Insomnia

XIII

Temari was having a good day. She’d gotten a warm shower that morning and the little sandwich shop had had her favourite breakfast bagel. She’d gotten free coffee when she stepped into the missions’ office and had gotten an easy mission. She whistled gaily as she strode up the stairs with Gaara’s lunch, smiling as she opened the door.

Then her good day quickly became a bad one.

She was smacked in the face with the Kazekage’s robe as Gaara finished adjusting the Hyoutan to his back.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Temari asked.

“Konoha.”

“You can’t just arbitrarily go to Konoha!” Temari shrieked. “You’re the Kazekage.”

“I resigned.”

“You can’t just–” Her protest was cut off with a glare. She sighed. “Who’s your successor?”

“You.”

“–What!?–”

“You were excellent as acting Kazekage, now you’re it officially.”

Temari sputtered. “You… You can’t!”

“I can and did. I’ll see you around.”

Then he was gone, leaving Temari alone in the Kazekage’s office. She shook her head and yelled wordlessly to vent her anger. When she calmed down enough, she noticed he’d done the paperwork for her. Maybe Gaara wasn’t such an asshole after all.


Gaara ran. He was rushing, knowing he really shouldn’t. Kankurou would keep Neji safe. Kankurou would keep Gaara’s child safe. It wasn’t fear that drove him, but excitement. One couldn’t tell by looking at his face, but he was immensely excited. He was going to be a father! He didn’t care how; all he cared about was that his child’s mother was going to be the man he loved. It was just semantics after that. So Gaara ran, wanting to be with Neji just to listen to their unborn child. Not a thought of danger crossed his mind; after all, who in their right mind would willingly mess with the family Sabaku no Gaara?

He made it to Konoha in record time, though he somehow managed to regain his composure and his breath before he walked though the gates. No one dared to stop him and he didn’t bother anyone as he bee-lined for the meeting place. He couldn’t understand why Neji wanted to meet him at Ichiraku until he saw the mop of blonde sitting on one stool, decidedly alone. Gaara loomed over Naruto, his glare having the potential to carve the blonde’s skull in twain.

“Where’s Neji?”

“He’s asleep. It’s naptime.” Naruto replied nonchalantly, slurping up some noodles.

“That didn’t answer the question.”

“Sit down, relax. He’s safe.”

Growling, Gaara sat. He didn’t like it, but he did it. Naruto finished off his soup and sighed, savouring the flavour. Finally, he turned to Gaara.

“He is, currently, living with me. Before you get your panties in a twist, listen.” Naruto held up his hands in an innocent gesture. “I haven’t touched him except to hold him down for ultrasounds. He’s got the impression they’ll hurt him, idiot.”

Gaara stared at Naruto, deadly silent, for a long while. “He’s fine?"

“They both are. Look, don’t make any comments about his weight. Don’t mention the doctor and whatever you do, do not mention tomatoes. For the love of all that is evil do –not– mention tomatoes.”

Gaara quirked an eyebrow. “Okay.”

Naruto sighed and nodded. “We scoped out a place, just for the two of you. It’s in the quiet part of the shinobi community, close to a park. Neji seemed to enjoy that part the best. Kankurou says he’ll cover rent for now and the girls are planning baby-showers. Don’t mention that either.”

“Sensitive, isn’t he?”

“It’s the hormones. Babies do weird things to people.”

Gaara snorted. “Can I see Neji now?”

“Behave yourself.”

The redhead gave Naruto a withering glare and Naruto was proud of his balls in the fact they didn’t try to crawl into his body to hide in sheer terror. He led Gaara from Ichiraku to his apartment, neither man saying a word. Naruto unlocked his door and disarmed his traps, allowing Gaara inside the tiny sanctuary. The redhead moved into the room, listening before he moved, leaving Naruto standing alone in the front hall. Gaara moved quietly, not wanting to disturb Neji if he was sleeping, but needing to see him. He peeked into the room that Naruto had indicated and saw Neji asleep on the bed, curled around a slightly rounding stomach. Gaara smiled and quietly closed the door before he breathed the sigh of relief he’d been holding.

He moved back to where Naruto waited and gave the blonde a short nod. Naruto returned it, showed Gaara how to activate and deactivate the traps, and left. Gaara pulled off the Hyoutan and set it aside before he took a seat on Naruto’s couch, listening to all the noises around him. He listened most of all to Neji and finally let a manic grin grow. He was here with his family, and woe to the asshole who harmed it.