Disclaimer:
I did own it, but then they caught me running with scissors, and revoked all my privileges.
Fragile: Handle With Care – Chapter Four
'-'Flashback'-'
"So where were you last night?"
"Huh?" Iruka looked up from his bowl of ramen and into the smirking face of one Sarutobi Asuma.
"You know how thin the apartment walls are. In the three years that I've lived next door to you, you have come home after midnight exactly twice." The jounin took a long drag from his ever-present cigarette before continuing. "The first time, you fell asleep at your desk grading papers. The second time, I had to carry your drunk ass back after a few too many shots at Genma's New Year's party."
The chuunin blushed hotly at the memory, but was more embarrassed at the idea of relating the past night to Asuma. The other man peered into Iruka's face, searching for some clue that was hidden behind those flushed cheeks.
"You had a date, didn't you?" Asuma pressed. Iruka bit back a groan, as he felt his face grow even redder. This was just the reaction the jounin had been looking for, and he grinned widely. "And it was a hot one, from the looks of it. So who's the lucky person, huh?"
"No!" Iruka shook his head fiercely. "I'm not telling you anything. Last time I divulged secrets to you about my love life, you told everyone in the mission room." The chuunin shuddered. "Gai sensei took it upon himself to train me on the proper way to stealthily send an anonymous love letter."
Asuma started laughing loudly at the teacher's indignant expression. "Yeah! And then he made you practice by sending him 'mystery' Valentines."
"That wasn't funny, that was mortifying."
Iruka's jounin companion wiped a stray tear from the corner of his eye, as his laughter died down to a low chuckle. "Okay then, if I can guess…" The teacher looked at Asuma suspiciously, but was more or less resigned to the fact that he couldn't escape this line of questioning.
"Fine."
The jounin's smile turned positively feral, and Iruka wondered if he had made some fatal error. "Let's see…was it Suzume? You seem like the kind of guy who would go for an older woman…" Iruka merely shook his head. "I know! It's that new girl at the mission desk. The cute one that giggles whenever she looks at you."
Iruka shuddered. "Too clingy. Try again."
"Hmm…not Gai sensei…" Iruka blanched, and Asuma was ridiculously pleased with the reactions he could get out of the chuunin. "It was Ebisu, wasn't it? He's had a crush on you for weeks!"
"Now you're just making fun," Iruka said. He made a face, but couldn't keep from chuckling to himself at the very thought.
Asuma laughed heartily, barely able to keep from falling off his stool. "No, I know, I know…it was Kakashi sensei, right?" This last suggestion brought the jounin into another fit of snickers as he doubled over with amusement.
It took the man nearly half a minute to realize that Iruka was no longer laughing; was not even looking in his general direction. The chuunin teacher gazed steadily at the menu on the wall, as if fascinated by it.
Asuma sobered up quickly. "Oh shit," he said, crushing his cigarette into the ashtray. "Shit. You slept with Kakashi?"
"No!" Iruka answered hastily. "I mean, I did…but we didn't really…do anything."
The jounin was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "He's not good for you," Asuma commented, as he turned to look at his companion. "You deserve better than that."
The brown-haired teacher bristled, leveling a glare at the older man. "What exactly is that supposed to mean, Asuma?" The chain-smoker, not to be outdone, glared back just as menacingly.
"He's late for everything."
Iruka shrugged it off. "It's a personality quirk."
The jounin rolled his eyes at that. "He makes fun of you incessantly."
"It's endearing."
"He reads nothing but porn."
The chuunin teacher paused thoughtfully before answering. "Okay, you've got me there. He is a bit of a pervert. But that's not a totally adverse quality."
Asuma sighed, lighting up another cigarette as he leaned forward, elbows on the counter. "Look, Iruka. I don't know what he told you, but Kakashi doesn't do relationships. He does friendly fucking and one night stands."
The chuunin felt the last of his righteous anger evaporate, and it left him feeling drained. "Yeah, I know." He absently stirred the remaining broth in his ramen bowl, dredging up sediment that had settled to the bottom.
"Are you really okay with that?" Asuma asked quietly. The two men sat in awkward silence for a long time, Iruka fidgeting nervously, and Asuma taking the occasional drag from his cigarette.
"I don't know." Iruka said at length. "But I do know that I enjoy his company, and it would be nice having someone to come home to, even if it's only temporary." The chuunin picked up his bill and, fumbling through his pockets, withdrew the proper amount of change. He moved to leave, and Asuma quickly followed suit after paying for his own meal.
The two shinobi left the Ichiraku and turned in the direction of their apartment complex. "Look, I'm sorry, Iruka. I'm not one to criticize your love life. I just don't want to see you get hurt when it doesn't work out. Because one of these days he's going to leave you, whether it's from a bad mission or a bad breakup." Asuma thrust his hands into his pockets and walked next to the young chuunin, shoulders hunched.
Iruka noticed his discomfort, and tried to relieve some of the jounin's guilt. "I appreciate you wanting to look out for me." He smiled reassuringly. "Besides, these things aren't supposed to be easy…it takes all the fun out of it." Asuma just nodded noncommittally, and the two finished their walk in silence, but all the awkwardness had left.
They said their goodnights in the hallway, and Iruka walked into the entrance of his apartment, slipping off his sandals after closing the door. The chuunin distinctly remembered turning out his lights before leaving for dinner, and he smiled to himself. Any shinobi worthy of the title would certainly never turn the lights on if they were waiting in ambush, so that left only one possibility.
"I'm home," Iruka announced, slipping off his vest as he walked towards his living room. He was greeted by the sight of a particular silver-haired jounin lounging at his kotatsu. The lower half of Kakashi's body was covered by the thick blanket attached to the short table, and his upper half reclined against one of the seats.
"Welcome back," he said casually, eyes never leaving his book. Iruka sat down across from the other man, and pulled a stack of tests from his bag.
"Were you waiting long?" the chuunin asked conversationally. Iruka looked at the first paper on the pile. 'Konohamaru'. He quickly placed it at the bottom, deciding to deal with that one later.
By this time, the jounin across from him had put his book down, and Iruka could feel that he was being watched. "Not really. I just thought I'd stop by and keep you company for a little while."
"Oh, is that what you thought?" Iruka said teasingly after finishing the first test.
"Yep!" Kakashi chirped, grinning under his mask. He leaned forward onto the table with his chin propped up on his hands, content to watch the chuunin teacher grade papers. Iruka managed to finish another five tests before looking up at the silver-haired man with a sigh.
"I don't know if I can do this, Kakashi."
The jounin cocked his head to the side, looking confused. "Can't do what?"
Iruka turned away from that single blue eye. "I don't know if I can be what you want me to be." He gave a sad smile. "I'm selfish; I don't want to be just a one night stand."
"Iruka," Kakashi said in a warning tone. "Don't ask for something I can't give."
The chuunin teacher shook his head. "I'm not asking for a serious commitment or anything…I just don't want to be some meaningless fuck."
"So that's what you and Asuma were talking about…"
"H-how could you possibly have known that?" Iruka stammered.
The jounin grinned. "I didn't. But I heard the two of you talking outside and figured that's what brought about this sudden declaration. You have really thin walls you know…"
Iruka sighed. "I'm aware."
After a moment of considering, Kakashi leveled a thoughtful look at the other man. "There's a reason I haven't had a serious lover in a long time. It's…dangerous. I'd be putting you in danger, and there's always the chance that I won't make it back from a mission. Is that really what you want?"
Iruka smiled softly. "If it means being close to you, I'm willing to take the risks that come with it. In any case, I can hold my own. I don't teach pre-genin hellions for nothing."
Kakashi regarded the teacher for a few more moments, before smiling in satisfaction. "Do those tests require your urgent attention?"
"Umm…no. Not really," Iruka said, casting a glance at the pile in front of him. As he looked up, the chuunin realized that in that split second, Kakashi had managed to climb on top of the kotatsu and begin prowling towards him. The stack of papers was carefully pushed to the side, and Iruka found himself face to face with the silver-haired Copy Nin.
"I think maybe we can work something out," Kakashi said, before lowering his mask and leaning in for a kiss in one fluid motion. The chuunin struggled to make sense of that last statement, but it was a losing battle. Kakashi's skillful, probing tongue banished all rational thought from Iruka's mind, and the teacher found himself responding eagerly.
The jounin's pale hand grasped Iruka's shoulder, and the chuunin allowed himself to be pushed gently onto his back. Kakashi broke the kiss for a moment, giving both men a chance to breathe. But as soon as he was straddled across the teacher's slim hips, Kakashi resumed his attack, leaning down to nip at Iruka's earlobe.
The chuunin teacher gasped, and his hands buried themselves in a tangle of thick silver hair. "Ka-Kakashi…"
"Yes?" the jounin murmured, moving his lips lower to press light kisses down Iruka's neck.
"We can't…mmm…we can't do this here."
Kakashi bit the skin above his jugular, causing the chuunin to arch his back in pleasure. "Why not?" he asked in an amused tone.
"Thin walls," Iruka managed to say between panting breaths.
The jounin chuckled against Iruka's sensitive skin, causing the teacher to shudder in anticipation. "Oh, I don't know…I think Asuma might like that."
"No!" Iruka protested. "I'll never live it down. Ever."
With one final, chaste kiss, Kakashi rose, and held a hand out to the younger man. "Then we'll just have to relocate. My walls are insulated."
"Thank god," Iruka said, accepting the jounin's help in standing.
"And I have a bed, too."
"Better and better," the teacher said, before practically pulling the other man out the door.
'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'
Iruka winced at the pain in his back, as he was shoved roughly against the door by an impatient jounin. 'Doorknob…doorknob…OW.' But that was the only coherent thought he could manage, as Kakashi began to grind their hips together. Iruka moaned at the friction that movement caused, and he hooked his leg around the jounin's waist, desperate to get closer.
Kakashi stepped backwards, causing them to lose contact, and Iruka almost protested the issue, until the jounin slid to his knees in front of him. He fumbled with the zipper of Iruka's pants, growling in frustration. After nearly tearing the fabric in his efforts, Kakashi managed to slip the pants down to pool at the chuunin's ankles.
The silver-haired man breathed warmly across Iruka's erection, and the teacher bit his lip to keep a moan from escaping. Without taking his eyes away from the erotic scene above him, Kakashi licked a trail upwards, before taking Iruka into his mouth.
The chuunin bucked his hips, unconsciously thrusting into Kakashi's eager mouth. His hands once again found themselves nestled in the jounin's hair, forcing Kakashi's head further down. Iruka moaned loudly when his lover began humming low in his throat, the vibrations causing him to become painfully hard.
"God…Kakashi…ah! So good…"
The jounin smiled to himself before swallowing around Iruka's cock. The teacher's hands grasped harshly at Kakashi's hair, as he struggled to hold on to his last bit of self control.
"I can't…wait anymore, Kakashi."
The silver-haired man removed his mouth, placing a gentle kiss on the tip of the chuunin's erection. "Then come for me," he said, before taking Iruka in as far as he could. He swallowed once more, and it was all the teacher needed to push him over the edge as he came hard.
Iruka sagged against the door at his back, and Kakashi stood to support him. He gripped the chuunin's arm gently, and led him into the bedroom.
Kakashi would admit later that he was surprised they even made it to the bed, with his control as badly frayed as it was. The two shinobi made quick work of their clothes, and Iruka felt his breath catch at the sight of Kakashi's pale, lean body. The chuunin gave Kakashi a quick, but thorough kiss, before turning his back to the other man.
He crawled towards the headboard and lowered the top half of his body to the bed. Kakashi's mouth went dry at the sight of Iruka displayed so invitingly, before he moved to join the chuunin. He leaned over the other man, his arms wrapped firmly around Iruka's torso.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked breathlessly, not sure what he would do if the younger man said no.
But Iruka merely smiled, as he thrust his hips back to grind against Kakashi's erection.
"I'm sure."
That was all the incentive the jounin needed to reach into the drawer of his nightstand and pull out a small tube of lubricant. He put a generous amount into his hand, before coating his hardened cock with the substance. Kakashi placed one hand at Iruka's tight entrance, and the other arm wrapped around the chuunin for support.
Not wasting any more time, he gently pressed his finger in, waiting for Iruka to adjust to the intrusion. The chuunin gasped at the foreign sensation, but the discomfort didn't last, as Kakashi managed to brush Iruka's prostrate.
The jounin took that opportunity to add another finger, stretching the other man as far as possible.
"Kakashi…please…"
The other man froze. "Am I hurting you? Do you want me to stop?"
Iruka shook his head. "No, I want you to hurry up and fuck me already." Kakashi grinned at the other man's crude language, and removed his fingers before positioning himself at the chuunin's entrance.
"Last chance," the Copy Nin said playfully.
Iruka growled. "Godammit, Kakashi! Just do it!"
The jounin complied, entering the other man in one swift stroke. Iruka cried out, his back arching against Kakashi's chest. "So impatient," the other man whispered hotly in his ear. "I think maybe you could use more training, Iruka sensei."
The teacher didn't have time to reply, before Kakashi thrust into him, unable to keep from moving in that tight heat. Iruka's breath came quicker, as he felt the jounin's cock hit that spot over and over.
Kakashi moved his hand to firmly grasp the teacher's erection. Both men were moaning loudly, and Iruka was extremely grateful they had moved to Kakashi's apartment. The jounin's pace increased, as he felt himself getting closer and closer to release.
"Iruka," he managed to gasp. "God! It feels…so good…"
"Ah! Kakashi!" the chuunin cried out, as he came for the second time that night. Hearing his name on his lover's lips urged Kakashi forward, and with a few more strong thrusts, he came inside the other man.
Iruka's strength gave out, and he fell forward onto the bed, as the jounin pulled out of him gently. Kakashi laid down next to the younger man, arms pulling him close. Iruka sighed happily, and rested his head on the jounin's chest. It didn't take long for his eyelids to grow heavy, and the teacher didn't fight the exhaustion that beckoned him.
Kakashi listened to his lover's breaths even out and slow, the chuunin falling into a deep sleep. He rubbed a hand up and down across Iruka's back, as the young man snuggled closer to his side. The jounin kissed the top of his head lightly and smiled.
"I hope you know what you're getting into, Iruka sensei, because now you're stuck with me."
Author's Note
Yay. I'm so glad I could get this chapter out before I left. I'm actually pretty pleased with the way this one turned out.
If anyone gets the movie reference, I will love you forever. I have to tell you, it's NOT easy though…