Work Text:
"I'm sorry Lord Hokage, but I am unable to abide by that request".
"You dare retaliate against your Hokage's orders Kakashi?"
"If it means protecting another person's life, then I suppose I do, Lord Third".
Kakashi wasn't normally one to disobey his superior's orders, but in this case he felt he had to. Ending the life of this specific individual was not in his list anytime soon.
"We've gone over this Kakashi, he had attempted to take my life during today's earlier ambush. You know what comes to those who commit such actions".
"But Lord Third, we haven't seen anyone like him before. His powers...don't you find it strange that he resembles the first Hokage?"
"That may very well be so, but it does not dismiss the fact that he is a threat".
Kakashi's attempt to persuade Lord Hiruzen seemed to be sinking by the minute. He could recall the earlier interaction he briefly had with the assassin while a group ambushed Lord Third and his Anbu. Kakashi had failed at capturing the boy and encouraged him to escape after sensing something different in him. Now the Hokage requested the capture or eventual termination of those assassins from earlier.
"Please allow me to handle him Lord Third".
"You and I both know the consequences if your approach fails Kakashi".
"Yes Sir". And with that, Kakashi disappeared into the night air, determined to find out more about the boy from earlier.
_____________________________
Taking hold of the framed photo, Yamato sat perched up on the roof of his apartment. He smiled as he looked upon the small, shy boy in Anbu gear standing next to his taller and well respected Anbu captain. Both young men had smiled for the photo taken exactly the day Yamato had joined the Anbu ranks. It had been many missions and several years since then. Kakashi had since been promoted to Jonin and Yamato followed suit after Lady Tsunade appointed him to Team 7 Captain. If he was being honest, he never thought he would make it this far in life, not after the way he was raised in the dark shadows of the Root Foundation.
As he reminisced his days back in the Anbu, he felt a familiar signature of chakra walk down the roof and sit toward the ledge right next to him.
"I see you've remembered", Kakashi noted as he saw the photo in Yamato's hand.
"How could I not? It's the day my life changed forever, thanks to you Kakashi".
"Mah, you give me too much credit Yamato", Kakashi waved off as he looked toward the village.
"Well, from what Lord Third told me before, you certainly had retaliated against his wishes to get rid of me, so I basically owe my life to you". Yamato had come to terms with the way people had perceived him in the past. In truth, he had never been happy with himself, never knowing where he belonged. He just acted as a weapon, as taught to him by Danzo. Therefore, he easily forgave the Hokage when he recounted the whole story of Kakashi disobeying orders to eliminate him.
With time, Lord Hiruzen came to like Yamato and saw the potential for him to become a great ninja. He certainly proved his worthiness as he excelled in difficult missions in Team Ro. Though the achievements and victories that he accomplished were great, no feeling compared to the adoration he had of his captain. Both seemed to grow close over the years, with their friendship turning into something more.
"Here, I got you something".
His thoughts were interrupted as Kakashi reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box.
Yamato's eyes glistened as Kakashi opened the box to reveal a silver ring.
Kakashi blushed, voice suddenly becoming shaky as he began speaking, just as he had practiced. Lowering his mask, he continued to ask what he'd been willing to say since the day he met Yamato.
"Yamato, in our shared time together, I've had the opportunity to see you grow into this amazing and remarkable person that I've come to know. I don't regret a single time we've spent together. I don't regret how our lives have played out because it has all led to this. With you and I as one. I am grateful you've come into my life and have helped guide me to becoming a better person. I have come to realize that I've needed you, not only as a team partner, but as a lifelong partner, as well. Today is a special day. The day I started my life with you many years ago. And if you would permit, I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. Well, of course, if you do as well. Which leads me to say, Yamato will you marry me?"
Tears had begun forming on Yamato's eyes. No training could have ever prepared him for this special encounter. Kakashi was taking a big step forward in their relationship, a step that he was willing to take, as well. The sincerity in Kakashi's words made his heart swell up with love and fondness. He looked at the ring, then up at Kakashi. He smiled as the blush on Kakashi's face deepened into a red ruby color. Yamato knew he was out of his comfort zone, which further made Yamato adore him for doing what he was doing.
"Yes, I would love to marry you Kakashi".
Kakashi felt a wave of joy and relief at those words. Without second thought, he removed the ring from the box and inserted it into Yamato's extended finger.
"It's beautiful Kakashi", Yamato admitted as the ring easily slipped into his finger. The gesture was beyond anything that they both ever felt. No words could describe the feeling inside them, so instead of saying anything, they both leaned in for a deep kiss.
After a moment of sheer tenderness, Kakashi parted away and noticed some tears falling down Yamato's face. Kakashi cupped Yamato's face with his hands and used his thumbs to gently wipe the tears away.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm just processing everything. I never would have imagined that this would happen today".
"Well, today is a very special day. I thought why don't we make it it twice as special?"
"Thank you, it certainly is twice as special today", Yamato replied as he held Kakashi's hand in his own.
"Who knows, perhaps we may even get married on this date, too...make it triple special". Kakashi winked as he proposed the idea.
"That sounds wonderful", Yamato happily replied. If he was being honest, he liked where his life was headed. After all, getting to spend the rest of your life with someone you loved didn't seem like a bad idea.