#iruobi

Obito is gonna catch his (second, third???) death out there in the cold.

🩷 HAPPY PRIDE 2024 !!!! 💖

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷

Making sure Obito gets as many kisses as humanly possibly is part of my job description, and I am nothing if not a hard worker (¬‿¬)

There is too much blood on his hands. Innocent blood, and Kushina’s scream ringing too close to his ears. He can hear them, so clearly, as if it happened yesterday, and can’t bring himself to look Iruka straight in the eye. It doesn’t matter that it wasn’t exactly him who dealt the final blow—he had released the nine tails knowing full well the consequences but just hadn’t cared. Thought that red moon plan would wipe it all, making it as if it happened. As if that would erase what he did.

His side itches, and his heart aches and all he wants is to—repent. Not forgiveness. His sins are too large, too big for that. 

Now, that the anger is more dull, the guilt, the whispers that he’s been trying to ignore are back in full. Guilt, guilt, and Obito can’t breath. Being back to a place where they haven’t happen yet, haven't lessened them. Instead, it made them all the more heavy. 

Iruka smiling at him isn’t not helping.

Kindness, where Obito doesn’t deserve it. It’s fair not to him, not when Obito can remember with clarity the fierce expression twisted anger, those eyes burning at him with hatred and a promise of revenge. This Iruka doesn’t remember—doesn’t know what Obito has done, and the smile on Obito’s face is tight, hard to keep. I’m so sorry, he wants to say. Cry and beg, and cry and take it all back. But he can’t, only be so fucking sorry.

Sorry isn’t going back to the dead, though. Isn’t going to wash away his sins.

“Thank you,” Iruka says, eyes curved into something grateful and gentle, that he doesn’t deserve at all.

If he knew—Obito swallows the thought away. He flashes a smile, slips on a mask and it’s easy this way, with the past locked behind his mind. To pretend he isn’t drowning in red. “Don’t mind it, I know what a handful Bakashi can be.” He returns.

Iruka laughs, and it’s beautiful. Obito blanches because he isn’t supposed to think that. Isn’t suppose to allow him to feel that warmth, not when—

“Yeah, he is. I’m glad you’re back. Kakashi’s been more—happy.”

Obito’s stomach twists and pulls, he slightly turns away. Breathes in, breathes out through the thread of unpleasant emotions.

It wasn’t calculated, he was raw from the war he just left and half-dead. And dropped in front of Kakashi, and punched him because fuck you, you selfless idiot while crying a lot. Then, realised what he was doing.

He keeps quiet, not sure how to respond to that. The silent stretches, heavy and thick, the air dipping into something awkward between them but Obito can’t say anything. His mouth is dry. (His traitorous mind whispers something that is like, I am glad to be here, too. Despite everything.)

“Me too,” He manages out, in the end, so quiet. Doesn’t have the courage to look at Iruka’s face, though.

He peaks a glance, anyway. His heart races at the open, sweet smile and the kindness. He did expect—this thing. Felt too broken after Rin, and Kakashi to even begin to fathom. Then, out of nowhere, startlingly, Iruka came into his life. It aches but despite it, he wants. Desperately, and raw and it’s wrong but—Obito can’t stop. (Doesn’t want to.)

When Iruka says then, hesitant, a hint of blush on his cheeks, “I—If you have some time....wanna go for some ramen?”

The reply is automatic. “Yes, would love to,” Obito says, and curses.

Iruka’s blinding beam makes it hard to regret that too, though.

the beast you've made of me

It’s less a love story and more a game of bad decision chicken between two people who have never realized that surrender was an option. 

iruka/obito sketch requested on ko-fi by @magnustesla <3

in a cozy mood; hope you like it!