[ And speaking of issues, Kakashi's latest potential issue is walking down the path to Konoha, in clothes that are little more than rags framing a skinny form. Dressed in white, said issue is most notably a street urchin, even if he looks too clean to be one
( ... )
[ He nods, briefly, before he starts off down the hallway. A pause, then he turns, just a little, looking at Kakashi over his shoulder with a smile that is, for all intents and purposes, strained. ]
[ Kakashi pauses, fingers bare inches from the door handle. ]
You're welcome.
[ He opens the door and leaves, quietly shutting it behind him, and heads in the direction of the council's chambers. It'd be a long, long goddamn night, and most of it would probably be spent with him arguing with the council's members, but that's to be expected.
[ Morning finds Byakuran on the couch, curled up without a blanket and deep in sleep. Huddled against the upholstery, it seems like he's waited for the other, and had finally succumbed to rest.
The morning is cool, pleasant, and he's relaxed in rest. ]
[ When Kakashi finally returns, he's exhausted, his throat is sore from talking so goddamn much, and he can barely move a muscle in his body. The sun is too bright, offensive to his eyes, and he's glad when he's finally able to step back into the safety of his own house, back pressed against the door as he closes it.
It takes him a moment to realize that Byakuran is curled up on the couch, huddled deep underneath the safety of a blanket as if it's his own cocoon, and he frowns, rubbing his fingers over his face.
He pushes himself away from the door, quietly padding across the room until he's kneeling in front of the couch, adjusting Byakuran's blanket, tugging it more fully over him. ]
[ Sleepy lavender eyes open at the movement, regarding him blankly, as if he's not quite out of a dream yet. It's bleary, not as sharp as when he's fully awake, and a tinge of recognition flickers in his gaze.
It's been a long while, he supposes, since he hasn't quite counted on falling asleep that quickly, and he reaches out, index and middle finger brushing over the mask, where his lips would be, and a little above. It's something he probably won't remember saying, later. ]
They dared me to steal this from you, before. The kids.
[ The touch startles him. He's not expecting it, and he freezes just a little, his muscles locking reflexively as if he's just been slapped across the face, before he reminds himself that it's not a big deal, Byakuran's half asleep, has just suffered through the loss of his entire country.
His words make him smile, and Kakashi lifts his hand, closing his fingers around Byakuran's, squeezing once, and tucking them back under the covers. ]
[ He settles, noting that tension - has no one touched him properly before? He supposes not, for one to react that way. He decides to file it away where he can pursue that line of thought in a bit. He's coming to full wakefulness now, slowly but surely, the awareness of where he is coming back to him fully.
Byakuran squints at him, then - wondering if that smile is his imagination. His fingers curl around Kakashi's, not wanting to let go. (Testing, getting a feel for how this prized ninja can possibly be manipulated, be wrapped around his little finger.) ]
[ He notices the way Byakuran's fingers stay wrapped tight around his own, and though instinct tells him to pull back, pull away, he doesn't. He lets him have that small little comfort, he needs it, doesn't he, after everything, and Kakashi may occasionally walk that fine moral line between what's right and what's wrong and what's necessary, but he's not without compassion or understanding. ]
It's early. [ It feels almost awkwardly wrong, holding his hand like this. ] It gets noisier later on in the day.
[ A low, inaudible sigh, and he silently wonders at what Kakashi is thinking about. He senses the hesitation, more than able to read it for what it is, and he intends to exploit it, one sweet moment at a time.
His hand closes around it, then, before he lets go, rubbing his eyes. He looks almost embarrassed at that moment of weakness, and he shakes his head a little. ]
[ Kakashi stands there for another moment, looking at him, and then he's turning around and heading into the adjacent room, the kitchen, to fetch him a glass of water. At the sink, he pauses, fingers wrapped tight around crystal.
It's hard to know exactly what to say in situations like this. Kakashi's at a loss for words. Even if he did know what to say, he wouldn't have any idea of how to put it eloquently. He walks back to Byakuran not even a minute later, handing him the water. ]
[ He takes it with a quiet nod, but doesn't drink. Rather, he holds the glass in his hands, cupped around it as if it's a sort of lifesaver. It's an awkward silence, one that Byakuran's not in any hurry to break, and he looks up at him.
He finally does, however awkwardly. It sounds ridiculous, really, given the context. ]
[ It's been over ten years since Kakashi saw Byakuran. He was eighteen then, still in the ANBU, before he'd stepped down to teach, and things are different now. Times have changed, and he's been so wrapped up with this entire mess involving Madara and Sasuke that answering that question is somewhat difficult. ]
Busy.
[ Which is honest enough, he supposes.
Kakashi lowers himself into the seat across from the couch, eyes on Byakuran's face, on the glass of water in his hands, and he looks down after a moment, presses his fingers against his forehead. He's tired. It'd been a long night. ]
[Byakuran senses it instinctively, knows that Kakashi's exhausted, and supposes that his questions could wait. He'd be amused if he could, and he simply offers his glass to him.
He can be thoughtful when he wants to be, after all - manipulating people has always required a keen insight into their thoughts, and a sharper than usual perception of human reaction. ]
You need this more than I do.
[ ...And, of course, in a moment of poetic justice, his stomach growls. ]
Reply
[ He nods, briefly, before he starts off down the hallway. A pause, then he turns, just a little, looking at Kakashi over his shoulder with a smile that is, for all intents and purposes, strained. ]
...Thank you.
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You're welcome.
[ He opens the door and leaves, quietly shutting it behind him, and heads in the direction of the council's chambers. It'd be a long, long goddamn night, and most of it would probably be spent with him arguing with the council's members, but that's to be expected.
And Kakashi is used to it, by now. ]
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The morning is cool, pleasant, and he's relaxed in rest. ]
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It takes him a moment to realize that Byakuran is curled up on the couch, huddled deep underneath the safety of a blanket as if it's his own cocoon, and he frowns, rubbing his fingers over his face.
He pushes himself away from the door, quietly padding across the room until he's kneeling in front of the couch, adjusting Byakuran's blanket, tugging it more fully over him. ]
Reply
It's been a long while, he supposes, since he hasn't quite counted on falling asleep that quickly, and he reaches out, index and middle finger brushing over the mask, where his lips would be, and a little above. It's something he probably won't remember saying, later. ]
They dared me to steal this from you, before. The kids.
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His words make him smile, and Kakashi lifts his hand, closing his fingers around Byakuran's, squeezing once, and tucking them back under the covers. ]
You never did.
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Byakuran squints at him, then - wondering if that smile is his imagination. His fingers curl around Kakashi's, not wanting to let go. (Testing, getting a feel for how this prized ninja can possibly be manipulated, be wrapped around his little finger.) ]
...It's too quiet here.
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It's early. [ It feels almost awkwardly wrong, holding his hand like this. ] It gets noisier later on in the day.
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His hand closes around it, then, before he lets go, rubbing his eyes. He looks almost embarrassed at that moment of weakness, and he shakes his head a little. ]
...I suppose. [ A beat. ] Sorry.
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Don't apologize.
[ He stands up, pushing his hands against his legs as he straightens. ]
Did you sleep well?
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...Not really.
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Of course.
[ Kakashi stands there for another moment, looking at him, and then he's turning around and heading into the adjacent room, the kitchen, to fetch him a glass of water. At the sink, he pauses, fingers wrapped tight around crystal.
It's hard to know exactly what to say in situations like this. Kakashi's at a loss for words. Even if he did know what to say, he wouldn't have any idea of how to put it eloquently. He walks back to Byakuran not even a minute later, handing him the water. ]
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He finally does, however awkwardly. It sounds ridiculous, really, given the context. ]
...How have you been, Uncle?
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Busy.
[ Which is honest enough, he supposes.
Kakashi lowers himself into the seat across from the couch, eyes on Byakuran's face, on the glass of water in his hands, and he looks down after a moment, presses his fingers against his forehead. He's tired. It'd been a long night. ]
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He can be thoughtful when he wants to be, after all - manipulating people has always required a keen insight into their thoughts, and a sharper than usual perception of human reaction. ]
You need this more than I do.
[ ...And, of course, in a moment of poetic justice, his stomach growls. ]
Reply
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