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. ]