Rock Lee

                                    

                                          
TITLE; a promise of a lifetime!
                          
--
                          
"Just give me a chance to prove myself (f/n) and I'll make sure to not disappoint you!" You groaned at this similar comment, getting tired of being interrupted from your training by the same guy again. He just didn't give up, Rock Lee was relentless, but you didn't know he was this relentless.
                          
"Rock Lee I'm trying to train right now! I can't be playing these little love battles with you again, all you're doing is wasting your time with me!" Sakura had warned you of Lee and his endless attempts, but had also said that he wouldn't disappoint with what he brought to you. So far, it seemed that those were just empty words said to get him off of her. Well, she played the part quite well when she seemed a little hesitant to let him go off with you.
                          
All you could focus on was training to get stronger and be able to stand on your own two feet. It was okay to have comrades who were stronger, but you didn't wanna get lost in all the shinobi to be seen as some other ninja. You were determined to stand for the Hidden Leaf as a great kunoichi and prove to everyone who thought you were weak that you were skilled as well.
                          
Rock Lee was one of these people you wanted to prove wrong, so in meeting him and seeing him in action really made you want to strive for more. So, you went to him and asked him to spar with you a couple of times a week which soon turned to every day. At first he was just happy with your presence, and slowly he started developing a few other feelings he never thought he would have for you.
                          
He may have had a few feelings for Sakura which he thought was love, but you showed him a whole other side to this feeling. You showed him that love is not only attraction, but also something overcoming that pushed him to strive for the most. He knew he wanted more than just friendship and companionship from you, but to say it is one thing. 
                          
For this, he needed to work hard and keep this determination strong so that he could prove to you once and for all that this isn't just infatuation, but something more. This wasn't just a Sakura love; it was his whole heart and soul poured into a cup for you to drink. He was willing to do anything for you, even if it meant that you would hate him in the process of it.
                          
"But (f/n) what if I take you out tonight! I'll show you what I really feel for you, a-and then you can see that I really do love you--"
                          
"Lee, I told you that I don't have time to go out and live out a romance and shit," he looked to the side, his face looking hurt at your words. Well, it hurt you just as much to say these things to him, but your want of strength was too strong, so even if all you wanted to do was go hug the bushy browed boy you knew you couldn't. Your emotions just got in the way, but once you could stand by Lee's side as an equal you would be able to relax and show him what you actually feel.
                          
While you thought of this future, it was still important to keep working to make it a reality. Time spent doing other things was time wasted. All you wanted was to keep on pushing yourself, even if it meant getting sent to the hospital again. Yeah, you had been to the hospital quite a few times when you would push yourself to your limits. Sometimes you would stay up for days at a time and the next second be in a hospital bed with an IV in your arm from dehydration.
                          
It wasn't your fault your body couldn't keep up, but slowly you could see that your body was adjusting and enduring at least one more day at a time. You could feel your limit coming around right now, but it wasn't going to stop you from finishing what you started.
                          
"(f-f/n)!" You turned around, looking just a little more angry this time at him to push him away, but to your surprise he wasn't looking towards you. He was looking behind you where three guys stood, angry as ever. Looks like you ticked someone else off with your stubborness, but no matter; taking these guys down was easy. 'Rock Lee, you better be watching. I got this strong just for you, so make sure to praise me'
                          
You put your hand out to signal Lee to stay behind, going at those guys for a direct attack. This was your chance to prove yourself to Lee, and it was gonna be the day you could rest and stand by Lee for once. He could beat them with ease, so if you could beat them too then it would be the best of feelings.
                          
You attacked quick, throwing punches at the guys and beating them to the ground. You were fighting them with ease and it was almost clear that you would win. With some shadow clones and a bit more sweat this would be your moment to come forward as worthy to Lee--
                          
This would have become a reality if it weren't for the fact that you were training for two days in a row and your ankles completely gave out. Jeez, you could really use some of that curry of life. As you tried to get up, you felt a sharp pain go up your whole leg and made you fall back down again. This pain was too great, and as the guys were getting up you knew what awaited you. This was it; Lee would see that you're too weak and he won't even be able to look you in the eye.
                          
"Leaf Hurricane!" You felt a gust of wind blow your hairs out of your face; his speed so great that these guys weren't gonna get away too easily. He hit them with different blows, making it so that all they could do is watch as his punches and kicks annihilated them. Even you knew that messing with Lee wasn't something too easy.
                          
"Now, I don't want to see you guys ever try and tough (f/n) ever again! If I do catch you, I promise that it will not be as easy for me to hold back!" With what little strength the guys had, they got up and ran for their lives. Lee may look harmless and innocent on the outside, but he was a force to fear. The only thing you feared now was what he would say to you.
                          
"(f/n)," you didn't even wanna look up at his face, the disappointment was too great for you to even face him again and you could feel the tears start to build up in your eyes, "please promise me that you will never do something like that again."
                          
"I can't stand you pushing yourself so hard and making things difficult for yourself! I love you, and to see someone I love be hurt by themselves is something that I can't stand, so please do not do this to yourself. I know that maybe you may feel as though you need to prove something with all of this, but there is no need for that; you are perfect just as you are. So if my words matter at all to you, I want you to take this into consideration."
                          
Words so kind as his were never spoken to you by anyone else but him. Could it be true that he really loved you, and that's why he's so devoted to your well being? It was all so sudden that you can't even tell, but might as well make your own confession to him. The confession of a lifetime.
                          
"Lee, the reason I do all of this is to prove my worth to you. Every time I see you, I feel like you're so much higher up than me, and all I want is to be by your side as an equal. I love you Lee, and with that love I push myself to do the best that I can, so that I can be as good as you and be worth your admiration--"
                          
"No (f/n) that's not right!" His words stung your skin, sending shivers and agony all over your body at such a sudden rejection, "I don't want you to prove yourself to me, because you are already equal and above me! Just being you makes my heart flutter, and gives me the power to do good for you. I love you, and just hearing you say these things makes me feel as though you don't love yourself. It's okay though, because I promise to love you for the both of us until you can get to the point of loving yourself as well."
                          
At this, he picks up your frail body, kissing your forehead with a gentle touch.
                          
"(f/n), I promise to always stand by your side, and make sure that you see how great you are."