Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Request by Mikasa064: Please do something with someone from Neji's team.
Lee's POV
Rock Lee saw more than most gave him credit for.
Yes, he was dense. He wasn't arrogant enough to not be able to admit that. But like most skilled ninjas—when it came to the ones he'd stood by for most of his life—he could tell when something was off with a simple glance. People thought of him as different just because of his extreme personality, but he was human, too. Sometimes he felt like they forgot that he was a taijutsu specialist; a master of the human body. That included all of the intricate twitches and minute facial expressions that someone made.
And when it came to his lifelong rival, Hyuga Neji, he was an expert. He could read his body language from sixty paces away. Contrary to popular belief, Neji's face gave away what he was thinking. He was an open book. Especially when it came to Hinata.
His expressions had changed over the years, and Lee found himself following the details of their relationship by Neji's mannerisms.
At first, he had a heated glance filled with disdain. Neji's mouth was always curved down into an angry frown coupled with a disappointed brow. But those features had softened somewhere along the way. It wasn't all at once, rather the change came gradually. One by one; each was smoothed over with the passing of the years. They only returned when he was angry or had gotten into a fight with the woman in question.
There were a lot of stiff lines in the beginning. Awkward tension that lingered in the air, splintering together broken conversations as Neji made empty comments about the weather—learning how to speak to Hinata, yet say nothing at the same time. Hinata was determined to fix their relationship, but Lee found a flaw in her gentle personality. That is, she didn't know that her kindness could sometimes be extremely daunting, especially when confronted by Neji's pride. It always made Neji falter in shame for a moment, as if he was pained at the thought of her being so understanding. But Lee saw. Though he said nothing and continued to be his regular, happy self. He helped them bridge together their conversations, one word at a time, without mentioning anything of past grievances or of bruised souls or the scar on Hinata's heart that they all knew was there.
With time, Neji's face eased. He'd never been open with his smiles, and their mended relationship did nothing to fix that. But Lee saw it more often now. Sometimes, when he was lucky, they'd stumble across Hinata while they were out together as a team, and Lee could see the startling curve of Neji's true grin, before it was swiftly killed by a mask of duty. It would appear again whenever Hinata spoke to him, however, so it never truly disappeared. Those small glimpses were more than enough for him to know that his rival—his teammate; his friend—was finally content.
After seeing him so angry as a child, that was all he could ask for.
What Lee heard was different.
Silence followed Neji like a shadow.
When he did speak, he wasn't gentle with his words. Though that was only if he was interacting with anyone other than Hinata or Hanabi—the princesses that ruled the Hyuga. Neji spoke the same way he walked: purposeful. Deliberate. There were no wasted words, unless he was particularly relaxed. But sometimes, Lee thought that he wanted to say more to Hinata, and just held himself back on account of his position. The words would bend in his throat, and he'd bite his tongue just to make sure they wouldn't escape. This habit of his had steadily diminished after their marriage, but Lee still recalled a time when Neji had almost split his lip once Hinata announced that she'd have to begin sending out her information to possible bachelors by her father's request.
Lee knew what he wanted to say—No, I'm here. Don't go. There's no need. Am I not enough?
He'd taken one look at him and decided to clasp his shoulder in support. Lee had then followed it up with the best good guy pose he could muster. Neji never failed to brush him aside a moment later with a look of warning, but Lee wanted him to know that he was there. Because even if Neji knew that he could count on him, sometimes someone needed to be reminded of the reassurance.
The things Lee did with the scant amount of information he received was what really mattered though.
He wasn't like the women with their gossip circles. Lee knew that secrets didn't need to be picked at and dragged out of the dark before they were ready. So, he kept Neji's torch for his charge sealed between his lips. He let it grow there in the dusk. Lee watched it grow month after month, becoming deep and strong, so that it could burst into the light when the time came—and the time would come. They were both wonderful people that deserved the world.
And one day, when Neji suddenly let out a pent-up litany of frustration after a particularly tiring impromptu training session, Lee wasn't surprised. Neji told him things he knew already, and then some he didn't. Lee had nodded in that focused way of his that let Neji know he was listening. He didn't bother speaking or offering advice, only because he knew that Neji wasn't talking now because of something like that. Neji just wanted him to listen. So, listen he did. Talking could hurt as much as it could heal. Lee had never been good with words anyway. And he didn't want to ruin his companion's exhausted tirade.
By the end of it, they were both slightly grinning at each other. Neji had even asked him to be his best man.
On the day of their wedding, Neji's entire being was alight with joy. Gone, were the dark flashes of thunder that would often claim him when they were children. Gone, were the quickly hidden grins and hesitant touches. Gone, were the doubtful thoughts that he was unworthy of affection in some twisted way.
Lee was filled with joy along with him. To know for sure that his best friend was happy in this short, terrifying life they lived was one of the best feelings in the world.
Lee exhaled deeply, before looking up at the sun breaking over the horizon.
It was time to do his morning laps.
"Maybe Neji will do them with me?" he said aloud, before running to the Hyuga compound.