Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" and will make no profit from this work.
Warnings: None
The Surest Way
At first they'd tactfully avoided one another's apartments, choosing instead to meet at neutral locations far removed from their respective homes. They'd meet at the edge of the school yard or on the training fields or run into each other "by accident" on the street, edging around corners and inching down alleyways to ensure the necessary coincidence. Neither of them had been ready for more at first and, as much it seemed they were the same, there were more than enough differences to make things awkward. For a time they'd kept their distance both literally and figuratively, a symbolic action, he was sure, but whether it was of their mutual wariness towards close relationships or of their gradual evolution towards compromise he couldn't tell. One of their similarities was, after all, routine solitude and a few weeks of interaction could only do so much in the face of years' worth of being alone.
Suspecting that there was little a hearty bowl of ramen couldn't fix, he'd long ago suggested they make Ichiraku their meeting place and the stand had been the basis of their interactions ever since. They'd slump side-by-side on the stools, chopsticks in hand and bowls steaming before them, until the sun was low and their appetites were satiated. Then they'd talk, sometimes discussing missions and occasionally rehashing memories, but mostly anticipating days that had yet to happen. It was only when they'd run out of words and the twilight was deep enough for the stars to shine they'd move to leave.
He supposed they'd become good friends.
The last few moments together were always the best; all pretenses were down and dialogue was light. They'd feel most together when they were about to draw apart. The banter was lively as they requested the tab and the shop owner's smile indulgent as he quietly scraped a few dollars off the bill.
The meal was usually his treat because, although they had fairly comparable amounts of disposable income, he was less inclined to blow his all in one shot on empty calories and treats.
"You shouldn't spend money so frivolously," he'd lecture time and again when the meal was over, but they weren't quite ready to leave. "Budget yourself once in a while."
"It makes me happy," the response always came and he'd sigh and pay the tab and not ask if that was truly what the happiness stemmed from.
"I'm far too nice to you, you know," he'd say as he tucked his wallet away, "and—"
"And I'm way too nice to Naruto. I know," Iruka would grin as he paid off the genin's balance. "But we're all family here in Konoha and we have to take care of our own."
"Awful lot of incest afoot, then," Kakashi would mutter and not complain when Iruka decided he wanted seconds after all.
-end-