Lee knocked on the front door of his house and waited for Guy to answer.
"Well, hello! How are y-?" Guy stopped midsentence when he noticed Gaara asleep on Lee's back. "Um, what…?" Lee stepped inside.
"I will explain in just a moment. Let me set him down first, please." Guy nodded as Lee walked into the living room and laid Gaara down on the couch. Lee blushed slightly and watched Gaara for a moment longer until Guy entered the room. He moved Gaara's feet and sat down on the couch as his father pulled a chair in front of him to sit in.
"So what happened?" Guy asked, his gaze jumping between his son and his strange friend asleep on the couch. Lee quickly explained what happened at the dojo and that Gaara had fallen asleep just a few moments after they started walking home. Guy nodded slightly and glanced at the clock.
"His brother said he would pick him up after he was done at the theater. Why don't you call him and tell him what happened?" Lee nodded swiftly and stepped out of the room, fumbling with his phone. Guy let out a long sigh. Something felt different about Lee. He wasn't surprised that he had managed to befriend someone like Gaara; everyone seemed to get along with Lee pretty well. He had a way of always being there, even if you didn't want him to. But that seemed to make everyone like him more. He was loyal and trustworthy.
What made Guy wonder was how Lee acted when Gaara's name was brought up. He started stuttering a lot and sometimes he even blushed. He talked about Gaara more than anyone else, including Sakura. Guy stopped and thought for a moment. There was definitely a chance that Lee might not be straight. Guy shrugged the thought off. He didn't care either way. If Lee found someone he really loved, even someone like Gaara, he would be happy.
"Um, Guy?" Lee glanced in the room. "Kankuro-san would like to speak with you for a moment." He handed the cell phone to his father and Guy walked into the kitchen to talk with Kankuro. Lee watched Gaara as he lay asleep on the couch before sitting back down. He took a deep breath as his pulse quickened. Why did his heart always beat faster around Gaara? He didn't even have to do anything, just looking at Gaara made him feel funny.
Finally Lee put the pieces together. Whenever he was around Gaara he stuttered, blushed, rambled on about pointless things, and stared at him. His heart beat faster just by looking at Gaara. Maybe he had been right before. Maybe he liked Gaara as more than just a good friend. It made quite a bit of sense. Lee stood up and walked upstairs to his room. He needed to think this over for a few.
Gaara mumbled and blinked a few times. Where was he? How did he get here? How long had he slept? He raised his head to look around a bit. He didn't recognize the house. Then he remembered training earlier, falling asleep, Lee carrying him home. This must be Lee's house. Well that answered two questions. Gaara pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and looked at the time. Seven forty-five, so he hadn't been asleep long. The room was empty except for the furniture and Gaara. He sat up quickly and looked around again. He could hear a voice, but it didn't sound like Lee's hyper tone.
"Alright, I'll just have Lee take him home." The voice said. "No don't worry; Lee is more than capable of something like this. He can walk back after." Gaara finally recognized the voice as Guy's. "Don't worry Kankuro-san, they'll be fine."
Gaara thought about what he just heard. Kankuro must be pulling an all-nighter at the theater again and Lee was walking him home. Maybe he could ask Lee why he was acting so strange around him.
"Oh, Gaara-san, you're awake." Guy smiled as he walked towards the stairs. I'm going to talk to Lee for a minute then he'll walk you home, alright?"
"Ok." Gaara nodded, watching Guy walk upstairs.
Lee stared blankly at the computer screen, only half listening to the song. He was still thinking about his feelings towards Gaara when his dad knocked on the door frame. "Oh, Guy…" Lee stared at the floor for a moment. "There was something I… I need to ask you about." He felt slightly embarrassed but quickly pushed the feeling away as he sat on the edge of his bed. Guy would never judge him for something like this. Lee knew that. Guy sat down next to him.
"What is it, Lee?" He asked softly. Lee usually wasn't nervous like this.
"I think, um…" Lee stared at the floor again. "I think I may like Gaara-kun… As more than a friend…" Lee's face was tinged pink. "I have never felt this strongly for anyone, even Sakura-chan. I think… I might be in love with him… Is that… normal?" He looked up, making eye contact with his dad. Guy looked at him thoughtfully then smiled.
"It doesn't matter if it's normal or not. No one has the right to judge you for anything like this." Guy laid his hand on Lee's shoulder. "If you think its love, then let it be. I'll always be here to support you in whatever you decide. But I think you should tell him how you feel." Lee nodded and Guy handed him his cell phone. "Kankuro-san is staying at the theater all night so I told him you would walk Gaara-san home. Tell him then, alright Lee?"
"Yes, sir!" Lee smiled and stood up with Guy. By just knowing that Guy supported him made him feel so much more confident. He followed his father downstairs and into the living room. Lee felt himself blush slightly as Gaara eyed him curiously and quickly looked away. Taking a deep breath he looked at Gaara once more. "Are you ready, Gaara-kun?" Gaara nodded and stood up, walking towards Lee. He paused and bowed slightly to Guy who bowed in return before following Lee to the front door. "I will be back in just a little while, Guy!" He waved and stepped outside with Gaara.
Both boys were silent for the first few blocks. Gaara was grumbling slightly at the idea of a five mile walk. Lee was chewing on his lower lip, trying to figure out a way to tell Gaara how he felt.
"Lee?" Gaara asked quietly. "Why do you start acting weird around me?" Lee sighed slightly.
"Well, to be honest, I think I may be in love with you, Gaara-kun." Lee forced himself to keep looking forward, aware that Gaara was watching him closely. Suddenly Gaara stopped walking, one hand gripping the fabric of his shirt over his heart.
"No… You can't…" He muttered. Lee looked back at him, confused. Gaara shook his head slowly, his eyes wide. "You can't… It's not true…" He looked up at Lee. "You're lying… You have to be…" Lee stepped back into the light of the streetlight above them, standing in front of Gaara. "Tell me you were lying…"
"I am not lying, Gaara-kun. I would never lie, especially about something like this." Lee said quietly.
"No, it's not true… You have to be lying… You can't love me… No one loves me…" Gaara spoke franticly. He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head violently. Gaara froze as Lee wrapped his arms around him.
"Gaara-kun, just calm down…" Lee whispered. "Please calm down… Just breathe…" Lee could feel Gaara's whole body shaking as they stood there. "Relax, Gaara-kun… It is alright…" Gaara gripped the front of Lee's shirt and pressed his face against his shoulder. Lee's voice calmed him slightly. Lee pulled Gaara closer for a moment then let go, but Gaara still clung to his shirt. "Let us get you home, Gaara-kun." Lee gently pulled Gaara off of him. Gaara nodded slightly. Lee took him by the hand and smiled gently. "Come on." Gaara stared at Lee as they began walking.
"How did you do it, Lee?"Gaara wondered as he gripped Lee's hand. "How did you make me need you so much by hardly doing anything?"