Hiraeth

Sasuke stood outside of Gaara’s house at approximately one am. and stared up at the highest window in the house.

An attic window.

He had seen a dark figure silhouetted in it twice since he had been standing there and was about to make a risky bet it was Gaara.

Swallowing thickly he picked up a pebble off the ground and threw it towards the window, cursing when it missed and rocketed off the side of the house. He grit his teeth and picked up a slightly larger pebble, praying to all things holy and grinning triumphantly as it hit the window.

He was about to pick up another rock when the window was pushed open, Gaara’s annoyed and suspicious face poking out.

He knew the moment Gaara caught sight of him, eyes widening and mouth forming the name ‘Sasuke?’ He smiled up at the bewildered boy and raised a hand in greeting.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

Gaara narrowed his eyes. “Go away, Sasuke. It’s late and I don’t want to see you.”

Sasuke frowned, feeling irritation rise up and forcing it down. “Give me five minutes,” He said, sweetness dripping from his voice.

Gaara frowned and seemed to be thinking it over. He looked behind him back into the attic and sighed. “Fine. Five minutes.”

Sasuke smirked. “Meet you in the front?”

Gaara nodded and shut the window. Sasuke allowed himself to feel slightly victorious, strolling around the side of the house and waiting at the front door.

Half a minute later the short boy appeared, now wearing a too-big jacket to combat the cooling autumn air. Sasuke smiled at the cute sight and reached forward to ruffle his hair which Gaara, although grudgingly, surprisingly allowed.

Sasuke reached down to link their hands together, concern flickering across his features as he noticed Gaara’s bandaged hand. “When’d that happen?”

Gaara huffed and looked off to the side, stepping away from Sasuke. “Early this morning. Guess you didn’t notice when your friends were kicking the shit out of me.”

Sasuke frowned, eyebrows pinching as he took in the boy’s tight frame. “Look about that...”

“About what? How you fucked with me again?”

Sasuke felt something in him snap and he grabbed Gaara’s chin, pulling his face close to his. Gaara looked at him in dull surprise before scowling and Sasuke clicked his tongue.

“What I was going to say was that I wanted to help you, and I was, but Naruto surprised me and pulled me back.”

“Your boyfriend managed to surprise you so bad you pulled your hand back? Yeah, sure.”

“Yeah, he did! You know why? It’s just when I get around you I forget everyone else exists!”

Gaara stilled, looking at Sasuke suspiciously. Sasuke just stared back at him, praying the boy would believe him.

Believe the truth.

And thankfully he did, because he slumped against Sasuke and loosely wrapped his arms around him. Sasuke let his chin go and held his face in his hands, leaning down for a kiss that he felt Gaara immediately melt into and all of a sudden his cold chest was warm again.

He pulled back and Gaara buried his face into his chest, Sasuke enveloping the small boy in his arms and holding him tight.

After a moment of just standing there in each other’s arms Sasuke asked if he wanted to go to the Uchiha house and was pleasantly surprised when Gaara instantly nodded yes.

——-

An hour later they were seated side by side on a large couch, two mugs of tea sitting long forgotten on the coffee table in front of them. Sasuke had an arm around Gaara’s shoulders while Gaara was snuggled into his side, knees pulled against his chest.

“You okay?” Sasuke asked, diverting his attention towards the redhead who hadn’t spoken once since the movie began.

Gaara nodded mutely, gaze fixed on the flashing screen but Sasuke could tell he wasn’t really watching it. He frowned slightly.

“What happened?”

Gaara shrugged, but Sasuke saw something flicker in his eyes. He grabbed the remote off the table and paused the movie, sighing heavily when Gaara’s expression didn’t change at all. It was as if he wasn’t even aware the film stopped.

“Gaara,” He said, fingers ghosting over the other boy’s cheek. “I know something’s up.”

No response.

“Talk to me.”

He was patient, not with many things, but had always been patient with Gaara, so when he saw the boy begin to wind down he waited. No matter how long it took.

It took around two minutes of silence.

“Me...” Gaara began, voice raspier than usual. “Me and Kankuro had a fight.”

Sasuke tensed, arm around Gaara tightening protectively. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, it wasn’t that kind of fight. He just- just called me fucked in the head and insane.” He looked up at Sasuke sharply. “I’m not crazy.”

“Of course you’re not,” Sasuke said, hand rubbing Gaara’s shoulder. “Kankuro’s out of his mind if he thinks you are.”

Gaara nodded, posture relaxing and uninjured hand coming to wrap around the loose fabric of Sasuke’s shirt. “He and Temari... want to put me on meds.”

“Oh,” Sasuke murmured thoughtfully. Fucking finally. He knew Gaara’s dad wouldn’t put him on anything, god, he hated that fucker, and was relieved that Gaara would hopefully be getting the help he needed soon.

“It’s stupid,” Gaara muttered, and Sasuke looked down at him questioningly. “I don’t need them.”

“Why not?”

Gaara snapped his head up to look at Sasuke, a nearly hurt expression on his face. “What?”

“I asked why not? If they help, they help.”

Gaara shook his head. “I’m not sick though. I’m fine.”

“You call that fine?” Sasuke said, trying to keep his tone even as he nodded at Gaara’s broken hand, eyes scanning the scabbed over skin of his arms, hand, and the red, fading scratches that were nearly always present at the base of his neck.

“I’m dealing with it on my own,” Gaara hissed, moving to pull his shirt collar up.

“Okay,” Sasuke began, “But why are you so against something that would make it easier?”

“Because- Because, I don’t need it, I’m not sick or ill or-”

“What’s so wrong with being sick?”

Gaara stilled, posture tensing for a split second before slumping. “Dad doesn’t want me to be. It’ll just make him look bad, make me more disgusting and I don’t want him to hate me more-”

“Gaara I don’t give a shit about your dad and neither should you.” He unwrapped his arm from around Gaara who seemed to panic for a second from the lack of contact, before using it and his other one to cup his face.

“Your dad’s the disgusting one, not you. Think about yourself for once.”

“You are deserving of help.”

Gaara stared up at him, eyes full of confusion. They sat there for a good moment, just looking into each other’s eyes, Sasuke with determination and Gaara with almost wonder. Sasuke let the silence stretch, and finally Gaara nodded.

“...Okay.”

Sasuke gave a small smile and felt like for the first time Gaara might be beginning to heal.

And for that, he allowed himself a complete victory.