Waking up on a wooden bench was not a pleasant experience. My back is killing me. I stretch and yawn as I sit up only to open my eyes to see Whiskers and Pinky staring down at me.

"Ugh...Whatcha want?"

I ask, my voice gravelly, rubbing my eyes as another yawn breaks from my mouth.

"Lincoln, what are you doing here?"

Scratching at the back of my head i give a shrug, oh i remember why im here but im not telling them.

"Must have fellen asleep here last night." I mummble before standing up and changing the subject.

"What are you guys up to?"

They share a glance but dont press the subject.

"Were here to train."

Of course they are, here at the training feilds what else would they do? I nod mutely before stretching again.

"Well get on with it. Ill watch from here."

I flop back onto the bench, arms resting on the back of it and leg crossed, ankle sitting on my knee. They shrug before walking out a ways to discus something. I try, honestly i do, to pay attention but i find my mind drifting back to last night.

I was upset, i may have over reacted.

But I felt like Kakashi was toying with me, though i could understand why he was acting the way he was. He had just met me yet i acted like i knew him for a long time. In a way i had, i watched him from the first episode of Naruto all the way into the first few episodes of Boruto. I quit watching the show in high school but i still sporadically watched some. So i could understand his point of view, a strange man flirtingly picking at him only to have a shower fantasy about him. The arguement had been bad but when i swung on him it escalated very quickly into dangerous.

He took it as i was attacking him but i just simply wanted to whale on him just once. Never even got a clean hit, he blocked it only to sock me square in the jaw.

From there it turned into a screaming match with a few shoves and punches until i left. I ended up here and slept outside all night.

"Lincoln!" "Lincoln!"

I snap my head up with a:

"What!?"

Again theyre in front of me, but this time im riled up over thinking of last night.

"Hey, whats wrong? You ok?"

"Yeah, you dont look so good."

With a soft sigh i force a smile on my face, i just wanna be alone damnit.

"Yeah, yeah im good."

Pinky goes to say something else but Whiskers turns to look to the side.

"Kaka-sensei! Lincoln's sick or something."

Fuck. Gah man i cant catch a break. I lean my head back until its draped over the back of the bench.

Act natural, be cool. Youve fought in battles and killed people why are getting so worked up over another man? With a sigh i raise my head, painting on a grin.

" Whiskers. Im fine. My back just hurts. Old farts like me shouldnt sleep on benches."

While im saying this The Crow-Chaser walks up, his hands stuffed in his pockets with his eye locked on anywhere but me. Good, were both on the same page then. Naruto laughs and nods.

"Yeah! You should know better."

"Yeah guess i should." I say pointedly, Sakura frowns and starts glancing between me and Kakashi. Damnit, she is smart when she wants to be, huh.

"You cant be that old."

"Ah, im ancient." I make a point of lifting my hand to pull my face down, making it look wrinkly. The kids laugh, to which i laugh too, its easy to loosen up around idiots.

The tense air between me and Scarecrow is suffocating, i really need to get out of here.

I stand and lean back with my hands on my hips to crack my back. With a two finger salute i start to leave but a voice makes me freeze mid-step.

"Wheres your shoes?"

Biting the inside of my cheek i look down at my feet, in my haste to leave the apartment i forgot to put on shoes. I dont turn to acknowledge him, dont even say a word, i just continue walking through the short grass towards the city.

If that was his way of trying to make nice than he can shove it up his ass. Just because i can understand his point of view doesnt mean im not still angry.

"Whats wrong with Lincoln, Kaka-sensei?"

"Yeah did something happen?"

I didnt stick around to hear his answer, im sure it was a smooth lie from the master manipulater himself.

I might just switch teams, go for Sasuke. The fangirls surrounding him on the outside world would welcome me.

Jokes aside i wonder where the hell i am? Im sure i was headed in the right direction.

"Towns the other way."

I stop walking, grit my teeth and turn to walk back the way i came. Does he not get the hint.

"Lincoln."

I dont stop, i dont want to stop walking. Because if i do im gonna say some shit and this time im seriously going to go for blood. Even if he does kick my ass with his ninja shit.

"Lincoln."

"Fuck off."

Dont stop. Dont stop.

He appears before my eyes, holding my boots in his hand. I glare at them but dont move to take them. Whats he playing at?

"Here, your feet are going to get cut up."

He extends them out to me, and i swear i can felt the rage burning in my gut. Why is he suddenly acting like he cares?!

I swing my leg up and roundhouse kick his wrist causing my boots to fly into the dirt. He let me do that, no other explanation for it. He couldve blocked it. But he didnt.

The anger between us could be felt in the air, like a bolt of lightning, made goosebumps appear on my arms. I was more or less looking for a fight now, he didnt want to let it go then ill give him something to think on.

"Fuck off, Crow."

"Lets not waste our breath. You obviously have a score to settle."

Hes not wrong, im sick of getting my ass whooped by his ninja bullshit. I have no Chakra, no ninja speed, no jutsu. But i be damned if i didnt just get one good shot at his face.

"Youre not going to win."

" Im not fighting to win." I roll my neck before growling out,

"Im looking for blood."

We circle eachother, both seasoned warriors, both good at what we do. Back in the real world i studied Wing chun. Watched the Ip Man movies and became obsessed with it, more because it's form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat. Its mostly used for smaller builds and best in confined places. And being a scrawny kid back in the day it was perfect for me. Of course im not a master at it but it only took me a year to learn and with 12 years under my belt i was a force to be reckoned with. And because its for self-defense surprise attacks are most obsolete. Its more of using your opponents strikes against them and countering them to give you the upper hand.

I set my feet and draw my arms in, im not going to lay down and take an ass kicking anymore. Its about time these ninja bastards know who theyre dealing with.

What i didnt expect was Kakashi to fight me on fair ground. No sharigan, no kunai, no ninja speed. This was a brawl. A man to man spar.

He closed the distance quickly, throwing a punch which i open palm smacked away only to swiftly punch his sternum with my other hand. He adjusted back to bring his leg up which i caught under my armpit after blocking with the hand i threw the punch with. I delivered a quick jab at his hamstring, earning a grunt of pain from him.

Staying level headed wasnt hard to do, being in the moment and staying out of your head is a part of the mentality that is Wing Chun. Youre not fighting, youre defending.

I released his leg to step in close to jab at his chest in quick succession, only to duck down when he went in for a punch at my head. Swinging out my leg i tried to take his legs out but he leaped back. I stood again to my feet and set my position.

He looked surprised that i had landed so many hits when he himself hadnt landed one. Without his ninja bag of tricks he wasnt as hard to fight. If he wouldve gone all out id be dead, that was for sure. But like i said, Wing Chun is a form of self-defense, he cant land a blow if he cant get to me.

We stand at a distance for a few minutes, i can see he was sizing me up. He didnt see me as a threat before but now he was seeing me differently, in his eye i could see a glimmer of respect. Not that i wanted it, right now i wanted to prove myself. Right now i wanted- no - needed to show i wasnt gonna back down.

Kakashi lept forward, trying to get in close, i almost yelled out 'youre within range!' like a Hyyuga with the 8 trigram palm.

Focus Lincoln.

He turn to swing his elbow towards my face, i raised my arm to block but he quickly swung a fist towards my gut. I neatly side step him, letting his momentum carry him forward. I step close and jab his ribs, he turned to swing his leg up and down towards my head. Again i step aside only to deliver a low kick into his gut and finish my step with a jab at agaisnt his cheek. He staggered back from the force of my blow. This time i closed the distance, slide stepping in close to kick the back of his knee making it give way before bring my other knee up into his chin.

I step back, the adrenaline rush was now hitting full force. But before the fight could continue a loud yowl from close by caught our attention.

"Whoa! Lincoln! You gonna show me how to do that!"

I quirk an eyebrow at Whiskers before glancing at Kakashi. He was on his feet rubbing his jaw, staring at me. I drop my stance, going back to my lazy slouch.

"What was that about, Kakashi-sensei? Lincoln?"

Pinky was standing with her hands on her hips, a small scowl worrying her face. I flick my eyes over to Kakashi as he walks to my side.

"Just a friendly spar. Nothing to worry about."

I almost rolled my eyes but refrained. She seemed to buy it while Naruto didnt even seem to care about me bringing his Sensei to his back.

"Lincoln! Thats a cool Taijutsu!"

"Whiskers, its not taijutsu. Its called Wing Chun."

He tilted his head in confusion. I sighed dramatically with a hand rubbing my temples. This kid.

"Its a style of fighting."

Honestly i dont feel like explaining it. Plus with Naruto's track record of being a complete idiot theres no way i could explain it in a way that he would understand.

"Oh! Hey you gotta teach me!"

He dropped into a half assed stance before punching out wildly. I shake my head with a slight smile, this guy, he grows on you.

"That was very impressive."

I turn my head to look at Kakashi, he didnt look worse for wear on the outside but i could see that his pride was more damaged than the physical side. I give a shrug,

"Kids when i was younger used to beat me up so i decided to remedy the situation."

The rest of the day was spent on the training feild, me more or less trying to teach Naruto and Sakura the basics. Pinky picked up on it quickly while Naruto never made any progress. The whole time i was aware of Kakashi watching my instructions and demonstrations. He seemed very interested in Wing Chun, no doubt trying to learn it as well.

As we were all walking home with the kids out front of us a few yards while we walked together side by side.

"About what happened,"

I glance at him, he had a right to say his piece, im not going to deny him that.

"I understand that i may have been a little harsh but anyone in my position wouldve done the same. I do apologize for how i acted."

I continued walking, thinking on what he said before i opening my mouth.

"I can understand that. Im a stranger to you and the way i act can be a little much. Im a joker and can become annoying after a while. But i do know you, i do care about you. And let me just say i did fight that feeling for quite awhile, but im not gonna continue lying to myself anymore for your sake or mine."

I watch as Naruto said something to Sakura which earned him a harsh punch to his face sending him flying down the street.

"Ive been in love with you since i was a kid. I was bullied and beaten for being 'gay' when in reality the only guy i ever liked was you. I guess that does make me gay but its not a weakness." I turn my head to look at him, smiling.

"Im not asking you out or anything. I can see you dont care about me the way i do about you but dont treat me like a stranger who doesnt care. And if im disgusting you then just let me know."

He looked thoughtful before nodding and looking at me as well.

"I wouldnt say i find your affections disgusting. Theyre flattering really. But imagine my surprise when i hear you climax and say my name. I did just meet you. So its a little much for anyone to deal with."

I can understand that, i wouldve reacted the same way probably.

"But,"

I raise a brow.

"You do have a nice ass and if you dont keep it clothed i might be tempted."

I stumble slightly, choking on my own spit. Did he just say-?

"See ya at home."

He made a hand sign with a closed eye smile before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

"What the-...I take it back! I hate you!"

I shake my fist around me as i scan the building tops for him. That condescending little prick. Ugh i shouldve beat his face in more. A blush roasting my skin and a smile wide on my face.

"Lincoln! Hurry up! We're going for Ramen!"

I sign but jog to catch up, smiling at the two teens.

"I love Ramen!"

"Me too!"

"Ugh..."

So it seems Kakashi Hatake is an 'Ass' man. Hmm that i can work with.