Chapter Three
Good Morning

“What do you think happened last night?” Lee handed Gaara a cup of coffee and took a small sip from his own.

Gaara and Lee had grown up together, gone to school together, and when Shino Arumani had offered them jobs, they had agreed to get a suite apartment together. They knew each other as well as one could know a friend and their individual personalities complimented the other’s well. Lee filled Gaara’s long silences with enthusiastic monologues about anything that popped into his head, and Gaara listened to everything he said—and everything he didn’t. Lee knew Gaara well enough to know that a sigh meant that he was content, a slow blink meant that he was sad, and running his hand over his hair indicated that he was tired. Lee knew all Gaara’s tells, but Gaara knew Lee well enough to tell by the small stresses on certain vowels how he felt about what he was saying. There really wasn’t much else left for them to learn about each other.

Well—not too much, anyway.

Gaara took a small sip of coffee and sighed, easing into the soft green couch.

Lee began pacing, speaking breathlessly. “I mean, Sasuke tends to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and that can ruin any hopes of a good relationship and it’s obvious he really liked that Naruto and—”

Gaara took the army-green coffee cup from Lee’s hand and tugged him down with the other. “Sit down. Relax with me. Drink your over-sweetened decaf.” Gaara gave a sloth smile. “Chill.”

Lee sighed, forcing himself to relax. He leaning back into the thick couch cushions and took another sip of his coffee. Rich and sweet. Just the way he liked it. He smiled and reclined, his feet finding a resting place on the table as the warmth of his drink spread through him.

“Good.” Gaara stretched languidly and set his feet down next to Lee’s. “Now listen. Sasuke may be hopeless, and that Naruto may be reminiscent of a scared baby chick, but when Sasuke sees something he wants, you know he always gets it.”

Lee grinned, completely relieved. “Of course, what was I so worried about? Sasuke’s so full of youthful vigor—he’ll be fine. Won’t he?” He bit his lip and glanced at his roommate for reassurance.

Gaara’s cheeks turned slightly pink and he did his best to hide his feelings as he said, “Of course, Lee..” He swallowed as Lee closed his eyes and tipped his head against the back of the couch, heaving another sigh.

Lee’s smooth ivory skin was flawless, and the soft green t-shit clung to his perfectly fit body. On his free time, Lee always went down to the park to run and work out. It was his favorite pastime, and boy, did it show. His thick black hair fell back from his face, revealing his odd but handsome countenance. His eyelashes were long enough to rest against his cheeks and his thin lips curved up into the slightest of unconscious smiles.

“There’s nothing to worry about today.” Gaara looked away from his flatmate, deciding that the window was a safer focus for his eyes. “So what do you want to do?”

Lee smiled. “Lets go out for breakfast.”

Sunlight pierced the dark curtains and shone on Naruto’s face, slowly but surely waking him. He opened his eyes and took in the dark, fashionable décor and remembered Sasuke. A dark blue blanket had been draped over him and Naruto snuggled farther into the warmth, not quite ready to give in to full wakefulness yet.

He could hear quiet sounds from the room next to him, and assumed that Sasuke was in the kitchen, maybe cooking breakfast. He closed his eyes and started to go back to sleep.

And then his eyes snapped open and he sat up, his face slowly turning a bright tomato red.

He had spent the night in a porn actor’s house. And on top of that, he had kissed—

Sasuke strode in suddenly, smiling when he saw that Naruto was up. “Good morning.” He set a coffee cup down in front of Naruto and then sat down beside him. “Sleep well?”

“Uhm, yeah, thanks.” Naruto held the coffee cup in his hand, enjoying the warmth.

They were quiet for a moment, sipping coffee in companionable silence.

“So, uh,” Sasuke cleared his throat and glanced over at Naruto. “Would you like to go out for breakfast?”

Naruto blinked. “I don’t have any money. And I really should be getting home…”

“I’m buying.” Sasuke gave a winning smile. “And I’ll take you home after. Please?”

Naruto smiled back. “Yeah, okay.”