A/N: my sister, PandaPrincess, and I are doing a writing challenge where we randomly generate a pairing and a few words, and then each person has to write their interpretation of the prompt. Our first one was:
Pairing: Kakashi and Iruka
Place: bedroom
Actions: waiting
Things: book(s)
This is my oneshot fic based on that prompt. Enjoy!
Kakashi paced back and forth across his small bedroom. He mentally went over his checklist for the thousandth time:
Shower, check. Styled hair, check. Brushed teeth, check. Put on exciting and different clothing... He glanced at himself in the full-length mirror, observing the tight black t-shirt and pants he'd swapped out with his standard issue jonin uniform, slightly embarrassed by how flashy he looked. ...Check. Side-eying the alarm clock by his bed bed yet again, he let out an impatient sigh when he discovered barely two or three minutes had passed since his last check-in. He sat down on the bed, hoping that the wait would be a little easier if he at least stopped aimlessly walking around in circles.
What am I doing? he asked himself. I haven't been on a date in years!
The silver-haired ninja had agreed (immediately and wholeheartedly) to meet Iruka Umino for dinner at Ichiraku a few days prior. He'd been so blown away by the fact that his long-term unresolved crush had really, truly asked him out that he didn't even consider any of the technicalities. I hope he's not put off by my rusty dating skills... and I hope that I can remember how to do at least a few things right so he doesn't think I'm a total awkward shut-in...
Kakashi groaned and flopped back down onto the mattress, but a sharp corner of... something... poked him in the side. He winced and reached under the comforter to find the mystery object, pulling it out and bringing it into view.
Oh, right, I've been meaning to read this... He turned the small paperback book over in his hands, watching the reflected light slide over the glossy yellowish cover. He'd picked up the book on a whim at a convenience store in Suna ages ago, but it was quickly lost and forgotten in the midst of his busy existence. It finally resurfaced as he was digging for "nice" clothes in his random junk closet that morning.
Well, I guess I could read a few pages until Iruka gets here, he thought. What was it again? Some trashy romance, right?... Well, at least it'll kill some time... He cracked open the front cover and began to read.
~30 minutes later~
There was a knock at the door, but Kakashi barely took note of it. He had his face buried deep in what was undoubtedly the most incredible work of written romantic fiction he'd ever laid hands and eyes upon. B-but... but... I have to keep reading! I can't stop now! I need to find out what happens next! He eagerly flipped to the next page.
"Kakashi! Are you there? It's Iruka! We're still on for ramen, right?" Kakashi looked up from his book, breaking into a nervous sweat. The ultimatum before him was too stressful: should he stay home with his new-found literary love, or go out and kindle a relationship with his years-in-the-making, up-until-now-one-sided flame? He weighed his options until he heard more knocking on the door.
"Hey, if you're in there, I'm only asking one more time! Are we going to dinner, or should I go home?" Iruka's voice called from outside the apartment.
That sealed the deal for him. Don't worry, dear, I'll be home to read you again tonight, he promised, gazing longingly at Make-out Paradise before setting it down on his bedside table and standing up. For now, I've got things to do, places to be! A hot teacher to date...
He slid on his sandals, flipped the light switch, and set out to answer the door.