Naruto glared at his phone.
The phone glared back.
Sakura smacked him. "So you're just waiting for him to call so you can hang up?" she criticized. "Stop being a child, Naruto."
"He deserves it," Naruto protested, scowling at the darkening screen. "S'not like he's calling," he admitted, scoffing at his hurt voice.
"Why would he if all you do is hang up?"
Naruto swallowed. "I'd call," he mumbled, leaning on his forearms and resisting the urge to pout. "I'd call him nonstop."
"Well, it's a good thing you're not dating yourself," Sakura deadpanned. "Think of the phone bill."
A part of him wanted to reach, to grab hold of the unshaken connection always lingering in the back of his mind, push himself through and feel him. That same part that yearned for him, that promised that Kakashi was feeling the same – alone and called and abandoned – pulsing with fear that Kakashi would move on, walk away from him and never return.
That same fear, however, stopped him. Because maybe Kakashi had already moved on. Maybe he never missed him, never wanted him. Maybe this was just a fever dream and Kakashi left to wake him up and it was all just another lie to spare his feelings...
Naruto scoffed bitterly, then jumped up.
His phone rang.
The number, however, was unfamiliar.
"Answer, you dumbass," Sakura called from the kitchen. "Or I'll smack you proper!"
"Not my mom!" Naruto yelled back, tousled his hair, winced, and picked up.
"Oho, finally. Don't hang up," said a rich, deep voice that was entirely unfamiliar. "My name is Darui. I work with Kakashi. You wouldn't believe how hard I had to work to steal your number even if I told you."
Naruto was torn between disappointment and curiosity. Curiosity won. "I would, actually," he muttered curtly. "He's got a thing for secrets."
"He talks! Hmm. You sound younger than I expected," Darui commented. "Yes, well, that's Kakashi. I assume you can guess how surprised I was to learn he was dating someone. Seriously, I mean."
Naruto made an odd, noncommitted sound in reply. He sat up straight, listening intently. "Um, so you're an old friend?" he said, trying to sound formal and not that young.
Was he… was he Kakashi's first real boyfriend? The notion left him dizzy.
Darui laughed. "You could say that. We used to compete a lot when we were students. I have never seen him budge as much as an inch, no matter how stressful the situation was or how high the stakes were. Cool as a cucumber, that one." He dragged his answer. Was he hesitating? "Listen, ah – What was your name? I forgot to ask."
"Naruto," Naruto replied, prickled yet again. "So he told you nothing about me," he seethed. "What – how did you know to pick my number, then? Or did you call every single number in the contact list?" His heart drummed painfully against his ribcage. "Was I even on the list?" he added, annoyed at how brittle he sounded.
Darui took a moment to answer. "I copied the last number he called. The only number he called," he emphasized. "It said 'Uzumaki', which I assumed was your last name. I think… that's his way of keeping you to himself," he said quietly, as if reading Naruto's thoughts. His voice was oddly soothing. "Heh, he wasn't even willing to show me a picture. He said he doesn't need one since you're so brilliant, your image is burned into his mind."
Naruto's hand jumped to tangle in his hair, but the strands were too short. All he managed was to make a mess. "Um. He said that?" he whispered.
"Yeah. You're very important to him. That's why I called," Darui admitted, clearing his throat. "I know it's not my place, and I apologize for… well, for interfering, but… you guys had a fight, right? About five days ago?"
Naruto swallowed with difficulty. "Yeah," he admitted quietly. "How'd you know? Did he tell you what happened?"
"No," the man laughed. "No. He's just been grumpy for that long," he said softly, "and like I said, he's not a man easy to bother, so I figured it's gotta be something to do with you. And… well, it sounds like he's very important to you too, so I suppose what I'm trying to say is… just talk to him, man. You don't want to start the new year with a grudge, right?"
When Naruto kept his silence, he added, "Your calls always make him smile. I think he'd be really happy to hear from you."
Naruto nodded at no one. "I'll… I'll call," he promised quietly.
"Good," Darui said, breathing in relief. "Ah. Don't tell him I told you. I don't think he'd appreciate my interference. Bye, Naruto."
"Yeah," the teen mumbled and hung up.
Sakura materialized from the kitchen. "Well?" she asked, drying a plate. "You look… off."
Naruto leaned back against the chair and covered his eyes with his arm. "It wasn't Kakashi. It was one of his friends. He said he stole my number and asked me to call him."
Sakura frowned. "Then stop torturing the man and call him already." She huffed. "I mean, honestly, Naruto. You're dating a man. You got to stop acting like a kid."
"I'm not – " His body reeled in anger as the words wouldn't come out. How could he tell her Kakashi was ashamed of him? Never taking him out in public, never sticking around in the presence of someone familiar, always hiding… his throat tightened. "It's all his fault," he managed, hugging his knees against his chest.
Sakura scoffed. "So you think giving him the silent treatment will fix that? Adults talk, Naruto. Not throw tantrums. You need to tell him what bothers you." When Naruto didn't answer, she rolled her eyes and stomped to her room. "Whatever. I'm reserving the shower for the next two hours – "
"Two hours?!"
" – I need to get ready for Sasuke! Call Kakashi, you ass!"
"You're an ass!" Naruto spluttered.
Sakura threw her bra at him.
Naruto scoffed at the flimsy fabric and the girl who threw it. He stared at the phone, scowled, and busied himself with his homework. Then Sakura was done, Sasuke showed up, and the two disappeared into Sakura's room. Naruto turned his music really loud, showered, and dressed for the party. Sasuke and Sakura emerged – and showered again. They got out – Sakura giggling and Sasuke stone-faced – and Sasuke threw a small gift at him and rolled his eyes. "Call him, idiot," he scoffed.
Naruto accepted the gift –a beautiful set of colored pencils – and said nothing.
He followed his friends to the party, played beer-pong with Ino against Sasuke and Sakura, downed a shot, lost a short game of shoji to Shikamaru, and… and hated every fucking minute of it.
The minutes crept by as the old year neared its end. Sakura snuggled next to Sasuke, their hands tangling almost shyly as they slowly seemed to forget those around them. Ino abandoned her crowd of admirers to pose for some loner from the art department. Shikamaru managed to invite – somewhat awkwardly, definitely embarrassed – a tall, gorgeous woman to the balcony for a smoke. The woman glanced around, discomfited, then agreed, and the two disappeared, hiding from the rest of the party-goers.
Naruto chuckled bitterly. If Kakashi were here, a part of him knew he'd react about the same. Take his hand and lead him away, hide him…
No, he suddenly realized, remembering Shikamaru's embarrassed yet relieved smile. Hiding together.
He excused himself, walked outside, and – with a deep breath – called Kakashi.
The man did not pick up.
With each beep, his heart began beating faster and faster, rattling against his ribcage and shuddering through his lungs and trembling through his fingers, pumping ice into his veins.
He did not pick up.
Naruto waited, gritting his teeth, but hung up as soon as he reached voice mail.
Well, fuck him. Naruto clenched his hands, hating Kakashi and hating himself for being such an ass –
His phone rang.
Naruto picked it up, almost breathless –
"I was just adjusting the machinery," the man said quietly. "Don't give up so quickly."
Naruto gulped. It took him a moment to understand – and remember that Kakashi could feel his emotions, especially when they spiked.
Naruto leaned against the railing and toyed with his scarf. "I missed your voice," he admitted quietly.
Kakashi hmmed. "Is that why you called?" he asked.
Something about the way he spoke felt tense, edged. Naruto wished he did not down that shot. He wished he knew what to say. "No. Well. Kinda." His mind felt like a hot mess. "I missed you," he confessed, his voice raw. "I was… I wanted you to miss me too."
"I do miss you," Kakashi breathed. "I am not ashamed of you. I simply… I prefer my affairs to be private. I was not expecting this level of interest."
"But you never – " Naruto gripped the railing, trying to steady himself and his words. "We never go anywhere public," he managed, "and it always – it feels like you're hiding me, and…."
"I don't like crowded places," Kakashi replied, his low voice untangling his jumbled thoughts. "I am not an Uchiha, so I cannot, well, turn "off" the Sharingan. I can smell and hear better than most, and crowds – "
"Are loud and stinky?" Naruto interrupted, his throat clicking as he swallowed. A sliver of hope shone through his darkened thoughts –
And showered his world with light when Kakashi managed a small chuckle. "Yes, something like that. I am not hiding you," he promised, his voice raw and gentle, "nor am I ashamed. I simply… people can react oddly to our relationship. I want to protect you, Naruto. I want to be alone with you. You are… the most important person in the world, to me," he managed, the notes trembling against Naruto's ear. "How can I ever be ashamed of you?"
And there it was, the simple explanation that he refused to hear. Naruto closed his eyes, let go of his anger, and surrendered. Kakashi's voice felt like cool water on his frayed nerves. He felt… happy just listening to his voice. He shuddered, wiping his eyes as he replayed Kakashi's words repeatedly, trying to etch them into memory forever.
"Naruto?"
Naruto's eyes snapped open. "I'm listening," he protested, sniffling. "You were saying really nice things," he accused him, smiling despite the tears freezing on his cheeks, "I didn't wanna stop you."
Kakashi hmmed again. "Are you drunk?"
Naruto scowled. "Just a little, cause – I mean – because it's New Year's. You aren't?"
"I'm taking care of the lab. What's with the change in wording?"
Naruto blushed, flustered. "I'm… I'm trying to stop with the slang. Sakura said I need to learn to talk properly if I wanna – want to impress important people."
"Important people?" Kakashi replied. Naruto could almost hear him smile. "Jiraiya is not asking you to talk to donors, is he?"
Naruto shrugged. "Maybe. I don't listen to half of what he says. You're important," he admitted instead. "I'm trying to impress you."
"Me? I never commented on your speech," Kakashi replied gently. "You don't need to change for me."
"Am not," Naruto protested, cheeks burning. "I'm aging naturally."
Kakashi laughed. "I see."
Naruto tried to scowl but grinned in response. He ran his fingers through his hair. "I love your laugh," he said quietly. "I love that I can make you laugh."
The man made an odd noise. "Well," he managed. "Don't disappear on me again."
His words, soft and quiet and full of longing, fluttered under Naruto's skin and bloomed within his chest. "I won't," he promised. "Sakura said I was acting like a kid and that I need to tell you if something's bothering me, so I'll do that," he mumbled, his cheeks reddening, "well, um, cuz I don't wanna fight and cuz you said really romantic stuff and it made me really happy." His heart thundered against his ribcage. "I love you, dumbass," he whispered.
Kakashi sighed. "I know." His voice faltered. "I need more time, Naruto."
Naruto nodded absentmindedly. "S'okay. I know you like me," he mumbled, smiling at nothing. "I can feel you having a heart attack all the way from here." He flinched when he heard loud shouting from the door behind him. "Um. You're alone?"
"Yes. You don't need more than one guy to watch a lab."
Naruto scowled. "Because you're the new guy?" he demanded, annoyed.
"Yes, but I agreed," Kakashi replied. "I don't like populated events. I understand that you do," he added.
Something about his voice sounded cautious. The words echoed within his ribs. "Well, yeah. But I left to call you, didn't I?" Another loud noise. Counting. They are –
"Count with me," he breathed. "Kakashi."
He could feel something about the man tremble whenever he said his name. That was why he reserved it for special occasions in which he needed him to agree. Like this one.
"It's cheesy," Kakashi protested.
"You're cheesy. You read Jiraiya's porn. Count with me."
Kakashi exhaled, perhaps preparing a protest, and sighed in defeat instead. "Fine. What number – "
"Seven, six, five – "
And Kakashi joined him, counting despite his obvious discomfort.
Meanwhile, Naruto prepared. He sat, leaning against the wall, and closed his eyes.
"One." He sighed in relief. "Happy New Year – "
Naruto was ready. He sank into himself, swam below, and reached up – into the cool warmth that was Kakashi – his fingers tangled in his hair, holding him close – and Naruto materialized in the stunned man's lap and kissed him.
His stomach tightened in shock and pleasure when he sensed the man's lips against his, soft and inviting and warm and… and yielding. Kakashi lifted his arms and pulled him closer – one hand hugging his waist while the other curled around his jaw and neck, guiding him as he deepened the kiss.
He's kissing me, Naruto thought breathlessly and submitted to the man's attentive touch. He's really kissing me.
He obeyed the man's hands as Kakashi maneuvered him to straddle him and gently bit his lower lip. Naruto gasped, heat shooting through him, and Kakashi angled him below and teased his lips with a touch of his tongue.
He wants me, Naruto realized, feeling the man hardening, straining the fabric of his pants. He parted his lips, granting him entry, and Kakashi hummed approvingly – and devoured him. His lips guided his, sucking them into his mouth and biting, exploring him with a slow, thorough pace that stole the air from his lungs – he could feel himself hardening as his head began to spin –
He pulled away, took a deep breath, and lunged at Kakashi again, kissing him with all his might before he exhausted his supply of courage or concentration –
Kakashi growled softly, vibrating against his chest, and tangled his fingers in his hair as he pulled him impossibly closer to his chest. His touch guided him, slowing his ravenous, frantic kisses into a soft, long caress that melted his thoughts into a burning, boiling mess. He tangled his fingers in Kakashi's hair, pulling him closer and teasing him with his tongue –
Kakashi nipped his lower lip as his hand traveled lower and pulled Naruto flush against him, grinding their erections together –
Naruto moaned, breaking for air again – and faded away.
He woke up, dizzy and breathless, sitting on the floor of an abandoned hallway next to the door behind which a loud party was taking place. With a raging hard-on.
Naruto removed his jacket, wrapped it around his waist, and fled.
Kakashi did not relish having to call the teen. Naruto waited for him – and constantly reminded him of that. He left him too many times, erecting too many walls and oceans between them.
And Naruto still managed to break through and reach him.
If Kakashi presumed to think Naruto would be satisfied by the New Year's kiss, he had never been more wrong. Now that he saw that he would not be rejected if he dared, Naruto did not let him go.
Kakashi was never kissed quite so often and so eagerly in his life.
Morning snuggles melted into thorough make-out sessions, even when neither had the time. Naruto still woke up after him, so Kakashi would spend his mornings observing his lover and caressing his shining, now much shorter hair. Then Naruto would wake up, scrunching his nose and cuddling closer. Shining, golden eyes would open wide, as if the teen was still unused to the sensation, and Naruto would grin, as bright as the sun, as he leaned forward and kissed him.
It felt strange, like kissing sunshine. He felt warmth and pressure against his lips, but his body was painfully aware that there was nothing there.
He wanted to smell him. He wanted to feel him. He wanted to explore his skin and memorize every texture and mark and sigh, etch them forever into his mind.
This wasn't enough, even though Naruto's reactions indicated it was more than enough for him.
He was so inexperienced, sweet and naïve and –
Fuck. Kakashi ignored the heat that began to pull in his stomach and called the teen. Best to get it over with. His heart skipped a beat when Naruto answered, bright and grinning and so unfairly happy.
He hoped he was not about to ruin that.
"Naruto, I have some things to discuss with you," Kakashi said, his voice slow and measured. "I need you to promise to listen until I am finished."
He could feel the teen scowling at the screen. "You're doing it again," he declared, his anger beginning to simmer. "You're changing the plans at the last moment because dating me like a normal person is too much for you."
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Naruto…."
"I knew it! I knew it! You're such a dick – "
"Naruto!" Kakashi snarled, growling. "Listen, for once!"
Naruto scoffed. "I don't get it," he mumbled. "We kissed and did naughty stuff – "
"Don't," Kakashi groaned, wincing, "call it that. And anything done in the spectral form feels differently from the physical – "
"So? It counts!"
"I'll kiss you in the flesh and you tell me if it counts," Kakashi quipped, hoping he'd managed to win about one minute of uninterrupted talking while Naruto sat in stunned silence.
"Y-you mean that?" the teen gasped.
Less than a minute. "Naturally. Now, listen," he repeated. "You're right. I signed up for another year. This place… is beyond my wildest dreams. I can finally pursue all the questions I had always wanted to pursue," he said softly, trying to explain himself to the teen. "I am not choosing machinery over you. I don't want you to think that. I will support your career choices, whichever they may be, and follow you if I can." He exhaled, uncertain if Naruto understood what he was trying to say. "Right now, Konoha offers me nothing."
"Konoha has me," Naruto protested quietly.
"Not during the summer," Kakashi countered gently. He cleared his throat. "I took the liberty of speaking with Samui, the head of the physics department," he said slowly, suddenly unsure of himself. "There is an internship opportunity – "
"You signed me up?" Naruto cried.
"Well, no," Kakashi continued, slightly hesitant. He couldn't tell – neither from the teen's voice nor from his spiraling emotions – whether he was appeased or upset by the offer. "I couldn't. I did, however, manage to convince her to open the internship to different universities, so you can apply – "
"And you'll get me in?" he demanded.
"Well." Kakashi dared a small smile. "I'll do what I can, but I doubt you'll need my help. I sent an email to Jiraiya – "
"On it!" the teen yelled. It sounded like he was running. "I'll be the first to apply! Don't let anyone else take my spot!" he panted and hung up.
Kakashi blinked.
That went… much better than he had hoped.
Naruto was indeed one of the earliest to submit his application, and though Samui maintained her cold and professional demeanor, Kakashi could tell she was highly impressed. She interviewed the teen via video chat, testing his ability beyond the required level, and Kakashi, sitting outside her locked office and eavesdropping, couldn't help but smile as Naruto breezily aced her impromptu exam.
"Just more one question," Samui said, "that would determine whether or not I accept you into our team."
Kakashi could hear Naruto nodding eagerly.
"Your relationship with Hatake must be entirely professional during the lab sessions, lab discussions, and anywhere near our equipment. You can do whatever you want in your free time, but not in my building. Is that clear?"
Kakashi flinched as Naruto stuttered, "Wh-yeah! Of course! I can be totally-totally pro. Yeah," he managed unconvincingly. "Did he, um, did he tell you…?"
"He did not," Samui replied curtly. "Though he should have." She sighed and explained, "I knew Hatake's mysterious boyfriend attended Konoha, and lo and behold, less than three hours after he convinced me to let other universities apply, you did. The only applicant from Konoha." The woman took a sip from her tea. "Younger than I expected, I must admit, but it is extremely difficult for the extremely smart to find their equal. If I catch the two of you doing anything, I am kicking you out. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Naruto declared. "So I'm in? I can, um, pack n' stuff? I mean, and stuff?" he fixed himself, flustered.
Kakashi blinked. He was quite certain he heard Samui chuckle. That was… unexpected. "The internship starts in a month, so I wouldn't hurry to pack. You'll get a dorm room – "
"I don't need one," Naruto interrupted. "Um. Ma'am."
"Samui is fine. And you do. I don't plan to rent a hotel room if you fight with Hatake."
"We won't!" Naruto tried to reassure her. "Um, well, we might," he admitted. Kakashi could hear a blush straining his voice. "But then I'll make him sleep on the sofa and then I'll feel bad and then I'll go to him and we'll make up. So it's all good."
Samui was quiet for a while, which was unusual. "Sounds like you have it all figured out," she said finally. "You still get a dorm room – college policy – and you can do with it what you like, as long as you don't lose the key. I'll let you tell Hatake."
Samui finished the call, unlocked the door, and opened it. She did not seem surprised to find him there. "Fancy a smoke, Hatake?"
Kakashi followed the woman to the small balcony behind her office. He lit a cigarette and waited for the woman to speak.
"He's young," she said, blowing out smoke. "Is that why you keep him hidden?"
Kakashi drew smoke and poison deep into his lungs. "I prefer my affairs kept private. It has nothing to do with his age."
The woman hmmed. "Any other man, Hatake, and I would have called bullshit. I understand why you like him," she added. "How'd you meet?"
Kakashi huffed. "Saved him from a speeding car."
"Romantic."
"Hmm."
"No funny business in the lab."
Kakashi thought of the incident six months ago when Naruto materialized in his arms and kissed him with so much passion, his spectral form nearly burned his skin while his inexperience burned Kakashi from within. "Of course."
"Good." The woman finished her cigarette. "I saw you decided to use your vacation days. Should I assume he will be gone as well?"
"Hmm. That's the plan."
Samui cocked her brow at him. "Never pictured you as the romantic type, Hatake."
"Never imagined you as the chuckling type."
The woman said nothing as she returned to the building. Kakashi extinguished his still-lit cigarette and took a deep, calming breath. Finally, some things are going…
And immediately began to panic. He wasn't used to good things lasting. His stomach told him to fear, and so he did what he did best.
He called a contract.
Notes
Well, I fixed some issues in chapters 36 & 37 based on your feedback. I do take it very seriously!
And, um, I feel kinda bad leaving you guys with this cliffhanger, but I'm approaching my finals, and I gotta prioritize school, so I'm going to stop posting until the 31 of August at the latest.
So… they finally (sorta) had their first kiss! Naruto did his best lol he'll get better soon esp now that Kakashi is slowly teaching him how haha and yes, the whole point of Kakashi moving away from Naruto was to avoid pressuring Naruto into sexual acts he wasn't ready for, but there's very little he can do when said brat continues to materialize in his lap and demand his attention haha
But yeah, that's it, in a way – this chapter ends the rocky beginning of their relationship, and the next chapter will mark the beginning of their actual, in-the-flesh relationship, so hopefully, it will be worth the wait
Thank you so much for your support! Please let me know what you think, and I hope to see you again, having passed all my exams!
Love y'all and again, thank you so much!
