Chapter Text
Obito watched the beta move about the room, excitement thrumming through his veins. After they left the Konoha pair at Raikage Tower (it was huge, and Obito was grateful he got to wait at the bottom of the stairs), Kakashi told him that his prosthetics were ready. Apparently, he was getting a new leg, too. Why bother when his current one was already so great?
They sat in one of the smaller buildings of Kumo’s hospital with that eye-patched guy from a while back, Hisaki. He had to remove the extra layers Kakashi bundled him up in to be fitted into his new leg and arm (he was getting an arm!) so he felt a bit chilled as they waited for Hisaki to grab them.
From what he gathered, the one he currently wore was a prototype. He was able to keep it on because Hisaki gave it a chakra-layer-cloak-thing that kept out moisture and dirt, but without that, Obito would have had to take it off at night, or in the shower, or… whatever. Technically, he had to do that with his first prosthetic, but he usually didn’t bother. Sometimes his masters would take it off him during sex, but it was always terrifying to be separated from it. The leg broke when he left Uzushio, and he’d been alone. The fear of that happening again kept him close to it.
Obito watched as Hisaki separated the leg from his chakra network—another thing that had been explained to him by Tenzō—and didn’t feel that same fear when it was pulled away. Kakashi and Tenzō were with him, so there was nothing to worry about. Even without a leg, he was sure those two wouldn’t leave him behind.
They cleaned his residual limb, and Obito stared at the new prosthetics waiting by the wall. They were white and smooth. All the fingers and toes were jointed, and they had a better look to them than what he usually saw on passersby. While Hisaki slipped on all the different liners and the socket, Obito read a note Tenzō held out to him.
‘This one is fully waterproof. Take it off to clean it regularly. Once it’s matched to your chakra network, you can slip it on and off without much hassle. It’ll only respond to your chakra signature, so it’ll stay in place, and no one else can remove it.’
Obito nodded eagerly.
Unlike the last one, this leg fit like a glove. Hisaki didn’t have to make any adjustments, and it was snug right from the start without any rubbing. When he saw Hisaki reach for the black seal at the top of the leg, he felt around for Kakashi’s hand and squeezed it as his nerves lit up. It didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t pleasant, and his whole body tingled afterwards. Once it was over, he looked down and watched with fascination as he moved the prosthetic toes.
He already loved it.
Next came the arm, and he couldn’t stop grinning. He didn’t need the arm, he’d convinced himself. Obito lived for years without it and got by just fine. Sure, he fumbled sometimes…
But Kakashi wanted Obito to have it. To him, it was only natural to spend all that money on some bargain bin omega he received for free.
As the liners slipped over the residual limb at his shoulder, his toes curled. He bit his lip, squeezed Kakashi’s hand even tighter, and committed to memory the exact order Hisaki put everything on. It locked in place. He felt a click. Then, just as before, a hand pressed against a black seal on the forearm, and his whole body jolted.
Obito shuddered, and the prosthetic obeyed as he flexed his hand. Sage, that felt so weird. It listened without him trying, like it was leeching off his thoughts before he had them, and it’d take some getting used to. Would he be able to write with it?
He brought his hands together, and his fingers interlocked seamlessly, like magic.
Kakashi held up a note, ‘How does it feel?’
Obito threw himself at the alpha, wrapping his arms around Kakashi in a crushing embrace. He felt the rumble of Kakashi’s chest as he laughed, a hand rubbing his back, and held on until he felt a tap on his elbow urging him to let go.
He bowed to Hisaki, and then to Tenzō, trying to express with actions what he couldn’t with words.
Hisaki rolled his eye, as though over it, and waved with his own prosthetic as he walked away.
When Obito was handed the notepad, he tried writing with the prosthetic, but his control was shit, so he gave up. ‘How much did this cost?’
Did he want to know?
Kakashi took the pen from him, his face grave. ‘Our firstborn pup.’
Obito paled, only to see Tenzō hit the alpha in the arm with the notepad as he snatched it away. Kakashi laughed, and Tenzō crossed his arms like a scolding parent.
Kakashi liked to tease, huh? There was something nice about that. Obito caught glimpses of it before, and the alpha could be a bit goofy, but there were so many conversations he wasn’t privy to. Even when the two of them were alone, Kakashi would talk, and Obito could only sometimes make out the words.
When they left, he managed to get all his extra layers on by himself. Kakashi seemed a little disappointed; the alpha liked fussing over him.
He stared at his hands, hands—two of them—and pulled on a matching pair of gloves.
For so long, Obito never thought he would feel whole.
They didn’t need to pick up the Konoha pair until late in the evening, so there were several hours of freedom left of their day. Kakashi asked if there was anywhere Obito wanted to go, and he said, quite honestly, ‘Home.’
Obito didn’t know when he started thinking of the eastern wing as home, or how he’d gotten so comfortable there. He knew where everything was, and he’d finally been brave enough to peek into the rooms on the other side of the hall. It also curved around, and they had their own private courtyard that Kakashi said would be open in the late spring, as it needed renovations. Obito wondered what spring was like in Kumo—if it got warm or rainy. Was the sun hot so high in the clouds?
When they stepped inside, Obito immediately took off all those extra layers and hung up his coat and sweater. He put away the gloves, hat, and scarf. Then he took off his clothes and folded them neatly on the console where he could gather them before they left to fetch their guests.
Kakashi watched him, eyes on the new arm, then the leg, and Obito smiled, mouthing yet another thank-you. Kakashi smiled back.
Honestly, his alpha seemed upset today. Obito wondered if drawing the bath this morning was a bad call, or if Kakashi was bothered by Kushina’s outburst. He could smell stress and misery in the air. Kakashi was controlling his scent, but not well.
It was supposed to be a good day. And for Obito, it was. But it didn’t feel great to have his master upset.
Kakashi sat at the chabudai and Obito had a thought. He waved his hand to get Kakashi’s attention and held up a note. ‘Can we move to the bedroom?’
Kakashi arched an eyebrow and nodded. (No thumbs-up? Who was this, and what had they done with Obito’s goofy alpha?)
They found themselves on the bed. Kakashi fidgeted a bit, sensing Obito’s train of thought. He made sure to keep the pen and notepad close by.
‘You seem upset,’ he stated blatantly.
‘I’m just tired,’ Kakashi lied. You know, like a liar.
‘Can I help?’
Kakashi hesitated. He frowned, ran a hand through his hair, then swept it over his face until it came to a stop at his chin. His eyes scrolled down Obito’s body in a way they usually didn’t, and Obito’s heart raced.
At some point, he started thinking Kakashi wasn’t attracted to omegas—or to Obito, at least. Most alphas looked at Obito the way Kakashi was now, like he was something to be devoured. But despite Obito walking around nude every day, Kakashi passed over him like there was nothing to see. Now, he wondered if maybe Kakashi didn’t care what someone looked like… or if he didn’t feel attraction until he got close to them.
Maybe Obito was looking into it too much. Kakashi could’ve just thought he was unsightly before, when he was broken, bleeding, and beaten. That was fair, too.
When Kakashi nodded, Obito tapped the collar on his neck, and again, there was hesitation. But in the passing seconds, a short flare of chakra had the collar falling open, relieving Obito of it and the bite guard. Last night, before bed, Kushina and Minato told him a strange story about Konoha. Apparently, instead of omegas wearing collars, the alphas wore bite guards between their teeth when they bedded an omega they didn’t want to mark. Wasn’t that strange? How would they protect their omegas from getting bitten in public?
Obito placed the collar on the nightstand and straddled the alpha. He wrapped his arms around Kakashi’s back, muscles tensing beneath his fingertips as he guided Kakashi closer, a nose pressed to his scent gland. Tension bled out of them both, and Kakashi returned the embrace, nails digging pleasantly into his skin.
Obito never had his gland touched because of his previous collar, but he’d seen the way other omegas reacted to it and knew what to expect. But Kakashi always had to be different, and instead of the licking, biting and sucking he anticipated, the alpha nuzzled him the way he had last night. Obito rubbed Kakashi’s back and supposed that was fine, too.
He’d never known alphas to scent omegas. Because of that, he didn’t know how it affected them. Something had changed in Kakashi since then, but Obito didn’t know what. He hoped the misery wasn’t somehow his fault.
A little later, Kakashi’s lips touched his skin, pressing a kiss where a mate mark would go. Obito wondered if today would be the day he got bit. A tongue laved over that spot, and Obito shuddered, his whole body tingling with it. Another lick, and warmth pooled in his gut.
Then it stopped again, and Obito was at a loss. Usually, alphas took charge. They decided what to do, and Obito opened up to allow it. Instead of the sucking, biting and exploring he was used to, a warm cheek pressed against his own, arms loose around his waist and a tongue gentle over his gland, the brief attention drawing more of his scent into the air. He was stirring, but not much. Not enough for sex.
The tension was gone, but not the sadness. It was like Kakashi was grieving. Obito recognized that scent from the war, and from his worst days under his first master as omegas ascended the stairs to their own executions. But Kakashi hadn’t lost anyone, and a fight with another alpha didn’t warrant this.
When he shifted, he noticed Kakashi’s arousal. Leaning towards Kakashi’s neck, the smell was there, too. Little by little, he was easing up.
What a fucking relief. Obito didn’t do feelings very well. Other than this, he didn’t know how to help.
Obito guided Kakashi’s arm between his legs and into the heat of his body. Kakashi pressed in, breached his walls, and drew back like he’d been burned. Their bodies separated, and he stared wide-eyed at Obito. He wiped his hand off on his pant leg and hurriedly grabbed the notepad.
‘I can’t pup you.’
Obito stared at the words in confusion. Didn’t he want… Well, okay, that was… fine. Maybe Kakashi wanted to wait for that. The time wasn’t right, or he was too sad, or… something. Most alphas preferred an omega in heat, too, as they were more likely to catch…
Obito made grabby hands, mimicking his master, and the pen found its way to him.
‘You can still touch me. Or I can touch you.’
Kakashi’s eyes fell to the side. For a moment, Obito thought he wanted to stop. Then Kakashi took Obito’s hand and pressed it against the waistline of his pants. His ears were red, and he wouldn’t meet Obito’s eyes.
Obito smiled. Thank the sage. He thought he’d made Kakashi even more upset. That was the last thing he wanted.
Before he acted, he wanted to know something. ‘Can I touch your gland?’
Kakashi stared at the words like they were written in a foreign tongue and nodded.
Obito pressed his mouth against Kakashi’s neck to taste, feeling the alpha tense and ease up all at once. The taste was—Kakashi. It was like ozone and lightning, or a summer storm. He smelled today just as he had their first night, like an extension of his village. But when Obito settled on a place to suck, that taste started to change. The stimulation drew out more of Kakashi’s scent, and when seconds became a minute, and one turned to three, Kakashi's skin turned sweet. It was lust, he knew—the same sickening sweetness that found alphas during rut and omegas in heat. But Kakashi’s wasn't overbearing, and Obito found he liked the taste.
Hands clawed at his back almost painfully, and he felt the frantic rise-and-fall of Kakashi’s breaths. Obito knew what stimulation did to an alpha’s libido, but he doubted a noble like Kakashi would. In some places, it was frowned upon for alphas to let omegas touch them like that, just as it was for an omega to scent them.
As Obito moved over, sucking a fresh bruise into the gland, he slipped a hand beneath Kakashi’s pants. They were loose, which was good, because Kakashi was already painfully erect. Obito's stomach flipped, wondering how Kakashi would feel inside him. But that would have to wait.
A little disappointing, he admitted.
Obito worked the alpha's arousal absently as his teeth grazed Kakashi’s neck, and the body against his squirmed. He’d barely been at it for more than three minutes when he felt pre-cum against his fingers and, gripping the base, the flare of a knot. He tightened up, pumped his hand a little faster, and winced as Kakashi’s nails broke his skin.
When Kakashi came, he went rag-doll limp, a heavy weight. Obito nuzzled him, pulling his hand free and wiping it off on his master's soiled pants. He felt the vibrations of words he couldn't hear against his skin and remained there as those miserable feelings faded from the air, pleased with himself.
Not everything could be solved with orgasms. But sometimes they helped, or maybe the distraction did. For all that Obito hated the way some masters treated him, how they forced his body to open or how they took him as they pleased, he thought he might’ve liked sex, at least circumstantially. And he thought Kakashi did, too.
Kakashi pulled back to look at him, flustered and embarrassed, and Obito smiled. The pheromones in the air were a lot less nasty, even though they weren't the euphoric bliss of the last hand-job, and that was good enough.
‘Sorry,’ Kakashi mouthed.
Obito shook his head. He was happy to be of service, even if he was feeling a little pent up, himself.
Kakashi realized he made a mess of his pants, and the look on his face was hilarious. But Obito was an attentive slave and got them both cleaned up and cozy in bed next to each other before long.
The master napped while scenting him. Obito watched the bedside clock, mindful of the time, and wrapped his arms around Kakashi.
He could do that with the gift he'd been given.
It was Obito's first time at the night market. Kakashi made sure to put his collar back on before they left, and now that they'd fetched the Konoha pair, it was time for sightseeing. Even though no one spoke with him, he liked going along to see the village. Kumo was a big place that always seemed to have another level to it, and Obito had only seen a small portion of its land.
The night market happened for three days out of the month, Tenzō told him. Locals would sell there, but mostly it was a place for out-of-towners to show off their wares and make a quick buck. This was day three, and the crowds were like a thick soup across the platform. Obito hated crowds, but now that his body was whole, he didn't feel the need to cling to his alpha for security.
The leg was great, not just the arm. It was perfectly matched to his height and build, and it was sturdy without being too heavy. The material the prosthetics were made from didn't absorb temperature much, either.
Minato headed their group with Kushina by his side. They were sweet together. He’d point out something, and she'd crouch down to get a better look. Then, Minato’s mouth started moving, and Obito honestly didn't have a clue what he could have been saying, but he looked happy. He had this childish excitement to him that made him impossible to hate. For an omega, he was odd. But some alphas liked odd.
Obito turned back to watch the pair trailing behind, Kakashi with his hands in his pockets and Tenzō with a journal. Kakashi was still mopey, but the heartbreak he wore earlier in the day was no longer there. By tomorrow, maybe he’d be back to his usual self.
Kakashi saw him watching and tilted his head.
Obito smiled at him, reminded of the apologetic man who helped him apply ointment to the scratches on his back just a few hours ago.
Kakashi looked away, as though reading his thoughts and avoiding embarrassment.
Obito hurried to catch up with their guests and hovered over a market stall, Minato pointing out all the little trinkets that caught his eye.
Today was good. Great, even. There was something bad in the middle there, but they were okay.
Like that, a week passed.
Kakashi leaned back against the wall as his guests mingled in the sitting room with dinner. The eastern wing was crowded now with their purchases, and he hoped they brought along enough storage scrolls to take it all with them when they left.
Tomorrow was the day. Their business in Kumo was over, and he’d have his den back the way he wanted it. The week was long, and every breakfast was tense and quiet, but there were no more fights. After two days, Kushina conveniently forgot her anger and was back to calling him ‘kid’ and nudging his shoulder whenever she had a question.
Kakashi found it funny that most alphas didn’t hold grudges. He, too, struggled to keep any negative feelings for longer than a week, even when there was reason to hold on. Alphas were loud, aggressive, and had a tendency to challenge one another at every turn, but they formed bonds naturally and moved on from conflict easily.
He watched Obito lay in front of the fireplace, a thin blanket over his shoulders. It was late, he’d eaten, and now he was lounging while the rest of them shared sake and snacks. He might have fallen asleep; Kakashi could only see his back.
“Hey, kid,” Kushina called. Just one more night, he told himself. “You’re sure you want us to take him? Last chance to change your mind.”
Kakashi closed his eyes and felt all too tired to have his heart ripped out of him tonight. Damn them. Couldn’t they just take the omega in the dead of night? “You’ve been working on the seals?” he asked Minato instead. “The keys aren’t ready yet, are they?”
“Not quite,” Minato sighed. “Rest assured, I should have the first done in a few weeks.”
“All the more reason for Obito to leave with you.”
“If you’re sure.”
Kakashi retired early that night. He gathered Obito off the floor, unsurprised to find him dead asleep, and got them settled into bed. Obito only used his nest every other day lately, though they hadn’t really touched each other. Even now, miserable and tired, he burrowed his nose against Obito’s neck and instinct told him to lick and bite and touch. He wanted to slip a hand beneath Obito’s clothes, and finally explore the wet heat between his legs.
Kakashi wasn’t so far gone as to act on his urges, but they were there nonetheless. Part of him wanted to mark the omega now, before he was gone, so that one day, they’d come together again. He always lectured Tsuru for being possessive of his slaves, and now there he was, a hypocrite.
“I’m not doing this because I want to,” Kakashi whispered, pulling back to stare at the omega. His fingers found the prosthetic bicep, slightly cool to the touch, and he travelled up until he reached skin. “I’d like it if you came back, but you probably won’t want to if it’s as good as they say.”
Obito shifted, a sigh passing his lips as he drew against Kakashi’s chest. The room was hot, a sudden warm front melting the top layers of snow outside. Soon, spring would come, then summer storms would rattle Kumo’s mountain tops. When the time came, he would be put in charge of the wards in place of his father. Sakumo was still young enough to make the journey and strong enough to withstand the chakra drain, but time was an ever-looming threat, and even without an heir, Kakashi should relieve some of his burden.
“I wonder what kind of job you would take there,” he mused. “Maa, you’re a quick learner. I’m sure you’ll find something you like. Perhaps we’ll see one another if I’m chosen as Kumo’s next ambassador. I expected Yugito would get the job, but I may have to fight her for it.”
Whenever someone new entered Kakashi’s life, he steeled himself. He knew that no person was a blank slate, no matter how much the elders sought to rid omegas of their baggage. With every life came their past and future, the scars on their heart and the marks on their skin. He saw that first with his mother, and then his siblings. With each small body held in his hands, he felt the weight of the ones who came before. Kakashi hated that, because to him, it always felt like something was wrong, and that no matter how he tried, there was something broken that he couldn't fix.
People didn't come into existence the day one met them. Their history came with them, all the ups and downs that life threw their way, and he didn't always know how best to deal with that.
Obito was the first person he tried to understand. Maybe he did a poor job of it, and he made mistakes. Obito would have been better off meeting someone like Minato rather than a pompous clan heir like himself. But he did, at least, try. And now, he would try harder.
The last thing he wanted was to part with what his instincts called ‘his.’ But Kakashi was more than the angry voice in his head, and Obito deserved to taste a bit of freedom.
So, when tomorrow came, Kakashi would wish him the best.
‘Go with them to Konoha.’
Obito stared at the note, and his stomach dropped. He stepped back, as though the words were flames licking his skin, their touch threatening to burn.
The nobles were packing away the nest in the spare room. Tenzō stood by the door, his eyes down and hands clasped together, and on the floor sat Kakashi. Obito dropped down next to his alpha, snatching the notepad away.
‘Did I do something wrong?’ he asked.
Kakashi saw those words, brow furrowed, and took the pen. ‘No. This isn’t a punishment.’
‘You said you wouldn’t abandon me.’
‘I’m not.’
‘Bullshit.’
Kakashi blinked rapidly, as though he never thought Obito could curse. He scratched his head, looked to Tenzō for help, and Tenzō pointedly did not move. They sat next to each other, stress seeping freely into the air. Kakashi reached for him, and Obito pulled back.
‘Omegas have more freedom in Konoha. You only need to look at Minato to see that. Go with them, get those seals removed, and see if you like it there.’
Obito shook his head, his nails digging into his pants. He was content there, in Kumo. All he wanted—the one thing he asked—was to stay with Kakashi. That was it. And Kakashi promised, all those weeks ago, not to abandon him.
Alphas were such fucking liars. He should have known.
Kakashi grabbed his hands, thumbs smoothing over his skin, and Obito’s anger died as soon as he felt it. He looked up, and the alpha nodded to the notepad.
‘Let Minato deal with the seals and spend some time there. If you wish to return after that, you may.’
Obito shuddered out a breath and nodded. If it was temporary, then fine. He’d do it. At least until he could hear again, and could speak.
Then he’d tear into that alpha bastard for ripping him once more from his place in the world.