A/N: Hi. I don't really write fanfics anymore, partly because life happened, and partly because I know my fics are cheesy and stupid and I'm a lil embarrassed ngl. But I'm still obsessed with Gaara and others and sometimes I need to express that through fluffy writing. So enjoy a couple new drabbles.

XVII. Never Unloved

The day of Gaara's reunion with Harley

The young Jinchuriki was heading off to this supposedly urgent mission with Temari and Kankuro, still shook. After six long, painful years, he had just come face to face with his friend from years past whom he had been led to believe he made up.

He wanted to go back and talk to her more than anything. But at the same time, he was afraid. She didn't have the slightest idea about the monster he had become. He didn't have the right to be her friend anymore. Having to leave on this mission was a relief in that way.

Eventually, he turned to his siblings as they walked.

"Can you two please just tell me… just once more…" he began.

"Hm? What is it?"

"...You saw her too, right?"

"Of course we did. Why would you ask that?"

They didn't know what Rasa had told him and put him through over the years. Not the big stuff.

"No, it's nothing."

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

Day 2

Gaara and Harley were back at the same spot as the evening before, watching the sunset behind the sand dunes.

He was informed that she finally got ahold of Hayley earlier, who desperately wanted to talk to him and see his face. She wanted to do something called a "video chat" with a device Harley had called a "smart phone." Gaara didn't understand the technology of other countries. But regardless, he was ashamed to face her as well. Especially after she saved his life all those years ago.

"I'm still not so sure you should be hanging around me," he said.

"Are you still going on about that? I know you're not a bad person."

"Don't you see, Harley? I'm worried about your safety, just being around me. I'd never want to hurt you, but with my history, and the possibility of this monster in me going out of control, I… I can't guarantee you'll be safe. You might end up caught in a sand coffin or worse..."

There was no hesitation.

"Well. I guess that's a chance I'm just gonna have to take."

"But… why? That's senseless."

"'Cause we're friends."

"Listen, if I relapse-"

"You won't. I know you won't, because I know you."

It had only been a day. He was struggling to let love in. He was basically trying to convince Harley that he was still a monster, like it was a debate to be won.

"Gaara, you don't need to do this. You keep trying to find reasons why you're unacceptable and unworthy of being my friend, but it's not gonna work. We're friends and I'm not going anywhere."

"But the people I killed…"

"Once again, it wasn't you. It was Shukaku and your dad."

"But I didn't care. I enjoyed it."

"I think we both know that's not true. That's a lie you were forced to tell yourself. You've always cared about people. You wouldn't be telling me all this stuff and worrying about me if you didn't care."

He once again found himself unable to look her in the eye. He was also trying to stay composed, which was getting harder by the minute. Almost a repeat of the evening before.

Harley took his hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Gaara, look at me."

"I'm not… I can't…"

"Then listen to what I'm about to say and remember it. You've been alone all this time and believing lies, but Sis and I… we never stopped loving you. And we never will."

That's when his floodgates broke.

"You've never been unloved. Not since we met you."