It's been a while since they've seen each other for more than a few minutes. Kakashi looks stressed, shoulders tense; there are bags under his eyes, and his appetite has diminished to something nominal. "I love you," Iruka says suddenly, because it's two in the morning, and it's the only thing he can think of to say to convey the underlying message that he's /here/, and that his faith in Kakashi remains unwavering. His hand is atop Kakashi's knee, and he squeezes down; it's enough, he hopes.
It’s just that.. He has just started this job. Starting your job as leader of a village, in a country, no, a world that’s in tatters will leech the life out of you. Not only does he need sleep so much he might start doing his work while sleepwalking, he in fact doesn’t sleep at night when he can. He’s always had trouble, but now the stress simply keeps him awake.
He’s sat there, with the white of scattered-around pages lighting up in the dark room, tense and tired, when Iruka sits beside him and squeezes his knee.
He’s forgotten to eat dinner. Again. And Iruka had not been there to practically force-feed him. In the past month he’s lost weight, but Iruka is very likely the only one to notice.
Tired eyes move from side to side as though reading what is on the papers, but even if they were -which they weren’t- the dark would not have allowed him to anyway. “Hm.. I know.” He murmurs, raising a hand and placing it on top of Iruka’s on his knee. “--- so much to fix..”
