Lovers In The Shadows - Kakashi x Reader

02 | a few beers

~1 month earlier~

"Don't say that!" You said, slapping Genma on the arm with the back of your hand.

"I'm serious!" He said, before taking his senbon out of his mouth and holding it between his fingers. He pointed it at you. "You never take time for yourself. You're always busy doing something for someone, helping your team, visiting your family, doing god knows who another favor, taking on extra work..." You opened your mouth to argue but he continued after setting his senbon down.

"No really, I'm shocked we even got you out for 1 beer let alone ... what is that, number 4?" Genma said eyebrow up, turning his head to the side to peer at your glass.

"3 actually" you replied smartly with a smirk on your face, snatching your beer off the table and taking a sip. You swallowed quickly before furrowing your brow at him. "And how many is that for YOU, Genma?"

He rested his hand on his chin, tilted it up and closed one eye for a few seconds. "No comment" he said, nodding to himself.

Both you and Kurenai laughed. "See? Not so smart now are you?" You said, smiling.

"Yeah I am because I know how to let loose and have fun!" He shot back with a smile.

You shook your head, laughing. "What do you want me to say? Helping others fills my cup, if others are happy then I'm happy." You shrugged.

Genma looked at you with his head tilted and eyebrows up.

"What?" You said, chuckling at his expression.

"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard" he replied, shaking his head with his arms crossed as he leaned against the back of the booth.

"Genma!" Kurenai said with a shocked expression.

"What?" He said, smiling with his hands in the air. You rolled your eyes and scoffed. His face turned slightly stern as he put his elbows on the round wood table.

"(Y/N), I'm just saying ... taking time for yourself isn't selfish, it's essential to your well being. And that doesn't mean taking on a mission you're excited about." He said pointing at her. "That means declining volunteer opportunities to get take out instead. Taking a bath instead of answering a phone call. Or ditching extra work to meet up with us for a beer once and a while!" He continued. "(Y/N), it's been months. We really haven't seen you since the war ended."

You glanced over at Kurenai. She quickly shrugged, smiled and raised her hands slightly. "Don't look at me, he's right" she said.

You took a deep breath and then the last sip of your beer. "Genma, I know you're right but I'm not gonna lie to you. That's completely foreign to me, you know how I was raised."

Yours and Genmas parents were friends before you both were born. His parents were more approving and outwardly loving, while yours were strict and demanding. Genma's parents always gave your parents a hard time for setting such high expectations, to which your parents always replied: "it builds character, strong character is the backbone of a shinobi."

You and Genma grew up together and, although you were 2 years his junior, he always treated you like an equal. He always had your back, brought you around his friends, celebrated your victories: he truly was your best friend through everything.

He laid his fingers on your forearm. "I know ... that's why I'm giving you such a hard time to break out of it! Just like my parents did to yours" he said with a wide smile on his face.

He picked up a french fry from the bowl in the middle of the table and pointed it at you. "I'm not letting this crapfest of a cycle continue" he said before tossing it in his mouth.

You chuckled, looking down into your empty beer glass. Genma glanced over at Kurenai before nudging you. "C'mon, lets go get you that 4th beer I've been talking so highly about."

You smiled and hopped out of the booth. Genma stuck his elbow out for you to link with your arm, you accepted and headed to the bar.

"I hate when you're right" you said before sticking your tongue out at him. He did the same.