Kakashi sat on his balcony and strummed Yamato's guitar.
He never bothered to learn how to play. He memorized a few notes – some chords – and recognizable combinations. When it suited him, he could play a song or two adequately enough to get to the next stage of his plan.
He only turned to instruments when his books failed him. Perhaps he truly needed books that had nothing to do with romance and more to do with –
A car sped into the parking lot, then stopped with a screech. Someone got out, and the car drove away.
He could not hear footsteps, but he could hear – if he strained his ears – the rustling of a single key and a door being closed shut.
Naruto.
He had gone somewhere with someone who drove a car quite recklessly and came back late. Would he tell him, had he asked, if he was all right? He was quite certain he felt the teen panicking – his mind became a hurricane of thundering misery and breathless fear – and though the teen did not recoil from his touch like he did before, he also didn't reach back.
The storm quieted down, but Naruto's pain remained as an echo in his troubled thoughts. His tongue tasted like ash.
Kakashi closed his eye and focused – sniffing at the edges of his mind – Naruto came back, bleeding longing and grief.
Was it him he was thinking about? Or perhaps –
The door to the balcony opened abruptly.
Kakashi leaned against the railing, his eye fixed on the darkened sky, unseeing, and tensed. He did not move, despite the burning need to for just one final glance, and breathed in his scent. Sun and ramen and misery, and a hint of overly sweet perfume.
Jiraiya.
He strummed a few notes, primarily out of habit, and got up. He walked toward his door –
"Didn't tell you to stop."
His breath faltered. Kakashi leaned against the glass door and hoped Naruto wasn't looking at him. Did he… did he want him to stay? A part of him insisted that he shouldn't, although he no longer knew why. Kakashi stumbled back to his spot, fingers hesitant, and struck a few chords. Naruto spoke to him. Naruto –
"You suck," the teen complained.
Kakashi tried a few more out-of-tune notes. "Well, that's why I practice," he countered. His voice sounded smooth and controlled, for which he was thankful.
Naruto did not answer. Kakashi could hear him sketching even though the world was dark and lacking. Would he tell him, had he asked, what he was drawing?
"I wanna see you transform."
Kakashi blinked, staring at nothing. His heart drummed out of rhythm, but his breath did not falter. "You can't," he replied evenly. "I have a tail."
Naruto scoffed. "So?"
"So I need to take everything off."
"Saw Sasuke transform," Naruto protested, even though Kakashi could smell his embarrassment – and his arousal – all the way to his spot, leaning against the railing with his back turned to the teen.
"I won't look," Naruto promised, his voice wavering. "I wanna see it."
Kakashi rested his head on the cool metal. A few hours ago, Naruto refused to go anywhere near him. Now, he wanted to see him transform from human to beast.
Whatever Jiraiya did, it somehow convinced the teen to speak to him again.
He did not want to lose that.
Kakashi turned around and gazed at Naruto's hunched back. He looked tense and uncomfortable, and Kakashi knew he could not refuse him. "Don't move," he ordered quietly. He took off his shirt.
It felt odd, nerve-racking, and unnatural. It was different from the time he taught Sasuke how to transform. This time, there was no urgency, no pain or fear. It was just them, sharing the same warm summer night breeze, sitting under the same stars, and listening in silence.
Kakashi took off the rest of his clothes.
It must have been wrong. There he was, a naked man, about to jump onto the balcony of a teen who was his student earlier today. Nothing about this was natural, he grimaced, hands tightening their hold on the railing. Nothing –
Well, he had already undressed. The rest was easy, in comparison.
Kakashi jumped and landed behind Naruto. The teen shivered when he felt him and leaned back – just slightly – toward him. His breath quickened, but he did not move.
He was so close. It had been so long since Naruto allowed him to be near him.
Kakashi breathed in his scent of sun and storm and… and longing.
He held out his hand within the teen's line of sight and swallowed when he heard his heart drumming faster. Or was it Naruto's? He closed his eyes.
Naruto audibly gasped when the pale hand sprouted fur. Kakashi knew what he saw; fingers turning into claws, palms becoming paws, a human transforming into a beast.
The teen turned around, his breath shattering against Kakashi's snout, so he steeled himself and opened his eyes.
He expected fear, anger, hatred. He waited for the raw fury that blazed through Naruto's mind and his own red eye for the past month to rekindle. He thought…
But Naruto looked at him, eyes wide and aching and yearning, and lifted his hand to brush his fur. The touch was experimental, clumsy in its hesitation, and Kakashi stiffened and did not move.
Naruto pulled his hand back. "Um," he mumbled. "Your fur feels like your hair," he blurted. "Did you know that?"
Kakashi rumbled. He did not know. He waited for Naruto's judgment.
The teen looked away, his eyes shining yet again, and Kakashi flinched when he smelled his distress. He acted instinctively – and nuzzled at his neck, rubbing his forehead against the teen's cheek.
He froze when he realized what he was doing, but Naruto melted into his touch. The stiff teen sighed and wrapped his hands around his neck, pulling him closer. He rested his chin on Kakashi's forehead and brushed the fur behind his ears. "This is weird," he mumbled. "This is so weird." He huffed softly and touched the tip of Kakashi's ear. "Can't believe I thought you were a dog. Your ears are all wrong."
Kakashi growled dryly in response. The ears were the last bit that should've indicated he was dangerous.
Naruto was oblivious. "You can transform into this… killing machine, and you used it to comfort me," he whispered, wonder uplifting the notes singed with ache. "You got it all twisted."
Kakashi rumbled in protest.
Naruto huffed again. "That does not count as an answer." He blew air into his ear and snickered when Kakashi flattened it against his skull. "Are you… full-on wolf? Like… you like belly rubs, and butt rubs too?"
Kakashi angled his head away and snapped his teeth near Naruto's nose.
The teen blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "That's a no, I don't? or no, don't try it?" He pursed his lips. "Or no, no one ever petted me, so I don't know?"
Kakashi growled. He tilted his head and aimed for the equivalence of cocking his brow.
Naruto crossed his arms. "What? Sometimes you go full dog, and sometimes you don't. You licked me, remember? A lot. That's practically kissing."
Kakashi blinked, then bared his teeth and growled again. It most certainly was not.
The teen shoved his face away. "It was! That's dog kisses! It counts!"
Kakashi snapped his teeth at Naruto's fingers.
"It does!" he insisted, scowling. "Now I understand why you were always tired n' your bed was covered in dust. You slept with me every night. We spooned," he accused. "N' you made me sit in your lap a lot. So that's okay, but belly rubs are not. Got you all snappy n' scary."
Kakashi looked away. He stepped back and kept a safe distance from the teen.
Naruto exhaled in frustration. "Fuck," he mumbled. His fingers tangled in his hair and pulled. "Dunno why I said that. Guess I got too used to you and… and it's hard, being alone again," he confessed quietly.
The acerbic scent of misery hit the wolf's nostrils. He rumbled softly and closed his jaw on Naruto's hand, gently guiding it away from his hair. He bumped his forehead against the teen's.
Naruto wrapped his hands around him and nosed at his neck. "I dunno what to do," he mumbled, tightening his hold. "I'm angry, but I miss you. I want my dog back. Dog kisses n' all." His breath quickened as his fingers dug deeper into Kakashi's fur. "Don't want you to go."
Kakashi's heart beat painfully against his chest. He sat back down and rested his head on top of Naruto's, guiding him closer. He rumbled gently when the teen obeyed and wondered how to tell him he was leaving the country.
"I didn't understand," Naruto whispered. "I thought that you were just… spying on me, or something. Making fun of me for being an idiot who just babbled his mind to an animal and cried about everything and –"
Kakashi barked, the sound laced with an angry growl. No, he thought ardently. Never.
"Yeah, well, I get that now," Naruto protested. "I didn't know. I thought that – that maybe it was just a job for you, doing this, and I was just getting attached to nothing. I didn't think you could understand," he whispered, "how alone I felt. I didn't think anyone could."
Something hot and moist touched his fur and danced against his skin. Kakashi pulled Naruto closer and growled quietly.
Naruto curled into his embrace. "Jiraiya told me," he mumbled. "He told me everything. He – "
Kakashi's eyes snapped open, wide and dismayed and –
He leaned back, breaking the contact between him and the teen.
Naruto still reached out with his hands toward him, his face twisted in anguish –
Kakashi stepped back until his paws hit the railings. He felt cold and lightheaded and furious. And terrified.
Naruto knew. He could see in his eyes that he knew. The shining blue hid nothing; Kakashi could read his own history of pain and loss freshly carved into his irises.
He turned around, gripped the railings with his front paws, and jumped back to his balcony.
Fled with his tail between his legs, this time literally.
He couldn't breathe.
"Oi, Sensei! Sensei!"
No. That was too much. Not even the despair in Naruto's voice –
"Kakashi!"
Kakashi transformed back. He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and put them on, then paced around the apartment, raking his fingers through his hair and ignoring his dogs.
So that's how Jiraiya broke through the teen's anger. With Pity.
No, he snarled. No. He will not be pitied. He refused to be pitied. He –
"Kakashi!" A fist banged on his door. "Oi! Stop being such a drama queen and open the door! Oi!" Two fists, now. "M'not done talking to you!" the teen yelled. "Don't ignore me!"
His dogs stirred into a frenzy, running between him and the door, barking mad.
This time, Kakashi did not whistle.
He was furious. And hurt. And humiliated –
Ah, he thought derisively. Now I understand how Naruto felt.
The teen started kicking the door, then gave up. He returned to his own apartment, and the world fell silent. He gave up on him.
Good, Kakashi thought as his breath quickened. He buried the sudden ache that flooded his mind. Good.
Perhaps now they were truly even. Naruto could move on – and so could he. There was no point in chasing –
Fear flashed through him, as violent as a strike of lightning, and Kakashi moved –
Naruto kicked the door repeatedly. "Open," kick, "the fuck," kick, "Up!"
He kicked until his toes started to throb with pain.
Kakashi did not open the door. Damn the man for being stubborn.
Naruto growled at the white piece of wood that blocked his path. Fuck it. When Kakashi wanted to speak to him, he did not wait to be allowed in. He jumped onto his balcony and made him face him.
He could do that too.
Naruto ran back inside and onto the balcony. He eyed the distance between the two structures, then climbed up on the railing. It looked like ten feet. If he jumped and stretched out his hands, he could do it.
Naruto focused, flexed his muscles, and jumped.
He reached out. His fingers grazed the railings, slid along the bars, and curled around them.
He did it. He did it! He –
He could not stop his fall. Naruto tightened his hold, gripping with all his strength, and sharp pain snapped through him when his arm popped out of its socket. He cried out.
His fingers gave up.
His breath deserted him. The world slowed down as he fell, descending into the dark space between the two balconies –
Pain shot through him again. Naruto yelled, trembling, and – and opened his eyes.
He was no longer falling.
He looked up.
Kakashi met his gaze, his eyes – both of them – wide with fear and worry.
His hand gripped his wrist, its hold bruising, and began to pull him up.
Naruto groaned, biting his lip to muffle his pained gasps, and Kakashi said nothing as he leaned against the railing that separated them and kept pulling. His eyes flashed with pain that might have been Naruto's and might have been his own.
When he pulled him high enough, his free hand curled around his waist and held him close. His iron hold was almost too tight, but Naruto, trembling with pain and adrenaline, couldn't bring himself to care. He pressed his cheek against Kakashi's bare chest and took comfort in the soft, familiar scent and the rapid beating of his heart. A choked cry shuddered through his lips when Kakashi released his hold on his bruised wrist and reached above the railings, then wrapped his hand around his thighs while the other supported his back and lifted him into his arms. He carried him inside.
It was one thing to hug the wolf and quite another to hug the man. Naruto's heart raced as he wrapped his healthy hand around the man's neck and buried his nose in the crook of his shoulder. His fingers brushed the man's warm skin. It had been so long since Kakashi held him…
Naruto shuddered in his arms, his body twitching from pain, and Kakashi held him closer, nuzzling at his hair.
He did not trust himself to speak.
Kakashi lowered him to the sofa and walked to the kitchen. He said nothing as he got a packet of ice, wrapped it in a towel, and placed it on Naruto's shoulder.
The teen groaned again. He looked up, eyes coated in tears, and huffed. "S'your fault," he gasped. "Shoulda opened the door."
"You should be less eager to risk your life," the man snapped back.
Naruto stared, surprised, and scowled. "S'only the second floor," he protested, cheeks blooming pink. "I'm not giving up on you."
Kakashi glowered at him. "This is not an excuse to throw caution to the wind – "
"It's not!" Naruto protested, "I meant it," he whispered, his voice choked.
Fuck. Pain addled his senses as the world blurred. Naruto turned his head away, trying to hide his tears, when a hand gently guided him to lean his head on Kakashi's shoulder. He could vaguely feel another hand removing the ice, then snaking under his shirt. "On the count of three," Kakashi murmured, his voice soothing and surprisingly close. "One, two…"
He grabbed his arm and his shoulder and pushed the arm back into its socket.
Naruto cried out and closed his eyes. His breaths were shallow and hurried. "Ass. You're such an ass, Kakashi," he panted. Pain flooded his body in waves, shuddering through his bones.
Kakashi's hand caressed his hair, cradling him against his neck, while the other grazed his inflamed shoulder. "It would've hurt more if you tensed."
Naruto winced and bit his lower lip, trying to rein in his traitorous gasps and force himself to breathe...
Which was becoming easier, he noted absentmindedly. His muddled mind slowly cleared from pain and adrenalin. The throbbing stopped.
Naruto opened his eyes and glanced up –
And met Kakashi's eyes. Both of them. The red and the black.
Kakashi blinked, looked away, and closed his red eye. His jaw clenched, which meant he was embarrassed.
No, Naruto thought, incapable of looking away. Ashamed.
He huddled closer, climbing into the man's lap, swept away his hair, and brushed his lips against the man's closed eye.
Kakashi – immediately – angled his head away.
Naruto scowled at him. "Come back," he ordered, cheeks burning red.
The man did not move. "What was that for?" he demanded.
Naruto lifted his now-healed arm and hugged his neck, tangling his fingers in the silver hair. "You don't have to close your eye," he mumbled. "Bet it's uncomfortable. N' you can't wink like that."
He found himself painfully aware that Kakashi wore nothing but a pair of sweatpants. He knew he had to rein in the desire to touch him, but still, being so close to his bare chest while touching the smooth skin of his neck and his broad shoulders slowed down his mind. He wanted to explore more of him.
Kakashi's conflicted, storming eye sobered him up, so Naruto poked his cheek in defiance. Heart racing, he traced his finger over the deep scar. "Couldn't heal that," he added, his voice quiet.
Kakashi shuddered. He grabbed his wrist and moved his hand away. "Stop it," he rasped.
Naruto could feel his lungs collapsing in response. The soft, raw voice and the cool, unyielding fingers flamed deep within his chest. "Does it hurt?" he whispered.
Kakashi shook his head. "It's wrong," he clarified.
Naruto scowled. His heart beat so fast, and he knew he could not go back – and that he didn't want to. "I'm not your student anymore," he protested. He tried to sound calm, maybe even confident and seductive, but he ended up breathless instead.
Kakashi flinched. "Still not eighteen," he objected.
"So? Didn't bother you when you were a dog," Naruto bit back. "What's the difference?"
Kakashi's eye snapped up. "I tried to communicate and to keep you warm," he snarled. "I tried to comfort you as an animal would. When my dogs licked you, did you also consider the act romantic?"
"No!" Naruto protested, flushed red. "But they stay dogs so it's different!"
Kakashi's annoyance flared. "I fail to see – "
Naruto rolled his eyes, embarrassed and yet determined. One of his hands grabbed Kakashi's jaw, fingers curling along his neck, while the other tangled in his hair and pulled, holding him in place. He leaned closer, his pulse deafening in his ears, and licked Kakashi's jaw, trailing his tongue up – across his cheek and over his scar – until he reached his hair.
He leaned back, breathless, and hugged Kakashi's neck instead. "See?" he mumbled. "Different."
His face blazed, and his pulse drummed loudly in his ears, but Naruto refused to look away.
Kakashi swallowed with difficulty. His ears, Naruto noted, dazed, were bright red, and he could not resist the urge to touch them. He traced his finger over the burning tip and down, exploring the sharp line of his jaw.
Kakashi stared at him, dumbfounded. "Naruto," he managed, his voice strained. "What are you doing?"
Naruto suddenly noticed that one of Kakashi's hands lay flat on his back, under his shirt. His other hand held his waist, keeping him in place. His hold tightened when Naruto tried to lean closer, resisting him.
Naruto scowled. "M' trying to seduce you," he confessed, cheeks boiling red. "N' get you to open your eye."
Kakashi huffed, looking away. Just for a moment, however, because his eye darted back, as if he could not quite believe what he just heard. Slowly, he opened the red eye and gazed at him, conflicted.
"Good," Naruto whispered, caressing the silver hair. "I want you to kiss me."
Kakashi stared, his eyes both ardent and shadowed, and Naruto's bravado dissipated. "Um. Please," he added, breathless.
He probably shouldn't have said that because Kakashi shook his head, as if waking from a dream. His eyes no longer looked feverish. "A few hours ago, you were furious with me," he stated quietly. "You could not stand to be in the same room with me. Now… this." He removed his hands. "It's not right."
Agitated hands hugged the man's neck and refused to let him go. Naruto refused to let him go. "M'sorry!" he cried, desperate. "I wasn't angry – "
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Naruto – "
"I was humiliated," he confessed, his breath trembling. "That made me act angry." Kakashi's eyes proved too much, so Naruto buried his face in the crook of Kakashi's neck. "Told you. I didn't think you could understand." He wrapped his legs around Kakashi's waist and pulled himself closer to the scarred chest. He did not want to let go. "I still love you, though."
He could feel Kakashi's heart thundering against his chest; his pulse racing under his fingers. He did not need the bond to know how deeply his words affected Kakashi.
The man stiffened. He did not move – not to hug him back, nor to push him away.
Naruto's nerves got the better of him. "What's gotten into you?" he snapped, embarrassed, and tightened his hold on the man's neck. "You said you knew. You said I wasn't subtle."
"It's just a crush," Kakashi managed, his voice tense. "Because I'm older and your teacher. It will go away," he breathed, as if trying to reassure him – or perhaps himself. "You'll meet someone your own age with whom you can start a healthy relationship – "
"It's not a crush, you ass!" Naruto objected, annoyed. "Don't tell me how I'm feeling! That's some – you've got some nerve, trying to gaslight me into thinking I'm not madly in love with you. I am," he insisted, heart working overtime. "I know you can feel it. You liar." His breath shook as he rubbed his eyes against Kakashi's collarbone. "You fucking liar. You promised you wouldn't lie to me."
Kakashi sighed. His shoulders slumped as he raised his hands and hugged him close. One hand cradled his head, brushing the golden strands, while the other hugged his waist. "This is why I said it isn't healthy," he murmured. "No matter what I do, I always end up hurting you. Making you cry." His other hand rubbed his back. "You should be with someone who makes you happy."
"You make me happy," Naruto objected, his voice muffled. "Whenever I'm angry, or something, you always manage to calm me down. You make me feel safe, n' not just because you're really good at killing people." Kakashi coughed, so Naruto lifted one hand and brushed his silver hair. "I don't want anyone else," he whispered. "I just want you."
Kakashi's Adam's apple shivered against his cheek. "You are so young," he said gently. "There are so many people for you to meet, so many things to discover. You don't know what you want."
"That's some bullshit right there!" Naruto pushed himself up and cupped Kakashi's cheeks. "Sure, this world got like… a bazillion people, and some of them are probably interesting, but none of them is you. I want you. Half-man, half-wolf, one hundred percent annoying. Stop patronizing me."
Kakashi blinked at him. "Seven point six billion," he replied, his voice muffled because Naruto crushed in his cheeks.
Naruto tried to maintain his scowl. "What?" he demanded.
"Bazillion is not a number."
Naruto's eyebrow twitched. "Told you to stop patronizing." He pinched Kakashi's cheeks. There wasn't much to squeeze, but he did his best.
The man growled and grabbed his wrists, pulling his hands away. "What else am I supposed to do with a seventeen-year-old kid?" he deadpanned.
Naruto growled back. "You can kiss me."
"No."
"Yes."
Kakashi opened his mouth and closed it. "You're ridiculous," he huffed.
"You're a coward," he shot back. "Bet you're scared it will feel good n' all your dumb martyrish arguments will go to shit."
Kakashi glared. "It's not martyrish, as you said. The law exists for a reason. It's meant to protect you – "
"Yeah? Like it did until now?" Naruto snapped. He freed his hands and wrapped them around Kakashi's neck, pulling himself close. "You were the only one who ever protected me," he whispered. "You – "
His voice died. He didn't know what else to say, how to convince Kakashi that he was a grown-up, so he'd stay. He had to get him to stay. He –
Strong arms guided him closer as gentle fingers tangled in his hair. "Then trust me, hmm? Let me protect you just a little bit longer. Even if this means from me."
Naruto blinked, startled, when it seemed he finally got somewhere. Did Kakashi reject him because he wanted him? The thought left him dizzy.
His shoulders slumped and his lungs deflated as he sighed. "Fine," he murmured and softened against the man's chest. He nuzzled at his pulse. "My birthday's in three months," he mumbled, cheeks blushing red. "In October."
Kakashi said nothing, so Naruto continued to trace his fingers over his spine and under his hair. "Um. October tenth, actually. So a bit… a bit less than three months." Kakashi swallowed, and Naruto began to feel jumpy. "Um. You can… you'll wait for me, right?" he breathed, his voice too small for his liking.
Kakashi's breath shuddered, ruffling his hair. "I… You're starting college this September," he said slowly. "And I promised Tsunade I'll be her TA for the first semester – "
"So?" Naruto finally looked up. "I'm gonna be under Jiraiya, right? That's a different department."
Kakashi looked conflicted. "You'll still be a student," he objected quietly. "And I'll be a member of the faculty."
Naruto groaned. "So I gotta wait till April?!"
Kakashi looked away. "I'm moving to Kumogakure," he managed. "In April."
Naruto froze. He waited for the man to say he was joking, or lying, or both. But Kakashi kept his silence, and Naruto's temper flared. He tangled his fingers in the silver strands and pulled. "You're doing this on purpose," he accused, his voice raw.
"Yes," Kakashi admitted. He looked down. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I can't…." He waved his hand aimlessly. "Pounce on you the moment you turn eighteen. It's just as wrong – "
Naruto had enough. "Stop caring about what others think and start caring about me!"
"I do care about you," he shot back, meeting his eyes. "That's why I want to give you time." He lifted his hand and cupped Naruto's cheek. His skin was rough, but his touch was gentle. He caressed his skin, so very softly, and brushed his golden hair. "You asked for three years, originally," he murmured, his voice just as soft.
Naruto leaned into his touch. He lifted his hand to cover the back of Kakashi's hand and keep it against his cheek. "One," he bargained. "And you have to kiss me on my birthday."
Kakashi exhaled weakly. He could not look away from the sight of Naruto's hand holding his. "Naruto…" he objected quietly.
"Final offer."
The man cocked a brow. "Your only offer," he remarked dryly. His eyes, however, were ardent.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Thirty seconds," he blurted, cheeks heating as he tried to hold in a grin.
Kakashi blinked. "What?"
"One year and a kiss on my birthday, or I'm kissing you in thirty seconds," Naruto challenged. He released Kakashi's hair and traced his thumb over the man's lower lip. "Final offer."
He could feel Kakashi's breath caressing his thumb in broken waves, but other than that, the man remained composed. He decided to push further. "Twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty – "
Kakashi gave him an annoyed look that looked almost humorous. "Fine," he sighed dramatically and tangled his fingers in Naruto's hair, then pulled him down and guided him to lean on his chest. "You drive a hard bargain."
Naruto grinned triumphantly against Kakashi's collarbone. He wrapped his hands around the man's neck and grinned wider when the man kept brushing his hair, holding him close.
"You like me," Naruto declared, shifting his position so he leaned against the man instead of straddling him. His knees began to hurt. "Admit it."
Kakashi rumbled in response.
Naruto blinked when the chest below him vibrated. "You can make dog noises?"
"Wolf."
Naruto placed his palm on Kakashi's bare chest. It was impossibly warm. "Can you growl, too?"
"I'm not your pet," Kakashi replied wryly. "I don't growl on command."
"Annoying and bitter, is what you are," Naruto grumbled back. He poked him. When Kakashi did nothing, he poked him again. Still no response, so he poked him a third time.
Kakashi grabbed his wrist. "Are you trying to annoy me into growling?" he asked dryly.
Naruto grinned. "Is it working?"
"Not at all."
Naruto scowled. His cheeks darkened when Kakashi smirked in response.
Well, patience was never his strong suit. Naruto leaned down and bit Kakashi's neck.
Kakashi growled. He tangled his fingers in Naruto's hair and pulled him away from his pulse. Naruto wanted to grin and tease him, but Kakashi's eyes were dark and raw as they penetrated him. His other hand gripped his waist and drew him flush against his chest while the fingers tangled in his hair guided him below, and Kakashi's eyes settled on his lips –
The man pulled away as if burned.
He shoved Naruto against the cushions, freeing himself in the process, and fled to the kitchen.
He raked his fingers through his hair, looking lost and ashamed, so Naruto got up and joined him. Kakashi leaned against the counter and stared at the wall opposite Naruto, but the teen refused to be discouraged. He untangled Kakashi's crossed arms and snuggled into the space he forced him to make, wrapping his hands around the man's waist and sniffing the scent of his skin.
Kakashi dropped his hands to rest at his sides.
Naruto bumped his head against the man's collarbone. "Hug me back, you coward." The man disobeyed, so Naruto pinched him. Tried to, at least. The man's muscles refused to comply.
He wanted to run his hand up the hardened plane of muscle, explore the warm furnace and the scars carved into it – he did not dare. His relationship with the man was too brittle, and he feared one wrong touch would crumble it. He hugged his waist instead.
Kakashi exhaled quietly and hung his head. He wrapped his hands around the teen's shoulders and cradled his head against his chest. "You're a pain in the ass, did you know that?" he muttered.
Naruto grinned mischievously and forgot his resolution. "I want you to be a pain in – "
Kakashi pulled his ear. "Don't you dare."
Naruto laughed. "Ow, lemme go." He swatted Kakashi's hand and looked up, then suddenly noticed the counter was bare. The many spices and kitchen utensils that used to rest against the wall in a neat display were gone. The drawings he gifted Kakashi were gone too. Even his plant –
"You're – " Distressed, he dug his nails into Kakashi's shoulders. "But – when – "
"Tomorrow," Kakashi replied, his quiet voice only adding to Naruto's agitation. "But don't worry, your apartment – "
"I don't care about that! I want you to stay!" Naruto cried. "You owe this much." He pulled himself closer, balancing on his toes as he tangled his fingers in Kakashi's hair and cradled his head against his cheek. "Stay," he whispered.
Kakashi sighed softly, then hugged him just as tightly. His fingers brushed soothing paths against his scalp while his other arm wrapped around his waist, holding him close. "If you promise to behave," he managed.
His voice was cautious and still too quiet, but the slightly teasing notes calmed the storm rising in his chest. "Um. I promise to be absolutely terrible if you leave."
Kakashi huffed. "Brat," he murmured, and Naruto's heart skipped a beat when the warmth in Kakashi's voice calmed his agitated nerves.
He looked up and blushed when he realized Kakashi was smiling. "S-so, you'll stay?" he stuttered, easing his hold on Kakashi's hair as he gently brushed the spot behind his ear. "Until, um, until I move near Konoha?"
Kakashi rumbled softly, then managed a small smile. "Seems like I have no choice."
Naruto grinned. "Liar," he said, his voice just as warm. "You are choosing to stay." His breath faltered as he cupped Kakashi's cheek, his eyes seeking the mismatched pair. "You are choosing me," he whispered, his voice raw.
Kakakshi blinked, then leaned into his palm. "I…." His voice faltered as he caressed his cheek, mirroring his touch. His eyes were ardent. "I suppose I do," he admitted.
Naruto flushed, basking in the warmth of Kakashi's eyes. In the gentleness of his fingers. In the protectiveness of his hold. He savored the moment, trying to etch it into his mind. "Um," he tried, blushing when he suddenly realized Kakashi was there, holding him, looking at him… "Can you not shave tomorrow? I wanna know what it feels like."
The man cocked a brow, perhaps tempted to refuse, then he nodded in defeat instead. "You'll have to come early." When Naruto frowned, he added, "I need to shave at some point."
The teen caressed Kakashi's cheek, fingers exploring the sharp planes of his face. "Only if I don't like it," he murmured.
Kakashi blinked. "I'm not growing a beard in the middle of summer."
Naruto huffed. "Now I really want you to grow one."
"You want me to suffer."
"Yes," Naruto admitted, unrepentant, and grinned. "S'long as you think about me."
Kakashi stared at him, eyes wide, and pulled him close against his chest. He lowered his head as he entangled their bodies together. "You know I already am," he murmured against his ear.
Naruto's breath faltered as he melted into the man's arms, snuggling closer. "Oh, um. Good," he managed. "I still wanna see you with a stubble." He closed his eyes, breathing in the man's scent of coffee and warm summer nights, and allowed himself to drift away. He leaned on Kakashi entirely, hugging him close, and reached.
This time, his touch was careful and hesitant. He did not force his way in.
And this time, Kakashi did not push him away. He allowed him in – softly and gently, as if holding his hand – and Naruto immediately felt safe and wanted and warm. "I love you," he whispered and sighed in wonder when his entire mind flooded with light – foreign and soft and entirely his own.
Notes
Well, guess Naruto caught him just in time!
I did consider breaking them apart and then meeting again when Naruto's older, but…. I just wanted them to hug already ~
Poor Naruto wanted kisses, too, but he'll have to make do with a hug instead.
They both still got a few issues to work through – like Naruto denying his previous anger to get Kakashi to stay and Kakashi being so protective of Naruto that he tries to make decisions for him – but at least they are making progress!
So… what did you guys think? It took so long to get to this moment – so please let me know! Your comments truly make me ridiculously happy!
Thank you all for your continued support – and I hope to see you again next Friday!
