The Sandman is a mythical character in Northern European folklore who brings good dreams by sprinkling magic sand onto the eyes of children while they sleep at night. (Wikepedia).
Song to go with this chapter: Wires by The Neighbourhood
The Sandman
Chapter 2
Sun Demon
She hates her life a little, she really does. She's tired of the constant gloominess that follows her day to day, hovering over her head like a heavy rain cloud. She is so tired of this continuous funk. She is so tired of watching her friends pass her by, achieving bigger and better things while she stands there idly, calling out to them but never getting a response back.
She's just lucky that her father hasn't cut her off yet. He continues to pay for her tuition despite the fact that they're on terrible terms. Even if Hinata is not the heir to his chain of 5-star hotels anymore.
But that's another story altogether; and there are many stories. At least they all end the same-Hinata will forever be invisible and alone.
Today, the Gods have decided that Hinata's mental rain is not enough and have thus implemented actual storm clouds to literally rain on her parade as she walks home from work. She reaches into the bag for her umbrella; only to realize that Ino had stole it from her that morning, being inconsiderate, as always. The Hyuga wants to cry. She also kind of wants to die.
She continues down the road, her feet dragging against the concrete with defeat. Her problems are so miniscule but she still feels terrible about them. She doesn't like that she always feels this way when she has no real problems. Her father is rich, she has a home, and she's attending one of the best colleges in the country. Honestly, what is there for her to be sad about? She's not dying or homeless. If she ever got back into her father's good graces, she would have the world at her fingertips.
But she still feels it. Feels nothingness. Right there, right in her chest, in her mind, in the pit of her stomach. It's cold and it seeps through her skin like a ghost. Like a demon. So much nothing.
It clouds her thoughts and shields her eyes and she can no longer see the sunlight.
She doesn't know when it started, and she doesn't know when it will end, but sometimes it's just so hard to get out of bed in the mornings.
Why are you so sad? Ino's annoyed voice rings clear through her thoughts, filling the void with negativity. It's worse than all that nothing.
I don't know, she would answer. I'm not sad! She would quickly deny when Ino's face would change. Shikamaru would stare her down, a cigarette hanging between his lips. He would send her a look like he just knows before turning back to his girlfriend, indulging her in the latest gossip. Hinata likes to think that he did that to help her.
She doubts it though. Shikamaru and her have never talked much and she thinks he doesn't like her much even though she doesn't have any reason to believe it. Despite this, Hinata still hopes he did it to help her. If only to have someone on her side.
Cheer up! Kiba would beg. He'd only bother her about it when they were alone, walking Akamaru together in a park. You're making Akamaru sad, look at him!
And Hinata would look at him. And Akamaru would be wagging his tail, his tongue half out of his mouth as if her pain was funny to him. Hinata knew that that was a silly thought, because Akamaru was just a dog and she was just a pessimist.
Sometimes it is hard to see the good things. The nothing helps with that. It sucks the life out of her. What used to be her favorite book? Who was her favorite artist? For Gods sake, what was her favorite fucking chick flick!?
What used to make her smile?
Something evil in the back of her mind utters the word. Three syllables long. It's like a whisper coming from the nothing, its cold hands slipping around her skull and squeezing.
Naruto.
Naruto used to make her smile.
Her mom did too. But she's gone and Naruto's not. And she's worth this pain.
Naruto's not.
And even if he isn't, Hinata's bottom lip still trembles. And her fingers still clench. And her head still aches. And when the first few tears fall down her face they mix with the rain like the Gods had predicted this. They knew she would crash and they would provide an invisibility cloak around her. Maybe the Gods aren't so bad after all. That's why, when her tears mix with the rain and her heart swells with nothing, she doesn't blame them the slightest bit.
She continues to walk with her head down, biting her lip so hard she's scared she'll draw blood. She watches her feet thunder against the pavement right until they collide with something. She lands right on her butt.
Something grunts and Hinata slowly looks up to see a tall dark figure leaning over her with big shoulders and big hands. She's convinced that her demons have finally come to get her.
And then green eyes peer at her, full of unveiled curiosity. She swears she sees his lips twitch but the Sandman doesn't smile. Instead his lips twist to mutter, "Fate."
She blanches and he offers a hand. After a second, she grabs it and he pulls her back to her feet. She still isn't sure if he's a demon or not. By the way his hand is squeezing her own, she's sure he might be.
"D-determinism." She mumbles back despite the fact that this is definitely not an incident she brought upon herself. She is back to cursing the Gods despite the fact that she'd been dreaming about this meeting when she wasn't having nightmares.
"Hm." He doesn't use words to note his disagreement or tell her of her denial. His eyes sweep over her smaller frame, passing from soggy converse to soggy hair. They pause on her eyes for more than she is comfortable with and she's scared that he could tell she was crying. If he does notice he doesn't say anything. He just stands there looking interested.
"S-Sandman-"
"-Gaara." He cuts her off. "I told you my name for a reason, you know."
Hinata clamps her mouth shut and watches him walk past her. Her fingers twitch and she wants to follow him a little too much for comfort. She stares as his imposing figure walks away from her. Finally, she bites her lip and sprints after him. "Wait! San...Gaara!"
He turns slowly and blinks at her, reminding her of a cat. Not the cute kind either. Gaara is no house cat, he's a beast. She can tell by the look in his eyes and it scares her. It scares her so much she stops feeling nothing.
"I thought you would follow." He says it with such a monotone that she can't tell if he was confirming an idea or asking why she hadn't started following him in the first place. "A-Ah...Oh," Is all Hinata can come up with in response.
"Listen," Gaara says, "We can play this game if you want but don't go pretending that I'm some kind of hero." His voice washes over her like an ocean. An ocean of magic, of mystery, of dreams.
"G-game?"
His eyes stare her down and suddenly she is hit with pure heat. It melts away the cold of the nothing, it burns her skin. He is a sauna, he is the desert. He is sand and wind and pure fire. He can burn her and that scares her.
But he can also take away the cold.
And then she is shoved into the nearby lamp post. Gaara bares his teeth as if trying to show her that he is not a nice guy at all and squeezes her wrist.
She doesn't even think about feeling surprised. She bites back a smile at the feeling running through her core. Excitement. Exhilaration.
It still scares her though. Her heart almost jumps out from her chest. Ribs are cages for a reason.
"I'm not going to save you."
She hadn't asked him to.
"I am not your hero."
She believes him. She looks down at where his hand grips her wrist. Her skin is burning under his hand as if he has just set her on fire. His gaze scorches the skin that he's dared to look at and she flinches away.
He will melt away the nothing but leave burn marks in return.
That is not a fair trade at all. What will she leave on him? What can she contribute? This is not a game if it's so one sided. She voices this to the sun demon, not longer listening to what the Gods have to say about any of this.
"Hn." He seems impressed. "I will not hurt you if you don't get in the way."
He will not scar her with burns if she doesn't spread her cold. She can live with that. Who is she to spread her darkness? "A-Alright."
Gaara appraises her before closing his eyes, "I'm leaving. Don't follow."
She wonders how a sun demon can be so cold. His hair is red as the angry sun but his eyes are as green hard ice cold crystals. His black figure retreats and Hinata lets the word 'fate' echo through her head.
She feels the nothing return as he walks out of her sight. She wills it away.
Next time she sees him, it will be because she wanted it that way.
Fate will not have its way with her…
…Even if The Sandman will visit her dreams every night until they meet again.
Dreams. Not nightmares.
AN. Still not sure if I like this or not.