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sunlightrays · 10 months

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Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters were created by and belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Yamanaka Naoki is the Original Character and property of Okami Rayne. This fanfiction is based in the Naruto fanfiction universe of the “Break to Breathe” series by Okami Rayne. ( @okamirayne )

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The Canvas Of A Life

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Summary:

Not every night can be lit up by stars. Lives fade, years pass by and some nights the sky is covered in clouds.

Looking at the north star of his life, an illuminated window, Genma thinks that maybe the lights he has left could help him chase away the darkness on the birthday of a person that’s left this world too soon.

Song to this fanfic: Rain – Sleep Token

"And just like the rain / you cast the dust into nothing / and wash out the salt from my hands"

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The sky looked just about as dark as Genma felt. The bags under his eyes were as deep as the clouds looming over him.

He huffed a weak laugh, breathy and tinged with bitterness.

Way to be dramatic, Shiranui.

Ah, but dramatic seemed to be the theme for this day.

Standing outside, he took in a deep breath of the cool air, felt it on its path down his constricting throat and heavy chest, filling his lungs. He hadn’t exactly meant to come here. Not tonight…

Hadn’t intended to stand outside of Kakashi’s apartment building. Really, he’d planned to just go to sleep, close his eyes and forget about today and what it meant.

But he hadn’t slept. Not tonight and not the night before…

Couldn’t.

Because he hadn’t been picking Kakashi’s lock and claiming his bed like he belonged there. The copy-nin had been away on a three day mission and while Genma was a self-proclaimed freeloader he preferred having witnesses to it. Made it more satisfying.

Around noon Kakashi had returned, safe and without noteworthy wounds, according to Kotetsu and Izumo.

And according to the light in his window, he was awake.

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other and grinding his teeth on cold steel, he looked up for a few more seconds before passing a hand over his face. His eyes stung. He turned to the door of the apartment complex, picked the lock and made his way up to the front door.

Quiet, quick, avoiding the steps he knew would creak.

Quick was also the work he made of the lock to Kakashi’s apartment.

Got enough practice in, hmn?

Indeed… Over the past few weeks, he’d been here more often than not.

Honestly wasn’t sure why Kakashi even bothered locking his door.

Most of his nights were spent at Kakashi’s side, pressed close on the small bed. Sometimes the air was thick with the smell of sweat, sex and shared breaths. Sometimes they were both too exhausted to do anything but sleep.

He didn’t show up every night… Missions called them away. Every so often, they crossed paths in the Jonin station, Kakashi telling him about his evening plans with his team or Gai. Some nights Genma spent on Raidō’s couch, still refusing the spare bed. Others he sat in his bedroom, pieces of paper and earrings in his hands.

But practice wasn’t the only thing he’d get if he wasn’t careful. A chakra charged fist coupled with a healthy dose of electricity wasn’t exactly what he came here for.

Kakashi should be used to Genma letting himself in by this point, Kami knows he’d done it often enough… but missions fuck with you, put you on edge. Genma knew that just as well as any shinobi.

Not wanting to startle the other ninja, he made a point of opening the door slowly, senbon tucked back between his lips. He let it catch the light of the lamp as he stepped in.

Several pairs of eyes turned to look at Genma.

Really, it only should’ve been one. One eyeball, not a pair. A single, pretty grey one.

As it was, though, he had the full attention of eight ninken with their ears perked up and fur bristled.

A low, warning woof came from one of the ninken, laying on the floor between Kakashi’s desk and bed, canines flashing. The copy-nin made a sharp “Shh.” and the dog’s light-brown head dropped back down onto his paws, watching Genma’s every move.

The silver-haired leader of the pack was on his bed, propped up on his elbows, mask on, eyebrows raised in askance. He didn’t seem tense, just tired, curious and a little startled.

After having closed the door behind himself, Genma leaned his back against it and gave Kakashi the once-over, gaze lingering more than necessary. He did indeed look fine.

Shit, he always looks fine.

His black sleeveless top exposed the strong arms and tattooed shoulder, the mask pulled over the face that Genma knew was pretty and the disheveled hair made it hard to look away.

But he wasn’t the only one staring. The dogs regarded him with an animal wariness, not used to his sudden intrusion.

A silver dog with spiked fur at the top of his head was stationed right at the foot of the bed, paws crossed, and head raised.

Although, at second glance… not all of them seemed too bothered by his presence.

Curled up on the left side of Kakashi’s bed was a big black bulldog, huffing a quiet sigh before dropping his head on the sheets again, heavy eyelids closing slowly. An odd feeling of jealousy washed over Genma at the sight, the senbon between his lips tipping down.

Pakkun regarded him with a skeptical look from the left side of Kakashi’s pillow, looking over bulldog’s massive head.

“Huh. Didn’t expect canine company”, Genma drawled.

He’d sort of expected to get the copy-nin alone. Not for any ulterior motives… though usually he wouldn’t pass up the chance. But he felt too raw, too tired, too real to hide what was going on beneath the surface.

He needed smart-ass remarks from a grouchy pug about as much as a kick to the shin.

“They were with me on the mission… They deserved the rest.”

Or you needed the company…

Genma shot a pointed look at Bull, occupying the side of the bed closest to the wall, forcing a smirk. “I see you replaced me already.”

Kakashi raised an brow at that. “Believe it or not, he snores less than you.”

A slow smirk. “Didn’t know big and wrinkly was your type. Could’ve told me sooner.”

Familiar humor. It eased Genma’s mind and tension a little. Hearing the breathy chuckle of the other man filled him with a warm feeling.

But one in the room didn’t seem as amused by his jokes: Pakkun huffed a deep sound that seemed suspiciously close to distaste. Granted, Genma didn’t claim to be an animal expert by any stretch - just yesterday Waif had gotten pissed off at fuck knows what and in consequence, shredded a nice new sweater. Shame, really, he liked that sweater.

Watching the man on the bed, Genma sat down on an empty spot on the bed, the mattress dipping. Shiba observed him from the floor, raising his head to sniff the air around him.

Genma drummed his fingers against the sheets, eyes focusing on a white dog hair shining in the artificial light.

“How was the mission, Hatake? All good?”

“Nothing noteworthy. Though you might be delighted to hear that I did have a rather intimate meeting with a thorny bush.”

Genma grabbed his chest in fake exasperation, but his movements felt sluggish, lacking his usual energy. “You cheat on me with bushes and replace me with dogs.” He sucked in a breath through his teeth for dramatic effect, resting his elbows on his knee, hands dangling between. Leaning forwards, he cocked his head.

“I bet I could lick you just as well.” A cheap replica of his signature scandalizing smile and velvet murmur. “And give you a few scratches too…”

Kakashi humored him with a small chuckle but not before long, a quiet settled in between them, only the sighing of Bull’s breath audible. Something was off and Kakashi seemed to notice.

Damn.

Around them, a palpable tension… emotion, a sense of wariness, the question of why Genma was here and acting like this.

The grey orb studying his form in a slow drift made Genma’s skin itch, tension skittering across, closely followed by the warmth of arousal that gaze tended to inspire.

Over the last few weeks, the intimacy between them had grown stronger, displays of affection more frequent, their connection deepening… They’d found purchase on shaky ground, navigating the new terrain.

But today, Genma had felt his foundation shake, the opening of a sinkhole he tried his hardest not to fall into, seeking out the man that steadied him.

Lost in the landscape of thought, his senbon flicked up and down between his lips and he damn near nicked his tongue with it. Jolting on the spot he cursed himself for his tic – one he’d have easily avoided any other time – and saw Kakashi’s brows draw together in a mixture of concern and confusion.

“Genma. What is going on with you today?”

Fuck it. One animal to another, he figured. Kakashi could read him… Knew him long enough, well enough. Genma knew his defenses were down, hard to keep up around other people, harder still around this man.

Still, finding the words was equally hard.

Almost hesitant, he met Kakashi’s mismatched gaze under shuttered lids, trying to hide his feelings behind a smile. He knew it came out wrong by the way the crease between Kakashi’s brows deepened.

"Take a walk with me?”

At the mention of the word ‘walk’, ears turned to him, animal eyes lit up with excitement and the dull thud-thud-thud of a hesitantly wagging tail broke the silence. Genma’s lip kicked up at the corners as he saw Biscuit looking at him, at Kakashi and back to him in what seemed like a request for permission.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on Genma, searching…

Then he surveyed the room, studied the reactions of his ninken for a few moments before tilting his head with a mock-defeated look and shrugged his shoulders. “Looks like I’ve been outvoted.” A signature crinkle around his eyes, Genma’s heart fluttering at the sight.

Kakashi didn’t ask any questions.

He was glad for it.

Only Pakkun regarded Genma sceptically under his droopy lids. “You’ve looked at the time, pup? You woke me up for a walk?”, he rumbled, grouchy as ever.

Kakashi shot him a silencing look. “He woke me up for a walk. You can stay here, if you’re so inclined, Pakkun.”

The pug grumbled, pondered this for a moment.

Genma rose off the bed, felt restless and antsy.

As soon as Kakashi peeled the sheets back and stood, the majority of his pack got to their feet as well.

Loyal…, Genma thought. Unquestioningly. Not giving him the privacy he wanted though.

Shiba and Biscuit positioned themselves at the door, anticipation clear in their body language.

Only Bull took his time, yawning and slowly heaving his body off the – seemingly very comfortable – bed and dropping down with a heavy sound.

Pakkun stayed on the bed for a few moments longer, a disgruntled look edged into the wrinkly face.

After reaching for his hitai-ate and pulling it over his red eye, Kakashi grabbed his Jōnin vest that laid draped over the chair.

“Where do you want to go?”, he asked.

Genma shook his head. He didn’t know. Just knew he needed to walk. Knew he needed to not be alone.

His silence seemed to give him away. Kakashi crossed the room, Shiba and Biscuit making space for him, before opening the door. The ninken waited until both men had stepped out of the room. As he walked through the door, Kakashi turned off the lightswitch.

He held the door open, waited as even Bull joined them in the corridor. Waited a little more… cocked his hip against the wood, arms crossed, looking back into his now dark apartment.

Waited, waited on…

...the fast clicking of tiny nails on the floorboards, the patter of paws and a pug with head held high strutting through the door like royalty.

A royal pain in the ass., Genma thought without scorn.

Together they made their way out into the cold, cloudy night.

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Luck was a bitch; fate was a whore and grief…

Grief was a fucking sewer rat.

Genma was sure of it.

It snuck up on you, silently, gnawed with sharp and tiny teeth; chewed holes in the walls, the masks and the fragile beating muscle hidden behind. Grief tunneled through mind and memories, flesh and feelings…

It wasn’t suffering. Genma was well acquainted with that hellpit-demon.

Suffering took larger chunks, tore and ripped, leaving destruction and devastation in its wake.

Grief nibbled… nibbled on the edges of memories, left them frayed. Little reminders of what once had been. Sometimes it’d skitter off, hide somewhere deep and only come out when it felt safe…

When he felt safe.

Kakashi…

They were sitting on a fallen tree, thighs touching, looking out to an open clearing where the pack sniffed, ran and played.

I’m even starting to think like you, hn?

Eccentric.

Yeah, he was thinking alright. Thinking… and remembering. Starlit nights spent with a different man, in a different time, in a different life...

Pretty sure love did this to him. Bright and beautiful shades stealing in again with every smile and every kiss. Making him feel, think… wax lyrical shit.

Things he thought long buried under the wreckage of his life.

But life had changed its artistry after he’d stopped trying to burn down the canvas. It painted in every color available in the goddamn palette: brilliant, happy, gloomy, dark, every stroke evoking emotions too long denied; the colors dulled by maturity, now that he was older, wiser, more experienced.

And he was glad for it. Glad that he hadn’t burnt the entirety of his synapses and bridges. Glad that people stuck with him, even when he was at his worst…

I didn’t deserve it.

A sigh left his lips, loud into the chilly night.

Kakashi gave him a sidelong glance, grey eye piercing almost as intensely as his bright-red one.

He gave the other man a tight lipped smile, avoiding his gaze, wasn’t sure he could stand what was written in those eyes with his own walls laying crumbled at this feet.

Kakashi’s soft looks had a way of reminding him of a time where people, lovers, had left and he’d stayed behind.

That's in the past…

Not the first time that thought had crossed his mind. Likely not the last either.

He wasn’t living in it anymore but he’d been marked by it.

Marked by all the memories he had made… God, the memories.

How many could he even recall?

So many were hidden, blurry behind a chemical haze, pink pills and shōchū burning in a different way now… Leaving him mourning more than lost lovers.

Few moments were clear in his mind. One of them was the night he and Kakashi had shared their first kiss and a lot more than that…

That kiss… That fucking kiss. It had framed and hung itself on the walls of his inner mind. All by itself, that damn thing had a life on its own. Must have hands too by the way it had his heart in a deathgrip. Maybe it’d taken some inspiration from him, moving in and refusing to pay rent.

That kiss and the words that had accompanied it rang through Genma’s mind.

“You’re not that man… and I’ll tell you why. Cause I’d never do this with Kaika.”

Not that man…

Yeah. He felt different now, seeing those fragile moments of memory, illuminated in the light of the present.

A time where names were carved in stone, spintops had lost their momentum and the minutes still ticked by. Floated away like the dark clouds above their heads, taking away the days, years…

A rustling startled him out of his thoughts.

His eyes narrowed in the direction.

Damn…

Out of the shrubs trotted an auburn-colored dog – Ūhei, as Genma had learned at some point – carrying a stick that was about as long as the animal itself.

Genma turned his head to Kakashi, an amused quirk to his lips. “Looks like it’s time for fetch.”

“Looks like it.” Kakashi nodded his head in the direction of the dog and as Genma looked back to it, the canine dropped the stick unceremoniously in front of his feet.

“Have fun.”

Genma stared at the dog and his slowly wagging tail.

“Hn.”

The animal touched his nose to the stick, looked at Genma again, dark eyes shiny and pleading. Genma raised his brows in a 'not happening'-look.

Either the dog couldn’t tell or simply didn’t give a shit because he didn’t budge.

At that, Genma turned to Kakashi, figured the dog was his responsibility after all.

Sensing his look, the copy-nin hummed, made to grab the stick which Ūhei promptly snatched away from Kakashi’s reaching hands. “See?”

“Stubborn…”, Genma murmured, tipping his senbon to the side, leaning down and holding his hand out.

“He can do this all night.”

“I’d rather do something else all night and it sure as hell doesn’t include dogs…”

“You were the one wanting to take a walk.”

Genma couldn’t argue that. Didn’t attempt to, either.

Ūhei dropped the stick in Genma’s hand, providing a welcome distraction from the conversation. Tail wagging, he made a half turn, body tilted to the front, eyes fixed on the wood.

Genma feigned a throw, watching the dog twitch on the spot.

He lifted the stick and chucked it, smiled faintly as the auburn colored ninken sprinted and caught it mid-air.

Trotting back proudly, Ūhei dropped the saliva-covered stick in front of Genma’s feet like a well-trained lapdog, expecting another throw.

Obliging, Genma repeated the game a few times to the same effect until he noticed Kakashi looking at him from the corner of his eye.

Head resting in his palm, elbow propped on his leg, Kakashi smiled at the two of them, grey eye warm with affection.

Their gazes held, one second, two.

Kakashi said nothing and Genma’s eyes dropped to the movement just below, Kakashi’s hand stroking out and over the dog’s head. He leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. “He likes you, Genma.”

Genma had to snort at that, but it came out too soft, the tiredness eating into his voice. “And they say dogs are good judges of character.”

A soft look and silence again; Kakashi proceeded with the game of fetch, throwing the branch into the treeline, much to Ūhei’s delight.

“For the record”, came a grumbling from off to the side. Pakkun. “Don’t let it get to your head, pup. If you throw a stick, you get into Ūhei’s good books.”

Genma raised a brow at the slightly condescending pet name but before he could retort, Ūhei had already pounced on Pakkun, dragging his tongue over the wrinkly face, stick dropped beside him.

That works.

Was probably more annoying and humiliating for Pakkun than anything Genma could’ve done.

They sat in silence, after that. Genma watched the dark clouds pass by, catching glimpses of the stars behind them.

The cold breeze rustled the leaves, the dogs had settled down near them, Pakkun using Bull’s paws as a pillow, Ūhei chewing his stick, the rest in differing states of awake.

Genma leaned forwards, resting his elbows on his legs, gazing onto the clearing and the trees. The scene looked like painting material…

Too bad his artistic skills were about as good as animal handling ones.

“He was an artist. Drawings, poems… Stuff like that”, he spoke, softly.

Charcoal sketches came to mind, stashed away in the safety of his apartment. Ink on paper and on Karibi’s skin, soft strokes of watercolor capturing fragile petals, words turning empty pages to artworks.

“He’d… find beauty in fucking everything”, he went on. “Rainy days, random flowers… Shit, he even drew me sharpening kunais.”

Kakashi kept silent, palm stroking over Bulls pelt, observing the way Genma was staring off into the middle-distance, into the past.

“I never really understood, you know? How he saw the world. How he saw me.” The words seemed to just pour out now… poured like summer rain, every drop filled with warmth and melancholy, falling into the quiet night. “But I loved him for it. And then he left and I thought I’d never find peace… I thought I’d…”, his voice broke. “Never get out… But you were there and I got to see him, talk to him one last time…”

He took a deep breath in, dropping his head and passing his hands through his hair to restore his composure that had crumbled under the weight of emotion.

A sad smile as he met Kakashi’s eyes. Then, quietly… “He would’ve turned 34 today.”

Kakashi’s gaze gentled, grey eye softening with empathy and compassion. He reached out a hand, placed it on Genma’s leg, thumb kneading soothing circles. The warmth of that gesture sent a comforting wave through him, an unspoken “I’m here”. And really, that’s all Genma needed tonight.

Next to him, a grey dog settled down, sensing the mood but seemingly wanting to be close.

Genma found himself stroking the spiked fur on his head, felt the soft strands between his fingers.

Karibi would’ve liked you…

Liked? Bullshit. She would’ve fucking loved the mohawk on this thing. Probably would’ve tried to steal him, too. He chuckled at the thought of Kakashi running after the woman in an attempt to get his ninken back.

“Who’s this one?”, he asked, scratching behind an ear. The dog was leaning into his touch… so trusting… Stupid decision, really, but somehow he ended up receiving trust anyway. Raidō, Kakashi… Waif on occasion.

“His name’s Shiba… You met him before…”, Kakashi murmured, a bit reserved, an odd edge to his tone.

“I have?”

“After I let you in again… When we fought. When I told you that Naoki wasn’t…”, he trailed off there, the words and silence hanging.

A flicker of memory, senbons buried in fur.

“One dog down. One more to go.”

His own voice, ice-cold… as cold as the wave of regret that washed over him…

Well fuck.

Genma stared at his lethal hand, still resting on the dog’s head, stomach tightening. A hand that had hurt the dog in front and the man beside him.

He pulled it back, startling Shiba with the motion, curled it into a fist and pressed it against his mouth, teeth grinding on the senbon.

Fragments of that time skirted around his mind. Shit, he barely remembered. Had been too far gone. On pain, on drugs, on a red-mist rage. Fuck. Just who hadn’t he hurt?

“I-…”, he choked out, swallowing hard, the rest of the words dying in his throat.

Kakashi let out an audible breath, looking at his ninken…

Forgiveness. It came in the form of heavy head on top of his thigh. Genma flinched at the sudden warmth but Shiba just rested his head against him, unphased, unconditional.

“You don’t smell like the entire chemical lab anymore, pup”, Pakkun chirped up. “You’d be dumb to think we didn’t notice the change.”

He straightened, passed a hand across Shiba’s head.

The change… Getting better, getting clean, getting closer to Kakashi… Of course, they had noticed. His scent was plastered all over the copy-nin with the amount of sex they had.

It’s more than that…

“You feel for him in a way you haven’t felt for anyone in a long time.”

Remembering those words, that voice, that face... It’d never stop hurting. Genma knew, knew it just as well as he knew that Naoki hadn’t been wrong. His words had always hit, always had possessed the power to reach him in vital spots and they struck true often.

Dead-fucking-centre...

Always.

But the memories remained... They lived on inside him, inside his soul. Just like the will-o'-the-wisp lights guiding him out of whatever dark places he found himself in. Out of addiction, out of punishment, out of pain and penalty.

“Ghostly lights, the spirits of the dead... those aren’t the kind of lights that just go out.”

Never.

“Never. I’ll always burn for you. But now you have to live. Really live. No more seven times down bullshit. No half-life. No half-love. Promise me.”

And Genma had. God, he had. And with all the things Genma broke... objects, bones, trust... hearts... He would never break this promise.

He looked across at the silver-haired man beside him, felt the warmth radiating from him and let his hand drop back down from his mouth.

Another light.

Another love.

A guide out Tanzaku-flames and crippling addiction.

“Hatake”, he said quietly, a gentle smile on his face.

Kakashi turned his head to him at the sound of his name and hummed in question, brows raised.

Genma put his right hand on top of the copy-nins that sat on his thigh, linking their fingers.

Their gazes locked again, such a soft, affectionate look on the other man’s face and Genma could do nothing but marvel. That look… The one that had made everything so damn complicated between them. But right now, there was something else between them.

Fondness.

Empathy.

Intimacy…

Gently, slowly, Kakashi leaned in, reached up with his free hand and plucked the senbon from Genma’s lips, set it aside and kissed Genma, lips nudging gently. Genma melted into the touch, into the softness, the safety of it, tension leaving his body with a soft sigh.

Crazy how this man made him feel. His pulse tripped as their tongues touched, a kiss so breathtakingly slow that, for a moment, the entire universe focused only on them.

He felt the warm breath of the other man on his face, felt his lips ghosting over his eyelids. Genma lowered his head slightly and Kakashi pressed a kiss to his temple.

When Genma opened his eyes again, he felt a little more balanced, a little more steady than he did before. The dreaded day had come and passed, his internal clock telling him it must be shortly after midnight.

But Kami, he was tired… the exhaustion and sleep deprivation had caught up to him, turning his bones to lead. He felt like he’d run for hours and in some way, he had…

The way he felt must 've been written on his face judging by Kakashi’s next comment. “Time to go home?”, he said, raising his hand and cupping Genma’s cheek, stroking his thumb over the dark skin under Genma’s eye.

Genma turned his face into the touch, drew a deep breath before nodding against Kakashi’s hand. “Yeah. Feels like I could doze off right here…”

Kakashi smiled faintly, a small crinkle around his eyes. He stood, stretching out a hand to Genma.

A brown brow sketched up at the offering to help him up. “Ass”, he chuckled, without bite. “Next you’re gonna carry me?”

“Oh, if you insist. I’ve done it to Gai. As part of a challenge, of course. I won.”

“Mhm…” Genma stood, stretching his arms to ward off the drowsiness for a little longer.

They made their way back to Kakashi’s apartment, the pack following quietly. As Kakashi opened the door with the keys, Genma watched, an amused quirk to his lips at the rare sight.

Kakashi opened the door, husked a stern “Wait.” as Biscuit tried to squeeze past him. He stepped inside first, laid the keys on his desk. Genma squeezed past the pack waiting before the threshold, impressed with their obedience and slightly annoyed by their unwillingness to move out of his way.

After Kakashi had given them their command to come in, they wasted no time settling down on the bed and the floor around it.

“So… they’re gonna stay here, huh”, Genma questioned, although he was sure of the answer already.

“Yes, they are.”

“What was that about the taxidermist you mentioned a while ago?”

Pakkun, having settled on the right side of Kakahshi’s pillow, shot him a glare from underneath wrinkled brows.

“That was solved without having to resort to violence.”

“Right… Well. As long as I get to sleep without having to resort to violence…”

Kakashi chuckled at that. “We’ll figure it out.” And with that, he proceeded to strip off his vest and Jōnin slacks, removed his gloves and hitai-ate, setting them over his chair.

Genma followed suit, but stopped his motions as Kakashi took off his mask. Just to look… just for a few seconds before proceeding to undress to his boxer briefs. Something about the dogs being in the room made him not want to be entirely naked.

Some might call it embarrassment, Genma called it prevention of getting his balls chewed off by some canine craving a midnight snack.

Kakashi climbed into bed; the dogs had left a spot just big enough for him to fit. Training or respect, Genma didn’t know but he sure knew there was not enough space for him. He stood at the edge of the bed, eyebrows raised at the copy-nin who returned the look, propped up on his elbow, a coy look on his face.

Smug bastard.

Genma didn’t find it in him to be angry for any amount of time. Instead, he smirked, let his gaze drift over the sight on the bed. He kneeled onto the bed and, with a little athleticism, laid down on his side close to Kakashi, head in hand.

He shot a look at Pakkun, who occupied a good half of the pillow. “Care to move?”

“Is this your home?”, was the grumpy retort.

Kakashi lifted his hand, cupped the back of Genma’s head and drew him close to his chest, causing him to brace his arm against the mattress.

“Yes, it is.”

A little startled, Genma stiffened before relaxing against firm muscle and warm skin covered in the soft fabric of the turtleneck. He could feel the steady and strong heartbeat against the side of his face, felt Kakashi’s fingers gently massage his scalp.

Silently, he counted the heartbeats, comforted by the gentle rise and fall of the other ninjas chest with every breath and fell in a deep and dreamless sleep.

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