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depressedhatakekakashi · 2 years

Text

I'll be there to Catch You.

Words: 3677

Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Maito Gai

@kkgweek

For: @kakashihasibs who came up with this brilliant idea <3

Training

The sun was beginning to sink behind Hokage’s monument, painting the sky a brilliant orange as a final goodbye before disappearing for the night. Usually, Kakashi would be sitting somewhere high enjoying the view.

He loved watching the sunset more than anything. It was calming.

A setting sun meant that his day was done. He could go home, clean up, and relax.

Today, however, he was standing in the middle of the training field just outside of Konoha’s walls. Somehow Gai had convinced him to have a spar right after lunch, and that spar quickly turned into a training session that lasted for the rest of the afternoon.

Now the sun was setting.

The day was ending, and Gai looked exhausted.

“I think it’s time to call it quits,” he commented, noting that Gai was beginning to sway a little. “You need to get home and eat.”

“No!” Throwing an arm out in front of himself, Gai presented him with his signature thumbs-up pose. “I can keep going, Rival. I assure you I am in peak condition.”

With each word he spoke, Gai’s face got a little paler. His knees began to buckle under him, but he was able to recover before he fell face-first into the dirt. “You don’t look good, Gai,” he sighed. “Come on, we can spar again tomorrow after our teams finish training.”

He’d rather not train with Gai twice in a row, but if it would keep his friend from overextending himself and ending up in the hospital it was a worthwhile offer to make.

“One more spar,” Gai insisted. “I still have energy left. I’ve never felt b-”

Alarms went off in his mind when Gai cut himself off suddenly, and not even five seconds afterwords stopped falling from his lips Gai’s knees buckled under him. Kakashi’s body moved without warning. Rushing forward, he turned his back to Gai at the last second and braced himself for impact.

Gai’s body crashed against his back, nearly knocking him down with the sudden weight. If he hadn’t prepared himself, he would have eaten dirt and Gai would never have heard the end of it.

As it was, though, everything was fine. Gai was safe, and that was what mattered.

“You really are-” he turned his head, sighing when he noticed that Gai’s eyes were closed. “Something.”

With no other option, Kakashi slowly lowered himself down, careful to keep Gai resting against his back as he moved. Once he had one knee resting against the ground, he reached back and wrapped his arms around Gai’s legs. It took him a moment to adjust his arms properly, but once he was certain he wasn’t going to pick Gai up and promptly drop him on his head, he stood up.

“Home time,” he whispered, already beginning his walk back toward Konoha. “And don’t worry. I’ll take a long way.”

It was better that way.

Gai got enough crap from the villagers. He didn’t need them seeing him in this state and adding that to the list of things they made fun of him for.

Kannabi Bridge

Team Minato was due back soon. That’s what Choza-Sensei had said.

He hadn’t told Gai much, but he’d smiled that soft supportive smile of his, ruffled his hair, and told him to head over to the gate to greet his eternal rival. So that’s what Gai had done.

Without a second thought, he’d said his goodbyes to Genma and Ebisu and runoff. Though he didn’t know how long he’d have to wait for them to arrive, he was excited. Kakashi and his team had been gone for almost a week now and he just couldn’t wait to see his friend again.

Perhaps he would ask him for a challenge or invite him out for lunch. No doubt Kakashi would be hungry after such a long mission. Rin and Obito could even join them. He never minded having them around even if Obito was always trying to pick fights with him.

“I bet their mission went smoothly,” he chattered to himself as he came to a stop just a few feet in front of the large gate where Kakashi’s team would be arriving soon. “Kakashi’s first mission as a Jonin. It must have been perfect!”

He couldn’t wait to hear all about it. Kakashi was sure to have stories to tell, and while he might not think that he was amazing, Gai would be sure to correct him. Even if Kakashi tried to shrug off his compliments he’d just repeat himself again and again until his friend understood.

Just as he always did.

“Oh!” His back straightened when he saw silhouettes in the distance. There were three that he could see clearly, but he did not doubt that the fourth member of the team was right behind them. Most likely Obito dragging his feet, pouting because he’d had to listen to Kakashi’s orders.

He always had such an issue recognizing Kakashi’s talent. No matter what his eternal rival did, Obito was sure to be there insisting that he could do it better, and while Gai had to admit that the Uchiha was a skilled shinobi in his own right, he was simply no Hatake Kakashi.

None of them were, and that’s what made Kakashi so amazing. The perfect Rival to push him into becoming a stronger shinobi.

“Gai!” Hearing his name, he straightened up and narrowed his eyes. Focusing a bit harder on those three silhouettes. One was taller than the others, so it had to be Minato-Senpai. The one on the right had their hand extended up into the air, waving at him. No doubt Rin, based on the voice that was calling out to him.

That meant the one in the middle was either Kakashi, his man of destiny, or Uchiha Obito.

A smart person might have hung back and waited to see the outline of Kakashi’s mask to confirm his identity. At the very least, a smart person would call out to him. Ensure that they weren’t about to run straight at the wrong person.

Gai was not considered a smart person, and he wasn’t about to start acting like one.

Rushing forward, he headed straight for the person in the middle. Fully prepared to wrap his arms around Kakashi and congratulate him on a successful mission. Except, the closer he got to the group the more unsettled he felt.

Something was wrong.

“Gai,” Rin smiled at him, but there was no joy in her eyes. All he could see was sadness. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too,” he whispered, dragging his eyes away from her and focusing on Kakashi. “How did the mission go? Did you complete your task?”

Silence.

Not one of them would look at him, or even speak to him.

“Rival,” his eyes zeroed in on Kakashi’s left eye. Although it was mostly covered by his headband, which had been awkwardly pulled down over it, Gai could still make out the edges of a scar. An injury that his rival had no doubt sustained in their epic battle. “Are you-”

Before he could ask his question, Kakashi’s right eye began to close and his body fell forward. Reacting quickly, Gai stepped forward and held out his arms, catching his rival before he hit the ground.

“Sorry,” Minato-Senpai stepped up to his side and laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling when he glanced up at him. Like Rin, there was no real joy in his expression. All Gai could see was Sadness. “Could you get him to the hospital, Gai? I need to head straight to Lord third.”

“Yes,” he nodded, not needing to be asked twice. “But.” turning his eyes towards the area behind Kakashi, he frowned. There should have been a fourth person with them. Obito should have been walking behind, ready to pick a fight as soon as he saw him.

Just as he always did.

“Rin will explain,” Minato-Senpai promised, sparing a look towards the Kunoichi. “You two just get Kakashi to the hospital. He’ll need a nice long rest after this mission.”

His fingers curled into the fabric of Kakashi’s shirt. There were so many questions he had to ask. Things he needed to know, but which he knew he couldn’t. If Minato-Senpai was in a rush he would simply have to move forward and do as he was asked.

Rin would answer his questions.

She’d be able to tell him where Obito was, and why his Rival was in such rough shape.

He only hoped that the answers she had for him were kinder than the ones running around in his mind.

“We’ll get him there,” he promised, kneeling down and slowly turning himself around, careful not to let Kakashi fall as he situated him onto his back and wrapped his arms around his legs. “I promise.”

Battle

The battle was over, and Gai was certain that he had won. Not just in terms of defeating his enemy, but in his latest challenge with his eternal rival, Hatake Kakashi.

There was little chance Kakashi had of beating him this time. He’d successfully taken down thirteen of the enemy shinobi and he’d only needed the fifth gate to do it.

“That settles it,” he declared proudly, standing over the unconscious body of his final adversary. “There’s no doubt I’ve won this challenge, Rival which means that our score is now 45-44 in my favour.”

He expected an off handed comment from his rival or a protest of some sort. After all, they hadn’t told each other how many enemies they had taken down already. Kakashi could accuse him of assuming it was his victory and then snatch it away from him, like the cool-headed Rival that he always was.

What he got instead, was silence.

Turning his head, he grinned when he saw Kakashi standing there at his side. There was blood splattered all over the front of his uniform, mostly their enemies judging by all of the bodies laying at his feet, and an empty expression in his eyes.

The smile dropped off his face as realization struck him.

Without thinking, he rushed to Kakashi’s side and wrapped an arm around his front, stopping him from crashing face-first into the ground. “You always do this,” he whispered. “You must take better care of yourself, Rival.”

There was no response.

No sassy come back, or apologetic laugh. Kakashi didn’t make a single sound as Gai tugged him against his body and placed his other arm around his back for support.

“It’s alright. I’ve got you.” Leaning Kakashi back a little, he moved his arm away from his chest and manoeuvred himself cautiously. It took a bit of work, but once he could slide his arm behind Kakashi’s knees, he lifted him into his arms and shifted his other arm up to his shoulders so that it was supporting his head.

Once he was certain that Kakashi was well supported, he turned his back to the battlefield and headed straight into the trees with one big jump.

“We won,” he spoke, unable to stand the silence that lingered over him in Kakashi’s absence. “The mighty Duo of Konoha won another fight, and it was spectacular.”

He hadn’t been able to catch much of what Kakashi had done in the fight. That was one disadvantage to fighting back-to-back. There was never an opportunity to watch his rival work.

To see him tearing through the enemies' ranks. Guarding his back against anyone who would dare to try and attack him from behind.

What little bits of his Rival’s fight he had been able to witness, however, was spectacular. Every move that Kakashi made was calculated. Even those enemies who were quicker on their feet had difficulties keeping up with him. They would stumble over themselves trying to land a hit.

Attempting to take down Hatake Kakashi, The Genius Shinobi.

None of them had succeeded of course. How could they when they were facing off against his Eternal Rival? There wasn’t a single person in the world who could defeat Kakashi.

If there was someone like that out in the world, they would have to get through Gai first to even have a chance at it.

“You can rest now,” he smiled when Kakashi shifted in his arms. His body relaxed as if he could hear Gai’s words. “I’ll get us home.”

“Home.” Kakashi sighed. His head dropped to the side, resting against Gai’s chest as the Taijutsu master sailed through the air, jumping from one tree branch to the next.

“That’s right, Rival. Home.”

Back where they would be safe.

Where they wouldn’t need to fight again. Not until their next mission, at least.

The one place where he could be sure Kakashi would always be alright.

Sick

Shinobi didn’t get sick.

If they were unlucky enough to fall victim to an illness, they ignored it. Missions wouldn’t wait for them to recover and pay only came when they had completed mission scrolls showing success.

The only way to keep a Shinobi out of the field was a severe injury or an illness that knocked them out so hard they couldn’t even get out of bed.

Of course, there was an exception to every rule.

Today’s exception was Maito Gai.

The man who could barely stand on his own, and who had already face-planted against his apartment floor after getting out of his bed.

“Come on,” Kakashi eased him to his feet, holding an arm around his waist so that he didn’t fall again. “Back to bed with you.”

“No bed,” Gai muttered, a distinct lack of energy or ‘youth’ in his voice. “Need to train.”

Kakashi snorted. “In your condition? You’d be lucky if you made it two steps out the front door.”

There was a muffled protest. Words that Kakashi couldn’t quite make out, and didn’t care to try.

“You need to sleep,” he insisted, shifting them around towards the bed and manoeuvring himself So that he could lay Gai down slowly. Without just Chucking him into the bed like he would with anyone else. “Pushing yourself is just going to make it worse.”

“No,” getting a sudden surge of energy, Gai threw an arm out and spun back around, forcing Kakashi to follow and secure his arm around his waist so he didn’t fall face-first into the floor again. “A shinobi cannot rest. Rest means falling behind on training and-“ he stopped speaking suddenly, his face turning a brilliant shade of green that Kakashi knew all too well.

Taking a step back, the copy ninja cringed when his partner doubled over himself and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the floor.

“This is going to be an all-day adventure, I see.”

Kakashi sighed, already making plans in his mind on how he was going to apologize to his students for missing out on team training.

Training which he was already three hours late for and was now going to have to send someone else to take care of, which meant that his students were never going to let him hear the end of it. They were always extra bratty when he dared to skip training, regardless of the reason he gave them.

“Urge,” watching as Gai straightened himself up, Kakashi braced himself to move at the drop of a ryo. “See, Rival? I feel good as new.”

Kakashi could only shake his head. “You feel better because you just threw up all over your floor, which I’m going to have to clean by the way,” he was already dreading that job. “And you still look like death. Now lay down before you-”

Gai lurched suddenly, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

Jumping out in front of his partner, Kakashi braced himself for impact and grunted when Gai’s body crashed against his. “You feel good as new, huh?” he shook his head, wondering just how far Gai would have pushed himself if his body hadn’t shut down on him.

Knowing his luck, Gai would have gone all out on his day. The man had never really learned how to relax, and there was nothing that he did that he only committed half of his efforts to.

It was all out or nothing for Maito Gai.

“Well, at least now you’ll rest.” he slipped an arm across Gai’s back and guided him back towards the bed, careful not to step in the pile of vomit lying on the floor at his feet.

“Tomorrow,” he whispered as he eased Gai back into the bed. “We’ll train tomorrow. One day of rest won’t be the end of you, I promise.”

Once Gai was laying down, Kakashi set to work on draping his blanket over him and making him as comfortable as possible. A task he wasn’t obligated to undertake, but which he was determined to complete. If only so Gai could have just a little relief in his time of suffering.

“There,” he smiled, straightening himself up when he was finished. “Now you can sleep, and I can-” his eyes darted to the side, catching a glimpse of the pile of vomit still sitting on the floor behind him. “I can take care of clean up. After I contact someone about Team Seven’s training. But who?”

Asuma would probably complain if he asked him to join their two teams together for one morning, but he’d do it in a pinch. Kurenai would be a lot more cheerful about the last-minute job, but she’d also be nice to his kids.

They wouldn’t know what to do with someone nice. Sasuke was too angry at the world to accept kindness, Naruto would melt at even the smallest compliment and Sakura…

Well, she was the only normal one but he had no doubt she’d start calling Kurenai her favourite Sensei. It wasn’t worth the risk.

“Genma.” he decided, confident that the weapon’s expert would be able to handle his team’s bullying and would be deemed uncool enough that he wouldn’t steal any of the respect his cute little students had for him.

What little of it there was.

With that decided, he set to his next task. Informing Genma of his new responsibility. After that, he would take care of the mess Gai had made, and then maybe he’d make lunch.

Something simple that his partner would be able to keep down. So he didn’t have to clean up any more messes later.

“You rest,” he smiled down at Gai, chuckling when the man turned onto his side and wrapped an arm around the small turtle stuffy that he kept in his bed at all times. A gift that Kakashi had won him at a festival in their youth. “I’ll take care of everything today, Rival.”

Over Worked

A Hokage’s job was never-ending.

There were meetings, endless piles of paperwork, events that required the Hokage’s presence, and smaller more personal meetings that were somehow more important that the bigger more official meetings.

All day Kakashi spent sitting behind a desk, and yet at the end of the day, he felt drained. More exhausted than he ever had after a mission.

By the time he made it home, dragging himself through the front door, the only energy he had left was conserved for getting himself to bed.

Anything more and he would collapse in his spot.

“Rival!” A cheer rang through the air as Gai came wheeling around the corner from the living room, a grin stretching across his handsome face. “You’re home.”

“I’m home.” those words never failed to make him smile. After years of feeling lost and alone, he had a home. A place where he could relax and unwind. Where he was safe.

“How was your day?” His eternal rival asked, rolling towards him.

“It was- not something I want to talk about,” Gai’s grin somehow managed to grow even wider. “I’m ready for bed.”

“Bed does sound good,” coming to a stop right in front of him, Gai opened up his arms to him. “But I was thinking we could watch a movie.”

“A movie?”

Gai nodded his head, excitement written plane across his face for any idiot to see.

Even a tired, hokage-level idiot.

Not wanting to ruin Gai’s excitement, Kakashi opted for a solution that would give them both what they wanted.

“You watch the movie, I sleep,” he suggested, sighing when Gai narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can stay up.”

“I don’t expect you to stay up,” Gai huffed, wiggling his fingers while Kakashi tried to piece together what he was trying to get at. “Come on, Rival. You’re usually quicker than this.”

One more wiggle of his fingers, and a warm, inviting smile, and Kakashi was suddenly struck by what Gai was trying to say to him.

Let yourself fall.

I’ll catch you.

“Gai…”

“I’ll keep you company while you sleep,” his partner grinned. “Now come on. I’ve been wanting to see this movie for weeks, but I was only just able to get my hands on it.”

Taking the hint, Kakashi took a step toward Gai and promptly collapsed into his arms. It only took a little effort on Gai’s part to manoeuvre him onto his lap, and as soon as he had Kakashi took advantage of the new position and nuzzled against his neck.

“Home,” he whispered, too sleepy to concern himself with anything but immediate sleep.

Gai’s laughter vibrated in his throat, tickling Kakashi’s bose lightly. “Yes,” he agreed, maneuvering his wheelchair around the small hallway and heading straight back to the living room. “You’re home, Rival. It’s safe.”

Sleep was already sinking its claws into him, but before he allowed it to drag him down into the darkness for the rest of the night Kakashi lifted his head just a bit and pressed a kiss against Gai’s cheek.

“Goodnight, Gai.”

As his eyes slid closed, he was certain he caught a glimpse of a tender gaze in Gai’s eyes.

“Goodnight, Rival.”

#Kakagai #KakaGai week #KakaGai Week 2022 #Kakagaiweek2022 #Hatake Kakashi #Maito Gai

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