Choose Me

Mizuki froze when an unfamiliar man appeared in front of Iruka's door. For a moment he thought that he'd gotten the wrong place until he saw the annoying drawings pasted all over the walls. This was the right apartment, so who the heck is this dude?

"How can I help you?" the taller man smiled without any traces of humour and the drunkard paused. Whoever this stranger was, he looked dangerous. However, with the influence of alcohol boosting his blind courage, he didn't care all that much.

"Who the fuck are you and why are you in Iruka's house?"

Kakashi pretended to think for a bit but never opened the door any wider to allow Mizuki in. "Me? I guess you can say that we're cohabiting together. May I know what business you have with my partner?"

The ambiguous nature of Kakashi's words stirred the fire in Mizuki. His face contorted into a sneer as he swung a fist towards Kakashi who caught it with ease. The werewolf didn't take well to being challenged and growled lowly before locking the drunkard's arm in an awkward position, threatening to pop the shoulder out of its socket.

From inside, Iruka heard Mizuki's scream and jumped. Worried that Kakashi might go too far, he stumbled off his couch to see what was going on. Thankfully, his neighbours weren't in or they might have called the police. it wasn't the first time Mizuki had caused a scene but this time, he wasn't sure if he should be worried more for Mizuki or Kakashi.

The sight of Kakashi pinning his abusive boyfriend on the ground with a very professional looking arm lock made the teacher's brain freeze. One part of him felt safe with Kakashi but the other felt guilty for siding with Kakashi. After all, he and Mizuki were still a thing.

"Mizuki," Iruka trembled. He didn't have the chance before because Mizuki wasn't in a listening mood. However, with Kakashi by his side, Iruka managed to find the courage he lacked to end it officially with his childhood friend. He couldn't possibly continue swimming in this toxic relationship.

"Please just let it all go and forget everything. It's over between us."

The words didn't immediately sink in for Mizuki but when it did, he stopped struggling. Kakashi didn't loosen his grip just in case the man decided to lash out again. Mizuki laughed utterly as he started to sober a little. Reality was always harsh and now that Mizuki had fallen too deeply into the rabbit hole, there was much he could do. Even Iruka was leaving him. What more did he have left?

"I see. It's because of him, isn't it? You're finally leaving me too... hahahaha!"

Iruka couldn't say anything as he averted his gaze. This time, Mizuki took a good look at his bandaged ex-lover and childhood friend. Tears filled his eyes. He knew that Iruka was too good a man for him but he was the only light Mizuki had in his life. Right now, this light was going to be taken away from him by some unknown person. The drunkard didn't want to admit defeat. If he couldn't have Iruka, then this nameless man couldn't either.

The laughter escalated and in a moment, Mizuki transformed from a drunkard into a mad man that was unrecognisable in Iruka's eyes. Even Kakashi had to take a step back, releasing the mad man who stumbled away without even a word of goodbye. After the laughter faded away, Iruka felt the strength leave him. Kakashi was beside the teacher at once.

"Come, let's head back. I'll call in sick for you," Kakashi said and Iruka nodded, allowing himself to be taken care of by Kakashi who had a complicated expression the whole time.

Iruka's injuries were bad and the werewolf wished that he could help ease the pain even a little. Mizuki was merciless and didn't hold back on his punches. The inside of Iruka's mouth was cut and even if the bleeding had stopped, it would be painful for Iruka to eat anything. There was also a very bad sprain on the teacher's ankle as well as what Kakashi suspected to be a fractured elbow from a nasty fall. Whatever could be dressed and bandaged were already taken care of but the werewolf still felt as if it wasn't enough.

"Let's see a doctor tomorrow," he said while gently rubbing a nasty looking bruise.

Iruka shook his head. "It's alright, I'm used to this."

Hearing those words made Kakashi's heart hurt. How can anyone be used to abuse? Then again, the werewolf heard it clearly earlier that Iruka wanted to end things with the guy called Mizuki. If it weren't for his sweet dolphin, Kakashi would have already torn the man into ribbons. 

"Umino sensei, can't it be me?" Kakashi asked, taking Iruka by surprise.

Initially, Iruka thought that he misheard it but Kakashi's serious expression told him that it wasn't a dream. Logically, he should refuse. He'd just broken up with his boyfriend and didn't know anything about the stranger who was living with him. Even if hie was extremely attracted to the albino man, Iruka couldn't trouble someone else with his problems. If he did date Kakashi, it would be because of affection and not pity.

Before Iruka could refuse, Kakashi held his uninjured hand. "Choose me. I won't mistreat you. It's alright for you to use me as long as this gives me a chance to win you over. I'm alright with using underhand methods like this in order to earn your affection."

The teacher was speechless. How could he refuse someone who put it this way? Even if he didn't know anything about Kakashi, the way the man was very respectful of his boundaries while living in his home was enough to speak about how much Kakashi cared about him compared to Mizuki. It wasn't difficult to like the stranger but Iruka still felt as if it wasn't fair for Kakashi.

"I cannot do this to you..."

Kakashi sighed. He knew it wouldn't be this simple to convince his kind-hearted mate. "Then what about letting me repay your kindness? You took a complete stranger like me in without asking for anything in return. I want to help you."

The teacher was more stubborn about it when he heard how Kakashi wanted to repay him. The werewolf didn't know what to do and persisted until Iruka told him to drop it. Like a kicked puppy, Kakashi could only watch sadly as Iruka struggled to move around the house. He was only placated when Iruka asked him for help with the shower.

During the shower, Iruka wasn't too sure what to think about Kakashi's proposal. Such a good man was like a dream come true but Iruka was afraid to believe in it. Just like this with an ambiguous mood in the air, they went to sleep with Iruk curled up against Kakashi's chest, taking comfort in the feeling of security that he hadn't felt in a long time.