Work Text:
The moment after putting down the tremendous amount of bags filled with presents and groceries enough to feed a small army, you loudly exhaled with relief. Finally at home, relaxing with a warm cup of herbal tea, and watching that Christmas episode of “Master Chef” you had recorded. You wanted to grab your scarf with an intention to undress, to realize that your favorite scarf, made by your grandma when you were still in college was… Not there.
Cursing under your breath you dived and started digging through your haul of Christmas gifts you needed to wrap, and things that you should put in the fridge and freezer before it would be too late. "I took it off when I was getting... but then I put it right back on! But then I took it off when I stopped for hot chocolate, so maybe there…”
You threw your hands up and tried to keep calm and collected so you could think, but there was no idea coming to your head, at least giving you a hint where you could’ve lost your beloved scarf. The hour was late, and you were sure that if you left it in one of the shops or the cafeteria, you could only return there in the morning. And if you lost it on the way… Well, chances that you would find it were close to a miracle, so you could just say goodbye and drag out of the closet something that’s been lying there for years.
Out of nowhere, your phone buzzed, with a new message incoming. Your friend and colleague sent you a picture of some colorful piece of material, stitched with Christmas themes, looking awfully familiar...
[Kakashi]: It’s yours, isn’t it?
[Me]: Where the hell you got it, it’s my scarf?!
[Me]: Thank you so much, when I can pick it up from you?
[Kakashi]: Whoa, whoa, (Y/n).
[Kakashi]: My friend, Yamato, found it in a park while walking from work
[Kakashi]: He just put a post on Facebook.
[Me]: Which friend? Can you contact him and tell him it’s mine?
[Kakashi]: I already did. I gave him your phone number so you two could set the details about meeting
[Me]: You did WHAT?
[Kakashi]: You’ll thank me ;)
[Me]: Thank you for what?!
[Me]: HATAKE!!!
But he didn’t answer after your last message, and you were ready to get the cab, drive there and tear that information out of him forcibly or not. But lucky for him, the moment you stopped cursing at Kakashi, the new number appeared on your screen, unknown to you or your phone contacts. Hoping that it’s this Yamato man, you picked it up immediately
“Hello?”
“Hi,” a deep voice echoed on the other side, making you shiver just a bit, “(Y/n)? Kakashi gave me your number…”
“Yeah, it’s me,” oh damn, how awkward that was?
“Yeah, sorry… I asked Kakashi if he could pass you the scarf, but he insisted I’d call you.”
“Why?”
“So I’d have an excuse.”
“Excuse?”
“Mhm. To ask you out, well- to invite you for a cup of coffee.”
You could feel your face burning, and how the cold sweat on your neck, formed thanks to the embarrassment, “oh gods-”
“Yeah, I know. I’m so sorry,” the man chuckled, “he knows that I’m not having luck with partners, and he tries to set me up with his female friends.”
“And how is it going?”
He laughed, “I’m still single"
“If he had a match-making agency, that would be the worst advert.”
They laughed as the other side became louder and deeper, “that agency would be a disaster anyway, imagine him hooking people up.”
The burst of laughter on both sides was unexpected, but welcomed, warm, and pleasantly comfortable.
“So...”
“So...”
“Look, I don’t know who you are, I just said that you seem nice when Kakashi showed me your profile,” Yamato sighed, “so, he had to just assume…-“
“Well… He just tries to be a good friend.”
“Yeah, I know…” he sighed again “So, since we’re talking, and you didn’t end the call after the first minute… How about we meet so I can give you back that pretty scarf?”
“Oh, Kakashi will nag us both if we won’t at least drink this coffee, won’t he?” he chuckled in answer. You took a deep breath before answering. Blind dates were not in your style, not at all, the idea always seemed too risky for you, but this one… Wasn’t really a date, right? No fancy restaurant, no nice dresses, and polished make-up - just a cup of coffee, maybe you should even buy one since he was the one who found your missing piece of clothing. So you agreed to the meeting, if it all goes wrong, you’ll just waste like an hour, right?
On the next day, you appeared on time, without a minute of delay - it was better to finish it off as quickly as possible, and then go to your friend’s house to kill him for setting you up. But for now, you stood on the sidewalk, brightened with the Christmas lights almost the whole city was adorned with already, but shivering from frost especially that you decided to not take anything on your neck with you.
You looked at your phone with anger. The man was 5 minutes late. Understandable, could end his work a few minutes later and thought that he’ll manage. 10 minutes. Maybe his public transport is late… 15 minutes. It was ridiculous now. He could’ve at least said anything, that he’ll be late so you wouldn’t stand like an idiot, freezing your butt off. Just like Kakashi - late, and careless about that.
You were about to search for his number in the picked-up calls, when low, and now a bit familiar voice grumbled behind you, “(Y/n), right?”
“Yes it’s me,” you turned around to see a tall auburn-haired man, with friendly-looking eyes and a bit of snow resting on the arms of his coat, covering his mouth with the high collar, “Yamato?”
“In-person,” the man nodded and stepped from one foot to another, “let’s go for that coffee, and I’ll start apologizing for being late, okay?”
You agreed, relieved that you didn’t have to stand in a cold anymore; the inside of a small cafe was cozy and still empty. The hour was still quite early, not everyone managed to finish their jobs like you two did, and so you didn’t have to wait too long for your coffee…
“First of all,” Yamato started, once you two settled on chairs. “I’m sorry for being late, but this weather is a nightmare, an absolute disaster.”
“Alright, apology accepted,” there was no reason not to since he was right, and your assumption wrong. At least you didn’t have to admit you assumed something wrong.
“Okay, that is a relief,” he smiled. A very nice, and very honest smile. “So now, let’s cut to the chase, shall we?”
“Oh, I’m disappointed,” you chuckled, taking a sip of your latte, “I thought you’ll start from ‘why don’t you tell me about yourself’ cliche”
His laugh echoed in the empty room, “please don’t expose me like that. That was my initial plan, but I figured, you’ll be more comfortable having this,” from his backpack he pulled out the colorful bundle, with a stitched snowflake visible on the fold. Not without a happy squeal, you took it out from his hands, fighting the urge to wrap it around your neck. “I looked, and couldn’t see any stains from mud but… I’d rather not wash it. I’m a man, it’s a delicate thing, I’d screw it up.”
“Would you meet me if you did?”
“Well, I’m not a coward so… I would at least offer you to buy a new one, although it's handmade, right?”
“Mhm.”
“Then I would need to learn how to knit, very fast,” he smiled from over his cup.
You smiled back at him, wondering how so nice and handsome the man was still single. And even if you cursed Kakashi at the beginning, now… You were debating if you shouldn’t thank him. Yamato was entertaining to talk to, with interesting hobbies, and lots of anecdotes to say.
Funny, charming, handsome, interesting; everything you needed to lose the feeling of time passing, invested in the interesting talk, drinking first coffee and then some herbal tea, as he offered. When you finally looked at your phone the hour showed on the screen stunned you - you’ve spent almost three hours, without any sign of being tired or bored. Heck, you didn’t even notice how the small cafe filled up with the crowd, and people’s chatter.
And with reluctance you took the news that he needs to go home, still having some work to do.
Outside was just the same as when you entered the warm and welcoming inside of a small cafe. Shivering and cursing, you both wrapped yourself even tighter in your coats. He insisted on walking you back home, even if you lived relatively close, and your trip there was no longer than 20 minutes on foot.
“So,” he started when you arrived, and before you managed to thank him and say goodbye, “can I ask you for another meeting? This time, a proper date?”
You flinched, not being ready to hear such a question in a casual matter, or right when the meeting was about to end. You were more sure you’d write to him on the next day, thanking him for the coffee and tea, and asking if he wanted to do it again.
“What would the proper date be?” you asked with a smile, “I’m just trying to know the dress code.”
“Oh, I was thinking, there is a very fancy sushi restaurant in the very center of town, so I was thinking if you like it.”
“Hmmm… So nice dress, some white shirt for you…”
“Precisely. And if the food there will be disappointing we can just anywhere. I know a fantastic ramen booth too.”
“A ramen booth?”
“Mhm, nice and cozy, delicious food. Comfort food for some people I know.”
“I don’t know what’s more enticing, fancy sushi, or a comforting ramen,” you laughed, nodding. He was nice, respectful, and handsome… You would like to meet him again. “I’m very much up to it, even if you’d surprise me with where we will go. When?”
“How about Friday? I’ll try to make a reservation, and pick you up, let’s say… 7 PM?”
“It’s a date.”
“Perfect,” he chuckled from the depth of his chest, suddenly taking your hand into his, making you all warm and curious about what he would do. “Since this wasn’t a proper date, allow me to end it in a non-typical way.”
Yamato leaned, at the same time slightly squeezing your hand and bringing it to his mouth he placed a gentle kiss on the top of your palm, releasing it just right after. Not a wet one, and not a dry one. Just a gentle brush of his lips over your skin.
“So I’ll see you on Friday,” suddenly your palm felt cold as he released it.
“Yes,” you nodded, “for sure.”
He looked like he was about to say something more, or maybe do something else? But whatever thought he had in his mind, he shook it off and saying his goodbye he went off to the nearest bus stop, leaving you alone.
Now except for some good warm tea, you also needed to call and thank your friend for setting you up.