ura_no_ura | [IC] Appointments

[ Kakashi had gotten home early and thought it would be a good idea to take the dogs on a nice walk. Somewhere in the process of taking the walk, they ended up at the park, where the pack promptly found a mud pool and proceeded to jump around and roll all over. He had every intention of getting them into a bath before Barnaby came home, but clearly they had other things in mind.

Such as immediately running off, helter-skelter all over the damn house, forcing him to chase them all over the place.

It didn't help that they split up almost as soon as possible. As though they could read his mind that he had a bath for them in mind.

... Bunny's going to kill him.

Slowly.

Or maybe just make him scrub the carpets clean until he has rug burn through his pants. ]

Oi, get back here!

[ Kakashi's voice calls out from the far end of the living room, and then there's a loud crash as a floor lamp goes crashing down (luckily it doesn't break), and then Bisuke is barking loudly as he goes running back out into the front hallway at a gallop so fast that he can't stop himself and goes crashing into the wall. He stops, picks himself up and shakes himself off, then tries to go running down the front hall towards the kitchen again, just as Kakashi manages to catch up. ]

Edited 2013-08-03 03:25 (UTC)

[Face. Meet palm. Barnaby wearily shook his head and dropped his bag in a corner before raising his voice, making his presence well known.]

What is going on around here?

[ Oh no.

He's home.

Why is he home this early. He shouldn't be home this early. Or maybe it's just that so much time passed and Kakashi lost track of it (like always) and Barnaby's just home on time. Which is also entirely possible, though Kakashi's mostly just freezing in the hallway like a deer in headlights for a moment. Which lasts maybe all of half a second as he just stares at Barnaby.

(Meanwhile, the dogs are barking merrily in the background and there's another crash.)

And then he scrunches his face up into a smile. A perfectly executed smile. ]

Ah! You're home!

[ Hi, honey. Please don't be too mad at him. It's not his fault really. ]

The dogs don't seem to want to take a bath, you see...

[It's just unfortunate for Kakashi that the two of them have spent enough time together for Barnaby to know when he's just playing at being innocent. He's seen that smile too many times, in varying circumstances. There were times when he didn't mind, like the occasions when Kakashi decided to surprise him with something that was intimately special, but the current chaos didn't come close to being one of those times.

He looked at Kakashi, completely nonplussed by the show of innocence.]

I can tell.

[His tone was dry as he spoke, making his skepticism clear. Barnaby picked his way around the mess, lightly stepping around the spots so he could assess the damage from the most recent crash.

It wasn't horrible. Indeed, there had been worse. The mud spatters on wall could be taken care of with a simple sponge and water. The carpet and furniture would survive as well, with a little work. He heaved an inward sigh of relief when he saw that the lamp wasn't broken-- thank heavens for it not being made of ceramic or glass...

But he froze when his eyes lighted on the curtains. His curtains.]

Kakashi. [His tone was even, but laced with frost.] You're catching your dogs. Now.

[He really liked those curtains.]

[ Ohhhh no.

Kakashi knows that tone. That's the you're in major trouble tone. The do not fuck with me tone. The I am very unhappy and you are going to suffer for it tone. And tracing the source of that tone by tracking Barnaby's eyes to the curtains, Kakashi just stares for a moment. Because those sure are those ridiculously expensive designer curtains (completely unnecessary, he'd said, but Barnaby'd insisted otherwise) that they only got just a few months ago from the special order catalog. The ones made out of some froofy fabric Kakashi didn't know anything about, but Barnaby had gotten rather excited over.

And now there are little dog prints all over the bottom edge of those curtains that look suspiciously like Pakkun's.

As though Pakkun somehow knew that those particular curtains, if trampled upon, would be a death sentence. Or would put Kakashi into the proverbial dog house for a while there.

(Because, of course, it's his fault even if it really isn't, honey.)

...hopefully Barnaby won't make him sleep on the couch.

:( ]

[ Almost as quickly as Kakashi's face had fallen at the sight of those curtains, does he put his smile right back in place, trying to be as pacifying as possible. Because an angry Barnaby can mean bad things for everyone, and Kakashi certainly doesn't want to be sleeping on the couch. He'll find some way to make up for it, somehow.

...but first.

The dogs. Right. ]

Right, I'll just... get back to that then.

[ In the distance is the cacophony of three barking dogs and Kakashi goes running off again to try and catch them. Maybe he can coerce them into the bath with a trail of treats... ]

[No, Kakashi won't necessarily be forced to sleep in the dog house. If everything goes well, there might even be something nice in his future. But Barnaby just stands there with his hands on his hips for the moment that Kakashi smiled and scurried off.

As annoying as the situation was, the man did have his moments of charm. Perhaps, if things worked out, he might even be able to forgive Pakkun for walking on the curtains.

Eventually.

Irritated as Barnaby was, he couldn't resist a parting shot at Kakashi's retreating form.]

Make sure that they don't get all over the bed!!

Don't worry, the door's closed!

[ Kakashi calls back as he gets down to the task of dog-catching.

A good ten minutes later, he's managed to lay down quite a bit of bait, leading a trail of treats all the way to the door. And now he's staring at three dogs who are looking at him warily and suspiciously as he crouches in the bathroom, holding treats in his hands. He stares back at them and gives them a wide, unassuming smile.

Pakkun stares at him and actually looks like he's rolling his eyes as he snorts a breath, and Bisuke looks longingly at the dog biscuits in Kakashi's hand, then to Pakkun, and whines softly as Akino paws the floor in front of him.

...it almost looks as though they're planning out some sort of strategy of attack.

Kakashi quirks a brow and then stands up. ]

Well, if you guys don't want 'em, I guess I could just give them all away to dogs that would appreciate it...

[ And almost just like that, he's suddenly barreled down to the ground by three dogs jumping up at him all at once, with slightly surprised breath. Pakkun clambers up onto his chest and sits right on it, munching very stoically on the dog treat.

...but at least they're all in the bathroom, now. ]

[Barnaby had been discreetly following the process with an idle curiosity. His books, now transferred to the kitchen, were safe from ~~most of~~ the dangers wrought by a pack of energetic, muddy dogs.

He stalked up to the doorway of the bathroom when Kakashi was mauled, and couldn't resist. In the flatest tone he could manage:]

Congratulations. You all need to take a bath now.

Are you offering to wash me?

[ Kakashi's voice lilts with just the right amount of innuendo and the right amount of heat, as the scarred corner of his mouth slowly curls upwards. He props himself up on the bathroom floor with his elbows, acting as though there is nothing strange about the fact that Pakkun's still munching his dog biscuit on his chest and Bisuke and Akino have managed to flop onto his thighs.

Bisuke, however, finishes his treat and gets off Kakashi to trot over to Barnaby, scenting him as though he's never smelled him before. He nudges Barnaby's ankle with his nose. ]

--no!

[Barnaby felt heat rise to his cheeks at the innuendo, his high society roots kicking into high gear at the boldness of the suggestion and the sheer sensuality in Kakashi's voice. Though he was far from an innocent schoolboy, moments like this persisted--

his thought process was cut short by Bisuke's curious approach, as if they were strangers rather than members of the same 'pack'. It was strange behavior, but Barnaby had no idea about its possible cause.]

I promise you, Bisuke-kun. You don't need to give your approval.

Maybe you stepped on something that smells tasty to him.

[ Kakashi idly comments as he watches Bisuke sniffing at Barnaby's ankle, then nudging more at him before looking back to the rest of the pack and whines. And before Kakashi even realizes what's happening, the entire pack is gathered around Barnaby, scenting him and nudging at his ankles with their noses, pawing at his feet.

...this is rather strange behavior, really.

Kakashi watches for another moment, then adds on-- ]

Or maybe they think you can rescue them from the impending doom of a bath.

H-hey!

[Barnaby stiffened at the sudden attention from all three dogs, all of them sniffing and demanding his attention in some odd way. He tried to withdraw a step, shooting Kakashi a look. Torn between his irritation and confusion, he tried to push the three of them away.]

No--Boys? No! This isn't-- there isn't anything to find here, okay?!

[ You're going to have to get your hands dirty, Barnaby, because Kakashi's not going to save you from the mess of muddy dogs trying to pile onto you at this very moment. If anything, he thinks it's pretty cute and also far too amusing. (Bunny always looks a little too adorable when he's flustered, especially when he ends up blushing a little, after all.)

He sits up completely then, watching this show unfold in front of him. ]

But can't you hear them? They're saying, "Heeeelp us, Bunny-san! Help us! We don't want a bath!"

I--

[Another step back. He reaches down to try to hold the dogs off, deciding that he would take a little dirt on his hands now rather than a lot of dirt on his clothes later.]

No! Down! Just-- go get your dad over there!

[He throws Kakashi a very pointed loo. He saw that smile over there.]

Don't listen to your mother, children.

[ Kakashi calls right on back as he gets up and pats off his butt, then walks over to Barnaby and reaches right around him to close the bathroom door, ushering Barnaby into the bathroom and trapping the dogs. The pack barks excitedly, and Pakkun climbs up on his hind legs and puts his paws on Barnaby's knee, then looks at Kakashi, panting and huffing. ]

I get the feeling that Pakkun wants a hug.

[ He says to Barnaby, as he points his finger down, a smile still stubbornly curling his mouth. Though that might have to do with their close proximity. ]

Well, he's not going to get one.

[Not until after everyone was clean and he figured out the source of their bizarre behavior. He followed Kakashi's gaze downward at the excited dog, biting back his complaints about Pakkun getting paw prints on his clean pants. Washing was a thing, but the fact that he could feel Kakashi's breath...

He scowled.]

You're not going to get one either, good sir.

[ Barnaby, you should know better than to act all adorably huffy when Kakashi's in your close personal space. And at this moment in time, he has a hand splayed against the door to one side of Barnaby's head, the other wandering to graze over his partner's hip. ]

How about a kiss instead?

[ Hey, that's not a hug, right? Besides, a kiss won't get him dirty or anything! ]

Edited 2013-08-05 00:34 (UTC)

A-- what?

[Curve ball, Kakashi. Barnaby's gaze darted upward, cheeks reddening as he met Kakashi's eyes and realized that they were only a breath away. This was by no means the first time that he and Kakashi had touched like this, played like this, but he had no idea why he suddenly tensed at the proximity. He stood a little straighter in an unconscious effort to prove that, yes, he was indeed taller than Kakashi, and stubbornly looked away.]

You're kind of missing the point here.

It's just a little bit of mud, Bunny. It'll wash off.

[ Kakashi murmurs and then, regardless of how stubborn and prickly his significant other is being, leans in and gives him a kiss on a flushed cheek. He'll settle for that for now, since the dogs are starting to get fussy and Barnaby is fussier, so he might as well take care of the problem.

Without further ado, Kakashi leans down and gathers up Pakkun and Bisuke in his arms and then marches over to the tub, which is already filled with warm, soapy water. He dumps them in, then turns and grabs Akino by the scruff before he can run away and picks him up too, and dumps him in as well. The dogs yelp and bark and splash around and look absolutely miserable for a moment before they all more or less settle down after realizing that they've lost this fight.

Care to help at all, Barnaby? Kakashi's getting down onto his knees so he can give them all a good scrub. ]

[Barnaby closed his eyes at the light peck, the familiarity of his scent and the brush of stubble on his chin. It was innocent enough and respectful enough that Barnaby relented, for the moment.

He rolled up his sleeves and joined Kakashi.]

I know, I know. It's just been a long day with the numbers.

[A long enough day that his brain felt like a cracked egg on the sidewalk, fizzling under the blazing heat of the sun.]

Tough day, hmm?

[ Kakashi asks as he starts to scrub Akino first, since he's the largest of the three and has the most fur. ]

I'll make your favorite dinner later.

[ And maybe he'll give Barnaby a nice neck rub too, after all this. Especially since they still have to clean the whole house and fix the mess the dogs left. Probably not the best thing to come home to after a stressful day. ]

You will, huh?

[A sidelong glance. Now Kakashi was speaking his language, even with all of the chaos with his dogs. The promise was enough for him to get working on one of the other dogs without complaint. For being muddy brats, they sure were sweet...

A neck rub at the end of the day would be an excellent closure. There was a chance for Kakashi to earn forgiveness yet.]

Mm, you deserve it anyway.

[ After all, even if it wasn't exactly his fault, the dogs did make a terrible mess, and seeing as they belong to him, they're his responsibility.

The rest of the bath goes rather uneventfully, though Pakkun did attempt to climb out of the tub once or twice, and soon, all three dogs are smelling sweetly of soap and toweled dry. Shortly after, Kakashi got down to the task of making dinner -- cabbage rolls stuffed with beef and served with thick-sliced brown bread and a side of sauteed vegetables, downed with ice-cold beer. It's not his favorite dish to eat, but Barnaby enjoys it so much that he doesn't mind making it for him when he has the chance.

While Barnaby washes the dishes and puts away leftovers in the ice box, Kakashi makes them both some tea and then heads into the living room with it, relaxing on the couch with a novel he's teaching later on in the week. ]

[Barnaby settles himself into the nearby cushions not long after he finishes his task. His shirt was partially unbuttoned and his hair was still a disorderly mess of curls from the adventures he had with soap and the dogs just a short time before, but he didn't care. Not when he was in his own home, with a man who had seen him in far worse straights.

He glanced over at his lover and gave him a weary smile.]

Thanks for dinner. It was delicious, like always.

Edited 2013-08-05 03:31 (UTC)

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