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Naruto: Diplomatic Relations by Maldoror
Jun. 13th, 2006 11:28 pmDiplomatic Relations (Gaara/Lee | NC17 | 162,117 words): Lee is assigned as the diplomatic envoy to Suna and forges a friendship with Gaara. There are not enough words to describe how amazing and wonderful and perfect this story is. Gaara/Lee, on the face of it, looks like a pairing with two too opposite characters for it to be able to work and be in character. But this is not just in character -- with Lee being adorably enthusiastic but still capable of seriousness and Gaara still being his fucked up self with massive issues -- it's one of those stories that's like, "Oh, so this is why these two not only make sense but are totally right for each other." And it's not just Lee and Gaara who get fantastic characterization, but also Gai and Gaara's siblings and a ton of OCs. Suna itself is wonderfully realized as a working ninja village in the desert. Everything's just perfect and ... wow.
Excerpt:
The green eyes slowly rose to meet his without a flinch; cold as glass, they searched his face. Gaara often watched him like this. As if he expected something from Lee; as if were searching for something, some reaction. Maybe some sign of fear or disgust.
Lee knew about the Old Gaara; he'd met him close up and personal, after all. That creature still lurked, carefully leashed and suppressed, at the back of those green eyes. It was the young man who went for walks in the sandstorms, with Lee following at a prudent distance. Lee was very cautious with that Gaara whenever he showed up, and he didn't like him much or approach him. But he wasn't afraid of him. The difference between caution and fear might seem fine. Maybe it was as fine as the difference between a teacher and a 'caretaker'. It was just as vital though.
"I'm sorry you never had a real sensei," Lee said quietly, but perfectly honestly. In Lee's opinion, that Old Gaara could have really done with a Gai-sensei in his life.
Gaara's searching gaze turned into something more familiar; that blank look he often gave Lee, as if he was trying to understand a sentence in a foreign language he could only master after interpreting it into his own. Finally he looked away with a slight frown, as if what Lee had said still didn't make much sense, even after translation.
A side-fic for the second side-fic.
A bit from Ch. 23 that was changed for the final version.
Excerpt:
The green eyes slowly rose to meet his without a flinch; cold as glass, they searched his face. Gaara often watched him like this. As if he expected something from Lee; as if were searching for something, some reaction. Maybe some sign of fear or disgust.
Lee knew about the Old Gaara; he'd met him close up and personal, after all. That creature still lurked, carefully leashed and suppressed, at the back of those green eyes. It was the young man who went for walks in the sandstorms, with Lee following at a prudent distance. Lee was very cautious with that Gaara whenever he showed up, and he didn't like him much or approach him. But he wasn't afraid of him. The difference between caution and fear might seem fine. Maybe it was as fine as the difference between a teacher and a 'caretaker'. It was just as vital though.
"I'm sorry you never had a real sensei," Lee said quietly, but perfectly honestly. In Lee's opinion, that Old Gaara could have really done with a Gai-sensei in his life.
Gaara's searching gaze turned into something more familiar; that blank look he often gave Lee, as if he was trying to understand a sentence in a foreign language he could only master after interpreting it into his own. Finally he looked away with a slight frown, as if what Lee had said still didn't make much sense, even after translation.
A side-fic for the second side-fic.
A bit from Ch. 23 that was changed for the final version.