Open to all~

[awokentospring]

Characters: Rock Lee and YOU!! ♥
Location: Shibusen City Park
Rating: G to ?? (depends on the language of who stops by)
Time: mid-afternoon, April 17th
Description: Lee is still down from Gai-sensei and others disappearing earlier in the month. He needs some cheering up, or maybe just someone to distract him.


Lee sat on a park bench with his communicator in his hand. He wasn't looking at the device but rather out over the large park where some happy owners were playing with their dogs. Even then, Lee's gaze wasn't on anyone in particular. His round, dark, orb-like eyes remained fixed and mostly unblinking.

For a teenager who was often full of energy and shouting proclamations of youth, he looked rather somber. The fresh breath of spring was in the air, but for Rock Lee it was hardly a day to celebrate. With his sensei gone, along with Kakashi, several of his friends before them, and now even Temeraire, Lee just felt listless.

Comments

[heavenly_earth]

It made sense, he decided. When Lee was ever unsure about anything, Gai had always been there to talk him through it. Though he might try to be encouraging, Neji knew his words would never outweigh their mentor's. Privately, he hoped it was something his teammate would grow out of, because if there was one thing he had learned during his six months in Death City, it was that it was time they made their own decisions. But Lee wouldn't take anything even sounding remotely close to those words well.

"Then get some rest, Lee," he settled on at length. "We'll pick up on our resonance again tomorrow morning."

[awokentospring]

Lee nodded. He could do that. Sleep and train and work towards ending this war. And someday, he would see Gai-sensei again and the world would start making sense again.

"Alright. I will see you in the morning, then." And before he could stop himself or let Neji stop him, Lee stepped close and threw his arms around his teammate. "... Thank you for talking with me, Neji."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji swayed with the sudden movement, pressing his hand to the cold stone wall to keep himself from falling over, and jerked his head where Lee's body pinned his hair between them. His hand came up to curl around Lee's arm like he was ready to pry it loose, but instead stayed there for a moment.

"Of course, Lee," he murmured quietly, never taking his eyes off the streets.

[awokentospring]

Holding his rival just a little longer, Lee gave him a tight squeeze before letting go. Feeling refreshed from that little bit of contact, he smiled much more like himself as he gave Neji a wave.

"I hope the rest of your shift goes well, Neji."

[heavenly_earth]

Neji swallowed with another nod, relieved at least, that Lee wasn't asking anymore invasive questions, and that he seemed to be more himself again. He watched him go, then settled back down with a sigh.

Tucked away in the shadows thrown off of adjacent rooftops, he prepared to keep watch for what would surely be a long night.