Strays
Breakfast, thought Kakashi, smelled wonderful, even at the other end of the house. He could dimly recall a time when food was irrelevant, nothing more than tasteless fuel for the body.
Iruka had apparently never experienced this. Kakashi could vividly recall a half-hour speech about toast. The words weren't too clear, but he could still see Iruka, barefoot in the kitchen, face alight with pleasure as he'd explained.
He'd talked about the importance of good quality bread and the way it felt in your hands, faintly warm and dusted with flour. The way it smelt, breathing in as if he could conjure it by mind alone. He'd even talked about the way it sounded when you first cut the loaf, the hard crust cracking to reveal the warm centre.
This had been followed by talk of toasting, types of bread, butter, jam…
The memory was one of his most precious possessions. Iruka relaxed and happy, his fingers tracing a shape now and then in the air, building an illusion without a single drop of chakra. As he shared a part of himself with Kakashi. Not one of the deep, dark secrets, but somehow all the more important for that.
And afterwards, when he'd wound to a stop, somewhere after jelly vs. jam, he'd apologized. Blushed and looked away and actually apologized for boring Kakashi. As if that were even possible.
As if there could be anything more beautiful than his lover's face lost in pleasure.
Speaking of which…
Kakashi was surprised to find that Iruka wasn't alone in the kitchen. There was a large orange cat on the kitchen table drinking Kakashi's coffee out of Kakashi's favourite mug.
Iruka, working at the stove was apparently oblivious. When he came in, the cat looked up.
It was, Kakashi quickly decided, the ugliest animal he'd ever seen. It was covered in scars and missing one eye, a chunk of its left ear and most of its tail.
It took one look at him and started growling, a low deep tone better suited to one of his nin dogs. One of the larger ones.
Of course, none of his dogs were quite that…feral looking.
If Kakashi could have given that stare words, they would have been 'You might be bigger than me, but that just means I'll have to eat more of you to reach a vital organ.'
Not one to back down, he glared back.
This was of course when Iruka chose to turn around with breakfast.
"What…Oh you two! Hana-kun stop that."
"Hana…" Somebody had named that feral looking beast flower? This cat was built to be named Lucifer. Or at least Trouble or Squirrel Killer.
"Well, I found him in the flowerbed. He needed a bit of patching up."
Could do with a bit more thought Kakashi uncharitably. Dropping the plates to the table, Iruka actually picked up the little monster and dropped it to the floor. Surprisingly, the little beast didn't even try to remove fingers.
Kakashi figured out why when Iruka dumped a bag of fishguts into a bowl on the floor.
"You feed it?"
"Well, whenever he comes by," said Iruka with a shrug. "It's not like I leave food out permanently."
"He's just taking advantage of you," said Kakashi sullenly, not quite sure why he felt offended on Iruka's behalf.
Iruka had leaned over and started petting the creature, which shot him a look that said 'I suppose I can be persuaded to tolerate this' before going back to his dinner.
"I suppose that's true," said Iruka thoughtfully, "But if you're being cynical, there's a price to pay for every relationship sooner or later." Iruka followed up this dark statement with a sunny smile. "So really, I'm lucky to get away with something as cheap as leftovers."
Drawn in by Iruka's tale, Kakashi reached out to Hana. Who instantly sunk a set of sharp little teeth into his palm. Through the protective glove. Yeah, that's about right.
Kakashi tried to pull his hand back, but Hana just hung on, paws skidding across the tiles. Lifting his hand up didn't work either, the cat hanging on just like a fish on a line. Not trying to claw him or get loose, but refusing to let go either.
Somehow Kakashi couldn't imagine that carving 'Hana-kun' into furry little chunks would be acceptable.
Over his shoulder he could hear Iruka laugh softly.
"Here," he said reaching down to poke the cat in the stomach. Hana fell go with an indignant squawk, and with a glare in Kakashi's direction went back to eating.
Kakashi sat down in front of his coffee, now bristling with cat hair, and pulled off his glove, eyeing the neat circle of puncture marks. Probably rabid, he thought mournfully to himself.
"Why can't you get a civilized pet if you want one so badly?" he grumped staring at the furball occupying the corner. "Something a little less dangerous." Like a minor demon. Oh wait, he already has one. I'm surprised it hasn't ripped his throat out while he's sleeping.
Iruka brought over two fresh cups of coffee, absently placing the contaminated one on the floor.
"Oh, I guess I just like a bit of challenge in my relationships." There was an odd amusement to his eyes.
Kakashi told himself it was the lack of caffeine in his system that kept him from catching on instantly. Then…
"Are you comparing me to the damn cat?"