Iruka flinched when he heard the door slam. They'd fought - again. This was the third argument today and the sun wasn't even down. He picked up the broom only to set it back down. This time there wasn't any glass in need of sweeping.

The plush bathmat beneath his heels was a stark contrast against the cold tile beneath his toes. The water stung the broken skin on his knuckles almost as much as the tears burned his split lip.He'd punched him. He punched back. This was the first time a fight had become physical. Iruka was drawn from his reverie when the door slowly opened and gently clicked shut.

The barely audible footfalls stopped when Kakashi stood behind him. Their eyes met in the mirror. He didn't resist when Kakashi wrapped his arms around his waist. He tilted his head, resting it against a broad shoulder as he pressed back against Kakashi.

"Iruka…"

"I know."

"This has got to stop" hung unspoken in the air between them. He linked hands with Kakashi and turned around slowly. They memorized the love and anguish in each others eyes, across each other faces. The clinking sound of their belt buckles, the harsh slid of fabric, the warmth of skin on skin as they stood cheek to cheek, chest to chest, thigh to thigh, foot to foot, toes grasping against rough heels, slender ankle bones, imprinting how perfectly their bodies fit together.

Kakashi was smiling sadly, tears running freely from both eyes even though only one was blackened.

Their right hands released in unison, pulling the other closer, mapping the others bodies as they made their final journey. Familiar hands slide up strong thighs, cupped a muscular bottom, underneath flak vests to a hard waistline, over the armored vest opening pockets where love letters and trinkets were often left, fingering dog tags that bore matching engravings. They flittered sideways coming to rest over an erratically pounding heart, fluttered upwards along his neck, caressing his face, assessing the damaged they'd inflicted, kissing the hands that inflicted the wounds.

"Kakashi…"

"I know."

It's for the best. The gilded bonds on their left hands grated metal on metal, biting into sensitive flesh as ravenous, obsessed, addicted fingers crushed against each other as repentant lips hesitantly sought each other. The kiss was slow and gentle, expressing words that would never be spoken.

I love you

I always will

but we

bring out

the worst

in

each other.