Gaara lay in bed silently next to the blonde Jinchuuriki. He was deep in thought, analyzing his every thought that he had ever had that pertained to said blonde. The redhead had done the same thing many times before. His feelings surrounding the blonde confused him tremendously still. He knew he was his friend but he was also so much more than that to Gaara. He'd saved him in so many ways; he'd saved him from himself, from the darkness, from his loneliness, from his demon, and from the Akatsuki. He'd saved him from death. Both a physical one and a spiritual one deep within his soul. He understood his pain more than any other person ever could. He knew the pain of being a demon vessel. He knew the pain of being shunned, an outcast. But they had both dealt with it in very different ways. Naruto showed him the light. They were like polar opposites in some ways and yet, they were the same in so many others.
Overall, Gaara just couldn't understand the emotions swirling through his chest. Was this feeling love? He loved Temari and Kankuro but it didn't feel like this. When he saw the leaf nin he felt a lump in his throat and an odd fluttering sensation in his chest. The man beside him always made him nervous in ways he couldn't comprehend. Sometimes it felt like his whole world revolved around the blonde when he was near.
Gaara groaned and rolled over in the bed, turning away from the person invading his thoughts. The movement stirred the other and the blonde rolled around restlessly. Worried, Gaara turned back to watch Naruto. He could hear him mumbling as he flailed back and forth. In his restlessness, one of Naruto's hands landed on Gaara's shoulder. His body unconsciously began to seek out Gaara's warmth and he crawled over to the redhead. Gaara stared in shocked apprehension as an unconscious Naruto wrapped his arms around his pale waist. His heart pounded furiously as he felt the other male's warmth flush against his chest; his heartbeat rattling loud enough for him to think the blonde might hear it and awaken.
Suddenly a warm and foreign feeling began to settle into the sand ninja's body. The comfort he felt was inexplicable. Slowly, he relaxed into the arms of his savior. Naruto sighed in content before wrapping his arms tighter around Gaara's waist and breathing his scent in deeply. Gaara easily submitted to the position and wrapped his own arms around the blonde's shoulders. With his body feeling immeasurable comfort he drifted off into sleep, Naruto's sweet scent filling his lungs.
Temari P.O.V
Temari got up out of bed and was immediately anxious about what had occurred the night before. She could have swore she heard yelling come from Gaara's room after she left. She quickly pulled on a robe and slippers and headed out to find her brother.
The first place she checked was his office. She knocked and was at a loss when she got no response.
"Gaara, are you in there?" She called out.
She opened the door cautiously and stared in confused when she found nobody was there. Shaking her head she walked off in search of her brother. She checked the kitchen and the meeting room. Nothing. She decided she'd go check the last logical place for him to be, his room.
Where is he? He's always awake by now.
She walked down the hall and decided she'd check on Naruto on her way. As she knocked on the door she was concerned when yet again she got no reply. She cracked open the door slightly.
"Naruto?" She peeked in around the door and found he was nowhere to be seen.
This is either really good or really bad. I hope you fixed this brother. Hopefully at least we didn't make things worse.
Temari walked down the hall to her brothers room worrying on the way there.
Oh shit! What if Naruto's not in his room because of the-
Temari practically sprinted the rest of the way and all but flung the door open in her haste. She stood fixed on the spot with her mouth agape at the sight before her.
There in Gaara's bed was the missing blonde. But not only was he in bed with her brother, he was also nestled in between his arms. Temari stared in shock at the two males sleeping peacefully in each others' arms. Naruto's head was tucked tightly under Gaara's chin and pressed against his chest. She could hear Naruto softly snoring and noticed that Gaara was at least half-naked under the covers. She gasped quietly but not quietly enough. Gaara's sea-foam eyes snapped open and settled a fierce glare on Temari. She smiled nervously and put her hands up in surrender before slowly backing out of the room.
Once in the hallway Temari couldn't keep the grin off of her face as she walked to the kitchen for breakfast.
As his sister left Gaara relaxed immensely. He sighed wondering how he would get out of bed without waking the blonde in his arms. He didn't much need to ponder because Naruto started to stir in his arms. Gaara held his breath nervously as Naruto came back to consciousness. Eyes slowly fluttered open and deep sleepy blue looked up into his alert gaze.
A grin broke out on Naruto's face. "Good morning, Gaara." He whispered before yawning gracelessly.
Gaara blinked in confusion before letting out his breath to respond. "Good morning, Naruto."
Naruto closed his eyes and snuggled back into Gaara's chest. The Kazekage just stared at him dumbfounded.
Just the other day I could hardly touch him. It's like he's become a different person. No, not exactly a different person; he's more like himself then before.
"Naruto, are you alright?" Gaara asked in thinly veiled concern.
The kitsune vessel yawned softly and looked up at Gaara.
"Yes... I'm fine." He responded a little unsure of himself.
He sat up a bit and examined the expression on Gaara's face. Almost everyone else would find his expression emotionless but Naruto read through his facade.
"Gaara, what's the matter?"
Gaara raised a nonexistent brow. "What do you mean?"
"You just look uneasy. Did I do something wrong?" Now Naruto was truly puzzled.
"No. You've done nothing wrong Naruto. I'm just... uhm, lost?" Gaara scratched the back of his head slightly.
Is he really rubbing off on me in even my mannerisms now?
Naruto chuckled at Gaara acting so confused. He'd never seen this side of him before.
"You'll have to explain a little better than that, Gaara."
Gaara took a deep breathe and thought about how he should explain.
"Naruto... yesterday you wouldn't let me come anywhere near you, let alone touch you. You wouldn't hardly talk to me. You were completely shut off towards me. What's so different now? I mean- I know you'd opened up to me but, based on what's happened you should be-" Gaara stopped mid-sentence not sure if he should go on.
Suddenly Naruto understood. "Ooooh! Okay I got it! Um, well..."
It was Naruto's turn to scracth at the back of his head and Gaara sat up waiting for an explanation. Naruto sat up as well and faced the other male.
How can I explain to him how much he means to me? He's not just Gaara, my friend, he's...
Kit, can I butt in?
Kyuubi! Hey! Um, yeah I guess so.
I'd just tell him that you trust him. Leave a confession for a later time.
Confession?
That's right, you're still kind of oblivious.
Wha-?
Gaara's waiting Naruto.
Naruto quickly snapped out of his thoughts and grinned nervously at Gaara.
"Gaara, I really really trust you. I'm just comfortable with you. I'm glad you were so concerned for me and you really helped me out. I-I know that things still aren't okay. It'll take me some time to get over what happened-"
Gaara bristled at the mention of Sasuke and he growled low in his throat.
Naruto smiled softly at Gaara's protective behavior and continued, "But, you'll be here. You'll be here to help me through this right?"
Naruto suddenly wasn't so sure of himself.
He doesn't need the trouble of helping me. He's the Kazekage, he's got much more important things to do.
Gaara noticed instantly that Naruto had trailed back into his thoughts.
"Naruto?" He cooed softly ,"Naruto listen to me."
Naruto looked into Gaara's soft eyes and nodded softly, "Yes, Gaara?"
Gaara reached over taking Naruto's palm into his. "I will be here to help you with any problem you have. Ever."
Naruto grinned brightly at the Kazekage and flung his arms around him sending him back onto the bed.
"Gaara, that means so much to me!" Naruto mumbled into Gaara's chest.
Gaara let out a sigh of relief and gingerly stroked Naruto's back.
"Come on Naruto, we both have duties to attend to." Gaara sat up bringing the blonde with him.
Naruto jumped out of his arms and set a (not-so-)intimidating glare on Gaara.
"You have to tell me what's going on!" Naruto said in the most stern voice he could muster.
Gaara blinked several times in confusion before asking, "Wait, what?"
"I know we're not here to do some stupid mission! There are way too many guards around our quarters and the village in general. I noticed as soon as we arrived!"
Gaara sighed. So he figured it out. I must say, I'm shocked. I suppose he's still grown regardless of set backs.
"Naruto. You're here for you're own protection." Gaara conceded.
"Whoa, you broke that easy?" Naruto gasped out.
"Let me finish. Tsunade requested that my village and I watch over you under the cover that you're here to watch the shops due to having bandit problems here in Suna. We don't have such problems and you're not here on a mission."
Gaara looked the other dead in the eye with a stern expression. "You are here because there have been sightings of the Akatsuki coming towards Konoha. Tsunade asked me personally to watch over you and make sure you stay here with my shinobi."
Naruto took a moment to register the information before he was furious. "Whaaat! I can't believe Granny would do that! We need to be there if something happens! The village could be attacked!"
Gaara sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"-hy would she just-"
"Naruto?"
"-I mean honestly! We-"
"Naruto."
"-It just doesn't make sense-"
"Naruto!"
Naruto stopped his rant and laughed nervously. "Sorry, Gaara."
"You need to stay here. I demand it. Tsunade and I have had contact with each other from the first sighting and I was the one who suggested you stay here for some amount of time. Naruto, I want you safe. After the Akatsuki captured me I ended up dead. I don't know what I would do if the same were to happen to you. I am not and ther is no longer a Granny Chiyo. I couldn't be able to bring you back." He choked out the last sentence with a sick feeling in his stomach.
Naruto stared wide-eyed at the former Jinchuuriki. "Gaara- I... I had no idea that you'd-"
Gaara smiled slightly. "Naruto I care about you."
Naruto couldn't help the large grin the split his face, "I care for you too, Gaara. More than you know..."
Naruto pondered to him self for a moment. "Actually. There's something I have to tell you. Sabaku no Gaara, I-"
"Gaaaaaaaaraaa!" Matsuri flung through the Kazekage's door.
Ahaha, that was evil, I know. Well I finished this chapter and I'm so so so so so so sorry that I took that long break but I'm back! I didn't edit very long so if you see any errors let me know! Read and review!
*Updated Dec 12, 2020