The explicit content in this chapter has been edited down to fit the M rating. To read the unedited version copy this link and paste behind the archive of our own website name.

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"Kakashi." Tenzou whispered, pulling the other man close. "Kakashi, it's alright." He cooed, brushing his nose in his hair before kissing him lightly on the top of the head. His lovers thrashing had ripped him from his peaceful dreams and left him to blink in confusion for a few seconds before he realised he was having a nightmare. He rocked him gently, his eyes fluttering closed as he fought the urge to return to sleep before his partner felt safe. "It's alright." He repeated, his grip loosening as he felt tense muscles relax slightly. A hand snaked upwards and clung to his chest. Kakashi was awake now, his own heavy lidded eyes blinking lazily at him from under his chin. "It's alright." Tenzou breathed once more, smiling to himself as he felt a nose nuzzle against his chest accompanied by a small keening sound.

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"Good morning." Kakashi whispered softly. He sighed heavily, his breath rustling Mr Ukki's leaves.

"Good morning." Tenzou replied, wrapping warm arms around Kakashi's front and leaning down to kiss his neck. Kakashi blushed slightly. He had been talking to the plant. He leaned in to his partners touch, resting his head back on a firm abdomen. He had been awake for hours now, sitting on a kitchen chair and staring out the window. Until the first rays of sunlight had started to peak over the top of the Hokage monument, he had been lost in his thoughts.

"How did you sleep?" Kakashi asked, absently, his gaze still fixed outside the window. He felt Tenzou shrug before he answered.

"Alright." He lied. "It would have been nicer if you slept with me." He commented, pulling away to start a pot of coffee.

"I did." The Jonin pouted, turning his eyes on his partner.

"I meant for the whole night." Tenzou chuckled, leaning against the counter to wait for the coffee maker to do its thing. Kakashi ignored the statement, sitting forward again and reaching out to touch his plant's leaves.

Tenzou couldn't help but think how adorable he looked at this moment. He had one foot drawn up on to the chair while the other rested against the chair like normal. He was almost childlike in his apparent fascination with the shrub in front of him.

"Nightmares again?" He asked, feeling slightly awkward talking to the back of a silver head. Kakashi shrugged, mimicking Tenzou's earlier nonchalance.

"Just couldn't sleep." He answered finally, trailing his index finger along the edge of the pot plant before dropping his hand down to connect with the other around his ankle. Dreaming about Iruka could hardly be considered unusual, considering he fell asleep thinking about the way he had treated him. But he still wasn't about to admit that to Tenzou. He didn't want him to get the wrong idea. He supposed that if he were to explain it wrong, as he so often did, it could be considered having a sex dream about his ex. That was the last thing he wanted. So he opted to keep his mouth shut. He was too worried about the very real possibility that he would confuse the situation with his explanation and fuck everything up.

He wondered how long he had been silent as a steaming mug of coffee was placed down on the window sill in front of him. A chair had been dragged up next to him and Tenzou sat, sprawling lazily against the back of it, sipping away at his scolding beverage.

"Thank you." He said quietly, taking the cup in his hands and letting the warmth flow through them. He rose the mug to his mouth, hovering it there and letting the steam flow over his face as he inhaled deeply.

No… I don't want to fuck this up.

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Iruka's eyes strained hard as he forced them to focus on the paperwork in front of him. He knew team 7 was in line for their mission of the day and it took everything he had to not look up. He could hear Naruto complaining loudly about the ranking of the missions he had been giving them and it irked him that he could not hear Kakashi's soothing voice defending his mission choices like he used to.

He knew without looking that the man in question had his face buried inside the covers of a little orange book. He could hear the slight hum of a small noncommittal noise emanate from his throat every now and then.

He knew he didn't deserve to hear Kakashi defend him. But as much as he hated to admit it he had not quite gotten over the hurt Kakashi leaving him had caused. Although loneliness wasn't his constant companion he missed the presence that was inherently Kakashi. No amount of meaningless sex with a woman he didn't love could replicate the way it had felt to hold Kakashi in his arms. To know that the Copy Ninja had chosen him to be his partner. He still wasn't entirely sure why he had let things go this way.

He sighed heavily, closing his eyes and rubbing at his aching temples. He deserved everything that he was feeling at that moment. He had hurt Kakashi deeply. No matter how much it hurt to see him flaunting his new relationship he knew that it was nothing compared to what Kakashi had felt after his betrayal. He had essentially contracted a heart condition due to his insolence.

He was dying to ask about that. To find out how exactly he was going. But he knew it wasn't his place. He had caused it after all. He doubted that Kakashi would take kindly to being asked personal information by the person who had hurt him. Let alone being asked such things in front of his Genin.

"Iruka Senseiiiii?" A shrill voice cut through his contemplation like a knife through butter. He smiled weakly, looking up from his paperwork in to the wide eyes of his favourite pupil.

"Naruto." He said simply, locking his gaze and waiting for the barrage of questions to continue.

"Why is everyone so tired today?" He asked a little too loudly.

"Everyone?" Iruka asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Yeah. Kakashi Sensei is tired too." The boy announced much to Kakashi's dismay.

"Yeah and I asked you to be quiet didn't I? You're giving me a headache." Kakashi snapped defensively. Iruka stifled a laugh. He knew the man well enough to catch on when he was embarrassed.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about Kakashi." He said with a sneer. Kakashi glared at him as best he could with only one visible eye.

"What's our mission?" He spat with more malice than he intended. Iruka leaned back slightly. Naruto's eyes were wide, staring between them like he was watching an intense sport. Kakashi Sensei had never been rude to Iruka Sensei in his presence before. He knew they weren't friends anymore but it seemed unnecessary. Iruka was just being polite.

Kakashi grimaced at his behaviour. Naruto was too naïve to understand sarcasm. To him it must look as though he had verbally attacked Iruka out of the blue.

"Your mission is an escort job." Iruka stated blandly, a barely contained glare edging towards Kakashi.

"Seriously?" Kakashi asked, stepping forward slightly. "That's the third one this week."

"If you have a problem with the missions assigned to your team you need to take it up with the Hokage." The Chunin growled, springing to his feet and slamming his palms down on the desk.

"Woahhhh you two! Calm down!" Raidou was between them in an instant. The Special Jonin had been watching disinterestedly from behind Genma's desk. A hand on Kakashi's chest brought him back down to earth.

"Don't, tell me to calm down." He spat, taking a step backwards and swiping the hand away.

"Kakashi." Raidou said pleadingly, his eyes trailing down towards the frightened looking Genin.

"We're going on a C rank today." The Copy Ninja stated calmly, stepping forward again to whip a scroll off the desk next to Iruka's palm. "Let's go team." He growled, turning on his heel and stalking out in to the corridor. "Now!" He shouted when he realised they weren't following him.

"The fuck was that about?" Genma asked from across the room. Iruka and Raidou turned to face him, their brows furrowed in confusion.

"I thought you two were good?" Raidou asked, turning to face Iruka once more. The Chunin shrugged lightly.

"So did I."

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"Tenzouuuu!" A singsong voice called his name and he fought hard against the urge to roll his eyes and sigh aloud.

Genma

"Hi." He said simply before turning on his heel and trying to make a hasty retreat. He had nearly made it all the way through his grocery list before suddenly finding himself cornered by a…

Is Genma my friend?

"Party tonight! Jonin only!" Genma announced, grabbing his arm and holding him in place long enough for him to catch the insinuation in his eyebrow wiggle. The ANBU exhaled sharply through his nose as he threw a tight-lipped smile in the Special Jonin's direction.

Fuck that…

After an awkward moment of silence Tenzou realised that was the only invitation he was going to get and he was now supposed to respond.

"Cool." He said, his mind failing to think of an excuse for why he couldn't go.

"So you comin'? My place, 7:30."

Tenzou stared. He felt like someone was running around inside his head tearing books off the shelf labelled 'reasons' and chucking them widely in to a bin labelled 'excuses' but he couldn't understand any of them.

"Maybe." He said tactfully, leaving the option of not going opened.

Genma gave him an exasperated look.

"Come on! You never come to my parties. They are fun I swear."

"I'm sure they are." The brunette answered without blinking.

"You should bring Kakashi too. He seems tense. Needs to lighten up." He added quietly.

"What do you mean tense?"

"He had a bit of a faceoff with Iruka in the mission's room this morning." Genma answered matter of factly. Tenzou felt his jaw tighten at the name. "Not sure what started it but he ended it but storming out."

"I see." The wood user replied tersely. "I'll ask him. But he's not really one for parties." He said as politely as possible. While his mouth was moving his brain was cataloguing the information he had just received and storing it in the 'ask about later' folder.

"Anyway. See you tonight." Genma said with a wave.

"Yeah." Tenzou answered uncertainly, his gaze following the retreating man out on to the street.

What have I done…?

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Kakashi sneezed loudly, the force of it pushing him forward before he slumped back in to the couch he was leaning on. He wiped his nose absently, letting himself slide down the back of the chair until he was lying on his side. He pulled his legs up on to the sofa and stretched languidly.

Probably Iruka laughing at me.

He thought as he stared unblinking at the TV. As it turns out, the 'C Rank' Mission he had swiped off Iruka's desk wasn't actually a mission at all. It was a barely legible shopping list. He didn't miss Iruka's handwriting.

Naruto had been heartbroken when Kakashi announced that the C rank he had promised had been cancelled. He had abruptly dismissed them, telling them to enjoy their day off because the training they were going to do the next day would destroy them. He then retreated home to sulk about his own stupidity.

He wasn't sure where Tenzou was, but he hadn't been home all day. Kakashi was sure he had mentioned something about having the day off. He was probably training.

The girl on the TV wouldn't be quiet about the fact that the chop sticks she was holding really were slip proof. If he wanted he could order them for 6 easy payments of $14.99.

He considered it. The new 2.0 gripping system did look like something that would make his life a little bit easier. Although he didn't have nearly as much trouble as the woman on the ad.

Kakashi jumped slightly as he felt strong chakra signature come in range of his own. He titled his head, looking up in time to see an embarrassed looking Tenzou disengaging himself from the wall.

Kakashi smirked. His boyfriend knew he had been caught and it delighted him to no end.

"Do that often?" He asked, turning his attention back to the TV.

"What are you doing here?" Tenzou asked curtly, walking passed him to dump the things he had in his arms on the counter. Kakashi shrugged, his attention fixed firmly on the chop sticks.

If I order now I can get a second pair free.

He thought, his hand edging dangerously close to his wallet.

"Don't shrug at me and you don't need new chop sticks." Tenzou said firmly, switching off the TV with the push of a button and standing, arms crossed in front of him.

"Tenzouuuu." Kakashi whined, reaching for the remote on the coffee table. The brunette leaned forward, tapping the remote slightly out of Kakashi's reach. A small smile crossed his features as he watched The Great Copy Ninja struggle for a moment before giving up.

"I asked you what you're doing here." He repeated, moving around the table to straddle Kakashi's lap.

"What are you-" He started to ask before gasping in surprise as a hand palmed him firmly through his uniform pants.

"Answer my question." Tenzou whispered, leaning down to bite him lightly on the jaw. Kakashi moaned his hips jutting upwards. He was hard almost instantly.

"I gave the Genin th-e day o-off…" He groaned, turning his head to the right and panting hard as his lover nibbled on his neck.

"Why?" He was asked. The question was punctuated with a thrust, their clothed erections grinding together roughly.

"Because I… ugh…. I accidentally took a shopping list instead of a mission." Kakashi answered honestly, figuring his partner would find out through village gossip anyway. Tenzou pushed off him, his hands resting on his chest as he stared blankly for a second. Kakashi mourned the loss of contact as his lover processed what he had said.

"What?" He asked softly, his lips trembling.

"I took Iruka's shopping list. I stormed out with it before I realised." He grumbled. "I can never go back there…" He added as an afterthought. There was another second of silence before Tenzou broke out in uncontrollable laughter. He removed his hands from Kakashi's chest, holding his stomach tightly with both arms. The Jonin under him glared. With a harsh buck of his hips Tenzou found himself on the floor. It was a miracle he hadn't axed himself on the coffee table. Inhuman sounds continued to fall from his lips as he snorted at Kakashi's misfortune.

"I hate you." Kakashi growled, folding his arms and staring intently at the back of the couch.

"I'm…. I'm s-sorry!" Tenzou cackled, tears streaming down his face. "Oh my God." He said slowly, pulling himself in to a sitting position and wiping at his tears. "That's golden." He grinned, his eyes half lidded as he continued to chuckle wildly.

"You're supposed to be on my side…" Kakashi said to the couch, ignoring Tenzou's muffled apologies.

"I am." His lover laughed, reaching out to pet his face. "But seriously… Kakashi look at me." He ordered. The silver haired man turned his face slowly, his eyes locking with his partners. "That's hilarious." Tenzou said seriously before dissolving back in to incoherent sounds of hilarity.

Kakashi pushed him away roughly, his face burning as he sat up. He channelled his inner puppy, making sure his eyes were as wide and watery as they could be before looking back at his lover. Tenzou stopped laughing abruptly, a small sigh falling from his lips before he moved back on to the seat.

"I'm sorry." He said confidently, brushing the hair from Kakashi's eyes as he leaned in to kiss him.

"You think I'm an idiot just like everyone else." The Jonin said quietly, his eyes focusing on his hands in his own lap.

"No. I don't think you're an idiot at all. That's why it's funny." Tenzou explained. "If some random dumb person did that it would just be another day for them…" He giggled. Kakashi's iris's disappear briefly in to his skull and then reappear looking thoroughly annoyed.

"It was an accident." He complained.

"I know. Come on let's just forget that happened." Tenzou sighed, the hand on Kakashi's shoulder slipping down underneath his pants. Kakashi gasped again, pushing forward as his head fell on to his lover's shoulder.

"Yes." He breathed, his own hands running down the other's back and cupping his buttocks firmly.

Tenzou moaned, his breath ghosting over the shell of Kakashi's ear as he pumped the other man slowly. He pushed him away standing to remove his clothing before kneeling on the sofa impatiently. His forearms resting on the back as he leaned against it. Kakashi's pants were off in an instant and he was rooting around in the coffee table noisily.

"You're so sexy." Kakashi whispered, leaning forward to wrap his arms around the other man's front in a makeshift hug. "Please don't leave me." He exhaled leaning heavily on the other man's back.

Tenzou's eyes had flicked to the side at Kakashi's words. He was about to ask what he had meant but then his lover had made him see stars. He groaned loudly, gripping the couch so hard his knuckles went white.

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Yamato smiled, leaning heavily on the lounge as he waited for Kakashi to move away from him. He waited for a full minute before reaching behind him and tentatively rubbing the back of his hand along what he could reach of his partner's side.

Reluctantly Kakashi removed himself, leaving the room and returning with a warm wash cloth and an apologetic look as he realised the mess he had forced Tenzou to make on his couch.

"I knelt there on my own accord remember." The brunette smiled as he took the cloth. "Don't get all guilty on me. I wanted it just as much as you did." He reassured, planting a small kiss on the corner of his boyfriend's mouth while he wiped at his own stomach.

"I'm so hungry." Kakashi said suddenly, pulling away and turning to face the clock. "I don't feel like cooking and after what you just let me do you shouldn't have to either." He wistfully. "It's nearly 6:30. Do you want to get take out?" He asked, leaning down to pick up his pants.

"6:30…" Tenzou said slowly, pausing his cleaning to think. "Wait…we have somewhere to be soon." He said turning to face a puzzled Kakashi. "I told Genma we'd go to his Jonin party." He said carefully, waiting for a response. Kakashi stared at him blankly, his lips a thin line.

"No." He said simply, resuming his redressing.

"Oh come on… It'll be fun. I promise!" Tenzou said in his best impression of Genma. Kakashi smiled slightly but otherwise ignored the comment. "Well I said I'd go. You don't have to though. I said I'd ask you but you probably wouldn't want to." He chuckled, now pulling on his own pants.

"Nooooo don't leave me here alone!" Kakashi begged, dropping to his knees and holding up his joined hands sarcastically.

"I'm going. I said I would." The ANBU grinned, ruffling silver hair.

"When will you be back?" Kakashi asked, his arms falling in to his lap.

"I don't know, late probably." Tenzou answered, walking around him and in to the bedroom. Kakashi contemplated the answer, his heart sinking as he realised where he had heard it before. "It's just drinks with friends, nothing to be worried about." His partner shouted from the other room, seemingly following his train of thought. Kakashi rang his hands together, weighing his options.

Maybe if I had of gone out with Iruka when he invited me he would never have…

He stopped the thought, swiping at the air in front of his face in an effort to dispel it from his mind. Tenzou frowned, watching him from the doorway.

He's not good in social situations… and from what he said to me earlier I'm guessing his fear of abandonment is rearing its ugly head again…

He thought, a pang clenching his heart as he watched Kakashi grapple with his indecision.

"I... don't have to go." He said after another minute of silence between the two. His partner jumped slightly, as if only just becoming aware of his presence.

Kakashi looked up at him hopefully, his stomach sinking as he registered the disappointment on the brunette's face.

"Really, it's okay. We can just get take out and watch a movie." Tenzou smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

I didn't really want to go to Genma's anyway… did I?

"We should go." Kakashi said softly, looking thoroughly displeased with his own decision, but trying for Tenzou's sake to look like he had convinced himself it would be fun.

"It's fine… we don't have to go I know you get uncomforta-"

"Let's go." Kakashi said finally, holding out his hand as he stood.

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Kakashi grimaced as a heavy hand clapped his back. Genma smiled, leaning way too far in to his personal space before practically shouting his greeting. Tenzou looked extremely smug at being able to slip passed him in the doorway, making his way in to the middle of the party and motioning for Kakashi to follow. He shoved his hands in his pockets, slouching slightly as he tried his hardest to look like he wasn't jogging towards his lover. Tenzou bit his lower lip to stifle a laugh.

He always has to be so fucking cool.

He thought, placing his hands on his hips and rolling his eyes in an exaggerated fashion as Kakashi took his time making his way over to him. He was probably fast walking by his own standards, but for normal people even Kakashi's jog was slow and drawn out. He may as well have been walking in slow motion.

"Finalllyyyy." Yamato smiled, hooking his arm around his partners and leading him towards a table covered in different types of alcohol. Genma stepped up beside them, he had one eye closed as he bared his surprisingly white teeth in a drunken grin.

"Cute." He said after a few seconds of awkward eye contact.

If you could call it eye contact.

Tenzou thought to himself as the Special Jonin gestured at their linked arms. There was another few seconds of silence before Genma took a bottle in his hand and directed it towards his plastic party cup. He stopped mid pour, pushing the cup away and taking a swig from the bottle instead. Kakashi winced, leaning back slightly to dodge the glass as it made its way towards his face.

"You!" Genma slurred, stopping for a second to gaze in to Kakashi's uncovered eye as if to make sure he was paying attention. A finger attached to a hand, wrapped around a whiskey bottle was pointing at him, inches from his nose. As if he wasn't looking at the person it belonged to. "Are a lucky man." Genma finished finally, turning to smile at Tenzou once more. "Both of you. I'm…. I'mmm gl-lad you're h-happy." He finished after a small struggle with sobriety.

"Thank you." Kakashi said slowly, grabbing his wrist and lowering the hand in front of his face. He found himself feeling ridiculously relieved that the incident in the missions room hadn't been mentioned. He wasn't sure, but he thought that his friend might have winked at him before walking away. It was hard to tell when he already had one eye closed.

Do people not know when I'm winking at them?

He wondered, looking around the room and suddenly understanding why woman never knew he was flirting with them. At least that's what he told himself now.

"Here." Tenzou said, handing him a nondescript drink.

"What is it?" He asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

"Vodka." His boyfriend answered with a grin. Kakashi shook his head, putting the drink down on the table with what he hoped was an apologetic smile through his mask. "What?" Tenzou asked, looking from his lover to the cup and back again.

"I don't want to drink." Kakashi answered honestly, shoving his hands back in his pockets and forcing himself to look to his right.

"Why not?" The brunette asked, stepping closer. Kakashi shrugged. He wasn't going to let this go.

"I don't like the way getting drunk makes me feel." He answered after a while, still not looking in the other man's direction.

"No one said anything about getting drunk." Yamato laughed, picking the drink back up and shoving it in his partner's reluctant hand. "Don't drink it if you really don't want to. But it would be nice to have a drink together. We haven't done that in years."

"We haven't done that ever." Kakashi said quickly, turning to face him.

"Uh… Yes we have." Tenzou smirked, cocking his head slightly. "You probably don't remember. But that was the first time I ever heard you sing." He mocked, nudging him slightly with his elbow.

Kakashi glared, his cheeks heating involuntarily as he remembered small parts of the one night in his life he allowed himself to get black out drunk.

Of course it had to be with my ANBU squad. Why couldn't it have been with Asuma. He would just smile and nod while I rambled. He wouldn't mock me like this.

"Yeah… well that night is the reason I don't like to drink anymore." He retorted, putting the drink back down on the table with a thump. Tenzou's face fell as he watched the liquid slosh over the sides of the cup.

"Kakashi." He said gently, setting his own cup down next to his. "I'm just joking around. I really don't care if you drink or not. Don't be embarrassed, that night was really fun. For me it was probably the highlight of our ANBU years. It was the first time I actually felt like your friend instead of just your subordinate." He smiled weakly, clapping his hand on his lovers shoulder. "Seriously, I was only kidding around. I wasn't trying to upset you."

Kakashi felt weak, not able to meet his boyfriend's gaze. The fact that Tenzou had taken the time to explain that made him feel valued. His heart swelled at the thought that someone cared about him enough to go out of their way to make sure that he felt comfortable with what was being said about him.

He wasn't exactly the best at reading sarcasm unless he was dishing it out and no one had ever really cared enough to make sure that he knew they were kidding. Or maybe they weren't ever kidding. Maybe all the jabs people had had at him over the years weren't quite jabs but actual insults. Perhaps Tenzou was the only person he knew that he could trust to joke with.

He smiled weakly behind his mask. The urge to be near his lover overpowering his self-image. He reached for the cup, picking it up and putting it to his masked lips. Tenzou looked stunned as he took a sip through his mask.

"You'll filter all the alcohol out." He joked. Kakashi wondered if that was a real thing.

Genius

He thought to himself.

"Woah slow down. We aren't talking about getting drunk remember!" Tenzou laughed as Kakashi slipped his mask down quickly to scull the drink in his hand before pulling the fabric back in to place. Tenzou covered his mouth in awe as he was faced with a dazed looking eye smile.

"It's okay if I'm with you." Kakashi said softly, his smile faltering as he was hit with a wave of uncertainty. "Isn't it?" He asked, looking coy. If Tenzou noticed the small step he took towards him, he didn't mention it.

"Of course it's alright." Tenzou answered, slipping his hand in to his lovers palm and squeezing lightly. "I poured the drink remember?" Kakashi felt his cheeks flush slightly above the mask. He had poured the drink. How had he forgotten that already?

"Sorry." He muttered, taking a small step back. Tenzou noticed his movement for a second time and inhaled slowly. Kakashi was a naturally shy person but he still felt as though he hadn't seen the full extent of his social anxiety yet. It was changing him. The normally strong and confident Copy Ninja was hovering nervously about him like a very slow humming bird. He was aware of how awkward he could get around other people in social situations, but he had never experienced him being awkward when they were alone together. It was alarming.

Perhaps all the other people here are still getting to him. Even if they aren't part of our conversation.

"Kakashi." He said gently, pulling him by the hand back towards him. "You don't have to keep moving in and out of my personal space to say or do certain things. You're welcome to just stay." He whispered, slipping a tentative arm around his waist before leaning over to kiss his cheek.

"I'd like that." Kakashi said softly, eyeing the arm around his waist. He wasn't sure what the social protocol was in this type of situation. Most of the Village's top Shinobi had known about his relationship with Iruka. He was a very popular man and as a result he often found himself shuffling awkwardly next to him while he finished a conversation with someone Kakashi considered a stranger. They held hands at social gatherings quite often, but it never went further than that. Iruka wasn't one for PDA. Kakashi wasn't sure if he was either really. But having Tenzou's arm around his waist now felt nice. Like people looking at them knew of their situation. They knew Tenzou was his and there was no point in trying to steel him away.

That was something he could honestly say he hadn't worried about with Iruka. He had been content in knowing that they were together. No one else needed to be told with ludicrous displays of public affection because it wouldn't make a difference, they knew and that was all that mattered.

Kakashi swallowed hard, his own arm slipping around his partner's waist and holding him tightly. He forced down the urge to point out that Tenzou was his to anyone who would listen. If he caused a scene he might not be able to boast that fact any longer.

The ANBU smiled awkwardly, resenting the fact that he had told Kakashi to stay in his personal space. He wanted him to stay near, but he didn't realise that the other man would take it so literally that he would actually be held firmly in place.

"I love you." Kakashi whispered timidly. Not sure if he was allowed to say those things here, but wanting to make sure he knew.

If he knows then he won't leave…

He decided definitively, nodding before repeating himself a little louder.

"I love you too." Tenzou answered, looking sideways at him and smiling reassuringly.

It's going to be a long night…