"When
peace shall over all the earth,
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song,
Which now the angels sing."
««»»
"See, he thought I was the pervert, well, I'm sure that's what he thought, the look on his face, anyway, it was just a misunderstanding really, I thought he was trying to suggest, well, he," Iruka paused, blushing furiously. He picked up his cup sake and threw it back, downing the contents in one swallow.
He continued as if he'd never stopped. "You can't even imagine what he was suggesting, candy canes, I mean, I could imagine, n-not that I've tried, oh no, so then he, it was only, oh and I went over there, just for cocoa, but I thought—no, only hot cocoa and a praline, and oh my god those pralines, Genma. Have you ever had them? The ones from Snow? Have you?"
Genma stared at Iruka round-eyed, unsure if he was processing the drunken chunin properly or hallucinating. He shook his head slowly.
"Never? What a tragedy! They are the smoothest, sweetest, carameliest, but with a nice hint of vanilla and spice, and I can hardly eat a whole one at one sitting—well I can, I mean, I do, but it's too much and they are so good." Iruka put his forehead in his palm and stared at the table.
The sudden silence was shocking. Genma reached his hand out to touch Iruka's shoulder. A pitiful sniff stopped him.
"Iruka?"
Iruka looked up, his eyes rimmed with tears that threatened a waterfall of mythic proportions. Genma's insides froze. No, I'm no good with tears, anything but this. Why can't he be a dancing drunk? Or a singing, ooh a stripping drunk would be nice.
"Now he just thinks I'm a silly chunin with a sugar fetish. I didn't even tell him I… well he knows now anyway and he probably won't ever bring me candy again, much less speak to me."
"Iruka, what do you mean you… oh, you mean you really do… Oh." Genma nearly hit his head in realisation of the obvious. The two idiots were circling each other!
Iruka's eyes fluttered as he stared at Genma and then forehead hit the table with a neat snap of sound.
Genma muttered to himself. This is your fault, Kakashi. As if I needed another drunken chunin with a sugar fetish passed out at my table!
He rose, shaking his head, certain he should not get involved, but who could resist pitiful sweet-tooth Iruka? He hoisted Iruka onto his back and wandered out his door toward Kakashi's. It was really too cold for this, but he probably shouldn't wait.
Genma banged on Kakashi's door. He knew he was there. He could see Kakashi through the window, feet resting on an ottoman patterned with an intricate weave of shuriken and leaf symbols—probably something he had made on a mission—and a large red and green plaid mohair blanket—another fancy mission purchase—wrapped around his shoulders. He was reading the Christmas edition of his favourite series, Icha Icha: Santa and the Naughty Ninja Go North!
"I brought you a present, Kakashi, open up!" Genma beat on the door twice more, with three rapid taps for emphasis. "It's cold out here, hurry!"
He saw Kakashi sigh, close his book with a snap, and get up. He slipped on fuzzy snowman slippers and padded quietly out of sight toward the door.
He opened the door, opened his mouth to speak, and caught sight of Iruka, drowsing on Genma's shoulder. Even with the mask on, Genma could see he was gaping at the sight, head tilted to one side.
"What is…?" Kakashi grinned and looked back to Genma. "Genma, you seem to have a growth on your back. Too much sugar, possibly?"
"It's not my growth, it's yours. Let me in," grumbled Genma.
Kakashi shrugged and stepped back to allow Genma and his growth inside. Genma walked over to the futon and dropped Iruka down, rather roughly; Iruka was heavier than he looked.
Iruka just tumbled over, mumbling and purring contentedly.
"Merry Christmas, Kakashi. It's yours. Feed and water it, talk to it, give it lots of… heh, sugar," Genma suddenly leered as Kakashi started to realise what he was doing.
"You can't leave him here!"
"You two deserve each other with your little gift buying, dirty insinuations, and pining gazes. Just get it over with. Go for it, move in for the kill. Strike while the griddle is hot."
"Iron," Kakashi murmured absently.
"Whatever. I'm tired of nursing drunk chunin with the hots for the Copy-Nin," Genma said, crossing his arms for emphasis.
"There are others?"
"Well, no, not for, I mean, whatever. Just put a collar on him or something. I'm going where it's warm and not a threes—hmm. Anyway, don't hurt him!" Genma let himself out and it was suddenly quiet again.
Kakashi stared at Iruka. He'd fallen over on his side, so his legs were sitting on the futon fairly normally, but his body was slumped over to one side, one arm pulled up beside him, the other flung out over his head. Kakashi had a clear view of his face, slack with sleep, mouth open slightly, eyes fluttering beneath the lids. His face was flushed. They must have been drinking. Genma called Iruka a 'drunk chunin'.
Kakashi moved toward Iruka and pulled his knees up on the futon, straightening him out slightly, and draped the blanket over him. Iruka hummed appreciatively and murmured something about butter rum caramels.
Kakashi shook his head, smiling, and watched Iruka sleep.
Pining gazes… What is Genma talking about?
He ruffled Iruka's hair and went to bed.
And dirty insinuations? Where does he get this stuff?
Kakashi changed and crawled into bed, arms folded behind his as he thought about his 'gift-buying' and Iruka.
I've only brought him a couple of souvenirs back since Christmas. Genma's just jealous.
///end