I do not own Naruto and/or its characters.
Gaara knocked twice with hesitation.
After Kankuro confronted him about what happened, he knew that he had to do something. He wanted to play a part in his sister's life and it's something he has always been aiming for. He never seemed to have the opportunity to, however. It's not quite what he wants, for something serious as this to happen just so he'd have the chance. But with the support his brother gave him, his feet took him before Temari's room.
The doorknob jiggled and the door slowly opened.
"Ga…Gaara?" Temari attempting to switch gears from crying let out a discreet gasp.
"Temari," He began. "I need to talk to you."
Temari frowns. This can't be good. His brother only seems to talk about missions and concerns about the village. "Gaara," She replies. "Is there something wrong with the documents?"
She motions him to come in. And Gaara gingerly enters his sister's room.
It was nine in the evening. The walls painted with off white paint. A small lamp was lit at the far end of the room. Other than that, the full moon was the only source of light. The room is spacious. Temari's bag and fan were set-aside to the corner opposite to the lamp. One bed, a desk and two picture frames. The room gives of the impression that no one uses it. The cleanliness was eerie. And yet one of the two frames lay broken on the cold hard ground.
Gaara learned through the years that having everything written down to a script isn't the best way to connect to people. And with that, he learned albeit unorthodox, his own way of communicating his tender feelings. This definitely isn't his expertise and he is still rather overwhelmed by his sister's situation. But reaching out is better than giving up.
Gaara tensely sits on his sister's bed. "There's nothing wrong with the documents."
He was so stiff. He barely put any weight on the bed it didn't even wrinkle. "I just wanted to ask you how you've been lately." He smiled with all his strength focused on hiding all his inhibitions. Kankuro taught him that a smile always eases tension. He isn't an expert just yet but he learned to pull his face muscles to form their own brand of handsome.
Temari sat beside his brother, the distance minimal. "It was as usual." She replied flatly. She doesn't know if she should open up but she can't lie to him. She can't lie to her heart.
She can see that he was worried about her. She saw right through him. With his change came his vulnerability. The boy was no longer afraid of hurting. His walls faded along with the chill in his voice, the terror in his eyes.
She looked at him for a while; his precious little brother who at one point was blamed for his own existence. She smiled a little. She knew she could never take back everything he lost in his youth. But as his eldest sister, she wanted to make him feel that all the pain in the past is worth it; that the 'now' they have is enough to compensate for the darkness.
"I…" His brother hesitated again, stuttering wasn't like him.
She started crying again but this time, less violently. "It's silly of me." She said. She was supposed to be the one opening her arms to him if he needed comfort. And here they are with roles reversed. "It's silly of me to cry about this, Gaara."
He looked at his sister with worry. He wrapped his arms around her and soon he found himself consoling her. "Kankuro told me."
She didn't explain because she couldn't. Right now she just couldn't keep the hurt inside. It wanted release.
"We're here for you. Kankuro and I." Small words from Gaara that meant everything to Temari.
It's been a week and a half since that night. When Gaara got home, he felt his sister's presence but it seemed like no one was home.
He took of his kazekage robes and went upstairs. Faint sobs from the other end of the hallway.
And here he is again. In front of her door.
Gaara knocks twice.
He knows this isn't the time to smile. But he's glad he can knock without hesitation anymore.
Because he knows he's always welcome.
This one picks up from chapter 3 incase you guys were wondering whatever happened to the Temari-Gaara talk :)
As usual, thank you so much for all the reviews and likes and follows! AHH thank you so much!
I'll update asap! Up next is a chapter on Ino.
'Till then!