The pale sun filtering through the window woke Iruka far to early considering the night that he d had. He smiled down at the strong arm that held him tightly against Kakashi s chest He didn t know what people complained about all the time, the transition from friends to lovers had happened impossibly seamlessly. Who knew that all it took was a little alcohol.
Alcohol His brain stalled out the second the word crossed his thoughts, remembering his rationale from last night. What if it was just the alcohol? He couldn t have meant it. Iruka twisted his fingers into his loose hair, feeling the overwhelming wave of self-pity rush over him. It was unbelievable that Kakashi was even his friend, let alone let alone. So I have to pretend like it was the alcohol for me. I have to But what if ?
He couldn t think through the hangover playing kettle drums across the back of his skull, so he eased his way out of Kakashi s arms, fairly certain that the jounin wouldn t wake up considering how much more the other man had drunk and went on a search for coffee.
Iruka made it all the way to the kitchen before remembering that he d run out the day before and had promised himself to buy some on the way home from Anko s party, which hadn t happened for obvious reasons. He groaned and dropped his head gently against the edge of the cabinet, not wanting either to increase the pain behind his eyes or run the risk of waking up his companion.
After a short scavenger hunt, he managed to locate his pants and shirt behind his couch how had they gotten there?
The walk too the store was uneventful, though there were a few people who probably recognized the facial expressions that went with a painful hangover and bad, drunken decisions and offered him apologetic smiles. The walk back on the other hand
Iruka-kun!
Iruka winced and turned slowly. Anko-chan. Ohayo.
Anko raked her eyes up and down his frame, You are wearing the same clothes you were wearing last night.
Oh, no. Anko, look.
You got laid! Was it Kakashi?
I just needed coffee and grabbed the first thing what?
So it wasn t Kakashi?
No! I I Iruka pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead. I don t see how this is any of your business.
Anko just raised an eyebrow.
You re not going to let me go home and make my coffee until I tell you are you?
What do you think?
Iruka groaned.
It was Kakashi! Anko grinned hugely. Well, it s about time!
What? Iruka s had been covering his face; he was hoping that if he blocked it all out it might just go away. He dropped his hand and stared at her. What do you mean?
Iruka, Anko got this strange exasperated look on her face, Anybody with half a brain can see how you two look at each other when you think that the other one isn t looking. You guys seriously just needed to get over the whole friendship nonsense and move on.
That, that can t Iruka mumbled.
Did he say anything, or did you guys just boink silence.
It doesn t matter what he said; he was drunk, Anko!
That doesn t mean he didn t mean it. She snickered when Iruka opened and closed his mouth without any sound coming out. And if you go back and pretend that it s all the alcohol, he ll pretend the same thing, and you guys will miss out on this opportunity. So grow a pair, march yourself back to where ever it is you left him, and tell him that you want to screw him senseless for the rest of your lives.
Wha ?
Anko rolled her eyes, Or however you would say it. She put both hands on Iruka s shoulders, spun him around and pushed him back in the direction he d been headed originally.
He found himself back at his apartment far too fast for his own comfort and tried very hard to ignore the way his hand was shaking when he reached for the knob.
Kakashi looked up at him from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Iruka swallowed hard and forced a bright smile, Morning. I just ran out to get some coffee; this hangover is killing me.
Oh. It was more of an exhaled, disappointed breath, than an actual word.
Iruka clutched the canister of coffee against his hands; Anko s words repeating in his mind. If she s right, I ll never forgive myself for not having the guts to do this.
It took all of his courage to cross the room and settle down on the bed next to Kakashi, and he pressed his shoulder, hip and thigh against the other man before dropping his head onto the jounin s shoulder, hoping that the simple action would say more than words ever could.
But in the end, he had to break the oppressive silence, We should really get a bigger bed, you know. You pushed me off twice last night.
Kakashi laughed loudly, leaned back against him, and wound his long fingers into Iruka s hair, pulling his head closer. I can t believe that me falling on my ass got us together.