Chapter Text
Lee had been kneeling for several minutes, scratching the old dog under the chin. His knees were damp from the grass, and the dog was drooling on him, but the way his tail thumped happily made it worthwhile.
The dog wasn’t a stray, exactly, but he didn’t really belong to anyone either. The entire barracks seemed to take care of him, putting out food and water, and letting him inside when the weather was bad (or they wanted company, or the dog did). The shinobi who lived in the bachelor barracks mostly just called him dog, but Lee had become entirely enamored of him during their short acquaintance and dubbed him Fluffy. The name suited the friendly mutt better than his distinct lack of fluffiness may have suggested.
Lee was supposed to be training with Kakashi today. Gai-sensei had suggested it, saying it would do him good to have practice against a wide range of opponents. Lee, of course, had agreed enthusiastically. Any idea of his sensei’s was sure to be a good one, and, if he was very lucky, Lee might learn a bit more about him from his Eternal Rival.
He had been waiting outside the barracks, as instructed, for fifteen minutes. Gai had warned him that Kakashi was rarely punctual, but Lee wasn’t sure how someone could be late to meet someone literally on their doorstep. He was half-tempted to go inside and start banging on doors until he found Kakashi’s, but he didn’t want to bother anyone else unnecessarily. If Kakashi didn’t show up soon, though…
Fluffy lifted his head, then stood and began to growl. Lee leapt to his feet to face the threat.
Gaara stared back at him, ignoring Fluffy entirely. “Lee.” His voice was dry as a desert wind.
“Gaara! I’m so happy to see you! What are you doing he—” Lee’s propriety caught up with him before he attempted to embrace his friend. “Kazekage-sama, it is in an honor to have you here.” He bowed, trying not to hear Fluffy’s growling.
“Don’t.”
Lee looked up. “Gaara? I mean, sir?”
“Don't do that. Speak to me normally.” Gaara finally shifted his gaze to Fluffy. The growling cut off with a piteous whine, and Fluffy slunk behind Lee, tail between his legs. “Is that creature yours?”
“No, no—I'm just waiting here for Kakashi-sensei. Oh! Are you looking for him too?” Lee shuffled his feet, torn between trying to calm Fluffy and watching Gaara.
“No.” Gaara dragged his gaze back to Lee’s face. “I was told I would find you here.”
“And so you have!” Lee laughed a bit nervously. Gai and Kakashi were the only people who could have told him that, and Fluffy was still whining softly. “Whatever you wish to ask of me, I will gladly give it my all!”
Gaara studied him with a strange expression. “The final round of the Chunin Exam starts tomorrow morning,” he said eventually. “I want you to accompany me.”
“That—I would be honored!” Lee had been planning to attend anyway, but going with Gaara would surely be better than watching by himself. “But, is that all right?” Gaara would be seated with the other dignitaries, not down in the stands with the rowdy hoi polloi.
“It is if I say it is.” Gaara crossed his arms. “I was told I could bring a guest. No further specifications were given.”
“In that case, I will gladly go with you,” Lee said, more confidently than he felt.
Gaara nodded once, little more than a twitch of his head. “I will meet you at quarter to eight.”
The first match wasn't scheduled to start until eight thirty, but Lee wasn't going to complain about extra time with his friend. “Wonderful!” Lee’s conscience finally got the better of him, and he dropped back to his knees to try to soothe Fluffy.
“It fears me,” Gaara rasped. Lee thought he could detect a hint of regret in that quiet voice, but he couldn't be certain. “They always have. I had thought that might change, after I lost Shukaku, but still they cower and cringe at my approach.”
Lee hoped Gaara was just talking about dogs. “I can show you how to make him more comfortable around you,” he offered. “Come here.” Lee patted the dewy grass beside him.
“Whatever you’re planning, it won't work.” Gaara approached them anyway. His pace was slow and measured.
“You should be more optimistic. Now kneel or sit, make yourself seem smaller.”
Gaara crouched, still eyeing the dog warily.
“He probably won't let you pet him right away.” Lee patted Fluffy’s flank reassuringly, moving slowly so as not to startle him.
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Ah, er.” Lee scrunched his face up. “Well, dogs and cats and the like are usually soft, so they're nice to touch. Lots of people find petting or cuddling animals comforting, too. And it should make the animal happy, which makes the person petting it happy.”
Gaara looked unconvinced, but he made no move to leave.
“I have an idea,” Lee said. He pulled a few strips of jerky from one of the pockets of his vest, then gave half of one to Gaara. Tenten would be mad at him for feeding the snack she'd given him to a dog; he would be sure to apologize next time he saw her. “Hold it out, then let Fluffy come to you. It might take a minute or two.”
Gaara did as Lee said, holding the jerky awkwardly in his fingertips.
After several very long seconds, Fluffy took a tentative step toward Gaara and the jerky. He sniffed. Gaara held so still Lee wasn't sure he was breathing. In fits and starts, Fluffy closed the gap. Finally, finally, he was close enough to pluck the jerky away. He immediately ran off with his prize, hiding in the small lean-to someone had built against a tree.
“Well done, Gaara!” Lee clapped him on the back. Sand coiled loosely around his wrist but didn't stop him. “Do you want to try to give him another piece?”
Gaara was staring at his hand like it belonged to someone else. “No animal has ever willingly approached me before.”
That. . . was one of the most tragic things Lee had ever heard, but telling Gaara that would be both counterproductive and very cruel. “Then I'm glad you got to have this experience. Trying new things is the essence of Youth!” Lee’s chest swelled with pride when Gaara nodded. Feeling suddenly bold, he blurted, “There's a festival tonight.”
“Yes.”
Lee took a deep breath. “Do you want to go with me?”
“I can't. The Hokage is hosting a party, and I'm expected to attend.” Gaara made a face like someone had asked him to drink swamp water. Lee doubted Tsunade was any more excited.
“Your duties come first, of course. I understand.” That didn't mean he liked it. “I shall await tomorrow morning all the more eagerly!”
Gaara studied him. “I would rather go to the festival with you.” He disappeared before Lee had a chance to respond, leaving a swirl of sand and heat rising in Lee's cheeks.
“Oops, did I scare him off? And you were having such a tender moment.”
Lee stood and faced the familiar voice.
Kakashi was walking towards Fluffy’s lean-to, one hand in his pocket, the other holding open that deplorable book of his. He was coming from the opposite direction of the barracks.
Lee sputtered incoherently for a moment, red-faced, before managing, “You’re late!”
“Am I?” Kakashi laughed. “I think I’m right on time. Unless you wish I’d been later?” He somehow managed to make his leer obvious with only a quarter of his face visible, which Lee probably would have found impressive under other circumstances.
“We have wasted enough time already. We should begin training immediately!” Ignoring Kakashi’s insinuations was probably the best way to deal with them, Lee decided. Or at least the method least likely to end with him dead from embarrassment.
Kakashi sighed theatrically. “You really are Gai’s protegé,” he muttered.
Lee channelled all his confusion and frustration into his training. If Kakashi had anything to say about his ferocity, he kept it to himself.