Work Text:
(I don't own any characters etc etc)
Iruka stretched as he finished with the last mission report he reviewed, raising his arms over his head.
“Next!” he called out, and greeted a fellow teacher, making small talk about the academy as he read their scroll.
“Next!” he soon beckoned the next person up, a slight frown appearing on his face when Yamato stepped forward. He wasn’t the one Iruka was looking at, however; his attention was on the jonin who strolled up next to him, winking at Iruka as he placed a scroll in front of the teacher.
“Hello, Iruka-sensei,” Yamato greeted him.
“Evening, sensei,” Kakashi purred, as Yamato sighed and looked at the ceiling.
“Good evening,” Iruka stiffly replied, as he began to review the report. “I can already tell this is well-written, I assume you’re to thank for that, Captain Yamato?”
Yamato laughed. “Guilty as charged.”
“I could have written it, for all you know,” Kakashi pointed out, and Iruka and Yamato both looked at him in mild surprise. “What? I could forge his handwriting if I wanted to, just saying.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Iruka said, shaking his head as he resumed reading. A few minutes later, he nodded as he reached to stamp it approved.
“Well done, and thank you for your service,” he said to Yamato.
“What about me?” Kakashi asked. “I was part of that mission too!”
Iruka frowned again. “Konoha thanks you as well,” he hissed.
“Ah, Konoha, which includes you,” Kakashi mused. Yamato groaned and tried to pull him away, but he remained in place. “Speaking of you, I hope you’re not dating anybody,” he said to Iruka, who looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Excuse me?” the chuunin replied.
“Because they’re going to be very jealous of you and I soon, if they are,” Kakashi whispered dramatically.
“You’re an idiot,” Iruka blandly told him, and Yamato snorted.
“So, what I’m hearing is, you’re definitely single?” Kakashi asked.
“Goodbye,” Iruka replied. “Next!”
“Can I take a picture of you, so I can show Santa exactly what I want?” the copy nin continued, and Iruka gritted his teeth.
“I have an exploding tag with your name on it,” he snapped.
“You already bought me a gift?!” Kakashi asked, surprised. “But I haven’t shopped for you yet!”
“I will kill you, and not regret a minute of it,” Iruka warned.
“Okay, that’s my cue to really step in,” Yamato interrupted them, pushing Kakashi away. “Goodnight, sensei!” he called out, as Kakashi waved. Iruka flipped the copy nin off, and sat back in his chair, sighing once they were gone.
“Next!” he tiredly called out, looking for work to distract him.
However, a few shinobi later, and the room had largely emptied. Anko lingered behind as she had been in someone else’s line, and wandered over to his desk once he was free.
“Why are you so mean to Hatake?” she asked. “That was…quite the show…”
Iruka groaned. “It’s complicated.”
“I love complicated!” Anko cheered. “Now I really need to know! I thought you kind of liked him?”
“I do!” Iruka admitted, running a hand through his ponytail. “I like him but I feel like I can’t show it! He’s always being so stupidly charming that it catches me off guard! It happened once and I was accidentally mean to him since I was flustered and surprised, and then it happened again and again. And now I feel like it’s too late to do anything different, especially since it never deters him!”
She sat on his desk with her mouth open, shock on her face. “You’re an idiot,” she finally said. “Just be nice to him and accept it when he asks you out!”
“I can’t!” Iruka groaned, covering his face with his hands. “You heard him! He’s always using those stupid pick up lines, I know he doesn’t mean anything he says!”
“What?”
Iruka nodded. “What he says to me, they’re so stupid, there’s no way it’s genuine! So that makes it so much worse, because they’re stupid but cute! And I’m so angry that they’re cute but fake that I just want to kill him!”
Anko sat in near horror again. “So you think he’s joking when he hits on you, and you get angry and insult him, but he still flirts, so you insult him more, and he flirts more?” Iruka sadly nodded. “You know what? I take it back. That’s too much drama for me,” she said, holding up her hands and walking away from his desk. “I don’t want to touch any of that.”
“Think about how I feel!” Iruka sighed. “I don’t know what to do!”
Unbeknownst to them, earlier Yamato had slapped Kakashi upside his head as soon as they left Hokage Tower.
“Why do you use such cheesy lines on Iruka?” he asked.
“Because I get flustered around him!” Kakashi replied, rubbing his head. “I don’t know what else to do, they just come out! And then he gets so angry that it’s cute, and then I really can’t help myself!”
“Well, they’re not working on him, genius.”
“You think I don’t know that?!” Kakashi snapped. “It just happens, I can’t control it!”
“A little less Icha Icha, and a bit more reality would be a good start,” Yamato posed, but Kakashi shook his head.
“You leave Icha Icha out of this, that’s brilliant writing!”
“Tell me you don’t actually quote it to him?
“Just a little,” Kakashi muttered, looking away. “It just pops out, but they’re good lines!” he added, as Yamato began to walk away. “Honest!”
___
“Are you Christmas?” a familiar voice said to Iruka as he looked at holiday ornaments in a market stall. “Because I think I want to merry you.”
Iruka tightened his jaw as he turned to glare at Kakashi. “Stalking is illegal, you know.”
“I’m not stalking, just failing at hiding how much I’m swooning over seeing you,” the jonin protested, and Iruka rolled his eyes and walked away from that stall and, he hoped, the other man.
“What’s the difference between you and the Grinch?” Kakashi asked, and Iruka took a deep breath.
“There isn’t one, we both dislike you.”
“No, the Grinch stole Christmas, but you’ve stolen my heart.”
“That’s a good idea,” Iruka agreed. “If I steal something important from the village, they’ll arrest me and I can spend my holidays in a prison cell and away from you!”
“Why would anyone want to do that?” Kakashi asked, as he continued to follow Iruka. “Anyway, I’d come and visit you, naturally. Maybe even help break you out,” he added with a wink, and Iruka looked away, willing his face to not blush.
“If I was the Grinch, I wouldn’t steal Christmas,” Kakashi continued, seemingly oblivious to Iruka’s turmoil. “I’d steal you.”
Iruka clenched his fists. “Leave, now.”
“But if anyone did steal Christmas from you, I’d find them and make them pay…”
“That’s just plain strange,” Iruka sighed. “Look, go bother someone else before I do something I’ll regret, and which will hopefully cause you lots of pain,” he snapped. Really, he wondered, couldn’t the man see how unfair this all was to him?
“I’m just minding my own business in the market,” Kakashi commented, shrugging. “You’re the one following me.”
“I am not!” Iruka shouted, before calming himself down before he drew attention to them. “I’m running errands, which do not involve you. Don’t follow me, don’t talk to me, don’t even look at me.”
He walked away and felt both saddened and victorious to find that Kakashi did, in fact, leave him be, at least until Iruka was looking at a small pop up stall from the Yamanakas shop, and sneezed when he smelled a bouquet.
“You love me that much that you have hanahaki disease?” Kakashi asked, suddenly popping up next to him. “Because you know, it doesn’t have to be unrequited.”
“I have never wished for something to kill me as much as I want these flowers to,” Iruka groaned, before running through hand seals and using his trusty substitution jutsu.
“They bring out the color of your eyes, though,” Kakashi sighed, looking at the bouquet Iruka had last looked at, before turning to the stall worker. “How much for the bouquet?”
____
“Oh no, you’re using holiday pick up lines now?” Genma groaned as Kakashi shrugged.
“You’re ridiculous,” Asuma sighed, shaking his head.
“I thought that since Iruka seems to like the holidays…” the copy nin protested.
“Like I keep saying, how is he supposed to take you seriously when you say such stupid things?” Yamato pointed out. “Answer - he won’t.”
“It’s probably just a matter of time,” Kakashi countered. “I’ll…wear him down?”
“That’s not healthy,” Asuma commented. “So, don’t.”
“I know!” Gai cheered, slamming his fist down on the table; the others steadied it and their food and drinks not a moment too soon. “Iruka needs a big, romantic gesture from you!”
“What?” the others asked in unison, and he nodded.
“A grandiose way to show that you truly care, but without words!” Gai suggested.
“He’s not wrong,” Genma agreed, as the group thought about it. “Then you can’t be that much of a dumbass.”
“Hopefully,” Yamato added, and the others nodded as Kakashi glared at him.
“Actions rather than words, I think that’s a good idea,” Asuma shared. “Iruka would like that.”
“Really?” Kakashi asked, surprised. “I don’t know, that might draw too much attention…”
“Well, don’t do it in public,” Yamato said.
“Right! Somewhere private but appropriate,” Gai agreed. “And something seasonal!”
“I don’t know…” Kakashi began. “But I’ll at least consider it.”
And he did, but it went out of his head the next time he saw Iruka, a few days later as the teacher was leaving a store as Kakashi was passing by.
“Hello!” Kakashi called out, and delighted in Iruka’s face turning slightly red as he saw the jonin. The teacher gave a curt nod before trying to walk away.
“I didn’t think I was a snowman, but you make my heart melt!” Kakashi called out, to both men’s horror. The jonin closed his eye and groaned inwardly. He opened it again in time to see Iruka wander off, shoulders hunched up as he heard the younger man mutter about “stupid jonin and his stupid lines,” and Kakashi sighed.
“Maybe I should use actions rather than words…” he said to himself, biting his thumb and summoning the pack.
“Boss,” Pakkun greeted him from atop Bull.
“I need some help….”
___
“Report,” Kakashi snapped at the pack two days later.
“Uh…”
“Well…”
“You see…”
He sighed. “Just spit it out.”
“Well, we decided Bisuke would be best, since he’s small and kind of cuddly, you know?” Akino began.
“And Iruka found me and took it!” Bisuke wailed.
“He what?” Kakashi asked.
“He took it! And…”
“And?” the jonin pressed.
“Kissed me,” Bisuke whispered.
“What?!” Kakashi roared, pacing. “You had one job, all of you! Get in position above the entrance to the academy holding mistletoe so that when he and I were underneath it together, he’d have to kiss me, or at least accept one from me. But no, you failed. A simple mission, and you failed. He just walked right past me!”
“I don’t know how he found me first, I was hiding there for a while,” Bisuke told him.
“And then you get the kiss? My kiss!”
“We think he was on the lookout for pranks,” Guruko offered, and the others nodded. “And saw Bisuke, and thought it was a prank.”
“Though, maybe he knew it was your doing all along and decided to outsmart you?” Bull offered.
“You were a bit later too, he found Bisuke almost as soon as he got settled,” Pakkun commented.
“Don’t care,” Kakashi groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “So much for romantic gestures,” he sighed. “Now what do I do?”
____
“What’s wrong, Iruka?” Teuchi asked as Iruka sighed heavily.
“Nothing,” he said, sighing again.
“It doesn’t sound like nothing,” the older man challenged.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“I am.”
“No.”
“I’m fine!” Iruka snapped, before his eyes widened and he covered his mouth with his hands. “Teuchi-san, I’m so sorry!” he whispered, but the older man just smiled.
“It’s fine, that just goes to show how not fine you are,” Teuchi mused. “So what’s going on?”
“I kissed a dog today,” Iruka said, pouting.
“What?”
“It’s a long story,” the teacher sighed.
“I’ve got time, you’re the only customer for now, seeing as it’s on the later side,” Teuchi mused.
“I don’t know where to start,” Iruka began. “There’s this guy, and I can’t tell if he likes me or not, as more than friends. He’s confusing.”
“How so?”
“He sends mixed messages when he talks to me, like is he actually flirting or hitting on me, or just being nice, or just being weird?”
“Is who being weird?” Kotetsu asked as he and Izumo appeared, waving at them. “Two of our usual, please! And another for Iruka, of whatever he’s having.”
Teuchi grinned. “Sure thing. Iruka here was just telling me about mixed messages from someone,” he informed the men, who were sitting on either side of their friend.
“Ooh, what’s this?” Izumo asked. “You’ve got a boyfriend?”
“Oh come on, we know he’s stone cold single,” Kotetsu reminded his own boyfriend. “Unfortunately.”
“So who is it?” Izumo asked, and Teuchi looked over for the answer as well.
“It’s no one,” Iruka told them. “Just a guy.”
“Is he hot?” Kotetsu asked, and Iruka blushed, making the others laugh. “That’s a yes!”
“Geez, just kill me now,” Iruka groaned.
“Okay, so he’s attractive but confusing, check,” Izumo said, taking inventory. “What else?”
“Iruka can’t tell if the guy likes him or not,” Teuchi called out.
“He says strange things, and I don’t know how to take it. Read into it or not? Take at face value or not?”
“Does he tell you anything else in other ways?” Kotetsu asked. “Body language, gestures, actions, things like that?”
“No?”
Teuchi looked at Iruka. “Where does the dog come into play?” he asked, and Iruka blushed again.
“What?” Izumo and Kotetsu asked.
“I ran across a dog carrying mistletoe earlier,” Iruka admitted.
“Oh, from the guy? That’s cute! Unusual, but cute!” Izumo cheered.
“Yeah! That’s a sure sign he likes you, then!” Kotetsu added. “And he’s a dog person, that’s nice! What are the qualities? Loyal, friendly, that sort of thing.”
“I don’t know, doesn’t it seem strange, like Izumo said?” Iruka asked. “Who does that?”
“Someone who might be unsure of how to approach you,” Teuchi suggested.
“It felt like a joke,” Iruka argued.
“Maybe you’re reading into it wrong?” Kotetsu gently asked, and Iruka shrugged as their food was set in front of them.
“Well, let’s say this was a romantic gesture from the guy, kind of a confession,” Izumo said. “What’s your plan?”
“Do nothing and hope he goes away?” Iruka asked, poking at his food.
“You like him, right?” Kotetsu asked, and Iruka gave a small nod.
“But I struggle to say it, he kind of winds me up and I don’t respond positively,” he admitted.
“Shocker,” Izumo laughed. “Follow the guy’s lead, and do something to show you’re interested.”
“Like what?” Iruka asked.
“Something romantic,” Kotetsu posed.
“But not too big,” Teuchi cautioned.
“But something from the heart,” Izumo added. “Kotetsu gives me handmade gifts sometimes, and they’re really sweet. You could do something like that?”
Iruka frowned. “That seems like too much too soon. What if this guy doesn’t actually like me and it scares him off? I’d be the laughing stock of the village if people found out!”
“Sometimes you need to take a chance in love,” Teuchi commented before moving to greet other customers who had just entered.
“Right!” Izumo agreed. “Don’t do anything big or expensive, just something small to show you care. It’s the holidays, if you need to play it off like a friend gift if he doesn’t respond well to it.”
Kotetsu nodded. “And then tell us who it is so we can go after him for turning you down!”
Iruka laughed, finally. “Thanks, guys, you’re both helpful and terrifying friends.”
“That’s what we’re for!” Kotetsu laughed. “So, who is it?” he asked again, but Iruka shook his head.
“Nope, not going there,” he said, and fortunately his friends dropped that topic, for the time being at least.
_____
Iruka groaned. It had been two weeks since his friends had suggested making something for Kakashi, not that they knew that was who it was for. Would that have changed things, Iruka wondered? Teuchi might be more help, since he also knew Kakashi well enough, but Iruka didn’t dare tell anyone other than Anko..
Still, it hadn’t been a bad idea, but talking about it and actually doing it were two different things. Two very different things, Iruka realized, as any attempt thus far had failed. Bake cookies? He burnt two different batches. Knit a scarf? Iruka somehow got so tangled up in yarn he had to cut himself out with a kunai. Make a clay jar? It was lopsided. He thought about carving something out of wood but realized he wasn’t the best artist (so no drawing, painting, or anything else artsy), and soon he was running out of ideas. He went to the library and bookstores to look at craft books but was intimidated by most everything he saw (or had already attempted and failed…).
It didn’t help that Kakashi had continued to be confusingly charming (and charmingly confusing) in any interaction with Iruka in that time, no matter where they were at.
In the market, again? “Santa said you wished for me. Good choice.”
In the missions office? “Do you hear jingle bells? No? Well, I hear bells every time I see you.” Iruka still blushed at how Anko had nearly pissed herself from laughing so hard at that. He would never live it down with her…
As Iruka was leaving a bakery and Kakashi happened to be nearby? “My feelings for you are like fruitcake during the holidays - nutty, spicy, and unavoidable, no matter how hard you try.” Iruka lost his taste for that dessert, no thanks to Kakashi, as his thoughts strayed to the other man whenever he saw it now, which was often, due to staff at the academy keeping a steady supply of it. Anytime he took a break in the staff lounge, there was “Kakashi.”
And then, it happened. Iruka was returning from lunch, avoiding “Kakashi,” when he found his classroom covered in lights. Festive, holiday, multicolored lights. Strung tastefully, sure, but still unexpected.
Iruka stood there with his mouth open, shocked at the sight. It was pretty, there was no doubt about that. The lights weren’t just strung one wall to the other, no, they went to and from the ceiling in loops, going this way and that. Some twinkled, others stayed lit, and in the center of it all was a moderately sized wreath, complete with holly and fake snow.
As Iruka took it all in, his students returned from their own break, excitedly chattering about the decorations.
“Did you do this?” they asked, but he just shook his head and the children took their seats, looking this way and that at the lights.
And as they settled into afternoon lessons, the class working on papers about Konoha history, Iruka found a scroll on his desk that he was certain he had not left. He figured it was a clue about the lights but opted to wait until he was alone after school had ended to open it, just to be sure. Not to mention, he had no idea what might pop out…
Holding his breath, and standing an arm’s length away, just to be safe, Iruka unfurled the scroll and darted away, putting even more space between it and himself.
But as something rose from the scroll, his eyes widened, and his heart fluttered.
There, in the middle of the scroll, stood a bouquet of poinsettas and the flowers he had last smelled when in the market with Kakashi some time ago…
____
The flower Kakashi was much nicer for Iruka to look at than fruitcake Kakashi, he decided, though he did catch himself smiling at the staff lounge fruitcake here and there. Could it be? Did Kakashi actually like him? Were all those stupid lines and jokes genuine, Iruka dared to hope?
And if so, why the hell had the other man hid behind them for so long, Iruka groaned? Why not come out and say it? They could have been on how many dates by now?!
“Not like you were any better,” Iruka’s brain challenged him, reminding him of how he had snapped at Kakashi rather than play along and throw his own cheesy line back.
Iruka sighed and ran a hand through his ponytail.
“Okay, so Kakashi might, just might, like me, and I know I like him,” Iruka said to himself, as he looked out his apartment window, glancing at the flower bouquet every now and then. “But now what? He hasn’t said anything more to me, and it’s been two days. I don’t know if I should find him, and even if I did, what would I say?”
The real concern, Iruka sighed, was that he didn’t want to get false hopes up that the lights and flowers were from Kakashi, though really, what were the odds of someone else sending the exact same type of flower Iruka had been admiring that day?
He rubbed his eyes and groaned, deciding to go on a walk for some fresh air to calm his mind. Pulling his scarf tight around his neck, hands in his pockets, he wandered the village, not really looking at or for anything or anyone, just trying to find inspiration or guidance from something, anything!
And it was working, somewhat. The holiday season was in full swing in Konoha. Music played, lights twinkled, stores and homes were decorated, and the air was full of seasonal scents as excited chatter filled the streets.
Iruka smiled to himself and decided to window shop to look for a present for Kakashi. Sure, homemade would be nice, but he had had no luck with it, and time was running out if it was to be a holiday gift, no matter if it would be platonic or romantic.
Shrugging, Iruka later paused outside a bookstore, knowing it wasn’t the most unique gift for the jonin, but probably one that would have some appeal. He perused the front window display to see if anything was being advertised to entice shoppers, when a voice spoke to him over his right shoulder.
“Are you related to Rudolph? Because you’re pretty rein-deer to me,” Kakashi said, blandly looking at Iruka, who turned to face him wearing a confused look. “I find you quite reindeering?” he offered, and Iruka’s face morphed into a frown. “Don’t be Rude-olph to me,” he added, because while a voice sounding like Yamato’s was screaming at him to stop, for the love of Konoha, just stop, he instead seemed to think it was a far better option to continue to dig his grave.
Iruka glared at him. “I’m going to practice good will towards men and leave before I do something I’ll regret,” he snapped, turning and stalking away.
But as soon as he turned a corner and was out of sight, Iruka leaned against a wall and covered his face with his hands, groaning.
“Why did I go back to yelling at him, even if they were terrible puns?” he wondered. “Why couldn’t I just play along?”
Still standing in the same place he had been, Kakashi sighed.
“I have no i-deer what I’m doing,” he muttered, turning and walking away. “Why can’t I keep my lines to myself one time and just ask him out like a normal person?”
____
The best course of action, Kakashi decided, was to have none. He had tried, and failed, so while he wasn’t really giving up, he was giving up.
He’d find some way to approach Iruka, maybe after the holidays. Perhaps his indignant brain would cease using terrible holiday pick up lines then, though he realized it was only a short time until Valentine’s Day and that risky situation…
So, he avoided anything to do with the chuunin. If Naruto wanted to stop by the academy, Kakashi made an excuse not to. He steered all meals out away from Ichiraku’s, and decided he’d just wait to turn in reports, unless he could do so when he knew the teacher was, well, teaching.
This was not unnoticed by Iruka, who was both confused and sad, with a hint of anger. Was the other man avoiding him? He was never anywhere to be seen, and after two weeks Iruka would have expected to have run into him at least once, if not far more many times. On the one hand, it was peaceful for Iruka. On the other, did that mean Kakashi wasn’t interested in him, hadn’t actually sent the flowers and lights? Then who was? But then why had the jonin still used terrible romantic lines on him?
And, deep down, Iruka realized he missed the cheesiness of it all. Rolling his eyes, threatening the infamous copy nin, glaring angrily at him, it had all become fun and routine, expected and normal. And now? Iruka was without it, and he felt a bit empty.
___
Yamato decided to not take no for an answer from Kakashi when he needed to turn in a report, and dragged the other jonin not just into the missions office, but into Iruka’s line.
“It’ll be fun!” he cheered. “Just don’t be an idiot, okay? I know that’s a lot to ask, though.”
“I don’t want to be here,” Kakashi huffed, as he pulled out his book.
“No, no books,” Yamato said, stealing it and tucking it into his own vest.
“I will end you,” Kakashi seethed, glaring at him.
“I don’t think Iruka would approve,” Yamato teased, but Kakashi sighed and looked away, sticking his hands in his pockets.
“Who cares anymore,” he muttered, but the other man didn’t pay him any mind. Until, that is, they reached the front of the line, and Yamato inwardly danced, excited for the show!
Yamato stepped forward. He wasn’t the one Iruka was looking at, however; his attention was on the jonin who stood glumly next to him, looking off to the side.
Yamato frowned; this was unusual for them!
“Hello, Iruka-sensei,” Yamato greeted the teacher, waiting for Kakashi’s ever-cheerful greeting to follow, but there was silence.
“Hello,” Iruka greeted, glancing at Kakashi briefly again before looking at Yamato. “How can I help?”
“Just turning this in,” Yamato said, passing the scroll. As Iruka began to review it, Yamato studied the scene in front of him. Kakashi continued to look at anything but the chuunin, who continued to steal glances at the copy nin in between reading.
This wasn’t how this was supposed to go at all, Yamato realized! What was going on? Was there a genjutsu turning everything on its head?
“Well done, and thank you for your service,” Iruka offered a few moments later, stamping the scroll.
“The both of us,” Yamato quickly, urgently told him. “And Naruto, and Sakura.”
Iruka nodded and gave him a small smile. “Thank you,” was all he said.
Yamato frowned, but nodded. “Right, well, we’ll be off, then?” he asked no one in particular, and received no response in turn.
He nodded again. “Bye, sensei,” he said to Iruka, waiting for something from Kakashi, who just turned and began to leave.
“Bye,” Iruka softly replied, eyes on Kakashi.
Yamato sighed and walked away, wondering what to do.
In the hallway, Kakashi was waiting for him, hand held out.
“My book,” the copy nin said.
“What just happened in there?”
“My book.”
“What’s going on between you two?”
“I said I didn’t want to be here. Now give me my book, I won’t ask again,” Kakashi stated in a cold tone usually reserved for a harsh mission.
Yamato silently gave it back to him, and Kakashi jutsued away. The other jonin sighed and left the building, wondering yet again what was going on.
He soon found himself at Ichiraku’s, frowning as he sat at the counter waiting for his food.
“What’s good, my man?” Anko asked him, flopping onto the stool next to him. Teuchi came over and she placed an order, turning to Yamato again afterwards. “What’s new?”
“Kakashi’s been acting weird,” Yamato told her, but she snorted.
“It’s Kakashi, he’s always weird.”
“Weirder than usual. He…he’s not himself.”
“As in?”
Yamato scratched his chin, unsure of what more to say. He wanted to help his friend, but didn’t dare out his feelings for the other man!
“Is it about Iruka?” Anko asked, and Yamato choked on the tea he had begun to sip.
“What?”
She shrugged. “Iruka likes Kakashi, and I’m almost certain Kakashi likes him too, right? I’ve heard their weird interactions with each other, even if it’s stupid at the best of times.”
Yamato’s mouth fell open as he looked at her bold admission, Teuchi bringing their food over just then.
“So it’s Kakashi, hmm? That’s nice,” the older man said, and both shinobi looked at him in surprise. “What? Iruka was talking to me about a man that he wasn’t sure liked him, but it’s nice to know who it is now. They’ll make a nice couple.”
“If Iruka doesn’t kill him first,” Anko mused, blowing on a spoonful of broth.
“And if Kakashi stops avoiding him,” Yamato sighed.
“What?” Teuchi asked.
“I don’t know why, but he is, he won’t go anywhere that Iruka might be. We were even just in his line today to turn in a report and Kakashi didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at him!”
“What did Iruka do?” Anko asked.
Yamato shrugged. “Nothing, other than visibly pine. I don’t know what to do,” he admitted.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Kakashi for a while,” Teuchi mused, frowning. “Those two, they need to get it together. You know, some of us told Iruka to make a romantic gesture to whoever he liked, to help him. Sounds like he didn’t though,” he said, frowning more.
Yamato couldn’t help but laugh. “Some of us said the same thing to Kakashi, but no results there, either.”
The three sat in silence for a moment before Anko smiled.
“I’ve got it!” she told them. “We do it for them!”
“What?” the men asked.
“We do a romantic gesture for them, like in the movies! Get them something that seems like it’s from the other, and then they meet, kiss, figure out it was us but they’re okay with it, then blah blah blah and they get married.”
Yamato raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s how life actually works.”
“And Kakashi using stupid lines is? My idea is as cliche but more fun,” she scoffed, and Yamato had to admit she had a point.
“It’s not the worst idea people have come up with here,” Teuchi laughed. “Something small might do the trick.”
“And if they find out and hate us?” Yamato challenged.
“They’d get over it eventually. What if it worked out?” Anko chalenged, and Teuchi nodded.
Yamato looked at them for a moment before shrugging. “Sure, why not?”
___
Their plan was simple, really. He and Anko met the next day to buy daifuku, as they figured it was a safe treat to give. Though Kakashi wasn’t really one for sweets, Yamato knew that the man indulged in coffee-flavored ones every now and then, and Anko knew Iruka ate just about every flavor he could find.
They purchased a small box each of three sweets, then took them to Ichiraku’s so Teuchi could write the men’s names on them, as their own handwriting would give them away.
The next step was the harder one, as they needed to find a way to get them to each man. Something believable, but creative. Subtle, but effective.
They decided to strike at the missions office the next time Iruka was working, which was the following morning. Anko went first, sitting in the office to write a report, conveniently seated in a good place to Iruka-watch. Yamato came about twenty minutes later, dragging a despondent Kakashi with him.
“You’re so disrespectful, never listening to me and what I want,” Kakashi sighed. “Where’s my obedient kohai gone?”
“I can’t hear you over your grouchy mood,” Yamato commented. “Look, we’re going to train after this, so why meet elsewhere and risk you being late? Again? Just go sit in the corner and when I’m done I’ll collect you.”
Kakashi nodded and sulked as he left, sitting near Anko and pulling his book out.
Anko and Yamato locked eyes and nodded briefly before returning to their tasks.
When Yamato reached the front of the line he noted that Iruka seemed to glance around to see if Kakashi was with him, and that the brunette’s eyes widened slightly when he found the copy nin seated in the room, a safe distance away.
A swallow, a light blush, and sitting straighter all gave the chuunin away, especially to someone as trained as Yamato, who grinned to himself about it.
Iruka remained professional and soon Yamato was finished, waving goodbye to the man as he went to collect the other jonin. Yamato stopped to talk to Anko about something vague and unrelated to their personal mission, if only so that the other men could have more time to steal glances towards the other.
Soon, Yamato and Kakashi left, and as they reached their training area, Yamato paused.
“Oh, I almost forgot! Iruka asked me to give this to you,” he said, reaching into an external pocket and pulling the snack box out.
“What?” Kakashi asked, eye widening.
“Yeah, he saw you and had it at his desk, asked me to pass it on,” Yamato nonchalantly told him as he moved to stretch, pretending to ignore the other man, turning away to hide his smile when Kakashi looked like he was holding the most precious item there was in all of Fire Country.
Back at Hokage Tower, Iruka was nearing his break when Anko got into his line, inviting him to have a cup of coffee during breaktime.
He agreed and began to review her report, and when they went to find coffee wherever they could in the building, she shared the candy with him similar to how Yamato had.
“I don’t know if you saw, but I ran into Hatake when I was writing my report,” she told him as they walked through the halls, pausing to see his response.
“Oh, yeah,” Iruka nervously replied.
“He asked me to give you this, just before he left,” Anko continued, passing the box to him. “I think he was pressed for time today. Oh, look, the coffee station is fully stocked today!” she cheered as they entered a staff lounge.
Anko moved ahead to pour their drinks, looking out of the corner of her eyes at her friend, who was blushing as he looked at the box in his hands.
“Things are good with you two, I take it?” she casually asked. “Better than they were?”
Iruka’s gaze stayed on the box. “Getting better,” he softly told her. “Every day…”
She graciously moved the conversation on to some other topic, and Iruka tucked the box away.
Later, when he was home, he pulled it out and made tea to have with it, nibbling at a piece while he looked at the gift.
“So, he’s not avoiding me after all!” Iruka cheered, feeling relieved at the thought. “I still have a chance…and I need to think of a way to make the most of it!”
His thoughts wandered to the gift topic yet again, and as he looked around his apartment, inspiration struck him.
“I can still give him something homemade after all…”
____
Several days later, including a few less hours of sleep than usual, and Iruka set off with a gift tucked in his vest, looking for Kakashi. He wasn’t really sure where to find him but checked the man’s usual haunts. Favorite reading spots, preferred training grounds, bookstores, restaurants, cafes, and Hokage Tower, but no copy nin.
Frowning slightly, he went home eventually, figuring that he’d just keep the gift on him from then on so that he could give it to Kakashi whenever they crossed paths next…
He didn’t have to wait long, as two days later just that occurred near the academy with Yamato.
Iruka briefly wondered if he should wait, but figured that he’d at least go and say hello to both men, and see what might occur.
“Hello!” Iruka called out as he approached, smiling. “How are you?”
“Hello, sensei,” Yamato said, returning the smile. “Cold but well, you?”
“I’m good,” Iruka replied, glancing at Kakashi, who gave him an eye smile, making the teacher relax significantly. “And you, Kakashi-sensei?”
“It’s been better for me recently than it has been for some time,” the copy nin said.
Yamato looked between the two men, who seemed to only have eyes for each other, and cleared his throat.
“Well, I told…someone…that I’d help them with…something,” he said, rolling his eyes at his ridiculous statement. However, the others didn’t seem to mind, and only nodded.
“Good luck with whatever it is,” Iruka said.
“Shoo,” Kakashi posed, and Yamato laughed as he walked away.
The two turned to look at each other in silence for a moment.
“So,” Iruka began, just as Kakashi spoke as well.
“Are–” the jonin said, before they paused again. “I –”
“Do –”
The two paused again, finally laughing.
“You can go first,” Kakashi offered, and Iruka nodded.
“Thanks. Um, do you have anything to do right now?” he asked, but Kakashi shook his head. “I was walking around, do you want to join me?”
Kakashi gave him an eye smile. “That sounds good, I was also going to ask if you were up to anything.”
They began to walk, and naturally found themselves avoiding main streets, busy areas, and holiday crowds as they talked about general village business and antics of mutual friends on nights out.
“Anko’s got a whole night of holiday karaoke planned this weekend,” Iruka told him. “You should go, if you’re free.”
“I’ve been to Anko’s karaoke parties, they never end well,” Kakashi mused, and Iruka laughed.
“You’re not wrong,” the teacher agreed. “But they’re fun.”
“Sometimes,” Kakashi conceded. “Though, if you’re there too, it would be a nice night out.”
Iruka looked at him with wide eyes, surprised by the man’s comment, and Kakashi just looked at him without another reaction.
“Well?” Iruka asked, and it was Kakashi’s turn to be surprised.
“Well what?”
“I’m waiting.”
“For?”
“You know,” Iruka scoffed. “The cheesy line, you always have one up your sleeve. Where is it?”
Kakashi shrugged as they walked. “I gave those up.”
“What?”
The jonin shrugged again. “They seemed silly. And…uneffective,” he admitted in a soft tone.
They continued to walk in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts.
“I liked them,” Iruka finally said, glancing at the other man briefly.
“You did?”
“They were fun. Cheesy, silly, sometimes weird, but fun.”
“You seemed outraged more often than not,” Kakashi posed.
“I, uh, didn’t know how to take them. Like if they were real or not,” Iruka admitted.
“They were real, very real. My feelings were just not well delivered,” the jonin sighed. “And I liked it when you were angry at me, you’re cute when you’re mad.”
Iruka laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been told that."
“Well, it’s true.” Kakashi paused. “You really liked them?”
“I did,” Iruka said, nodding.
“Huh,” Kakashi mused as they paused to sit on a bench. “Well, I must be a snowflake, because I’ve fallen for you.”
Iruka burst out laughing. “No you did not!”
“Well, no, it’s a bit strong, but I do like you,” Kakashi shared, and Iruka smiled at him.
“I like you too. Sorry I was always aggressive.”
“No need to apologize. Again, cute when mad.”
Iruka rolled his eyes. “I appreciate it, but we’ll see how long that thought lasts.” He cleared his throat and reached into his vest. “I have a gift for you, a small holiday thing, it’s not a big deal,” he told the jonin as he passed him a scroll.
“Please tell me this isn’t a mission report to rewrite,” Kakashi sighed.
“Not this time,” Iruka teased. “Open it.”
Kakashi did, finding a seal delicately and intricately drawn on it.
“Wow,” Kakashi breathed, looking at it.
“I, uh, wanted to give you something handmade, I thought it would be nice. I know it’s not a typical handmade gift…” Iruka said in a rush. “But this was the only thing I could really make.”
“I love it,” Kakashi quickly told him.
“What?”
“I love it,” the jonin repeated.
“You don’t even know what it does yet,” Iruka laughed, but Kakashi shrugged.
“I don’t care, I can already tell it will be amazing,” he said, and Iruka laughed again. “I have something for you too,” he said, rolling up the scroll and gently setting it aside.
Iruka watched as the other man pulled out a small booklet and passed it to him.
“What is it?” Iruka asked, looking down at it. It was about the size of an index card, half an inch thick, and had silvery snowflakes drawn onto the front.
“I also thought something handmade would be nice,” Kakashi reflected. “It’s –”
“A book of coupons?” Iruka laughed, flicking through. “That’s great!”
“Date coupons,” the jonin mumbled.
“What?”
Kakashi sighed and cleared his throat. “Date coupons,” he said louder, studying the teacher for a reaction. He was rewarded with a smile and a blush as Iruka began to look through the coupons again, now with the knowledge these were to be dates and not platonic events.
“There’s well over ten dates in here,” Iruka commented after a moment. “That’s awfully presumptuous, seeing as we haven’t even gone out once…”
“You’ll find there’s a first date coupon,” Kakashi told him, and Iruka laughed.
“Where did you come up with this?”
“One of Sakura’s magazines.”
“Hmm,” Iruka hummed, flicking through it again. “I think I’ll use this one now,” he said, moving to carefully tear out of the book.
“Oh, is it the first kiss one?” Kakashi asked hopefully.
“No, it’s the free ramen one, I’m starving,” Iruka sighed. This earned a pout from the other man, evident even through his mask, and Iruka laughed. He stood and held out a hand to Kakashi, who accepted it as they began to walk to Ichiraku’s.
“But after we eat,” Iruka began, “I may use that kiss coupon…”