"Iruka-sensai, kakashi-san is here."
"Why?"
Iruka didn't even bother to look up at the kid who'd just stormend into the teachers room.
"I don't know, he just sent me to get you"
"Tell him he should come in, I'm busy."
"R-right! On it!"
Not even 5 seconds later Kakashi stuck his head through the door. This time Iruka did bother to look up, even though he really didn't want to.
"What's it now?"
"Tough day huh?"
Kakashi asked flatly. Uninterested.
Iruka responded still.
"Stressful."
"Well, I actually wasn't going to bother you but Naruto hurt himself and this time his arm might actually broken. Also I can't take his bullying anymore and he can't stop nagging and asking about you."
"Fine, I'll come. Wait outside."
The jonin just gave him a bored thumbs up and disappeared out the door again.
------
"DAD, FINALLY!!"
Naruto had to be physically restriced from jumping up and into Irukas arms the second he saw him.
"Hey, what happened?"
"Fell down a cliff"
The boy mumbled in the other direction.
"What?"
"He made a bet with sasuke who could slide down a cliff on a piece of wood faster."
Kakashi explained next to him, leaning against a wall, barely looking up from his book.
"AND YOU DIDN'T MAYBE THINK OF STOPING THEM?!"
Iruka snapped, pinning the taller guy tighter to the wall by his collar.
The taller ninja just looked down at him with an unreadable expression. Intrigued maybe, Iruka guessed.
"CARE TO TELL ME WHO THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD BE A GOOD CARETAKER OF THREE KIDS?!"
The jonin finally let the strange expression fall back into his usual face screaming lack of interest. Iruka however had always been quite good at reading other people's faces and body language. As a teacher it was a pretty useful skill to have as a lot of kids often lacked vocabulary or linguistic expressions of their deeper feelings or complexer emotions. Right now he was sure that even though his opposites face was back to normal there was still a tiny shift from its actual usual look in the one exposed eye.
Suddendly the other ninja grabed Iruka, not as harsh as he could've but not soft either, and janked both of them around making it that the teacher was now the one pinned against the wall.
Iruka exhaled sharply.
"That would be the hokage and the elders. Don't worry though. Conserend parents always get to my heart."
"Well if there was one I'd be relieved."
Iruka responeded pointedly and pushed one of the arms planted beside him away to escape the jonins grasp.
"Kakashi-san! Leave Irupapa alone!!!"
Naruto stood infront of Iruka with his broken arm.
"Welp, I'm out."
-------
"and that was actually really cool of him but most of the time he's just a jackass"
Naruto gestured around explaining of how Kakashi showed them some special trick.
"Aha that sounds fun, but no more bets alright?"
"Fiiiiiineee"
"You're not going to keep that.."
"Noooooo....."
Iruka sighed but couldn't surpress a laugh.
"Let's go eat some rahmen on our way"
"YESSSSSS!!"
The Kid proceeded to jump around like it was his birthday. Or like he got officially adopted again.
"Naruto, watch out!! Ur arm's still broken!"
Just as Iruka was about to hurry after his kid he suddendly felt a presence, or more like a sudden lack there off, atop the roof across the street. Hatake Kakashi.
It left a sudden bad taste in his mouth. Like he was monitoring how he parented Naruto. Like he didn't trust Iruka.
Before the teacher adopted the little ball of energy Kakashi had been the official guardian, however; he had more or less instantly agreed that it would be a great Idea if Iruka were to be the one to adopt Naruto. This brought with itself that the jonin watched them from afar from time to time. Iruka had never felt it was to watch over them though. It had always felt like a ice cold stare was just there to see if he was going to make a mistake or be a terrible fatherjust so Kakashi could prove to himself that staying absent and watching from afar had been a better method as a guardian all along.
------
The following weeks were strange for the chunin. It was as if he was constantly confronted with Kakashi. By accident or for some official reason. First he met him at the market than late at night in a bar while watching over his drunk friends. The following day they ran into each other on the street three times which was especially strange regaring the fact that Kakshi wasn't necessarily one to use the open streets to walk about. One Thursday Kakashi delivered some documents and a report, the first one in the last two months, to Irukas desk at the office and later brought Naruto home in the middle if the night after he fell asleep while watching Sakura and Sasuke train.(Naruto's arm was still not healed because he didn't even take a minute of rest)
On the next day Gai came by and invited everyone he saw to dinner, then decided that Iruka was going to be the victim of his overly dramatic speeches for the evening causing him to sit between Kakashi and Gai the entire night. Saturday was by extent still Friday and Gai had insisted that a tiny bit tipsy Kakashi had to walk home a tiny bit tipsy Iruka because "with the long open hair some creep might think he's a fair maiden"
After a few hours of sleep he was hastily called into the hokages office to get assigned to a short mission the next day all while Kamashi was there reading one of his filthy books. Infront of Minato.
On sunday they realized that their assigned missions lay the same way so they accompanied each other.
Iruka was surprised at the others proposal to travel the part that lay the same way together but he couldn't say he minded. He'd never really liked Hatake but he didn't dislike him either. Sometimes he hated him. Most of the time though he respected the extraordinary Jonin even though there was always a gasping lack of the same from the other side.
All in all, as Iruka lay in bed that night, Naruto ontop of him, after he "couldn't sleep" because of a "nightmare", he thought about said strangeness. Even wondering if he'd see the other ninja the next day.
He didn't.
And neither the next two days.
And somehow he felt like something was missing.
It was truly strange because he didn't particularly know Kakashi and you can't really miss a stranger.
----------
As fate would have it though Naruto and Iruka strangely talked about the boys mentors eating Habits. Apperantly the jonin only ever ate out or take out, so Iruka, a tiny bit infuriated by the bad example, told Naruto to bring Kakashi for dinner so he could see how important normal food was or something. The teacher later wondered why he thought that eating at someone elses house would improve ones own cooking skills and reached the conclusion: it didn't. Luckily Naruto was so stoked about Kakashi comming over he didn't reach any conclusions.
Iruka felt strangely relieved when he opened the door to a familiar bored face on Thursday evening.
"DAAAAD,,,,,WE MADE IT!!!"
"Good, what took you so long, you made a bet behind my back again?"
Iruka laughed and messed with Narutos hair while hugging him.
Kakashi, awkwardly standing by the door, cleared his throat and held up a bottle of sake.
"I figured if I'll get dinner here I may as well be so kind."
"YEAH, It wasn't me who took soooo long. Kakashi-san took forever to find this specific bottle."
Iruka half-complained half-explained while pushing past towards the table.
The sake was Irukas favorite brand, a rare one from a neighbouring village. Not expensive but usually pretty hard to find.
"So you weren't asleep when I debated Gai?"
"Didn't want to get wraped up in your Argument."
Iruka couldn't hide the smile creeping up on his face.
"Well, this is an educational meet and I for one don't think one should pay for education or were you trying to bribe the teacher?"
He winked at the jonin before walking back to the living room were Naruto could barely hold himself from starting to devour the neal before him.
"You can eat Naruto."
Iruka gestured for the guest to sit on one of the free sides if the small table which was stacked with different kinds of food.
"Woah, I wasn't expecting a meal to such extent.."
Kakashi sat there, dumbfounded, before slowly starting to eat a small portion, then another and another.
Iruka watched proudly. He had given Kakashi a handkerchief to replace the mask while eating but it was still strange. The teacher had to remind himself that he actually didn't really know the man sitting next to him and that the weird familiarity he felt that moment was just some weird joke his brain made.
"Next time it's your time to cook right?"
Naruto asked while trying to fit two pieces of meat into his mouth.
"Next time?"
Iruka was even more surprised when Kakashi just answerd nonchalantly.
"Sure, In two days I have off. You can come over then."
"Yayyyy!!"
"Wait, I thought you can't cook?"
"Teach me then."
Kakashi deadpanned.
"Yeah, BUT DON'T YOU LET IRUKA DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU!!"
"Huh?! Okay okay."
--------
Iruka had just finished the laundry when he heard a knock on the door. Naruto had gone out to train and he never knocked anyway.
Even before he opened the door he could feel the Chakra outside.
"I was on my way home anyways, I thought I might as well pick you up"
"Oh, what a gentleman~. Well you have come just in time. Do you know what you want to make?"
"I do. Gai told me what to get."
Well at least he was taking the whole thing seriously.
The teacher nodded and got into his shoes. He used Kakashi to support himself from falling. It wasn't like he didn't have the balance to hold himself up but Naruto had actually had a nightmare last night meaning Iruka hadn't got a single second of proper sleep. The jonin didn't mind though.
"So what did you have in mind now?"
"Well,,,the last time I cooked with...my mom...we made some simple Udon..."
There was a short pause.
"...oh, and you want to try it again?"
Iruka asked at last. Carefully.
Kakashi just shrugged but his face conveyed so many emotions Iruka couldn't help but stare.
-------
"Woah,,,,Kakashi-san has such a cool house!!"
"Yeah, the Hatake residence is quite something isn't it?"
Iruka let Naruto in who was not only sweaty but also covered in dirt.
"Hey, kakashi-san. Can Naruto shower here somewhere?"
The home owner laughed at his dirty student.
"Come on. I'll get you something different to wear too."
While Kakashi dragged Naruto away, Iruka continued cutting the last of the vegetables.
Kakashi could follow food simple orders and understand the recipe but his fault actually lie in his lack of care. He had no idea how to season things properly and constantly forgot what was next to do and how to do it.
"I gave him some of my childhood clothes."
"Thank you."
Kakashi shrugged.
"He's the one who should be saying thank you."
"Hahah, I guess you're right but he'd rather puke his favorite Rahmen than say thank you to you."
"Talk about me that horribly?"
His flat voice carried a subtle amusement.
"No, I wish. He absolutely admires you. You're like his superhero."
Iruka could make out a little smile beneath the mask.
"Well I'm glad. But nothing could ever match how he talks about you. He really, really loves you, you know?"
"I know, I love him too."
"Must be nice."
Kakashi hummed. His voice didn't necessarily carry a lot of sadness but after that a pressed silence fell over the kitchen. First Iruka wanted to light up the mood and make a joke or something but he decided that that might not be the most sensitive way to respond.
"You know you can have that too, right? A family of your own."
"Well, never really been open for debate. When you're a jonin dating anyone below your level endangers them automatically."
"And no jonin ever cought your eye?"
Iruka wiggled his eyebrows at him.
"Not really.."
Kakashi snickerd.
"Wait, have you ever even had a crush?"
Iruka felt like he was having one of the infamous girltalks him and his female friends had from time to time and funny enough Kakashi matched the energy.
"Well, I can't complain, but it never went beyond one date or one or two nice nights."
"Hmmm,,, I know a lot of nice bachelorettes...or bachelors?"
Kakashi shrugged handing Iruka the finished cut onion.
"Just know, I can hook you up anytime~"
The teacher winked while throwing in the noodles. However, being all busy with Kakashis love life, he had thrown them in from a considerable distance causing the boiling water to splash up onto his left hand which was holding the pot.
"Shitt"
He cursed under his breath.
Immediately the jonin was close up to him analyzing the burn on his hand carefully. Not letting go of his hand kakashi walked them to the fridge and took out some frozen meat, wrapped some cloth around it, and put it on the burn.
Iruka looked up at the taller, all tense up and focused. Slowly he took his right hand and put it up on Kakashis cheek causing him to look into the others eyes.
"Kashi, breath out, relax. It's just a little burn. Nothing much."
Iruka whispered calmly.
"Right, yeah."
He looked down at the teacher one more moment before slowly getting out of his space. It was like all the warmth he just experienced left and his hand started hurting immensely. He bit it down and looked back at kakashi. What was that? He'd never seen the jonin let anyone, except for the kids sometimes, get so close to him. Physically at least. Maybe that just was because Iruka had always just seen him professionally but he did feel special somehow. Also it made sense that the other would react overly sensitive to wounds, being around the kids all day, whose only mission was to get hurt in the most unconventionally stupid ways.
-------
"Wow kakashi-san. This isn't even as bad as I thought it would be!"
"Ouch."
Kakashi replied nonchalantly. Naruto stuck out his tounge at him.
"You can thank your that though."
Iruka looked up, his amused smile fading when he saw Kakashi looking at him. Studying him. He knew that look. It had always annoyed him. It felt like Kakashi was belitteling him or judging him in some way. The teachers spiraling thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Naruto pretending to puke.
"Bleugh! That's disgusting! Stop looking at Iru-papa so longingly!"
Eyes wide open Iruka now directed his attention to the boy, who was still looking at his mentor with a disgusted face.
The accused just shrugged and continued his food.
"I'm tireddddd."
Naruto yawned, seemingly already forgotten what he'd just said.
"Huh? Oh yeah, right. Well it's beyond your bedtime already m, so we better get going."
Iruka stumbled around his words.
"You can stay tonight. I don't have any Guestrooms anymore but the room I had when I was a kid still got a bed. You can of course have my bed."
"Nono, we can't do that, invade your sapce like that."
"I don't -"
"Yesss,,, I'll see Kakashi-sans old room"
The apartment owner shrugged at Iruka winningly.
"Fineeee,,, I'll take the couch then."
"No, Kaka-san offered his bed!"
"Naruto, that's not polite"
"I really don't mind sensei"
Iruka rolled his eyes at them and got up to put Naruto to bed.
When he came out of the room where the boy was sleeping Kakashi leaned on the doorframe between kitchen and dining room. His face was analytical, or longing as Naruto put it, again but less harsh this time.
"You always wait for him to fall asleep."
Not a question.
"His nightmares used to be a lot worse."
Not an answer.
Iruka let his hair down from the tight bun and put down his headband.
"Take the bed, really."
"It's fine. I'd rather sleep here so I can hear if naruto wakes up from a nightmare."
Kakashi nodded but didn't leave.
"You want something comfortable to sleep?"
"Some pants would be nice."
The jonin disapeared only to reapear a few minutes later with a full set of pyjamas. He had also changed his clothes to some joggers and replaced the headband with an eye patch. No shirt, so Iruka could see his strong body, his muscles and....his scars. So many scars. Some of them must've been from pretty horrible wounds. The teacher had to physically pull himself together to not go up to Kakashi and carrase them. Ask him where they were from. Hug him.
Iruka shook his head, hugging the icecold jonin? He wouldn't even come close before his head was chopped off. Besides, what kind of weird thoughts were that?
"Not good?"
Kakashi looked puzzled.
"Nono, good, very much, thanks!"
Stumbeling over his words, clumsily he took the stuff and escaped to the bathroom.
He was acting like a teenage girl. Wtf.
Of course Kakashi was hot. No surprises there. He also knew that he found the jonin more attractive than he probably should. No surprise there either. However, Iruka usually prided himself on being rather smooth with people he found attractive. He barely ever blushed or got giddy like this. It was quite an embarrassment.
After changing the teacher looked into the mirror. There was a good chance Kakashi had gone to bed but he still wanted to get back at the man for making him all flustered. He knew for a fact that the other man enjoyed some male attention as well, if not exclusively like himself, so he told himself that it shouldn't be impossible. Iruka knew he didn't look bad at all and especially with his hair down he possessed a certain charm.
When he opened the door kakashi was still there, sitting on the floor reading his newest icha icha book.
"You haven't gone to bed yet?"
Iruka made sure to put something extra flirty in the not very flirtatious question.
He hadn't buttoned up the pyjama top and placed the pants loosely on his hips, as low as possible, without making it look weird that is.
He was satisfied when he saw Kakashi,who had the unfair advantage of being able to hide behind his mask, swallow and taking a good moment to respond.
Kakashi on the other hand was close to a shutdown. He had thought of himself of very slick when he left the top but he hadn't expected his guest get him back.
"Noo... that would've been rude"
Voice dry, Kakashi stood up but instead of just leaving for his own bed he just stopped and look Iruka up and down again. The latter used the opportunity to step closer.
"Well, such a gentleman, again~ thank you very much~"
Iruka winked while passing by him towards the couch. On his way he brushed the others arm purposefully of course. He hadn't predicted what'd happen next because to his total surprise the taller turned and stepped close to him from behind. Iruka froze, feeling the pressure of a hand on his lower hip and breath, filtered through the mask, on his ear.
"Oh, zou have nothing to thank me for~"
In an instant Kakashi was gone behind him mumbling a goodnight on his way out.
Iruka fell down on the couch, red as a tomato and doing everything in his power to understand what just happened.
---------
"Pops, wake up!!!"
Iruka immediately stood up straight at Narutos screams. He had conditioned himself to do so when the boy woke up.
"What's up?"
The teacher immediately fell back on the couch yawning. The strange environment had strangely cause him to sleep a lot more peaceful than normally, not always jumping up when he heard Naruto so much a sigh.
"Stand up, Kakashi-san made breakfast!!"
Surprised Iruka looked at the lanky man in the doorframe.
"You can do that?"
"It's nothing cooked but the eggs."
Kakashi shrugged apologetically.
Still yawning Iruka stretched while walking towards the dining room. As he passed the jonin he patted his chest mumbling "that's absolutely perfect" in his low morning voice.
Grateful for not having to go anywhere, especially not the academy, today Iruka enjoyed the spartanian breakfast like he hadn't eaten anything in years.
Naruto ran out after swallowing everything on a few bites to go train and see his friends.
"I have a mission but you can leave everything as is when you're finished. I should be back tomorrow morning latest anyways."
"Oh yeah, okay, thanks!"
Kakashi walked to the door and Iruka thought he had already left, not surprised at the lack of sound of a door because, well, it was morning and he was tired. "Before I forget, how's your hand?"
The teacher jumped out of his seat immediately pinning the other man down.
"Sorry, you startled me."
"I noticed. I'm sorry. I just remembered I forgot to ask about your hand."
Iruka sat up and looked at it.
"It's fine, I've forgotten about it too."
"Well then,"
Kakashi sat up to so know Iruka was placed on his lap. Way to close. Both of them needed a minute to catch themselves.
"I, uh, really have to go."
The jonins voice was low and barely audible. His eye studying the others features closely.
"Ah, yeah. Again sorry about, uh, that"
Iruka traced the back of Kakashis head down over his neck and to his shoulders from which he pushed himself up. Extending a hand to pull the other up to.
For a short moment they stood way to close again before Kakashi turned around, this time to actually leave. Just before he closed the door he looked back grinning.
"Can't wait for my next lesson sensei!"
Iruka just shook his head but he couldn't keep the smile, that was creeping up on his face, away.
------
It was around noon when Iruka finally left the appartment. Being who he is he, of course, didn't just leave the plates on the table but cleaned them up and put them into place. First he wanted to wash the pyjama back at his own place but then he decided to just fold it up tidily with a note saying that it still needs to be washed and he'd cover costs if necessary. He knew it wouldn't be necessary. Of course not. For all he knew Kakashi was one of the wealthiest people in the whole town.
On his way back Iruka couldn't stop hos mind from racing. How strangely pleasant it had felt to fall asleep surrounded by the smell of the strongest man in Konoha. Like nothing could happen to him, and more importantly to naruto, who right this moment came running, charging at him.
"Iru-papaaaa!"
The force of the boy, launching himself at Iruka caused both of them to fall over.
"I'm hungryyyy!!!"
Naruto laughed.
Iruka couldn't help but laugh to. Seeing Naruto happy like this still made him feel incredibly joyous.
"Alright, let's get some ramen on the way."
"Yess!!"
The boy cheered running away right up to the restaurant.
After devouring his second bowl Naruto looked at Iruka strangely.
"Everything alright?"
"You know, you shouldn't let Kakashi-san use you just because you like him!"
Iruka nearly chocked on his last spoonful.
"What?! I don't like Hatake-san, at least not the way you meant it, and neither does he use me. I showed him how to cook because a good role model shouldn't let kids think it's a good thing to only eat takeout."
"Yeah sure, just so you know, I saw how you looked at each other today, and he always stares at you like girls my age stare at boys my age."
The last part was personal. Iruka didn't ask any more questions though, it wouldn't have helped anyways.
"Hey, nothing's going on...and...if there was I'd be the one using him alright?"
He winked at the still upset looking Naruto.
"Okay!"
With a thumbs up the boy jumped up.
"I promised I'll be back as soon as possible!"
Waving, he ran out and away, back to the training grounds.
------
A faint crash caused Iruka to jump out of be in the middle of the night. He rushed to the window, identifying it was Kakashi standing outside throwing rocks at his window like some stupid teenager. Contrary to the acting like a dumb teenager the man was stumbeling, clearly in pain.
The teacher, after comming to the realization that the jonin wasn't doing so well, immediately ran down and tried to pull him up towards the first floor, back to his apartment.
"What the actual living fuck happened?!"
He hissed.
"No, get Naruto, now, I fucked up. You need- We need to go to my place. It's not safe here."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll explain later. Hurry!"
Seeing Kakashi so distressed and messed up worried Iruka to unbearable amounts. Still, he did as told, woke up a very confused Naruto, got both of their uniforms and hurtied the sleepy boy out the door.
--------
Naruto, half sleeping the entire way to the Hatake-residence, just fell back to sleep when Iruka brought him back to Kakashis childhood bedroom.
"And now you tell me what the hells going on."
Iruka said strictly when he colsed Naruto's door.
In the light of the room he could also finally see Kakashi properly. The man was all beaten up and bruised. He was bleeding on his shoulder and holding his side to unsuccessfully try to stop an even bigger wound from bleeding.
"Oh god."
Iruka slowly but determinedly undressed kakashis upper body. The other was neither trying to object nor trying to help, and just stared at the smaller man exhaustedly.
After he had finally disinfected all the wounds and stopped the bleeding, Iruka dragged the patient to his own bath and purred him in a warm bathtub.
"Take a bath, don't fall asleep and knock on the door when you're finished."
As Iruka turned though he was pulled back by his arm. Kakashi hugged him, or more like used him as stabilizer and whispered weakly.
"Stay."
The teacher nodded slowly and pushed the lanky man away from him to let him get undressed fully.
"Want me to get you your eyepatch?"
Iruka asked as Kakashi pulled down the headband.
He just pointed at the counter. As quickly as possible Iruka pulled the eyepatch down to prevent Kakashis eye from opening and spilling unnecessary amounts of chakra.
"Okay?"
The nurturing man asked quietly.
Kakashi grabbed Irukas hand weakly while sliding deeper into the tub, probably not to slip Iruka thought.
"You're mask will get wet."
Iruka said softly. The jonin only motioned the other mans hand to the bottom of the mask. Iruka wanted to ask again if everything was alright but he decided that it would be way more annoying for Kakashi than to just do it.
Slowly, carful not to hurt the already beat up enough man, Iruka removed the mask. He continued trying to keep his eyes away from Kakashis face.
"It's alright. I don't mind you seeing."
Kakashis voice was rough and tired but Iruka ztill found himself blushing furiously. Maybe it was also because of the incredibly handsome face smiling up at him. A little scar decorated the left corner of his upper lip and on the right side,below his face, Iruka made out a little mole.
"Why you keep your face hidden will always be a mystery to me."
Iruka whispered amazed.
"I'll tell you someday"
----------
Getting the wounded man out of the bath proved to be even more difficult. In an incredibly slow fashion they made it back to the bedroom. Iruka estimated the sun to be up in about an hour and with that a question asking, no, a question bombarding Naruto.
Still wanting to get any sleep left the teacher tucked Kakashi in and turned to the couch in the room. Better be near if something happens. He figured.
The nearly sleeping man had a better idea though. With unexpected force he yanked Iruka down next to him, snuggled close and fell asleep at once.
Completely stunned at the surprising force Kakashi, despite nearly mortal wounds, possesed, and the strange situation he was in Iruka couldn't help but grinn. Tonight had been an absolute fever dream. Still, he motioned Kakashi, who had clinged himself all around Iruka like the man was his only aource of warmth, closer, even dared a little peck into the silver hair, and drifted off to sleep as well.
-------
Surprisingly Iruka didn't wake up to Naruto running around, asking what was happening but the hokage, personally, standing over him. Kakashi was still pressed to him sleeping exhaustedly.
"Minato-sama!?"
"Umino-sensei, as I can see Hatake-san has already told you about the incident?"
Iruka fought his way out of the other mans grasp and forced his pyjama straight.
"Hmhm. No, I have only been informed that Naruto and I are to leave my apartment due to a lack of safety to some kind."
"I see...well, on Kakashis last mission he was to eliminate a troupe of assassin's out for Naruto. Or well, you know...In anyway, we all gravely underestimated the assassins and sending the boy out hy himself was a mistake."
Minato nodded at Kakashi.
"When the ANBU, came by your empty apartment in the morning we had already feared the worse but luckily your boy ran right into my office and told me what had happened. Of course with a strict order to let you sleep till noon because you haven't slept so deeply in Forever."
Iruka could immediately imagine Naruto scolding the hokage, with respect of course but still. He chuckled. The hokage smiled an amused smile as well.
"Thank you."
"Not in the least, thank you sensei. I see you took good care of our stubborn ninja."
"I'm a teacher and a dad. Dealing with stubbornness is all I do."
Iruka grinned.
"Again, thank you. He trusts you and I can't say he does that a lot. If you could I would like to have you take care of him for the next two to three days. I'll compensate you of course."
"I can't really refuse that, can I?"
It was Minatos tirn to grin.
"Correct."
"Then I'll do it. What about those assassin's though?"
"The anbu's taking care of them as we speak. They shouldn't be a problem any longer."
Iruka nodded again. They must've been quite a force if the managed to mess Kakashi up this badly.
----------
"Rise and shine sunshine, It's late afternoon already!"
Iruka woke Kakashi up by rocking him softly.
"Ru-chan?"
"Who?"
Iruka laughed at the nickname, helping to sit the jonin up. The sleepy man, however, wasn't interested in standing up and just fell into Irukas chest, hugging him for support.
"Where's Naruto?"
He mumbled into Irukas shirt. Or rather his own. That Iruka had stolen, not interested in running around in uniform or pyjamas all day.
"Out training, don't worry, Minato was here and explained everything. Told me I ought to take care of you because you trust me so much~"
Iruka wiggled his eyebrows.
"I do?"
The other man removed himself from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. Grinning.
"Of course you do, who wouldn't~ Now, get up tough soldier I made breakfast and the eggs are going to get cold."
Iruka pulled the wounded man up and supported him to the living room.
"What about your work?"
"I'm officially excused. As nurse. For you."
"Ahhh..."
While Kakashi was eating the huge breakfast Iruka did some chores around the house.
"You know, you don't need to this."
Kakashi looked up at him while he was hanging up some freshly washed clothes on the balcony.
"Given that I'm going to stay here the next few days I do."
"Only the next few days?~"
"Already asking me to move in now?~"
"Why not?"
Kakashi asked in such a serious tone, Iruka couldn't make out if he was being funny or for real.
"What?"
He laughed. The jonin still looked at him. Puzzled. Admiring.
"You know, living here wouldn't be all so bad for Naruto, plus it's a lot safer. For both of you."
"You underestimate my skills to keep us safe?"
Iruka still grinned but beyond the lighthearted facade he was truly considering the idea.
"Not at all, it was just a suggestion."
Kakashi shrugged.
"I suppose it's not that bad of an idea. Besides, the hokage already thinks we're fucking anyways~"
Slowly and clearly in pain Kakashi stood up and made his way to the balcony door.
"How do you know where everything was?"
"Pakkun showed me. For his pissed off face he's actually very helpful."
"Only if he likes you."
Kakashi sighed dramatically, pressing an unwanted laugh out of Iruka, who had just finished hanging up the last piece of clothing.
"I was already grocery shopping, cleaned pretty much your whole place on a superficial level, got mine and Naruto stuff for the next two to three days, washed and now dried your clothes and bathed your dogs, want to compensate?~"
He stepped close enough to Kakashi to feel his breath but Kakashi didn't step away so neither did Iruka.
"You bathed my dogs. How'd you menage that."
Kakshis voice had gone low and rough. Hot.
"Apparently they like me too~"
Iruka lowered his voice seductively. To immediate success as it seemed because the taller man leaned forward even more brushing back Irukas hair, which were held up by a loose bun.
"Too?"
Kakashis eyes flickered down. He was so close by now that Iruka could feel his lashes. His voice was barley a whisper.
Before Iruka could say anything back thin lips lay themselves on his own. Carefully, slowly. Kakashi was an incredible kisser.
To stabilize himself he had put one hand on th smaller mans shoulder. The other landed on Irukas neck, playing with some hair he had fished out of the bun.
Cautious, not to hurt Kakashi, Iruka put his hands on the others thin hips pulling him closer as the kiss deepend.
Again careful, Iruka pushed his hands below Kakashis shirt and slowly traced his back carefully caressing the scars he felt.
Kakashi had opened Irukas bun pushing his face impossibly closer. After realizing the Iruka held him tight enough so he wouldn't collapse, he let go off Irukas shoulder and slid his entire arm on the others shoulder pushing their bodies so close they could've been counted as one.
"I'm ba-aaaaah!!!"
Naruto had pushed the door open and looked at them as if he had just seen a monster.
"You're back already?"
Kakshi looked at him, clearly not happy he was intruding.
"WHERE IS YOUR MASK?!"
"That's what you're screaming about?"
Irukas stomach hurt from laughing so hard.
"OF COURSE!! I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THAT FACE!!"
-------
"So, we're moving in forever?"
Naruto asked between bites.
"Let's see, we'll be at least staying for the next few days."
"Yeah you better see iru-papa. Kakashi-san is a handful to date, I'm sure."
"Oy, and your not a handful to parent?"
Iruka laughed again.
"We'll see how it all works out ok. And for the record both of you are a handful so you better start learning to take care of each other."
"Hmhm."
The hummed in unsion, continuing to shove food into their mouths.
After Naruto had gone to bed, not without a fight if he has to shower or not, Iruka stood on this balcony again looking down at the latern-lit street.
"You're not afraid somebody might see you with your mask off?"
He asked when Kakashi hugged him from behind.
"Nobody can see into here. Like I said, my place is a tiny bit safer than yours~"
"Don't get cocky."
Iruka smiled softly.
"I got it from my dad."
Kakashi mumbled in the crook of the other mans neck.
"It was to train how to keep my facial expressions in check to prevent emotional attacks."
"And now it reminds you of him."
Iruka whispered caressing the taller mans hair. A nod confirmed his suspicion.
"Thank you for trusting me."
"How couldn't I?"
Iruka laughed, turned around and kissed Kakashi again. The jonin, despite still not being in the best of conditions, picked him up as if he were as light as a feather and carried him back to the bedroom.
"Be careful."
Iruka warned.
"Don't worry, your safe with me~"
Iruka rolled his eyes at his twisted warning but still smiled.
Who could've guessed that Naruto would be the reason he finally found someone worth more than a few dates.