A/N: 2021 update: Heyo! I'm finally adding another drabble after a long hiatus. I've been away working on an original project but I haven't forgotten about sand boi. I recently watched WandaVision and got a little inspired for this one. It's another back in time, before-they-were-dating thing. Nauseating fluff as always. Enjoy.

XVI. A Grieving Friend

He was working so, so hard. Much of the village still didn't trust him, but he would prove himself no matter what it took. Despite their relentless hatred and cruelty, he couldn't help but care deeply for these people.

"Monster! As if we'd ever trust YOU! Just go cry in a corner like you always used to!"

"I don't know what you're trying to pull with this nice act, but you'll always be a curse to the village and the world!"

"Disgusting freak! Stay away from me!"

The young man had nothing but love in his heart despite everything. He was long finished with pretending to be sadistic. He tried to ignore the comments and focus on his goal. He would become the kindest and most dedicated Kazekage the village had ever known.

Harley was visiting him for about a week on one of her shorter school breaks. She didn't get to see him as much as she would've liked due to all of his missions and other related things, but she understood completely. She was probably his biggest cheerleader, after all.

One early evening they finally got to hang out for more than a few minutes. The sun was setting and they were on their way to the edge of town, to their favorite spot.

"I wanna hear all about your day," she said cheerfully as they walked. "Oh? Hold on one sec. Ryan's calling me."

Gaara watched the slowly fading sun reflect brightly off her hair as she stepped aside, unaware of his own trance. Every time she visited felt like a dream. She was basically the only one who cared about him as a person and who saw kindness in him, other than her sister and maybe his own siblings. He was still a bit uncertain about that at this point. But still, who was he to deserve such a friend?

His gentle smile turned into concern as she came back, looking ghostly pale; even for her.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I- um, apparently… my biological parents died today. They were in a car accident. Dad was drinking. Ryan wanted to tell me before I saw the news…"

"Oh Harley… I am so sorry."

She forced a smile. "It's fine. I mean, I haven't seen them since I was six. It's not like they cared about me anyways. Hayley's the only parent I need. It's fine…"

"Harley. It's all right to be upset."

She wiped away the single tear forming in the corner of her eye. "I think I just… need to lie down for a bit, or something. I'm gonna head back for the night. I'm sorry."

"Of course. Take all the time you need."

The moment she was out of sight was when it occurred to him that maybe he should've offered to at least walk her back.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Gaara took on a middle-of-the-night mission while the village was asleep. He wanted to be available during the day, though he didn't really know how to comfort someone; especially when they're grieving. He returned at dawn and read through a newspaper on a quiet patio. That's when he saw it, though it wasn't exactly a headline. Just a few tiny black letters on a large page, where several names were listed.

United States:

Jill and Scott Greene - deceased.

He studied their names for a few long moments. He felt sad, even though those two were of the very, very few people who he genuinely hated.

How could they not love her? And treat her so badly? What did she ever do to deserve it? And now they're still breaking her heart even after they're gone. What nerve they had.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed his thoughts. This wasn't about them. It was about his dear friend.

Did she want space to process things?

No… she shouldn't be alone. He surely wouldn't want to be alone if it were him.

But… was that just him? Would it be different for someone else?

Before he knew it he found himself heading towards her hotel.

What was he doing?

What was his plan?

Lord knows. He walked down the hall and saw that her door was cracked open. She must have not realized. He quietly knocked and awkwardly stepped in, finding her sitting at the edge of the bed watching some show on her large laptop.

She turned her head from the screen and forced a smile at him, though her face was clearly tear-stained.

"I… I don't mean to intrude…"

"You're not intruding. You're always welcome."

Without thinking he slowly took a seat next to her, not saying a word, and turned his attention to the show that she had on. Technology was still pretty foreign to him.

"It was a great kiss. If one of us had been a frog, it would have had some seriously impressive consequences."

"Is that supposed to be a reference?" Gaara asked.

"Yeah. It's a witty show."

Gaara took a deep breath. "Harley… I can't pretend to know what you're going through. You know that I've always been alone. It's all I knew before… well, you. But losing Father and Yashamaru, even though they hated me… it still hurt. They were still my family. That much, at least, I can understand."

"I just… feel like I should've done more. Any chance I had of reconciliation and making things right is… gone. I know I wasn't the daughter they wanted. I know they never wanted me in the first place. I know it's twisted but I feel like… maybe if I wasn't such a disappointment… maybe they wouldn't have kept drinking. Maybe they'd still be alive."

"No," he said firmly, causing her to look him in the eyes. "If there's one thing I can say with absolute certainty, it's that you are not a disappointment. You did nothing wrong. You're… more than I could've ever imagined in a person."

She smiled weakly. "Yeah?"

"...Yeah."

A loud sound effect on the screen brought their attention back to it.

"There's a phone call for you and if I'm to fetch you like a dog, I'd like a cookie and a raise."

"Hm. A bit rude, but witty," Gaara muttered.

"Heh, yeah," she said while smiling at him. "Witty."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The next day Gaara saw her walking around, looking at the sky. He clutched the object in his hand. He had never bought a gift before. He just hoped she would like it.

"...Are you holding up all right?" he asked nervously from behind.

"Oh, hey Gaara. I'm okay."

She didn't look it.

"I uh… got you something."

He held out a white teddy bear that was holding a fake succulent between its paws.

"Thought it might… help you feel better, perhaps…" he said, gazing at the ground and blushing lightly.

He looked back up as she took it from his hands. Chime sounds started coming from it when she squeezed its paw, which shocked them both.

"Oh… I guess it plays music too…" he said with widened eyes.

Harley started laughing and crying at the same time as she pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you, Gaara. I love it. You're the most thoughtful person I know."

A/N: show quotes are from Gilmore Girls because I had to.