[Open] When Youth Is Not Enough

[the_blue_beast]

Characters: Rock Lee, Gaara, and anyone wishing to comfort Lee
Content: After spending all of Lunasa cooped up in his room crying and moping and being the opposite of his usual youthful self thanks to Gaara's rejection of his feelings, Lee goes outside for fresh air and attempts to train, but fails because he is too miserable.
Setting: Outside of

Comments

Mahhhh Gaara-mun feels guilty for making Lee so sad! D:

[hiccup_ninja]

Gaara hadn't been much better off than Lee after their encounter, though there was definitely no crying. He had taken several short, nightmare-filled naps throughout the day (okay, a few tears might've escaped in his sleep, but good luck getting Gaara to admit it,) tore up his room a couple more times, and read and then re-read Lee's speech (which the redhead had been quite surprised to find etched onto the back of the heart-rock,) as though searching for some encrypted explanation, all the while thoroughly chewing over all of their past interactions that might have led to this

Re: Mahhhh Gaara-mun feels guilty for making Lee so sad! D:

[the_blue_beast]

Lee's eyes snapped open at the familiar sound of sand shifting inside of the large gourd that housed it, his eyes, still shiny from much crying, took in the stiff back of the redhead, wary and unsure. Did Gaara want to talk? Was that why he was here? Lee did not think he was prepared for whatever conversation they were about to have. He did not even think he could stand to look at the redhead just yet.

He sighed as quietly as he could, shifting a little, but not sitting up. After a moment, he swallowed the lump in his throat, pushed down the need to hide, and spoke in the most subdued voice he could ever remembering hearing from himself. "H-hi."

Oh, that was smooth. Totally not awkward. The epitome of cool. Lee's face warmed slightly, and he looked towards the ship, trying his best to not look at Gaara, wondering if he should say more.

[hiccup_ninja]

The redhead easily caught the green-clad boy's sigh and frowned a bit. Did Lee not want to talk to Gaara? "...Hey." He replied just as awkwardly, glancing over his shoulder at his friend. He had obviously been crying recently, his eyes still watery and pink; meanwhile the only change in Gaara was that the dark rings around his eyes were a shade darker, standing out much more starkly against his slightly paler skin. He was also moving somewhat gingerly now; all the new stress had put so much agitation on his ribs that they hurt more or less constantly now, even with the ointment. Luckily, the redhead was very good at hiding his pain.

[the_blue_beast]

Lee shifted, closing his eyes again at the sound of Gaara's voice. No, he definitely did not think he was strong enough to deal with this right now. But he did not want to be rude and tell Gaara that. If Gaara wanted to talk, it was only fair that Lee hear him out.

"I-" He cut himself off, opening his eyes again to look at the sky. He really wished his sensei were here to guide him. Without him, Lee felt so lost and unprepared to deal with these unexpected emotions. Certainly his sensei would be able to make Lee feel better and set him on the right path. Lee shook his head, throwing an arm over his bloodshot eyes. "H-how are you?" he finally mumbled, glad for the semblance of hiding that cover his face offered.

[suddenlytatas]

Returning to the ship after a day out, Elizaveta squinted her eyes as she saw a figure slumped down on the ground near the ship, and as soon as that particular shade of green registered with her, she hurried over.

"Lee?" She asked, worried.

[the_blue_beast]

Lee looked up from the ground, trying his best to smile at the familiar voice, though it proved to be only a half-hearted watery smile, and a few tears fell down his face as his eyes crinkled. "E-Elizaveta-san! I-I did not see you there. How a-are you?" he asked in a horse voice, the usual volume at which he spoke no where to be heard. "I have not seen you in quite some time. I-I have y-your weights for you."

[suddenlytatas]

She immediately knelt down beside him, going into big sister mode. "Shh, shh." She reached into her apron and grabbed a tissue, dabbing his tears. "Don't worry about any of that. How are you? What happened?" They hadn't known eachother long, but even so, seeing such a usually lively person in such a state, it really got to her.

[the_blue_beast]

Lee's brows drew together, his eyes watering and his mouth turning down in the saddest of frowns against his will, before he launched himself at Elzaveta, burying his face in her lap and sobbing harshly. "I-I-I-I--" he hiccuped, trying desperately to speak. "I-I failed! H-h-he do-do-does-s-s not return my feelings, and I-I-I--"

He couldn't manage anymore, hist hands clenching Elizaveta's apron tightly, tears falling down his face, his body shaking as he took in ragged breathes through his sobs.