German Roulette

 

 

CHAPTER 9

 

It was Saturday. For the last few days Kakashi refused to go out with his friends and was acting really weird. He was constantly on edge and at this point Asuma was afraid to talk to him. He considered Kakashi his friend but keeping in mind that he was loyal to the Reich. Sometimes he wondered what Kakashi would do if he realized Asuma’s doubts and fears. The pilot was almost sure that the General would arrest him… So he was walking on eggshells around his angry leader wondering what was it all about this time? He only ever saw Kakashi that pissed after his dealings with Iruka, but now the Major was out of town and… And then it clicked. Could it be about Iruka? Asuma knew by now that Kakashi actually respected and even liked the Abwehr’s chief. Maybe something bad happened to Iruka? No… That wouldn’t make Kakashi like that, would it? It had to be something more, something more serious, more important… But what?

“Kakashi, miss Klauser is waiting for you downstairs.”

“I don’t have time for this.”

Asuma looked at his friend. He wasn’t doing anything, he just sat at his desk staring at the empty spot on the wall that used to have a nice picture of a certain tanned soldier on it.

“Alright, I will tell her that you’re busy but you know it’s about the party.”

“What party?” Kakashi still didn’t spare him a glance.

“Fromm’s party! It’s tonight and you’re invited. Besides you agreed to be her partner for the night.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes you are. You have to. You already promised.”

Kakashi snapped at that. “What the hell are you talking about? When did I agree to that?”

“Kakashi! It was like… about a month ago! You can’t set her up now. And Fromm was counting on your presence too. You know that it’s better to not piss that man off.”

“Fine… I don’t care either way.”

“So, should I send miss Klauser in? Fromm will be glad to see you two together.”

“No, I don’t want to see her. But you may tell her that I will pick her up at seven.”

Asuma sighed and left.

General Friedrich Fromm was a man of great importance and so being invited to his party was a chance anyone would love to get but Kakashi hated parties. Every time he put on his ceremonial uniform women were swarming around him like a locust. Was it because of the saber?

Gertrude was stuck to his arm like some persistent burr getting on his nerves even more than usually. He tried to get rid of her but then Fromm got him and almost bore him to death with some pointless talk trying to prove to other gathered people that they did not yet lose the war. The number of people frightened by the increasing number of bombarding was growing and it angered Fromm greatly. Kakashi couldn’t find it in him to care. He didn’t give a fuck what they believed in. He just wanted to go home and maybe get drunk. Asuma pulled him away under a veil of something important expecting Kakashi to be grateful but the man looked completely resigned and depressed.

“Sorry Asuma, I want to go home…”

“You can’t leave yet, Kakashi. The Admiral wanted to talk to you. He’s been waiting for this opportunity for months!”

“I think I’ll just leave…”

“Are you crazy? You can’t!”

“I’m leaving Asuma. Nothing will stop me.”

But apparently the faith had a funny way of mocking Kakashi lately because right at the moment he longingly looked at the door planning his escape he saw no one other than Major Iruka Umino. He froze in place with his eyes wide trying to figure if it was real or was it just his tormented mind fucking with him again…. 

Iruka looked very tired and weak. He had his cap under his left arm which was in the sling and there was a bandage over his forehead, with a bit of blood staining its white surface over the right temple. He was hurt... Something had happened to Iruka! Kakashi’s heart sank. It just dawned on him sickly worried over the other’s man well being he had been. He needed to check on him right now and see if he was alright. He started to force his way through the crowd straight to Iruka, but the Major walked away in another direction with a clear purpose of reaching General Fromm. Halfway through the hall a very tall and handsome young man stopped him in his tracks. The one-armed man with an eye patch over his left eye was not a stranger. Kakashi knew exactly who he was.

“Iruka!”

“Claus!”

Kakashi almost growled. Iruka and Stauffenberg acted awfully familiar with each other! Iruka  shook hands with Claus but the man hugged him with a bright smile on his attractive face. Together they moved to General Fromm. Kakashi’s blood boiled. Why was Iruka smiling at Stauffenberg? At that… that… traitor!? That man was probably already planning some treason… Iruka should not familiarize himself with people of this kind… Fromm also surprised Kakashi with the way he welcomed Iruka, embracing him and asking kindly about his wounds and…. PROMOTION! Iruka was a Colonel now and he looked great with the new insignia. Kakashi’s jaw dropped. Something stuck to his arm again but he shrugged it off ignoring miss Klauser’s protests. He moved straight to Colonel Umino.

“Iruka…” He blurted out without thinking.

Iruka turned his face to him and Kakashi couldn’t help but stare at the deep blush adoring his cheeks.

“General Hatake… Good evening.”

Kakashi Hatake in a ceremonial uniform with a saber and a golden cord over his shoulder was surely a sight to behold.

“What happened to you?”

Iruka wasn’t sure if he was able to speak struck by the General’s appearance. Luckily his friend Claus did it for him.

“General Hatake! Iruka got hurt in his heroic and might I say a bit stupid action. He was checking the stuff that was supposed to relocate to the Wolfe’s Lair and found out that a man who was responsible for protecting our rocket launchers used to work on the French coast where every V1 launcher under his protection had been bombarded right after his relocation. He went to Penemünde to check on him!”

Then Fromm continued the story. “And he turned out to be Russian spy! He confessed everything in the course of hearing so Iruka arrested him!”

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg interrupted: “And that was STUPID, Iruka! You should take at least two more people for protection!” He squeezed Iruka’s forearm before turning back to Kakashi with a worried expression. “That man tried to escape! He shoot at Iruka! He hurt his arm and made him fall of the train, but Iruka still managed to shoot him!”

Fromm patted Iruka’s back and chuckled. “Iruka definitely deserved that promotion. How do you feel my boy?”

“I’m fine General. Just a bit tired. Miss Klauser, how do you do?”

Only then Kakashi noticed that the angry woman was once again stuck to his side. She ignored completely Iruka’s polite greeting. It angered Kakashi even more. Somehow he really didn’t want Iruka to know that he came here with this woman. It was stupid really…. It’s not like Iruka could be jealous. Iruka didn’t care. He wasn’t like that… He couldn’t be… He was too perfect…

Kakashi stood as close to the Colonel Umino as he could in this circumstances. Maybe it was risky or unreasonable but he couldn’t help it. He was moving closer and closer until his right shoulder was touching Iruka’s back. Fromm didn’t notice anything but Stauffenberg looked mildly surprised. Iruka was stiff and quiet. It was unbearable how much Kakashi missed him. It was easier to ignore when he didn’t see Iruka but when he was standing so close…. It was driving Kakashi crazy. He just needed to be closer, to feel the other man, to be sure he was really there. Iruka’s usual sunny smell was overpowered but the nasty stench of antiseptic, bandages and blood but for Kakashi it was still the greatest aroma he could imagine. It was Iruka, right here, touching him with his shoulder. He snaked his hand inconspicuously to Iruka’s shoulder.

“So, Iruka…” Kakashi hated the way Stauffeberg was saying Irka’s first name. “Is that true that he had a gun turned into a pen?!”

“Um… yes… It was reckless of me to let him keep it. The caliber was very small and so the bullet hard to remove from my shoulder. That’s why I spent over four days in the hospital…”

“Was the food as bad as in Munich?””

Iruka’s laugh was like music… “No, Claus, it was even worse! Don’t complain about Munich. It wasn’t all that bad.”

“Iruka, they cut off my hand, loose my eye and two fingers!”

Iruka laughed again, making something in Kakashi’s stomach flutter. “I though they saved your one eye, one hand and three fingers! Besides you didn’t know what to do with the ten of them anyway, remember?”

They all laughed except Kakashi. He squeezed Iruka’s shoulder a bit tighter and grumbled:

“Colonel, you must be tired. You should sit down.”

“It’s quite alright, General. I’m fine.” Iruka blushed again. He didn’t dare to look at Kakashi. He looked impossibly sexy in this uniform and it was really hard for the younger man to even stand so close to him. It was a success that he still could talk.

“Then maybe you are hungry or thirsty? I’ll bring you something good. Would you like a drink?”

Iruka felt hot. Kakashi was acting so… caring and sweet. It made Iruka think about inappropriate things and his blush intensified. The hand on his shoulder burned. Maybe some soft drink was not a bad idea after all.

“Yea, I guess… I’ll just go and…”

“NO! You’re hurt. Let me… I’ll bring you whatever you want.” Iruka was stunned and just looked at the General like he was crazy. Gertrude on the other hand was more direct.

“Kakashi! Stop acting so unreasonable. The Colonel is fine but I would love to have some champagne!”

Kakashi didn’t even listen to her.

“I insist. I’ll bring you your favorite drink. Vermouth with ice if I remember correctly?”

Iruka couldn’t believe it. That was just rude. Fromm was about to comment on that too but seeing Kakashi’s serious face he simply didn’t dare. Kakashi was up to something, that much was obvious. His conflict with Umino was quite famous at this point so if he acted so suspiciously nice, he had to have some serious reasons or ulterior motives.

“Gertrude, don’t anger the General any further. Why don’t you go and get yourself the champagne yourself. I’m sure General Hatake wants to be updated on Colonel Umino’s mission.”

Fromm’s secretary only huffed and didn’t move an inch. Meanwhile Kakashi didn’t hear any of it. He just stared at Iruka expectantly waiting for his answer.

“I’ll be right back.” He simply pushed Gertrude’s hands away and walked up to the bar and tables. He took a plate and filled it with best appetizers and food, then he took a glass of vermouth and got back soon with a satisfied smirk gracing his face. Iruka didn’t miss the way every head turned when Kakashi walked through the hall. His impeccable look, posture and handsome appearance were impossible to ignore. He was like a walking definition of Übermensch.

“Here, Colonel, Umino.” Iruka thanked him politely and simply took it not wanting to cause the scene. Kakashi acted like he was crazy. What was he up to this time?

“Now I think we should let Colonel Umino to get some rest. Please, let me help you to the seats.”

Not waiting for permission and even blatantly ignoring Iruka’s protest he started to pull the younger man away from the group. Iruka knew that fighting him could only result in something bad and embarrassing. It looked like Kakashi wanted to talk about something. Further threats maybe?

Kakashi sat him down on the loveseat and quickly took the place at his side.

“Ok, General, no one will hear us here. What do you want?”

The older man looked genuinely surprised if not  bit offended. “Excuse me? Want? I just want you to sit and get some rest. You must be tired after traveling here from the coast and they didn’t want to leave you alone.” And he wanted nothing more than to be alone with Iruka. He couldn’t wait for him to be back. He didn’t just miss Iruka. He longed for him.

“Well… General… I didn’t come to the party to be alone, you know?”

The answer was interrupted by Gertrude’s arrival. She pointed out that Kakashi’s behavior was rude and tried get onto the General’s lap to seat. Of course Kakashi didn’t let her. He stood up vacating the spot beside Iruka for the persistent woman and settled for kneeling in front of the young Colonel in a pretty unfortunate way.

“Are you proposing, my friend?”

 Asuma’s laughter rumbled beside them. Both Kakashi and Iruka immediately stood up completely embarrassed.

“This isn’t funny, Asuma! I don’t find jokes about sodomites amusing!”

The pilot’s laughter died instantly. “Sodomites…? I meant that you were proposing to miss Klauser just now… You thought I meant Iruka?”

Iruka laughed nervously. So, that was what Kakashi thought about ‘sodomites’…. Of course. Now he really wanted to be as far from the handsome General as possible.

“Excuse me…”

He stepped around them and went looking for his friend Claus. He had a lot of information for him. Of course he couldn’t pass it with all those people around but they could at least make an appointment or at least have a friendly talk. Everything just to NOT think about the crazy silver haired Gestapo General.

Just as he joined Stauffenberg some other people surrounded them and talked to Iruka, asking about his latest mission. Among them was the Admiral with his 19 year old daughter who was completely smitten with Iruka. Now after his recent promotion the Admiral was much more approving of her love interest and kept encouraging them to dance. Iruka was courteous, polite and charming. Kakashi couldn’t look at it. He couldn’t stand it. He wanted to grab the little wench and shake her. And why was Iruka ignoring him? And why did it so fucking hurt?

“Oh, Colonel, look at General Hatake and Miss Klauser. They look wonderful together, don’t you think?”

That was not something Iruka wanted to hear, even less say.

“Indeed, they do look lovely.”

“I think they will marry soon. They shouldn’t wait for the war to end. Love shouldn’t wait, don’t you think?.... Don’t you think so, Colonel…?”

This time it was Iruka who didn’t listen. He didn’t even catch on the girl’s intensions. She only mean to suggest that Iruka shouldn’t wait and just propose to her already! But Iruka could only see it as the confirmation of the fact that Kakashi was beyond his reach. He would always be nothing more than a distant dream, a dream he shouldn’t even dare to think.

Even through all his anger Kakashi still saw the change in Iruka and alerted simply rushed to his side, pushing the girl aside.

“Iruka… I mean… Colonel Umino… You paled, are you alright?”

“Yes, General, I’m fine…”

But Kakashi was already puling him to the balcony explaining that he needed some fresh air. Iruka DIDN’T want fresh air and he sure as hell didn’t want to go anywhere with the man who caused him nothing but a pain. Shikamaru was right. He never should get involved with this man in any way. He should just… leave…

“No… I don’t want to go anywhere with you….!”

Kakashi’s blood boiled. How dare he?! That goddamned brat was turning his life upside down, tormented him day and night, driving him mad, and now he dared to say things like this?! No fucking way!

Iruka was scared. Warm breeze hit his face and he felt the heavy velvet curtains close behind his back. Kakashi dragged him outside with almost bruising hold over his uninjured arm and slammed the balcony door shut behind them with a loud noise. Now no one would dare to follow them for sure.

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