Well, Kakashi thought sheepishly as he slumped against the alley wall and lazily slid to the ground, I'm drunk. Closing both eyes, he took a moment to gather himself and possibly stop the world from swimming. He'd never been this far gone before, usually knowing when he was at his limit, however he'd let himself get carried away once again in one of Gai's ridiculous challenges. Whoever could drink the most sake and still walk in a straight line was the winner. Kakashi never took Gai as the heavy drinking sort and so had expected an easy victory. How terribly wrong he'd been, although still the decisive victor, Gai had definitely pushed him far beyond his norm.

And now I can't even make it the rest of the way home, the thought burned him profusely, more or less because while it was still late, or was it early, right now, soon the town would begin waking up and with the way he is feeling, there is no way he'd be sober before someone stumbles across him. Suddenly, a thunderous roar bellows through the alley way and moments later a heavy downpour ensues. You have got to be kidding me. Kakashi had always thought his luck was bad, but this was ridiculous.

Sasuke cursed under his breath and pulled his hood tighter over his head. It'd been rotten luck to get stuck stranded in the rain like this but he'd been too focused on practicing the chidori to notice the ominous clouds rolling in the already dark sky. At least he wasn't too far away from home, a small studio apartment at the edge of the civilian section, and cutting through this alley would help get him there faster. He's barely rounded the corner when a familiar chakra greets him full on. At first he doesn't see the man now curled in on himself about halfway down the narrow gap, but finally notices him. For just a moment Sasuke's worried something might have happened and cautiously approaches his squad leader, however as he gets closer, it becomes obvious that the older man isn't hurt. At least not physically.

"What are you doing here?"

A low groan and slowly Kakashi turns his eye to look at him. "I thought that was you Sasuke. Although I have to admit I'm a tad bit embarrassed that it is you."

Sasuke takes in his disheveled appearance, the way his body lay heavily on the wet floor, and the very faint smell of alcohol. "You're drunk." A comment not a question.

He thinks Kakashi tries to smile as his one good eye crinkles slightly at the corner. "You're definitely my sharpest pupil Susuke."

Sasuke thinks about it for a second, then reaches out a hand. "Let me help you up. I assume your place is out of the question so why don't you come back to mine before you get sick out here, or worse, someone finds you in this pathetic state." He knows his voice is cold and clipped, but now the rain has soaked him to the core and he's more than ready to get inside. Kakashi seems to be debating whether or not to take the offer which just pisses him off further. Without a word Sasuke takes back his hand and turns to head home.

He's stopped and looks down to find Kakashi holding on to the sleeve of his jacket. "Alright kid, help me up."

It takes a lot of effort getting him to Sasuke's apartment on the second floor and Kakashi knows his clumsy footing hadn't helped. So much for all those years in ANBU. Sasuke throws him on the bed at first chance through the door then turns to lock up behind them. This isn't his first time in his young pupil's home, but this time seems far more awkward. Sasuke doesn't seem to notice his discomfort as he switches on lights and the small heater in the corner. Still without speaking Kakashi watches as he removes his jacket, shirt, and shoes to pad around the room in nothing more than his wet pants. It's a tad bit surprising for him that Sasuke appears unfazed walking around half naked in front of him, but the kid is only fourteen and might not think anything unusual since he's his superior.

Kakashi takes this moment to actually look at the child, his eyes clouded by the sake. His frame is small, almost petite but one could tell that eventually he'll grow out of it. His skin is porcelain white and looks even more so thanks to the rich blackness of his hair and eyes. Scars riddle the slightly muscled body from practices and missions gone wrong. "What are you staring at?" Snapped from his thoughts, Kakashi tries to sit up and gain some composure. Sasuke is suddenly at his side helping him sit straight. "Let's take off your shirt and shoes at least and set them out to dry. I'd offer you something else to wear entirely but nothing I have will fit you."

Small, calloused hands help first remove his sandals and socks, then to remove his shirt. This is embarrassing, Kakashi muses as he watches the boy set his things out by the dryer and offers him a blanket to wrap in.

Silently Sasuke goes to the kitchen and opens his cupboard. "Do you want some soup or would you rather just sleep it off?"

Kakashi thinks about it and decides the latter. "I don't think I'll be able to hold anything down at this point."

"Fine, take off your pants and get under the covers. I'm going to hop in the shower real fast."

For some reason the thought of Sasuke in the shower tightens a knot in his stomach. Must be the alcohol. "Wait, if I'm in the bed, where are you going to sleep?"

"The floor is fine."

"No, no, no, I'm not going to be that much of a burden. I'll take the floor."

"You'll catch a cold. Just take the bed. I'm younger and can handle these things better." Without another word Sasuke closes the door to the bathroom and a minute later the water turns on.

Well I'll be damned. He'd never been ordered around like this before, especially by someone this much younger than him. Still feeling too impaired to be disobedient and set up a futon on the floor, Kakashi barely struggles out of his pants, throws them at the heater, and nestles himself into the small bed engulfed in Sasuke's smell. Sleep is not hard to come by.

The shower was quick but when he returns back to the main room, now in dry pajama pants, Kakashi is already asleep snuggled in his bed. After laying out the older man's pants properly by the heater, muttering a curse while doing so, he goes and checks on his sensei. The mask he always wears is still in place, but his breathing seems normal. Sasuke gently touches his forehead in case of fever, but his body temperature seems normal too. Damn fool, know your limit.

Suddenly a strong arm reaches out from under the covers and Sasuke is pulled into bed. He doesn't even have time to protest before he's being smothered and pinned down. Both of Kakashi's eyes are wide open as he stares intensly at Sasuke who nervously swallows a lump in his throat before croaking out, "What are you doing?"

"Sleep here with me."

"What?" He can't seem to keep his heart rate down and knows that Kakashi must be able to feel it pounding against his chest as they lay bare to one another.

Kakashi tightens his grip on Sasuke's wrists and the boy is only slightly embarrassed that the man can hold both of them with just one hand. "I can't let you sleep on the floor and risk catching a cold either, so just for tonight sleep here with me." The tone in his voice in stern and unwavering. For a moment, Sasuke wonders if he really is as drunk as he seemed, but the fact that he isn't being careful to hide his sharingan is more than enough proof.

Not wanting to further upset him and really just plain too tired to keep arguing, Sasuke eventually just nods and lets Kakashi turn him away so as to cuddle him closer to his body from behind. The position is oddly intimate with Kakashi's arms wrapped around his torso and chest, keeping him close, and Sasuke firmly cradled in the curve of the other man's body. Kakashi shifts slightly and Sasuke is far too aware of the situation he's in. His sensei moves again, rubbing against him, and he blushes furiously, thankful that his face can't be seen.

Kakashi whispers good night into his ear, sending chills down his spine, and eventually they both drift off to sleep.