Comfort.
Iruka sat in his apartment and put his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking slightly as he cried over today's events. He hated how everyone could be so blind… why couldn't they see that naruto wasn't just the demon's prison? Why couldn't they try to see behind the mask of happiness that only just hid the endless pain that they inflicted in the young boy? He always had so much balanced on his shoulders couldn't they see they were making it worse?!
Ibiki quietly walked into the room unnoticed by his crying lover.
"Iruka…?"
At the sound of his name Iruka looked up, his eyes slightly pink around the edges from crying so hard.
Before Iruka could move Ibiki had crossed the room and pulled Iruka from his sitting position on the couch into his arms and buried his nose in his hair.
"Ibiki…I-"
"Don't say it. Don't even think it. Its not your fault"
"If I was there for him…if I-"
"Don't. Its not your fault its not your fault that they can't see him for the person he is."
Iruka was still for a minute before collapsing completely into Ibiki's arms and crying into the older man's chest. Ibiki patiently shushed Iruka and ran his hands up and down Iruka's back as his cries slowed down and his shoulders stopped shaking.
"Thank you" Iruka said in a hoarse voice from crying.
Ibiki pulled away slightly as Iruka's arms snaked around his waist.
"No thank you, you changed me Iruka, before I met you there was nothing keeping me from pulling a kunai across my neck. But then you came along and everything changed, you made my life bearable and I fell in love. You brought me to back life."
As he finished he pulled Iruka's chin up to kiss him chastely on the lips. Iruka smiled and tightened his grip on Ibiki's waist and leaned his head against his chest listening to his steady heartbeat smiling slightly.
"I love you too "Iruka said quietly. Surprise flickered across Ibiki's face then he smiled, not the fake, sadistic smile that everyone associated with him but a true smile showing just how happy he was to be with Iruka, even if the whole village hated him for it, if anyone ever tried to hurt Iruka they would be sorry.
For now though, he was happy to protect and love him, regardless for the price.