“Everything’s going to be okay.” (for Hiroki only. The others are at home with Shinki looking for them)
Hiroki was shaking, he hadn’t meant to do it. He was training and then someone tried to attack him, just like when he was with his parents. His green eyes remained glued to the puddle that had been a person. If he hadn’t felt Gaara’s chakra, he would have ended up hurting him too.
He heard him speak, but it only made it worse, “No it won’t. I’m a liability.”
He set off to look for Hiroki because received a threat to his son’s lives, Shinki Norio and Kinji were safe with Kankuro, but Hiroki left early and was alone.
“You were protecting yourself, there is nothing wrong with that.” Although he seemed to have used more strength than necessary, it was a reflex and Gaara saw it. He came closer slowly to hug the boy, passing his arms around him.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get here sooner and protect you. Because of me, you had to go through something so scary.”
Hiroki flinched at the touch but didn’t pull away from him.
His green eyes remained on the puddle, “This isn’t the first time. It’s why my parents hated me. I was too dangerous to keep around… I can’t control the mist, it melts everything it touches except me…”
He finally shifted his gaze to his hands, “I’m a liability to you, my brothers, and the village.”
Aince he didn’t fought back Gaara pulled the boy closer to tighten the hug. “I couldn’t control my sand for most of my life too, tpok me a lot to be able.” Mostly because of Shukaku but he won’t talk about that.
“This power is yours and you’re able to control it Hiroki, you were just caught up by surprise.” He is still too young yo carry a burden so heavy.
“You’re not a liability, you’re my son and I’ll help you as much as I can.”
With his words, the tears finally started. Hiroki was terrified.
“I didn’t mean to do it! I was going to just run, but I was scared and then the mist came out and everything started melting!”
He turned to burry his face into Gaara, “I didn’t know how to make it stop! It could have melted you too! I could have hurt you Papa!”
Hiroki’s grip tightened, he was frantic, he had been so afraid of hurting the man who had kept him and his brothers safe. The word ‘papa’ had slipped out of him, he had been meaning to call him by it for the last week but he had been nervous.
"It was a natural response to your fear, someone attacked you and you felt the need to protect yourself." He explained calmly hoping that his behavior would tranquilize the boy.
"I'm sure you wouldn't hurt me Hiroki, I know how to protect myself and I trust your strength." His sand would keep him safe to a certain degree but he is worried about how much his son's powerd had grew.
This isn't the right time to be happy about being called like this by his son, Hiroki is always so close that reminds him anlot of himself when was a kid. Even so, his chest felt warm hearing those words. "Everything will be alright son, I'll keep you safe." Even from himself.
