"Off to Chouji's?" Kakashi calls from where he's lazing about on the couch, reading.
"Yes. And the party starts at 8," Sasuke reminds him.
"Mmhmm, I'll see you then," Kakashi says, still not looking away from his book.
Sasuke doesn't believe that in the slightest. But he now knows this game better than when he was twelve. "You won't get any of the eggplant thing if you're late."
Kakashi freezes, then pulls the book away from his face as he narrows his eyes. "Holding the eggplant hostage? That," he says with severity, "is diabolical."
Sasuke smirks, "So I'll see you there at 8."
"Yes, yes," Kakashi flaps a hand with a sigh and returns to his book, "I'll be there at 8."
Sasuke shrinks back into the alcove, holding his breath.
There's Kakashi, with someone drunkenly pawing at him. Right, he's a friend of Kakashi's. Yamato.
"What are you doing?" Kakashi asks, amused, as Yamato leans into his side.
"Are you kissing anyone at midnight?" Yamato asks, a little slurred, his face bright red.
Yamato turns to face him. "Can I?"
Kakashi laughs a little, awkward, "And why's that?"
Kakashi stills and his eyes widen, for once caught off guard.
"...Trust me, you don't want me," Kakashi insists after he composes himself.
"No, I have, for... for years," he rebuts, suddenly serious, clumsily cupping Kakashi's hands as he leans again into his space. "Always."
Kakashi hesitates for a long moment, both of them close enough for their breaths to mingle. But he gently pulls out a hand and tilts his friend's face away. "Come on Tenzo, you're drunk. You'll just regret this tomorrow."
"It's Yamato," he mutters out of some well-worn reflex. He rests his head on Kakashi's shoulder. "I'm sorry,"
"I'm sorry, too," Kakashi sighs. "Let's find someone to get you home."
Sasuke stands there, stunned, as Kakashi directs Yamato back down the hall. He waits a few minutes until he's sure the coast is clear and then sneaks back into the party. He absently waves hello to Chouji, and sees that Yamato and Sai are both gone.
But Kakashi isn't there either. Sasuke tries not to panic. Kakashi has to be somewhere. He'll run to the fucking Memorial Stone if he has to.
But he finds Kakashi sitting outside on the deck, looking at nothing.
It's freezing and he forgot his coat, but Sasuke sucks it up and sits down next to him. He's not sure what to say.
Kakashi doesn't look at him. "I take it you heard that."
Sasuke stays silent. Of course Kakashi realized he was there.
Sasuke is an Uchiha. He knows better than anyone alive how irrational love can be. "You still love Obito. And it seems like a betrayal."
Kakashi doesn't say anything for a moment, but holds himself a little tighter. "...Tenzo doesn't know."
"Do you want to tell him?"
Sasuke sits back a bit. "It's your issue to solve. Or don't."
Kakashi snorts. "Very inspirational."
Sasuke shrugs. He's not Naruto. He continues, "I didn't think I'd have anything after the war, that there'd be no point in moving forward. I think... I think I'm starting to now, but I have a long way to go." He looks over to Kakashi. "So it takes time. Take your time."
Kakashi doesn't respond to that, but he slowly leans over and pulls Sasuke into a side hug. "I'm glad you came back."
