#fluff hours

              Gai loved the summer above all. He missed the warmth of the sun on his skin and the gentle breeze of cool again against his face, but he also loved the winter.

              Brilliant white snowflakes sparkling in the light of the early morning. It was a beautiful scene. The best way to welcome in the new year in his opinion.

              “Sensei!” Lee’s voice crashed through the silence of the beautiful snowy morning. Glancing his way, Gai smiled when he saw him standing proudly between Tenten and Neji while waving at him. “Tenten and I are going to spar now!”

              Most days Gai would have something to say about that. He’d have planned out a day full of specific routines to help improve each of his students’ specific skills.  Sparring would only happen after all their other routines had been completed to his satisfaction, as a reward for their hard work.

              Today was different.

              Today, he had special permission to relax and let his students do their own thing.

              That was one of the many gifts they had presented him with after greeting him at the entrance into the training field. One after the other they’d each stepped forward and held out a gift they’d chosen for him, and with each gift he received his smile grew wider.

              Lee, brimming with so much pride that Gai was amazed he didn’t explode, presented him with a beautiful orange picture frame that contained a photograph of him, Tenten and Neji standing proudly around Ningame. When Gai had inquired if they’d enlisted Sukea’s help for this gift Lee’s pride swelled.

              “I took it,” he proclaimed, Tenten and Neji nodded behind him to confirm that his words were true. “It took a few tries, but we finally got a good picture. It-“hesitating, that overwhelming pride seemed to shrink in an instant. “It is a good picture, right Sensei?”

              If Gai hadn’t confirmed it, he was certain Tenten and Neji were about to. Before they had the opportunity to jump in, he lifted his right hand and presented Lee with his signature thumbs up.

              The pride returned in full force, causing Lee to smile so much that Gai was certain it hurt.

              When Lee stepped back to let his teammates take their turns, Tenten quickly filled his empty spot and thrust her gift into Gai’s hands.

              “You’ve been really sad since that mission to the land of stone,” she explained, a nervousness in her voice that was oddly characteristic of her. Most days Tenten was just like her teammates. Prideful and confident. Giving gifts seemed to be a weakness for her, as she always gained an air of caution that was uncharacteristic of her when presenting someone with a gift. “I thought, well…you don’t really look right fighting without your nunchucks and I know you’re not going to use those for just any mission.”

              ‘Those’ of course referred to the nunchucks that his Sensei had bought him as a gift for being promoted to Jonin. They were decorated with a dragon on each side and were worth far too much to risk being damaged in any old battle. It was why for most of his missions he carried a set of regular nunchucks and left those at home safely displayed in his apartment.

              “I love them,” he declared, happy that he would no longer have to risk his best set against low level threats. “And I promise that I will take good care of them. Thank you, Tenten.”

              “And that is my cue,” Neji stepped forward, his hand already extended to present Gai with his gift. “you’ll need this to take proper care of them. I noticed you were running low.”

              Peering down at Neji’s hand, Gai chuckled when he saw him holding out a nunchuck care kit with a new green drying cloth with a tortoise print in the centre. Laying on the side of the cloth, set just right so it didn’t cover the tortoise, was a certificate to the sushi place him and Kakashi loved.

              Before he could respond to that final gift Lee stepped forward once again so he was standing side by side with Tenten, and all three of his students stared at him with bright eyes. “Sensei,” Lee began.

              “Take the day off,” Tenten continued, her smile so bright it was almost blinding.

              “We’ll take care of our own training for today,” Neji finished, his face giving no signs of excitement except for the smallest tug of a smile at the edge of his lips. “You just sit down and relax. You deserve it.”

He’d tried to insist on continuing with their regular training. Even though he’d stayed up late the night before watching the fireworks with Kakashi he’d still taken the time to plan out their training for the day.

It seemed like a waste to not use that plan, but his students insisted. They’d even promised that he could hold onto the plan and use it for tomorrow’s training.

Today, he needed to relax.

Accepting his fate, he’d found a comfortable spot under the biggest tree in the field and settled in to watch his students. They could tell him that he wasn’t allowed to train them today, but he still wanted to be there just in case they needed him.

Plus, it wasn’t like he had any other plans. Kakashi had met with his own team that morning to do some training and knowing him he was running late after an early morning visit to the graveyard.

“Thinking about me?” On cue, Kakashi’s face appeared in front of his. Glancing up, he chuckled when he saw his boyfriends’ feet glued to one of the lower branches with chakra, holding him in place so he could perfectly execute his surprise.

“Shouldn’t you be at a different training field with your team?” he tried to seem disappointed but failed miserably and instead the only thing he could hear in his voice was joy.

They’d just said goodbye this morning and he was still excited to see Kakashi. Clearly he was head over heels in love, but he didn’t care because he could tell Kakashi was just as bad as him.

Why else would he have come to visit him when he should be with his own students?

As if hearing the question rolling around in Gai’s mind, Kakashi chuckled. “Well, when they found out it was your birthday they got on my case about being there instead of hanging out with you,”  he explained. “Sasuke and Naruto even promised not to fight while I was gone, and none of them noticed that I was on time for training.”

“On time?” reaching out, Gai pressed the back of his hand against the very small amount of skin that wasn’t covered by Kakashi’s headband or mask. “Are you feeling sick?”

“Stop that,” swatting his hand away, Kakashi huffed. “I was trying to make sure I wasn’t late for dinner tonight.”

“So you didn’t lose track of time in the graveyard.”

“I didn’t go.” He shrugged, acting like this was no big deal. It was a big deal, though. A huge deal. In the last fifteen years he couldn’t remember a single day when Kakashi was in the village that he hadn’t gone to the cemetery to visit all the people he’d lost. “don’t give me that look.”

“What look?” wiping whatever look he had off his face, Gai quickly replaced it with a smile. “It’s just nice.”

“Nice?”

“Knowing that you’d skip out on something so important to you.”

“Well,” reaching forward, he buried his fingers into Gai’s hair and gently rubbed his fingertips against his scalp so that Gai couldn’t help but groan. “What if I told you that you were more important?”

“Before this moment, I’m not sure I’d believe you.”

“You doubt me?”

“That you love me? No,” he chuckled when Kakashi’s visible eye softened. “It doesn’t take a genius to know that.”

              “But you doubt that I’d skip going to the cemetery for you?”

              “I doubt you’d skip going to the cemetery for the end of the world.”

              Watching his lover’s eyes, Gai could see a whole debate going on behind them. The desire to argue, the terrible realization that Gai’s words were probably right, and finally the acceptance that he had been called out and had two choices moving forward.

Accept defeat or try to start a pointless argument.

              Like the genius he was, Kakashi chose neither and instead went for a distraction.

              “Here,” he announced, dropping something atop Gai’s head with his other hand and grinning when he narrowed his eyes at him. “A birthday gift.”

              “You gave me my gift last night,” reaching up, he examined the new gift with his fingers. Soft flower petals brushed against his fingertips and instantly he knew what it was Kakashi had gotten him.

              Or made him would be a more appropriate description.

              It was the same thing he made him every year. A gift Gai had come to expect since they were fifteen and Kakashi told him the story of Inoichi sitting down with him outside the Yamanaka flower shop to teach him how to craft them.

“What’s this one made out of?”

Over the years the flowers had been one of three. Kakashi’s personal favourites to use in his creations. Sunflowers, which he said reminded him of Gai’s sunny personality, different coloured tulips that he said always made Gai’s smile seem even brighter, and various lilies.

Those last flowers were mostly for Kakashi. Lillies were his favourite, and when Gai asked why he would use his favourite flowers for a gift intended for him, he’d simply shrugged his shoulder’s and replied that he liked seeing two of his favourite things together.

That was the day Gai knew without a doubt that his feelings were returned, though it took another two years for him and Kakashi to finally broach the subject of their feelings for each other.

“Inoichi said they’re called Winter roses,” hearing the strange name Gai couldn’t help but respond with a quizzical look, earning him some of the most beautiful laughter he’d ever had the pleasure of listening to. “That’s probably the same look I gave him when he said the name. It’s called that because it blooms at this time of year. They’re not actually roses but they’re beautiful.”

“Can I See?”

“Later,” pressing his palm against Gai’s head, he leaned in close and pressed a quick, masked kiss against his nose. “They look too beautiful where they are right now.”

Accepting this choice, Gai moved his hand to Kakashi’s face and let his fingers trail gently down his cheek. As they reached his nose, right where the top of his mask sat, he stilled them and waited for an answer to a question he didn’t need to ask.

The finger placement was enough for Kakashi to know what he wanted to do. It was always enough.

“Quickly,” Kakashi reminded him, as if he’d have the audacity to forget that they were in public, and anyone could stumble upon them at any moment. not one to ignore his boyfriends requests, he tucked a finger under the mask and pulled it down in one fluid movement. Then, before anyone would even have an opportunity to notice that the mask was down, he closed the distance between them.

Their lips brushed against each other ever so gently at first. Exploring known territory with the same caution they had when the two of them shared their first kiss. Kakashi’s breath brushed against his skin as they sat there for a moment still debating if they were going to go in for the full kiss.

Like a pair of teenagers who’d never kisses their eternal rival before, except they had.

They’d kissed hundreds of times. Rushes kisses stolen away in public, masked kisses that tasted like fabric and scratched lightly against Gai’s lips, and even the long warm kisses that they savoured in the safety of their apartments where no one else could see them.

 “This isn’t ‘quickly’” Kakashi teased, a puff of air escaping past his lips and dancing across Gai’s skin.

“Sometimes I want to savour it, Rival,” he fired back, sealing their lips together as soon as he’d finished speaking and silencing any rebuttal Kakashi might have made. For a few precious seconds he savoured the taste of Kakashi’s morning tea on his lips and the lightness that engulfed his chest when he tried to break the kiss and Kakashi chased after his lips for more.

When they finally broke the kiss his body felt like it was floating.

“Yep,” Kakashi announced suddenly, forcing Gai back to reality where his body was firmly on the ground and his boyfriend was still happily hanging upside down from a tree in front of him.

“Yep?”

“Yep,” Kakashi repeated, chuckling when Gai frowned. “Still the best kiss I’ve ever had.”

Throwing a punch into Kakashi’s shoulder Gai watched as he went flying off the branch and just far enough back to collide with Neji, who had his attention on Lee and Tenten’s spar and didn’t realize there was a surprise attack coming until it was too late.

Neji’s complaints echoed through the air, followed swiftly by apologizes from Kakashi.

Meanwhile, Gai sat there under the tree watching as Lee tried to help Kakashi up off Neji and Tenten knelt beside her friend and offered a helping hand. It was one of the most ridiculous scenes he’d ever witnessed, yet he couldn’t help but think about how perfect it was.

              The only thing that could make it better was-

              “Gai!” Looking behind himself, he smiled when he saw Genma and Ebisu standing at the entrance to the training field. Each of them was holding about ten sticks of dango in each hand, though he couldn’t help but notice that one of the sticks in Ebisu’s right hand was completely empty.

              Even so, everything was perfect now.

              His precious students, his old teammates, Dango, and his eternal rival all together with him.

Kellin and Anni had been out on a mission for several days now, battling through the freezing cold weather, trying to stay alive amidst the dangerous creatures that lurked in the shadows. They had been on the run for hours, trying to find shelter from the unforgiving cold and the relentless demons that chased them. As luck would have it, they stumbled upon an abandoned house, and immediately made their way inside, shutting the door behind them to keep the creatures at bay. The inside of the house was just as cold as the outside, and Kellin knew they had to find a way to keep warm if they were going to make it through the night.

Kellin rummaged through his bag and managed to find some dry wood and a lighter. He quickly set to work, trying to start a fire to warm up their freezing bodies. Anni sat huddled in a corner, her teeth chattering and her body shaking uncontrollably. After several minutes of struggling, Kellin finally managed to get a small fire going. But it was barely enough to make a difference in the freezing temperature of the house. Anni looked pathetic, her eyes narrowed at the fire, her lips blue, and her body shivering uncontrollably.

Kellin knew he had to do something to help her. He reached out his arm and beckoned Anni to come closer to the fire. He scooted over to where Anni was, and he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close to his body to share his warmth.

Anni's body slowly began to relax as she felt the warmth of Kellin's body. She leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes, feeling safe and protected in his arms. She loudly grumbled at him, rolling her eyes at his antics and his stupid grin, but melted within his embrace.

As they sat there, huddled together by the fire, Kellin couldn't help but feel grateful for Anni's companionship on this mission. He knew that they were stronger together than they were alone, and he was glad to have her by his side— he'd of course never tell her that.

Kellin couldn't help but grin as he held Anni close to him, trying to keep her warm in the freezing cold house. Despite the dire situation they were in, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment as Anni clung to him, seeking comfort and safety. Kellin let a smirk carve into his face as he tugged Anni even closer to him, trying to ensure she didn't completely freeze in this house— plus, he'd have to take advantage of this opportunity. "You look like a frozen popsicle, Anni," he teased, enjoying the way she bristled at his snarky comment.

Anni, on the other hand, was shivering uncontrollably, her body still struggling to adapt to the sudden change in temperature. She was mad at herself for not being better prepared for the mission, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel grateful for Kellin's presence and the warmth he was providing. Anni slowly brought her nearly frozen-iver hand to his face, flipping him off with narrowed eyes, "I'd like to see you do better, Kellin," she snapped back, annoyed at his teasing but also desperately clinging to him for warmth.

As they sat there, huddled together by the fire, Azrael, their loyal companion, transformed into a huge wolf and snuggled into Anni's side. Anni let out a small gasp, surprised by the sudden weight against her, but then relaxed into the warmth of the wolf's fur. Kellin chuckled at the sight, watching as Anni's expression softened as the wolf nuzzled into her side. "Looks like even Azrael knows you need some extra warmth, Anni," he remarked, still grinning.

Kellin chuckled at the sight, watching as Anni's expression softened as the wolf nuzzled into her side. He knew that Azrael's presence would provide an added layer of warmth and protection, and he was grateful for Anni's pet— Azreal was fucking terrifying at times, but surprisingly, very helpful, but only when it came to Anni. Anni rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but feel grateful for the added warmth provided by the wolf's presence. "I don't need your shitty commentary, Kellin," she grumbled, but then leaned her head against his chest, seeking comfort and safety.

— . — . —

She began to shiver once again and yanked the covers over her body to try and generate heat. Her knees drew to her chest desperately and she closed her eyes to induce sleep. A few discontent grumbles came from her stomach and she hissed in pain, her stomach beginning to contract with soreness. Letting out a strained sigh, she turned over in the bed and pressed her face into her hands. Kellin had left for a little bit after she mistakenly told him she had a migraine— and now she was left in the cold once again, thankfully with Azrael's comfort.

Her eyes suddenly flicked open and the room was darker than before. She realized that she had gone back to sleep but didn't know exactly for how long. Anni held her labored breath and tried to listen for voices down the hallway, but there weren't any. The only thing she could hear was the crackle of the dying fire in the living room, hopefully where Azrael was sleeping soundly with warmth and good dreams. He deserved that much.

Anni stared at the wall and picked up the familiar sound of a heavy set of boots making way down the hallway. They slowed down next to her room and she glanced over the blankets at the door, watching it creak open.

"Are you awake?" Anni didn't realize he had made it to the side of the bed in two wide steps, but she turned over when she heard Kellin whisper softly. He took her movement as an indication that she was awake and sat down on the edge of the bed. Annu leaned up with a huff and she gripped her sore stomach, staring at him in the darkness. She could barely make out his scruffy face, but those striking blue eyes managed to pierce through the veil of black.

"Here, I found some ibuprofen and a small bottle of hydros. The pharmacy was pretty much cleaned out so use them wisely." She felt his hand peel open her fingers and drop two pills in the palm of her hand. Uncapping a fresh water bottle, her other fingers wrapped around it and she took no time in tossing the bitter pills in her throat and swallowing them with a refreshing mouthful of water. Kellin lifted his hand and pushed it under her bangs across her clammy forehead, feeling her head boiling under his touch.

"Pretty nasty fever."

"Thanks Dr. Asshole…" She smirked and Kellin snorted with a small laugh, shaking his head. Her hand slipped over his and he could feel her trembling, "You should go get some sleep. Don't worry about me anymore, I'll be fine with those meds."

"You're shakin' again." She heard the discontent frown in his voice and she sighed, half regretting touching him. She knew that he wouldn't sleep soundly until she was completely comfortable and well cared for, not leaving her side like the loyal dog he was.

"Still cold?" He asked curiously and Anni begrudgingly nodded, crossing her arms and beginning to shiver once again.

"Even with the blankets… but I'll fall back asleep eventually. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"Well, I'll stay here to keep you plenty company until then and I'll try to keep you warm." In the darkness, she felt him shift on the bed and heard his weapon clank down on the old wooden floor. His boots thumped heavily onto the floor and she knew that he had taken them off. Her shoulder dipped and the bed sunk in next to her, her heart thumping wildly against her chest and sent surges on anxiety pumping along with her blood. He was in the bed with her.

"I don't want you to get sick, Kellin."

Don't be so willing to get rid of him. Kellin is in the bed with you. Why do you have to be sick? Anni thought.

"Don't you worry about me. Now do you wanna get warm or not?"

Anni didn't know what to do at that moment. It was awkward for her, but something she had hoped for this moment for a while. He was lying next to her, willing to let her feed off his heat, and he wanted to make her feel secure. She was fearful, but those feelings she held for him finally manage to break her confinement. She lied down and wrapped an arm around his chest, lifting her head when he shifted his arm under her neck, allowing her to lay her face just below his chin. She pressed her legs up against his and his unimaginable warmth flooded into her core like a waterfall.

She sighed with relief and her shaking body relaxed. Kellin clasped his hands together behind his head, smirking slightly when he felt her shivers subside and her body suck tightly to his. He didn't care that she was a being a sponge, he liked the fact that he was doing her justice by keeping her cared for properly. She did a lot for him when she didn't realize it, and when she disappeared, he was scared for the first time in a long time. "Damn, you really are a cuddler aren't you?" He joked.

Even though they had ran miles away from demons and crawlers, floated miles and miles down a frozen river, almost shot herself to get away from a crawler, and passed out on the bank, she managed to find herself back to Kellin.

Her labored breathing was calm and he knew that the pain pills were slowly making her go to sleep. Her fingers softly trailed down from his chest to his abdomen; half wishing he had taken his shirt off to enjoy the caress of her fingernails. She dug her face into his chest and tightly gripped him favorably, Kellin glancing down at her through the dark. He didn't know much about nestling like this with a woman, and it made him slightly uncomfortable. "S-Shut...up..."

He felt her hand on his cheek and her torso creep up on his, feeling her face hovering over his. Her deep brown hair tickled his cheeks as her thumb caressed over his sharp jawline. He leaned his head up and pressed his warm lips against hers, sliding his hand up her back and pushing her against him. He rolled her around to her back where he hovered over her,

"I'm sorry… I don't know what got into me." She breathed and Kellin couldn't help but smirk, wanting so, so bad to proceed on. He had to fight himself to keep from overwhelming her condition because of his desires and his sane side almost lost. With a displeased grunt, he lied back down on his side and took a deep breath to calm himself. A bed, with her in it no less, was no place to be. But he was willing to test his boundaries.

MC and Jean are lying together on the bed. It’s a rainy day, and they have their cozy clothes on—soft sweatshirts, warm socks. Legs tangled up, sharing a pair of headphones, listening to lo-fi. 

MC: I can’t believe you made this. It sounds amazing.

Jean: Oh, it’s okay…I wouldn’t say amazing—

MC: Are you hearing the same thing I’m hearing? I might not be a music expert, but this—this…

Jean flushes, unable to meet the MC’s eyes. 

MC: You’re doing it again.

Jean: Doing what? 

MC: It. You have this thing, where I compliment you and you look away. 

Jean: Oh.

MC: Am I making you uncomfortable? Because, you should let me know—if I’m making you uncomfortable—

Jean: You’re not making me uncomfortable. 

MC: …Then…What is it?

Jean: I…Well…It’s just that…

Jean sucks in a deep breath.

Jean: What I’m about to say…um. I know we haven’t been dating that long. Not that the past couple of months haven’t meant a lot to me, because they do, they absolutely do—

MC: Jean, breathe. 

Jean: Right. Anyway…It’s just—every time you say something like that, and you look at me like that, I get these…these big feelings inside of me. Like, huge feelings. And, I don’t want to scare you away with how—I don’t know. How…Ugh. Okay, I had a way better plan in my head, how I wanted to explain it, I mean. Ohmigod, this is a mess. I’m a mess, I—

MC: I love you, too.

Jean: How—how’d you…?

MC: Because I get those big feelings, too. I love you. Do you want me to say it more? I love you—I love—

Jean presses a kiss against the MC’s lips.

Being immersed in the strum patterns and faced away from the doorway, (Y/N) didn’t notice the brunette man cautiously wandering in, admiring the voice. It made his heart beat against his ribcage and his stomach flutter. As he sat on the bed, (Y/N) stopped, turning back slowly and smiling once they noticed him. His eyes had already looked heavy and his glasses were just on the tip of his nose. But they also noticed his ears, which were a dead giveaway to his state of mind.

“Hello, love. Couldn’t sleep?” Wilbur mumbled, pulling his partner close and pressing them up against his chest. It was easy for (Y/N) to follow his rhythmic heartbeat, grinning as the man hummed contently.

“No... I was just here hoping that it would come to me, but一” (Y/N) started. “It just went woosh.”

Wilbur giggled. He took in a whiff of your scent, his face only growing warmer. (Y/N) had carefully placed their instrument down on the side of the bed, wrapping their arms around his torso. He had just noticed you wearing his Los Campesinos jumper. The scent of him and yours becoming a concoction in the air brought him a sense of relief and joy.

The sleepiness continued to creep onto him.

“Wil? Are you okay...?” (Y/N) whispered out, feeling a shift of weight on them. There was a small jolt from Wilbur.

He only groaned out, pulling you into his lap and snuggling (Y/N) closer to him. They could only laugh as they realized what it is he was probably asking for without saying it outright. And by god, was it endearing.

“Alright, alright, c’mere,” (Y/N) requested, getting off of Wilbur’s lap to uncover the bed and tuck themselves into the weighted blankets. The brunette man slipped off his jacket, leaving him in his white graphic shirt and dark sweatpants. He happily obliged, tucking himself behind (Y/N) and pulling them close into his body, creating a cage of limbs around them.

His legs had intertwined with theirs, arms wrapped around (Y/N)’s stomach. Wilbur took off his glasses with one hand and lazily placed them on the nightstand in front of you. Satisfied, the tall man pulled you close to his body and buried his face into your neck, his hair tickling your face. He was filled with immense comfort.

A long late night stream, trying to stay awake for his fans and those who decided to stick around, ears turning red out of sleepiness. Telling stories, playing guitar and singing, the artificial glow of the monitors bouncing off his pale skin and glasses, eyes slightly going cross-eyed with every hour as he grew more and more lethargic.

And in the end, he would get to curl up on his mattress under heavy blankets with the other human being which he grew to love and deeply care for. And he couldn’t ask for anything better.

“Mmm... you smell like bubblegum...” he said, speech muffled with the jumper (Y/N) was wearing. They giggled, finally feeling the clutches of sleep grasping onto their eyes and threatening for them to shut. (Y/N) raised a hand, playing around with Wilbur’s hair and running fingers onto his scalp.

“I love you...” he muttered out before you could feel his grip loosening due to falling asleep.

(Y/N) softly turned over so his face was no longer buried in their neck and was rather staring at the man. Overbearing and soft emotions, (Y/N) brushed their lips over Wilbur’s leaving a kiss before nuzzling their cheek into his chest. Despite eyes being closed, there was a small twinkle in the man’s eyes and a smile crept onto his lips.