[ There's a particular stillness in Gaara as Naruto runs curious fingers over his skin. It's different to how the Kazekage usually holds himself but Naruto only notices it as a afterthought, it flits in and out of his mind, how Gaara is probably holding himself paused and in place specifically for Naruto and that elicits something else, something new with regards to his friend. The prospect of pushing this, of seeing how steady Gaara can hold himself.
Naruto doesn't dwell on the thought. Not for longer than a few heartbeats at least; this isn't about that. It can't be, not when they're talking of past pain and injustices both of them somehow manage to skirt around. And he wonders if Gaara isn't angry because he doesn't look angry. Granted, his eyes are closed and Naruto is still touching him so maybe he's distracted--
Naruto is still angry. Sometimes. Naruto refuses to let go of his anger completely, he lets it fuel him. He won't forget and that's why he wants things to change. But at least these days his anger has been honed to something finer and sharper. It's less wild. It has a purpose.
Gaara doesn't say yes to the prospect of being helped, but he doesn't say no either, so Naruto takes it as a silent permission. He wonders if Gaara will mind him asking Sakura. She's the medic in their group, she'll no doubt know far more than him. Maybe she can offer insight that he and Gaara don't have. It can't hurt, surely. Naruto almost opens his mouth to say that but finds the words thwarted by Gaara's mouth and this is okay too.
Words can wait a moment. This is new, different, a facet to their relationship that wasn't there before Ariel (and how will any of them go back to being as they were after this place?) and Naruto doesn't dislike it. Being close to someone important to him stands separate from the chip. ] You'd like that, huh. [ He echoes it without thinking, tasting the concept really, because he didn't exactly see that coming. In the pause that follows he studies Gaara a little more closely. They'd both like that.
They might have some similar issues. In how they handle things. In their preferences. This had never occurred to Naruto before. It occurs to him now. And Gaara studies him in return. He manages to read the question on the young man's face, or at least he thinks it's a question. There's something almost expectant there, as though Gaara is waiting on Naruto.
His hand sneaks around and he raises it to trace the scar on Gaara's brow, careful and slow. That's what it is, a scar. Naruto had thought it to be a tattoo, once, but the raised edges are a cut, an old cut, inked with something. Something red. 'Ai' it reads. Love. Gaara told him about love once. Naruto knows his views have changed now; he no longer fights for himself. ] I don't scar. [-- is what he says then, apropos nothing but it is in fact, something he's never told anyone. As a Jinchuuriki there are certain things they all have in common. ] It pissed me off for a long time. I could fight someone but no matter what happened it was like I'd never been there. Even for my worst fights. [ He had no marks to show for them. Denied that evidence, that verification. ]
I want you to give me one. [ Somehow. Something he can keep. Something that stays. And look at him, making demands when he hasn't even asked what Gaara might want. He ducks his face briefly, with a quiet cough. ] And I'll... what you want, I can give you that too.
[action]
Naruto doesn't dwell on the thought. Not for longer than a few heartbeats at least; this isn't about that. It can't be, not when they're talking of past pain and injustices both of them somehow manage to skirt around. And he wonders if Gaara isn't angry because he doesn't look angry. Granted, his eyes are closed and Naruto is still touching him so maybe he's distracted--
Naruto is still angry. Sometimes. Naruto refuses to let go of his anger completely, he lets it fuel him. He won't forget and that's why he wants things to change. But at least these days his anger has been honed to something finer and sharper. It's less wild. It has a purpose.
Gaara doesn't say yes to the prospect of being helped, but he doesn't say no either, so Naruto takes it as a silent permission. He wonders if Gaara will mind him asking Sakura. She's the medic in their group, she'll no doubt know far more than him. Maybe she can offer insight that he and Gaara don't have. It can't hurt, surely. Naruto almost opens his mouth to say that but finds the words thwarted by Gaara's mouth and this is okay too.
Words can wait a moment. This is new, different, a facet to their relationship that wasn't there before Ariel (and how will any of them go back to being as they were after this place?) and Naruto doesn't dislike it. Being close to someone important to him stands separate from the chip. ] You'd like that, huh. [ He echoes it without thinking, tasting the concept really, because he didn't exactly see that coming. In the pause that follows he studies Gaara a little more closely. They'd both like that.
They might have some similar issues. In how they handle things. In their preferences. This had never occurred to Naruto before. It occurs to him now. And Gaara studies him in return. He manages to read the question on the young man's face, or at least he thinks it's a question. There's something almost expectant there, as though Gaara is waiting on Naruto.
His hand sneaks around and he raises it to trace the scar on Gaara's brow, careful and slow. That's what it is, a scar. Naruto had thought it to be a tattoo, once, but the raised edges are a cut, an old cut, inked with something. Something red. 'Ai' it reads. Love. Gaara told him about love once. Naruto knows his views have changed now; he no longer fights for himself. ] I don't scar. [-- is what he says then, apropos nothing but it is in fact, something he's never told anyone. As a Jinchuuriki there are certain things they all have in common. ] It pissed me off for a long time. I could fight someone but no matter what happened it was like I'd never been there. Even for my worst fights. [ He had no marks to show for them. Denied that evidence, that verification. ]
I want you to give me one. [ Somehow. Something he can keep. Something that stays. And look at him, making demands when he hasn't even asked what Gaara might want. He ducks his face briefly, with a quiet cough. ] And I'll... what you want, I can give you that too.