A Fanatic Fangirl takes Anime x Reader Requests — Absolutely love your Gaara x Reader fanfic, you...

Ack, thank you so much for the high praise! You’re too much anon, but, thanks for being wonderful! I hope this comes to you well! I apologize for getting it out late. But it’s cute and fluffy and hopefully something that will make you giddy! Enjoy~

The Winds of Change (Gaara x Fem!Reader)

Warning(s): so much fluff and cuteness

Word Count: 2,495

“Amazing….” Gaara breathed out, his eyes firmly locked on the impossibly perfect form in front of him.

“What’s amazing?” Oh, had he said that out loud? (F/N) had turned to look at him as she had just been petting a goat.

“The goat. The goat is amazing.” He attempted to cover his slipup as he turned to pet the goat as well, the animal eagerly searching for any food or nibbles that they may have.

She laughed and nodded in agreement. “They are amazing creatures, aren’t they? So silly, but so human at the same time I think.”

Again, his gaze became focused on her, then back at the goat who was trying to dig I her jacket pocket. “I suppose they are. Although, I can’t imagine most humans would try and stick their mouths into another’s pocket. Their faces couldn’t fit.” He attempted to be funny, wondering if she would laugh at all.

(F/N) stared at him for a moment and then back down to the goat who had moved around to her other pocket. “I mean, there are some weirdos out there.” She looked back up and flashed a smile to him though. “But I agree, perhaps not quite as human as I made them out to be after all.”

“Hey, Gaara, (F/N), come over here for a sec!” The loud voice could only be Naruto Uzumaki. It had been his bright idea to go to a petting zoo that had just opened up in the newly formed Leaf Village. Gaara had been against it, but the moment he heard (F/N) was going, well, how could he say no?

Giving a final pat on the head to the goat and a promise to bring back some food next time, (F/N) took his hand and pulled him along—which only served to make Gaara’s hand and heart warm at the simple but in his eyes, intimate, interaction.

Naruto was accompanied by his new bride, Hinata, who was just stepping out from behind a cutout of a cat. “They’re doing pictures.” She spoke delicately, bringing Gaara and (F/N) to stand behind the cutouts. “We think you should get one. Naruto and I did it, and it’ll be a nice memory.”

“I don’t—” Gaara was cut off by an enthusiastic voice beside him.

“That’s a great idea!” (F/N) turned to Gaara with an excited look in her eyes. “Can we do it? Please?”

No way he could turn down such a request when it came from her. “If you wish.” He nodded and stuck his head through the horse cutout while (F/N) opted for the chicken one beside him. Gaara couldn’t help the small smile on his face as he stood next to her, regardless of the silly nature of the picture.

After the photographer took the image and printed it out, (F/N) took it from him and eagerly showed it to Gaara. “Aren’t we cute?” Yes, yes she was cute. But her attention quickly turned to Hinata who was giving Naruto a look that made Gaara a little suspicious. What exactly were they up to? Hinata had her and Naruto’s picture—he opted for the dog cutout—and her and (F/N) were gushing over them while Naruto announced they’d be getting some food for the ducks as that was next on the path.

“We?” The Kazekage asked, giving him a confused look as Naruto pulled him away to a stand that had small bags of food.

As Naruto handed over the money, he glanced behind them to see the girls still excitedly pointing at their pictures before turning back to Gaara. “So, have you made a move yet?”

Gaara’s brows pushed forward a little, wondering what he was getting at. “What do you mean?” He asked his good friend to which Naruto motioned back towards (F/N).

“You know, with (F/N). Have you told her you like her yet?” The moment Naruto saw his friend stiffen and a tinge of pink dust the man’s cheeks, he only grinned. “Knew it. Why don’t you ask her out?”

Taking two of the bags of food for himself and (F/N), Gaara shook his head. “I…do not believe I am anything more than a friend.” He admitted, not even wanting to try. Having been rejected from so much love throughout his life, he doubted it was possible to attain even more.

Naruto gave his friend a cheeky grin, “You won’t know until you try!” He said before wrapping a comforting arm around his friend’s shoulder. “You’ve had feelings for her for a long time. Don’t think I haven’t seen. Hinata’s noticed too.” That only served to make Gaara a bit more embarrassed. “It’ll be fine. Just trust your gut.”

“Trust my gut….” He muttered to himself as they made their way back to the women who had carefully put the pictures in their bags.

“Ah, there you are! I was wondering if you had gotten lost!” (F/N) grinned and took one of the bags out of Gaara’s hand. “I’m glad you’re found though.” She added, biting her lip a bit as she played with a piece of her (H/C) hair.

Hinata gave a small giggle to which (F/N) shot her a tiny glare to hush. “Let’s go see the ducks, shall we?” She ignored the glare from her friend and intertwined her arm with Naruto’s as they made their way over to the animals.

After a long day at the petting zoo, Hinata and Naruto bid their farewells, opting to cook for themselves at home. But also, each having nudged their friends to make a move on the other.

As they watched the couple take off, (F/N) turned to Gaara. “Today was fun, wasn’t it?”

Gaara looked to her, giving a little nod. “Yes, it was quite fun today.” He agreed, having enjoyed being so close to her for once. It was the closest he’s been and he felt more at peace than ever around her.

“I…don’t want to part ways quite yet. So, um, if you’d like…you can come to my place? I’ll cook us something.” She had her arms crossed behind her back as she kicked at an invisible stone. How adorable.

“I’d be honored.” Gaara gave her a small smile, to which she immediately lit up and took his hand, although he could feel the slight tremble in it as she led them back to her place.

Setting her keys on the entryway table and taking off her shoes, she waved her arm. “Make yourself at home. It’s not much, but, I find it’s best to live simply.” That was something he could agree on.

Slipping off his own shoes, he padded into the living room and noticed the large bookshelves that lined the walls. He must have been gawking as he heard a little laugh come from the kitchen area.

“My books are the exception.” (F/N) said as she began to pull out food from the fridge to prepare their meals.

“It’s quite a collection.” He acknowledged, tracing his fingers over some of the spines.

The sound of chopping was heard coming from the kitchen and a chuckle. “Yeah, if I see a book that sounds interesting, I tend to just grab it. To be honest, I’d say about half of the books on the shelves are unread. I just keep rereading some of the other ones.”

He gave a small smile to that and pulled out one of the more worn books that presumably was one such book. “You know what you like.” Gaara commented, only to hear what sounded like a reply and a faint ‘Gaara’ in it, but he couldn’t quite hear. “What was that?”

“N-nothing!” (F/N) called out as a quick muttering in what sounded like she was talking to herself. “Uhm, dinner will need to sit for a while. I hope you don’t mind stew.” She said, coming out and wiping her hands on a hand towel before joining him on the couch.

“I don’t mind at all. It sounds good.” He said, sitting there for a while in silence and confusion. She seemed to be mulling something over in her head. What could it be?

“Gaara, I need to tell you something.” She all but whispered, unsure of how he would take it.

Blinking at her in confusion, he turned to face her a bit more. “What is it?” He asked, wondering where this was going. “You can tell me anything. I’m quite good at keeping secrets.”

She laughed, but it almost sounded more of a reassuring tone to it than a mocking one. “I know I can, Gaara. But, it’s not a secret.” Steeling herself, and taking a deep breath, she looked at him with determination in her eyes. “Gaara, I like you.” Her voice was ever so shaky. “As more than a friend.” She quickly added, wanting to make sure he knew where she was going with this.

Was he hearing this right? (F/N) (L/N)…liked him as more than a friend? He felt like his head was going to burst from all the steam and pressure as he tried to process what he was hearing. He couldn’t believe that as dense as Naruto was, he was able to see that there was potentially a shot with her. And now it was really happening.

Apparently, he had been silent for too long though as a small ‘Um, Gaara?’ interrupted his thoughts. Even though he had been staring at her, his eyes only just refocused to see that she was playing nervously with a strand of her (H/T) hair.

“I…understand if you don’t feel the same way. I live here in Konohagakure and you in Sunagakure. So, we may not be as close as I think we are. But I’ve liked you for a long time, honest.” She admitted, getting all of her feelings out. “And I don’t mind doing a long-distance thing either. That is,” her hand reached out to take his, the trembling even more noticeable than before, “if you’ll let me be a part of your life.”

“This is a lot to process.” He immediately says, to which (F/N)’s face falters a little to one of disappointment. Realizing that it came off as uninterested, he attempted to clarify. “I never thought someone could love me other than a family or a friend.” Gaara admitted, his teal eyes staring into her (E/C) ones. “I have hoped, of course. But never thought….” He closed his eyes and squeezed her hand a little. “I’ve…admired you as well, (F/N). For quite some time.” It felt odd to actually admit to this out loud. Truth be told, he had never intended to let her know of how he felt. After all, how could it be possible that someone could love a former monster? She knew who he was when he first met Naruto all those years ago, and to think, she’s seemed to have seen past that.

The worry from her face all but disappeared and was instead straining to hold the wide grin. “I’m just, so happy, Gaara.” Now that he knew her feelings, the way she said his name just gave him the best possible butterflies in his stomach. His affections were returned and acknowledged after all.

“I’m…happy…as well.” It was odd to verbalize that word, ‘happy’, aloud. He’s felt it before, especially in more recent memory, but never have said it.

(F/N) giggled and laced her fingers with his hand, seemingly at ease as she let out a breath he noticed she had been holding. “I’m relieved to hear that. I was worried you may not feel the same. But, I just had to get it out there on the off chance there was something.” Even though they were sitting, she swung their hands back and forth.

Gaara was amused at the hand swinging, letting her do it. She seemed so genuine and so relieved that he had accepted her feelings. He was glad she was brave enough to take that first step for the both of them. “Thank you, (F/N), for letting me be in your heart.” He said suddenly, tentatively raising a hand to press against her upper chest to where her heart would be. This was already a big step for him to have said anything about his feelings in general, so, he may as well tell her how appreciative he was.

Now it was her turn to stare at him in silence. She seemed to be trying to process what he had said, and when she finally did, a flush rose on her cheeks. “I-it’s nothing, really.” He hadn’t thought what he said was that impactful, but, perhaps it was. “I’m just more than happy that,” her other hand raised up to lay over hers on her chest, the other hand still laced with his, “you’re here with me too.”

“There’s no placed I’d rather be.” Gaara smiled, squeezing their hands one more time. This seemed to bring even more color to her face as she nervously glanced to the side, to his face, and then up to his eyes. “(F/N)?” He said, sensing there was something else she wanted to say.

“I’m going to kiss you.” And before Gaara could process those words, (F/N) had leaned forward and softly placed the kiss on his cheek. He didn’t breathe, didn’t move, and didn’t blink as his mind went blank. She seemed to stay there forever, or at least, it felt like she did as even when her lips left his cheek, he still felt them there. “I’ve…been wanting to do that for a while.” (F/N) admitted sheepishly. “I was on a roll with everything else, so I figured I may as well do that too.”

His eyes closed and a soft smile graced his own face. “Yes, you did.” It felt unfair to him to have her give him a kiss, he was the one too afraid to confess after all. She deserved something too. Leaning forward, he placed his own gentle kiss to her forehead and a faint gasp was heard from her. When he pulled back, it looked like she was struggling to not burst as her face had gone completely red and she was stuttering. Before she could say anything else, his nose sniffed the air and glanced towards the kitchen. “I think our dinner is burning, (F/N).” Gaara commented, letting her know that it probably needed to be stirred.

This seemed to snap her out of whatever spell she was under and (F/N) quickly shot up and went into the kitchen with a ‘No, no, no!’ as she went.

Gaara smiled to himself and placed a hand on the cheek she had kissed while he watched her attempt to save the stew. If this was what life would be with her, he didn’t think he’d get used to it—not that he would want to anyways. After all, he could never stop finding new ways to admire and appreciate her.