AU: Just…words can't even express my guilt and sorrow about being so so terribly late to update this. I've been giving myself anxiety by trying to force myself to write and I must've rewritten this chapter fifty different times. I have no idea if this is any good or not, please tell me in the reviews, but I wanted to get it started. I just needed to break through the wall of having nothing to work up from. I apologize if its going a bit slow but it will speed up very soon. Plus, Kakashi and Iruka will not be such of the main focus for the rest of the story (unless you guys don't mind it or even like it).
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, just my words.
Warning: BoyxBoy. Lime-ish scene between Kakashi and Iruka In the very last scene.
Asdasdafs- Naruto's memory
Sdfsjkdhfs- present tense
Sfdsdfsdf- thoughts
Please, read and review, and continue to follow the story!
The evening sun drifted into the living room from the wide windows, painting the floor with bright circles of light. Dust swirled in the beams like snow in a storm and Iruka stared at the dust in distaste. Sensing the sudden drop in Iruka's mood, Kakashi lifted his head off the brunette's stomach, looking at him with mixture of weariness and curiosity.
Without taking his eyes from the brunette, Kakashi groped for the remote that he was no doubt lying on, found it, and then muted the TV, "What?" he asked, resting his chin on Iruka's chest.
Iruka glanced down at him, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. He pointed at the dust, looking at it briefly then back down to Kakashi,
"Do you see that? All that dust?" Iruka started. Kakashi felt himself wilt, really? This was all because of dust? "I just cleaned. That much dust shouldn't even exist in this house!"
Kakashi raised his eyebrows in amusement and disbelief, "You're serious?"
Iruka narrowed his eyes at the laughing tone in Kakashi's voice and pushed his head off his chest. He ignored Kakashi's protesting groan and stood up, walking a few steps forward.
"Yes, I'm serious." He retorted, barely turning his head towards Kakashi as his dark eyes scoured the living room for the source of the dust, "where is all that dust coming from?!"
"Iruka, you're not gonna be able to get rid of all the dust in your house, I hope you know that. It's probably just in the air or something, there's nothing you can do about that" Kakashi reasoned while reaching for a pillow that was nestled in the corner of the couch. He grabbed it, propping it under his head, and laid there- his eyes following Iruka's hunt for the elusive dust.
Iruka cocked an eyebrow, turning slightly towards Kakashi with one hand on his hip.
"Oh yeah?" Iruka asked, "Watch me."
Kakashi rolled his eyes, 'I wasn't challenging you'. After a few minutes Kakashi grew bored of watching Iruka walking around aimlessly.
"Iruka." He called out.
No response.
"Iruka, honey, come back."
Kakashi sighed, irritated, as he was once again ignored. What did a guy have to do to get attention around here, be dirty?
"Would you please come back? I much prefer your stomach over this pillow." Kakashi appealed, sending Iruka a mischievous smile as the brunette glared at him over his shoulder.
"No." Iruka clipped without a second glance at the silver-haired man.
Kakashi deadpanned, staring at Iruka in irritated disbelief. When it became clear that Iruka wasn't going to look back to meet his frustrated glare, Kakashi sat up.
"Well could you at least make this interesting and wear a French maid costume?" He called out, leaning back against the sofa, staring expectantly at Iruka's back.
Iruka's bustling form froze then he whipped around, a blush painting his dark skin, laughter already spilling out of him. Iruka leaned down, hands on his knees, as he laughed, glaring at Kakashi whenever he could open his eyes.
"You're such an idiot!" He cried out, straightening up, still laughing.
Kakashi smiled softly back at Iruka. Iruka was the only person to see him without his mask, which he wore at all times.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, my dear Iruka." He said playfully.
Iruka smiled, just about to reply when he was stopped- the retort catching in his throat- by the sound of footsteps running up the walkway and stopping outside the front door. Iruka and Kakashi looked at each other, smiles completely wiped off their faces, listening intently for any more movement. Then, in the tense silence, whoever was outside began to frantically pound on their door; the glass in the front hallway rattled with the force of it. Iruka gasped, hands flying to his mouth, and Kakashi jumped off of the couch. Kakashi took a sideways-step towards Iruka, staring at the front door, watching it shake with the force of the knocks. Slowly, he stretched one hand out to Iruka who stumbled forwards; grabbing it like it was a life-line. Kakashi's hand slipped out of Iruka's and moved down, grabbing Iruka's waist protectively, pulling Iruka into him.
Then, above the noises of the bangs, a familiar, precious voice shouted,
"Iruka! It's Naruto, Iruka, please!"
Iruka was out of Kakashi's tight grip, over the couch, and had the door unlocked and open in about five seconds flat. Kakashi was always amazed at Iruka's motherly side, but there was nothing more frightening or impressive than Iruka in his 'mama bear' mode. The door swung open and Iruka's face became the picture of despair and panic.
"Oh Naruto," Kakashi could hear the words tumble out of Iruka's mouth, "Oh Naruto, what happened?"
Eyes sliding open. A flash of black. His heartbeat thundering in his ears. Gasping for air like his breathe had been knocked out of him.
"Keep your eyes closed." Iruka commanded gently.
There was a soft thud as something heavy was picked up, a quick, muffled pouring sound, and then the thud again as the object was set down again. Iruka's fingers were on his chin, tilting his head back until it softly bumped against the mirror. Then wet clothe was pressed to his cut lip.
'Alcohol' Naruto thought absently as his mouth began to sting.
He had gripped the carpet so tightly that he could hear tiny ripping noises as he tore out mini-carpet fibers. He was trembling. His head felt unpleasantly full, his thoughts racing so quickly that Naruto couldn't decipher them.
Naruto was dragged out of his memories as the stinging feeling turned to a burning one. Still with his eyes closed, Naruto reached up to wipe the offending liquid off of his lips only to have his hand slapped away briskly.
"That cuts deeper than I thought, we have to disinfect it. You might have to get stiches but I'm not letting it get infected." Iruka scolded his tone sharp with worry.
Naruto let his hand slip back to the counter without a fight. He tried to ignore the burning. It was so bad, so-
-bad!', Naruto thought, 'this is so bad!' reaching a hand up tentatively to his bleeding lip. Quickly the image of Sai standing over him flashed through his head. Naruto pushed it out instantly. In his mind he could see Kiba and Shikamaru still pinning down Sai. Naruto bitterly thought, 'I hope I got him good. I hope I got that fucker-'
"-good." Iruka cooed reassuringly, fingers grasping Naruto's jaw and turning his face from side to side.
Naruto imagined Iruka looking at him, looking for any more cuts or bruises. He would have a pretty good shiner-he was sure of it-he could feel it coming in on his right eye. Naruto tried to look too, as Iruka observed him Naruto tried to sense anymore pain on his face. He couldn't feel any more pain on his face but he sure could feel it in his feet. His feet were slowly beginning to throb, loudly protesting how they'd been treated today.
'What did I do?' Naruto thought, almost in amazement at the pain in his feet, 'What on earth did I…?"
The next thing he remembered was running; His feet slapping the concrete, legs working, arms pumping. He ran down the street, through the rich suburb, he ran through the gates that separated this cushy neighborhood from the rest of the world. He ran down the sidewalk of the busy street. Cars roared past him, spurring him to run faster. People were looking at him. He wanted to stop running, to go to some public bathroom and get cleaned up, then maybe call a taxi for a ride home; but he was strangely not in control of what he did. So he kept running and running and running. Naruto tried desperately to remember what had happened at the house, how he had gotten a block away from Neji's house without even realizing it; but all he could remember was that one thought, 'I hope I got him good' and then nothing.
He slowed, reaching the intersection that would lead him home. He glanced left- the direction of his house- and as he was looking his body began to fluidly- and without any permission from him- turn to the right. Naruto went right unquestioningly. He didn't want to go home, he found.
"Naruto!" Iruka yelled.
Naruto's eyes flew open, bringing him back to the present. He stared, wide-eyed at the panicked man.
"What?" He asked defensively, mind still trying to catch up.
Iruka's eyebrows twitched in concern, "you weren't responding!"
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows, looking down at his lap. He tried to think back, had Iruka been calling him? He hadn't heard a thing.
"Oh." He said finally.
Naruto quickly glanced around himself, trying to get his bearings. He was sitting on a bathroom counter, a red towel in his lap to catch any spilled medicines. The walls of the bathroom were covered with a shiny, beige tile. The floor was a few shades lighter that brown sugar and all the towels and washcloths were bright colors, like red. Iruka stood in front of him, nearly between his legs; both hands on either side of Naruto's thighs. And although he himself was glancing around, Iruka's stare never wavered from Naruto's face.
"Oh." Naruto repeated.
An image of a certain silver-haired man flickered through his mind. Naruto glanced out the open door into the hallway outside. He strained to see over the railing to the first floor.
"Was Kakashi here?" He asked, dazed. His own voice sounded weird to him; like he was still in a memory.
Iruka's eyes widened with surprise then flickered to the doorway subtly. One hand moved to close the door then stopped. Iruka looked back to Naruto wearily, taking a small, secretive step away from the wounded blonde.
"Oh yes, he was visiting when you came. But he's run out to get me a first-aid kit." Iruka said smoothly.
Then Iruka did close the door and Naruto instantly knew he was lying. He nodded suspiciously, giving Iruka a once-over, briefly considering asking why Kakashi had been there in the first place, but decided he didn't have the energy.
Iruka stubbornly avoided Naruto's gaze and set to giving Naruto's wounds some 'finishing touches'. After he was done pocking and prodding (more roughly than Naruto felt was necessary), Iruka leaned back, dark arms crossing over his toned chest, and looked at Naruto grimly.
"So," He began gently, dark eyes staring into Naruto's with determination and curiosity, "start from the beginning."
Naruto had been expecting this. You can't show up to your teacher's house, bleeding profusely and practically in shock and not give an explanation but Naruto found that he had no idea what to do, where to start. Should he even tell Iruka the truth? But what else could possibly explain his shocked state? After a few minutes of deliberation, Naruto could tell Iruka was getting antsy and he sighed, rubbing his forehead with his right hand before sliding it up and through his thick hair.
"Alright Iruka….I might or might not have…..fucked up big time."
Naruto remembered feeling very tired, and then Sakura had called him. He had looked up but instead of looking at Sakura, his eyes had been drawn to the front of the room. From then on everything gets hazy and the memories come in short clips, Naruto tells Iruka. He saw humanoid's eyes slowly sliding open, a quick flash of black. His heart pounded in his chest, seeming so loud that it practically deafened the blonde. He remembered opening his mouth in a desperate attempt to get breathing again. Ripping the carpet, trembling, the bitter thought of 'I hope I got that fucker good, as good as he got me'.
He could vaguely remember everyone being really concerned about him. Then someone had either touched him or tried to and Naruto had been sure that if anyone else touched him he'd scream. After thinking about screaming, everything was blank, and then his next memory was of him running here.
Halfway through the story the back door opened. Naruto and Iruka twisted around to see who it was and in walked Kakashi, tugging down a thick scarf from around his neck to wave at the two of them on the couch. Kakashi set his keys on the key hook.
'So he has a key' Naruto thought, looking back to Iruka, catching his eye, and giving him a suspicious glare.
Kakashi kicked off his shoes next to Iruka's then padded across the house to them, walking like he owned the place.
Naruto sent Iruka another suspicious glance. Iruka looked down, mouth set in a thin line.
Kakashi went around the L-shaped leather couch, plopping down next to Iruka, throwing the first-aid kit into the brunettes lap. Naruto watched as Kakashi's hand instinctively twitched towards Iruka's, then pulled back reluctantly, lying uncomfortably alone by Kakashi's side.
Naruto's eyebrows flew up, he looked over to Iruka to send him another knowing glance, but found that Iruka had prepared for this and had deftly feigned interest with reading the label on the First-Aid kit. Naruto left one eyebrow cocked suspiciously-gave the couple one last withering look- then continued his story.
Naruto finished with an embarrassed shrug and for a few minutes they sat in silence. Naruto was fine with silence, thankful for it truthfully; he didn't want to embarrass himself anymore and halfway through, his throat had begun to hurt. Naruto's eyes began to sting with exhaustion, his eyelids were growing heavy. Just as he was biting back a huge yawn Kakashi looked up, turned to the both of them, his visible eye scrunched up in a smiling way and cheerfully stated,
"Yep! We're pretty screwed!"
It was hours later, Iruka didn't know the time, but he knew that they were staying up well into the night. Upstairs, in one of Iruka's guest bedrooms, Naruto lay sleeping; the battered teen had clonked out after Iruka forced him to take a shower and gotten some food into him. Now he and Kakashi laid on the couch, tangled together in a warm mess. The house was silent, the lights all dimmed in the living room, and though it was the middle of September, the atmosphere reminded Iruka of Christmas.
He leaned his head against Kakashi's collarbone, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Kakashi." He said in a half-whisper.
"Hmmm?" Kakashi responded lazily. Iruka smiled as he felt the vibrations through the man's neck and all at once, Iruka lusted for Kakashi.
"What did you mean earlier when you said that we were 'screwed'?"
They fell silent as Kakashi thought. Finally Kakashi shifted, pulling Iruka's legs closer to his chest.
"Well," he began, "here's how I see it we've got two situations. Situation number one-," Kakashi began counting on his fingers, Iruka watched him, amused, and a little surprised at the amount of lust pooling in his stomach for the silver-haired man, "The humanoid was discouraged or scared off by Naruto's actions and he won't be a bother at all. Now that he's awakened he could choose to find someone else or do whatever. Situation number two, the humanoid is thrilled by the prospect of a challenge and chases after Naruto.
"Situation Two…I don't know how to feel about that one. Normally I wouldn't have even mentioned that one, but on learning the Humanoid's brand, I'm a little concerned. This particular Humanoid was of the Uchiha brand. They were exceptionally popular in the war because of their persistence, intellect, aggression, and tunnel-vision. Uchiha's love the hunt, the chase, and if this one was built for romance, there's a good chance that he might be likely to hunt Naruto down."
Iruka knew this was serious. He had seen Naruto's condition and treated him. He knew how serious this was. But he just couldn't concentrate with this sudden, random burst of lust. He stared greedily at the man before him; at his strong, masculine jaw, his narrowed, cocky eyes. Iruka hummed appreciatively then reached forward, grabbing Kakashi- not by his hand.
Minutes later, as Kakashi was positioning himself, Iruka put a hand on his broad, strong shoulders.
"You don't think he'll come, do you?" Iruka asked, suddenly worried for his favorite student who was resting upstairs.
Kakashi looked at him seriously, "he might, but then again he might not. Naruto's performance might've scared him off. What are the chances of him going after a bleeding seemingly horrified blonde?"
Kakashi entered Iruka slowly, "The odds would have to be at least 50/50."
They sat, panting, every movement torturous and every smile seductive. Then Iruka raised his eyebrows, narrowing his eyes mischievously; he reached up, hooking his hands around the back of Kakashi's neck.
"And what do you think are the chances of me coming?"
Kakashi blinked, surprised at Iruka's boldness, and then slowly began to grin.
"Absolute 100%." He murmured.
In the back of his mind, a voice worried him about the Humanoid coming after Naruto. Kakashi brushed the thought away effortlessly.
'Oh but what are the odds?' Kakashi repeated to the voice. Then the voice was quiet and all Kakashi could hear was Iruka's gasps in his ear.