A/N: Quarantine is all about uploading ancient material I'd forgotten I finished without proofreading it first. Cheers.
iii.
Gaara stood at the corner of his building, squinting at the sun. It was early but already he could tell it was going to be a warm day. Where all the chill from yesterday had gone, he had no idea. He looked back over at Naruto's building and frowned, ordinarily, he would have started walking to class nearly ten minutes ago. Five more minutes of delay and they'd certainly be late. He ran a hand up the back of his head and sighed, as it was he was making good progress in establishing a real friendship, but Gaara was not one to be late or to slack off. He didn't care if Naruto chose to live that way, but he couldn't wait forever.
As if on cue, the blonde stumbled out of a stairwell and jogged over to where Gaara stood. The redhead looked him over, bemused at the boy's clear disregard for order. His blonde hair stuck up as if he'd just come out of the bed, his shirt wasn't pressed and from the peek of fabric showing beneath the hem of his pants, even his socks didn't match. Huffing over as if he'd run a marathon getting down there, next to Gaara's finely polished appearance, the two made quite a pair. "Oh man, I thought you were gonna leave without me," Naruto sighed as he straightened himself out.
"I nearly did," Gaara replied flatly. Naruto groaned but he seemed to understand that's just how Gaara was. "You're not much of a morning person, are you?" He asked, despite it being plainly obvious.
Naruto stretched as he walked, presumably still shaking off sleep. "If I'm doing something fun I don't really have a problem waking up," he gave a small laugh. "That and I don't know, I haven't been sleeping very well lately. That's probably got sumthin' to do with it." Gaara thought about his own sleeping difficulties then, thankful that they didn't have the same draining effect Naruto's had. Or maybe he was just used to it.
"Something bothering you?" This seemed like the appropriate thing to ask.
Naruto rubbed at his chin as he mulled the question over. "I don't think so, I don't really know what's keeping me up. Like I get in bed and I feel tired but all I end up doing is staring at the ceiling. It's pretty annoying."
"Hm, sounds like it." Gaara tried his best to sympathize. "I don't sleep very well either."
"Huh? What's got you up?"
Gaara gave a small shrug. "I've never been able to sleep well, so I'm not sure. It doesn't bother me though, I use the extra time wisely."
"You do look pretty tired," Naruto said, acknowledging the dark circles around Gaara's eyes. The redhead smiled faintly.
"Yes, but I don't feel tired. I suppose it's just something you get used to."
They spent the rest of their commute in perfect timing with one another. Naruto had launched into a story and Gaara listened attentively. While Gaara was usually the one who listened when it came to conversation, rarely did he ever listen so raptly. It was as if every word that left Naruto's mouth was something to be fascinated by, he almost wished their walk had taken a little longer.
Their dinner date sat at the forefront of Gaara's mind all day. Naruto had yet to mention anything and Gaara had been too awkward to bring it up himself. By the time his last class came to an end, Gaara was feeling uncomfortable with the entire idea. As he put his supplies back into his book bag, he could hear Naruto talking loudly as he approached the classroom, Sakura's voice filtered in shortly afterwards. They must be here to meet Sasuke, Gaara thought. He looked at the moody Uchiha who sat closest to the door. Sasuke stood and slung his bag over his shoulder and Gaara hung back purposefully, he felt too out of place to follow Sasuke out of the room even if it was the natural thing to do.
"We should get the candy at the corner store instead of the theater this time," Sakura said sadly as she looked inside of her nearly empty wallet.
"Well then let's go before all the good seats are gone," Sasuke said as he hitched his bag up higher. Both he and Sakura moved down the hall before Sasuke came to a stop and looked back at Naruto, still standing in the doorway. "Naruto, what's the hold up?" Gaara's arm was inside of his bag, wanting to appear as if he were looking for something at the bottom, but he stilled when Naruto spoke.
"Go on without me, I've already got plans," he said casually. Gaara could have sworn he was trying to emulate Sasuke's apathetic tone from the other day. Naruto looked in the classroom and smiled. "You ready?"
Gaara pulled his hand from his bag, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm coming." Both Sasuke and Sakura eyed Gaara curiously as he exited the classroom. As they put the pieces together, Sasuke's frowned deepened and Sakura seemed alive with a new energy.
"Oh," she said slyly. "Well then I guess it's just you and me, Sasuke." The latter looked less than pleased. He grunted and then turned away, quietly resigning himself to the sudden change in plans. Sakura hurried to catch up with him, waving goodbye to Naruto as she went. When they rounded the corner, Naruto burst into laughter.
"He's gonna kill me but it was worth it just to see the stupid look on his face," Naruto took a deep breath and then straightened up. "I'm starving though, how about you?"
"I could eat," Gaara replied simply.
Naruto led the way and listed the entire menu from memory to Gaara, complete with his own critiques of each item and his own personal recommendations. After he'd finished and they neared the ramen shop, a thought occurred to Gaara. "Your friends, they won't be upset with you, will they?" He inquired softly. He wanted to encroach as little as possible on Naruto's friendships and the last thing he wanted was them to use his presence as a reason to punish Naruto.
"Oh, those guys? Nah, they'll be fine. Besides, you're my friend too." He said it so flippantly Gaara almost overlooked it, but when it processed his heart jumped a few inches in his chest. He spoke like Gaara was in the same league as those he'd known much longer. Does that mean he's my friend too? Gaara wondered to himself. Before he had an opportunity to overthink the matter, they came upon the shop where Naruto held the awnings up for Gaara to pass under. The shop itself was quaint and not suitable for large amounts of people. Aside from the short bench at the counter, the shop had six tables somewhat crowding one another. "Looks like the bench is full," Naruto mused. He pointed to a table to the left of them, "how about that one?"
When they sat, Naruto waved at a woman restocking things by the counter. She came over and brightly greeted them. "Hey, Naruto! It's been awhile since I've seen you, and you've brought a friend! Welcome to Ichiraku's" she gave a slight bow to Gaara. "Well what can I get you guys?"
"A bowl of Miso Chashu Pork ramen please," Naruto said immediately. The woman looked at Gaara expectantly.
"Oh, uh, I'll have the same. Thank you," he said as he inclined his head forward.
"Thanks Ayame," Naruto said as she took off with their order. Naruto seemed to have friends wherever he went, Gaara observed. He wondered if he could ever have the energy to be the same. Doubtful, he felt tired just thinking about it. Naruto's energy reserves were unlike anyone else's.
When their food arrived they ate and talked about life in Suna versus life in Konoha, Naruto insistent on hearing all about Gaara's favorite things in both places. "I've never left the village actually," he'd said. "One day I'll get out and see something new."
"You could always come to visit when I return home," Gaara replied instinctively. As the words left his mouth his face grew warm, but he didn't regret saying it. At the least, Naruto seemed happy to hear it. When they finished their meal and Ayame came with the bill, Gaara held his hand out to stop Naruto as he reached into his back pocket. "Please," he said. "Let me pay for it."
"What? Are you sure?"
Gaara smiled, far broader than any smile he'd had so far. "Completely," he said. Naruto thanked him several times over. When they stepped back out into the road, the sun was hovering over the horizon. They'd been in there longer than Gaara had anticipated, not that he minded though.
"You up for heading to the movie theater? Sasuke and Sakura should be finishing up right about now." He jutted his thumb in the opposite direction of Gaara's apartment.
"Actually, I think I'll head back home, if you don't mind." Gaara had eaten far more than he was used to in one sitting and the weight of it in his stomach was making him tired. "Will I see you tomorrow morning?"
Naruto nodded, "on time and everything!"
"Alright, well goodnight then Naruto." Gaara said as he turned away from Naruto.
"Night, Gaara," Naruto replied as he did the same.
And with that they parted ways.
The currents in the air carried the warmth of day and beckoned with it the budding season. He lifted a delicate hand to sweep the hair from his face as it was gently tugged forward in the breeze. He had a lot to think about and yet, his mind remained remarkably empty. All he could see was Naruto, standing there in the light of the setting sun. So complex in all his simplicity, Gaara wasn't sure where to start breaking it all down.
That evening, he took a long, hot bath and mulled over the events of the last two days. With his face half submerged in the steaming water he strung together each conversation exchanged between Naruto and himself. He thought about Naruto's answers and how his own differed in tone and reaction. He tried hard to find the underlying similarities between the two that made speaking so easy, but as much as he searched he found nothing of significance. After his bath he dressed himself and sat on his bed, leafing through a number of books and working through the assigned homework. For the first time since he could remember, his mind remained too distracted to really accomplish anything. A frustrated sigh left his mouth and he sat back against the headboard. He looked over to the doors that led to the balcony and wondered if the night air would help clear his mind. It was worth a try anyway.
Despite it being near 12:30 at night, like usual, Gaara felt no inclination to sleep. He swept the balcony doors open and stepped into the cool night air. He could see fairly far into the village from his vantage point and while most of it remained dark, there stood a number of places with a light still burning. Gaara leaned forward on the railing, one arm supporting his jaw and the other draped across the bar, as he collected himself. Quiet, empty nights like this had always helped ground him. Back in Suna, even when he was a child, he'd spend his sleepless nights exploring his village or stargazing. No one was awake to be bothered by him, in those moments he felt as ordinary as someone like himself could. They meant a great deal to him, even now.
The sound of a sliding glass door across the street pulled his attention back to the present. He tilted his head to get a better look as Naruto stepped out onto his own balcony, stretched, and then assumed the same position Gaara was holding. He watched him carefully, though it was difficult to fully make him out at the distance they stood, Naruto looked almost forlorn. It was an expression he'd yet to see cross Naruto's features and they elicited a strong pang of sympathy in him. He'd seen that same expression across his own face plenty of times before. Was this the invisible string that kept them connected?
Naruto swept his gaze from one side of the village to the other, briefly passing Gaara by as if he hadn't noticed the redhead watching him. But as if he sensed another's presence, Naruto dropped his eyes from the skyline to the buildings before him and they slipped almost naturally over to where Gaara stood. For a moment they only looked at each other impassively. Then Naruto leaned back and that look of melancholy washed away, replaced now with a warm smile that invited Gaara in. He waved his hand towards his body, saying with such a simple gesture, come here.
Despite the brisk autumn air that nipped at his skin, Gaara felt quite warm.