Title: Damaged
Note: drabble written for naruto_meme, prompt: blind. Loosely connected to Damage Undone.
"The only regret I have about what happened is that I didn't get to see my rival's face one last time," the word's are spoken with a lilt of humor, a teasing note that only makes Kakashi feel more guilty because even now Gai seems to care more about making Kakashi feel better than his own loss.
"All you ever had to do was ask," he answers, trying to hit that same bantering note but missing by a mile. His voice comes out low and husky and it transmits a world of emotion. Already he has shown Gai more of himself than anyone else will ever get to see.
Helplessly, Kakashi looks at Gai's hands twisting the over-starched hospital sheets.
Just as helplessly, Gai says, "Kakashi…" and a myriad of words fill the space between them, but all of them remain unspoken.
He makes a decision.
He walks up to the side of the bed and, with one hand, gently takes hold of Gai's wrist. With the other he pulls down his mask.
It's awkward. He has to stoop a little and Gai clearly doesn't understand what's happening and Kakashi doesn't know what to say, not look, naturally, but feel? No, it's too early for that.
"Here," is what he says as Gai's fingertips reach the bridge of his nose, trace it without Kakashi's guidance.
He closes his eye, his thumb resting on Gai's pulse, Gai's fingers cold and rough, smelling like hospital.
Gai's touch, tracing his upper lip, light as a feather, a flame that licks the inside of his stomach.
His heart is filthy with desire.
He pictures himself dropping away from the too bright hospital lights.
Hanging over the abyss, connected to the world only through the gentle pressure of Gai's fingertips.
Gai's hand warmed by his breath.
end.
A.N.: Some day, I might write the whole (awful) Kakashi/blind!Gai fic.