Reckoning

******************

Hope Stables, Uma Texas (a horse stable for the sick and weak)

“He knew the victim, and he knew the animals involved.” Kakashi said heavily as they walked away from where Nagato was still working with the animals. “We’ll need a warrant.” Kakashi continued and Naruto blinked.

“I don’t think he’s the killer.” Naruto stated, “and even if he is I doubt it was because he wanted to be.” 

“Oh? And who do you think the killer is?”

“I’m not psychic.” Naruto frowned. “But I bet that if Nagato isn’t our killer then who knows who is.” 

******************

Gaara’s office, downtown Konoha City 

“How does it feel to be consulting with the FBI again?” Gaara asked, reclining in his chair with all of the smooth power of the alpha he is. The blonde let out a breath and looked over towards the window trying not to think about how appealing the redhead in front of him is. ‘He’s a bad guy. Drove to the brink of insanity and framed me for murders he commuted.’ Naruto reminded himself. “Last time it nearly destroyed you.” The redhead continued and the blonde jerked back to face him with a glare.

“No. Last time you nearly destroyed me.” Naruto said sharply. 

“You still believe—“

“Stop.” Naruto growled. Gaara went still. “You May have to pretend, but I don’t.” 

“No, you don’t.” The alpha acknowledges with a nod and a soft smile. “Not with me. Never with me.” 

Naruto felt his heart ache with longing at the words, and he promptly had to remind himself how that was not a good thing. Had to remind himself that Gaara wasn’t really capable of love, or admiration. ‘He just wants me to be his plaything. A toy to wind up and watch go.’ The thought hurt, but what made it worse was the constant lingerly hope that somehow he was wrong. 

“I know you can’t really say anything or tell me I’m right. Not really. But I prefer lies by omission rather than outright lies.” Naruto leaned forward in his seat and gave Gaara a deep soul search stare. “Do not lie to me.”  

“Will you return the courtesy?” The redhead asked and the blonde blinked as Gaara shifted in his seat, his eyes looking almost concerned— for a second anyway. “Why did you resume your therapy with me?”

“I can’t just talk to anyone about the crap in my head can I?” The blonde replied almost bitterly. ‘You’d probably kill them for skulking around in my thoughts. Or frame me for another murder.’ 

“Do you fantasize about killing me?”  Gaara asked and the blonde felt his mouth grow dry at those words. Because he hadn’t. No matter how far or bad things had gotten he hadn’t considered killing him. Not since he thought he had killed him anyway. He just thought about trapping him. ‘Fuck.’ Naruto thought as new images surfaced in his mind. ‘Gaara would be sprawled out, covered in blood and breathless. Weak and vulnerable underneath my hands.’ Naruto swallowed as the thought sent shivers down his spine in the most delicious way. 

“Yes.” Naruto replied, because now? Now he had fantasized. ‘Gaara would be beautiful even dying.’ 

“How would you do it?” The redhead murmured.

“With me hands.” The blonde whispered back, watching to see Gaara’s eyes dilate. 

“Then we have not yet moved past apologies and forgiveness.” 

“We’ve moved past a lot of things.” Naruto responded vaguely, before hesitating— “I discovered something about myself when I tried to have you killed.” 

“That doing bad things to bad people made you feel good?” Gaara questioned, and Naruto nodded. 

“Yeah. It did.” 

“I need to know if your going to try and kill me again.” Gaara stated and the blonde paused. 

“I’m… not going to kill you. Not when I finally find you so interesting.” 

*********************

Gaara’s office, downtown Konoha City 

(the next day)

Gaara sat in his chair watching Hinata pace back and forth slowly in front of his office window. Her left arm was in a sling, it’s wrist had been broken. Under the faint make-up the redhead could make out the faint purple marks of a bruise forming along her cheekbone. 

“Every human is capable of great acts of cruelty.” Gaara said, studying her for her reaction. “Your brother views you as less than human, and your family unfortunately fosters this view.” 

“They think I’m…. Weird.” Hinata responds bitterly. 

“I am far weirder than you shall ever be.” Gaara reassured her. The omega grimaced before saying, 

“They already forgave him. Talk shows and self help books thrive on this sort of thing.”

“And what might that be?”

“That everyone loves a sinner redeemed.” Hinata murmured with disgust. “He may have made bad choices before but now he can make new better choices.” She finished sarcastically. 

“Do you believe that?”

“Do you believe me?”

“It is not my role to believe you. My role is to help you understand yourself.” The long haired omega looked away. 

“He won’t stop.” She responded finally. 

“How does that make you feel?”

“Angry.” 

“Anger is good. It is an emotion of action. If you are angry, you believe you can stop If from happening again.” Gaara said calmly. 

“Oh I know how to stop it.” The omega fires back.

“If you really desire to kill your brother, wait until you can get away with it. Or have someone do it for you.” 

*********************

Hope Stables, Uma Texas (a horse stable for the sick and weak)

Naruto sighed to himself as he pulled up the stables. The constant chirping of the bird sitting in his passenger seat put his nerves on edge. ‘Frustratingly irritating.’ Naruto thought. Putting the car in park and shutting the engine off with quick motions before he forced himself to take a slow breath. ‘Gotta think happy calming thoughts, if I want him to like me.’ The blonde mentally reminded himself before grabbing the birdcage and walking inside. Nagato was sitting perched on the edge of his seat, completely still and watching the doorway. 

“Hey.” Naruto said in greeting. “I uh, brought the bird. I know you were worried about it.” 

“Th-than-k you.” The beta said stutteringly, stuffing with his words. 

“They found Sara Miamizu’s grave.” Naruto stated bluntly, glancing at the beta before looking back at the bird, watching it chirp over and over again. “They also found a lot more.” Nagato didn’t respond. The blonde felt another shot of frustration burn its way through his veins. ‘Seems that’s all I am anymore, more and more frustration.’ The blonde thought bitterly, trying not to think about what it would take to get rid off all of his frustration. Naruto leaned closer to the bird, eye on its fragile bones and light colorful feathers before saying, “basically every culture thought birds carried souls to the afterlife at some point or another.” 

“Y-o-you Th-think that I think t-his b-bird is S-sa-ra?” Nagato questioned hesitantly before his head dropped down and his cradling it with his hands. Tears began rolling down his face as disjointed sob quietly escaped. Pity bubbled up in the blondes chest alongside a very faint feeling of….. disgust. The blonde swallowed and tried to shake away the feelings, focusing instead of the beta before him. ‘The victim.’ Naruto reminded himself mentally. “S-she’s gone.” Nagato struggles to say. “Sh-she’s Every-wh-where and no-no nowhere.”  

“Tell me who killed her.” Naruto asked, carefully avoiding looking at the beta in front of him. The scent of animals and illness surrounded the area and the blonde shifted uncomfortably as he recalled his time being… ill. ‘Not my fault.’ The blonde reminded himself, still not meeting nagato’s eyes. 

“I j-just wa-wanted some-thing beau-tiful for her.” 

“You were grieving her.” Naruto replied easily. “There was nothing you could do to save her.” He added, knowing how much guilt can eat away at a person. Even if it’s guilt over not feeling any remorse. 

“I w-wanted you to f-find me. If if you co-could f-find me you c-could find him.” Nagato struggled to say and the blondes head snapped up watching his with careful eyes. 

“Do you have a shadow?” The blonde asked, feeling his breath catch in his thought as the seemingly innocent similarities seemed to build between them. “Someone who made you feel less alone? Someone who only you can truly see?” Naruto whisper softly, keeping his voice calm and even. Inwardly though his heart was racing. His head a jumble over thought of prison insanity and Gaara. ‘I’ll save you.’ Naruto decided as the urge to shoot something— do something— began to build under his skin with a passion he hasn’t felt since—  ‘Since I decided to kill Gaara.” The blonde thought, feeling his skin prickliest just the idea of blood. 

“N-no one w-will believe me.” Nagato mourned. “H-he’ll make s-sure no ones b-believes me.”

“I’ll make sure they do.” Naruto responded confidently. 

********************

FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City 

Purpose drove the blonde forward, and Naruto felt something akin to confidence blaze under his skin. ‘I will make sure they believe him.’ Naruto thoughtly, holding his chin a little higher, his back a little straighter. This was something the blonde understood. A mission. Naruto stood quietly next to Gaara and Kakashi looking through the one way window watching Sakura interview Nagato's social worker. ‘He’s the killer.’ Naruto thought, staring at Madara while trying not to be impressed at the level of skill Sakura was displaying during the interview. 

“She’s smart.” The blonde mumbled still watching the interview unfold, trying to ignore the closeness of Gaara next to him. “Sakura keeps pushing on his emotions rather than facts, testing his emotional range.” The blonde added. 

“Yes, his responses do line up with typical psychopathic responses however it may also be simple resentment.” Gaara corrected, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. 

“His eyes are...dead emotionless its. He’s a predator.” Naruto replied not bothering to look back at the alpha. ‘Just like you. He’s a monster. Just. Like. You.’ Naruto thought shoving his hands in his pockets. 

“Let him go.” Kakashi said through the intercom and Sakura leaned back, watching Madara leave. 

“Your making a mistake.” Naruto growled. 

“I’ve got nothing to hold him on.” Kakashi retorted sharply and the blonde snorted, turning to face the alpha. 

“Nagato is at a disadvantage psychologically.” Naruto started feeling the words spill from a dark place in his heart. “As his social worker, Madara was in a position of power and trust.” The blonde took a step forward ignoring Gaara completely as he spoke, even as the redheads eyes lingered on him. “Madara betrayed that trust.” Naruto crosses his arms muttering, “I know what it feels like to point out a killer and have no one listen.” 

“Except you pointed in the wrong direction.” Kakashi stated bluntly and the blonde fought back a growl. “Let him go.” The alpha mumbled into an intercom, and Sakura sighed before standing to make a phone call outside in the hallway. Naruto watched Madara leave with unblinking eyes, not even glancing over when Sakura walked up to speak to Gaara. 

“I can’t come to dinner tonight, one of my patients needs me.” Sakura murmured apologetically.

“The patients must come first.” The redhead replied with a nod and she gave him a smile and a kiss on the cheek before leaving with a soft flourish. Kakashi followed after her, leaving the room to go do…. something. Naruto wasn’t sure exactly what yet. ‘probably has something to do with our plan to get Gaara arrested.’ He thought. 

Gaara watched her leave for a moment before promptly turning his back to her in order to face Naruto. “Would you like a drink?” Gaara asked pulling the blonde from his thoughts with ease. 

“A drink?” Naruto asked blinking wondering where in the hell that had come from. 

“Yes.” The alpha answered, taking a single step closer. “A drink.”

“Where? Here?” The blonde said, sarcastically gesturing to the basically empty room. “Lovely spot.” Naruto added and Gaara’s mouth twitched into a very faint smile. 

“I was thinking perhaps of my home. Or office, whichever you would prefer.” The redhead said and the blonde frowned. 

“Office I guess.” The blonde mumbled feeling his skin prickle in discomfort at the strange feeling of playing second place to Sakura. ‘I feel like im... almost a rebound.’ The blonde thought trying not to grimace even as he followed Gaara outside. 

***********************

Gaara’s office, downtown Konoha City

The office was as clean as ever, and completely empty of the scents of anyone except for them. Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets already taking up his spot to stand next to the window, while Gaara poured them both a glass of wine. 

“You appears to be a man which has suffered an…. irrevocable loss.” Gaara stated, as he handed him a glass of wine before taking a sip from his own glass. 

“I’m trying to prevent one.” Naruto answered, glancing at the alpha as his mind raced to compare him with Madara. ‘Nagato is like I used to be.’ The blonde realized. ‘He was vulnerable, and finally started to feel less alone and… happy. Then thatShitty Alpha ruined it.’  Naruto felt a pang if hurt as thought about how similar Gaara and Madara were. They get ‘Curious so they act all nice. Then just throw it all away when the get bored. Toxic people with no sense of empathy or love.’ The thought brought renewed resolve for the plan he and Kakashi had started developing to capture the redhead. ‘It all starts with Karin, then Sakura.’ Naruto thought with a vicious twisted sense of righteousness. 

“Do you think that if you save Nagato, you will be able to save yourself?” The redhead asks. 

“Save myself from what?”

“From who you perceive me to be.” Gaara answered and the blonde gave a soft sigh. ‘I think I need to be saved from who you perceive me to be.’ The blonde thought Idly, as wondered how he would catch Madara and then save Nagato. “Often troubling behaviors will bloom when someone is uncertain of themselves, and Nagato lies trapped in a similar darkness which holds you.” Gaara said aloud and the blonde shook his head.

“I’m alone in that darkness.” Naruto said bitterly, before surprise jolted through him. ‘I hadn’t meant to say that. I mean, where the heck did that even come from?’ He wondered. 

“Your not alone Naruto,” Gaara murmured hesitantly. “I’m standing right beside you.” Naruto blinked, shifting his weight as he wondered if that was meant to be as comforting and it sounded. ‘I feel like that’s supposed to be threatening somehow.’ The blonde thought, ‘I mean, that implies he’s always watching right?’ Naruto suppresses a shiver of delight. ‘Still it was ... comforting. In an odd sort of way.’

“I’m going to visit Nagato.” Naruto said bluntly, wanting to change the topic. “I want to explain why we couldn’t hold Madara. Let him know I’m not giving on him.” 

“Right now?” Gaara asked, setting down his barely touch glass of wine. 

“No. Yes. Maybe.” Naruto shrugged. “After this I guess.” 

“In that case allow me to come with you.” The redhead ‍asked. 

“Looking for more patients, Doctor?” The blonde asked raising a brow and Gaara gave him a half smile. 

“I would not be coming for Nagato.” 

“Ah Just for me then?” The blonde tried to joke.

“Yes.” Gaara answered and the blonde swallowed at the answer feeling almost…. flattered. ‘I really shouldn’t feel flattered by a serial killer who probably isn’t capable of actually feeling emotions like love.’ Naruto thought. ‘Especially after everything that’s happened. Oh well, I’m going to get him in prison anway. So it doesn’t matter.’

*******************

Hope Stables, Uma Texas (a horse stable for the sick and weak)

‘The car ride was….nice.’ Naruto thought reluctantly. Trying to find his hatred for the redhead but failing, yet again. ‘Angry angry angry, is that really all that I feel?’ The blonde didn’t think that was right. ‘I can be plenty happy.’ He decided stubbornly. ‘And I will be as soon as I catch this emotionless psychopath Madara and arrest Gaara I will be.’  

The blonde got out of the car and walked into the smaller building where Nagato had been last time happily surrounded by various animals that he cared for. As he walked inside he could feel the wrongness of it before he ever noticed that all of the cages were empty. The cage doors hung open on loose hinges the creaked eeriest as the blonde looked for Nagato. It was empty and completely devoid of life. ‘No.’ Naruto thought turning on his heel to hurry back outside. ‘How did he do this so fast? I need to find Nagato, before something happens.’ Naruto tried to remain perfectly calm, but the violent urge to strike something curled his fists up tightly. ‘I’ll go to the main building, maybe he could be in there. Then I’ll…’ Naruto wasn’t sure yet what he would do after that. ‘Calling Kakashi would just lead to more questions.’ He thought before shaking it off. ‘Whatever, I’ll decide later.’ Gaara followed him wordlessly to the main building, watching the Naruto closely. 

Opening the doors and following the soft sound of a person breath lead Naruto to an unexpected sight. Nagato sat hunched over a dead horse carefully stitching its belly shut. Blood covered the floor around him and soaked his pants. Naruto blinked as he saw a bloody hammer sitting next to him. ‘Did he kill Madara?’ Naruto wondered feeling his heart skip a beat. 

“Nagato?” The blonde said, taking a step forward. “Is… is your social worker in that horse?” 

“Yes.” Nagato replied unhappily, letting his shoulder droop as he put the needle down. Naruto swallowed. ‘God he’s just like me.’ The blonde thought. ‘And Gaara— Gaara is just like Madara.’ “I used to be so afraid of hurting anything.” Nagato admitted, looking at the blood on his hands. “B-But h-he He-lpded me ge-t over th-at.” Gaara blinked looking between him and the horse before glancing at Naruto. The blonde steadfastly ignored him, singularly focused on the damaged beta in front of him. “I f-feel so a-ab-normal.” 

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.” Gaara said calmly and Naruto threw him a glare. 

“I th-think h-he deserves t-to die.” 

“But…” Naruto started to say, heisting at the lost looking in Nagatos eyes. “You didn’t deserve to kill him.” The blonde finished, seeing how the hurt and brokenness in The beta’s weak frame. ‘You deserves more than that. Your shouldn’t have had to have killed him.’ Naruto thought as he knelt down next to him. “Come with me.” He murmured softly. The beta hesitated for a moment before shakily standing and walking with Naruto to the door.  As the got closer to the door the blonde cast a sharp glare over his shoulder aimed first at the horse and then at Gaara. ‘He better just stay in here and give Nagato some space. The beta needs someone who understands what he's been through, not an alpha to psychoanalyze.’ Naruto thought, giving him another meaningful look. The redhead blinked, before he nodded silently. Gaara would stay behind to allow them to talk.

Naruto was quiet for a long moment, not sure how to start. The beta wandered amongst the empty cages, a reminder of what was taken from him. The blonde clench his fists, as he recalled how Gaara had basically taken his sanity away from him. 

“What was done to you was cruelty done for the sake of cruelty.” Naruto blurted out, pulling Nagato's attention back. 

“I- I th-think I hate h-him.” Nagato struggles out and the blonde is struck with the sudden realization that he doesn’t hate Gaara. ‘Fuck.’ Naruto thought. ‘Why? Why don’t I hate him. I want to hate. After what he did to me.’ 

“I envy your hatred.” The blonde said finally. “It makes it easier when you know how to feel about it.” He added as he crosses his arms, his mind thinking back to how he felt when he thought he killed Gaara, and to how he felt when he killed Mikoshi. 

“M-makes w-what easier?” Nagato stuttered out looking confused.

“Killing them.” The blonde said calmly, almost wishing he felt like Nagato did. ‘He hates him, but now he can be free of him. Just like I could be, maybe.’ Naruto thought. 

“I i d-don’t k-kill hi-m.” The Beta stumbled out, shock erupting onto his face. “I j-just want-Ed h-im to under-st-stand wh-what h-he did.” 

“You wanted him to under stand, what it felt like to suffocate.” Naruto said aloud, as disappointment threatened to swallow him before fear could take hold. ‘He didn’t kill him. He didn’t even want to kill him.’ Naruto realized, as a new level panic began to set in. ‘I wanted to kill him. I wanted to kill Gaara, and it was me who enjoyed killed Mikoshi. Oh god.’ Naruto swallowed, not sure how to handle this new overwhelming situation he was faced with. ‘I don’t hate Gaara. I was always... it was always... betrayal.’ The blonde thought.

While Naruto struggled with this sudden acceptance of himself, Gaara still stood calmly waiting next to the dead horse perfectly content to wait for Naruto to return. The sound of something wet squishing drew his attention away however as he turned to see finger begin to pry the horse open at the sutures from the inside. Like something from a demented horror movie, Gaara watched in fascination as Madara crawled out of the horses dead body, drenched in blood and guts. 

“Mister Madara,” Gaara said with a blink not expecting…. This. “You May want to crawl back in the horse, if you know what it good for you.” He finished calmly, as he heard the click of the door open right as Madara picked up the bloody hammer. Naruto's scent began to fill the air alongside the scent of gunpowder and the redhead wisely took a step to the side, ready to watch things unfold. 

“Officer,” Madara said slowly, dropping the hammer at the sight of a gun pointed at him. “I’m the victim here.”

“I’m not an officer.” Naruto growled, tightening his hands around the gun. “I’m Nagatos friend.”

“Nagato's confuses.” Madara snapped and Gaara blinked. 

“I’m not.” The blonde lied, even as he tried to tell himself that the rush he was feeling is from trying help Nagato and not from wanting to kill Madara. “Pick up the hammer.” He ordered. 

“Naruto.” Gaara murmured hesitantly. 

“Pick it up.” The blonde repeated taking a step closer to the— thing in front of him. ‘A monster. A heartless pig.’ Naruto thought savagely. ‘He nothing like Gaara.’ 

“It will not feel the same.” Gaara said, taking a step closer to him, “it will not feel like killing me.” 

“Doesn’t have to.” Naruto admitted, making the redhead pause for a moment.

“You did the best anyone could have done for Nagato, but do not do this for him.” The alpha said, “if you are going to do this, do it for yourself.” He added softly. 

“Please don’t!” Madara begged

“You would be wise to remain silent Mister Madara,” Gaara said not even looking in his direction as he spoke. “Naruto, this is not the reckoning you promised yourself.” The redhead murmured. Naruto felt a rush start to burn it way through his veins he went to pull the trigger— only to be stopped by Gaara. Madara collapses into a heap on the floor sobbing incoherently. ‘I would have shot him.’ Naruto thought feeling like he missed an opportunity. Gaara carefully pried the gun from the blondes tight fingers, with adoration filling his Jade green eyes.  

“With all of my knowledge and intuition, I can never entirely predict you.” The redhead murmured, letting his hands rest against the blondes cheek. The blonde felt his heart skip a beat as he looked to Gaara gazing at him with pure unfiltered emotion. Strong, and powerful. ‘And completely because of me.’ Naruto thought, with a sense power blanketing him. ‘He’s looking at me like I personally hung every star in the night sky just for him.’ Naruto swallowed because this could change things. A lot of things. Not actual things, not yet, but soon. “I may feed the caterpillar and whisper through the chrysalis, but what hatches will follow its own nature and it is beyond me.” Gaara added, standing so close Naruto could practically taste the words as they from his lips. ‘Damn this is way more arousing than it has any right to be.’ The blonde thought forgetting all about the guy covered in blood who he wanted to kill.