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"You're late again," Iruka rasps out in a whispered tone as Kakashi slides himself by Iruka's side, not even bothering to look back at his husband or even reacting to the threatening tone. "You can't keep doing this."
Kakashi doesn't answer, his uncovered eye staring straight ahead, at the other people gathered around for the meeting with the Queen, listening to Tsunade's words. It makes Iruka huff, taking his eyes from the other man, lips forming a pout.
When seconds pass and Kakashi remains silent, like he has been in the room from the start, Iruka looks at him again. The vest that marks him as a high ranked soldier in the Queen's army is askew, he notices, and his hands move before he can stop himself, fixing the clothes until Kakashi looks presentable enough. He sees the way Kakashi's mouth curves up behind his mask, the movement already too familiar for Iruka not to notice despite the cloth barrier, and he knows then and there that the askew clothes had been on purpose — he'd wanted Iruka to fix them like he often does, because Iruka's need to keep things perfect had always amused Kakashi to no end.
The hidden smile earns Kakashi a huff, Iruka's hands leaving him to cross them over his chest, eyes focusing on the Queen again. He feels a hand rest on his lower back, thumb brushing against the layers of fabric of Iruka's robes in a slow caress, like a quiet thank you for the fixed clothes. It shouldn't make Iruka melt and forget he's annoyed at his husband's antics like it does, but it would take a stronger man than Iruka to resist it and not lean closer, the hand sliding from Iruka's back towards his waist to hold him there, and to hold him close.
"I reckon I didn't miss much?" Kakashi finally speaks, the question coming out in a quiet voice as to not disturb anyone around them. He then adds, "Shouldn't you be in your vest?"
"I didn't have time to change," Iruka quietly says back, choosing to answer the second question first, leaning closer to Kakashi so they can talk in their hushed tones.
His arm wraps around Kakashi's waist as well, feeling the man's warmth through the layers of clothing between them and letting himself relax against the touch, having to hold himself back from just resting his head against Kakashi's shoulder — that would be too much considering where they are, but Iruka wants to.
His voice sounds tired when he mutters, "The kids were being difficult today. I only had time to put this on before coming here after I left the Academy."
Kakashi makes a low sound of understanding on his throat, and Iruka feels the man's thumb brushing against his waist now, the small show of affection causing Iruka to melt again — maybe that's why, he thinks ruefully, Kakashi gets away with so much, considering he can't stop himself from swooning at everything his husband does, despite how little it is. It's a small gesture that's supposed to be comforting, but it gets shadowed quickly by the way Kakashi's eyebrow rises at him in a clear signal that he's about to say something to piss Iruka off just for the sake of it.
"You could've changed into your vest with the Queen's sigil if you had just arrived a little later," Kakashi argues, and Iruka has to fight really hard not to roll his eyes when he does, noticing that the Queen's eyes are now directed at his general direction. It wouldn't be good to be disrespectful because his husband is trying to tease him. "You're a soldier first, teacher second."
"Your husband third," Iruka quickly mutters, hearing a quiet "Ouch," leaving Kakashi's lips, although he doesn't sound hurt at all. "I'll live if I'm not wearing my vest for one day."
"My, my, Sensei," Kakashi ends the words with a tsk, the way he uses Iruka's title as the Academy's teacher making the man sigh quietly as he waits for what Kakashi will say next. "The appropriate vest is important. It marks us as loyal to the royal in charge and as our rank inside the army. And as much as I like seeing you in these, one might say that not wearing your vest is a misconduct."
"And yet you keep wearing yours wrong and waiting for your husband to help you with it." Iruka gives him a quiet glare, seeing the way Kakashi's visible eye arches in a pretend-innocent smile. If he could slap him on the back of the head, Iruka would, but alas… "Stop trying to deflect the fact that you were late."
"Did I miss something important?" Kakashi questions again, and Iruka closes his mouth, because he knows that the answer will only stir more teasing. Still, Kakashi presses, "Did I? Or did I arrive just at the right time for the information the Queen wanted to give us?"
"I can't stand you sometimes," is what Iruka answers with, and Kakashi's response is to smile fondly at Iruka. "Just pay attention."
Kakashi gives him a non-committal hum, eye back on the Queen as she speaks, and, to make matters worse, Tsunade questions Kakashi on something. Iruka is fairly sure that his husband won't be able to answer, that him being distracted during their rushed talk when he arrived would make him either look stupid or ask Tsunade to repeat herself — which he has done before, and Iruka still doesn't know how the Queen hadn't demoted him yet. When Kakashi does answer like he had heard everything clearly from the start, arm still wrapped around Iruka and making the man self-conscious at the looks they're receiving from the display, Iruka is both impressed and incredibly annoyed at Kakashi's ability to get himself out of trouble.
"You're all dismissed," the Queen says with a sigh when it's finally over, hazel eyes moving to look at Kakashi and Iruka then. "Hatake, I'd like you to stay. There's some other things I'd like to discuss with you, and your skills with strategy might be of use."
"Yes, your Majesty," Kakashi answers with a bow, finally letting go of Iruka's waist and forcing Iruka to let go as well. The place where his hand had been this whole time feels cold now, as does his hand.
"Umino," the Queen calls, making Iruka stand straighter. "Where's your vest?"
Kakashi snorts by his side, color rising on Iruka's cheeks as he stutters, unable to decide if he should answer Tsunade first or hit his husband instead.
He ends up saying, "I apologize for not following the dress code, it won't happen again."
When the Queen smirks and looks at Kakashi amusedly, he wonders if she's not helping his husband to tease him, after all. He wouldn't put her past it.
"I'll let it pass," she says with a wave of her hand, still sounding and looking amused. "But either way, I'll need you to follow Shizune. I need you to report to her about the kids under your care. Mizuki already gave his yesterday, which means your report is the last of the bunch."
"Yes, your Majesty," he replies quietly, knowing what that meant. The Queen wanted to look for a child to mentor.
"Jiraiya is coming back to us soon, too," she adds, and Iruka nods. Not only one child, then.
Shizune gives Iruka a quiet smile, making the man smile back before turning to Kakashi and placing a hand on the back of his shoulder, a quiet, "See you later," leaving his lips. Kakashi's gaze softens, and Iruka can tell he's not the only one who melts for his husband's touch there.
"See you at home," Kakashi replies back in the same hushed tone.
As Iruka follows Shizune out of the room, Iruka can almost feel Kakashi's gaze following him, despite the Queen's words towards him, already starting to discuss whatever she needs to, and the feeling makes Iruka huff amusedly, until he's gone from his husband's field of vision.
At the very least, he knows Kakashi will never be late when it comes to going home, and he starts yearning for that moment while he walks away from his husband.