safety [Kakashi Hatake x OC]

fifty

Eri looked over her shoulder, seeing Kakashi approach her and Kotetsu. A hand was lifted in a casual wave while the other was stuffed in his pocket.

Kotetsu waved back, then awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. He couldn't help but wonder if the white-haired man was the only thing keeping Eri from falling for him. But it was pointless to speculate; the past couldn't be changed.

"Well," The chunin beamed per usual, hiding his disappointment very well. "I'll see you around, then."

"Yeah." Eri smiled back, assured that he'd be okay.

"Promise?" Kotetsu asked.

"Of course." She nodded, just as Kakashi placed a large hand on the middle of her back.

Kotetsu's smiling eyes twitched as the higher-level ninja matched his forceful, domineering grin. Sensing the tension, Eri quickly ended the conversation and gave her friend a "see you later" as Kakashi practically pushed her away from him.

Once they were outside of the hearing range and sight of Kotetsu and Izumo, Eri frowned and huffed, "You don't have to be so rude."

"What do you mean?" Kakashi was riding on a high, feeling victorious over his so-called 'competition.'

"I was already going to hurt him by turning him down, so you didn't have to interject as if you had to prove yourself or something."

"I know I didn't. I just saw you guys and figured I'd join the party."

"By having some sort of unspoken ego match?"

He scoffed. "I'm not that petty."

"Yes, you are."

He took a moment to respond, then acknowledged, "Maybe a little."

"The flowers..." She trailed, then looked at her fingers as she muttered, "thank you."

His smile was bright underneath his mask. Nothing compared to the joy of making her happy to the extent that she didn't really know how to say a "thank you" that would measure up to her gratitude.

He ruffled her hair and said, "the other ones were ugly anyways."

"Kakashi!" She playfully shoved his shoulder. "That's not nice!"

"What?" He chuckled.

"The ego thing again. Do you feel the need to put him down and one-up him all the time?"

"Not necessarily."

"Kakashi, you have nothing you need to prove. Stop being a jerk."

"Fine, fine."

Eri stopped and frowned, looking up at him with stern eyes. Another thing he didn't like: upsetting her. "I'm serious, Kakashi. Kotetsu is my friend and he always will be. I expect that you would treat him kindly."

He blinked, but he returned her genuineness. "I understand." He knew all of his rudeness towards the younger man was rooted in jealousy; he was ashamed to admit it, but it was true.

"Thank you." She muttered and kept walking.

A few quiet moments passed as they approached Kakashi's apartment when he thoughtfully asked the girl, "Eri?"

She hummed in response, letting him know she was listening.

"You said that Kotetsu is your friend and always will be." He met her curious gaze. His eyes were innocent and anxious with a hint of longing, but he needed the answer. "What about me?"

The girl was taken aback by his question. She froze again, her brows knitted together sadly as she felt overwhelmed with emotion. "You are so much more important to me than anyone." She stated clearly and confidently, looking him directly in the eye. "And I'm sure you always will be."

He felt his face become warm, so he pushed her head to his shoulder so he couldn't see the flushed red skin above his mask. 

"You're such a dork." She muttered. He wasn't teasing her. He wasn't comforting her. This was different, but he didn't dare to put his arms around her.

"You're a dork." He retorted quietly.

"Not compared to you." She did hug him, and he looked down with a brighter blush than ever. 

"Maybe." He sighed, and she looked up at him. 

He placed a finger under her chin, keeping her focused on him, not that he really needed to. He thought about it for a while; she had told him that he was very important to her, he knew that he was, so he could just lean down and kiss her. 

But after everything that had happened with Kotetsu, he decided it wasn't the time.

She knew exactly how she felt about Kakashi. Kotetsu was right in that he was the reason she couldn't return her friend's feelings. Kakashi was so much more than a roommate to her. She loved him, but it also scared her. 

So much so that she didn't let herself get any closer. He had told her how much he didn't want to lose her a year prior, and she felt that compassion once she woke up in the hospital. But she also shared that fear, and she didn't want to do or say anything that would threaten the precious relationship they had.