Avowal
A dialogue

There's nothing but darkness and the soft noise of calm breathing filling the room.

The teenager knows better than to misinterpret.

"Do you love her?"

A simple question – as well as blunt, offhand and intrusive in the quiet shadows of the night.

"Hm?"

"Don't make me say it. You know who I am talking about."

Stubbornly, he stares at the ceiling, not facing his counterpart.

"..."

"Answer me."

Obviously, the mood is already foul – he sighs.

"It's not that easy..."

"I don't care. I want you to tell me, now."

The figure beside him stirs and finally rolls over.

"Kakashi. You sure picked a convenient time for this issue. You should rest and let me get some sleep, too."

"You are in no position to admonish me."

His mismatched gaze is cold and bitterly stern.

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that."

"Huh. So what?"

"Nothing."

The murmur is lost between the rustling of sheets when he sits up.

"Don't you dare running away."

"That has nothing to do with you. So why should you care?"

"Liar..."

Looking offended and somehow deeply annoyed, the blond turns away presenting his back to Kakashi.

"I have never lied to you. Not even once."

After a while the thick atmosphere is broken by warm fingers curling around his wrist; a tentative yet apologetic touch.

"I know..."

"I'm sorry, Kakashi."

Carefully, the boy leans against the man, his cheek resting on a bare shoulder blade.

"...please..."

"Hm...?"

"I cannot stand it... so please..."

"I can't."

"... it hurts."

Those two small words make his heart ache and twinge. Still, he hesitates.

"There's no answer."

"What's that supposed to mean...?"

"I don't know, I really do not know..."

"Then why...?"

"Happened in the heat of the moment, I guess. It was fun."

"That's all?"

"Sounds lame, doesn't it? And no. I was fascinated by her personality, brash and tomboyish. Captivated, though she tends to jab too much."

"..."

"I was happy, honestly. I could forget about life's cruelty, about all the blood and killing that has defined my path."

"Ignorance is bliss."

"Yeah. But not permanently. Reality caught up with me."

"What about me..."

"I remembered that there was something that kept me alive throughout the years before, regardless of everything. Someone I would never abandon."

"..."

"You."

Silence.

"Do you love me...?"

"Yes."


Something compact and short that I wanted to write down for a long time. Hopefully not too kinky or unrealistic.

Set after 'Catalysis'.