Reckoning

Previously—

“I want you to come with me.” He said finally and she stood on shaky legs, to follow him. Through the twisting hallways and down empty FBI corridors. Until they reached a single non-descript door. Inside, her heart felt betrayed, used and sick. 

Sitting there was Karin, and Standing beside her looking confused was Naruto. 

Now—

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

FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City

The moment Sakura had walked through that door Naruto had known that the game was about to get far more intense that it already was. The blonde had enough on his plate and now he had thought about her as well. The Beta was properly horrified, and heartbroken and betrayed and all of those terrible awful feelings. The same ones he had experienced and that she had discarded. 

“Hello. How was my funeral?” Karin said, standing up and flashing the beta an award worthy smile. 

“Your Alive.” Sakura said breathlessly. “Why?” 

“How hurtful.” Karin said with a faux wounded expression. “Asking a person why they are alive, honestly as a psychiatrist shouldn’t you know better?” Karin was looking positively thrilled at the situation while Sakura stood as though rooted to the floor. 

“Karin provided us with the opportunity to catch him in action.” Kakashi said careful and Sakura turned to face him.

“Catch who exactly? Gaara?”

“You said it yourself. You don’t believe you know who Gaara is anymore.” He responded, and Sakura seemed to crumple inwards while Naruto looked on. His phone buzzes in his pocket and he pulled it out to look at it.

“Shut up.” He said loudly, not really caring about whatever breakdown Sakura was supposedly having. He simply didn’t care. “Hello?” He answered, wondering why Gaara had called him so late.

“Hello Naruto.”

“Gaara. You don’t usually call this late, is something wrong?”

“Hinata is in the hospital.”

“Where?” Naruto asked, his stomach dropping and as he started to reach for the door. Waving away whatever expression Kakashi was making at him.

“Senju, downtown near 7th street.” Gaara answered. “I’m heading there now.” Naruto didn’t bother to respond, simply hung up the call and left to go and see her. To see his baby and check in on him. Or her. To make sure it was safe. 

“Naruto wait—“ 

“What?!” He asked, frustrated as he turned to see Kakashi holding up a bottle. The scent masker they were using just in case to help disguise scents since Gaara was a capable and a thoroughbred alpha. Sensitive noses. “Right.” He muttered, always forgetting that Gaara was a thoroughbred. He reached out and sprayed on some before throwing it back at the alpha and dashing out the door. 

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

Senju Hospital, Downtown Konoha City

Despite knowing how short the trip actually is, it felt like he had travelled for hours before he pulled into the maze of a parking lot and was able to find her room. Gaara wasn’t there yet but he came in and saw her laying there silent and still. Her face still bruised and marked up. Steady familiar footsteps echoed and the blonde didn’t even need to turn to know who it was. Gaara came to stand beside him looking at her somewhat broken form. 

“What happened?” The blonde asked.

“Her brother called me. Claimed she had been in an accident and had to postpone her appointment.” The alpha answered. There was a long pause as Naruto just stared at her. Whatever glow her skin had began to take on was faded— lost to whatever surgery they had performed on her. 

“Is they baby…?”

“Lost.” Gaara answered quietly, and the blonde felt his heart come close to shattering. Could feel the redheads eyes lingering on him. 

“Did…”

“No.” Gaara said quietly likely already guessing the question Naruto had wanted to ask. The blonde paused and turned to look at him in the eyes for the first time since he stepped foot in her hospital room. 

“You swear?”

“On my life.” Gaara answered. They stood there, studying each other, the blonde looking for any hints of lies or secrets lingering in those jade green eyes and Gaara looking at him with nothing to hide. 

“I believe you.” Naruto said finally before letting out a shaky breath. 

“Come with me.” Gaara murmured softly, seeing his chance and taking it. “There are better places to discuss things than here.” 

“I have nothing to discuss.” Gaara was quiet for a moment. 

“Come with me.” He said again. Naruto listened. 

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

Dr. Gaara Subaku’s Home, West side Konoha City

The redhead welcomed the blonde into his home with silence. Naruto appreciated that. It gave him time to collect his thoughts, his mayhem, into something a bit more coherent. 

“That shouldn’t have happened to her.” 

“I agree.” Gaara answered calmly, pouring them a glass of wine. 

“So why did it?” The blonde practically growled, taking that glass as the redhead offered it as he paced the length of the living room. 

“Her brother enjoys the power he holds over her. He would see that power remain.” The alpha responded simply.

“Sadistic fuck.” Naruto mumbled. “People like that deserve to die.” He added not really thinking. Gaara tilted his head.

“All those who display sadistic tendancies are to die?” He questioned, his mouth quirking up into a half smile.

“I— that’s not what I meant.” Naruto said, giving a half laugh. “I think I hate him.” The blonde said, his face dropping back down into a serious expression. 

“Because he hurt Hinata?”

“No, because he took something of mine away.” Naruto huffed. “I— I know i shouldn’t have but I was. I was getting attached. I don’t know why I did. Everything I get attached to always seems to die. It’s not right. Not fair.” 

“With every situation there is an answer.” The redhead responded. The blonde slowed to a stop as The alpha took another sip from his glass. ‘We can’t just him.’ Naruto thought. ‘Not without taking pretty much everything away from Hinata so what the hell is he planning?’ The blonde frowned. ‘I— could I kill him? In cold blood?’ He pressed his mouth into a harsh line as he recalled the mental image of Hinata laying pale and drained and broken in the hospital because of his actions. Recalled the death of the baby. ‘Yeah. Yeah I think I can.’ 

“Murder.” Naruto stated bluntly. “Not really an option here. Not without taking everything away from Hinata. 

“You care for her?”

“I care that she just experienced a loss. Hard to deal with that when you lose your financial stability on top of that.” 

“There is more than one way to take your pound of flesh.” Gaara responds carefully. 

“You have a plan?” The blonde asks, looking at him curious and Gaara tilts his head. 

“I recommend seeing him. It might be therapeutic.” He suggests vaguely and fuck if Naruto knows what that’s supposed to mean. ‘Does he want me to kill him? Threaten him? Flirt with him? What the hell?’ Naruto cursed inwardly. 

“Fine.”

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

Hyuuga Winter Estate, 27 miles NorthEast of Konoha City (later that night)

Naruto still isn’t sure if he’s supposed to kill him when he meets him or not. Gaara’s words were vague which was kinda pissing him off if he was honest. Under the dark of the moon he trudged through the back land of estate until he found a stray beta, wandering in between the trees looking decidedly evil. After he had tackled the man to the ground and held him by the throat until he begged for air, the blonde felt a little bit better. It felt good to release all of his frustration onto one person, even if that technically was not the morally correct thing to do. The man was tied to a tree using the rope Naruto had brought with him, something that Gaara had given him which honestly made it all the more confusing what he wanted. ‘I have time.’ The blonde though checking his watches before taking a deep breath. ‘What I don’t have that I need is information.’ Slowly Naruto allowed himself to relax, to let his empath take over and flicker once, twicethree times….

I walk to the back of the estate, out of view of others. My goal is hidden by the trees, not meant to be seen. I don’t care for it, but I don’t need to. I simply want the money. The promise of payment is irresistible. 

Naruto sucked his breath in like he just woke up from a dream. It was enough. Where ever this guy was going was important to Neji. If the guy wasn’t there he would be soon. That solved he ducked into the shadows of the trees and followed the faint feelings he had pulled from the other. Let them guide him to his goal. His goal turned out to be a warehouse, loud with the sound of squealing angry pigs. As he entered, muscles tense in preparation for a fight, he was greeted with the intense sound of something . ‘This doesn’t deserve to be called music. This is disgusting.’ Naruto thought, face scrunching up as he spotted the speaker and promptly unplugged it. 

“Karlow!” A voice called loudly. ‘I guess the guy I tied up was named Karlow.’ Naruto thought, not bothering to say anything as he approached the high backed chair sitting perched near a haphazardly put together maze housing several pigs. “Karlow! I don’t think they—“  what ever else he was going to say we lost as he caught sight of Naruto. Neji stood up and blinked breathing in the air around him. “You must be the baby daddy.” He said easily. 

Naruto punched him. It felt good. 

“I’m going to feed you to my pigs.” Neji said easily. 

“No. Your not.” Naruto said easily, before crossing his arms. ‘This guy deserves what’s coming to him.’ The blonde thought savagely, curious what Gaara would do. 

“And why not?”

“You think it was Hinata’s idea to have a baby? Your idea to take it away? My idea to come here and try to kill you?” Naruto asked, arching his brow. Neji frowned. “The only thing we have in common is the same psychiatrist.” Naruto added for good measure. “ why don’t you feed Dr.Subaku to your pigs?” The blonde turned on his heel and walked out, a bubbling sense of curiosity and power thrumming through him. ‘Equality.’ Naruto thought as he made the long walk back to his car. ‘You pushed me, I push you.’ 

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

Gaara’s office, Downtown Konoha City

The next evening Naruto went to see Gaara. The redhead left the overhead lights off, content with a simple lamp that sent their shadows running far away from them. It was then that Naruto told Gaara the Neji planned to kill him. Gaara would be lying if he said he was not hurt. 

“Can you explain my actions?” Naruto asked as he took his seat. The alpha blinked. “Do you… assume my intentions?” He asked. “What is your theory of my mind?” 

“I have an understanding of your state of mine.” The redhead responded, tilting his head as he studied the alpha before him. “You understand mine. You and I are just alike.” The red head continued, as he leaned back into his chair.  “This gives you the capacity to deceive me, and be deceived by me.” 

“I’m not deceiving you. I’m just… pointing out the snare around your neck.” 

“You put the snare around my neck.” Gaara responded. Naruto nodded. “Why did you tell Neji Hyuuga I wished to kill him?” 

“I was curious what would happen.” The blonde alpha answered. “Besides, it’s true isn’t it? You want to kill him. That or you want me to kill him? Either way you want him dead.” The blonde shrugged. ‘He not entirely incorrect.’ Gaara thought. ‘Neji's actions took away a gift I had intended for Naruto and he is unspeakably rude.’ “All I am doing, I giving you a little nudge.” Naruto said finally. 

“Neji is discourteous.” Gaara said simply, his mind thinking of the association. “And discourtesy is unspeakably ugly to me.”  

“Are you thinking about eating him?” Naruto asked.

“Whenever possible one should always eat the rude.” Gaara joked letting the corners of his mouth turn upwards. ‘Would he join me? Eat with me when I cook him?’ The redhead wondered. 

“Free range rude.” Naruto joked back.

“Would you join me at the table?”

“You should kill him at your next session.” The blonde answered. “He’s a pig, and deserves to be somebody's bacon.” 

“Close your eyes.” Gaara said softly. “Picture what you would like to happen.” Slowly Naruto listened, letting his eyes fall shut and the redhead sat waiting, almost breathless in anticipation. The blonde's body seemed to relax as his empathy and imagination took over him. Gaara wondered if he would be able to induce that same level of relaxation at the table with dinner. 

“What did you see?” He asked, as Naruto's eyes revealed stunning blue eyes. The blonde simply gave a soft smile and shook his head. ‘What a cunning boy you are.’ Gaara thought, eager to rise to the challenge lay before him. 

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

(Later that day)

“Should we talk about what happened to poor Hinata?” Neji said bluntly as he walked the length of the office. 

“We can get to that later.” Gaara responded, carefully slipping the scalpel that normally rested on his desk into his sleeve. 

“Oh no. We can get to it now.” Neji snapped, looking at the redhead with anger in his eyes. “Family affairs are best left to the family. You interfered.” 

“I provided counsel.”

“No you subverted me.”

“When you subverted children at your summer camp, what did you learn?” Gaara asked, quick to adjust the conversation to better suit himself.

“I learned about suffering.” Neji said, taking a seat at Gaara’s desk before putting his feet on top of the desk . “Not mine of course but the general idea.”

“Gods choices when inflicting suffering are not often satisfactory.” The redhead took a careful breath. “Nor are they understandable, Unless innocence offends himself.” 

“ Clearly ,” Neji said with a very loud abrupt laugh. “He needs help directing his fury!”

“Then is Hinata’s happiness more important than her suffering?” 

“You asked that as though the two were exclusive.” Neji responds.

“I believe they are.” The red headed alpha replies, watching the other alpha carefully. People have come a long way in the battle of their instincts— to that point that, with the exception of ruts, heats or mating, or particularly traumatized individuals, they have very little impact on society as a whole. 

“You can’t really say that with any certainty though can you? It’s one of those— hidden things .” Neji walked slowly behind him and Gaara could feel his own instincts growl underneath his skin like a wild animal. “My papa taught me how to hide all sorts of things.” He said, pulling a knife from his pocket and pressing it against the side of Gaara's neck. “This was his knife. I like to carry it with me to remind me of him.”

“Whose fat are you planning on measuring today.” Gaara asks simply, appearing unbothered. “Mine?”

“No fat on you.” Neji said flippantly before going and taking a seat in the usual chair. “It’d take more than a flesh wound to make you squeal.” Neji frowns before taking the knife and stabbing it into the chair. “What game of chicken are you and the sperm donor playing here?” Neji growls, trying to fluff up his scent with aggression and intimidation. ‘He stabbed my chair.’ The redhead thought blinking at the knife still sticking out of it. “Don’t get me wrong I play chicken with Hinata all the time. I just forgot to tell her I’m playing.” He added. Gaara blinks at him and then glances at the knife. “I’m good at chicken. I never blink.” He says with a laugh before taking the knife and stabbing the chair again. ‘Rude and ugly pig.’ Gaara thought to himself observing the man whom he would harm shortly. Neji laughed loudly looking at the damage he had done to the chair. “ Send me the bill !” 

The redhead was quiet as Neji left. The clock was ticking on his life but too many had died in his office. Attention shouldn’t be drawn there. That and he was supposed to be meeting up with Hinata and Naruto at the hospital. She was to be released today.

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

Senju Hospital, Downtown Konoha City

“They could have done it with a laser. Neji wanted it to leave a scar.” Hinata murmured from where she sat on the edge of her hospital bed.

“He branded you.” 

“Neji wishes for you to know that it can never be undone.” 

“Neji can be…. undone. ” Naruto said his voice dropping low. It sent small shivers of delight down Gaara’s spine at the dangerous feeling he received from it.

“Not without taking everything I have with him.” Hinata said despondently. “He’s won. He always wins.” She added, old bitterness seeping into her words. “There’s no… resolution to this. No resolve.”

“Resolutions can be found in our departures.” Gaara said quietly. “Moving on is a resolution all on its own.”

“Moving on isn’t just a distraction. It’s a rebuke. Show him how strong you are. Survive him.” Naruto said quietly, his voice getting dangerously close to a growl once more. The words caught Gaara’s attention. ‘Was that what he thought about me when he sent that omega, Konon, from the hospital to kill me? When he was behind bars and I appeared to have won?’ The redhead thought, his focus shifting from Hinata to Naruto. 

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

FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City

Naruto dreaded the conversation he knew was to come. Felt it burn in the back of his throat, like a burning coal he couldn’t get rid of. Trapped, burning and suffocating all at once. 

“All I want to do is catch him.” Kakashi said, narrowing his eyes at Naruto like he was supposed to bring evidence on a silver platter with a neat little bow on top. 

“He’s given me nothing . He acknowledges only vaguiries.”

“I need more than vagaries Naruto. You have killed someone!”

“Someone who was trying to kill me.” Naruto snapped. 

“I don’t know if I can prove that. You mutilated the body !” Kakashi responded, and the blonde remembered how distinctly he disliked Kakashi. The overbearing alpha posture he always took with him. Like he simply had to be the strongest in the room at all times. The righteous powerful Kakashi. “Not to mention we made public spectacle of Karin’s death. I am out on a limb here and that limb is going to break. You have to give me something. Now. What haven’t you told me?” Kakashi demanded. 

“He’s trying time manipulate me into killing Neji Hyuuga. One of his patients.” Naruto said, feeling like a noose was wrapped around his throat. “I can manipulate him into killing Neji.”

“Whats Neji done?”

“Rude. Gaara thinks he’s…. rude. It’s motive enough”. 

“We would be putting a mans life in danger.”

“Kakashi, sometimes it’s less about finding the best plan than it is about finding one that works .” 

“Naruto.” Kakashi warned. “ Don’t let your empathy confuse what Gaara wants from what you want .” 

“When Gaara tries to kill Neji I’ll arrest him and you will have two witnesses.” Naruto said, internally cursing Kakashi out. ‘I haven’t lost control of my empathy at all since I was sick! It was the fucking encephalitis! Which I could have had for a very long time! So fuck you.’ The blonde thought wanting to growl but being careful not to.

“We might have three.” Kakashi replies, shocking the blonde from his thoughts. 

“What?” The blonde asked. 

Kakashi led him down the hall to the protective custody interrogation rooms and to Naruto's horror, Sasuke Gaara’s former fucking psychiatrist stood carefully pacing the length of the room. ‘Oh fuck.’ Naruto thought. 

“Interview him. Maybe you can gather some information and be able to catch Gaara. And be through. That damn alpha was a pain in the ass to find. Andit was harder still to get him immunity.” He ordered and Naruto nodded mutely before entering the room. 

“Hello.” 

“They tell me you were hard to find.” 

“That was the idea.” Sasuke answered dryly. 

“I wanted to thank you for coming to visit me while in was in the… hospital. And for what you said.” Naruto stumbled out, recalling the rush of feeling he had experienced when Sasuke had told him that he believed him. Like he was finally not alone, that he wasn’t crazy.

“I failed to say enough.” Sasuke responded. 

“Well now is your chance to say it all. You have been granted immunity from prosecution.” Naruto said. Sasuke narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “Let’s talk about Gaara.”

“Some psychiatrists can be so hungry for insight that they may attempt to manufacture it. How deadly that is for the patients who believe them.” Sasuke said carefully.

“You were Gaara’s psychiatrist. He wasn’t yours.”

“That’s what I told myself, but I was under his influence.” Sasuke nodded toward the blonde. “What he did to you made that abundantly clear.” 

“You were attacked by a former patient, who died during the attack. The report said he swallowed his tongue.”

“It wasn’t attached at the time.” Sasuke answered. Naruto tensed, not quieted expecting that answered. 

“How, exactly did your patient die?” 

“I killed him.” Sasuke answered flatly. “At the time I had believed it to be self defense and to a point— it was. Beyond that point however it was murder. Gaara influenced me to murder my patient. Our patient.”

“You weren’t coerced?”

“What he does is not coercion. It is persuasion .” Sasuke answered, observing the blonde in a manner that set his nerves on edge. ‘Pretty sure he’s trying to psychoanalyze me. I hate it when people try to do that.’ Sasuke tilted his head. “Has he ever tried to persuade you to kill someone?” Naruto stayed silent. “He will and It will be someone you care about.”

“How would you try and catch him?” Naruto asked, leaning back into his chair and watching the alpha before him put on a show. ‘He's arrogant and prideful.’ Naruto thought still watching Sasuke.

“Gaara can get lost in his own self congratulation.” The other alpha said. “Whimsy. That is how he will get caught.”

Naruto felt his stomach drop to the floor. ‘Of all the things he had said this one was the most disturbing because those words right there? Those were incredibly true.’