That was a thing of beauty! I definitely fell in love with it, too, so no need to worry! ;D
I really loved their wonderful, realistic, subtle characterization. Very distinct, but not over-the-top or bordering on parodistic. They way, Kakashi seemed so nonchalant, while being extremely honest, they way Iruka discovers Kakashi's underlying vulnerability bit by bit. Your Iruka was just wonderful, witty, strong-minded, but with hesitancy and self-consciousness buried underneath. Just a personal opinion, but I really adore when writers manage to integrate all those aspects of Iruka we can find throughout canon (his insecurity and cocky behaviour as a child, his gentleness and strong will as an adult) into their fictional renderings of him.
Somehow that "Probably’ll never again encounter you with your defenses this low.”" line really spoke to me. Perhaps, because it suddenly reveals some things you had only noticed subconsciously until that point; Kakashi well aware, that Iruka is blocking him, but trying none-the-less; seeing Kakashi's POV in general, because up until then, we mostly see Iruka slowly giving in to his attraction, not realizing that he is actually pretty good in resisting.
The dialogue in general was great. Every word was spot on, every line condensed to the bare necessary but all the more expressive and poetic. I loved the images you used, like the singing grass. Somehow the way you refrain from overtly drama, even poking fun at some over-heroic images and inserting some self-irony in the dialogue, the story becomes charged with realistic emotion and the dramatic scenes gripping.
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I really loved their wonderful, realistic, subtle characterization. Very distinct, but not over-the-top or bordering on parodistic.
They way, Kakashi seemed so nonchalant, while being extremely honest, they way Iruka discovers Kakashi's underlying vulnerability
bit by bit. Your Iruka was just wonderful, witty, strong-minded, but with hesitancy and self-consciousness buried underneath.
Just a personal opinion, but I really adore when writers manage to integrate all those aspects of Iruka we can find throughout canon (his insecurity and cocky behaviour as a child, his gentleness and strong will as an adult) into their fictional renderings of him.
Somehow that "Probably’ll never again encounter you with your defenses this low.”" line really spoke to me. Perhaps, because it suddenly reveals some things you had only noticed subconsciously until that point; Kakashi well aware, that Iruka is blocking him, but trying none-the-less; seeing Kakashi's POV in general, because up until then, we mostly see Iruka slowly giving in to his attraction, not realizing that he is actually pretty good in resisting.
The dialogue in general was great. Every word was spot on, every line condensed to the bare necessary but all the more expressive and poetic. I loved the images you used, like the singing grass. Somehow the way you refrain from overtly drama, even poking fun at some over-heroic images and inserting some self-irony in the dialogue, the story becomes charged with realistic emotion and the dramatic scenes gripping.
Thank you for this wonderful read!