Swings

Subaku no Gaara, Godaime Kazekage stared at the swing set as if it held the mysteries of the universe.

There was a grumble from the beast inside- oddly endearing, now that Shukaku was now working with him.

It was late, and while Gaara could sleep without fear now, he still had bouts of insomnia that often led to him walking around his village.

He sat down on the swing, before looking up at the night sky.

Gaara's sand didn't react as something hit his back and made the swing move.

Gaara panicked, dragging his feet to stop the swing.

He leaned back, feeling a pair of legs against his back and looked up to see familiar blond hair and whisker marks. Naruto was standing on the swing, grinning down at him.

"Saw kids do this all the time growing up. What did you think?" Naruto explained.

"That was mildly terrifying." Gaara admitted with a small smile. "Do it again?"

Naruto grinned and complied.

Eventually they had to stop as the swing groaned, not meant for two grown men.

Somehow, Naruto talked Gaara into playing on the rest of the equipment.

"You know, that genjutsu infinite dream ... was just like this." Gaara admitted as they got the Merry-go-round to spin. "The two of us playing."

"Reality is better." Naruto grinned, hopping off to push it so it would keep spinning.

"It is." Gaara agreed, smiling.

It might not be a perfect world, might have taken years, but Gaara found this moment of playtime with Naruto so much more enjoyable than the dream.

Note: Apparently, in the Gaara hiden book, (which did get Kishimoto's approval) Shukaku is back inside Gaara. I decided to use that.