Chapter Text
Kakashi stood in his one-room apartment and stared down at a box. It looked like a present, wrapped in blood red paper with a matte black bow. Though, he wasn’t quite sure how someone had gotten through his apartment’s traps and bypassed his enhanced senses to deposit the box in his home while he was sleeping…
After using a few jutsu to make sure it wasn’t a bomb, Kakashi picked up the box carefully, brought it to his kitchen counter, and opened it up. His mind quickly catalogued the quality of the wrapping paper, the expertise of the presentation. Half expecting a decapitated head or a threatening note, he was pleasantly surprised to find a set of kunai. A set of high quality kunai- the kind that would cost an A-rank mission’s salary to buy. Who would give him a gift like this? He racked his brain for a moment.
There’s no way one of his fellow leaf-nin would give him such an intricate present- there isn’t anyone he’s on friendly terms with who has the money to spend on something like this, the skill to get through his apartment’s security, and the knowledge that Kakashi was in the market for some newer weapons.
Option two: the weapons are from an enemy and, despite their beautiful exterior, are faulty kunai meant to fail him in battle. Kakashi quickly tests them, sacrificing a throw pillow for the sake of his cause. However, it soon becomes apparent that the kunai are as reliable as their quality suggests.
So…a secret admirer? Huh. Though he had been mildly popular in his younger years, Kakashi’s aloof, porn-reading personality normally repelled most romantic advances. Unsure what to do, Kakashi shrugged, put the new weapons in his hip pouch, and continued about his day.
Even if someone liked him enough to give him a gift, Kakashi doubted it’d last long. With any luck, he wouldn’t need to worry about receiving presents like this again.
To his surprise, gifts started appearing in Kakashi’s apartment regularly after that- and he really meant appearing. After the kunai incident, the Jonin had upgraded his security seals, added more traps, and even changed his apartment’s layout to deter unwanted guests.
Kakashi was feeling pretty good about himself until one night when a vortex showed up out of thin air. Hovering above his kitchen table the swirling hole spat out another gift and disappeared without any hint of its donor.
And Kakashi was going to report this incident to the Hokage, he really was, but then he opened the box to discover a limited edition book- Icha Icha! And well… could someone who gave such thoughtful presents really be so bad? Besides, it wasn’t like Kakashi receiving gifts was a threat to the village or to his precious people. But just in case, he vowed to submit a form in the morning stating he had received additional expenses/revenue with the Konohan taxation department- that should keep the old fossils on the Council happy if Kakashi’s gift-giving stranger ever came to light.
But how to say thank you to a secret admirer who had the power of a gift-dispelling vortex? A note? People leave notes for things like this …he’s pretty sure…
Grabbing a pink sticky note (from his precious student, Sakura-chan!) and a bright yellow sparkly pen (from his more rambunctious- but no less precious student, Naruto-kun!), Kakashi got to work.
Dear gift-san,
Thank you for the kunai and the Icha! Icha!.
Your admire-e,
Kakashi.
Signing the letter with a smiley face, the Copy-nin set it on the ground and headed out to his next mission, new book in hand.
The thank you note was gone by the time Kakashi got back.
The problem was, besides the disaster of his first Jonin mission when Team Minato had given him gifts (when Obito had given him-) Kakashi had never received presents… ever.
Sure- sometimes Gai or Genma or Aoba would pay for drinks during a night out, or Kakashi would be able to con his cute little kohai Tenzo into buying him food, but Kakashi had never been in a situation like this where someone was continuously giving him presents.
It was hard not to feel flattered.
Almost every few days the vortex would appear and deposit another box, all wrapped in the same expensive red paper with the ornate black bows. And the gifts themselves continued to be items Kakashi genuinely enjoyed.
Some new weapon polish, a sturdy traveling cloak, an array of high-quality sashimi, scrolls with jutsu Kakashi had never even heard of (and being the Copy-nin meant he’d heard of most), and even an assortment of truly luxurious shampoos and conditioners that appeared in his bathroom right before he needed to shower.
But despite all of this, the mysterious gift-giver did not respond to his note or reveal themselves.
Kakashi was on an undercover mission in the Land of Tea. Some civilians in the area had reported a possible trafficking-ring operating under the guise of an art studio called Sato’s Staging. Tsunade-sama had entrusted him with infiltrating the company to determine if something illegal was underfoot.
Donning a brown wig, contacts, and purple face-stickers, Sukea hit the town. The photojournalist spent most of his first day making contact with the local merchants. The city he was visiting was well-known for its portrait paintings, so Sukea’s photographic skills made him the ideal candidate to help the new art studio, Sato’s Staging, prepare for its upcoming showcase on Saturday. Luckily the owner of the studio, Sato-san, thought so as well. The studio owner was having the brunette take photographs of potential customers who wanted their portraits painted in front of a live-audience at the end of the week. Sukea’s job was to go through the photos to determine which subjects would entice the largest amount of people.
He had just gotten finished photographing the last of the potentials- a kind stall-owner named Himari-chan who wanted a portrait for her traveling husband to remember her by on long caravan trips- and was in the process of closing the studio for his lunch break when the bell on the door rang, announcing a visitor.
Sukea continued packing up his equipment as he greeted the newest guest.
“Welcome to Sato’s Staging! I’m Sukea, a traveling photojournalist hired to take pictures of anyone interested in being a part of the live showcase on Saturday. Are you here to apply to be one of the subjects?”
“Tobi doesn’t think he’d be a very good subject- maybe Sukea-chan would be better?” Danger. Sukea Kakashi repressed the urge to get into a fighting stance as he turned to face his new guest.
It’s a tall man wearing a long black cloak. Though Kakashi can tell the stranger has spikey black hair, all other characteristics are obscured by the man’s swirly orange mask. Despite the man’s lack of headband, there’s no doubt in Kakashi’s mind that the stranger is powerful- dangerous. He’s all too aware that the two of them are alone in the studio, that no one will be back from lunch for at least another hour, that most of his weapons are sealed away instead of on his person.
“I’m sure that’s not true, Tobi-san- I’d be happy to photograph you if you’d like?” Kakashi keeps his voice pitched in Sukea’s smooth tenor and doesn’t betray the tension he’s feeling. The stranger- Tobi- locks the studio’s door and flips the sign in the window to ‘Closed- out for lunch.’
“Tobi came by to see Sukea-chan,” the masked stranger walks purposefully into the brunette’s personal space, “and see if Tobi could take a photograph? Tobi knows Sukea-chan would make the prettiest subject.” Kakashi feels lightheaded, and there’s something about this man, something familiar-
Kakashi gathers himself, determined to stay in character, “I’m sorry Tobi-san- you’re making me a bit uncomfortable with your advances- I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
The man laughs and oh- that’s certainly not the same pitch Tobi’s voice was just a moment ago.
“You’ll be a good boy and pose for some pictures, won’t you Ka-ka-shi-chan?” Kakashi can feel himself freeze, tense up, and he starts to move away but Tobi doesn’t let him, grabbing Kakashi by the hips and pressing their fronts together. Tobi moves one of his gloved hands to tilt Kakashi’s head backwards so the Copy-nin is looking up at his masked face. Kakashi tries to figure out how Tobi knows him- was his intel compromised?
Tobi chuckles again, the bass in his voice making Kakashi’s face feel warm, “Let’s get that photograph, ne?” Kakashi lets himself be led to a platform where he had been taking pictures of townsfolk earlier. Tobi strokes his hands down Kakashi’s sides, moving his arms and legs into different positions while making considering noises. He runs his fingers along the neckline of Sukea’s overcoat, making Kakashi’s heart skip a beat every time Tobi teases towards something more. All the while, the Copy-nin can feel the blush rising in his face, starts to feel a warmth in his stomach- Tobi’s voice is so low and he moves Kakashi into different positions as though he has every right- as though Kakashi belongs to-
“There we go.” Tobi backs up to admire the scene he’s set up. Sato’s Staging has a lot of props that the artists can use to create a scene. The masked-nin has Kakashi sitting in an ornate high-backed chair, leaning against the backrest with his legs crossed. There’s a golden crown on his head and a scepter in his hand.
Tobi picks up Sukea’s camera. “You’re such a pretty thing, aren’t you?” Kakashi’s face feels hot, he resists the urge to swallow.
“Stay right there for Tobi, okay Kakashi-chan?” Tobi starts snapping pictures, walking around the chair to get better angles. Kakashi doesn’t think he could move even if he wanted to- his legs feel like jelly and his whole body feels like it’s been sapped of strength. His mind is pleasantly blank- he feels like he could drift away at any moment.
The orange mask-wearing man makes a considering noise. “Tobi thinks Kakashi-chan would look better without the dress-up- Tobi is going to give you another present, okay? Be a good boy and stay still for Tobi.” Another present? Oh. Oh.
Kakashi tries not to think of the ramifications of that statement- of the times spent in his apartment eating the food Tobi gave him, washing his hair with the products Tobi provided- how Tobi’s gifts made him feel happy and flattered and-
And Tobi’s right in front of him again, removing the props, carefully peeling the purple tape off his cheeks, stroking his thumb along the scar that bisects Kakashi’s left eye. He takes off Kakashi’s brown wig, running his fingers through the Copy-nin’s silver hair. Kakashi shivers.
“Tobi’s going to take out Kakashi-chan’s contacts now, okay?” Tobi pushes Kakashi’s legs apart so he can kneel on the chair between them- Kakashi feels himself whine.
“It’s okay- you’re being such a good boy” Tobi soothes him, using one gloved hand to hold Kakashi’s head still while the other reaches towards his eyes, “stay still for me?” And then Kakashi’s contacts are gone and his face is bare and Tobi is still there- staring at Kakashi with such a strong intensity- and Kakashi knows his face must be bright red and he should move but Tobi told him to stay still and-
“There we go.” And Tobi sounds so pleased- Kakashi can’t help the sound from deep in his throat. And then the masked man stands up. A vortex appears- just like the ones that gave him gifts in his apartment, and Tobi pulls out a square object- a makeup pallet?
“Here’s your present- keep staying still Kakashi-chan,” Tobi runs his thumb through a blood red face-paint and smears it on the scar bisecting Kakashi’s eye, then steps back and makes a hum of satisfaction.
“Keep sitting just like that Kakashi-chan, you’re being so good for me.” And Tobi goes right back to taking pictures.
Tobi uses the camera for a long time. Sometimes he’ll walk around Kakashi, move his limbs into different positions, tilt his head in a slightly different way. Occasionally he moves Kakashi to a different prop- a stool, a futon, a bed. But all the while he keeps up his stream of compliments, saying Kakashi is pretty and good- and throughout everything Kakashi exists in a sort of haze. He feels floaty and warm and is happy to exist like this with Tobi- for Tobi.
He’s not sure how long it has been when he can feel the masked man guiding him to stand up once more. He makes a questioning sound.
“Shhhh,” Tobi quiets him, pulling Kakashi to his side, keeping an arm around his waist, “it’s okay- you’re doing so well.” Kakashi settles down, listing sideways into the taller man, nuzzling his face into the other’s neck.
Tobi’s hand tightens around Kakashi’s waist- it sounds like he stops breathing.
“Kakashi-chan, can Tobi take you somewhere? Would you like that?” Kakashi gets the feeling that this is important and something in the back of his head is screaming at him. It’s so hard to think. Tobi moves to stand in front of him, hands on Kakashi’s shoulders.
“You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen,” and Tobi’s voice is different again- not the higher pitch it was when first entering the studio or the low bass he used a few times when staging Kakashi, but somewhere in between. Kakashi knows instinctively that this is Tobi’s real timbre.
“You like the gifts I’ve given you, don’t you?” Kakashi hums, tries to nod in agreement but doesn’t quite manage it. Tobi’s hands tighten on his shoulders.
“I just want to take care of you. Will you let me do that?” Tobi’s voice has gained fervor- he sounds intense. He sounds manic. Kakashi tries to say something but it’s so hard and the world is still so far away. Kakashi whimpers; Tobi’s hands are starting to hurt where they’re digging into his shoulders. He finally manages to collect his thoughts.
“I like you,” his words sound slurred but it’s the best Kakashi can do, “and I like the presents, but I belong in Konoha.” Tobi goes silent, goes perfectly still. His hands loosen their grip on Kakashi’s shoulders.
“That’s okay, Kakashi-chan,” the higher pitched voice is back, “Tobi isn’t mad, he just wanted a nice picture- he lost the old one.” Tobi gently strokes Kakashi’s face, the scar bisecting his eye. It feels like an apology- it feels like a goodbye.
Kakashi doesn’t receive gifts for a long time after that.