Puzzle Pieces

Hello everyone!! My mind came back from it's vacation without me and I was finally able to finish this chapter. It's sort of a transitional chapter, going from the breaking down of initial barriers that happened in the last two chapters to the boys getting comfortable around and with eachother in chapters to come.






So, the idea of breaking off the Neji/Gaara arc into it's own story died in a pool of it's own blood, so I'm leaving it in here. But don't worry! We will be back on track with Sasuke and Naruto soon enough, just let me have my bishi porno!








Chapter 6



Being an early riser, Shikamaru managed to forestall what might have been a hilarious (and seriously messed up) episode of fangirl obsession. He was sitting at the kitchen counter, eating Frosted Flakes, when he spied Sakura and Ino coming up from the TV room holding a video camera.



Now, if it were anyone other than Neji and Gaara, he would have let them deal with it. But he rather liked his face arranged the way it was, so he calmly informed the girls that any footage they got would not be worth the storm of wrath that would come if they filmed Hyuuga Neji and Sabaku no Gaara without permission. They glumly agree to wake the two up before doing anything “experimental.”



Just to be sure though, he followed them upstairs. And was rather surprised by what he found.



The deep red silk sheets lay scattered and rumpled, barely covering the necessary parts of the two naked forms in the large bed. It was hard to tell which limbs belonged to which boy, they were so entwined; Neji’s long pale arms and legs draped over and through Gaara’s shorter, even paler ones.



Shikamaru rolled his eyes and sighed, steeling himself to do what was needed. He walked carefully into the room, stopped next to the bed, and was reaching over Gaara to tap Neji on the shoulder, when a vice-like grip settled on his wrist and cold green eyes were suddenly glaring holes through him.



“Look at the doorway,” he said carefully. “It would have been troublesome if they had left you asleep.” The grip softened and Gaara sat up, tapping Neji on the side as he did. When the darker haired boy saw the girls drooling at him, he groaned in exasperation.



“Can’t that wait? Jesus Christ, what time is it? I need coffee!”



“But Neji, last night you said…” The girls were starting to get weak at the knees watching the couple on the bed.



“I know what I said! Just, let us get dressed and eat breakfast, and THEN I’ll do stuff for you!” Fangirly squeals and they were gone. “Goddamn motherfucking…” the rest of the line of obscenities was lost as he buried his face in the pillow. Shikamaru’s presence was all but forgotten as Gaara rubbed his back and then began running his hands through the long black hair. The lazy genius marveled at the change in attitude from the day before. No one would believe him if he told them that Gaara was being tender, and they’d chuck him in the loony bin if he said it was towards Neji. Shaking his head, he went to finish his cereal.



When he got back to the kitchen, he found Sakura and Ino not-so-subtly interrogating Naruto and Sasuke about the night before at the small breakfast table. Sasuke was getting his “I’m planning your death” look, and Naruto was becoming more and more hysterical, so Shikamaru again, and with much annoyance, told them all to shut the fuck up please and thank you.



“But Shikamaru, Neji said-”



“Neji would agree that you are being annoying and are about to be thrown out of his house just for the peace and quiet! When Neji comes down, he will decide what you guys can do, so just wait until then!”



Sasuke and Naruto looked at him in horror and exclaimed simultaneously,



“If we have to do anything-”



“I’m not going to do that, not-”



Shikamaru slapped his hand on the table and stood.



“I’m going to watch TV!!!”



Fortunately, Neji himself walked in at that moment and stood staring at them in half amused, half condescending disgust, Gaara trailing behind him with a look of patient bemusement. Shikamaru looked at Neji expectantly. The girls gazed longingly at the pair. Neji was dressed in a tight, short t-shirt with faded hip-hugger jeans, and Gaara was in his clothes from the night before, minus the armlets and boots. Neji held up his fingers to forestall their requests.



“Coffee first, then we’ll talk about it. End of discussion.” The girls’ shoulders slumped, but they turned back to their cereal bowls. Kiba and Hinata, and later Lee, Chouji, and Sai joined them, and the twelve of them sat or stood around the breakfast table in relative silence, waiting for Neji to determine their fate.



Neji took his time, sipping his strong black coffee and noticing with pleasure that Gaara also drank his black. Socially, they were opposites, but he was beginning to notice some similarities that might make this match more natural than first assumed. When he came back to the table with his second cup of coffee, he finally address the group.



“Alright girls, this isn’t gonna be a porno; softcore at best and the clothes stay on, got it? Ok, now, who would be willing to be a part of Sakura and Ino’s little Indie film fest idea. I assume you all know what they propose?”



All of them knew, but only Gaara and Sai raised their hands. Neji rolled his eyes.



“Sasuke, Naruto? I thought you guys were like this:” He crossed his fingers and held them out. Naruto blushed furiously and Sasuke answered for them both.



“It’s not like that. And don’t ask again.” The last he directed towards the whole group, layering his words with threat. Neji put up his hands in defeat.



“Ok, Sai you’re my cousin and I can’t do that, so Gaara, looks like it’s you and me.” Gaara looked at him intensely. “Is that ok?” Gaara regarded him for another moment then gave a curt nod. “Ok, everyone finish your breakfast and then whoever wants to can watch. My room, I suppose.” He grabbed his coffee cup and headed for the staircase, Gaara following close behind him. As they went, Neji asked, “Have you ever done film before?”



“…no”



“Well, it’s not difficult. Some say to pretend the camera’s not there and to act natural. I don’t like it that way. I don’t know, maybe I’m an attention whore, but I play to the camera. The trick is lighting and angles. I’ve seen some of Sakura’s stuff, she can handle the angles, but we’ll need to set up the lighting.” He began pulling small round lamps with frosted bulbs and white shades out of his closet and setting them up in strategic places around his room, explaining as he went. “These will give clean white light, and I’m setting them up to minimize the shadows, which makes the shot look more professional. But we’re going to add candles on the bed side of the room. Candles make a more intimate setting and add the little extra bit of light to the background to pull it all together. And I just like them.”



Gaara was looking at him in soft horror, hugging himself in the doorway. Neji paused to reassure him, laughing.



“It’s not as bad as you think! I mostly do school projects and movie reenactments. I have done porn, but not much, and only if I’m pressured a little. I want to be an actor and director.” His voice dropped to a murmur and his eyes to the floor. “My dad said no. He doesn’t care if I use my allowance to dally in it, but I have to go into a real career or I’ll be cut off. He won’t accept anything not considered respectable.” He looked back up at Gaara. The red head stared off into space for a moment, then shrugged.



“My dad won’t accept anything at all.” He shrugged again. “Fuck him.”



“I wish it were that easy.” The response was so quiet Gaara barely heard it. He crossed the room and dropped to a crouch beside Neji, putting his hand on the kneeling brunette’s shoulder.



“Maybe it is, if you want it to be.” Neji smiled and was about to reply when they both heard footsteps on the stairs and they quickly got to their feet. When the girls knocked quietly on the open door (with the rest of the crowd clustered behind them), Neji was lighting candles and Gaara was fixing his hair and makeup in the adjoining bathroom. Neji looked up.



“So. What kind of scene do you want?” Sakura bit her lip.



“Fight and then make up?”



“The room’s not really big enough….”



“We talked it over, and it would be perfect for your personalities, and it doesn’t have to be toooooo physical, just exchange some insults and maybe wrestle around a bit….?” Her words tumbled out, like she was afraid he would cut her off. Ino just nodded at her side. He thought for a moment.



“Let us discuss it.” The girls backed out and closed the door, nearly slamming it in the relief that he was allowing this at all. Neji looked over to where Gaara was leaning against the door jam, looking at him with one raised eyebrow.



“Well, the best way for this scene to work, considering our personalities, is to start out with insults that match real life, one of us swings, we go down, wrestle around for a bit. At some point we’d stand up, shove eachother onto the bed, and continue to wrestle, but this time for dominance as we make out.”



“....”



“Just follow my lead. If it helps, pretend no one else is in the room with us. It’ll be ok, I promise.”



Gaara blinked rapidly several times and nodded once. Neji crossed the room and

opened the door.



“Let’s get this party started!”






__________





A/N Yeah, let's get this party started! Hopefully, my case of writer's block is permanently alevieated and the party will be nonstop from now on. A little feedback, of course, never goes amiss....