A/N: Timeline: 1. a couple visits after their first reunion, but quite some time before he becomes Kazekage - 2. the first few months or so of their dating relationship.

XXII. The Shift

Back then

Gaara and Harley had just returned to town and were strolling through the main square. They had spent the morning on the outskirts, where Gaara was helping her learn Japanese. He used his sand to write out words and sentences for her to decipher. She figured it would be a good skill to learn, considering how often she visited this village where everyone speaks both languages.

As they walked through town, they got the usual staredown from everyone they passed. The other villagers took note of the unfamiliar girl with him the first time she returned. Was she insane? Did she know how dangerous that guy was?

They both tried to ignore their disgusted stares. But Gaara still felt bad. She shouldn't have to share in his burden when it wasn't her fault.

But still, she genuinely didn't care what they thought of her. She was just infuriated by the way these people still treated her dear friend.

The stares were whatever. But this time a small group of teens actually approached them.

"Hey. Why are you always with this guy?" one of them asked Harley. "Don't you know who he is?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I'm well aware of who he is," she replied in a snarky tone. "I'm always with him because he's my friend. Why do you care?"

"Because he's killed people! We came here to get you away from him. It's for your own safety."

The boy reached out to grab her arm, but she smacked it away.

"Back off!" she shouted. "Mind your own business! I swear, you people don't deserve someone as amazing as Gaara here in your village, serving and protecting you. You have no idea how lucky you are."

"He's a monster!"

"No, he's not!" she said firmly, her voice getting louder. "You all need to stop with that label."

"You don't know what he's like!"

"Really? You think I don't know one of my best friends? Try me, you prick!"

"Harley," Gaara said from behind, "let's just go."

He gently pulled his fuming friend away. The group of teens sighed in disgust and left her to her "fate."

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

Present day

As much as Harley could get in the zone when it came to office work, sometimes she really needed to get out for a bit.

She walked the short distance from the estate into the town square to get food somewhere. And lots of coffee.

Normally, she was supposed to take someone with her when walking around town, as she didn't have powers to defend herself if something happened, but short distances during the day were usually fine. She kept a taser on hand.

Despite that, she started regretting coming out alone when she was approached by a small group of strangers.

On second glance, however, these people looked familiar.

"Lady Harley," one of them said as they all bowed their heads. "We wanted to apologize to you. And we intend to apologize to Lord Kazekage as well."

"You guys are from back then…"

She remembered her own behavior not exactly being graceful towards the end there, during that incident, but she wasn't sorry. She wouldn't stand for her friend being verbally abused, especially when they acted like he wasn't literally right there listening.

"We're sorry for giving you a hard time, and for the ways we insulted Lord Kazekage," the guy said, to her surprise. "We were wrong."

"It's true," another group member said. "It took us a while, but we've come to accept him and we take back what we said."

"We're ashamed of ourselves! We're sorry!" echoed another.

It was a little dramatic, but sincere nonetheless.

"Look guys," Harley began. "I appreciate the apology. I really do. And I accept it. It's just…"

"Seriously, you were right, back then. We now know that Gaara-sama is a wonderful, respectable person."

Harley sighed.

"I just wish he didn't have to get a fancy job title in order for you to realize that."