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Iruka was well versed with the Konoha library. He often spent his free time there, studying his village and gaining knowledge. He liked to read up on history, customs, kekkei genkai, anything worth reading.
On this particular day he was reading a book on clan customs and instincts, when he stumbled upon the Hatake clan. Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t much written, but his curiosity was piqued. It mostly talked about things like the famed tanto Iruka had seen lying broken on a cloth in Kakashi’s apartment, and a bit about Sakumo, but what really caught his eye was the section on instincts.
The Hatake were dog- almost wolf like. They had a distant relation with the Inuzuka, along with some other factors.
Kakashi knew of his instincts and honesty found them a bit burdensome. His senses were heightened, which was useful on missions, but made walking around a stuffy place like the village a bit overstimulating. Another thing he hid with his mask was his small fangs. And yet another thing he had to hide was his drive for validation. And cuddles. Lots of cuddles. And if he occasionally peed with his leg up, that was for him and only him to know.
But now that Iruka thought of it, the more some of his behaviors made sense. Whenever they slept in the same bed Kakashi would nuzzle into him, pushing his head into his chest as if begging for something. He also noticed whenever they went on walks through the village Kakashi would become a little pale, his eyes darting around nervously. Whenever they kissed he took notice of the small fangs that decorated his mouth. The book definitely helped explain some things.
Iruka wanted to make his boyfriend as comfortable and loved as possible, so of course he changed somethings.
He would suggest walks through the forest instead of the village. Kakashi seemed much calmer, admiring the nature almost as much as he admired Iruka.
Whenever they cuddled he would card his fingers through his hair, whispering sweet nothings of praise, even scratching him behind the ear.
Whenever they kissed he was careful not to aggravate his fangs, being careful to not get bitten or cause them to hurt.
Recently, because Iruka was making him feel so loved, Kakashi got better at being a little more vulnerable and not so standoffish. At least around Iruka.
But occasionally his little bottle of emotions would crack, causing more to spill out then necessary. That was one of those days.
Kakashi lay sobbing in Iruka’s arms, his normal fluent words having been reduced to unintelligible cries. The sun was beginning to set over the village, and over Iruka’s apartment where they lay; casting a dim shadow to leak across the room.
Kakashi didn’t know what to do to stop, and just sobbed into his shoulder, mumbling things in between his sobs along the lines of “It’s all my fault… I killed them... all of them... I hate myself..." He sobbed as Iruka draped a blanket over the both of them.
Iruka knew exactly how to comfort him now.
He began to pet his hair, scratching his scalp and behind the ears. This immediately began to work wonders as his loud sobs subsided a little, his tears slowing down. Iruka whispered reassurances to him as he stroked his head. "Shh... Kakashi it's not your fault... nothing that happened is your fault... you didn't kill anyone... and please don't say you hate yourself. Because I love you, and I always will love you, and you have no reason to hate yourself because you are perfect, and you're good. You do a good job. You always do a good job and I'm proud of you."
It was the last sentence that Kakashi took to heart. His tears slowed down more and more, reduced to just whimpers. Even now they seemed to be whimpers begging for more attention and pets than whimpers of anguish. He pushed farther into Iruka's hand, a pleading look in his eye, his lower lip jutting out in a pout. Iruka couldn't help but laugh a little, his hand falling to the back of Kakashi's neck, scratching and rubbing the area, much to Kakashi's pleasure. As the room grew darker with the falling sun, Kakashi's yawns and sleepy whimpers grew more frequent, and he fell with a soft fwump onto Iruka's chest.
Iruka continues to pet him and whisper sweet nothings until he fell asleep. "Sleep now, Kashi... you've done so, so well and I love you."