Chapter Text
Minato had apologized to him, in the days following Obito’s return, for placing him in ANBU.
There simply isn’t anyone else for the job, Kakashi. His teacher’s hands rested on the desk in front of him, blue eyes heavy with the weight of Konoha. I need you to become an ANBU agent.
Yes, Hokage-sama.
It made sense. After Rin’s death and Obito’s return, it was obvious that Kirigakure was plotting against them. The Hokage needed an elite shinobi on the field, to provide information and assassinate opponents. The war was almost over, but it wasn’t yet, and that made all the difference.
So Kakashi goes on missions. It helps to know that Obito lies in Konoha’s hospital, safe from the war, a tangible reminder of everything he lost and everything he gained. It pushes him to keep his promises, because he has already broken the biggest one, so he won’t let anyone in ANBU die if he can help it.
Even then, it’s clear that the rest of ANBU don’t share his sentiments. The older generation remembers his father, the legendary Hatake Sakumo, but most of all they remember his failed mission. Traitor, they whisper, then look at Kakashi and call him killer.
The Hatakes live on two sides of the same coin: a coward for saving his comrades, or a coward for killing them?
He is Cold-Blooded Kakashi, Friend-Killer Kakashi, Hound, the youngest ANBU with the highest mission success rate. There isn’t much room to be anything else.
(Why are you flinching? Hawk, twelve years his senior, laughs at him. His ribs hurt from the mission. His right forearm hurts from where he blocked a kunai from slashing Hawk’s throat. His eyes hurt from the Sharingan. What, not so Cold-Blooded anymore? Get over yourself.
Hawk kicks him in the stomach. Kakashi sucks in a breath. No one will help him here.
He doesn’t flinch again.
But he keeps the Sharingan open and memorizes their faces, the expressions of everyone who smears him, everyone who stands and does nothing. He memorizes who they are, who their friends are, who agrees with them, and years later when he stands at the top he takes his own form of revenge.)
~
Obito’s mind clashes against itself, a whirlwind of mixed emotions as he peers out from Kamui.
…I guess I really don’t know Kakashi at all.
Because the man he knows wouldn’t play such a cruel prank on Obito. Not Kakashi, who listens to his tales of lost love, of the Konoha citizens shunning him, of all his missions gone wrong because his teammates wouldn’t listen to him. Not Kakashi, his best friend, who knows him above all else, would understand how much losing Sukea would hurt—
And he had— he had fucked Kakashi, hadn’t he? Did the other find it funny, watching Obito fall so pathetically for a fake persona? Did Kakashi laugh afterwards, making jokes at Obito’s expense? Look at this idiot. No wonder no one likes him!
Anger comes easy, a familiar fury burning his insides.
He slams Kakashi against a wall, hands around his throat. That, too, is familiar.
More than the anger, Obito feels grief welling deep inside him. In one day, he lost not only Sukea but also Kakashi. The rage only carries his words so far, choking up the more he rants. Shamefully, he turns to hide his tears. A shinobi must never show emotion.
So when Kakashi falls to the floor, his first reaction is panic, because someone must have attacked them. How anyone would manage that in Kakashi’s seal-trapped to hell apartment he doesn’t know, but Obito spins around regardless, shuriken already in hand.
…Only to find Kakashi on his knees, staring at the ground.
Then Kakashi confesses his love.
What.
What the fuck, Kakashi. Obito thinks exasperatedly.
Of course he couldn’t express his emotions like a normal human being and instead decided to proposition him under disguise. Really living up to the crazy jounin stereotype.
But the confession settles something inside of him, a final part filling a hole he didn’t even realize was there. It feels right, to be here with Kakashi, to be by his side forever with each other. His dedication to staying with Kakashi, understanding him, and just being there for him makes a lot more sense in a romantic context.
No wonder the other jounin looked at him like he was an idiot. He’s missed all of the obvious signs, even from himself: Kakashi loves him, and he loves Kakashi.
…Truly, this one afternoon is giving Obito the most severe emotional whiplash he’s ever been through, and that’s saying something considering the shit he’s seen. The relief floods his entire being, and he steps toward Kakashi to do— something, anything, he doesn’t know— and then Kakashi closes his Sharingan, looking down in dejected acceptance.
Looking down like he’s bracing for impact.
Oh. Oh, fuck.
“Kakashi,” Obito says softly. He moves slowly toward Kakashi’s spot on the floor. The copy-nin is too good (too practiced) to flinch, but Obito can read the tension in his spine. “Kakashi, c’mon. Look at me. I’m not going to hit you.”
Even as he speaks, his mind reminds him: but you have before. He had, back then in the hospital, and he had even now, against the wall.
So of course Kakashi is scared. There’s precedent, after all. Obito would be scared of himself, too.
(Sometimes he is.)
But now he’s close enough to touch Kakashi’s face, which is exactly what he does. The silver-haired man can’t hide the start of a sharp inhale when Obito traces the edges of his mask before pulling it down slowly, revealing the face he’s become acquainted with in the past few weeks.
Kakashi clearly isn’t used to hiding his expression under the mask: even though his eyes remain blank and focused on the floor, his mouth twists in poorly hidden heartbreak. All of a sudden, Obito knows he doesn’t want to see that on Kakashi’s face ever again.
“Bakashi. You’re an idiot.” Kakashi’s face tightens and his knuckles whiten on the floor. …Well. I obviously suck at words. Poor timing much? He admonishes himself internally, before rushing out his next sentence. “You haven’t even asked me for my answer.”
“...Please don’t drag it out, Obito.” Kakashi finally looks up, his singular dark grey eye filled with pain. “It’s okay. I understand, really.” Here, he smiles, a fake thing that makes Obito want to throw up. It’s the same smile he’s seen when Sukea has to leave for the night, a ghost of comfort, except now it feels hollow and meaningless. And Kakashi is still talking, trying to make Obito feel better. How can one person be so— so—
“You don’t need to feel bad about— mmph?!”
In one swift motion, Obito leans down and presses his lips to Kakashi’s.
It takes a few seconds, but Kakashi eventually softens into the kiss, allowing Obito to explore the mouth he’s only tasted once before. All of a sudden, he can’t get enough; Obito pushes them both to the ground, where he pins the other down and takes his fill. Kakashi whines, a sound he greedily swallows with the mental note to cause more.
They both draw back an indeterminate amount of time later, breathless and still wanting. The sunlight pours through the half-closed curtains, beaming a ray of light onto Kakashi, who looks up at him, flushed and panting and perfect. Mine, something in Obito’s heart claims. Mine, mine, mine—
“Obito, I don’t understand.” Kakashi whispers, as if afraid to break the moment. “You—”
“Say it again,” Obito demands, before swooping in to kiss the confused noise out of Kakashi’s lips. “Say it again and ask me properly.”
Kakashi’s eyes alight in understanding and hope. “I… I love you, Obito.” His heart sings, a ballad of mad love and bright possession, of finally. “Will you accept my confession?”
Obito grins, incandescent with joy. He fights back the manic laughter that threatens to make an appearance. We’re both so stupid. “What do you think?”
Kakashi levels him with an unimpressed glare.
He softens, reading the slight pout under Kakashi's expression. “Of course, Kakashi. I love you too.” Positioned as he is, Obito gets front row seats to Kakashi overwhelmed with joy before his face crumples in tears.
“Wha— Kakashi, what’s wrong? What is it?” Rolling them over onto their sides, Obito pulls Kakashi into his chest, where the other promptly buries his face. “It’s okay, I’m sorry for teasing…” The younger shakes his head, before trying to extricate himself from their tangle on the floor. Obito lets him, confused at the sudden emotional whiplash.
Kakashi forces out his words through a shaky voice. “I— you know I— you were there, when she—” He takes a deep breath to compose himself, and Obito sits up on the floor to look at him solemnly. This is a subject they usually avoid. “I won’t be good for you. We shouldn’t—”
“Kakashi.” Obito cuts in. “Tell me what happened that night before I arrived.”
“...What?”
“Tell me what happened before I got there.” Obito repeats, eyes trained on Kakashi. Their positions have been reversed, Obito on the floor and Kakashi standing before him. “I only saw— the ending, and that’s it. I don’t know anything else.”
Kakashi looks at him in shock, freezing in place. Obito adds on his final blow. “At least tell me her last words, please?”
Total devastation. That’s the only way Obito can describe Kakashi’s expression. “Obito, you didn’t… you didn’t see how she…?” The man before him draws in another breath, seemingly steadying himself before settling into a mission report.
“Iwagakure sealed the Sanbi into Rin. We had been heading back to Konoha, where they hoped the Sanbi would be released and wreak destruction.” Obito nodded. He knew all of this from the reports he stole.
“When faced with a choice between herself and the village, Rin chose the village.”
Of course she would choose the village, a voice in Obito’s head supplies. That’s what the village does. Children as her lifeblood, lives easy to expend—
“She threw herself in front of my Chidori. It was a fatal blow.”
…
…Anger comes easy. It would be simple, to scream in rage, disappear into the night. Sometimes he contemplates it, wondering what would’ve happened if he never came back.
But today, Kakashi stands in front of him. His teammate, his last teammate, who needs him and wants him and will never leave him if he has anything to say about it.
Rin had committed suicide. She had been sixteen, recently promoted to chunin, so loyal to Konoha she gave her life for the village. Rin would never know that Obito had returned.
And she had killed herself on Kakashi. Kakashi, freshly fourteen, whose father had died from suicide. Who then became isolated from the village, hated for something he hadn’t wanted, couldn’t control, and everyone had turned against him— even Obito himself.
“God, Kakashi,” Obito breathes out, standing slowly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He takes careful steps toward Kakashi, who looks so confused at his apology that it breaks his heart. “Obito, what? It’s not your fault, why are you—” Kakashi gets abruptly cut off as Obito glomps him onto the floor again, snuggling in close. The ANBU’s limbs tense for only a few seconds before relaxing into the ground beneath him—as much as he can relax into hardwood floors, anyways.
“If it’s not my fault, it’s not yours either, y’know,” Obito states, words slightly muffled on Kakashi’s chest. “Especially not if— god, if she— it’s not your fault. I forgave you ages ago, don’t you remember?”
At his words, air seems to rush out of Kakashi’s lungs as he deflates. “...I didn’t think you meant it.” Kakashi mutters, too choked up for loud words. Neither of them cry (and even if they did, their tears are easily hidden in each other’s shirts). This hurt has been carried too long for them to express it out loud.
“...I really do love you, Kakashi.” Once he feels like they’re both stable enough, Obito shakily raises himself up to look into Kakashi’s face. “Sukea is a part of you. And yeah, I liked Sukea, but I really, really love the other parts attached to him too.”
Shock forms in a singular grey eye, before it’s concealed with a weak leer. “The other parts attached to him, hm? Didn’t know you were that kind of guy, Obito—” Blushing, Obito smacks him lightly in protest at Kakashi’s terrible timing. Of course he can still make jokes during my attempt to be heartfelt, asshole. But he gets it, and takes the chance to make a more lighthearted turn to their conversation.
“Shut up, Bakashi! You know that’s not what I meant.” Scowling, he continues, “You’re you. Beneath your stupid nonchalant act, you’re nice, and caring, and kind. You are!” He shushes Kakashi when it seems he’s about to interrupt. “We both kill for a living. But you don’t take joy from suffering, like lots of other shinobi, y’know.”
He took a deep breath before continuing. “You have a good heart, don’t even try to deny it. It took me a while to really see, but I’m in love with you, every damn aspect of you, you stupid Bakashi.” Finished with his rant, Obito looks down at Kakashi’s face, glaring defiantly as if daring the other to make another lewd joke.
Instead of an infuriating smirk, Obito is greeted with a breathtaking smile. His silver hair splayed around him in a halo, face bared to the world, and lightly flushed, Kakashi looks heavenly underneath him. An angel, Obito thinks nonsensically, before whining low in his throat and burying his face into Kakashi’s chest again.
The body beneath him shakes with laughter. “Alright there, Obito?” Kakashi chuckles, running a hand through his short black hair. The fondness evident in his voice is much better than the previous heartbreak, Obito decides, and resolves to never let Kakashi sound like that ever again.
Still, the bastard is laughing at him. That deserves some retaliation. “Shut it,” Obito grumbles, ignoring his own obviously not angry tone. It’s the effort that matters. “I’m not the one who dressed up just to pick you up.”
“Ah, but it worked, didn’t it?” Obito can hear the smile in his voice. “...As comfortable as it is on the floor, would you mind standing up so we can move to the couch or something?”
Obito rolls off to the side, flopping down onto the floor on his back next to Kakashi. “What, your old bones can’t take it?” Snorting, Kakashi stands up first before offering him a hand up. Taking it lazily, Obito lets out a shocked yelp as he gets abruptly yanked up and over Kakashi’s shoulder. “Wha—! Let me down, you idiot!”
“Nope.” Kakashi cheerfully refuses, steadily marching over to the living room despite his flailing passenger. Reaching the couch, Obito is unceremoniously dumped onto the furniture he had insisted Kakashi buy two years ago. About to make his opinion heard, he’s abruptly cut off by Kakashi climbing on top of him before snuggling close.
“My turn now,” The other man grumbles, burrowing down further. “I held myself back for so damn long. I deserve to faceplant in your titties for a while.”
“My what?!” Obito squawks in indignation. Unbothered by his protests, Kakashi merely clings harder, and despite all his protests, Obito… just lets him.
After all, he’s in the perfect position to admire his new boyfriend. He thinks. They both confessed, so they’re dating, right? Right.
Obito quickly leaves this train of thought, Kakashi’s current position taking up all his attention. The warmth of his body seeps through their points of contact, which includes his entire front and everywhere their legs are tangled together. Letting out a sigh of contentment, Obito lets his head flop back, hands coming up to pet the soft silver locks conveniently in front of him.
His first thought when he looks at Kakashi’s face is still Sukea, but the longer they lay there the easier it is to assimilate his memories. The beauty mark, pointed chin, slender nose, and perfectly thinned lips are all Kakashi.
Obito short circuits for a few minutes when he realizes that actually, he’s seen much more of Kakashi than just his face. It hadn’t really hit him before, but now that he thinks about it…
Oh my god. Of course Kakashi is also the best partner in bed he's ever had. The damned prodigy just has to be good at everything.
He can’t help himself—he plants a kiss on Kakashi’s head, smiling like a love-struck fool at the soft noise Kakashi lets out in response. Really, they’re a pair of idiots.
Their difficulties are far from over. One kiss and an afternoon nap won’t solve their problems in the least.
But as Obito lies there with Kakashi in his arms, his heart feels full with the knowledge that whatever they’ll encounter in the future, they’ll do it together. He’ll make sure of it.
~
Once they move in together a few weeks later (Congratulations, Rival! Gai had exclaimed upon their announcement. About damn time, said literally everyone else), both of them quickly learn that their sleep schedules align surprisingly well.
The nightmares come after every mission, and being among the Leaf’s strongest shinobi means quite a lot of missions. Luckily (or unluckily, Kakashi supposes), their nightmares usually coincide.
It works surprisingly well. Both of them wake up, both of them make tea, and both of them go back to sleep together. Sometimes Obito stays awake, and that’s okay. Sometimes Kakashi can’t let anyone touch him, and that’s okay too.
But they do have their disagreements—they wouldn’t be Obito and Kakashi if they didn’t.
“Obito. What did I say about getting more flowers.”
“...Not to get any more?”
“And what do you have in your hands right now.”
“They needed a new home, Kakashi!” Obito bursts out, cradling two terracotta pots in his hands. “You didn’t see them in the plant nursery. It was so sad!”
Kakashi cuts him off before the other man can work himself up to a full rant. “Obito, you could’ve done literally anything but bring two more plants back here! We already have five! Not even Tenzo has this many!”
“But they’re my kin! My fellow plants!” Obito wails, fully committing to his dramatics. “Ask Tenzo! He would sympathize. Just look at them!”
Kakashi looked. He could admit that the leaves were pathetically yellow and shriveled.
Still, he made a last ditch effort. “Obito… you promised to not get any more after the last one you brought back.”
“Please, Kakashi? I swear these will be the last two.” Seeing his partner hesitate, Obito lands the final blow. “And you have eight ninken! I have less plants than that!”
“My ninken live in their own dimension,” Kakashi counters exasperatedly, before sighing in acquiescence. “...Fine. Just take care of them yourself, alright?”
“Yes! Thanks, Kakashi!” Obito carefully places his pots down on the nearby kitchen table before jumping in joy. Kakashi shakes his head fondly at the ridiculous behavior. Really, no one would guess that the intimidating, scowling Uchiha was really just a huge sucker for plants.
Kakashi turns, about to pour himself some water, before he feels a line of warmth envelop his back. “I think I know a way to show my appreciation, hm?” Obito murmurs against his ear, lips brushing against skin. Kakashi barely restrains a shiver as Obito kisses his way down to his sensitive neck, uncovered for once in the safety of their home.
“You’re just horny,” Kakashi accuses, even as he tilts his head to allow Obito full access. “At least move out of the kitchen before trying to make a move.”
Obito grumbles slightly before pulling away. “I miss Sukea. He would’ve let me have my way in the kitchen. Actually, he would’ve seduced me in the kitchen himself.” Kakashi snorted at the idea, before an idea struck him.
“Oh, so you miss Sukea, huh?” Kakashi smirks, before softening his smile into something more befitting for his Sukea persona. “Obito-san, won’t you take me to bed and have your way with me?” To really sell the act, he glances up from beneath his eyelashes, fluttering them slightly.
Obito sucks in a sharp intake of breath. “You little tease,” he growls, before throwing Kakashi over his shoulder—much to the other’s delight. “Is this what you wanted? To be ravished and wrecked?” He can’t see Kakashi’s face, but he can practically feel the smug grin the other is sporting.
“Why, Obito, however did you conclude such a thin— ghnn—”
Listening to Kakashi for once, Obito immediately begins having his way with his lover.
(Kakashi isn't complaining at all. If he had known that this would be the result of his one-night stand as Sukea, well... maybe he would've indulged in the art of disguise a bit sooner.)