Ship: Kakashi Hatake x Obito Uchiha
Genres: Humor – Romance – Slice of Life / One-shot
Rating : +12
Summary: It was just the two of them, and no one else. It was time to talk about the future. The problem was that they weren’t thinking of the same thing.
Enjoy!
A strange premonition had been gnawing at Kakashi for days.
Throughout his career as a shinobi, he had learnt to prioritise them according to their urgency and, above all, to trust them.
But he wasn’t currently on a mission.
In fact, come to think of it, he hadn’t been for days… But he wasn’t about to complain.
As a result, he found himself plagued by his instincts, even though the most adventurous thing he’d done in recent days had been accepting Rin’s invitation to dinner.
Luckily, she’d chosen a career as a medic-nin. With her around, food poisoning didn’t last long…
Sighing at this sad memory, he rubbed his stomach to banish the lingering discomfort, pushing open the door to their flat.
He was surprised to recognise Obito’s shoes in the engawa as he set his own down.
« I’m home? »
Entering the living room, he spotted him slumped there, head resting on his arm, staring at something in his hand.
« Obi? »
Startled, Obito sat up abruptly, the object of his attention vanishing from view, whilst he put on the most feigned innocent look he’d ever seen.
Even Naruto had better control over his facial expressions!
Frowning, Kakashi approached him, tormented by his premonition.
« You’re already here… »
« Yes, it’s a quiet day, » replied Obito. « I thought I might come home early…? »
Wary, he approached his nonetheless, kissing him on the forehead before putting the shopping away in the kitchen.
Obito, for his part, turned round in his chair, watching him move between the cupboards, biting his lip under the weight of doubt.
Quickly summoning Kamui, he stashed the bag he’d been hiding in his pocket, offering a wide, forced smile when Kakashi turned at the fluctuation of chakra.
Once he’d done so, he went over to join him, kissing him on his masked cheek and wrapping an arm around him.
« We could eat out, for a change? »
« You’re only suggesting that because it’s your turn to cook tonight. »
« Mmh, yes, that too. »
Despite his movements, Obito rested his head against his shoulder, smiling affectionately, for no particular reason, just happy to be there, with him.
« But I still want to spend a romantic evening with you. »
« We could spend it here, too. »
Accustomed to his dead weight, the jōnin had made his way to the sink, washing the vegetables despite the half-embrace, completely disinterested.
« You’re no fun, » he sulked.
With his free hand, he pressed his index finger into the masked cheek several times, puffing out his own cheeks.
« Maa, that’s not what you usually say. »
He stopped teasing him, deflating his cheeks and placidly watching the dance of his hands under the water, simply savouring their closeness.
Feeling anxious, Obito checked himself in the mirror with an excessive amount of care he wasn’t used to, but he couldn’t help himself, wrestling with a stray strand of hair that had decided this was the perfect moment to draw attention to itself. He then turned his attention to his eye patch, which was slipping, and next it was his haori‘s turn, which was askew…
« … Aren’t we going to eat ramen? »
Frozen in the doorway of the bathroom, Kakashi stared at his partner with wide eye. Or rather, he was staring at his choice of outfit.
« Is that new? I don’t recall seeing it before…
He stepped closer, whilst Obito turned to face him, nervous.
Somewhat disappointed, he noted that Kakashi had once again donned his uniform, albeit without the protective vest, and his headband replaced by his own eye patch.
« Er, yes, I went to pick it up at the Uchiha compound last week. »
« Are we celebrating something? »
Tense, Obito dared not breathe as Kakashi pinched the edges of the collar to adjust it properly. He ran the flat of his hand over the expensive fabric, savouring the feel against his bare skin.
« I’d thought of this great restaurant, on the other side of town, » his companion stammered.
« You’ll have to be a bit more specific. »
Frowning, he continued to straighten the garment.
Usually, Obito knew how to compensate for his blind spot, but the iro-montsuki-bakama ensemble must have been too far removed from his routine, given the imbalance of each element.
Under the light touch of his fingers, Kakashi could feel the taut muscles and tendons, betraying a nervousness that had no reason to exist.
This realisation only served to heighten his own unease, and he barely caught his partner’s muttering as he pointed to a sign where the cheapest dish on the menu cost almost a year’s worth of his best salary.
His eyebrows knitted even further, in stark contrast to his anxiety.
« Are we celebrating something? » he repeated.
But Obito made a point of avoiding eye contact as he stepped back, satisfied with his work.
« I’ve overdone it, I look ridiculous, » he grumbled, tugging at his himo.
Taking his hands in his own, Kakashi pulled them apart.
« You’re not ridiculous, you’re magnificent. You always look brilliant in formal wear. »
« Flatterer. »
They shared a quick kiss, before the jōnin stepped back.
« I doubt they’ll let me in dressed like this, » he continued. « But I’ve got nothing better… »
« What about your father’s affairs? »
Sakumo was generally a taboo subject, but Obito had no intention of cancelling or changing his plans over a minor detail of attire.
It was bad enough that he’d practically had to fight with Fugaku to get his permission, and now this bloody outfit…
But for heaven’s sake, he was the Fifth Hokage, not some ten-year-old genin!
« Yeah, probably. But we’ll have to search; we’re going to be late. »
« That’s the first time that’s ever been a problem for you… »
Unable to argue, Kakashi simply grabbed a handful of black hair and tugged at it.
Snapping his hand away, Obito wriggled free from his grip and smoothed his hair, heading towards the entrance.
« Let’s go now. The sooner we get started, the sooner we’ll be done! »
Unconvinced, his companion followed him, hands in his pockets.
He was liking this evening less and less…
Between his father’s suicide and his own departure from the family home, the belongings had remained exactly where they’d been put away back then.
That row of clothes, just waiting to be worn, was like an insurmountable wall, a barrier that Kakashi was forbidden to break through.
More pragmatic, Obito rummaged through the chest of drawers, opening them one by one.
« Found it! » he exclaimed.
Snapped out of his sombre thoughts, he turned away from the cupboard to look at the embroidered pouches he’d pulled out of it.
« You should find something you like in there! »
With that, he left the room, granting him a semblance of privacy. Leaving him amidst the dust and the ghosts…
Returning to his task, Kakashi opened a few pouches, glancing inside half-heartedly.
He had few memories of the time when he still had family, and even fewer of his father wearing anything other than his uniform. The glimpses meant nothing to him, and he knew too little to feel at ease.
Picking a set at random, he put the others away and set about changing.
When he finally caught sight of his reflection, his expression turned bitter as he realised it was his father staring back at him.
To break the resemblance, he flipped his eye patch, revealing the scar running vertically across his face, his eyelid lifting to reveal the Sharingan.
Satisfied with this diversion, he bent down to attend to the final details.
The haori was woven from a fairly simple beige and brown fabric, and its silk lining featured garden motifs in shades of ivory.
The kimono and obi were more understated, and it was as he fastened them that he realised Obito’s haori bore his clan’s fans, yet he himself possessed nothing bearing the Hatake kamon…
This detail, combined with all the others he had patiently gathered since returning from his last mission, only made him fear the worst.
Obviously, Obito wouldn’t organise something flashy to break up with him or confess to an affair, especially as such a well-known figure, at the most luxurious restaurant in Konoha, so close geographically to the Uchiha clan.
On the other hand, he’d been refused a new mission, he’d received several summons to the hospital, and Obito seemed to be dodging him, especially when he wanted to ask him questions about it…
As much as he didn’t know the reasons behind this dinner, his partner wouldn’t have incurred such expenses without a good reason.
And all this in public, with the possibility of calling for reinforcements, in case Kakashi decided to kick his arse until he’d knocked that stupid plan out of his head!
Signing papers all day seemed to have made him sly…
Methodically covering his face, Kakashi went out to join that idiot, locking up the old house until the next decade.
When his partner joined him, Obito’s eye was practically sparkling.
Admittedly, he hadn’t put much effort into it, and many other colours would have shown him off to far better advantage, but clothes often served no other purpose than to decorate the bedroom floor.
Or anywhere else, for that matter – he wasn’t too fussy!
As long as he didn’t end up spending the evening at the station, surrounded by the clan members, for indecent exposure…
« It suits you, » he complimented him.
« I already hate my zori, » he replied gloomily.
Amused, Obito simply held out his hand, which he took, and led the way, unable to stop the delighted smile from tugging at his old scars.
Of course, nervousness was churning in his stomach like an angry tiger, but he was still able to savour the moment for what it was, strutting proudly through the streets of Konoha with his lover and an outfit that shouted his intentions louder than Gai ever could.
He was so lost in his daydreams that he nearly missed the establishment, had it not been for Kakashi to shake him out of it.
The interior was so stuffy that he couldn’t help but wonder whether the customers were human beings or puppets, but he managed to keep his thoughts to himself, following the head waiter to the room he had reserved for the occasion.
The jōnin‘s eye widened at the sight, and he waited until they were alone to whisper his surprise.
« But how long have you been planning this? Kurenaï told me you have to book years in advance, and that’s just for a table! »
« Kashi. I’m the Hokage. Do you really think they could have turned down my request? »
He opened his menu to avoid his angry glare this time.
« Even when it’s packed, they always keep one or two of those rooms free for this sort of unexpected situation. »
« ‘This sort of unexpected event’, » he repeated, snorting. « Just like you, indeed. »
Fortunately, he’d looked over the menu before today; Obito found himself unable to concentrate on reading it, the kanji blurring before his eye.
The start of the meal was mostly a mix of silences and trivial topics, remaining light-hearted.
But as both were shinobi, and having known each other since they were very young, the tension became increasingly obvious, to the point where they put down their chopsticks, their appetite taking a back seat.
« What are you hiding from me? »
True to form, Kakashi struck first, looking sombre.
« The latest budget allocated to the Academy? » he evaded.
But, once again, they knew each other too well for that to fly.
« We’ll talk about that straight after, » he brushed it aside.
Folding his fingers beneath his chin, Kakashi leaned slightly over the table.
He had taken off his mask, only pulling it back up when staff members passed by, and Obito found it hard to focus on anything other than the pouting lower lip and the fleeting glimpse of his sharp teeth.
Far more than the mole on the side of his chin, his partner’s canine teeth were one of the objects of his obsession.
The slight tips of his incisors and canines were visible intermittently, in a vaguely threatening but generally harmless dance.
Unless he asked him to, of course…
He was only roused from his thoughts by his instincts, as Kakashi had stretched an arm across the table, waving his hand in front of his right eye.
« Keep spacing out and I’ll shove my chopsticks under your fingernails, » he warned.
Valuing his dignity somewhat, Obito swallowed and sat up straight, suddenly very attentive.
He was right, anyway; it was an important evening! He’d have other moments to think about his partner’s qualities; he could well concentrate for a few hours!
« But, if I space out about you, do I get a treat? » he teased, just for the sake of it.
He hadn’t planned their evening hour by hour either, leaving room for the unexpected and improvisation if necessary, but he knew at least that dessert was the best moment.
If the man of his life said ‘yes’ to him, it would taste incomparable!
Either he’d be turned down, in which case the dish would be saltier than all the umeboshi in the world…
« Obito… » Kakashi’s rumbling voice called out to him.
The atmosphere had gradually shifted from tender to menacing.
It was clear that the secrecy of the past few weeks had slowly begun to weigh on them, and that it was time to cast off that burden…
Swallowing nervously, Obito straightened up again and squared his shoulders, trying to convey just how seriously he was taking the matter, but he was unable to meet his gaze, so he avoided it, looking instead at the imperfect reflection on the polished table.
What a shame he was frowning! He was still handsome, despite everything, but Obito would have preferred him to be more relaxed on this occasion, as radiant as he knew he could be for him…
Since the start of his career as Hokage, Obito had had to train his memory for all the obligatory speeches associated with his role – that’s not true, he used his Sharingan – and he had prepared a text, a statement, for the occasion.
And, of course, he couldn’t remember a single word of it now.
If he could, he’d bang his head against the nearest piece of furniture…
« Kakashi, » he began.
He quickly glanced up to assess the situation and immediately looked down again, too nervous.
« Although I would have liked it to be a day like any other, an evening like any other… It’s also a very special day. Or, at any rate, I hope it becomes one. »
Picking up his decorative fan, he turned it over and over in his hands as he thought about what to say next.
He was off to a good start, wasn’t he? It wasn’t as grand or romantic as he’d have liked, but it was fine.
How had Minato-sensei managed to propose to Kushina?
Ah yes, she’d taken care of it, that’s right…
« First and foremost, I want to remind you that you can refuse and it won’t change anything between us, though I sincerely hope you’ll accept… »
As the words flowed from his lips, Kakashi’s reflection grew darker. His features tensed, his eyebrow dropping ever lower.
Obito could still defuse the situation, make a joke, pretend he was talking about something else and get out of it! Erase the ceremonial aspect of the situation and suppress the magnitude of his feelings!
But he hadn’t become a shinobi, and survived his first missions, to be a coward.
He would see it through to the end.
Slipping his hand into the loose sleeve, he quickly summoned Kamui.
It was a bit ridiculous, because not only could Kakashi sense the fluctuation of chakra, but he also had a clear view of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
So much for discretion…
The food was objectively good.
To his untrained palate, Kakashi couldn’t say much more than that.
Well, actually, he would have much preferred to spend the evening chatting with Teuchi and Ayame whilst enjoying some ramen.
The room was soundproofed – not that the place was noisy – and tastefully decorated.
He felt so out of place that he found himself thinking the cemetery might have been a warmer setting.
Of course, he wasn’t alone and Obito occupied most of his field of vision, but he was oozing nervousness from every pore, only making his own state worse.
The twin fans on his collar unsettled him, regularly catching his eye.
Apart from their clan symbolism, they must be there for a good reason, surely? He’d already witnessed kunoichi arguing about this during preparations for undercover missions.
Everything was a detail, and the details were everything.
Something like that…
Obito was rarely well-dressed, except on special occasions requiring his presence as Hokage, and he was wearing a hat and robes at that moment.
He had no idea, then, just how much that idiot could exude an almost magnetic charm in formal attire bearing his clan’s insignia, his genetic features standing out clearly.
Well, that was when he kept a serious expression, because he lost all that when he started smiling like the fool he was…
At least, when he did, Kakashi was reassured in spite of himself: this was indeed his lover and not some bizarre clone!
The dishes had names impossible to remember, and the minutes spent talking about the weather over the last few days were beginning to wear down what little patience he had left.
So, he took the initiative and cornered Obito.
Unsurprisingly, Obito tried to dodge the question, which only served to heighten his concerns.
Outside of his role, the bloke was an open book, easy to read and figure out, lying as badly as a pre-genin.
For him to put in so much effort…
Finally, he seemed to pull himself together and spill the beans. On reflex, Kakashi flipped the chopsticks in his hands, ready to use them as weapons if necessary.
When Kamui was summoned and Obito feigned rummaging in his sleeve, he waited no longer and leapt over the table, pinning the idiot against the wall, his own Sharingan ablaze, the blunt end of the cutlery pressed against the carotid artery exposed by the expensive kimono.
« I forbid you to cast me aside, » he hissed.
From this close distance, he could see him swallow.
They both knew it would take him just a second to make himself intangible or to leave the room. But he didn’t do it, instead fixing his gaze on his, his cheeks flushing slightly.
« I think there’s been a misunderstanding. May I? »
Awkwardly, he waved his right fist in his field of vision, trying to catch his attention.
Kakashi glanced at it but immediately returned his gaze to his lover’s face, which was barely relaxed.
« A misunderstanding? I’m being denied missions, the hospital put me through a full check-up, I’m nearly twenty-five, you avoid me when I ask why, and you talk of a misunderstanding? »
He tightened his grip on his makeshift weapons and on the garment, baring his fangs in his agitation.
He was no longer worried or nervous. He was furious.
An animalistic growl echoed through the room, and he realised belatedly that he was the source of it.
But Obito didn’t seem to feel in any danger. He was nervous, yes, but just as he’d been ever since returning to the Hokage Residence.
He’d known him long enough to realise that this idiot, devoid of any survival instinct, was actually getting a kick out of the current situation.
Strangely enough, rather than upsetting him or making him even more annoyed, this realisation actually calmed him down a little.
« I literally have your life in the palm of my hand, » he whispered. « And you’re getting a hard-on? Seriously? »
Feeling absolutely no guilt, Obito replied with a roguish smile.
« It reminds me a bit of your ANBU days. Have you kept the mask, by the way? »
« Idiot. »
Kakashi sighed, unable to hide his tenderness, and sat up, flinging the chopsticks onto the table behind him.
He went to help his partner up, but the latter had preferred to slide to the floor, one knee on the ground, opening his fist to reveal a small cloth pouch.
The pouch he’d hidden upon his return, earlier that day.
With slow, deliberate movements – as much because that bloody Uchiha had a flair for the dramatic, like the rest of his bloody clan, as to avoid irritating his senses, still on high alert – he opened it to reveal a simple ring.
It was just a silver band, until he turned it over, revealing their respective crests engraved in the metal.
« Hatake Kakashi, will you marry me? »
Confused, he looked from the ring to his lover’s attentive, eager face.
« As I was saying: there’s no obligation. You can refuse, you can accept. No pressure. »
‘No pressure’, eh? And he expected him to believe that, after all the effort he’d put into this scene.
« If I accept », he began, clearing his throat. « If I accept, nothing changes? Can I go back into the field, take on missions…? »
« Of course! You’ll just be the Hokage’s husband – a mere trifle. »
They both snorted at the joke. Of course it was more than just a ring and the consequences would be clear, but still…
« You promise I’ll always be able to… »
« Oh for fuck’s sake, Bakashi! » he snapped. « It’s just a bloody ring! What do you prefer, your life as a shinobi or me?! »
They exchanged a wordless glance. But they didn’t need one.
« Think carefully before you answer, » he hissed, narrowing his eye.
Kakashi found himself smiling despite himself, moved.
That was their dynamic as a couple.
Reaching out, he took the ring and slipped it onto his ring finger.
« I’m warning you: not even death will separate us. I’ll haunt you until the end of time. »
Rolling his eye, Obito pushed him away:
« Give me back the ring, I’ve changed my mind! »
Leaping out of his reach, the jōnin childishly stuck his tongue out at him, daring him to come and get his property.
« Just you wait! » he threatened.
He went to stand up, pulling his iro-montsuki-bakama out of the way and…
Nothing.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
« Kakashi? »
The uncertain, slightly panicked tone wiped away all amusement; his companion – his fiancé – sprang to his side, attentive and worried.
« I… don’t make fun of me, okay? »
Frowning at the request, he nodded.
« I’m stuck, » Obito admitted, flushing with embarrassment. « Help me up, please. »
« Let me see! » whispered Rin excitedly.
Kakashi obligingly complied, holding out his arm to allow his friend to examine the ring from every angle she deemed necessary.
She let out a whistle of admiration as she marvelled at the play of light on the Uchiha crest.
« He hasn’t taken the mickey out of you! »
« Thanks for the vote of confidence, » grumbled Obito, folding his arms. « I’m right here, by the way. »
Ignoring him, Rin continued to speak to his new fiancé.
« So he pulled out all the stops, did he? Fancy clothes, posh restaurant, down on one knee? »
« Oh, as for knocking him down, he certainly knocked him down. »
He watched his neighbour out of the corner of his eye, smirking as the man raged loudly.
If you’re curious: Obito is wearing the equivalent of a tuxedo and Kakashi is in a suit and tie. One looks like a penguin and the other looks like he’s off to a job interview.
Gribouillis et ratures 