#1. Kiba Inuzuka Fan

Kiba’s jaw stretched wide in a yawn, laying back on the steps just outside Kankuro’s home. The heat in the sand village today wasn’t oppressive like usual, instead, it was more like a warm blanket—and it was sapping practically all of Kiba’s energy. Though, whether that was the physical heat or *his* upcoming heat was the real question. 

He stretched with a quiet, content noise and folded his arms under his head. Gosh, maybe he *could* live here. Though, he knew he couldn’t *really.* The Sand Village would never be home, not like Konoha was. The sounds, the smells… No, Kiba couldn’t handle never smelling the grass again. The trees, the leaves (heh). Even so, he’d happily visit Kankuro here, just like Kankuro would visit his home.

Akamaru joined Kiba on the steps, panting. The dog had been running around, despite Kiba’s warnings that the heat would pile on quickly. Regardless, Kiba sat up, petting Akamaru on the head. “I won’t say I told you so, bud.” He grinned, Akamaru lying down next to him.

Kiba laid back down with a sigh, listening to Akamaru pant and whine over the heat, unwilling to go inside as long as Kiba was outside. Kiba appreciated the dog’s loyalty, of course, but just sometimes he wished Akamaru would let himself rest. Kiba understood, though. Akamaru was like… another limb, in many ways. A family member. Someone Kiba loved and cared for more than his own family, more than Kankuro, more than Shino and Hinata.

Kiba shut his eyes, he could doze off here. Kankuro lived in a fairly quiet part of the village, and on his own. Kiba wasn’t used to that quiet—he couldn’t say he didn’t enjoy it. At first, it’d been eerie. Inuzukas were loud, explosive. Well, Kiba supposed, until him they were also alphas. Seems he could break quite a few stereotypes in his lifetime. 

He was jerked from his half asleep daze as the door slid open. Kiba opened his eyes to look up at Kankuro, finally emerging from his hole. 

“I’ve been looking for you all morning, ass,” Kankuro said fondly, stepping out onto the engawa. “What are you doing out here?”

Kiba hummed in response, just looking at his lover for a long moment as the alpha sat down on his other side. 

“Well, I *was* gonna take a nap,” Kiba answered with a touch of snark. “Unfortunately, my plans were cut off.”

“Okay, smart guy,” Kankuro mused, grabbing a handful of Kiba’s hair and giving it a sharp tug, delighting in the yelp it pulled from the other man.

“Oh, good morning to you, too, my loving, kind, affectionate boyfriend,” Kiba complained as he sat up. He punctuated his words with another yawn. Why on earth the was he so tired today? He brushed off the question as Kankuro leaned into him.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you an’ all that,” Kankuro teased, putting an arm over Kiba’s shoulder. *His* omega (though Kiba would tear his throat out for suggesting ownership.) “Are you wearing a different scent?” Kankuro asked, sniffing at the junction of Kiba’s neck.

Kiba shivered at the feeling, pushing Kankuro away by the forehead. “No? Knock it off! That feels weird!”

Kankuro huffed in response, resting his chin on Kiba’s shoulder. “Whatever, see if I care when you have a serious illness or something and I’m the only one who can smell it.”

“In what universe would that be a problem?”

“How should I know? Like, soulmates, or some shit.”

“Akamaru’s my soulmate, you’re my boyfriend.”

“Always second place to the dog.”

After a few moments of silence, Kankuro spoke up again, far too loud for the peace they could be having. “Hey, you’re really warm,” he commented, “why don’t you go inside and lay down for a bit? I’ll get a fan for you.” He nudged Kiba’s cheek with his nose, hoping his dumb boyfriend for once would just let himself be taken care of. 

“I’m fine, ‘Kuro,” Kiba suppressed a whine as Kankuro’s hand found a home in his hair. His sensitivity was awful, right now. He could’ve sworn this was all still a few weeks off.

Kankuro frowned. “No offense, you’re sweating like a dog, and you have a fever. If you don’t get up and go inside I’m afraid I’ll have to drag you in myself.” He hoped the threat of indignancy and embarrassment would help persuade Kiba.

“Jeez,” Kiba groaned, “Alright, alright, quit nagging, you’re like my mother.” He moved to stand up, then—

“Shit!-“ Kankuro grunted as he caught his lover. “Kiba, what’s going on with you?” He adjusted his grip to keep Kiba upright as Akamaru shot up and started barking.

“H’ll if I know,” Kiba muttered, resting all his weight onto Kankuro. What on earth was he doing? He’d had heats before, but they were never this bad. Sure, for most of them, he’d taken suppressants. He would have for this one, had it not come so ridiculously early.

“Okay, c’mon, baby,” Kankuro sighed, “Before you freak your dog out any more.” Kankuro half carried-half led Kiba back towards his bedroom, Akamaru not making it easy at all, what with the way Kankuro had to dodge him. 

Kankuro laid Kiba out on the futon, pulling the blanket out from under and then over top of Kiba. “There, we go,” He properly tucked Kiba in, who seemed to have gotten worse in the past minute or so.

“‘m fine, ‘Kuro,” Kiba complained, trying to sit up, but only managing to push himself up onto his elbows. Partially because Akamaru had sat right on top of him.

“You’re running a fever, you’re sweating like crazy, and even Akamaru won’t let you up. You’re resting today.”

Kiba groaned, dropping himself back down. He had to just be sick, there was no other explanation. No way his heat came this early. And now his *one* visit to his lover would be completely ruined by Kankuro having to nurse him back to health.

Kankuro kissed Kiba on the forehead then sucked in a sharp breath. He brushed Kiba’s hair back, then stood up and left the room. As soon as he shut the door behind him, Kankuro took in the deepest breath of his life. He tried desperately to clear his lungs of that smell, oh *god*, that amazing smell. He wanted so badly to just take Kiba, take him completely.

He couldn’t. Kiba wouldn’t be in his right mind, and he’d regret it in the morning, absolutely. Kankuro couldn’t do that to the love of his life. Instead, Kankuro walked off to get his lover cold water and a damp towel.