Kakashi was never more tired than the first week of the seconds war he hoped to live through. The violent days made his few peaceful nights jarring in contrast. Behind their wards - in warmth and comfort of the room that smelled of clean linen, ink and lovingly prepared meals - Kakashi wished that each hour they shared a bed could last a year. Through the dark and the silence, he could hardly believe Iruka was real. He woke - limbs heavy, delirious, exhausted - and was compelled to reach out to his lover to assure himself he was not imagining the steady, even rhythm of his breathing.

"I love you," Blearily, he snuggled to the to the other man's chest as if could borrow in and remain there forever. Unsure if he was dreaming, he whispered the phrase again and again as though it was an incantation which would stall the rising of the sun, "I love you. I love you."

Kakashi wanted to touch every inch of him. He ached with the desire to memorize each curve and angle of his body. He smoothed his fingers over Iruka's narrow hips. He reveled in the shifting of Iruka's strong muscles under his hands.

"You have no idea what you do to me." His voice was barely audible against Iruka's skin. Yet, he felt like it filled the entire room. It didn't matter. If he was awake, Iruka wouldn't remember in the morning and even if he did Kakashi was sure he knew better than to bring his words into the light of day. "I don't want to leave. I never want to leave."

"Sh..." Iruka soothed into Kakashi's hair. The way he caressed the nape of Kakashi's neck sent a shiver down his spine, "Sleep, 'kashi. Sleep."

"You've made me into a coward." Touching wasn't enough. Memorizing was not enough. He wanted to taste every inch of him. He wanted to consume him. He could barley keep his eyes open but he wanted to make him moan and shake and cry out for more. "I want the world outside to fall into darkness so I can stay here with you always."

"Sh..." Iruka's breath hitched as Kakashi spread wet, greedy kisses across his collar bones. "Shh..."

"Or else I want to die here in this village so my bones can rest in the earth beside yours until no one remembers our names."

"Hush, Kakashi, it's okay."

He found he was filled with need and he was too tired to move, too tired to speak. He felt weary and raw, defenseless. His mouth was sore. Obito's eye stung. There was glass in his guts and an icy knot in his stomach. They trembled and took his breath away.

"My poor, sweet, tired general." Iruka mumbled as he embraced him. "My brilliant, loyal, brave Kakashi."

Iruka took him by the chin and tilted his head up. He kissed him and Kakashi hummed as the pain was lifted from his tongue by Iruka's slow, patient licks. It occurred to Kakashi that someone's face was wet and it might have been his. Still, it didn't matter. Iruka wriggled and pushed their bodies flush with one another. Iruka took them both in his hands and stroked lazily. The knot began to melt down the small of Kakashi's back. It was replaced with the thrill and the heat of Iruka, real and alive, against him. He had no idea how long they were at it. He drifted in and out, again and again.

Finally, he came back to himself to realize that Iruka was making small sounds of surprise and delight. Kakashi felt he was filled to the brim. He was spilling over, coming apart and being put back together. Kakashi's world collapsed and pivoted on an axis that centered on Iruka, his own orgasm an afterthought as he listened to the man he loved buck and moan with pleasure. Iruka fell away and when Kakashi felt his lips again he could taste himself in the chuunin's mouth.

At last, all the tumult done, he slipped into a dreamless sleep that prepared him to face the day he would lead his friends and comrades into battle.