Hinata curled up in bed with her covers over her head, embarrassed. She gave Gaara his sleep treatment and scuttled off to the safety of her room.
Shukaku knew what happened and thought it was hilarious! She was never so mortified. Gaara hadn't meant it, so she immediately exited the situation. Suddenly, their position was uncomfortable and embarrassing. They were just so open with each other, and she slammed the door in his face.
Hinata whimpered. She scared him horribly. She hadn't noticed his change of body language or tone at first in her embarrassment. She felt horrible. She wasn't sure if she was grateful for his lack of understanding or not.
On the one hand, he was unaware of the reason for her embarrassment. However, Shukaku was aware, but she worried Gaara. On the other, if he did understand, she wouldn't have worried him, and he would give her his real reaction, but what if he was disgusted and rejected her?
This was embarrassing and confusing! Hinata was sick with worry. She knew her reaction was expected. He was attractive, and he was her fiancé, but it was not something they had talked about, and she wasn't sure she was ready to talk about it.
Hinata avoided thinking about their relationship in that way. As far as she knew, he thought of her as a friend, the friend he was marrying. She was okay with being just that, but what did he think?
Hinata swirled scenarios in her head. Did she? Did he? What if he didn't, she shouldn't. If he did, did she?
Gaara was so isolated from human interaction. Did he even understand?
Hinata was getting no sleep. It would seem.
Hinata was tired at breakfast. Gaara noticed the shadow under her eyes. He didn't know what to do. She looked like she hadn't slept. She nibbled slower than usual, like she wasn't feeling well.
Gaara didn't feel like eating either.
Should he ask? Hinata stonewalled him last night. He stared at his breakfast, trying to figure out what he should do.
"I'm sorry," Hinata mumbled into her tea.
"What?" Had he missed something?
"Last night, I'm sorry." Hinata's eyes brimmed with tears, but none fell.
Gaara stared at her blankly. Now she was apologizing for it? She told him it wasn't his fault, but he was doubting more by the second. Shukaku started his annoying laughter once more. "Why can't you just tell me? We've talked about everything that has come up."
"It's very uncomfortable," Hinata whispered.
"So, is he laughing," Gaara added.
Hinata flushed. "Well, if you think it is so funny, Shukaku-san, you tell him!" She shrunk despite her tone.
Gaara waited. The beast found her outburst even funnier. 'What!' He shouted in his head.
'Your breathing affected your little partner.' Shukaku continued to laugh.
"Breathing?" Gaara asked aloud.
Hinata squeaked, covering her face. That was it? His breathing? He's breathing now? Was he an idiot? 'On her.' The beast clarified.
Gaara huffed, irritated. "Hinata, come here." Hinata hesitantly got up and shuffled over to him. Gaara pulled her down toward him. "Just show me." Hinata tried to pull away, but he gently tugged her hands back down. "I would like this all to stop, and I would like it to stop with me understanding why you are acting strangely. It's distracting."
Hinata chewed her lip before closing her eyes and moving down to his neck, where he was the night before. She took a deep, deliberate breath blowing a hot gust of air on his neck.
Gaara went rigid. He suddenly understood the reason she was acting so odd. He felt heat come to his face. Was that blushing? Did he look like she did? He felt his heart rate quicken and the hairs on his neck stand up. Hinata started to move away, but he held tighter to her fingers. "Oh."
Gaara noticed this misunderstanding was again the fault of his lack of contact with others. No one had ever breathed on him, let alone on him like that.
Was she bothered by the feeling? Was she embarrassed because he didn't know he had done it?
"Yeah." Hinata sighed, unintentionally bringing back the feeling to his neck. Gaara gave her room to pull back. She kept a shaky grip on his hands.
Hinata was uncomfortable but deliberately trying not to run from him. She was waiting for his answer to her unasked question. He had to make a decision now. Waiting would make her doubt herself. He had no doubt it was what kept her up.
What now?
Gaara never considered their relationship being more physical than it already was. This was an arranged marriage. He reminded himself. She was his friend, she was his fiancé and would be his wife. He never expected anything more than the title and the sleeping arrangement to change on their wedding night, and that was just a formality. He was a grown man. He understood physical relationships, but he never considered him being a part of relations with anyone, and he honestly didn't know how.
Kisses came first. From what Gaara understood, full kisses meant something. He would wait for that. He gazed at her trembling fingers with an idea. He brought the delicate, trembling fingers to his lips, testing the feeling and giving her his answer.
Hinata sucked in a breath, audibly gasping. She stared at him, red and surprised. She stopped trembling, and then she wobbled.
He had just enough time to catch her.
Hinata woke to purple and squeaked. She sat up, smacking Kankuro square in the forehead. Rubbing her sore face. What happened?
Gaara was sitting at his desk, his cheeks holding color, his eyes piercing the paper a little too hard to be reading it. He was embarrassed.
Kankuro chuckled. "You are quite the lightweight."
Hinata covered her mouth as she realized Gaara had told him why she fainted.
"Come on, work to do." Kankuro chuckled, helping her up off the couch.
Hinata crumbled onto his couch, heavily embarrassed.
Gaara's stomach twisted. Shukaku laughed. Kankuro said it was a good sign, but how was fainting a good sign? "I'm sorry," Gaara said suddenly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have."
"No, it's fine." Hinata straightened. "I'm just embarrassed. I've been teased all my life for it."
"What?" Gaara asked.
"What are you talking about?" Hinata noticed the disconnect.
"The kiss," Gaara replied flatly.
"Oh! No, don't apologize for that!" Hinata fidgeted with her ring. "I was talking about me, fainting." Hinata was okay with the kiss, but not her response?
"I did that." Gaara pressed.
"No, I was tired and flustered and not expecting it." Hinata fidgeted further with her fingers, rubbing the spot his lips touched. The spot on her, he had pressed his lips.
His.
He shook the feeling.
"I'm fine, really. Just surprised." Hinata explained.
Gaara believed her. The whole thing upset him and made him doubt his decisions.
Hinata felt dreadful again.
Hinata gathered her courage and approached his desk. Gaara put his pen down, offering his hand. She took it and leaned on his desk, embarrassed, losing her nerve already. He placed his other hand on her hip, curiosity.
Hinata was comforted by his willingness to still so openly touch her without thinking about it.
Gaara didn't understand why she came over. He was more innocent than she was. Hinata laid the hand he gave her palm up. She could feel the curiosity coming off him in waves. She gently brushed her fingers to open it fully flat and, with what was left of her courage, leaned down to press her lips to his palm. She was sure her reaction was unwarranted, but he would not expect it either.
Gaara stiffened.
Hinata pulled his hand away as she straightened. Should she go back to her spot? She made her point. Her courage was gone. His red face melted her nerves instantly, and she covered her smile as she tried not to laugh. He was shocked and mortified.
Gaara tugged her forward to bury his face in her stomach, hiding the confusion of his new embarrassment as she giggled at his reaction. At least he didn't faint.