Archive of Our Own

Kankuro and Gaara arrived at the gates of Konoha after a little over four days of travel. After getting caught in a torrential downpour, their trip took longer than they wanted and both of the Sand ninja were tired, damp, and irritated. Gaara hid it well when he greeted Kakashi. Kankuro, not so much.

“Ah, hello you two,” Kakashi had greeted with a smile somewhat visible behind his mask. “We were beginning to think you wouldn’t make it. You had us worried.” Gai wasn’t with him, Gaara noted briefly. Most likely he was already at the office with the others.

Gaara took his Kage hat off, holding it in front of his chest with a weary smile. “We ran into some unfortunate weather once we reached River Country. And of course, being from the desert, neither of us are quite as used to these heavy rains. We took some precautions and chose to wait out the storm.”

“Yeah, it fuckin sucked,” Kankuro said, raising his arms and putting them behind his head. Gaara gave him a mildly annoyed look at that, but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t like he was wrong.

Kakashi’s eyes closed as he chuckled. “Sorry to hear that. I hope you’re feeling well enough to still have our summit today.”

“Yes, we should be fine,” Gaara said before Kankuro could get another complaint in.

Nodding, Kakashi turned his head in a quick glance over his shoulder. “We’re just waiting on Shikamaru.” He looked back at the two of them. “He’ll be your escort while you’re in the village.”

And the look on Gaara’s face when Kakashi said that. Kankuro knew that look. Temari used that look on him when she wanted him to do the dishes for her, or when she wanted him to go buy her a snack. Gaara was pouting!

He couldn’t stop himself from snorting, even as Gaara spoke. “Lee is usually my escort…” He frowned a little harder for a moment before he seemed to think of something and he smiled. “Ah, he must be off on some mission, then?”

Kakashi seemed to cringe a little bit, then. Looking away again and rubbing at his neck awkwardly, he said, “Uhhh, no, um- Lee’s – Lee’s here in the village.”

“Oh.” The pout was back on Gaara’s face. Kankuro was smirking at it.

“He’s, um, kind of going through something personal right now, though. I gave him some time off while he deals with it…” Kakashi definitely looked uncomfortable now.

Gaara’s frown had turned from petulant to serious now. “Personal? Is he hurt?”

“Ah there’s Shikamaru!” Kakashi quickly hurried to greet his subordinate. He was walking away so fast. “Well, I have to head back to the tower and make sure everyone is ready once you two arrive! Don’t mind me! See you in just a bit!” And then he vanished from sight.

Shikamaru stared at the spot where Kakashi had just been with a confused frown. “What was that all about?”

Gaara and Kankuro walked over to Shikamaru’s side. Kankuro greeted him with a casual wave and a “hey” but Gaara frowned at him and skipped the greetings. “Shikamaru- what’s going on?”

Shikamaru cocked his head to the side, frowning as his confusion grew. “Huh?”

“Kakashi kinda implied that something was up with the Littler Bowl Cut,” Kankuro explained.

Gaara took a step toward Shikamaru, forcing himself more into his line of sight, almost stepping in front of his brother. “Is he all right?”

“Oh.” Shikamaru blinked a few times before sighing and letting his shoulders droop. “If you mean physically, yeah- Lee’s fine.” Gaara’s posture relaxed a little bit hearing that. “But I honestly don’t really know what’s going on with him. He’s not really talking to anyone.” He sighed again. “I mean besides Gai, Tenten, and Neji... Nobody else has been in to see him and he won’t answer the door for anyone else that tries.” Kankuro was surprised by that. Lee was usually all too excited and hospitable with every single one of his friends. To hear that he wasn’t talking to anyone aside from his own team? That was unusual. And well, Kankuro couldn’t see Gaara’s face from this angle, but judging from the way he was shifting his fingers it was obvious Gaara was concerned too. Probably more concerned than he was, really. Definitely more than he was.

“Sakura even tried to bring him some flowers and Tenten had to turn her away.” Shikamaru turned his head in the direction they all knew Lee’s apartment to be in. “It’s weird. I’ve never seen him like this before. You’d think Gai sensei was dying with how somber Neji and Tenten act every time we ask about it.”

Kankuro finally stole a look at his little brother’s face and could plainly see the concern all over him. Gaara, even after being Kazekage for so many years, only had a small handful of people he really considered friends. And seeing how often he was getting letters and gifts sent from Lee, and from personal experience living with Gaara, Kankuro knew that Lee was one of the few Gaara felt particularly close to. He could see from the furrowing of his brow and the tightness of his shoulders that he was worried about his friend.

“Do you think we’d be able to see ‘im?” Kankuro asked, trying to diffuse the tension a little bit.

Gaara turned to look at him as he asked that, but quickly looked back at Shikamaru as he answered. “You can try, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” he said, voice flat and bored, “When I said he’s not letting anyone else in, I meant it. Even Naruto wasn’t able to get in to talk to him.”

Judging by the way Gaara’s frown settled into something stiff, Kankuro figured at the very least he would be paying Rock Lee a visit during their time here during the Kage Summit. Whether he dragged Kankuro along with him was another story. For his sake, he hoped not. He didn’t want to have to see Gaara’s sad face again if Lee turned him away.

“Well, come on, I’m sure Gai and Kakashi finally got all the other Kage settled down by now. Let’s get going.”

“Right.”

The knock at the door had Tenten pushing herself to her feet. Resting a hand on Lee’s shoulder, she said to her teammate, “I’ll go see who it is, all right?” Lee only looked up at her and nodded silently.

She pulled the door open, already starting to say, “Look, Naruto, I told you. Lee doesn’t want- oh!” She stopped, however, when she saw the person on the other side of the door wasn’t Naruto. “Gaara,” she greeted him with a bow. “Hey, I completely forgot you were here for the summit this week.”

“Hello, Tenten,” he said. “How is Lee?” His face and voice were neutral, but Tenten had spent enough time around Temari to recognize the worried look in his eyes. The two siblings had very similar tells. The corners of his eyes were tense and tight looking, and there was the slightest crease forming between his bare brows.

“He’s going through some stuff right now.”

Gaara nodded. “I heard… No one will say what has happened.” He still didn’t look nervous, but the way he paused then made Tenten take notice. “He’s not… hurt, is he?”

Ah, that made sense. She offered him a small, hopefully reassuring, smile. “No, Gaara, he’s not hurt.” With a little bit of a laugh, she teased, “Believe me, if that’s all that was wrong, we’d all be having to fight with him to get him to rest and stay in bed.”

She visibly saw the way Gaara’s rigid posture relaxed after she said that. His eyes softened up and a small smile curled at his mouth. “Good,” he breathed, hardly more than a whisper. “Would… Would I be able to see him?” Tenten bit her lip and chewed it worriedly. Lifting up a bag that he had been holding, Gaara said, “I brought him some food.”

Tenten glanced down at the bag. She had been so preoccupied talking to Gaara that she hadn’t even noticed it. As soon as he held it up, though, she seemed to be hit in the face by the smell coming from it. She smiled a little bit. “Curry?”

“Yes.”

Scoffing softly and shaking her head a little bit, she took a step back. “All right… If there’s anyone I trust to be gentle about this with Lee, it’s you. Come on in. I think he’ll be happy to see you brought his favorite food if nothing else.” She stepped aside and let him in before closing the door behind him. “Don’t push it if he doesn’t want to talk, though… okay?”

Gaara nodded silently at her request and followed her into Lee’s apartment.

Lee was kneeling on the floor by his little table, holding a small piece of paper in his hands. “Tenten, who was…?” He stopped and squeaked in surprise when he saw Gaara behind his teammate. “G-Gaara!” Immediately he straightened his posture- pulling his back out of the slouch it had been in moments ago. Tenten resisted the urge to roll her eyes and smiled.

“Hey Lee, Gaara brought you some curry,” she said, coming to kneel by his side.

“O-oh,” Lee folded the paper in his hands and tucked it away in his vest. “Than-thank you… Gaara.” He offered a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Gaara joined the two of them on the cushions around Lee’s little table and set out the containers. He offered one to Tenten, but she quickly held up her hands. “Ah- did you ask for Lee’s order when you bought this?”

“I did.”

“Yeah, then I’m gonna pass. You know how spicy Lee likes his curry,” she paused, putting a hand to her abdomen. “My stomach can’t handle that much spice.”

Gaara didn’t argue, he simply nodded and pulled the container back. He had ordered himself a less spicy batch, but had assumed Lee’s teammates also enjoyed spice like Lee did. “My apologies,” he said, “I didn’t realize.”

She waved her hand absently. “It’s all right. Lee can eat my leftovers. Neji’s probably making dinner right now anyway. I can eat once I go back to the apartment.”

Turning to Lee, Gaara offered a smile. “It’s good to see you again, my friend.”

Lee stammered for a moment before bowing his head and saying a quiet, “It is good to see you too.” When he raised his head up again, he had the same smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. “You are in town for the Summit, yes?”

Gaara nodded. “I am.” He paused and closed his eyes while he smiled. “When Kakashi said you wouldn’t be my escort this time, I had assumed you were off on a mission. I was very happy to hear you were home... I always enjoy spending time with you.”

Lee huffed, dropping his head to look down at the food he hadn’t touched yet. “You do not have to pretend, Gaara… I know you came here to check up on me.”

“And if I did?” Gaara quirked up a brow. Lee blinked and looked up at him, surprised. “You’re my friend, I… care deeply for you… I was worried you had fallen ill or were injured and in the hospital.”

“Oh.” Lee’s face went pink then and he looked down again. “I did not mean to make you worry.”

Tenten reached over to wrap her hand around Lee’s where it sat on his table and give it a small squeeze. “We’re your friends, Lee. We’ll probably always worry.” Lee smiled at her, tearing up.

“Thank you, Tenten.”

When he looked at Gaara again, Lee sniffled and his smile was sad now, but it felt more genuine. “You don’t have to tell me what’s going on,” Gaara said. “It’s none of my business. That’s not why I came to see you.” He picked up one of the disposable spoons that came with the food and held it out to Lee. “Eat. Before it goes cold.”

Lee took the spoon with a little sniffle and ‘thank you’ before opening his container of food. As he started to eat, Tenten yawned and did an exaggerated stretch of her arms.

“Well, Neji’s probably waiting on me,” She said as she pushed up to her feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay Lee?”

She ruffled his hair with one hand before leaning down and placing a kiss to the top of his head. “If you need us during the night, just come wake us up, okay? You know Neji’s a light sleeper. Love you.” She gave Gaara a small wave and then made her way out of the apartment.

“Love you too,” Lee murmured. “Thank you, Tenten.”

After she was gone, they both ate in silence for a little while. Eventually, though, Lee spoke again.

“How has the Summit been going?” He asked, voice nervous and breathy.

Gaara hummed, pausing to take a drink of some water. “Tedious, same as always,” he replied. “We’re just going through all the usual formalities right now.”

Lee smiled a little at him. “I’m sure Kankuro is very bored, then.”

Gaara smiled too. “Oh, he is. But he puts up with it better than most would expect from him.”

“That is good.” Lee fell quiet again and resumed eating. Gaara was not used to Lee being like this. He was so accustomed to Lee being loud and full of energy and excitement. Seeing him so… subdued was strange. Whatever had happened must have really affected him.

“How is your sensei?” Gaara asked, resting his head against the palm of his hand. “Have they been able to do anything for his leg?”

Lee swallowed. “Oh, ah- he is doing well. They give him pain killers, but there is not much they can do besides amputate if he decides that. He enjoys being co-Hokage with Kakashi, though. It gives him a happy distraction.”

Gaara nodded, picking up his cup. He swirled the water around, thinking for a moment. “Perhaps, if he does decide on amputation, Kankuro could construct a prosthetic of some sort for him.”

Lee seemed to perk up at that. “Oh!” He blinked a few times. “Of course! I had not thought of that!”

“I’m sure he could create something that binds it to his chakra. He’s been improving his puppetry quite a bit recently.” Gaara thought about the things he had seen Kankuro working on. “If that doesn’t work, he could always make an artificial casing to build a joint into.”

“That sounds like it would be wonderful. I will have to suggest that to him the next time I see him,” Lee said, smiling brighter than he had all night. “Thank you, Gaara. I had never thought of something like that.”

Gaara nodded. Watching Lee while he ate, he looked… tired. Gaara hadn’t seen Lee look tired like this in all the years he knew him. Even after finishing a match that should have left him exhausted and half dead, he still seemed to have more energy than anyone else would. Seeing him look so weary like this was unnerving. But he wouldn’t pry. If Lee didn’t want to tell him what was wrong, he would never force his friend to.

Instead he chose to talk about something else. “Has the Hyuuga proposed yet?”

Lee blinked up at him, big round eyes shining with confusion. “Huh?”

“To Tenten,” Gaara clarified. “Has he proposed to her yet?”

“Oh,” Lee looked down with a tiny, sad, smile. “No, not yet. Neji told me he’s waiting until after her birthday.”

Gaara had hoped talking about love and marriage, two things that usually had Lee very chatty and excited, would have cheered him up. But if anything it seemed to make him sadder.

“Do you think they will have lots of children?” He asked, seeming to fold further into himself. It took only a second for Gaara to realize Lee was crying. “Do you think… I will make a good uncle?” His voice cracked fiercely on the last word and his shoulders trembled visibly.

“Lee.” Gaara quickly moved closer to Lee’s side, reaching for him. He didn’t manage to touch him before the sniffly, whimpering man spoke again.

“Six days ago, I received a letter,” he said, tears dropping and soaking into the fabric of his bandages and the thighs of his jumpsuit. Gaara froze at the words. Lee wiped at his eyes with one hand. He turned his head to look at Gaara with a smile that was so horribly sad. So horribly awful and unlike Lee. His tears were rolling down his face in big, fat drops. “It was from my mother.”

Gaara blinked, shocked and stunned and unable to say anything.

Lee didn’t seem bothered. He looked back down at where his hands rested on his thighs again. “I had always believed I was an orphan. I was told my parents were both dead.” He slowly lifted a shaky hand and pulled out the small, folded paper from earlier. “But then, I received this…” He dropped it onto the table. “She is dying,” he said. “And she wants to meet me…”

Not knowing what to say, Gaara asked, “Where is she?”

“River country,” Lee answered. “Apparently that is where she has been living all these years…”

“So close by,” Gaara breathed out, in spite of himself. He winced when he saw Lee’s shoulders start trembling again. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me.”

Lee shook his head, or rather swayed his head side to side gently really. “It is all right,” he said. “That was my first thought, as well… She has lived so near all this time.” His shoulders were hunching up higher, nearer to his ears, and his voice was wavering with the tears. “And I have never met her once!” He was almost screaming, now. Hiccupping a little as he sobbed. “I did – I did not even know she was alive! And – and all this time she was less than two days away!”

Gaara had no idea how to help his friend in this moment. He wasn’t good at comfort. He wasn’t used to being someone people turned to when their emotions got high. Temari had always been the best at that of the three of them. He was decidedly the worst. Even after all these years and all the time he’s grown. But he couldn’t sit there doing nothing. The only thing he could think to do was take Lee’s shaking shoulders into his hands and pull him closer. Almost immediately Lee’s arms shot out and returned the embrace. Squeezing and clinging to him like Gaara was a lifeline.

Was this how Lee had been for the past six days? Sobbing and crying, turning to his team- his family- for comfort? It hurt Gaara to think of his friend in such pain.

So he sat there, holding Lee and being held in turn. He could feel Lee’s tears soaking the shoulder of his shirt, but he ignored that feeling. A damp shirt was nothing if Lee felt better. It took a while before Lee’s sobs had subsided into weak whimpers and sniffles. Slowly, he released the grip he had on his friend.

“Sorry,” Lee said, pulling away to wipe at his watery eyes.

“It’s all right.”

Lee shook his head. “This is my burden to bear. I should not be unloading this all on you.” He was clearly trying to put on his usual brave face. Gaara could see his mouth fighting to make the usual ‘M’ shape it took when Lee was serious.

He wasn’t having much luck, though.

Smiling the tiniest bit, Gaara asked, “Is that the same thing you said to your sensei?” Lee flinched and dropped his head. “Or to Tenten? Or Neji?” Lee curled in on himself a little tighter. Gaara reached his hand back to Lee’s shoulder.

“Lee…” His friend shirked away from his touch. “Lee, look at me.”

After a moment of hesitation, big round eyes peeked up at Gaara.

“It is true that this is a burden,” he said, face serious. “You have a big decision to make and only you can make it. But…” He made sure his movements were slow as he made to touch Lee’s shoulder again. Lee didn’t shy away this time. “You don’t have to do this alone. You have the love and support of your friends. It seems clear to me that they want to help you through this.”

Lee looked down again. “You are right… I know they just want to help…”

“And I want to help as well. Any way I can. However… Whatever you decide,” Gaara told him, “Whatever comes of this- you must know that you’re not alone.” It took a moment before Lee nodded and sent a small smile in Gaara’s direction.

“Thank you, Gaara…”

Gaara waited and let Lee calm down a bit longer before he asked, “What else did she say in her letter?”

“Not much,” Lee said. He picked the paper up and opened it. “Just that she feels it would be her life’s deepest regret if she did not get to know me… At least once.”

Gaara frowned hard. He wished he had more experience with things like this. At first thought, Lee’s mother’s message seemed heartfelt and sweet. But the nagging doubt always hiding deep in Gaara’s heart thought her message cruel. To only reach out as her own life was ending. It felt like she wanted to make Lee feel guilty enough to visit her. He hoped Lee didn’t have such dark thoughts as he did.

“I am… not sure what to do,” Lee confessed, holding the letter but no longer really looking at it. “Tenten says I should throw it away and never think of her again… But Neji and Gai sensei both say I should give it a chance and meet her.”

Ah. So Lee was stuck in the throes of indecision.

“Lee,” he said, taking hold of his friend’s shoulder again. “Listen to me.” When Lee stopped sniffling enough to properly look at him, Gaara spoke. “I have no experience in this. My mother died the day I was born. I grew up most of my life thinking that she hated me and cursed my village.” Lee winced. “But, during the war… I was able to confront my father. And I learned the truth… That my mother loved me and had been protecting me my entire life. In the only way she could.”

Lee sniffed, eyes searching Gaara’s face. “The… the sand…?”

Gaara nodded. “In that moment, I finally had closure. All of the not knowing that I hadn’t even realized was still upsetting me. All of it was gone. I finally had my answer. And I finally made peace with my father…” He grimaced a little bit as he thought about it. “I was not loved by him. Not really. He tried, but got lost along the way.” Lee’s lower lip quivered as he spoke.

“Does it hurt? Knowing that?”

“Yes,” Gaara said, not bothering to lie to Lee. “Sometimes it still hurts to think that the man that should have loved me didn’t. But I’m happier now knowing that for certain, than living with the doubt forever and wondering if he really did. It hurts, but I’m at peace with it. I don’t have to keep wondering anymore. I think… that is what you need.” He squeezed Lee’s shoulder. “Whether your mother loved you or wanted you or did not- the not knowing will eat away at you. I think you should meet her… And, if you are nervous or need someone there who understands- I will go with you.”

Lee quickly shook his head. “I can’t ask that of you.”

“I’m not asking.”

“G-Gaara, please. I don’t want to put you through this if it goes badly,” Lee pleaded with him, fresh tears rolling down his face.

“And I don’t want you going through this by yourself if it does.” Gaara’s gaze was harsh and firm. When Lee opened his mouth again, he stopped him. “Don’t argue this with me, Lee.”

Lee snapped his mouth shut, worrying his lip with his teeth. “What… what if I cry?”

“You are crying right now.”

“This is different, Gaara. I don’t think I could handle having you there if I find out that she… that my mother...” He hiccupped. “May-maybe Tenten or Neji, but… not you.”

Gaara felt a pang of hurt at that, one he hadn’t felt in quite a long time. His hand instinctively reached toward his heart, but he caught himself. He let the hand that had been holding Lee’s shoulder drop. “I see…”

Wincing, Lee quickly said, “Oh- no! Gaara, I-I didn’t mean it like that, I just-!” Lee swallowed nervously, and Gaara saw pink flooding his cheeks. “You-you are very special to me! I would not want you to think less of me!”

“I could never think less of you, Lee,” Gaara said, voice quiet. “You are one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever known.”

“Gaara, you do not understand!” Lee was still crying as he shouted.

“I have seen you at some of your highest highs, Lee.”

“Gaara!”

“And at some of your lowest lows. I saw you in the hospital, unconscious and vulnerable. You’ve fallen and gotten hurt in front of me. You’ve made mistakes and rash judgements.”

“Please, you don’t understand!”

Gaara frowned and kept going. “And you’ve seen me at my own lowest point. Before I understood what it meant to be human and what friendship was. There is nothing you could do that would make me-”

“I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU!!”

The second the words left his lips, Lee’s hands flew up to smack over his mouth.

Everything else… froze.

Gaara sat there, mouth hanging open on an unfinished word. Lee sat there, hands covering his mouth, not even daring to breathe. His eyes were wide with terror and he stared the small distance across to where Gaara sat.

It felt like ten seconds. It felt like an eternity.

“You…”

Lee’s hands slid just below his upper lip.

“…Love me…?”

“I am sorry,” Lee whispered, fresh tears rolling over his fingers. “I never meant to- It just happened, I- I know you do not feel the same way, I.” Gaara’s unfocused eyes flicked to his face. “I am sorry.”

Gaara’s eyes flickered over Lee. From his hair, to his lips, to his big black eyebrows- Gaara’s eyes flitted from one place to the next. They finally settled on his eyes and Gaara’s mouth set into a firm, thin line. His hands pressed against his knees and he moved himself forward. Lee squeaked like a frightened mouse as Gaara pushed in close to his space.

Lee began with a small whimper. “Gaa-”

And that was as far as he got before he was silenced by a pair of lips sliding over his own.

Immediately Lee’s already big eyes went as wide as the moon. He gasped, and Gaara pressed his lips into him a little more firmly. There was the softest swipe of a tongue against his lower lip before Gaara pulled back. Just enough to speak. Still close enough to breathe in the same air, Gaara smiled. “What made you think…” He reached a hand up slowly to cup the side of Lee’s face. “That I did not feel the same way…?”

Lee gasped again and Gaara took advantage of that to press another soft kiss to his mouth.

He continued to smile as he pulled away once more. “Lee, you must have noticed I request you as my escort every time I’m here in Konoha.”

Stammering, Lee struggled for a moment to find his voice. “I-I-I – I did, but- but I thought-,” he swallowed. “I thought it was just- just that you- that I was your friend.” Lee felt as out of breath in this moment as he would after hours of training. Gasping between words.

Gaara’s smile was close enough for Lee to feel it against his lips. To feel every word he spoke. “You never noticed… that I let you touch me, when I shy away from others…?”

“You-you let Naruto to-touch you all the time.”

One breathy laugh escaped Gaara, then. “And here Kankuro said I was being too obvious…” He pulled back enough for Lee to see him properly. His eyes were narrow with his smile. “Lee, I am almost constantly complimenting you and telling you how handsome you are.”

“I thought you were just being nice!” Lee squawked, face going pink.

Another couple of breathy laughs. “Lee… You really thought everything I said… Everything I did, was just because we were friends?” Lee sat there stuttering and stammering, mouth opening and closing in his shocked state, before Gaara leaned in again for yet another kiss. He exhaled slowly when his lips slipped away again. “I will admit, it took me a long time to realize it myself… But…” He brushed his fingers through Lee’s hair, and if it was longer he probably would have been able to tuck some of it behind his ear. “Once I did realize it, I was determined to- what was it you said? Be your most precious person.” He punctuated the last two words with two gentle presses of his lips to the corner of Lee’s mouth.

Lee swallowed more loudly than the last time. “So-so then… all this time you have been…”

“Flirting with you?” Gaara smirked. “Yes.”

Pulling back now, face going serious, Gaara took in a deep breath. “Lee.” He leveled him with a hard, solid stare. “If you will have me- I would be more than happy, more than honored, to go with you and offer my support when you confront your mother. As your friend… or more.”

Lee blinked at him owlishly for a moment, awe and wonder on his face, before his lower lip jutted out to a quivering pout and he threw his arms around Gaara’s shoulders with a loud, wet, sob. He held tight to Gaara and cried until he had nothing left to give.

Kankuro smirked at the mess of Gaara’s hair when he met up with him the next morning. With a snort, he said, “Hey little bro, we missed you at dinner last night.” He made an obvious show of looking at the top of Gaara’s head. “You have a nice night?”

“Shut up.”

Snickering, Kankuro tucked his hands in his pockets. “You might wanna wear the hat for a while- you’ve got some bad bedhead.” Gaara set it on his head without a word, but Kankuro could see the dusting of pink to his cheeks. “I’d say you should go in and say hi to Temari, but we both know she’d grill your ass about where you were all night.” The pink faded from Gaara’s face pretty damn quickly then. He looked a little bit green, in fact.

Shikamaru came out of his house, then, yawning loudly. “Ah, fuck, I wanna go back to bed.” He stepped over to the two brothers. “Hey, Gaara, where’ve you been?”

Gaara glanced at him. “Oh, Shikamaru, you don’t have to escort us anymore, if you don’t want.”

“Huh?”

Not a moment later, Rock Lee made his way over to the group of them, though not from the direction Gaara had come from Kankuro noticed curiously. He smiled warmly at the group of them. “Kakashi says I can be your escort while you are in town!” He blinked a couple of times. “Oh- ah, that is- if you do not mind, Shikamaru!”

Looking back and forth between the smiley Kazekage and the even more smiley Lee, Shikamaru shrugged and turned back toward the house. “Fine by me, means I get an extra nap in before work today.” He walked away with a lazy wave.

Kankuro eyed Lee slyly and grinned. “Morning, Spandex. Have a nice night?”

Lee smiled at him. “I did, actually, thank you. Gaara and I had a very nice dinner and conversation. And now I think I have a solution to the problem I’ve been facing all week.”

Oh yeah, Kankuro had forgotten about that. He was so into teasing his little brother that Lee’s issues had completely slipped his mind. He looked at Gaara then, and huffed when he saw the smug smile on his face.

“Shut up,” he hissed.

“I didn’t say anything,” Gaara replied before touching Lee’s arm and turning him around. “Come on, we don’t want to be late for the meeting.”

Lee joined them for dinner almost every night that week. Kankuro wasn’t really surprised. After dinner Gaara would walk Lee to the edge of the Nara property and say goodbye. Kankuro and Temari were keeping time of how long their goodbyes seemed to take. By their fourth night of dinners, Lee seemed to be back to his usual bubbly self.

“I’m glad to see you feeling better, Lee,” Temari said to him as she passed bowls to Shikamaru to fill and set out on the table. “I haven’t been living here that long, but I’m already so used to seeing you on your morning and afternoon jogs.” She winked at him. “When you’re not on missions, of course.”

Lee smiled brightly, helping take bowls from Shikamaru’s hands. “That is very kind of you, Temari. Thank you. It is all thanks to Gaara that I am feeling so much better so soon!”

Keen eyes shifted to Gaara instantly. Temari’s grin was shark-like as she said, “You don’t say…” Gaara groaned quietly to himself at the look in her eyes. “I guess I’ll have to find out more about that later.”

Gaara groaned again and Lee frowned at him, confused. “Are you all right, Gaara?”

“Just tired,” he answered, setting some glasses of water on the table. “Long day.” Kankuro snorted at that and Gaara shot him an irritated look.

As they sat and ate their meal, they chatted about whatever random thing they felt like. The topics soon became focused on their friends and teammates. Apparently Kakashi was planning on making things official with Gai and was also planning to propose, just like Neji was planning to propose to Tenten. Temari had been all smiley hearing that.

“I didn’t even realize they weren’t officially married yet,” she said to Lee, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her table. “They’re always together and they’re so affectionate.”

Lee nodded. “Gai sensei said he was not going to be the one to propose, since he was the one to ask Kakashi sensei about dating in the first place.”

“They’re so damn competitive,” Shikamaru said, “Just pop the damn question. It’s not a battle of wills.”

Temari huffed at him. “So romantic, Shikamaru.”

“I’m just sayin’…”

Kankuro leaned forward with a sneaky grin on his face. Gaara was wary of it instantly. “So, then it sounds like everybody on your team is in love, eh Bowl Cut?”

Lee blinked rapidly at Kankuro, then, face going pink. “Everybody? Wha-whaddoyou mean?” He asked, voice rising in pitch. Gaara scowled at his brother.

Kankuro played at nonchalance and shrugged his shoulders, holding his hands out to the side. “Well, ya know, I just mean your sensei’s gonna get hitched. Your two teammates are in love with each other. And you, well…” He grinned, peeking one eye open. “I’m sure a catch like you has something going on.”

“Kankuro,” Gaara hissed, not looking very intimidating with how pink his own face was getting.

Shikamaru’s eyebrows rose on his head in question as he looked between the three of them, but Temari- oh no, Temari- Temari’s look of confusion disappeared quickly and she jumped up, slamming her hands on the table. Her face split into a huge grin as she shouted, “I knew it!! You two hooked up that night!!” She pointed an accusing finger in Gaara’s face.

Shikamaru choked on air.

Lee hid his face in his hands, heat radiating off of him in waves.

Gaara stared at his sister until…

Chnk!

His sand armor cracked in one, clean, line across his face with his nerves.

Temari squealed before jumping around the table to drag him into a tight embrace. “Oh my god!! Oh, I’m so happy for you, Gaara!!” As she continued to squeeze the life out of her little brother, Kankuro moved over and gave Lee a few pats on the shoulder.

Gaara spoke around Temari’s arms, though his voice was strained with how tight she was hugging him. “We didn’t even do anything. We stayed up late talking and went to bed.”

“But you went to bed together,” Temari countered, still not letting go.

Shikamaru watched Temari for a bit before looking at Lee. “So, the Kazekage, huh?” He grinned a little bit as Lee nodded behind his hands. “You know this is gonna take some serious fucking paperwork once you make it official, right?”

“I-I am aware.”

Once Temari was done with her brother, she hopped around to Lee and gave him a hug as well. As she squeezed his shoulders, she looked at Kankuro and asked, “You gonna pay up or what?”

“P-pay up?” Lee squeaked.

Kankuro sighed before reaching into his pocket and pulling a bill from his wallet. He held it out and Temari snatched it from his fingers. “Thank you,” she intoned in a honey-sweet voice.

Gaara groaned, lowering his face into his hands. “You had a bet going?”

“A bet!?” Lee gawked at Temari as she went back to her seat.

Pointing her thumb across the table at Kankuro, Temari said, “Kankuro here didn’t think Gaara’d have the nerve to finally ask you out.” She reached over and patted Gaara on the shoulder. “I had every confidence in you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kankuro grumbled, folding his arms. “Shut up and stop looking so proud about it.”

Later, when he was walking Lee to the gate of the Nara house, Gaara said, “I’m sorry about them. They’ve been very invested in my love life once they figured out I was romantically interested in you.”

Lee blinked a few times before smiling gently. “You don’t have to apologize. They are happy for you.”

“They embarrassed you.”

“Tenten embarrasses me all the time,” Lee said, waving his hand. “I am used to it at this point.”

“Still,” Gaara said, looking up into Lee’s smiling face. “Next time I’ll try to get them to behave.” He moved in closer and met Lee as he leaned down for a kiss. Their lips had barely brushed when a loud whoop sounded from the front door.

Lee lifted his head in surprise and turned to look and Gaara scowled as he also turned. There were his siblings, standing in the open doorway giving them four big thumbs up and grinning like a couple of fools. Shikamaru stood a little ways behind them shaking his head in exasperation.

Chuckling a little bit, Lee murmured, “I think it will be very difficult for you to make them do anything, anymore, Gaara.”

When Temari shouted a much too loud, “Get it, Gaara!” he sighed in defeat.

“You’re probably right.”

Naturally, Lee invited Gaara to dinner with his team on the next night. He was all smiles as they arrived, quickly greeted by hugs and fond smiles from his teammates and his sensei.

Gaara received a hug each from Tenten and Gai, before immediately being yanked away from Lee by Neji and threatened with bodily harm if he ever broke Lee’s heart. Gai specifically threatened to make Gaara walk on his hands for three years if he ever made Lee cry.

“You guys!” Lee whined at them, face red.

The others shushed him. “Lee, we know you’re both capable adults, but let us have this,” Neji said, enjoying getting to be playfully mean far too much.

Gaara swallowed and Tenten said, “Yeah this is just normal family stuff. We have to threaten your new paramour, even if we have known him as long as you have.”

“My-my siblings didn’t threaten to hurt Lee,” Gaara stammered.

“Well duh,” Tenten said with a roll of her eyes, “Lee’s the sweetest person in the whole world. Do you honestly think Lee would ever hurt you on purpose?”

“N-no.”

“Correct answer,” Neji said, smirking. “All right you two, we’ve accosted the Kazekage enough for one night. Let’s have our dinner.” After they all finally backed off and Gaara was able to get back to Lee’s side, they walked into the main room of Neji and Tenten’s apartment. Gaara blinked in surprise when he saw Kakashi sitting at the table, flipping through one of his books.

Kakashi glanced up and offered a wave. “Yo.” It was strange seeing him without his mask, but Gaara tried not to stare.

“Are you not also going to threaten me?” Gaara asked, curious. Lee was pushing him to sit, insisting that he was the guest and they would serve him.

Kakashi shrugged. “Figured three people was threatening enough.” Gaara smiled a little bit at that and turned his head when he heard Lee’s excited voice from the kitchen area. Kakashi looked up beside him and smiled as Gai also shouted in excitement.

“It is pretty weird that you and I have the same taste in men, though,” Kakashi said after a moment and Gaara jolted. He hadn’t even thought about that.

“I, uhm… Well, Lee is just…” He was at a loss for what to say to that.

Kakashi waved his hand and grinned at him playfully. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I completely understand. ‘S why me and Gai have been together for so long.” He pointedly glanced back at the kitchen again. “There’s just something real special about them, isn’t there?”

Gaara smiled, feeling relieved. “Yeah,” he agreed, turning to watch Lee balancing a plate on his head. “Very special.”

As they were all eating, Tenten made the offhand comment, “If you had asked me ten years ago whether I thought you two would be together, I woulda laughed in your face.”

Lee pouted at her. “That is not very nice, Tenten.”

“Lee, you were still head over heels for Sakura back then.”

“Oh, right.” Lee’s cheeks went pink. “That…”

Kakashi hummed. “It was a cute childhood crush,” he said. “Very boyish.”

Neji rolled his eyes. “You didn’t have to live with it for three years.” He took a sip of his water, ignoring Lee as he spluttered out arguments.

“Yeah, to be honest, it was kind of nice when Lee started talking about you instead,” Tenten said, looking at Gaara.

He blinked in surprise. “Lee talked about me?”

Everyone at the table, save Gaara and Lee himself, scoffed or snorted loudly at that question. “Oh my god, it was like his crush on Sakura on steroids,” Tenten said.

“It was truly a wonderful expression of his love and affection!” Gai said with a bright smile. “Why, Lee would write poetry of his feelings for you!”

“Sensei!!” Lee’s face was deep red.

Neji’s eyes were full of mischief when he turned to Gaara and said, “There were times where I was tempted to just ask you out on Lee’s behalf to get him to shut up.” Hearing that made Gaara’s face go hot. Poor Lee looked like he had opened the inner gates, he was so red and sweaty.

Kakashi reached a hand into the middle of the table, waving it. “All right, all right, we’ve tormented them enough. Somebody pass me the soy sauce.”

“You need to go easy on the salt, Kakashi,” Gai said as he handed it over. Kakashi huffed unhappily at that.

“Damn doctors…”

Gaara helped to clean dishes after their meal, even though Lee tried his hardest to get him to sit and relax, and continued to have pleasant conversations with the group. Lee’s team had always been very easy to get along with. Usually that was because of Lee pulling you in with his kindness and excitement, but even without Lee’s warmth they were nice to talk to. Gaara never felt this comfortable talking to Naruto if Sasuke was around. He always felt like Sasuke’s very aura was threatening him to stay away from his friend. Any threats made by Lee’s team were meant playfully, or meant in a clearly loving way.

“I’m glad you helped Lee the other day,” Neji said to Gaara as he helped him to dry dishes. “He hasn’t been that indecisive since his surgery after your fight.”

Gaara hummed, passing over a cup. “That hadn’t been my intention when I went to see him. I just… wanted to make sure he was all right.”

“I’m aware,” Neji replied. “Tenten told me once she came home… However, I am still glad that you did help.” His eyes shut as he smiled, then, shoulders shaking as he chuckled. “The two of you finally getting together was just a nice bonus.”

Chuckling as well, Gaara turned to look at Lee stacking dishes in the cupboards. “A very nice bonus…” His eyes drifted lazily over the shape of his body as he moved.

“All right, I don’t need you ogling my teammate in my own house.”

“Sorry,” Gaara said with a small smile. They worked in silence for a moment before Gaara said, “I’ve offered to go with him. When he meets her.”

Neji nodded. “Good, I’m sure he will appreciate having you to lean on for support.”

“You know I can hear you both, right?” Lee asked as he took a plate from Neji.

Neji rolled his eyes at him. “Would you rather we talk about something else?”

“Maybe?”

Humming for a moment as he thought, Neji finally said, “I think Sakura, Sai, and Ino might all be dating.”

“Really?” Gaara asked, surprised. “I never would have pictured Sai to be the dating type.” Ino and Sakura were less surprising.

“They’re certainly very private about it if they are,” Lee commented.

“Maybe they’re just not ready for everyone to know yet.”

“You are probably right, Neji…” Lee had to stand on tip toes in order to put away the last dish. Gaara may or may not have stared at the way his jumpsuit stretched tight over his flexing muscles. And Neji may or may not have slapped his hand over his eyes.

Their group of six all stayed up talking late into the night. Lee had been yawning nonstop and Tenten had dozed onto Neji’s shoulder twice by the time Gaara was finally ready to leave.

When Lee walked him out, he leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. Gaara wasn’t even surprised this time when shouting interrupted them. He grinned against Lee’s mouth as Gai and Tenten shrieked and hollered with their joy. He snuck a glance at the group and he could see Neji and Kakashi both smiling along with their louder partners.

Lee’s face was pink, but he was also smiling. “I guess it is not just your siblings who are invested in our love life…”

“Guess not.” He smirked wider and pulled Lee down into a proper kiss. Off behind them, Gaara was certain he heard Gai sobbing.

Lee had gotten approval for some extra days off after the Kage Summit was over. Kakashi and Gai had been happy to let him go and meet his birth mother. There, of course, had been a tearful hug between Lee and Gai before he left, though.

“No matter what happens,” he promised, “You will always be my father. Nothing will ever change that.”

Gai had choked on his sobs after that, he was crying so hard. Kakashi had to physically yank the two of them apart.

Kankuro had been a bit confused when Gaara told him they were taking a detour with Lee to some place in River country, but he hadn’t argued. Whatever it was seemed important, judging by the look on his face. At one point Gaara reached out to hold Lee’s hand as they walked, and Kankuro just couldn’t stay quiet.

“All right, get a room!”

Lee jumped and quickly pulled his hand in front of his body. Gaara turned back to frown at Kankuro. He then moved closer to Lee and spoke to him in a hushed voice. Whatever he said seemed to soothe Lee, and his posture relaxed.

They reached a small town after about a day and a half of travelling. When they reached the first little house, Lee took a small folded paper out from his vest. Gaara stood by his side as his eyes skimmed over the page. He folded it back up and said, “It is this way. Her house is the one with the red roof.”

Kankuro raised a brow at the word ‘her’ but when he caught Gaara’s eye, his brother just shook his head silently.

The house was small, just like the rest in the small town. Nothing about this place was remarkable. It was just an average place with average people living in it. The house had wooden walls, a wooden door, and small glass windows. Kankuro really couldn’t understand what they were doing here. What was so important in a place like this?

After standing in front of the house for what felt like hours, Gaara whispered, “Lee?”

That was when Kankuro finally noticed the Leaf shinobi’s hands were shaking.

“I… I am nervous,” Lee confessed.

“That’s understandable,” Gaara said.

Swallowing, Lee asked in the quietest voice Kankuro had ever heard from him, “What if I am not the person she is expecting…?”

Gaara pressed a kiss to Lee’s cheek. “Then you’ll be better than what she’s expecting.”

It took a brief moment before Lee’s face hardened into a more determined look and he nodded with a small smile. He reached forward then and knocked on the door in front of him. A muffled voice called from inside a few moments before the door slid open.

The woman who answered the door was older- her long, shiny black hair was streaked with the grey of age and her back had a fairly distinct hunch to it. At first she didn’t say or do anything except stare at the three young men standing outside her house. Eventually, though, her face softened into a tired smile. “You must be Rock Lee,” she said instead of a normal greeting.

“Y-yes,” Lee answered, back ramrod straight and hands shaking all over again.

The woman looked at him quietly for a moment. “You got so big,” she said after a while. “Please, please, come in.”

Gaara turned to Kankuro then, saying a soft, “Stay here. Keep an eye out for anything.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it…”

The old woman led the two into her house, eventually making her way to a large couch and sitting down. “I apologize for not being a better host,” she said, “I haven’t got the strength lately to do much entertaining.”

“That is all right,” Lee said, taking a spot to kneel in front of the couch and bowing his head slightly. Gaara slowly joined him, eyes trained on the old woman. The resemblance was easy to spot. He could see hints of Lee everywhere in her. In her shiny, glossy black hair- in her soft round eyes- her mouth that made a soft ‘M’ shape when she wasn’t smiling- she was obviously Lee’s mother.

Looking down at the two of them, she said, “I’m sure you have questions.”

“I do,” Lee answered immediately.

“What would you like to know?”

He raised his head and looked at her face in silence for some time. “Whatever you are willing to tell me…”

She was quiet for a while, either trying to decide what to say or just taking her time to speak. Humming quietly, she said, “Well, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m probably quite a bit older than most of your friends’ mothers.” Lee was far too polite to even say anything to that. He just continued looking at her. When he didn’t speak, she continued. “My husband’s been dead for a long, long time. He passed two years before I had you… I had been so lost in my grief that I turned to the comfort of a family friend. I didn’t even think I could still get pregnant… I was already well into middle age by that point…”

Her smile then was sad. “I… I gave you up. I was so consumed by guilt. I felt like… like I had betrayed my husband’s memory.” Tears rolled down from her eyes and Gaara could see the way Lee’s shoulders were trembling. “I’m so sorry, my baby boy. I’m so, so sorry.”

When he saw the first of Lee’s tears fall, Gaara reached out and took Lee’s hand in his. Lee didn’t look at him, but he squeezed around Gaara’s fingers as acknowledgment.

“You could have visited,” Lee said, voice low and warbling. “You could have written to me, sent me a photo- something. Just to let me know you were alive.”

She shook her head. “I wanted to. Believe me, I did. But I was so afraid… You deserved a better life than I could ever give you.”

“I was afraid if you knew- that you’d come looking for me…” She looked at Lee with sad, pleading eyes, but Lee was staring hard at the ground near his knees, tears spilling freely. He shook his head minutely, barely even moving it, and said nothing. “I had hoped… that you’d be able to make a life for yourself in Konoha. It’s such a big village, I thought if there was anywhere for you to grow up- that was the place.”

Gaara looked at her when Lee refused to. Her smile was proud, but sad, as she said, “And you have! Why- you’re all grown up! You’re a shinobi- you- you helped save the entire world!”

Lee loosed a loud sob, then, silencing her.

“You… you knew about me,” his voice was a broken whisper. “You kept track of my life.”

“…Yes…”

His grip on Gaara’s hand tightened to painful. “And you never came to see me. Not even once.”

She opened her mouth to answer, but closed it quickly and dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “You deserve better than me… You deserve better than a cowardly old woman, too wrapped up in herself to be brave.” Lee continued to sob where he kneeled. She stared at him, her eyes sad. “…I understand if you hate me…”

“I don’t.” Lee said immediately. She gasped at the resolve in his voice. “I- I don’t,” he repeated. “I’m just… trying to understand.”

Her sad smile came back, then. “I wish I had better answers for you…”

They were both quiet for a long time after that. Neither talking and the only noise in the house were the quiet sobs, sniffles, and hiccups coming from Lee.

“Did you have a good life?” She finally asked after just looking at Lee for a long, long time.

Swallowing and wiping at his eyes, Lee nodded. “I-I did… It… It was… lonely growing up an orphan. And I did not have any friends for a very long time.” His mother’s face looked heartbroken hearing that. Gaara could see tears shining in her eyes.

“But,” Lee went on, smiling a little bit. “One day I- I met my sensei. And he believed in me and he was so kind to me.” He squeezed Gaara’s hand, not even seeming to notice he was doing it. “He’s always been a father to me, and I love him very dearly.”

The tears that had been hanging in his mother’s eyes fell then, but she was smiling.

“I have my own family now, in Konoha. I have him and his soon to be husband. And I have my teammates, who have always been like siblings to me. And now I… I have…” He paused, looking at Gaara for the first time since they came into the little house. The smile he sent Gaara’s way made his heart do flips in his chest.

His mother smiled at the two of them. “I know you, don’t I?” She asked, looking at Gaara. “Your face seems familiar.”

Lee held their intertwined hands up as he said, “This is Gaara- the current Kazekage of Suna. He and I are…” He trailed off, face going pink.

“Dating,” Gaara finished for him.

“Ah, that’s where I know you from,” Lee’s mother said, “Your picture is in the paper sometimes. Not every day you see someone with a kanji on their forehead.”

“It’s a scar,” Gaara said plainly.

“I’m happy you two found each other,” she said. “I’m sorry things started out badly for you… I had hoped you’d have an easy life in Konoha.”

Lee laughed once, a little too loud for the space. “It has never been an easy life, but it has been a good one.”

“I’m glad.” She shifted a little in her seat. “I would offer you both some tea, but walking too much hurts now.”

“That is all right,” Lee said. “I could make some if you wanted tea for yourself.”

She looked a little surprised by his offer, but smiled and told him gentle directions on where she kept her kettle and cups in the kitchen in the next room. Lee bowed to her and squeezed Gaara’s hand before getting up and going to prepare drinks for the three of them.

She watched him walk away and sighed softly. “He is so kind… I thought he’d hate me…”

“Lee could never hate anyone,” Gaara said after waiting for a moment. Her soft round eyes turned to look at him. “I’m living proof of that.”

“Oh?”

Nodding, Gaara said, “When we were younger… we had a match in an exam. I… hurt him. Very badly. I was so sure he’d never forgive me for it, but… He – he wasn’t even angry. He never was.” He looked over toward the kitchen where he could hear Lee setting out ceramic or glass somethings. “He’s the kindest, most understanding person I’ve ever met.”

“That makes me happy to hear that,” she said. “He grew up to be a wonderful young man.” Her eyes turned down, then, and she looked at her hands. “I wish I had been brave enough to see him growing up… I’m sure I would have been proud.”

Lee came back in then, carrying a serving tray with the kettle and cups on it over one shoulder, and a folding table in his other hand. Gaara didn’t even question Lee as he served his mother first. Lee was nothing, if not polite and respectful. Even if she had been a complete stranger he still would have served her first. He poured her tea for her, blowing on it once, and handed the deep green cup to her. Once she took it, he poured a cup for himself and for Gaara and brought them over.

The two of them continued to talk sporadically after that. Lee asking questions and his mother answering. Or his mother asking questions of her own and Lee answering, or Gaara if Lee couldn’t find his voice.

One question that Gaara knew Lee wanted to ask was left unsaid, though. And he understood why Lee wouldn’t ask it.

Did she ever want to have him?

Lee’s goodbye with his mother was full of tears. From both of them. Lee cried and sobbed as he hugged her around her frail, hunched shoulders. And he continued to sniffle as they walked out of the little town.

But when Kankuro asked him if he was all right, Lee nodded and said, “Yes. I-I am very happy.” He offered a small thumbs up. “Thank you, Kankuro.”

He travelled with them all the way back to the Hidden Sand. Occasionally a bout of sadness would overtake him and he would cry while they jumped through trees or walked the well-traveled paths between villages. Gaara offered comfort where he could and Lee very obviously appreciated it. The little kisses he pressed to Gaara’s hands or forehead and the soft words of thanks were evident enough.

That didn’t stop him from thanking Gaara properly once they reached the gates of Suna, though.

“Thank you for going with me,” he said, getting in close and letting Gaara wrap his arms around his waist. “I… I do not know if I would have had the courage to face her by myself.”

“One of your teammates would have gone if I couldn’t,” Gaara argued lamely, smiling as Lee kissed the scar on his forehead tenderly.

“I am still glad it was you.”

Gaara sighed as Lee brushed his fingers up against his cheek. “Can you stay? Just for a few days?” He looked up into Lee’s face as he asked. “You were allowed a week off, after all.”

Humming for a moment, Lee finally nodded. “Yes, I think I’d like that.”

“Oh great,” Kankuro grumbled near them. “So now I get even more time to watch you two suck face. Can’t wait.”

Lee giggled happily at Kankuro’s complaining and Gaara quickly made a rude gesture at him that Lee couldn’t see.

“Matsuri will not be happy, I think,” Lee commented, turning and wrapping one hand around Gaara’s waist as they began walking into the village.

“Matsuri?” Gaara blinked up at him, confused. “Why would she be unhappy?”

Lee gawked down at Gaara for a moment, too stunned to answer. “Cuz she likes you, Gaara, you fucking dumbass!” Kankuro barked from in front of them. “Fuck, the two of you are so oblivious- I thought it was just the two of you not understanding how flirting works!” He looked back at Gaara then with a bit of a stink eye. “I cannot believe you’re my brother.”

Gaara pouted, still confused, and Lee laughed. “You love him, though,” he said.

Sighing in a very over the top way, Kankuro said, “Yeah, I do. Little bastard.”

Lee smiled down at Gaara, then. “I love you too,” he said in a hushed voice. “Though, obviously not in that way.”

Gaara smiled back and moved in for a small kiss. “I love you too, Lee.”