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This was inspired by overlordofnobodies suggesting I should write something where Sakura is in charge. So... this is my attempt at a non-angsty GaaSaku where Gaara is actually nice. Not entirely sure if I like it... but I figured I'd let you guys judge that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters.
“Konoha brats take things too lightly,” came Kankuro’s sarcastic voice somewhere beside Sakura.
It was true. The Konoha group could be seen cheering and patting each other on the back, while the newly promoted Suna chuunin stood rigid, as if waiting for orders. Such was the training of the ruthless village – there is no place for emotions on the battlefield.
“Show more respect, Kankuro,” Temari scolded, standing beside her brother behind the Kazekage’s chair.
Gaara ignored his siblings, his eyes surveying the crowd beneath him.
“Brings back memories, doesn’t it?” Sakura said thoughtfully.
That made him look over, his eyes locking on hers for a moment. He could only imagine her memories of nearly five years ago. Trapped between his sand and a tree, almost crushed into oblivion. He was surprised she never ran from him since then. Even Naruto showed hints of his old fear sometimes, perhaps because he truly understood what Gaara was, what could happen if he snapped.
“Yeah… I never got to fight Sasuke,” Naruto mumbled on her other side.
Gaara turned away without commenting. Seems not all memories revolved around him. The one that escaped would forever be remembered, forever be mourned, even if he was a traitor. Gaara was just a monster, even if he was changed.
“I wasn’t talking about that, Naruto,” Sakura said quietly.
But they never found out what she did mean as the announcement was made that the chuunin exams were now finished and everyone was free to go. The Hokage and Kazekage rose from their seats simultaneously, leaving the arena followed by their subordinates.
It was not until much later that day that Gaara finally found himself alone in his hotel room, a suite especially prepared for the Kazekage. His siblings were housed elsewhere and he was sure he would not be interrupted. The firm knock on his door came as a surprise and he considered ignoring it, pretending he wasn’t there. Sometimes he missed the days when no one would dare approach him, when he could disappear whenever he wanted, when the only responsibility he had was ensuring his survival for another day.
With a sigh Gaara approached the door, throwing it open roughly to show his irritation. He was surprised even further to find her standing there, smiling as always, full of confidence even in the face of his anger.
“What is it?” he asked coldly, folding his arms over his chest.
He wasn’t expecting her. In fact, she was the last person he would expect to approach him. It had to be a message from the Hokage. What else could possibly bring her here?
“Can I come in, Gaara?” Sakura said softly.
No pretense. No titles. She wanted something. He lifted what would’ve been an eyebrow slightly but stepped aside nevertheless. She walked inside and he turned around to watch her, closing the door and leaning against it casually. He waited for her to speak.
“I know what you think,” she said with a sort of detachment, her back turned to him, seeming to observe something through the window. “I’ve seen the way you look at people. The way you look at me.”
“What do you mean?” Gaara asked with a slight frown.
Sakura turned to face him, her expression somewhere between sad and determined.
“You think we’re all still afraid of you,” she stated bluntly. “You think everyone still sees you as a monster. You think nothing has changed.”
“You should be afraid,” he replied with an idle shrug.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she said firmly. “When I remember you back then, I remember your pain, your loneliness. I remember that I wanted to help you even then.”
“I would’ve killed you then,” Gaara stated indifferently. “I can kill you now.”
“You’ve always used that as a shield,” Sakura answered softly, taking a step towards him. “Your excuse to be distant, your excuse to never be close to anyone.”
“It’s not an excuse,” he said impassively. “Who would want to be close to me?”
“Me,” she replied, taking another step forward, now inches away from him.
Straight to the point, no games. It seemed she really wasn’t afraid. Gaara instinctively pressed back into the wall, trying to move away from her. He wasn’t prepared for this.
“Why?” he asked quietly.
“Because… no one should be that lonely,” Sakura’s voice trembled slightly, finally showing a hint of her emotions.
“It’s not your job to correct the mistakes of my village,” Gaara answered with a sneer.
He didn’t need pity. He didn’t need someone thinking he needed help.
“Gaara,” she said softly. “I think I could love you.”
Her hands suddenly came to rest on his chest and he stiffened immediately, the only thing stopping him from throwing her off was the fear that he would accidentally hurt her.
“Why?” he asked again.
“Does everything need an answer?” she countered, pressing closer to him.
“Yes,” Gaara answered sharply.
“I’ve been watching you,” Sakura spoke quietly, almost as if in a dream. “I know the way you talk to everyone, as if you could never understand them. The way you look at everyone, as if you could never be part of their world. I want you to look at me differently. I want you to see me the way I see you.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Gaara whispered, his head touching the wood of the door as Sakura leaned in closer towards him.
“Let me show you,” she answered.
Her lips brushed against his as she closed the distance between them and Gaara gasped instinctively. His hands came up, grabbing her waist with the intention of pushing her off, but stopping there when her tongue traced along his lower lip. Her hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer towards her, deepening the kiss. When a soft moan escaped Sakura’s throat, Gaara pulled back with a jolt, immediately associating that sound with pain.
What she did next made him regret it. Her mouth descended on his neck, tongue flicking out over the sensitive skin, making him shudder in response. She trailed up towards his ear, whispering softly, her lips moving against his skin.
“Do you see?”
“No,” Gaara answered defiantly.
Her lips closed over his ear, teasing it lightly between her teeth, tongue tracing along the earlobe.
“Stop, or I’ll kill you,” his voice was weak, uncertain.
Sakura pulled back, only to catch his lips once again, pushing him roughly against the door to ensure he could not pull away. He gave a quiet noise of protest but the hands on her waist remained still, as if his body did not believe his words that he really wanted her to move away. By the time she broke the kiss, his arms had wrapped tightly around her, holding her against him.
“What makes you think I want this?” Gaara asked coldly, seeming to disregard the fact that he had not let her go.
“Because,” she answered with a knowing smile. “I’ve seen the way your gaze lingers when I enter the room. I’ve seen the way you let yourself get injured on the last few missions we did together. You wanted this as much as I did.”
“This can’t happen,” he stated resolutely.
“What makes you think I’m giving you a choice?” she asked with a smirk.
“I can kill you,” he repeated again.
“And I can break your heart,” she replied softly.
Sakura saw the fleeting look of anger in Gaara’s eyes before she kissed him again.
“You’re afraid,” she breathed against his lips when she broke the kiss. “Afraid that I’ll leave, afraid that I’ll hurt you.”
“Everyone leaves,” he stated simply.
“I won’t.”
He caught her lips this time, if only to silence her, unable to stand anymore of her brutal honesty. She was the one that broke away, capturing his hand, leading him to the bed. Their clothes joined together in a pile on the floor and by the time he stopped to consider if he really wanted to allow this, she had pushed him down on the mattress. He didn’t have time to think as she straddled him, taking his hands, forcing him to touch her, guiding his fingers along her body. He still hadn’t formed anything coherent in his mind as their bodies seemed to merge together, as she whispered his name in his ear, as her nails clawed red lines along his chest. When he finally started to piece together fragments of his scattered thoughts as she lay panting on top of him, she interrupted him again.
“Can you love me?” she asked softly, looking down at him with sudden uncertainty.
“I can take away your happiness,” he answered instead.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Sakura countered with a smile.
Gaara’s hand slipped behind her neck, pulling her down towards him, all the anger, frustration and loneliness of seventeen years forced into one kiss.
“Yes,” he breathed against her lips.
The next morning as they stood at the gates of Konoha, nothing seemed different, Gaara standing with his siblings while Sakura stood with Naruto beside Tsunade. Perhaps if one looked closer they would see the way their eyes lingered on each other, notice the fresh scratches on Gaara’s wrists, the bite mark on Sakura’s neck. Perhaps if Gaara wasn’t the monster, ex-host of Shukaku, if Sakura wasn’t the Hokage’s dedicated, somewhat unstable apprentice, the way they shook hands a little longer than necessary could’ve been mistaken for something else. Maybe if it wasn’t entirely unlikely, someone would wonder about Gaara coming back to Konoha on dubious business, about Sakura leading a mission to Suna that could’ve been handled by genin, about the way they seemed to appear together more than required by their positions.