𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 | gaara/sasuke uchiha

Chapter Twenty One - Permission

"Gaara, you're going to hate me, but I can explain."

"[Name], what have you done now?" sighs the redhead as he directs a bunch of other students about where to hang the ball banner. I smile and awkwardly scratch the back of my head.

"W-well, you see, we had a meeting on Saturday, and they kinda have business involved, aaaaaaaand..." Gaara groans and facepalms, not even bothering to look at me.

"And by 'we', you mean Akatsuki, don't you?"

"Maybe?" He looks up at me before grabbing me by the arm and frogmarching me away to the stage, sitting me down on the left flank of stairs.

"Tell me what shit you've gotten yourself into now," he says, a gleam of irritation in his eyes. I smile again.

"You don't mind if I quickly run out just before midnight, right? I'll, uh, make sure to be back quickly."

"[Name], seriously? Why?" I shrug and put on an innocent face, pouting at the Suna kid. He scowls at me, making my innocent face evaporate in seconds.

"Uh... either that, or we risk the entire ball being held at gunfire?" I say sweetly. His eyes widen, and for the few seconds of silence that follow, I genuinely fear him right now. Okay, yeah, getting myself involved with the stupid Akatsuki hadn't been a smart decision to start with, and Gaara definitely didn't want to take a bar of it back then. But now, that I was telling him other innocent people were at risk, well, I'm obviously not expecting a positive reaction.

"[Name]. What the fuck have you done."

"Gaara, look-" I reach out to the departing redhead, grabbing him by the wrist. He glares at me over his shoulder, shaking me off.

"No, [Name], you look. It was bad enough that you wanted to join that stupid gang for laughs, but now that you're bringing others into this? Do you know how reckless and stupid of you that is?! Out of all the things you could've told me, like, 'oh, I'm getting back together with Sasuke,' or, 'I'm pregnant with Hidan's child,' you tell me this? You realise that there will be at least a hundred and fifty people here, right? So what happens? The ball ends, people leave and get shot down? Was that your plan right from the beginning?!"

"What? No!" I exclaim, getting to my feet and chasing after Gaara. "Look, this other guy from some other gang wants to meet me, but the date they set was on the same day as our ball! So I said I'd meet them during the ball at twelve, all short and sweet! But since Pain doesn't trust him, he wants reinforcements around the hall, and a couple inside. So, you see, it's not that bad, because we've got strong people, plus Itachi will have some contacts inside, and-" Gaara cuts me off, putting his hand in the air.

"Woah, woah, woah. You think that suddenly makes everything okay?"

"Well, of course not, but-"

"[Name], you're a fucking idiot," he sighs, shaking his head. He holds his forehead with his forefinger and thumb, barely brushing against the kanji inscripted on it. "But, you're my friend, so I have to accept it. Fucking idiot."

"So... you don't mind me leaving midway through, do you?"

"Yes, I do. So I'm coming with you. Where are you meeting? Some secret, undisclosed location? Your so called gang headquarters?"

I laugh nervously and scratch the back of my head, grinning with anxiety.

"Actually... we're gonna have a quick chat in the car park. You don't mind that, do you?"

A vein pops on Gaara's temple, but I can see him struggling to keep his cool.

"Fucking idiot," is all he breathes before walking away from me. "I need to take a walk. You stay here. I'll deal with you later."

I beam and pull out a peace sign with my fingers.

"Love you, Gaara!"