Author's Note: I do not own the Naruto characters.

Two days later…

Science. Was there any subject that was more interesting and yet more boring at the same time?

Lee sighed and tapped the end of his pen against the page, looking at the board and trying to work out if he was supposed to be copying it down. Biology was a subject he [i]had[/i] to take, however, to even begin to qualify for the animal care course he was aiming for. He had a long journey ahead of him.

He was beginning to think that he might have to embarrass himself by asking but he was saved by the tutor looking up at the clock and smiling.

"Okay guys, that's all for today. Don't forget I need your assignment on cell manipulation in by next week at the latest! Lee, can I have a word?"

Lee gave a slow blink before nodding, packing his things away and moving to the front of the class, looking worried.

"What's up?" he asked. "I'm not in trouble, right?"

"No, of course not." the man smiled. "You were looking for a tutor, weren't you?"

"Oh!"

Lee lit up and nodded firmly.

"Yes, yes I have! I haven't managed to find anyone with enough free time yet!" He'd come to realise about a week ago that he couldn't possibly handle the biology assignments, as well as the maths he was taking on top, on his own. But finding someone who had passed both, or either as it turned out, was tricky.

"Well, we had a young man volunteer. He's a university student, but he says he has enough free time to handle just one person. And he decided on you."

"That's fantastic!" Lee said happily.

"In fact, he should be here now. He said he'd be here to meet you." Lee's tutor beamed. "Come along…he should be in the staff room."

He picked up his papers and led Lee down to the staff room that most of the science tutor frequented. He knocked to check there was no-one inside before smiling and opening up the door to reveal Lee's new tutor.

"Gaara? What in the heck are you doing here?"

Well, that was more or less the exact response Gaara had expected from Lee, actually. Maybe a little louder, but he was quickly learning that Lee rarely raised his voice when he was calm. And even this little shock wasn't enough to make him offend his tutor by yelling.

Gaara smiled to himself and stood up, crossing his arms and looking at Lee levelly.

"I'm here to offer my services as a tutor," he said simply. "I believe you need one."

"Yes, but…but…!"

Lee looked up at his tutor with accusation in his eyes.

"You said a university student! He's younger than I am!"

"Nevertheless, I am a university student. I attend Canterbury Christ Church and have for some time. Check if you don't believe me." Gaara said casually. "I take Maths and Science, and I've passed A-Levels in both of these subjects. I can show you my certificates if it'll help."

Lee looked at him with an open mouth, eyes even rounder than usual.

"You…you've passed already?"

"When I was fifteen. With A stars." Gaara said, just a little smugly. "It was easy. I'll teach you."

"Lee, he really is a clever lad." Lee's tutor said quietly. "I suggest that you take my advice and let Gaara tutor you."

Lee huffed loudly, looking thoroughly put out.

"This is because I wouldn't go out with you, isn't it you sneaky git," he muttered.

"Yup!" Gaara said cheerfully. "You said you were too busy with studies. I thought that, maybe if I helped you with them, you'd have more free time and maybe you'd take me up on that date."

Well, he was never shy about expressing what he wanted. And he wanted Lee. Badly. No-one had turned him down since his balls had dropped and he wanted to know more about the young man that his sister, too, now had a crush on. Though he doubted that would last long. As soon as his brother's best friend appeared on the scene again she'd go back to obsessing over him and go back to doodling 'Mrs. Inuzuka' on her school books again.

Lee really didn't look impressed, but somehow he still looked cute, even when he was fed up. In fact, Gaara rather thought that pout he was sporting was the best expression he'd seen yet on the older boy's face.

"Fine." Lee finally said with a reluctant sigh. "But if you make a move on me, I'll sock you one!"

Gaara smirked widely and let his tongue flicker over the corner of his lips.

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

"I totally don't get this!" Lee groaned, letting his head thunk onto the Sabaku's kitchen table. Matsuri looked over his shoulder and winced sympathetically.

"Ouch! How come you have to take Maths if you're going to be a vet anyway?"

"It helps if you can calculate how much medicine to give an animal…" Gaara muttered thoughtfully. He was trying to think of a way to get Lee to understand advanced algebra, but his poor friend, for that's what he now considered Lee to be, just could not get his head around it.

He'd been tutoring Lee for almost two weeks now, and the countdown to Christmas was getting ever closer. He'd made a vow with himself after all…but Lee was being very difficult!

He made sure they were never too close, tried to make sure they were never alone and, whenever Gaara did manage to bring the subject of dates up, he would change the subject so quickly it would make your head spin.

It wasn't just during their studies either. Gaara had been making excuses to come home from parties early just so he could catch ten or fifteen minutes alone with Lee while he looked after his sister. He usually got no more than that before his father got home and Lee started insisting he needed to leave.

"Alright…" he muttered, pointing to the problem in front of them once again. "You've got to come up with your own way of remembering how this goes. Nothing I suggest is really going to stick because it has to matter to you! Uh…how about…"

He had a sudden thought and wondered why it hadn't occurred to him before. He knew the kind of things Lee obsessed over...

"How about trying to calculate how much weight you can lift?"

Lee's eyes lit up with comprehension and Gaara knew he had it.

"So…you really have no idea what to get her?"

Gaara shook his head slowly and Lee smiled to himself. It had taken a lot for Gaara to ask him for help with his Christmas shopping done. He was all set for his father and brother, but his sisters were giving him trouble.

Matsuri he could ask easily enough, but Temari was rarely at home nowadays, and apparently she was a little touchy when it came to gifts. Having only met her once, Lee really didn't know why he was here, other than maybe a fresh look on things.

"Well, you said she likes decorative fans, right?"

"Yes, but everyone buys her them." Gaara huffed. "I want my gift to stand out this year."

Lee hummed in thought and looked at the window displaying the beautiful fans with a tilt of his head. He rather liked the fan-holder he was looking at for himself, actually. It was a young woman, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. With the fan in her hand, it almost looked like-oh!

"How about a full-sized fan?" he suggested eagerly. Gaara looked at him in question and Lee pointed to the statue, knowing Gaara would get it. He'd come to realise that his friend could recognise physical signs much easier than words. He tended to read body language and expected those close to him to do the same.

Gaara stared at the statue for a moment before it hit him and he grinned in a way that was frankly terrifying.

"Lee. You're a genius," he stated, moving to hold the door to the shop open for the older boy.

"I know." Lee grinned, going through the door happily.

"So…explain to me again why you won't date him." TenTen said with a sigh, passing the star up to Lee so he could place it on top of the tree.

"I…I don't know anymore." Lee sighed. "He was way too cocky at first, but now… I don't know. I like him, I guess, but it feels too much like giving in. You know I don't like to loose!"

"That's dumb," his friend stated, standing back to admire their new tree. "But that looks amazing Lee! You've got a real eye for it."

Lee grinned and jumped off the ladder, standing next to her to admire his handiwork.

"Not bad at all," he agreed, blinking as there was a knock at the door. "We expecting anyone?"

TenTen shook her head and went to start placing presents under the tree, silently stating that it would be Lee getting the door.

Lee rolled his eyes and headed to the front door of the orphanage where he lived. It was a small one, never holding more than twenty children, aged between three to eighteen. Lee was the eldest, TenTen just behind him. Far too old to be adopted.

He opened the door and blinked in surprise at the…large present that appeared to be standing in the doorway.

"Lee? Please let me in." the present begged. It sounded like…

"Gaara? Is that you behind there?" Lee giggled, taking the present to reveal a very harassed looking red head.

"Yes," he stated needlessly. "Sorry… I tried to drop this off earlier but nobody answered."

"We were burning last year's tree. It's a tradition." Lee explained. "Come inside, it's freezing! Rumour says we might even get a white Christmas this year."

"That's kind of why I'm here…" Gaara said, actually looking nervous for the first time in the three weeks Lee had known him. "Uh…we were wondering if you'd like to join us for Christmas dinner? I know that you must have other plans here, but…I'd really like it if you'd consider it."

Lee put the present down, cheeks flushing red at the invite. Gaara…wanted them to spend Christmas together?

"Does your father mind?" he asked, pulling the large gift into the living room. TenTen had, tactfully, left.

"It was his suggestion, actually. Temari and Kankuro haven't really had a chance to meet you, and I know Matsuri would love it if you'd come-"

"Alright."

Gaara gave a slow blink before his lips twitched into a small smile.

"Really? Then…do you mind if I consider this a date?" he asked. "Lee…I'm not used to asking for things. I don't usually need to. Things that I want have a way of falling into my lap. When it comes to dates…sometimes that's literally. No-one's ever turned me down before, and at first, I just wanted to prove I could have you. I liked you, of course, but it was more about the fact that you'd turned me down than the fact that I liked you as a person."

Lee frowned at the admission and gestured to the sofa. Gaara sat down gratefully. He looked…almost confused.

"I…I'm not good at expressing myself with words Lee, you know that," he muttered. "But…I like you. A lot. And I think this could be something good, if you let it be."

"Three weeks Gaara. That's not enough time to like someone that much." Lee stated.

"It is with you." Gaara argued. "You're so open…sometimes you make me want to slap a hand over your mouth! The things you admit to and say… But it just makes me want to know more."

Lee sighed and nibbled at his bottom lip.

"It's physical too."

The admission caught Lee off-guard and he blushed as Gaara moved closer.

"I've never met anyone who's made me [i]want[/i] the way you do," the red head admitted in a low tone. "Every time I see you move…I want to know what's under the clothes. I want to know what you taste like…how your body would feel under mine."

"Gaara-"

"I know. You don't want a relationship based on sex." Gaara stated, sounding irritated. "You told Matsuri that once…I was listening. I listen a lot. I know more about you than you realise. And I can wait for you. Until you're ready. But I've just made a complete fool of myself Lee, so…please."

And it was that which did it. Something in Lee uncurled and he found himself looking at Gaara with critical eyes. He felt it too…had done from that first night… But this was…

"Christmas. And if you behave yourself, I'll let you take me out on a real date." Lee said firmly.

Gaara's entire face lit up, though his expression hardly changed. It didn't need to.

Lee knew him well enough to tell.