A.N. Here, my people, feast on this fluff :D

Chapter Eleven - Declarations

It was raining when Iruka woke up in the morning. He heard the drops on his windows and smiled – he loved it when it rained when he was at home. He stayed a few moments like this, blissfully unaware of anything else but the raindrops, then his eyes shot open. Last night…? Was it a dream?

He moved just a tiny bit. Ah, sore again. But it was different this time. He was sore, but not in pain. If anything he felt…. finally relieved. He looked around himself – he was tugged with the blanket, up to his chin and he could see the peony petals on the floor. He took a deep breath and tried to sit only to feel like he had never felt before – sure his behind reminded him of last night, but more than anything he felt his legs still weak… from pleasure. All of his skin was still tingling slightly, his body never before having experienced something like last night's ecstasy, when the cause of this all entered the room.

They stared at each other. Kakashi was maskless again, his chest bare, only black sweatpants (Iruka's black sweatpants) wrapped around his body. His hair was messy, his eyes were shining. He was perfect, Iruka decided once again.

"Hi", Kakashi smiled sincerely.

"H-Hello.", Iruka stuttered, annoyed at himself for that weakness.

"I made coffee…", Kakashi started.

"Thank you…"

"And breakfast, you should eat, get some strength back…"

"You didn't have to…"

"I filled the bathtub too, I guess you're kinda sore, I'm sorry…"

"It wasn't…"

"I love you."

Silence. Iruka watched him with consideration, no gaping mouths or wide eyes, just… calculating. He smiled gently and averted his eyes.

"Thank you, Kakashi.", he simply said.

Kakashi felt like someone just slapped him. Hard.

"What, you need to be dying to confess something like that?", he asked bitterly.

"Yes.", another simple answer. Another slap.

"I guess I deserved this", Kakashi thought, still a bit taken aback.

"What do I need to do for you to believe me?", he asked quietly, still waiting for Iruka to look at him.

He finally did – he turned around and looked Kakashi directly.

"Prove it. In time.", he simply said.

Kakashi felt pretty dumbfounded again, staring blankly at the floor. Until he noticed Iruka was struggling to stand up. Kakashi immediately took a hold on Iruka's forearm and helped him up, then he granted himself the reward of simply holding the tanned body close to his own pale one. Just for a moment of course. He stepped back then and smiled again, a bit more forcefully this time.

"How about that breakfast now? And after that I'll warm up the water in the bathtub again, so you could take your time to…"

"You can join me there.", Iruka offered shyly, then smiled hesitantly. "Since I said you have to prove yourself to me, I should as well give you a chance for that, right?"

Kakashi just smiled again, more naturally now, and leaned to whisper in Iruka's ear: "Thank you."

Iruka leaned back, his back to Kakashi's front, and sighed contently. He splashed the water in the tub and said in a negligent manner:

"The food was great, didn't know you could cook…"

"I can't.", Kakashi said. Iruka waited. "I guess you have to care enough for things to happen the way they're supposed to…. To care enough for the one you're doing said things for…", Kakashi added.

Iruka fidgeted and was happy that Kakashi couldn't see his blushing face and the hope that was creeping once again there. The Copy Nin misunderstood that movement.

"Are you ok? I should have used more lube last night…"

"Kakashi…"

"Did I hurt you?... a-again…", he added brokenly.

"No."

Silence.

"Kakashi?"

"I don't deserve this."

"Wha-"

"You. You feel so good in my arms now, but I can't shake off the feeling that these hands are too dirty to hold you. It's like… I wash them, you know, as if they're still bloody, and they get bloody from all the washing but…"

"Kakashi…"

"I don't deserve you…"

"Shut up!", Iruka screamed, then took a deep shaky breath and said, sounding almost tired: "Enough…"

Silence filled the bathroom for another minute before Iruka spoke again.

"I'm trying, Kakashi. I did forgive you. And I am trying, so hard trying, to believe you, to work things out, to make this, us, work. So work with me. Ok? Just… drop the self-hatred and concentrate on…"

"You.", Kakashi said, voice quiet, but passionate, lips clamping on Iruka's shoulder and arms tightening around him.

"Us.", Iruka corrected him. "Ok?"

"I really don't know how you can stand me…", Iruka took another deep breath, as if to scold him again, and Kakashi added quickly: "Ok, Ok! Yeah… us…."

Iruka sighed. "Ok. Let's try to have a normal conversation now, can we? What are you doing today?"

"Loving you…"

Iruka chuckled. "That was a good one. Still stale, but I'll swallow it up…"

"Oh, will you now…"

"Kakashiiiii!", Iruka warned.

"What?", he asked innocently.

"Seriously now."

"Taking you out for lunch. When's your break?"

"Uhm… 12?"

"12 it is.", Kakashi said but then became quiet again. Iruka felt something was wrong. Again.

"Kakashi? What is it?"

"I… don't know anything about you."

That was true. And so was the other way around.

"Well… I don't know anything about you too.", Iruka pointed out. "Ask?", he offered.

"What's your favorite food?"

Iruka chuckled again. "Sushi, any kind. I'm simple."

"You're anything but simple."

"So… what's yours?"

"Yakitori."

"I'll make yakitori for dinner then, since lunch is your treat…"

"You don't have to…"

"Neither do you. That's a relationship, Kakashi, you do things to please the other."

Kakashi's arms tightened once again. "I like it, being in a relationship with you", he stated, tasting the words. Yes, definitely sounds good. "Ruka?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I please you tonight?"

He felt the slightest flinch, and then Iruka chuckled and said "As long as my ass is ok till then…"

Kakashi smiled. He was already thinking about all the ways he wanted to please Iruka, to make his body writhe again, to make him moan and scream from real pleasure. Not to fuck him, but make love to him, not only to the body, but till he reached Iruka's very soul.

And, if he was lucky, soon even the slight flinch when talking about sex will be gone. If he worked hard enough, he'd be good enough lover for Iruka. Not a fuck buddy, but a real partner.

A.N. Turns out authors need reviews to live and breathe properly, so... You know what to do ;)