Warnings: BDSM influences, foul language, homosexual intercourse, nudity, erotic dreams, sexual influences, etc.
Chapter Four Title: Cold Coffee

X.x.X.x.X

The coffee was cold. Iruka glared half-heartedly at it, wanting to clean it up and get a warm cup. But he was too tired to move, and he knew he wouldn't drink a fresh cup, either. He'd barely eaten all day, and slept even less all week. The dreams were beginning to wear on him. He had bags under his eyes, his skin was pale, and his hands trembled from exhaustion. If he got a mission right now, he was screwed.

Registration for jounin exams started in a week, but Iruka had taken the day off. It was his first sick day since he'd become a chunnin, six years ago.

Iruka slumped against the table, burying his face in his arms. The blanket wrapped around his shoulders slid noiselessly to the floor, falling to rest around his waist where he sat against the Kotatsu(1), the warm heat from the heater below the table enveloping his body in a comfort that had been hard to find the last week.

Iruka peeked out from between his arms, to where the cold cup of coffee sat. He glared at it, viciously. It sat there, taunting him, as if it enjoyed his pain. Stupid cold coffee.

Since the incident in the Mission Office, Iruka had avoided Naruto like the plague. He had been dreading this Sunday, unsure what to do about it. Every Sunday since Naruto had graduated from the academy they had dinner together. Naruto would come over, and Iruka would make some nice, homemade ramen from scratch. Thankfully, Naruto had disappeared for a mission, and had been unable to come to Sunday dinner. Iruka was indescribably relieved. He wasn't quite ready to face Naruto yet. He still had no idea what to do about his… problems.

Is this how pedophiles feel? He wondered to himself, and then cringed. Does this make me a pedophile?

Every night since the incident in the Mission Office, Iruka had a wet dream, starring Naruto in various lewd situations. It was disgusting and disturbing and delicious and sexy and…

Iruka groaned, burying his face deeper into his arms, fighting off the incredibly strong urge to cry. Why was this so confusing?

He was not attracted to Naruto.

But why was he having the dreams, then?

But Naruto was his student.

Previous student, though. Right?

But he was just a kid!

His twenty first birthday was just last month. He's old enough to drink now.

Iruka made a noise half between a sob and a groan. He had no way to stop himself from having the dreams, without taking medication. And he'd have to explain to the doctor why he was taking the medication. And the last thing he needed was for the entire Hospital to know he was having wet dreams about one of his students. He could get fired. Or worse.

Iruka pushed the cold cup of coffee away from him, pushing his face back into his arm. He tried to pretend it didn't exist.

Worst of all though, was that somewhere in the more nasty, darker part of his brain he didn't want the dreams to stop. He wanted them to be more than just dreams. He wanted -

Iruka quickly shoved away those thoughts. He could not like Naruto like – like that.

Iruka made an exasperated noise, leapt to his feet, yanked the coffee off the table and dumped the cold caffeine down the sink. With a relieved sigh, Iruka got a fresh, hot cup, sat down wrapped all snug in his blanket, and went back to moping.