[ 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!"

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. ]

[ 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! ]

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. ]

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. ]

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. ]

[ Kakashi takes a sip of the tea he's drinking and then glances over, something of a bemused smile playing on his lips. Barnaby never needs to thank him for anything. Least of all, not for a meal. But it's sweet that he does, and Kakashi reaches over, a hand trailing along to curl around the nape of his lover's neck, over soft blond hair. ]

You're welcome.

[ It comes out softly, and then Kakashi leans forward with the intent of stealing a soft, gentle kiss. ]

I could make it sweeter, you know.

[ Kakashi gives Barnaby a slight nuzzle, slowly squeezing the nape of his lover's neck in something of a massage. But the position's not exactly the best for a nice neck rub. ]

Hmm, come sit here. I'll give you a neck rub.

[ He points at the space on the floor between his legs, intending for Barnaby to rest against the base of the couch so he can bend over and use his weight to ease out tense muscles. ]

[ Kakashi can feel the tension coiled up in a series of knots along the curve of Barnaby's shoulderblades, and he falls quiet as he lets his thumbs press against each one, slowly smoothing it out with deep, long strokes. Even through a layer of fabric, he can feel the way the knots fight against his fingers as as they slide upwards, then skim up under Barnaby's hair to slowly rub the tension of his neck. ]

You've got some pretty bad knots.

[ More a gentle comment than anything else. ]

Are you taking breaks?

[ Being bent over a desk for long periods can lead to this kind of tension, after all. Kakashi's a little too familiar with it -- though he usually manages to avoid fucking up his back by unapologetically taking as many breaks as possible. ]