Gaara of the Desert × Reader (Complete)

Chapter 5

Gaara held up an energy bar in front of me. "Try this. You will feel better. Kankuro always eats sweets when he is sad."
"Thank you" I said as I accepted it and started eating it.
He wiped the tears off of my face. I looked over at him and he smiled at me. His usual small, cute and warm smile. It forced me to smile back and I felt better.
"So, this is what being comforted feels like, huh?" I whispered to myself.
"What did you say?" He asked.
"I said we need to get some sleep before tomorrow's selection." I said as I yawned.
"Yes. Let's go back." He took my hand.
"Back?" I questioned him.
"Yes. You will be staying in the office premises until the wedding."
We both ran back to the castle like building and both went to our designated chambers after sharing a warm good night.
I fell asleep before knowing it.
"Oi! Wake up! Don't you have your selection today?! The contestants have already arrived!" One of the officials yelled at me.
I woke up with a shock, "I'll be there in half an hour. Till that time, let Kazekage-sama handle the situation" and he disappeared instantly to inform Gaara.
I got ready and arrived at the selection room. Half the people were already thrown out. Only about 10 were remaining and Gaara announced, "Congratulations. You have been selected to work on the dresses of Temari's wedding."
I entered the room to inspect the nice mixed crowd of flashily dressed teenagers, grandmothers and two little girls splitting images of each other, working together.
"Wow, Gaara. I didn't know you could do this great" I whispered to him.
"I just compared their work to yours and removed the shabby ones and the ones that looked just ugly." He whispered back.
I gestured him to fist bump me but seems like he hadn't done that ever in his life.
"You will ask have to make 2 wedding bridesmaid dresses individually, and another 2 dress collectively as a team. By another hour, we will assign you your clients who happen to be extremely important people from Konohakagure, Kirikagure, Kumokagure and Iwakagure. If you could please proceed to the waiting room." I asked a few helpers to lead them to the waiting room.
"So," I turned to Gaara, "How did there perform? Do you remember who is good at what?"
"Yes. The elderly ladies-"
"Uhuh. Tell me by their names. We'll make a list and assign them to clients."
We sat down and made a list of all the selected candidates to their respective clients.
"Okay." I said when we entered the waiting room. "We'll assigning you clients now. You shall be departing to your clients tomorrow morning and will start designing a dress for your clients based on their demands. Am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am" everyone said in unison which made me chuckle a little.
"Okay. Let's begin.
Client 1: Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi is assigned to Won Frasch of the Frasch Twins. You specialise in modern design, comfort and fashion. I'm sure Kurotsuchi is the best client for you.
Client 2: Akimichi Chouji's wife, Akimichi Karui. Los Frasch of the Frasch Twins. For the same reasons.
Client 3: Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Hinata. Assigned to Hana and Fana, the twin little girls as your works in laces and designs really impressed me. Also make sure you guys make a dress for Uzumaki Himawari Chan, their daughter.
Client 4: War hero Uchiha Sasuke's Wife, Uchiha Sakura-san, assigned to Baa San. Your work is simple, subtle and yet makes an impact making you perfect for this client.
Client 5: Chunin exam proctor, Tenten assigned to Kaa San. Your work is athletic and bold but still catcher feminity.
Client 6: Flower queen and war hero Yamanaka Inoichi-san's daughter, Yamanaka Ino-san. Baanchan. You work in two pieces is fabulous. Ino-san will appreciate it.
Client 7: Heiress to the Hyuga clan and Uzumaki Hinata's sister, Hyuga Hanabi. Kaanchan. Your work is fashionable and breathable that allows movement while not becoming an inconvenience.
Client 8: War hero, Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei-san, assigned to Hichan. Your work is delicate and brings out the best features of a woman's body.
Client 9: The fifth Hokage and the legendary war hero, Tsunade-sama, assigned to Hochan. Your work is agressive and catches attention."
"Now that your clients are assigned." Gaara continued, "your assigned guards and companions will help you to your temporary chambers. After resting for a while, you can pack and your travel companions will explain things to you as you go. I hope you enjoy your work."
I watched as everyone left this room and finally, everything was on track.
"Dude," I turned to Gaara, "do you realize we're actually doing this?!" I said as I looked excited.
"Yeah. Yeah. We are."
"Oh my god!" I almost squealed. Gaara didn't say yes this time. Finally, he's toning down that formality with me. This is amazing.
"What happened?!"
"Nothing. It's just exciting."
He smiled at me and asked, "Why do you get so excited about these little things?"
"Because these are the things that matter! Later in life you wouldn't be remembering how you nicely how signed and stamped a paper. You will remember your first heartbreak, you will remember your first friend, you will remember that stupid prank you played and laugh about it. That's why it's so exciting to make memories." I smiled at him.
"Well, I would like to make memories too." He looked down.
"Oh c'mon! You have good memories! Remember that time you shook hands with Naruto? Remember that time I called out to you from the top of building? Remember when you got me put of jail?" I chuckled as I reminded him of all these things.
"Yeah. I think you are correct" he smiled and chuckled a little.
"I know I am" I flipped my hair and we both giggled a bit.
"May we continue our proceedings, Kazekage-sama?" I mocked his usual formal tone.
"Mocking the Kazekage can land you in jail. Remember that." He smirked.
"I apologize for my atrocious behaviour, Kazekage-sama. Please, I bee your pardon." I ended and we both laughed.
"We need to start working on Temari-san's dress now. I'll give you a list, can you send someone to fetch the materials for you?" I asked Gaara as we walked down the corridor.
"Ofcourse." He said.
We both entered our workspace and I noticed Gaara had a pencil over his ear.
"Gaara? Your ear!" I was surprised.
"It's very convenient. I must say" he replied in a formal tone.
I chuckled and gave him the list of all the clothes and laces and ribbons that we needed along with the quantities.
I took his leave and rushed over to Temari-san's room. I knocked on the door very awkwardly.
"Temari isn't here" it was Shikamaru-san.
"Taaka! Shikamaru!" She scoffed at him.
I giggled a little as she opened the door.
"I need your measurements to start working on your dress, Temari-san." I told her and she ushered me in.
"If Temari-san is not comfortable, you will have to leave" I turned to Shikamaru-san.
"Is it okay, if I take measurements like this? You'll have to be just on your bra and tights."
"Let him stay." She smirked.
"Okay." I said as Temari-san undressed to her bra and tights.
I quickly wrapped my measuring tape around her body and noted them down.
"Wow, Temari-san, you're very proportional. Your hip to thigh and calf to ankle ratio is perfect." I accidentally outloud.
"Thank you" she said and I blushed a little of embarrassment.
"Okay, Temari-san, we are going to play a quick this or that, regarding your dress, okay?
So, airy or bodysuit?"
"Airy" she said in her usual cool tone smirking at Shikamaru-san occasionally.
"Comfort or style?"
"Both"
"Laces or Flowers?"
"Laces."
"Hair up or down?"
"Hair up"
"Long sleeve or sleeveless?"
"Sleeveless"
"So," I said concluding the game, "I have made a design based on your requirements. See this" I showed her the dress Gaara picked out for her, the one that is on my soft board.
"This is beautiful! You are a genius!" She smiled
"You don't get to look just yet" I said to the Shikamaru-san trying to peek into the drawing.
"Well then, I will take your leave now. Thank you Temari-san. I'll leave you two alone now to whatever you want to do." I left giggling and blushing.
I remembered that moment when I accidentally walked in on Temari-san and Shikamaru-san making out.
There was a blush that ran right across my face and I just stopped right in the middle of the road.
"Hey, anything wrong?" Gaara put his hand on my shoulder.
"G-G-GAARA!" I almost yelled with my face still red.
"What happened?" He asked concerned.
"I... Uh... Walked into the room at the wrong time" I hesitated and buried my face in my palms.
"What was Temari doing?" Gaara asked.
"Th-th-they were k-k-k-kissing." I said softly not wanting him to hear me.
"Oh" Gaara said completely unflustered.
"Let's go" I grabbed his wrist picked up my clip board and rushed to our workspace.
"The suit jackets have all been buttoned." He informed me.
"Oh. That's great, isn't it, Gaa-" I looked up from my clipboard to find him staring right in my face.
"Gaa-" I couldn't say anything with him looking at me like this.
"W-w-what's wrong?" I asked him trying to step back, but instead I was now sitting in a chair and he was standing over me.
"Gaa..." I gulped, "Gaara?" I asked him but he didn't say anything. He just kept on staring. I was freaking out but I instinctively reached for the mark on his forehead.
He closed his eyes as I traced the outline of the mark.
"Love" I said softly as I looked at it closely.
He opened his eyes, grabbed my wrist and we left off somewhere.
"Gaara, we have work to do?! Where are we going?!" But he didn't even look at me much less answer my questions. We arrived at my workshop and he took me to the balcony.
I stood in front of him and he looked me dead in the eye and said, "Can we not work together, anymore?"