Naruto fidgeted nervously in his seat as he waited for Gaara. His uncle sat across from him, observing his blonde nephew in amusement.
"Relax, kid. What are you so nervous about?" Jiraiya asked.
"I'm not nervous," Naruto mumbled, his blue eyes trained on the entrance.
The author rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his hot sake. "Don't worry, I won't embarrass you in front of your little boyfriend." He said, earning a glare from his nephew.
Naruto couldn't help it, though. Jiraiya was leaving tomorrow, and he had insisted on meeting Gaara before he left Konoha. Although having his crush meet his perverted uncle freaked him out, the freshman knew it was only because Jiraiya wanted to make sure Gaara really was going to keep his only nephew safe. He already asked Naruto several times if he wanted to leave with him, and each time the teen refused. He wasn't going to let the Akatsuki scare him away.
Naruto's heart skipped a beat when he saw Gaara walk into the restaurant. Jiraiya noticed his nephew's blushing face and looked over to see the handsome redhead approach. He knowingly smirked at the freshman before standing to greet their new guest.
"Sabaku, my dear boy! It's nice to finally meet you!" The writer said happily, giving the younger boy a firm, yet vigorous handshake.
Gaara gave a respectful bow in return. "Yes, likewise..." He paused, uncertain how to address the man.
"Please, call me Jiraiya! Sit, sit, we haven't ordered yet."
The youngest Sabaku nodded and removed his leather jacket before taking a seat. He wore a dark burgundy zip-hoodie over a white v-neck tee and black skinny jeans. It didn't take Naruto long to realize how much he liked when his crush wore v-neck shirts. He felt a slight kick to his shin and blushed when he realized he had been staring at the redhead. The blonde looked at his lap instead of his uncle's smug expression.
"Order whatever you want, Sabaku. It's all on me," Jiraiya proclaimed, gesturing towards the menu.
Gaara nodded and carefully looked at what to order. When he was ready, the writer waved over a young, attractive waitress to take their orders. Naruto ordered his usual ramen dish, his uncle ordered karaage-fried chicken,and his crush ordered a plate of sushi and sashimi. The waitress collected their menus, blushing when Jiraiya gave her a suggestive wink, and scurried away.
"Alright, let's get down to business. I'm sure Naruto told you why I asked you to join us tonight," the freshman's uncle began. The two student's eyes met before Gaara nodded.
"Good. I leave first thing in the morning, and I want to make sure my nephew will be taken care of, what with this Akatsuki debacle coming to light." Jiraiya said. He rested his elbows on the table and crossed his hands in front of his face. The writer looked the redhead right in the eye.
"The only reason why I'm letting Naruto stay here is because, well, I can't legally force him to leave with me. Not that the law has stopped me before," he said with a laugh. Gaara's lips curled in amusement when Naruto glared at his uncle.
Jiraiya waved off his nephew's look. "Anyway, Naruto tells me that you have offered him protection. I know of your family, so I don't doubt that you have the means - but what I want to make sure of is if you really mean to protect him."
Gaara nodded, never taking his eyes off the author. "I fully intend to give Naruto all the protection he needs. If he's not with me, he'll have a bodyguard with him at all times," he declared.
Naruto frowned. Jiraiya pointed a finger at him. "Listen you, I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. This is completely necessary. I don't think you realize what the Akatsuki is. This ain't some high-school biker gang we're dealing with, but a criminal organization that has been existence even before you were born. When I say they're everywhere, I mean everywhere. I don't doubt they have connections in very high places, which is why you need someone like Sabaku here to protect you."
Gaara gave his friend's hand a firm squeeze. "I will do everything I can," he murmured.
The blonde blushed and nodded. He wanted to throw himself at his tutor and kiss him madly. Could this guy ever stop being amazing?
His uncle sat back in his chair, seemingly satisfied with the older teen's declaration. "Thank you. Naruto doesn't have anyone besides me to look after him, so I'm glad that he has a good friend like you to be there for him."
"Yeah, thanks so much, Gaara. I don't know how I can ever repay you..." Naruto said.
He felt the redhead squeeze his hand and reply, "Don't worry about it."
The rest of the night went smoothly. Jiraiya didn't say anything embarrassing, but Naruto made sure to give his uncle a swift kick under the table whenever he mentioned the book he was writing. The author already had written a great deal for his new boy's love novel, much to the blonde's disdain. Despite all that, the freshman was happy that Jiraiya finally got to meet Gaara. The two seemed to get along oddly well.
After dinner (for which Jiraiya paid for, without any protest from the wealthy Sabaku), Naruto said goodbye to his tutor. His uncle had given Gaara a firm handshake before going around to get his Jeep.
"Thanks for coming to dinner!" The blonde said happily.
The junior gave one of his slight smiles before pulling the younger teen in a soft kiss. Naruto could feel himself melting on the inside.
Gaara pulled back and used his thumb to trace over the blonde student's pink lips. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. Satisfied, the redhead gave him one last kiss.
"Good night," he murmured, before turning away and walking to his car. The freshman waved as the BMW drove off and his uncle's Jeep crawled to a stop in front of the restaurant.
Jiraiya observed his nephew grinning from ear to ear as he sat in the passenger seat. "I guess I missed the goodnight kiss, huh?" He asked teasingly.
"Jiraiya!" Naruto exclaimed, blushing.
The author laughed as he drove away.
Gaara kept his word when he said Naruto would be protected at all times. At school, the freshman was either surrounded by his friends or with his crush. Outside of school, the blonde had a very aggressive, yet inconspicuous bodyguard by the name of Momochi Zabuza. Naruto found the man to be quite terrifying, especially since he covered most of his face, but he supposed it was good to have such a person looking over him.
Saturday had rolled around and Naruto had a rare day off from work, so Gaara came over to spend the day with him. The freshman frantically ransacked his room to find suitable clean clothes, but he had been rather negligent (and lazy) with doing his laundry. He found a pair of jeans that were ripped in the knees under his bed, a somewhat clean white t-shirt, and his favorite orange hoodie. Inspecting himself in the mirror, the blonde felt he looked halfway decent.
Naruto returned to his kitchen, where Gaara was quietly sipping some tea while looking at his cellphone. The blonde beamed at him when he looked up.
"So! What do you want to do today?" Naruto asked as he took a seat across from the junior. He used his sleeve to wipe away crumbs off the table, then dusted it off.
Gaara watched him thoughtfully before saying, "when was the last time you bought new clothes?"
"Huh?" Naruto looked at his outfit and frowned. His hoodie had faded over time, and it was a little baggy, but he didn't think it looked too bad. "I don't really go shopping too often."
"Let's go out, then." The redhead stated simply, before getting up, putting his cup in the sink, and retrieving his jacket.
"Go out where?" The student asked as he hurried to put on his shoes and jacket.
"You will see," Gaara answered vaguely as he opened the door. Naruto narrowed his eyes at him in suspicion, but followed him out anyway.
The redhead apparently did not drive over, for a black town car waited for them outside. He opened the door for the younger student before getting in. The privacy window was pulled open to reveal Zabuza behind the wheel.
"Take us to Grand Street in downtown Konoha, please," Gaara instructed. The bodyguard gave a curt nod before taking off. Gaara closed the window.
"So, uh-" Before Naruto could finish his sentence, his crush pulled him into for a soft, sweet kiss. The blonde couldn't help but smile as he placed his hand on top of Gaara's and squeezed it in approval. He was going to pull away, but the Sabaku slipped a pale hand behind his neck in order to deepen their kiss. Naruto parted his lips and felt their tongues mingle.
He heard the redhead softly groan at the contact, which gave him an aroused shiver down his spine. The blonde wrapped an arm around Gaara's waist to pull him closer. Time seemed to stop as they kissed lazily. I could do this all day, Naruto thought as Gaara gently pulled his bottom lip with his teeth.
After one final kiss, the two teenagers separated and sat back in their seats. They held hands as the blonde beamed like a ray of sunlight while the redhead gave one of his subtle smirks. They remained that way for the rest of the ride, with Naruto leaning in occasionally to steal kisses from Gaara.
When they arrived in downtown Konoha, the area was bustling with the weekend rush. It was the prime shopping district filled with trendy, high-end boutiques. Naruto would always recall hearing the kids at school coming here on the weekends. Zabuza parked in a parking garage before the three set out to walk the streets. Gaara had a clear location in mind, so Naruto dutifully followed while their bodyguard trailed not too far behind.
The youngest Sabaku lead them to one store by the name of Daimyo. The young freshman had never heard of it before, and just by the modern, minimalist interior design he speculated that the store was expensive. He wondered if this was one of the places Gaara got all his nice clothes from. Naruto did notice some things that he would wear.
"Gaara-kun! It's great to see you!" A voice called from across the sales floor.
The redhead smirked as an seemingly young woman approached them. She had long, black hair and wore a black choker and a very stylish pink jumpsuit with black circles. The girl squealed as she kissed the junior on both cheeks in greeting. Naruto had never seen anyone greet Gaara in such a way, so he observed in curiosity as the two interacted.
"Hello, Haku. It's nice to see you as well," the redhead said. "You look great."
"Thank you! This is actually one of my original designs! I've been so busy preparing for my store opening. I cannot wait to show you my upcoming collection, we need to catch up sometime." Haku replied. The woman tilted her head when Naruto caught her eye. "Hello," she greeted warmly.
Gaara turned to introduce the blonde, "This is Naruto. Naruto, this is my friend Haku."
Naruto gave a small bow. "It's nice to meet you," he said.
Haku chuckled and kissed the student on both his cheeks, causing the teen to blush slightly. "The pleasure is all mine," she replied. She glanced behind him and smiled shyly before turning her attention back to Gaara.
"What can I do for you today?" Haku asked.
"Well, Naruto here needs some new clothes. Are you busy right now?" The redhead asked, ignoring Naruto's jaw-dropping reaction.
The woman smiled, "Of course! You know I always make time for you, Gaara-kun. Follow me." She beckoned the teenagers as she walked away.
Gaara smiled at Naruto and took his hand as they went after Haku. The blonde pretended to pout. "You didn't tell me you wanted to buy me new clothes. Besides, I already have perfectly fine clothes at home!"
"I noticed most of your clothes are either too big, torn, or look like they've been worn for ten years." The redhead explained. "It's about time you got something new."
Naruto sighed, knowing it was futile to argue with his crush. He was feeling a little excited, though. Maybe it was time he got a new wardrobe.
"So, who's your friend? She's really pretty," he said as they followed Haku to the back of the store.
Gaara turned his head and smirked. "Oh? You think so?"
The blonde nodded, slightly embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head. "Well, yeah. Prettier than any girl I've met so far..."
The redhead gave a small chuckle. "I'll be sure to tell him that."
Naruto's eyes widened, "WHAT? She's actually a he?"
His crush put a finger to his lips to shush him as Haku lead them to a large fitting room. The area had a small lounge with large mirrors so customers could look at the clothes they were trying on. Haku gestured for Gaara to sit down in one of the chairs while he inspected Naruto's appearance. The blonde felt his cheeks grow warm under the androgynous male's scrutiny. He realized that Haku was a man's name, but the person standing before him was way too pretty and feminine to be one.
"What's your clothing size?" Haku asked.
"Uh, I'm a medium in shirts and a 28 in pants, I think. At least that's what my uniform size is," Naruto replied, shrugging.
"Okay...you look like a pretty casual dresser...like a jeans and a t-shirt kinda guy, am I right?"
The blonde nodded, "yeah, I guess that sounds about right. I don't really buy my own clothes so I usually just wear whatever my uncle buys me. Oh! I do like orange, it's my favorite color."
Haku clapped his hands together and smiled. "Okay, then! I will be back with say, two to three outfits for you to try on."
"Make it five," Gaara said. His long-haired friend smiled at him. "Five it is. Some new stuff came in that I know you will like. Shall I bring them too?"
The redhead nodded and Haku sauntered off. Naruto sat down next to Gaara and held his hand.
"So, is Haku like, your personal shopper or something?" He asked with a smile.
"He's been working here for as long as I've been shopping here. I guess you can say he is my unofficial stylist. We had different tastes in clothing but I trust his judgement when it comes to picking out outfits for me," The Sabaku replied. "Haku is also a talented designer in his own right, and he's opening up a store in the spring."
"Wow, really? I always thought you had a great taste in clothes, and now I know why! I can't wait to see what she-I mean, he, finds me." Naruto said with an embarrassed laugh.
Gaara gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry, everyone mistakes Haku for a girl. He doesn't mind."
"Yeah, well, don't tell him I thought he was a very pretty girl." Naruto mumbled.
The redhead gave him another kiss, "I definitely will."
The blonde freshmen laughed and gave his crush a gentle slap on the shoulder.
About ten minutes later, Haku returned with bundles of clothing in both his arms. He dumped a few pieces in Gaara's lap and handed the rest to Naruto.
"I hope you don't mind, I went a little overboard but I think you'll like them. Just let me know if you need a different size, okay?" The effeminate young man asked.
Naruto nodded. Zabuza searched the closest fitting room before giving him the okay to enter. He was pretty impressed with Haku's rather expensive selection; everything was definitely something he could see himself wearing, and he was happy to see some orange shirts. The young Uzumaki tried on different outfits and then went out to model them for Gaara and Haku's approval. In the end (and at the wealthy redhead's insistence) Naruto picked out five pairs of dark blue skinny jeans, three graphic t-shirts, two button-up shirts, an orange and blue track jacket, and a pair of sneakers.
Gaara paid for all their clothing, which came out to $450. The redhead didn't even blink as he handed over his card. All the blonde could do was gape at the exchange. He couldn't believe his crush spent so much money on him! He definitely needed to find a way to pay him back somehow.
They said goodbye to Haku at the entrance of the store. The stylist gave them both kisses on the cheek. "It was great to see you Gaara-kun, and don't be a stranger! Nice meeting you, Naruto. Enjoy the clothes!"
"Thanks again, Haku. We'll talk soon." Gaara said.
"Nice to meet you!" Naruto chimed with a big smile.
As the two students turned away, hand in hand, the freshman noticed Haku shyly smiling and shaking hands with Zabuza before going back to work. It was late afternoon by this time, punctuated by Naruto's rumbling stomach. Gaara suggested they get a late lunch before heading back home. The young blonde eagerly suggested going to the Akimichi's barbecue restaurant. His crush had never been there before, which made him even more eager to go.
Choji was working at the restaurant when they came in, and therefore gave them special treatment. Now that they were more or less a couple, even eating in a crowded restaurant felt like an intimate date. Even Zabuza's presence at the table behind them didn't feel too intrusive, although it was still strange. The bodyguard seemed to enjoy the food as well, if the pile of empty plates were any indication. Gaara didn't even have to pay for half the food thanks to the generous discount Choji's father gave them.
Before they left, the chubby freshman stopped them. "Hey, Naruto! If you're not busy tonight, you and Sabaku-senpai should come to the movies with us," he said hurriedly.
Naruto glanced at Gaara, who replied, "Sure."
The blonde freshman beamed. "Count us in!"
"Awesome! I'm not sure what theater we're going to, but the movie starts at nine. We're gonna see that new horror movie that came out yesterday. I'll text you the details later!" Choji babbled, equally as excited. He said his goodbyes and hurried off back to work.
Naruto and Gaara walked hand in hand back to the car. For the blonde, the day was only getting better. His friends would always invite him out on the weekends, but he was never able to go out too late because he'd have to catch the last buses home. He was excited, especially since his crush was coming along as well. The junior insisted that he spend the night at his house afterward.
The thought of spending night with Gaara made Naruto dizzy with excitement. This would be the first time the two would be having a sleepover as...whatever they were. He was still uncertain of their relationship status. It was safe to assume they were more than just friends, but the freshman wasn't sure if they could be considered officially dating. Naruto had never been romantic with anyone, let alone in a relationship. How does one know for sure, anyway?
He supposed he should ask Gaara before things went further. The redhead suggested they shower and change (in separate rooms, of course), with Naruto wearing some of his new clothes. Once he was ready, the blonde waited patiently in his crush's room. When Gaara emerged from his bathroom, Naruto couldn't help but gape. The junior smirked at the younger teen's reaction.
"Do you like what you see?" He asked smugly. He wore a black button-up shirt with his skinny jeans. His clothes were tight enough to show off his impressive physique.
Naruto blushed and grinned brightly. "Well, yeah, of course. You always look good."
Gaara pulled the blonde to stand up in front of him. His breath hitched slightly as the redhead unzipped his new track jacket to reveal the white t-shirt he wore underneath. The older teen wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist under the jacket and pulled him in for a kiss.
The blonde smiled as he wrapped his arms around Gaara's neck. He shivered slightly as he felt the redhead run his hands up and down his back. Feeling slightly bold, Naruto parted his lips to deepen the kiss while one of his hands found their way into the junior's hair. He timidly tugged at it.
A low rumble resonated in Gaara's throat. He must like that, the blonde thought before trying it again. This time his crush bit his lower lip before pulling away to take a much-needed breath.
"I can't get enough of you," Gaara breathed, before planting another kiss on his lips.
"R-really?" Naruto asked, trying to keep his voice and his breath steady. The redhead nodded.
"Um, can I ask you a question?"
Gaara paused to look into his blue eyes, tilt in his head slightly to indicated for the freshman to continue. His crush's intense gaze made him feel uncharacteristically shy. He found it easier to look at his first two buttons as he spoke, "Well, I was wondering...if you consider me your, uh, b-boyfriend."
Naruto's internal self screamed at him for acting like a shy teenage girl. Gaara said nothing for a few moments before lifting the Uzumaki's chin so he could look him in the eye. He seemed slightly confused.
"Have I not made my intentions clear?" He asked.
The young blonde's eyes shifted away again, embarrassed. "Um, well..."
"Look at me." Naruto did as he was told.
"The things I do for you, I don't do them for just anybody. I wouldn't have kissed you first if I didn't intend to make you mine."
The freshman's blue eyes widened, "I'm yours?"
Gaara smiled smugly before giving him a deep kiss. "Yes, you are mine, and I am yours. Does that answer your question?"
Naruto laughed heartily before kissing his boyfriend all over his face. The redhead's eyes crinkled in amusement.
"Yes! Yes, it does. I'm sorry I doubted you."
"You have a strange habit of doing that."
The blonde freshman chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Uh, yeah, I'll work on that..."
Gaara gave him one final kiss before pulling away. "Shall we?
Naruto couldn't remember the last time he had so much fun.
He and Gaara met with the Dead-Lasts, including Hinata (who had officially become part of the group by dating Kiba) at the movie theater. They were going to see some trashy horror movie, which the blonde wasn't too thrilled about, but he took comfort in knowing he could grab his boyfriend if he ever got too scared. Interestingly enough, Temari showed up with a few of her friends to see the same movie. Judging by the knowing smirk Gaara gave his sister, it wasn't a coincidence.
Much to their delight, the movie was so bad it was hilarious. Naruto had a great time laughing at everything with Choji and Kiba, who had his arm wrapped around his girlfriend because she was actually scared. Gaara held his hand while staring at the screen blankly the whole time but occasionally his lips would quirk up in thinly-veiled amusement. Shikamaru had "went to the bathroom" in the beginning and didn't come back until the end. Naruto looked back once to see Zabuza sitting two rows behind them, his expression unreadable behind his scarf.
After the movie, the teens went to a nearby diner for a late meal. The blonde was happy to see his boyfriend get along with his friends, especially Shikamaru. He supposed it was because of Temari. As Naruto looked around at everyone sitting at their table, he couldn't help but think how awesome it was to be surrounded by friends. If everyday could be like this, with Gaara by his side, then he could be happy. Not even the threat of the Atkatsuki could bring him down.
The group stayed out until one in the morning. Naruto had never been out so late before. Zabuza drove him and Gaara home. All of the day's activities were starting to wear down on the two.
"Do you have work tomorrow?" The redhead asked as they returned to his bedroom.
"Yeah, at one," the freshman mumbled sleepily.
The Sabaku subsequently set an alarm on his phone for eleven in the morning. He gave Naruto a t-shirt and shorts to sleep in before going to change into his own sleepwear. The blonde could feel his hands slightly shaking as he put on his clothes. He was going to be sleeping in the same bed as Gaara! Gaara, who just so happens to be his boyfriend.
Naruto could feel his heart racing as the redhead returned wearing long pants and a tight v-neck t-shirt. Gaara pulled out the black comforter on as bed as the two got in. The younger teen cuddled next to the junior as he wrapped his strong arms around him. He sighed in content and then yawned.
"Did you have fun today?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, yes I did," came Gaara's reply.
"Me too," The blonde snuggled closer to give him a small kiss on the neck. "If everyday could be like this, I'd be happy."
The Sabaku adjusted his body so he could kiss his boyfriend full on the lips.
"It will be, I promise."
Thanks for reading :) I'm trying to updated more frequently and in need of a good, dedicated beta to help me edit this. Interested? Send me a PM~
