Chapter Text
(I don't own any characters etc etc)
Kakashi wondered what he was doing out on a Friday night, and said this aloud.
Genma slung an arm over his shoulder. "Celebrating Gai's birthday!"
"Maa, I guess I can suffer through it once a year." Kakashi's gaze wandered around as his friends talked about this and that. He recognized some faces, mostly ones closer to him, also out for Gai’s party, and continued to look around the bar. Might as well see who comes out on a Friday night, or at all for that matter. He was used to staying in, either by himself or with some close friends, most of whom were out tonight. Bars weren’t exactly his thing.
Needless to say, he was surprised when his eyes fell on Iruka, and Kakashi quickly glanced away. Of all the times and places to run into someone he knew…surely, the universe wouldn’t be cruel and would help them stay apart tonight, right?
However, it didn't prevent them from bumping into each other later in the night.
“Stupid universe,” Kakashi grumbled to himself, as he gave a small wave to Iruka. “Yo.”
"I'm surprised to see you out," Iruka said, with a warm smile. "Wait, that came out wrong. It's nice to see you outside of work, for something non-work related. I hope you're having fun?"
Kakashi shrugged. "Just out for a friend's birthday."
"I hope you'll come out for my birthday," Iruka said with a wink.
"Maybe, no promises," Kakashi responded, instantly regretting how it didn’t sound as playful aloud as it had in his head. However, Iruka's friends called him away before they could talk more.
Both men continued to drink, it was a bar on a Friday night after all.
Feeling strongly buzzed, Kakashi's gaze continued to wander and look for Iruka over the course of the night. He noticed Mizuki was with Iruka, or, more correctly, draped over him, getting handsier as the night continued. Iruka didn’t seem to mind, but didn’t seem to encourage it.
Or was that the alcohol making Kakashi see it that way? It was hard to tell while his friends talked about different topics, Kakashi kept getting distracted.
It doesn’t distract him completely from his own thoughts, though. He doesn't like Mizuki, no one does. Surely Iruka doesn't either? Iruka's just a nice guy, probably too nice to be rude to Mizuki. Kakashi knows he would be nicer to Iruka than Mizuki would. Kakashi has run through this in his head too many times to count, since starting work at the school and seeing Iruka here and there. The warm smile, the way the teachers, parents, and kids love him. How Iruka chews on his pen when he’s deep in thought.
Kakashi thinks the smile he gets from Iruka is warmer than the smile Iruka gives Mizuki. He lets his mind wander while Gai is telling a story to their circle of friends, he’s heard this story before. The alcohol lets Kakashi’s mind wander to thinking about seeing Iruka smile at him more, over coffee, out on a date….
Unfortunately, the alcohol also tells him it would be a good idea to tell Iruka his thoughts about Mizuki when they next run into each other up at the bar.
“Some night, huh?” Iruka says. His ponytail has drooped a little, and a few hairs have come out and framed his face. It’s a good look for him, and distracts Kakashi from making the polite small talk like anyone else would.
"Mizuki isn't good for you," Kakashi blurts out instead.
Iruka looks at him, surprised. "Why would you say that?"
"As your..." Kakashi searches for a good word, the right word. "Coworker..." he dies a little inside. "It's just a feeling I have."
Kakashi didn’t want to say coworker. He wanted to say "friend," but he couldn't get that word out, for whatever reason.
While he's mentally berating himself yet again, he doesn't see how Iruka is saddened by his choice in word.
"Thank you for your...feeling...Kakashi," Iruka says, and Kakashi frowns. The bartender calls to him, and when he turns away, drink in hand, sees Iruka has left.
Kakashi sighs, and returns to his group of friends.
“What’s up?” Asuma asks, noticing the change.
“Nothing,” Kakashi says, but is startled when Genma slings an arm over his shoulder.
“Looks like you just struck out with someone!” Genma says, the toothpick in his mouth bobbing as he grins.
“Ooh! Did you meet someone?” Kurenai asks, returning from elsewhere in the bar and snuggling into Asuma’s side. “Details!”
“It’s no one,” Kakashi says, but is again interrupted by Genma.
“It was a fit guy,” he tells their friends. “Brunette, ponytail, nicely dressed. But he seemed to duck out pretty fast when your back was turned,” he said looking at Kakashi, who shrugged.
“It’s a coworker,” he said.
“Ooh!” Kurenai said, again. “Is it The coworker? The one you talk about but don’t talk about?”
Kakashi rolled his eyes. “Maybe.”
“And he was out on the same night we drag you out, and at the same bar no less! It’s fate!” Kurenai proclaimed, clasping her hands together.
“I was stupid,” Kakashi said, running a hand through his hair. “I said things when drinking that no one would say in their right mind. This is why I don’t come out, or why I shouldn’t drink when I do.”
“Ah, can’t be that bad,” Asuma offered.
Kakashi shot him a pointed look and frowned. “I told him the guy he’s seeing isn’t good for him,” he said.
“Oh,” Asuma commented. “I see.”
“Is he?” Kurenai asked. “Not good for him?”
“Yeah, I mean no, he’s not. He used to be at work too and he’s just….I have a bad vibe off him, a lot of the staff did and some of the students. He’s just like skeevey and slimey, and I don’t know why Iruka is with him.”
“When he could be with you,” Kurenai said, smiling.
“So you had too much to drink and told him not to be with the guy he probably went home with, what’s the big deal really?” Genma said.
The group looked at him.
“What? Could be worse, right? He didn’t seem to make a big deal of it. He’s been drinking tonight too, I’m sure it’s not a big deal.” He took a sip of his drink. “And who knows, maybe you knocked some sense into him with your drunken insight.”
“It wasn’t drunken insight,” Kakashi corrected him. “I only said it because I’ve been drinking. Big difference.”
“To liquid courage!” Asuma said, raising his glass to toast.
“What are we toasting so joyfully?” Gai said, moving from one group of his friends to theirs.
“Kakashi drunkenly spilled some beans to a crush,” Genma said, grinning.
“Rival! You have a crush! You have a precious person! Joyful, youthful love! I need details!”
Kakashi sighed and slumped in his chair. This was going to be a long night.