It was nothing short of an embarrassment, but he was well-versed in concealing his emotions, at times. Though, the fact that Luke didn’t withdraw immediately, followed by the touch to his face… His stoic mask cracked, briefly, as his pale cheek flushed with faint color. It didn’t help matters to see Luke blush during this action. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment, and when they opened again, there was a sense of longing and yearning lingering within them.

Having known such little affection in his life, such gestures resonated with great significance, no matter how small.

And that short pause, with regards to their memories… Gaara was forced to turn his head away, as he worked to calm the sudden increase of his heart rate. He didn’t understand why his body was reacting in this manner, toward Luke… Or rather, he harbored suspicions, but hadn’t reached a concrete conclusion yet. There was still conflict in his mind, and it prevented him from reciprocating in the form that he wanted to.

After Luke pulled him up to his feet, the ninja continued to hold onto his hand. As he started to survey their surroundings, his stomach suddenly growled again, reminding him of his original quest for nourishment. The smells of various dishes were drifting through the air, enticing him to sample their taste.

“Master! You need to eat, kupo!” His Moogle scolded him just then, shaking Ion’s paws out of the excitement of the moment. “Luke! Please make sure he eats, kupo!”

Once that temporary distraction passed, she turned her attention back to Ion with a sweet smile. “Humans are so interesting, kupo! Is that how all friends treat each other?” She lifted one dainty paw and brushed it down Ion’s cheek, mirroring what Luke had done to her hero companion.