A/N: A little one shot that popped into my head when I was wondering how hard it would be for someone like Kakashi to let someone into his heart.
Disclaimer: I own nothing at all. Sobs.
Dedication: For Redbull07 who writes such great Kaka/Iru fics.
Word Count: 568
A Cold Bed
Kakashi had long since gotten used to waking up to a cold bed, whether he'd had a companion the night before or not. Not that he fell asleep when there was someone else in bed with him. He merely pretended to and waited until they left in the middle of the night.
But not last night. Last night he had fallen asleep almost instantly, his arms wrapped carefully around his bed partners waist, holding them almost protectively to his side. Except they weren't there now. If he closed his eyes he could almost feel a lingering heat from where they might have lain but that was probably his imagination. They had more than likely left the second he had fallen asleep.
Kakashi couldn't ignore the way this realisation made his heart ache. It had never bothered him when the others left. Maybe it was because, in the few seconds before he fell asleep, he had allowed himself to think that this was the one person who made him feel safe, the one person who seemed to understand him, the one person who he wanted to wake up with, not just that morning, but every morning from that day on until the day he died. Maybe it was his fault that he had gotten hurt. He should never have allowed himself to think that that was the one person that he could truly let himself fall in love with.
With a sigh of resignation Kakashi heaved himself out of bed, pulling his mask back up. That was another point where he'd been stupid. He'd shown his face. He'd never done that for any of the others. He'd done the same with his sharingan. He'd made too many changes last night. No wonder he'd got hurt.
He stumbled out of his bedroom, determined not to let anything bother him any more than it already had. Determined to get on with the day he concentrated determinately on what he could have for breakfast. It wasn't very interesting but it was all he could think of that was remotely distracting.
Without looking up from his feet he pulled open his fridge door and began rummaging around for something other than jam for toast. He was sure he's had some bacon in here yesterday, hadn't he?
He was embarrassed to say that when a pair of arms slipped round his waist and a small kiss was pressed to the back of his neck, he jumped like a frightened little girl.
"You weren't supposed to wake up yet," a gentle voice whispered against his neck "I was making you breakfast in bed. Go back to bed."
Kakashi nodded and complied, wondering how he had missed the smell of bacon and eggs that filled his flat or that there were two sets of clothes strewn across the floor of the way that, yes, the air still smelt so distinctly of him that he couldn't be far away.
With a sigh, Kakashi snuggled back down in the covers and waited, a feeling of absolute joy filling his chest as he allowed himself to bask in the knowledge that he had stayed. Without realising, Kakashi's eyelids drooped and he was fast asleep, smiling happily.
He was so happy that the one person who stayed was Iruka. His Iruka. This was definitely the way he wanted to wake up every morning. Well, minus the panicking bit of course.
OOOOOO
A/N: Grrr. I've been struggling with the end of this for ages. I really don't like it but I want this story out of my hair. Reviews would be greatly appreciated and any suggestions as to how to improve the ending would be great.