

"Anger?" Naruto asked curiously.

"I can deduce what happened before you came to Suna, Naruto. Sasuke will pay dearly." Gaara growled. Sand again ran across the floors but Gaara no longer tried to stop it from its raging.

Naruto shuddered against Gaara's frame and leaned against him again. "I-I…"

Gaara pulled him more firmly against his chest and set his chin on top of his head. "I know Naruto, I know. You can tell me what you need to, when you need to. For now I just want you to feel more comfortable."

Naruto continued to fight internally against his desire to let Gaara in completely. He'd never locked anybody out to this extent. Yes, he did tend to keep most people at arm's length. But, this was very different. This was Gaara. And right now he wanted to bear all to the redhead holding him comfortingly in his embrace.

Just let go. The demon grumbled almost tenderly.

A-alright, Kyuubi.

Naruto nodded softly against Gaara's firm chest and leaned almost all of his weight on the other male. Sobbing quietly he burrowed further against the soothing warmth around him as his hair was stroked lovingly.

Gaara chuckled almost silently to himself.

I can't believe Naruto has gotten so far under my skin. He's the only one I've ever opened up to like this… The only person I've ever held in any capacity that I can remember since I was merely a child. And we're only friends. At least… as of now… But, I do wonder if-

The sand wielder looked down at the blonde in his arms pondering the thought briefly.

I'll leave that alone for now. I'm sure he doesn't want to talk about anything like... Not now, if ever...

"Naruto?" Gaara whispered, "How long has it been since you've properly slept?"

Naruto pulled away from Gaara's chest and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He yawned suddenly and a slight blush graced his whiskered cheeks at the irony in the action. "Um... well let me think. So, S-Sasuke started appearing in the village about two months ago and he showed up at my h-home four nights ago. I haven't really slept more than a couple hours a night since that... And not a whole lot better the last couple months..."

Gaara growled low in his throat but, pushed his anger aside.

"Alright, would you care to sleep in my bed? Being the Kazekage, I've got the finest bedding and most comfortable mattress in the village. It's quite amazing; I hadn't been able to fully appreciate that until after Shukaku was removed."

The blonde pulled away from Gaara's grasp and shook his head blushing brightly.

"Oh no, I couldn't. You just said yourself that you never got to enjoy the comfort of a good bed for years. The bed in my room is just fine. Besides, I wouldn't want to impose..." Naruto turned his head to the right and scratched the back of his head. He cast his eyes down avoiding the redhead's gaze.

Chuckling loud enough for Naruto to hear him, the ex-vessel reached down and grabbed Naruto's chin between his right thumb and pointer finger.

"Look at me." Gaara spoke softly while guiding the other by the chin to turn his eyes upwards and make direct eye contact once again.

"There's no imposition in these circumstances. I offered you my bed. If you would be more comfortable, I'll be sure to leave. I do not need the sleep as much as you obviously do."

Naruto stared up at Gaara in amazement. Opening his mouth he tried to respond but, found he had no words prepared. Instead he simply stared at Gaara with his mouth open. Unconsciously he began to stare at the other's rosy lips before returning back to his eyes.

"Um, I… you d-don't have to leave. I'd like your company tonight..."

Gaara shone a small but very real smile at the blonde. He'd honestly been expecting more resistance from the stubborn blonde before him. He gently let go of his chin and stood up keeping his arms wrapped tightly around Naruto's waist.

The kitsune yawned quietly in Gaara's arms causing the redhead to chuckle softly. "I told you that you needed the sleep."

Naruto laughed and a little bit of his former self began to show in his expression again, "You know I don't care to do as I'm told, Gaara."

Gaara chuckled softly again. He subconsiously felt very exposed because of his recent displays of emotion.

You're the only one who gets to see me like this, Naruto.

Ignoring his unease he began leading the blonde in his arms to the luscious bed. Gaara looked down at the male who seemed to be literally falling asleep in his arms. Gently he coaxed the blonde up and under the covers. He swiveled to turn off the lights and Naruto's hand reached out grabbing his robes tightly.

"G-gaa-ra, please stay with-" Naruto's words were lost as he began drifting in and out of sleep.

Gaara pulled his fist gently off of his robes and quickly removed and folded his clothes into the laundry bin in the corner of the room. Clad only in his boxers he flipped off the lights and walked back over to his four-poster bed, slipping under the covers with Naruto. In response Naruto smiled softly and pushed himself as close to Gaara as he could get without being a part of him.

Gaara smiled down at the male who was now pressed flush against his chest. He closed his eyes slowly and felt the loving touch of sleep grace him.

Yay! Chapter six! Next chapter we'll find out why Naruto's REALLY in Suna ^.^ Thanks to all of the people who've stayed reading my *first* story. Reviews make me a happy writer!

*Update Dec 10, 2020