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It had been a long morning though Iruka had only been at work just shy of two hours. The project he had been assigned to had last-minute changes the moment he stepped off the elevator, immediately throwing him into an unpleasant mood. The only thing saving him from snapping was that the images he was charged with designing were being used to promote the new oncology clinic at the local children’s hospital. The provisions would demand he work overtime but if the exposure of the clinic saved lives, it was a small price to pay.
“Hey, you busy?”
Glancing at the doorway of the lab, Iruka saw Genma. They had worked together for years and while Iruka thought he was an insufferable jerk when he first met him, the jokester had grown on him. Work lunches had turned into evenings at the bar or hanging out at each other’s apartments before they knew it. Their coworkers teased them about the pair being polar opposites but were intrigued by their quirky friendship.
“No. I spend my every minute waiting for you to drop by so I can be at your beck and call,” Iruka teased, grinning when Genma joined him, “What’s up?”
“I was lying in bed last night and thinking,” Genma replied.
“Did you hurt yourself?” Iruka inquired jokingly.
“No, jerk,” Genma answered with a smirk, “Your birthday is coming up, and I seem to remember someone hoping that he’d be in a loving relationship by the time he turned thirty. Tick tock, buddy.”
“I think you’re the jerk,” Iruka countered, “What about it?”
“I have a friend that’s looking to get back in the game, and I think you’d be compatible with him,” he replied, “He’s a nice guy. Laidback, smart, funny, very observant. He’s creative also. He works at that swanky architecture firm downtown.”
“Hyuuga and Hyuuga?” Iruka questioned, whistling slowly when he nodded, “That’s impressive. Why do you think that makes us compatible? That describes half the population.”
“He has dogs,” Genma added.
“Dogs?” Iruka asked, rolling his eyes, “You aren’t going to drop this until I say yes, are you?”
“No,” he answered with a grin.
“Fine. Set it up, preferably for next weekend,” Iruka said, “I’m helping my mom this Saturday.”
“How is your mom?”
“I’ll tell you at lunch. Some of us have to get back to work,” Iruka stated.
“Are you implying something?” Genma questioned.
“I’ll let you figure that out. Get lost,” Iruka ordered.
Taking a deep breath before repositioning his stylus, Iruka concentrated on the cartoon tiger on the screen in front of him, making deliberate strokes while thinking about what he had just gotten himself into.
Iruka stared at the menu, his stomach a mess of nerves while waiting for the man Genma had set him up with. He had texted him throughout the week and talked on the phone once. The interactions had been amiable albeit shallow, but it was to be expected knowing nothing of the other. Thinking they had barely scratched the surface, Iruka hoped his anxiety didn’t get the best of him and the date proved to be a disaster.
Agreeing to meet at a popular seafood restaurant that was slightly on the posh side, Iruka felt horribly out of place. Not only was he not one to indulge in social outings often, but the elegance of his surroundings was intimidating. His awkwardness was compounded by additional jitters of making a blasphemous faux pas. Whining miserably from being stuck in his head yet again, Iruka took several deep breaths to steady himself.
“Iruka?”
His head whipping up, Iruka couldn’t form a thought taking in the man in front of him. He didn’t fit his usual type, but he found him devastatingly attractive nonetheless. His pale complexion seemed to emit a vague ethereal glow while his askew silver hair sparkled in the low light. His grey eyes could only be described as crystalline and the subtle smile on his lips inviting. His frame was taller and thinner than his own, but Iruka could see the outline of developed muscle under his shirt.
Simply put, the man was utterly gorgeous.
“Kakashi?” Iruka asked, smiling when he nodded, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Kakashi agreed, holding out a hand and firmly shaking Iruka’s, “I’ve been looking forward to tonight since Genma called me. He said you’re one of a kind.”
“Did he now? You do realize that marketing is his job, right?” he inquired, his heart stuttering when Kakashi laughed.
“I don’t think he’s wrong though texts don’t reveal everything,” Kakashi said, picking up his menu and opening it, “How was your day?”
Iruka was surprised at how open he was with Kakashi, usually guarded and omitting most of his personal life when speaking with others. Most of it was expansion of the discussions they had after the first text, but others were light yet had some depth to them. Iruka had to pause a few times to contemplate his answer while Kakashi waited patiently.
“What do I love most about my job but would never tell anyone?” Iruka asked, exhaling slowly as he sat back in his chair, “I don’t know. Most of it is the same thing every day, just a different client. The pictures and the messages change, but the underlying reasoning behind them is the same. They’re all for the bottom line.”
“You’ve never had a client that jumped out at you? Nothing that makes you think that their intentions are admirable or that you could do more for, but it wasn’t possible?” Kakashi inquired.
“There was a florist I did an advertising spread for a few years ago. She had lost her previous shop to a fire and then her husband to a heart attack the week after,” Iruka said, nodding when melancholy fell over Kakashi’s face, “She was strong though. She didn’t wallow in her grief or let her circumstances define her. She got her business back up and hired us to make a package for her. She didn’t have a lot of money after everything that had happened, so it was a basic spread. I always wished I had bumped it up or paid for it out of my pocket. I heard the shop went under last year.”
“That’s sad,” Kakashi commiserated.
“What about you? What do you love most about your job but wouldn’t admit?” he questioned.
“I love taking on pro bono work. It’s not part of my job per se, but I draw up plans on my free time for non-profit organizations and vital institutions in and around the area,” Kakashi responded, “Believe me when I say I’m not trying to stroke my ego, but I’ve been working with a contractor for a pediatric oncology clinic. I’m very proud of this one. The hospital didn’t really have the budget for it, but it’s so essential to the community.”
“Seriously?” Iruka asked, his eyes growing when Kakashi nodded, “I’m in the middle of designing their opening kit. It’s been a challenge but I’m really enjoying it.”
“That’s interesting that we’re involved with the same project,” he mused, “Do you think their campaign will make an impact?”
“I think it could go either way. They haven’t added internet presence to their package,” Iruka replied, “That’s how most people get their information nowadays, so it’ll be a struggle if they don’t shine online.”
“You’re a poet and didn’t even know it,” Kakashi teased, grinning when Iruka rolled his eyes.
“That was terrible,” Iruka stated.
“But oh so good,” he joked back, “Your turn.”
“Genma said you have a dog,” Iruka said, “What kind?”
“I don’t have one but eight,” Kakashi answered, chuckling when Iruka’s eyes widened, “Most were puppies that were dumped on the side of the road near my house. I live somewhat outside of the city and sadly people think it’s a great place to abandon their pets.”
“That’s so sad,” Iruka murmured, “It’s also very kind that you have given them a home. What are they like?”
Kakashi spent twenty minutes giving Iruka a brief synopsis about the canines and little bursts of their personality. Iruka tried envisioning each animal and how they would act, picturing their little wiggling bodies as they waited for Kakashi to arrive home. His illusion was shattered, however, when Kakashi mentioned the last one.
“He’s what?” Iruka questioned, certain he didn’t hear correctly.
“He’s almost two hundred pounds. I literally had to add on to my house to accommodate his size,” Kakashi said, nodding when Iruka’s jaw fell, “He’s a big boy.”
“I’ve never even heard of a dog being that big,” he said.
“Neither have I. The vet was pretty shocked when I brought him in once he was full-grown,” Kakashi said, “Bull’s so gentle though. He’s the calmest out of the eight.”
“Wow. I’d love to meet them one day,” Iruka blurted out, wincing at his forwardness, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You never know. Maybe one day,” Kakashi said.
The server brought their entrées and the two dug in. They marveled at how delicious and decadent their meals were. Iruka admitted he had never been to the restaurant before and was shocked when Kakashi said the same. Though he was still in the midst of eating, a nagging thought wouldn’t leave him alone.
“How come you’ve never been here before? Genma said you work at Hyuuga and Hyuuga,” Iruka said.
“I do. I don’t really have a reason to come to places like this,” Kakashi confessed, “I’m not part of upper management and don’t have anything to do with budgeting. I am the team lead of my floor but don’t get called in for dinner meetings.”
“I understand that, but what about in your free time?”
“Want to know a secret?” Kakashi inquired, continuing when he nodded, “This really isn’t my scene. I like the simpler things in life.”
“That’s admirable. Honestly, I’m a little out of my comfort zone here,” Iruka admitted.
“Why did you agree to meet me here then?” Kakashi questioned.
“I thought you’d be more at ease in a place like this,” Iruka responded, gesturing around the room.
“I have an idea.”
“What’s that?” Iruka asked.
“After dinner, how about we blow this joint and head to the other side of town. There’s an ice cream parlor that’s to die for,” Kakashi replied, “It’s a mom and pop place. Pop makes his own ice cream.”
“That sounds heavenly,” Iruka agreed with a smile.
Once they finished eating and Iruka asked for a container to take his leftovers home, Kakashi paid the bill and gave him directions. It wasn’t a long drive and Iruka was familiar with the area having spent the majority of his childhood there, though he had never been to the shop. Eager to know more about the little gem, Iruka followed Kakashi in his car.
The building was run down and the parking lot littered with potholes, Iruka gritting his teeth as he heard the failing suspension of his car creaking in protest. He couldn’t find a parking spot soon enough and shut the engine off, taking a few moments to center himself. He never had a date like the one he was on now, always parting after an hour or so and never carrying it over to another location. Nodding and reminding himself it was a positive point in Kakashi’s favor, Iruka climbed out of his car.
“The pistachio is to die for,” Kakashi said as he pointed at the chalkboard menu, “but so is the butter pecan.”
“The strawberry cheesecake is calling my name but so is the chocolate peanut butter truffle,” Iruka said.
“How about a banana sundae then? Pick another flavor and you can try them all,” Kakashi suggested.
“I’m not real fond of bananas or pineapple,” he stated.
“You can leave them off. Unlike the franchise places, these guys are more than willing to make sure you like what you eat and have a good experience,” Kakashi said.
Taking Kakashi’s advice, he chatted with the elderly woman while she assembled his sundae. He was usually shy around strangers outside of work yet was able to hold his own with her. The questions she asked and the responses evoked from him reminded Iruka of his grandmother. He was somewhat saddened by the end of their chat when she handed him the plastic tray holding his dessert. Thanking her and wishing her a good night, Iruka sat at a nearby table and waited for Kakashi.
“She’s darling,” Iruka said, dipping his spoon into a scoop of ice cream, “She reminds me of my grandma on my mom’s side.”
“Everyone says that but not necessarily their mom’s side,” Kakashi said, winking when Iruka laughed, “She makes everyone feel special. It’s why they’re so successful at what they do.”
“I’ll definitely have to come back,” he stated.
“She’ll remember you,” Kakashi added.
The topic of conversation revolved around the next week. Iruka had a few deadlines and was confident he’d complete most, but there was one that was proving difficult. The client nitpicked everything he had designed and after a few revisions still wasn’t pleased. Since it was a premier corporation that the advertising agency, his bosses were willing to bend over backward to ensure they’d use the firm again. He could understand his superiors making their client’s experience pleasant, but all of the work fell on Iruka’s shoulders.
Kakashi had a few construction sites to visit earlier in the week since there were issues in the application of his designs. Two seemed to be an easy fix but the last was a trip he was dreading. The contractor in charge of the site was known for cutting corners or not following blueprints. Figuring he’d be in for a verbal battle with the unsavory man, Kakashi was bringing a structural engineer with him to not only point out the issues but cover himself from any legal woes that might creep up in the future.
“It’s gone,” Iruka said as he looked at the muddled ice cream soup in the bottom of his dish, “I was talking so much that I didn’t realize I was eating.”
“That’s a good thing,” Kakashi said, popping the rest of his cone into his mouth and sliding off the bench, “Come on. I want to show you something.”
Ditching their garbage into the trash can, Iruka trailed after Kakashi once they were outside. His curiosity was piqued when they walked around the building. The thought that Kakashi was a serial killer or had other dubious intentions entered his mind, but when he saw the twinkle of lights from the city across the bay, his breath caught at the beauty.
“This is gorgeous,” Iruka whispered.
“Isn’t it? I used to come down here on summer break when I was a kid,” Kakashi said, “I needed a lot of alone time, and this place was perfect. I could think about whatever was bothering me or just clear my mind and enjoy the present.”
“Did you live around here?” he inquired.
“About a mile away. Off of Fairview,” Kakashi answered.
“Small world,” Iruka said with a slight smile, “We lived on the corner of Cross and Mulberry until I was nineteen. I’m surprised we never ran into each other at school.”
“I was a block into the county’s district,” Kakashi explained, “I definitely would have remembered you.”
“Really?” Iruka questioned, thankful that the darkness hid his blush.
“Yep. I would have remembered that smile anywhere,” he responded, “You probably wouldn’t have liked me though. I ran with the withdrawn, edgy crowd.”
“I was more of a goody-two-shoes student that didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I had to get good grades so everyone would be happy with me,” Iruka said.
“I’m sure you didn’t have to try very hard,” Kakashi said, chuckling when Iruka nudged his shoulder into his own, “I got good grades, just didn’t want to be the center of attention.”
“Understandable. I didn’t either,” he said, “It sounds like we have a lot in common.”
“Seems that way.”
Appreciating the view, both remained silent before a nip in the air fell over the night. Iruka internally chastised himself for not bringing a light jacket since he didn’t want the night to end. The moment a gentle breeze hit them, Iruka couldn’t suppress a shiver.
“You’re cold,” Kakashi said, “Do you want my shirt? I have a t-shirt under this.”
“No, I couldn’t do that. I should probably get going,” Iruka said in disappointment, “I had a really good time.”
“I did too. Thanks for indulging in my whim of wanting to come here,” Kakashi said.
“You’re welcome, but this place is amazing. I’m so glad you brought me here,” he said.
Strolling toward their parked vehicles, Iruka’s mind was filled with confusion about how to end their date. He didn’t know whether to smile and tell Kakashi again that it was a wonderful evening. He didn’t know if he should shake his hand or just wave before getting into his car. Reaching his car before he was ready, he unlocked it and thanked Kakashi when he opened the door.
“Thanks again,” Iruka said, “I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
“I did too,” Kakashi agreed, running a hand through his hair, “Listen. Would you…”
“Would I what?”
“Would you consider going out again?” Kakashi asked, “I feel a connection with you and want to see if it’s real. I’ve never felt so at ease on a first date.”
“I’d like that,” Iruka said with a soft smile, “Maybe next weekend?”
“That sounds great,” Kakashi said, grinning at him, “I’ll call you after work on Monday.”
“I’d like that.”
His eyes widening when Kakashi leaned forward, Iruka was surprised by his gentlemanly behavior as his lips neared his cheek. He wanted to go with what felt right, what expressed how he felt about the evening without words. Turning his head, Iruka’s mouth met Kakashi’s. It was a brief brushing of lips, softness against slightly chapped. Iruka sighed quietly when Kakashi stepped back, seeing shock yet intrigue in his expression.
“Good night, Kakashi,” Iruka said, smiling at him, “I’ll talk to you on Monday.”
“Good night, Iruka.”