Title: Tardiness

Fandom: Naruto

Pairing: Kakashi/Iruka

Rating: PG

Warnings: Shounen-ai

Summary: Iruka learns the good that can come from being tardy.

Copyright: All places and characters are owned by...uh...not me.

Iruka didn't hate much. He didn't care for many things, such as late nights grading papers only to realize he had forgotten his grade book at home, or when his house was messy. He didn't care for when the food he had spent an hour cooking ended up tasting horrible, or he made a huge mistake on a test that he had spent most of the night making up.

But of all the things Iruka didn't care for, he hated tardiness. It was rude and disrespectful and just plain annoying.

But when Iruka agreed to start dating the Master of Tardiness, he knew he had to be in love. He put up with the jounin's tardiness constantly, even when it cost him precious class time or money or, a few times, food he had spent hours cooking. Only to be dumped in the garbage!

But this was the last straw.

They had agreed to meet on the park bench they had shared their first kiss on at noon, sharp, exchange gifts, and then Kakashi would be off on a solo mission, because he had been too late to sign up for the holidays off. Only it was almost two, and the silver-haired man still hadn't shown up. Normally, Iruka wouldn't mind, and would occupy himself somehow.

His papers were left at home. There were no children to talk to or play with, no adults to converse with. It was the middle of December, for Hokage's sake! And so Iruka sat on the freezing bench, his arms wrapped about himself in his large coat, his scarf covering most of his face, grumbling to himself.

"This is ridiculous," he hissed, standing. "I don't know why I put up with it!"

As he started to walk away, fuming, he felt a hand gently tug at his elbow. "Sorry I'm late, you see..."

"I don't want to hear it, Kakashi," Iruka said softly. "I'm cold, and tired. I just want to go home."

"I brought your gift." And a small wrapped package was in front of Iruka's face. The brunette frowned. "Please?"

Iruka turned, sighing. "I have to go home," he murmured, but he took the package and sat down on the bench. Kakashi plopped down next to him, legs sprawled and one of his arms stretched across the back. Iruka sighed and opened the box.

A ring.

It wasn't an engagement ring, if it was Iruka would've fainted, but it was gorgeous. A simple silver band, with tiny white stones forming his name. "Kakashi..."

"They had to make it in a rush, so...that's why I was late. I'm sorry," Kakashi said quickly, sitting up. He opened his mouth to say something else, but it never came out as Iruka reached out and tugged at his mask, claiming the jounin's soft lips for his own.

It was a soft kiss, innocent, lovely, and as Kakashi's tongue gently stroked Iruka's, white flakes slowly fell from the sky and landed in the brunette's hair, and covered Kakashi's dark jounin uniform. Kakashi pulled away, smiling softly as he gently kissed the snowflakes away from Iruka's face. A whispered sentiment, and he was gone, leaving Iruka sitting alone with the snow.

But when he slipped the ring onto his finger, he smiled warmly and headed for home.