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The Hitai-ate
There was a very clear before and after in Obito’s life. Before the Rock and after the Rock. There was a rude, stubborn brat Kakashi before the Rock, then there was the ‘I’m here to have a good time, not a long time Kakashi’ after the Rock.
Maybe that day when Obito said those words about his father in the heat of the moment were something that Kakashi had been waiting for all his life. Just an acknowledgement that his father was not wrong. That, despite it all, Kakashi was independent to make his own choices, irrespective of his father’s actions and what they had cost him.
After what could have been a more disastrous Kannabi mission, Obito found himself at peace. He had awakened two tomoe sharingan, his grandmother was proud. He had given one of his eyes to Kakashi and it felt right looking at him wearing something that belonged to Obito. Everyone would look at Kakashi’s face and know. He had been too young at that time to understand these feelings and too hung over the fantasy of him and Rin becoming an ultimate Alpha-Alpha couple.
It was only a year later after The Rock, when his grandmother prodded him to think deeper about why it felt right - ‘giving Kakashi his eye’ that he came to a horrible conclusion that he liked Kakashi. Nay, he loved that brat.
And Kakashi being Kakashi didnt give two fucks about people who loved him. They all passed by him like clouds. For someone who was touted as a genius from such a young age, it was in matters like these that he had no clue or context about. Obito despaired at his future.
He knew of Uchiha obsession when he saw one. Love till death do us part. And whatnot. Obito had somewhat secretly prided himself on not being like his clan, his grandmother letting him run around wild. Never holding him back, making him try and fit into their stupid clan’s customs. But now, it seemed he had inherited the worst kind of Uchiha trait.
He knew in his bones, the way that sun would rise and set everyday, that Obito would love Kakashi until the day he died. Perhaps even after that, he would wait for Kakashi in Pure Lands, and follow him around even there.
But he also knew Kakashi despised suitors. Or in general people who professed their love for him randomly, in the middle of the street, full of people. He hated it. So Obito would have to be subtle about his courting for the younger boy. It would take years until Kakashi would be comfortable with the idea of love. Obito could do that.
Unconventional courting method, but who cares. All that matters is that Kakashi would like it.
Obito promised to go slow but by gods, does Kakashi like testing his patience.
It all started when Kakashi’s hitai-ate broke. Obito didn't even know how that happened, too focused on his fight with Anko. Somehow, Might Guy had managed to break Kakashi’s hitai-ate. A tragedy for sure. But for Obito.
Obito doesn't blame Kakashi, he doesn't. He knows logically that the sharingan was a drain on Kakashi’s chakra. There was a reason Kakashi had his hitai-ate purposefully modified so that it would cover his eye. He also knew, going home from the training ground, after Kakashi had already used so much of chakra trying to keep Might Guy at bay, was not going to be possible for Kakashi.
Logically Obito knew this. But he also didn't understand why Kakashi couldn't wrap any other cloth over his face. No. Apparently Kakashi couldn't. After Kakashi looked at Obito with his wide eyes, one of them being his own. Obito, like Kakashi’s ninken, fell over himself trying to remove his own modified hitai-ate and to tie it gently around Kakashi’s face.
And Kakashi being Kakashi, bared his neck sweetly in front of Obito, asking how he looked. Even if divine retribution had fallen on Obito at that moment he couldn't have looked away from Kakashi. With Obito’s scent, with Obito’s hitai-ate on his face.
If only it would have gotten left at that, Obito in the privacy of his mind could have kept at least some semblance of dignity. But no, Kakashi being Kakashi had to prance around the entire village. Like that. With Obito’s hitai-ate.
Rin was never going to let him forget the squeaking kettle noises that came out of his mouth that day. Leaving Rin aside, even Obito himself couldn't let himself live that down.
The Kneeling
Obito sometimes swore Kakashi knew what he was doing. Making Obito act so stupid in front of him.
Like everything starts. It started with Kakashi being Kakashi. Obito had been minding his own business, helping an old grandma carry her grocery bag home. When suddenly both of them ran into Kakashi probably running his own errands. Deciding he had nothing better to do anyways, Kakashi joined them.
And as all grandma’s do, Yuki-obachan was completely taken by Kakashi. In the walk that usually takes her ten minutes, Yuki-obachan took sixteen minutes. Halfway through she had somehow managed to get Kakashi’s hand in her tight grip and was extolling her grand-daughters exceptional cooking skills that Kakashi would enjoy. Kakashi, even though he was a rude brat, he was not a rude brat towards elderly old ladies who were clearly trying to set him up with their daughters.
And Obito was now relegated to a grocery carrier trundled behind them grumpily. That's why he didn't notice when a snake crawled right near his ankle. He didn't scream, he was a dignified shinobi with shinobi reflexes so he didn't scream. The scream totally came from Yuki-obachan, Obito would swear on it.
Kakashi being Kakashi, instead of letting Obito dance around crazily on one leg trying to dislodge the snake, bent down. No he kneeled, and picked that god gifted snake from Obito’s leg and snapped it neck. Instead of getting up and pretending he wasn't kneeling in front of an Alpha, Kakashi bent by his leg checking if that god knew what worm had bitten Obito or not.
“Get up, get up, get up, you Bakakashi.” Obito yelped, looking up and down the street to check whether anyone else saw this. “You’re not-” Obito gave up, looking at Kakashi’s unbothered face.
“That was a Mamushi, if it would've bitten you, you would be throwing up and nauseous within minutes. Your blood would coagulate and before I could even get you to hospital, you’d be frothing and dead,” Kakashi rolled his eyes, standing and brushing nonexistent dust from his pants.
“Still-” Obito started.
“Thankyou Kakashi, for once again saving my life. What would I do without you? I would even get lost trying to walk to my house. Thank you, Kakashi. I’ll make you your favorite miso soup, Kakashi. There, that's what you're supposed to say.”
“Why you little brat-”
“Youre welcome, Obito.” Kakashi narrowed his eyes. And like the pathetic loser Obito was, he let the matter drop. It wasn't like Obito wasn't going to court Kakashi, and only Yuki-obachan had seen them.
During the remaining three minute walk, Yuki-obachan did not mention her daughter even once. Some perks were to be had, Obito mused. This and the fact that the memory of Kakashi kneeling in front of him was never leaving his mind, even without the sharingan that was for sure.
The clothes
Sometime after Minato-sensei had promoted Kakashi into ANBU, he had started to come over at Obito’s place more after missions instead of going to his own apartment. Kakashi had long since moved out of Hatake ancestral house, his new apartment had been affront to all human beings. There was nothing in that apartment except a wardrobe to hold clothes and some basic utensils. Hell, until a few months back Kakashi only owned one set of utensils.
Obito had made dinner. This half elaborate thing Obito whipped up after an especially draining mission and Kakashi’s house was just closer for both of them. He searched for a second bowl to ladle noodles into, but there was none. He called Kakashi over, his hair still dripping wet from the shower. Obito would have to remember to wipe his hair for him. Kakashi was always too lazy to wipe it himself, shook himself up and left it to air dry like a dog.
Kakashi had come into the kitchen, pouting at being rushed through his post shower ritual of laying around. Kakashi looked at the one bowl that already had the broth and noodles and looked blankly at Obito.
“Thats it. That bowl. What more do you want?” Kakashi asked.
“There’s only one there, Bakakashi. What am I supposed to eat in?” Obito sighed, readying himself having to wash dishes before eating. He was tired and hungry, alright. And he hates doing dishes. Cooking he could even say he liked doing it, but cleaning all that up afterwards. His number one dreaded task.
“I only have that….” Kakashi mumbled, seemingly realising the issue.
“You have only one bowl. One plate and one pair of chopsticks?” Obito asked blankly. His grandmother, he knew- was a deviant, she kept enough plates and crockery to feed a small army in their kitchen. He knew she just got too attached to pots and pans and refused to throw them away even though they looked like they were begging for mercy from where they were stored above closets. But this was too utilitarian.
“Kakashi…. You truly….” Obito snorted. Kakashi looked lovely with a flush staining his face, Obito thought he couldn't possibly love someone more than this. Kakashi, silly, genius Kakashi, had never considered that people other than might come over to eat at his place. It made something ache fierce in his chest. “The pot can be used as a bowl, don't worry about it. From next time onwards, just come over to my place.” Obito added.
That's how it all started. The coming over. It seemed finally after years the spare futon had a master of its own, with the amount of times Kakashi stayed over. It was good. It was horrible. Because Obito had not even started courting Kakashi properly. He couldn't gather his courage to give him the flowers he kept buying from Yamanaka’s shop. It took only one thought of Kakashi’s displeased face, that had him turning tail and running home to give the flowers to his grandmother.
It was only after the twelfth time that happened and his grandmother pulled his ear yelling about raising a coward that Obito stopped with those flowers. His grandmother knew he had not done anything to further his courting process, but she didn't say anything either.
It's just Obito was afraid. It was only after The Rock that they had started being friends. Two years and Kakashi had started treating him like a friend. Before that both of them clashed too hard, Kakashi being Kakashi and holding onto rules like his life depended on it. And at that time it probably did. Obito knew firsthand the citizens had sharper tongues than shinobi’s weapons. He knew how deep some words could carve.
Then there was Obito, who was blinded with his puppy crush over Rin. He really had latched onto the first person who hadn't outright scorned him. She was good, she was more than good, but it really did take nearly dying and his grandmother's meddling that he realised that the future he envisioned with her was just that, a childish fantasy. And not something both of them wanted.
Which led him here.
Being a coward, wanting to do everything right. Afterall, Kakashi had scorned all his pathetic attempts at wooing Rin. That meant Obito must have been doing something wrong, somewhere. It's just that he didn't understand where he was going wrong. All the advice his grandmother could give him was to follow your heart.
What a load of bullshit. If Obito could understand his heart that easily then it wouldn't have taken it this long for him to realise it.
And it's the way Kakashi keeps on testing his resolve. Wriggling into Obito’s futon in the middle of the night because he had a nightmare, he kept baring his throat, kneeling in front of him. And now he had started wearing Obito’s clothes around his house.
His grandmother never failed to look at him and then the ever filled vase of flowers in their house pointedly after those mornings. It was just so. But Kakashi had always been one person in front of whom Obito was afraid of messing up. Not that it had ever stopped him from doing that. But Obito couldn't mess around with this.
The clothes, Obito could attest were the worst.
And through it all Kakashi did not have any idea the effect he was having on Obito. It could have been left at that, Obito would have dealt with his feelings alone like god intended. But then stupid Obito had to see a scarf while getting milk.
Soft, warm and red. Red like the sharingan, the flush that started at Kakashi’s cheeks and ran around his ears. Obito wanted to see Kakashi in it. So he bought it. Impulsive. But Obito had never claimed himself a saint.
The scarf was going to the back of his closet like all the other gifts that never made it to their recipient. But Kakashi being Kakashi while searching for a shirt had stumbled upon it.
“When did you buy this?” Kakashi asked, his tone was unreadable.
“Last week,” Obito blinked at him.
“You don't wear red.” Kakashi held the scarf in a tight grip. “Is it for Rin?”
Obito was confused. “No, Rin doesn't wear red either.”
“Then is it for Oba-chan?” Kakashi pestered.
Be casual Obito. It's no big deal buying a scarf for his teammate. Even if he loved that teammate to death. He could be casual about this. “You take it, it's getting colder outside anyways.”
“Oh.”
Kakashi didn't waste any time wrapping that scarf around himself and parading all over Konoha with Obito’s scent wrapped around him.
Sometimes Obito really didn't understand Kakashi.
The gifts
It was after that disastrous mission that he finally decided that he would stop playing chicken.
It went like this. The three of them- Rin, Kakashi and himself were sent on an B-rank mission for old times sake. Not that Minato-sensei needed to send three of his best shinobi for this, but it had been too long since the three of them met up.
And there was only so much they could talk while babysitting Naruto. Add Sasuke into that mix and it was basically an S-rank mission. He loved those brats dearly, he really did. And individually they were sweet kids, minimal fussing. But put them in a room together and he didn't know which past lives grudge they had against each other but it was like both of them egged each other on. They couldn't stay together in a room without their babysitter leaving with a headache, but it was worse when they were being separated.
God knows what sort of bond they had in their past lives.
No matter how many heachaches Obito suffered it was always worth it after looking at Fugaku’s irked face when he sees his precious Sasuke being drooled on by Minato’s spawn. His words, not Obito’s.
So anyways, the mission they were on was a simple B-rank transport of a few scrolls from Kusagakure to Amegakure. Kinda long, but he liked being outside Konoha, sometimes that village had a way of getting on his nerves.
But if only missions adhered to their plans.
It was kinda Obito’s fault. He agrees. He hadn't slept last night and despite Rin and Kakashi being considerate towards him, by taking turns while keeping watch. He just couldn't sleep. The ground was too dry and Kakashi was too close. His eye curved in a half moon as he teased Rin by reading that godawful Jiraiya’s book all the way.
He had almost tripped twice because of it, and it was only because of Obito’s reflexes that he caught Kakashi both times. And being that close to Kakashi was never good for Obito’s heart. He felt so light and warm. Obito could probably carry him from Kusagakure to Amegakure the entire time if that brat wanted to laze around and read his book.
He was so focused on these thoughts- holding Kakashi, cradling his head, his neck, that he did not see the three shinobi lying in wait for them. Obito’s instincts kicked in, he jumped back to avoid the kunai thrown at him, only to almost fall back on a tanto.
Kakashi leapt forward, and in that moment perhaps there were better ways of stopping the blade, but Kakashi chose the most stupid one. He jumped in front of it and got stabbed in the stomach.
He whimpered. It was a small sound, muffled by his mask, had Obito not been standing so close to him, he wouldn't have heard it.
Kakashi whimpered in pain. Because Obito was spacing out during a mission and slacking off. How dare these vermin hurt Kakashi. This person beside him truly was too stubborn, even when his hand had been broken in three pieces, and Rin had to fix the pieces together to tie them up, he had simply scrunched up his face. Sweat had beaded out, and his lips turned white from holding back his voice, even when Rin had to move the arm around this person had not let out one breath from his mouth.
So hearing this small whimper, with Kakashi’s personality, unless he could truly not bear it, he wouldn't let anyone know of it. He had been this way since his childhood. Perhaps after his fathers death, there was no adult other than the ever-busy Minato sensei who could take the weight off of his shoulder. So he had learnt how to hold on to everything, until it truly became too much for him.
How the three of them died, Obito doesn't even remember. He was completely focused on Kakashi.
All of them were killed by him, or so Rin said.
His daydream did end up happening just not the way he wanted it to. He carried Kakashi all the way to Amegakure then back to Konoha, despite his protests. There was no way he was letting Kakashi walk, the blade had serrated edges, though before it could be twisted in Kakashi’s stomach, Obito had already sent the head of the assassin flying. Still, Rin had to pull it out, and it didn't hurt any less when it came out.
He had not even realised he had started courting Kakashi until that shopkeeper ribbed him. It came so naturally now. To think of things Kakashi would like, use, and Obito would get them.
The first was Icha Icha Paradise second volume, signed by Jiraiya himself. First off, Kakashi was off the mission roster due to his injury so he was sitting in his home alone. So, when Obito saw the poster for the latest volume release of that damned book, he bought it. Got it signed by that old man too.
Well, needless to say Kakashi was very happy with that.
Second came the hand cream. When both of them were sprawled on Kakashi’s bed, with Kakashi inhaling the new book, Obito had nothing else to do but look at the “patient”. His eyes were drawn to the fingers flipping through the book. That's when he noticed Kakashi’s fingers were kinda dry, which makes sense because of his chidori. So the next day when he was bringing over their brunch, he bought a hand cream along with it too.
Nevermind, the needless jabbering the shopkeeper had done as to which omega he was wooing was very lucky to have such a caring alpha. That put a pause in Obito’s steps.
“Courting gifts?” Obito asked the shopkeeper in horror.
“Well aren't you, Uchiha boy? Today this handcream, the food. Last time, Tanaka down the street said you bought a special edition book and had it wrapped. What could these be except courtship gifts?!” The shopkeeper slapped his thigh.
“Huh….? Wait a minute, why were you lot talking about me?” Courtship gifts were too big of a label, so he decided to focus on the smaller matter first.
“Which old lady coming and going from here daily doesn't want you to marry their grandson or granddaughter. The Old Woman Association had put you in the top 5 in the list for Most Eligible Bachelor. Which one of the old ladies wont sigh now that youre courting someone…. Aiya…..”
“.......why was I ever on that list,” Obito left the shop before that shopkeeper could spew more shocking shit at him.
‘It's not like Kakashi is refusing them. Does he know these are courtship gifts though? Hell even I didn't know five minutes ago. But, he is a genius afterall…..
Anyways if he wanted to refuse me he would have.’ Obito pats his own back and leaves it at that. His grandma did say it comes from the heart. This heart shit was really easy afterall.
It kept on going.
Spring passed and flowers bloomed and withered yet Kakashi never gave him an answer.
Obito didn't understand where he was going wrong. But since Kakashi was not reciprocating, was that his gentle way of letting Obito down?
Maybe Kakashi was never interested in him that way from the beginning and it was all a foolish delusion Obito was living in. and Kakashi being Kakashi had not found it in his heart to be cruel to him.
That's why.
Everything made sense like this.
The year passes in a blink.
Obito’s heart is still bleeding and Kakashi keeps on throwing concerned glances at him.
But he doesn't know how not to cry about this. In his heart there was only one person, and that person had rejected his advances. It was done so tactfully, to not hurt Obito’s pride in the process.
Himself
There was something wrong with Obito. These days wherever Kakashi went Obito all but pulled excuses out of thin air to not be with him. Whenever Kakashi sought him out, Obito evaded him like he was some debt collector.
He didn't even look at Kakashi.
And when Kakashi went to sleepover at Obito’s place, he took his futon and went to sleep outside!
Even Rin had started giving Kakashi fix-this looks. But it wasn't like he knew what was going on. Kakashi had tried his best to talk to Obito but the other one just wasn't willing.
Kakashi wondered if he had messed up something important again.
So Kakashi enlists Anko's help into a ruse of gathering, and dragging Obito to it without telling him Kakashi would be there. Today Kakashi was determined to get the truth out of him.
By the time he was waiting for Obito, Asuma kept on refilling his glass. And the sake was sweet too. Kakashi didn't pay attention to how many cups he was downing, too busy staring at the door for Obito.
In the end Anko was successful. Her hand was securely curled around Obito who was being dragged with a tired look on his face.
Kakashi lit up. So many weeks of getting avoided and he was finally here.
He didn't need Anko’s help holding onto Obito anymore. When Obito came close enough, trying his hardest to look at anything but Kakashi. But, Kakashi who had finally seen Obito properly after so many weeks clung on to Obito’s other arm like a limpet.
“Obitooo,” Kakashi tugged at his arm forcefully. Was Obito really going to ignore him, even like this?
Obito gave him a look out of the corner of his eye and sighed.
“I'm going to take him home guys, I think he's too drunk.” Anko looked at Kakashi like she wanted to say something but Asuma shushed her. And Guy… Obito doesn't even wanna know what those gestures he was doing at Kakashi meant.
Reaching Kakashi’s house is easy. Obito remembers the exact steps up the apartment, the spare key behind the shoerack, the mat that had to be avoided lest he activate a trap. Carrying Kakashi in is no hard feat either. He's stuck himself to Obito’s arm like a barnacle.
Obito doesn't exactly know how much Kakashi drank, but it's always good to drink water. He knows from his own personal experience. Especially if the drinks came from Asuma's hand.
After Obito has managed to bribe Kakashi into sitting beside him, and drinking water, Kakashi suddenly mumbles, “Why did you stop giving me those little gifts?”
Obito sucks in a sharp breath. Kakashi’s eye is wide and empty, there is not a single thought behind that eye.
“What?” Obito’s entire world is collapsing. What did Kakashi mean by that?
But Kakashi is already slumping forward in Obito’s arms.
What does this brat actually mean? Does he want Obito to court him again? Despite not giving any indication that he wanted Obito back?
How the entire night passes Obito isn't aware of it. He just keeps on trying to make sense of Kakashi’s words.
Kakashi wakes up slowly where he was sprawled in Obito’s lap. Looks like he has a killer headache. Well, Obito’s not gonna say he deserves it, but really whose fault was it? Drinking with Asuma of all people.
He steels himself as he cooks breakfast for both of them, he needs answers.
“Last night you asked why I stopped giving you courtship gifts? What did you mean?” Obito sets the plates down. There are two plates and two sets of chopsticks, he vaguely notices.
Kakashi, who had just picked up his chopsticks, repeated,”....courtship gifts?” The chopsticks clatter out of his hands and he looks at Obito with such wide panicked eyes, that Obito couldn't move until the brat was already halfway out of the window, leaving a stupid reason behind, “Jiraiya-san’s new book is on sale right now. I gotta go. Wait for me here, please.”
And the desperate plea at the end of the sentence has Obito sitting still in front of the slowly growing cold food. The aroma wafts by, but just like for the past few weeks he does not have any appetite.
Kakashi hastily runs off to Rin’s house first. Peering through her window he sees no one there. So he takes off towards the hospital.
“Rin! Rin! Obito, he-”
“What happened to him?” Rin turns to him, immediately slipping into medic-nin mode.
“No, no, nothing like that. Obito, he was courting me?” Kakashi hisses, pulling her in an empty corridor.
“What? Like you didn't know?” Rin yanks her hand out of Kakashi’s grasp. “ Do you know how many times he has cried because of you?”
“Obito cried because of me…?” Kakashi mumbles in a daze.
“Kakashi, ah, Kakashi. If you don't like him, then you could've just told him to his face. Why play around with his feelings?”
“I like him! And I thought he liked you!” Kakashi blurted out.
“That was ages ago.” Rin looks at him exasperatedly.
“I didn't even know those were courtship gifts.” Kakashi looks so distressed, that Rin finally takes pity on him and gentles her tone.
“What did you think he was doing then?”
Kakashi leans on the wall behind him tiredly, "I just thought he bought them randomly. He always said so.”
“But still, you wear around the scarf he gave, prance around in his scent, Kakashi. How could all of that mean nothing?”
“Well. What does it mean? Don't all teammates do that? Kotetsu and Izumo are always doing it. And Asuma and Kurenai too.”
“You- “ Rin looks at him with growing horror. “How do you not know this stuff? This is first grade stuff!”
“I graduated early! And at that time I was six so sensei said I’ll understand in a few years. Then father……so. And Minato-sensei taught me ninjustu and fuuinjutsu, then all of us became teammates ....”
“Well fuck.” Rin slides down beside him. And he follows her to sit with his knees pulled to his chest.
It wasn't like Kakashi wasn't aware he was lacking in education, but he had always got by, so he thought he must have filled up enough gaps in knowledge to not impede his daily life. And Obito and others never had any problems with his behavior either.
It takes the better part of an hour for Rin to go over basic courting etiquettes and explain the reasoning behind each and everything. Rin has not made fun of him even once. Explaining every single thing patiently.
“Shit.”
Rin laughs again. “Yeah. You summed it up real nice.”
Kakashi groans in embarrassment. “I even bared my neck to him multiple times. And kneeled in front of him,” he says, in complete mortification. Glad that Obito had the foresight to wait. “I even called him alpha jokingly.”
Obito is still where Kakashi left him. The food doesn't look like it was touched. And Obito looks half angry and half depressed. Though Kakashi could tell the depression was winning.
Kakashi doesn't know where to start. How to apologize, or how to admit that he didn't mean to play around with Obito.
Kakashi steels himself. He has to apologize first, no matter how awkward it comes out.
“I- i want to be your mate, too.” Kakashi blurts out. Well, that wasn't exactly an apology.
Obito’s eyes narrow. “What are you playing at?” This is not good….. All the times he has been sure of his knowledge about Obito, today he really can't understand how to go about this. There had never been such awkwardness between them. This was Kakashi’s fault.
Best to start with the explanation then, Rin had understood him, Obito will too. He hopes.
“You see, I didn't really know about the traditions.” Kakashi starts haltingly.
“What? This is literally taught in the academy, genius.” Obito's mouth is pulled down in displeasure.
“Well yea, I graduated early remember…… sensei said I would understand it when I'm older. Then there was no one to explain. And Minato-sensei also never taught us any of this. So- ” Kakashi trails off, his face on fire.
“So what the fuck were you doing?” Obito blurts out.
“Everything just felt right with Obito. So I didn't think much about it.” Kakashi moans, burying his face in his hands.
“You-” Obito drags a hand through his hair, looking done.
“But I do want to be Obito’s mate.” Kakashi says earnestly.
“Yeah. Yeah, I know now. It would have been better if you had told me before. Though I should have known that…..” Obito sighs, and lips unwillingly tick up in a fond smile at Kakashi.
Kakashi leaned forward.
The movement was hesitant, entirely lacking the sharp, practiced precision he usually carried. He reached out, his fingers trembling just slightly as they hooked into the collar of Obito’s shirt, gently pulling the taller boy down toward him.
Obito didn't resist. The rigid tension that had frozen his shoulders for weeks dissolved under the simple, earnest heat of Kakashi’s grip. He let himself be pulled, his dark eye fixed entirely on Kakashi’s face, watching the vivid crimson flush crawl up from beneath the fabric of the mask to saturate the tips of his ears.
"If you're lying to make me feel better, Bakakashi," Obito whispered, his voice dropping into a rough, low rumble that vibrated right against Kakashi’s chest, "I will never let you live it down."
"I don't lie about things like this," Kakashi mumbled against the space between them. With his free hand, he reached up and slowly, deliberately hooked his fingers under the edge of his mask.
Obito’s breath caught in his throat.
Kakashi pulled the fabric down. The face that half the village speculated about, the face hidden behind years of grief and rules and carefully constructed walls, was fully exposed. His lips were parted, soft, the sharp hint of canines peeking out.
He looked beautiful. There were no other words to describe him. The rumours did not do him justice.
"I am an idiot," Kakashi whispered, looking up through his silver bangs, his single dark eye wide and entirely honest. "Rin said I'm a first-grade failure at this. But I'm not playing with you. I want you, Obito. I've only ever wanted you."
A wet, breathless laugh tore out of Obito’s throat.
He didn't wait for Kakashi to say anything else. Obito reached up, his hands framing Kakashi’s face, his thumb catching the soft edge of his jaw to hold him perfectly still. He leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against Kakashi’s.
The kiss was rough and messy, years of agonizing restraint and sudden, overwhelming relief. Kakashi gasped into the contact, his fingers instantly tightening into the fabric of Obito’s shirt, anchoring himself to the only person who had ever looked at him properly. Under all the blood and Kakashi’s personality of making things difficult for them. He tasted like the cool morning air and the faint sweetness of Asuma's sake, but he felt entirely warm.
When Obito finally pulled back, just an inch, his forehead remained pressed against Kakashi’s. Their breaths mingled in the quiet space of the kitchen. Kakashi’s eye was curved into a soft, fragile half-moon, the first genuine smile Obito had seen on his face in weeks.
"So," Kakashi breathed out, his thumb tracing a small circle against Obito’s wrist where he was still holding onto his shirt. "Are you going to buy me those flowers now, or do I have to go ask your grandmother for them myself?"
Obito let out another laugh, his chest expanding against Kakashi’s as he pulled the smaller boy securely into his arms, burying his face into the crook of Kakashi’s neck where his scent was strongest.
"Shut up, Bakakashi," Obito mumbled against his skin, his arms locking tight around his waist. "Just eat your breakfast."