Chapter 3
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Naruto's Apartment, Azure district in Konoha City
"I'm back." Naruto called loudly as he walked in to his apartment. It was a high rise apartment complex, with beautiful furnishings and appliances.
"Pardon the intrusion." Gaara murmured, as he eyed the nearly spotless apartment. 'Is there someone else here?' Gaara wondered. 'Otherwise would you said I'm back?' The redhead was mystified as to the blondes thought process. "It is remarkably clean." The redhead commented not knowing what else to say.
"Uh Yeah. I like to keep things clean." Naruto said looking away and Gaara was left with the distinct feeling that wasn't true.
"Do you have someone clean the house for you?" Gaara asked, curious and Narutos cheek went a little red.
"Well actually...." he mumbled and Gaara blinked. 'He does have someone else clean, so then we aren't alone.' "Um I would like to introduce you to my roommate." Naruto said seriously, before leaning down to pat a disc like object on the floor by his feet.
It was a roomba.
"I'm back Kurama!" Naruto said happily. "Thanks for cleaning up again today!"
"That is one of the vacuuming machines, correct?" Gaara asked, confused to see Naruto talking to it rather than his roommate.
"What a cold description." Naruto replied, "Kurama is like my pet- no my family! It's adorable when it heads back to its little dock for a recharge~ it's like it naps!" Naruto said with a smile. "When it gets tangled up in cords I usually have to go apologize to it and get him unstuck. Its why I said I'm back when we came in." Naruto explained. 'The roomba is his roommate.' The redhead realized, mildly amused and he nodded at the blonde. 'That would also explain why he said I'm Back to an empty apartment.' Gaara thought, recalling Naruto's earlier words.
Naruto, having explained that simply yawned and flopped on the couch, leaving Gaara to stand in the middle of the room. 'What am I supposed to do now?' The redhead wondered. "What are you doing, sit down." Naruto said from where he was seated on the couch. "This is your seat." Naruto said determinedly as he tugged in Gaara's arm and had him falling on the couch.
"Why did you do that?" Gaara asked, not liking being yanked around.
"Well cuz I always sit here so that means you sit next to me, which is right here." Naruto explained. "It's important, what if we have guests or something?" Gaara nodded, trying to understand the blondes bizarre sense of logic. The roomba was the only noise in the room and Gaara felt discomfort prickle the back of his neck. 'Now we are all alone together.' Gaara realized. 'Two strangers in one late at night.' Gaara thought, cringing a little. 'Sounds like the opening to a murder or a one-night stand.' With little else to do the redhead briefly considered talking to the roomba but decided on flipping on the TV instead. 'Konoha has different channels than Suna.' The redhead quickly realized.
"I wonder where the gardening channel would be." Gaara murmured, trying not to focus on the fact that Naruto was now staring at him.
"Hey. Are you nervous?" The blonde asked bluntly and Gaara stiffened. "Hmm, ya know what?" Naruto said eyeing Gaara who practically turned into a statue.
"Yes?" Gaara asked still not moving from where he was staring at the TV. Naruto reaches over and ran his hand through Gaara's bright red hair. 'Why is he-?' Gaara thoughtly, mildly shocked.
"You have something in your hair." Naruto mumbled as he ran his fingers through Gaara's hair. "You have beautiful hair." He murmured and Gaara felt his ears go red, again.
"Are you attempting to tease me?" He asked.
"No. I'm just saying what I was thinking." Naruto said frowning. "Don't take everything the wrong way. Besides, we do need to learn more about each other. I don't want to be caught off guard in front of others, ya know?"
"That sounds reasonable." Gaara replied, trying to relax while essentially being petted by a stranger. 'He does have very blue eyes.' Gaara thought briefly before shaking the thought away.
"Yeah, but we definitely gotta focus on the vice principal." Naruto said.
"Will I likely see him again?" Gaara asked and the blonde nodded.
"Yep. The guy lives in this area. I've seen him a few times at the convenience store and the supermarket. The crazy guy freaking looked in my shopper basket!" Naruto groaned exasperated. "He could probably tell I was single from what I buying." Naruto said mildly pissed.
"Then we shall have to be diligent." Gaara replied, trying to prevent the blonde from getting angry. 'I have no idea how to handle an normal Naruto, let alone an angry one.' The redhead thought.
"Yeah. In order for Kabuto to believe us, I need you to do good job okay?" Naruto asked, watching carefully and Gaara was taken aback by the sheer need portrayed in those eyes. "If your playing the part of my husband then you'll need to know me inside and out and love me like no other." Naruto announced and Gaara blinked.
"This is absurd."
"Look, i'm not asking you to really fall in love with me." Naruto said rolling his eyes. "Just act like you already are." Gaara raised his brow but otherwise said nothing. 'Acting like I am in love. Easier said than done.' The redhead thought, trying not recall how his last relationship had gone. "Hey." Naruto called, yanking his attention back to the present.
"Yes?"
"Don't ya want to know what it's like to kiss your husband?"
"I- excuse me?" Gaara replied and Naruto nodded as though it was the most natural thing in the world, having this conversation.
"Well If you want to get to know me better isnt this like one of the quicker ways?" Naruto said and Gaara stared at him. 'This man is completely oblivious to everything outside of himself.' Gaara realized, with a sinking feeling. "Am I taking that silence as a yes?" Naruto said giving him a smile. 'He does have a valid point.' Gaara thought with a twist in his gut. 'There may be a time where I will have to kiss him in public.' The mere idea made Gaara want to retreat and hide- preferably under a bed where it was dark. Naruto leaned closer murmuring, "Sandman" and just as their lips were about to touch Gaara pulled a couch cushion between the two of them.
"I apologize, but I refuse." Gaara stated bluntly. Naruto grunted and pulled away rubbing his nose.
"What the hell? What was that about?"
"I can not kiss you." Gaara replied.
"If ya don't want to then just say no. Otherwise you just seem like your teasing." Naruto said with a groan.
"I apologize."
"Dude, you have zero clues to romance. Are you sure you had boyfriends? Or girlfriends I don't judge." The blonde tacked on, raising his hands in surrender.
"Yes, boyfriends." Gaara muttered.
"Hmm. So they weren't good enough to make ya bloom?" Naruto asked, leaning against the couch.
"Pardon?" Gaara asked confused and Naruto winked.
"No worries Gaara since your living with me I'll awaken your inner man."
"I do not need my inner man awoken." Gaara stated alarmed, "That's not what I came here for!"
"Whoa, you can be loud!" Naruto said with a grin and Gaara blinked at him now thoroughly confused by the blonde. 'This guy is confusing, unpredictable and oblivious.' Gaara decided. "Well, at least your relaxing now." The blonde remarked casually. "You were all stiff earlier so I thought I would tease you a little bit your back to your normal self now." Naruto said with a smile and Gaara was shocked to realize that the blonde was right. 'I do feel a bit more at ease.' The redhead thought to himself as Naruto casually pulled back to his spot. "Anyway Gaara, Just think of this place as your home okay? No sense in be nervous I'm your own place right? So just use anything here if you need it."
"You have my thanks." Gaara replied but then Naruto frowned.
"Hey, can you stop being so polite? I mean I get that i'm just a bit older than you but isn't it weird for a married couple to be so... well like polite and stuff?"
"I understand, however that will be difficult, this is simply how I have always spoken. Perhaps if were to get closer to you and know you better." Gaara reasoned.
"So... what you're saying is you want to get close to me real fast?" Naruto asked, giving him another sly wink.
"I decline." Gaara stated bluntly in response to the blondes blatant sexual implication. Naruto laughed.
"I'm kidding, stop making that face." Naruto said. "And anyway, you'll get used to me eventually. Just- try not to be so polite?"
"I will attempt to do so." Gaara murmured and the blonde nodded.
"Go at your own pace. Once you starting talking casually I'll know you've opened up to me right?" Gaara nodded and the blonde looked satisfied with that.
"Right well I guess I better go prep my lunch for tomorrow." Naruto mumbled, as he stood up and stretched.
"What would you like me to do?" Gaara asked and Naruto shrugged.
"You can put your stuff away or watch TV, just do what you want to do." The blonde said with a wave and he wandered off to the kitchen. 'Perhaps he is not as oblivious as I thought.' Gaara realized. 'He knew I was nervous, and tried to get me to relax. Even though people say I am hard to read. Its hard to tell with how brash and thoughtlessly he seems to act but he does seem to be genuinely aware of others.' Gaara grudgingly took back what he had decided earlier, maybe there was something good about the blonde after all.