Momochi Zabuza thought he had seen the last of a certain Hatake Kakashi, but there he was, standing on his doorstep amid Haku's little brat friends.

The last (and only) time Zabuza saw Kakashi was when they met in a random bar and then fucked in the janitors closet. He doesn't really remember the specifics, just that it wasn't particularly good sex. It wasn't bad, either, but he knows he was only doing it to harm himself. Probably because he was dissociating the whole time (and that it was in a nasty ass closet what the fuck), as he hadn't even realized he was trans yet and having his breasts touched was not a good feeling.

So of course, the only logical conclusion is to excuse himself to the bathroom until Kakashi leaves, right? But he's already stepped over the threshold and is reaching out his hand, "Momochi Zabuza, right? My little karate kids have told me all about how great Haku's dad is. I'm Kakashi. Hatake Kakashi."

Zabuza nods and shakes his hand firmly, the revelation dawning on him that Kakashi doesn't recognize him one bit. And also that the years have been very kind to Kakashi, and, wow, he's really really gay.

Fuck. At least Haku is here to be a gracious host, as he leads his friends to the table, giving Zabuza a brief and smug side-eye look, who rolls his eyes in response.

Zabuza sits at the head of the dining room table, across from Kakashi at the foot. Haku is on his right, and the four kids take their usual seats, the yellow haired kid between red and pink, duck-butt head next to Haku.

On this chilly fall evening, Haku has made one of his favorites, miso wonton soup and red bean buns and Zabuza has to admit that it's one of his favorites too. Mostly because Haku was involved, soup really isn't his thing, but he'll do anything to make the kid happy.

Amid the sounds of four twelve year olds eating their soup messily, Kakashi glances at Zabuza, "So, what does the Great Haku's Dad do?"

"Oh, I'm an employee at the Konoha construction firm. Spend most of my days doing hard labor, but I like it that way," there's a pause as he tries to remember what Kakashi does, then a hastily added, "How 'bout you?"

"I'm Haku's Algebra II teacher on weekdays and an MMA teacher on weekends, mostly working with the kiddos," he reaches out and ruffles Sasuke's hair, who sends him a murderous glare.

"The next time you touch my hair I will not hesitate to knock your lights out, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi chuckles, "Sure you will, orange belt. You might want to try sparring someone your own age, first."

Naruto with his mouth full of red bean bun, "Oh, man, sauce, he got you good!"

Sasuke crosses his arms and sulks a little. Jeez, what an edgelord. Zabuza couldn't possibly have been that much of a brat when he was a kid, right? (He totally was.)

Haku realizes that everyone is done with their plate and stands up to clear the table, but Zabuza stops him, "S'ok, kid, I got this. Go watch a movie with your friends or something." A grin splits across Haku's face as he herds them towards the TV in the other room, and now Zabuza is alone with Kakashi.

He tries to ignore this and starts to stack the dishes up by the sink, Kakashi leaning on the counter. Zabuza is getting tenser by the second, white knuckles around the scrubbing brush, so he sets down the plate he's holding. Usually, people talking sets off his nerves, but the silence from Kakashi is making him want to fucking implode.

"No, please, don't let me stop you," Kakashi smirks, and that goddamn expression opens the floodgates, "Unless you've got something to say?"

Zabuza's mind is running a mile a minute, trying to figure out if Kakashi actually *does* recognize him after all, if he's flirting or just being an ass, if he should even out himself when he's been stealth for so long and god, the only person he can trust is his little shit, Haku.

Too bad testosterone makes everyone a thirsty shitbag. He thought he could control his urges, but is Kakashi even more attractive than the first time he scoped him out at the bar six years ago?

Thank god Haku and his friends are in the other room, because Zabuza makes no guarantees that he wouldn't do something stupid if they weren't in the house.

"Nah," Zabuza muses, finally answering the question, "You just look like someone I knew once."

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing. Did you ever happen have a sister?"

"Oh, yeah, she died a few years ago, though," Zabuza is trying very hard to put the right emotion into this, and sighs for good measure.

Kakashi is either a more convincing faker, or actually believes him, because his joyful expression falters, probably remembering the spare details of the risky sex he had with Zabuza's "sister". He nods in understanding and doesn't say anything for a while. Zabuza decides that the dishes *have* to get done, so he takes care to not grasp anything too firmly in his callused hands.

The kitchen is silent until the last dish is dried and put away, then Kakashi tips his head back, arms crossed against his chest, "You know, maybe the second time I see you I won't have the little punks along with me."

"Second?"

Kakashi pushes off from the counter and stands up straight, cocking an eyebrow, "Unless I've been reading you wrong, I thought you would've wanted to see me again."

"You sure are a confident bastard, aren't you?"

"Am I wrong?"

"Tou-fucking-che." God, Zabuza wants to kiss that smug look off of his face. He's in so goddamn deep, just kill him and save him the misery of actually dealing with his feelings for someone.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Haku waves his goodbyes and see-you-laters to his friends and gently shuts the front door. He turns around with a curious expression on his face, "I didn't know you had a sister, Zabuza-san! I'm sorry about what happened..."

Zabuza shakes his head, "No, kid, I never had a sister. What did I tell you about eavesdropping?"

Haku purses his lips and looks away, muttering, "You weren't exactly being quiet, either."

Zabuza sighs. The more this kid knows about his life, the more nosy he gets. As much as he'd rather forget what happened, it's very hard to lie to such a nice kid, especially one that's a black hole when it comes to keeping secrets.

"I had a...thing. With Kakashi. Back when I was still, um," he makes an hourglass figure with his hands, "So I think he recognized me, at least a little bit. I'd like to not think about it again, or see him again, ever."

Haku's brow furrows, but there's barely a wrinkle on his porcelain face, "Ah. I'm sorry that I made this awkward for you, Zabuza-san, but are you sure you mean what you say?"

"What are you insinuating, brat?"

"That maybe you enjoyed yourself a little bit. Don't think I didn't see the way you were looking at him!"

"Fuck. That obvious?"

"I doubt a child would've missed it. I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I think you deserve something nice. Why not pursue him?"

Zabuza mulls this over for a moment, then grabs his car keys and wallet and throws on his denim jacket. Haku grins, "How do you think you're going to see him if you don't know where he lives?"

"Shit, kid, you're right. What the hell am I thinking?!"

"Good question. Lucky for you I know Kakashi-sensei's address."

"You fuckin' with me?"

"I'm being 100% honest with you. He lives in Naruto's neighborhood. The white ranch with blue shutters."

"You're a lifesaver, kid," Zabuza pulls Haku into a hug and kisses him on the top of the head before he can even realize what he's doing. Haku giggles and cuddles into his chest, then pulls away and nods his head towards the door.

Zabuza shoves his hands in his pockets, "You gonna be okay on your own here for a little?"

"I've been on my own before, so I don't see why not!"

"Right, well, see you later, then," he says as he walks outside and climbs into his beat-up old blue pickup.

Haku waves from the porch, "Good luck!"

Zabuza salutes him and backs out of the driveway, wondering what the hell his life has come to that he's pulling some crazy shit like this.