Embers of a Burning Sky

Chapter Eight

Naruto's just staring at the room, wondering how the sleeping arrangements will work, when he hears a loud thump.
He listens for another moment before creeping toward the bathroom and knocking twice;
"Gaara? I heard a crash, are you alright?"

No answer.

He knocks again, this time pressing his ear to the wood.

Still nothing.

"I'm coming in," he warns, worry creeping up the back of his neck. He shoulders open the door and rushes in, throwing the door open so hard it hits the wall supporting it. He was sure someone must have broken in or something, adrenaline making his movement frantic when his eyes catch Gaara's pale body lying halfway out of the bath.

"Gaara!"

He rushes to the bath, unsure what to do, when Gaara's eyes flutter open.
"'m fine." he croaks quietly.
Naruto didn't believe it for a moment, but he knew better than to press. Instead, he found himself studying the Kazekage's face; suddenly aware of how thick and dark the bags under his eyes had gotten...
How pale and clammy his face was...
How soft his lips looked around a haggard breath...

"Should I call a doctor?" Naruto asks; still kneeling beside the bathtub as Gaara just lays there; unmoving.
"No."
It's not a kindly uttered rejection.

Gaara heaves a sigh and pulls himself up out of the tub, splashing water into Naruto's face. He doesn't even notice as he jumps up to make sure Gaara doesn't fall.

Thankfully, he doesn't.

Naruto waits for Gaara to wrap a towel around his hips before he's leading him back to the bedroom, his hand resting against the small of his back.
"You're overworking yourself," Naruto chides, ignoring Gaara's deadly glare.

Naruto eases Gaara down onto the bed, but they're left in a sort of silent deadlock.

Naruto shifts under the hard stare but won't relent his point.
Gaara sighs, his heavy stare finally fizzling as he stands and moves toward the dresser to change

Naruto turns around to let him dress; finally breaking the silence,
"So, what happened earlier? Did you trip into the bath?"

Gaara sighs behind him.
"No. It's a side effect from having the Tailed Beast removed. The medi-nin's called it cranial influx."

"That's... awful."

Gaara's hand grips his shoulder gently as he passes, sitting down on the plush bed against the wall. Naruto sort of fiddles with his hand.
"Nara's asleep, do you have a futon I can borrow?" The blonde asked.

Gaara's face falls into a small frown of thought.

"I do not." He answered slowly, "But I have no qualms having you in my bed. Please, sleep here."