It had been a couple of weeks since the two had started going out, and even if their title changed, their relationship remained the same. Shikamaru picked up the redhead every day at four, after detention, and it wasn't until this particular day when he decided to ask Gaara about his personal life.

They were sitting on the couch of Shikamaru's pad when he brought himself to ask the all-important question, what had driven him to such an act? Gaara turned silent as he thought of what to say, how to reveal himself to his most beloved. He ended up going into great detail of all he had to deal with, starting with his siblings and the stress he dealt with when the two were in a room together. Hearing this angered Shikamaru, but he sat as calmly as he could, listening.

By the time they were through with the conversation it was late into the evening, and Gaara decided it was about time for him to head home. The two slid into the seats of the familiar Charger and sped down the street, but upon arriving Shikamaru was the first to step out, and bounded to the front door, leaving Gaara where he sat, startled.

He rang the doorbell again and again until someone opened the door, an older brunette stared at him in a drunken haze. "Who the fucks are you?" Kankuro asked, his words slurring against each other. Gaara was by his side in a matter of minutes, pressing passed the two males as he made his way into the small house.

He had expected his boyfriend to leave, to wave him goodbye, but Shikamaru pressed passed the brunette and stood beside him in the room, his eyes going from Kankuro to his sister who stared incredulously.

"T-This," Gaara stammered, "I-Is my friend."

"Friend?" Shikamaru grinned, wrapping one arm around the redhead "Cut the bullshit will you? I'm his boyfriend."

There was a moment of silence as the two siblings thought about what was just said. With a look of confusion Kankuro was the first to speak, wobbling slightly on his feet.

"Boyfriend?" He asked, the boy's words finally registering, "Gaara's not gay."

Gaara glanced towards his sister who simply sat at the edge of the couch, cocking her head to the side. She chuckled, mostly to herself but remained silent, seemingly amused by the whole situation.

"Anyway," Shikamaru began again, turning his full attention to Kankuro, "I heard you were the one who gave him the black eye?"

"And?" Kankuro spat, now leaning against the wall for support, "W…What of it?"

In a split second Shikamaru had closed the distance between the two, and listened with satisfaction as his fist collided with the side of the older man's jaw. Kankuro cried out in surprise as he fell to the floor, lying there for a couple of minutes before trying to hoist himself back up onto his own two feet.

Gaara stood speechless, he knew he should've stopped his friend, but it also felt good having someone fight for him, to show him he was much more than he gave himself credit for.

Shikamaru then turned to the blonde who raised a thin eyebrow, "I'm sure you won't mind if he comes and stays with me?"

Temari thought about this, her eyes shifting from the male to her younger brother. She was envious of the fact that he had found someone willing to act in such a way, to defend his honor, envious of their love, but she also felt somewhat happy for Gaara. He had found someone more than willing to take him away from this nightmare of a life. She nodded simply, and then focused her attention onto her older brother who lied on the floor, "Serves you right." She spat, a coy smile now spreading across her face.

Gaara had hurried to his room, and began on packing his belongings. Emptying his closet, even making sure to take the sheets he slept on every night, all was packed until he came to the knife which lied in the desk drawer. He thought about this, should he bring it, or leave it where it lay? Upon admiring the blade his skin itched, his veins pulsed, but then he thought better and closed the drawer, shutting the door behind him as he exited what was once his room. He no longer needed the blade, he had Shikamaru, and that was more than enough.

The two left the house and stepped back into the vehicle, backing out into the street. Gaara began to flip through the tracks until Are You Gonna Be My Girl began to play, and the two sung along with the singer as Shikamaru revved the engine, and then sped down the street towards the sanctity of their very own home.