Perks of the secret friend [Iruka and Itachi]

[uchihasavior]

Who: [The I team-- Itachi and Iruka]
When: February 9th
Where: Starting at the Uchiha Compound, moving to Iruka's place


The attention Itachi gets when he finally falls ill can be overwhelming. It seems to be traveling around Konoha, so no doubt with his weak immune system and his extended stay in his home village, Itachi came down with the flu. Mother found him nearly keeling over in the process of making himself tea and demanded he lay back down in bed.

He hadn't gotten any real rest since. The household was busy. Between Mother, Sasuke, and Shisui popping in, he was always being asked if he was alright, if he needed anything, or presented with something else to try to swallow.

Dusk was only marginally better, with everyone else prepping for bed. And now the footsteps down the hall started again...

Comments

[senseiofthesea]

Much as he knew that the Uchiha matron might take exception to his sneaking around, once he'd heard Itachi was sick, he'd had to make sure that the poor man was actually getting some rest. Thus, he'd slipped in, gave his respects to the lady, then slipped out and pretended to leave before padding off to check on Itachi for himself, sliding the door carefully closed behind him so that nothing would be immediately out of place.

The first thing he noticed was that the man was definitely not asleep. Keeping his voice down, and not even pretending that asking if he was alright would go over well, he moved over to kneel by his bed.

"Have you slept at all?"

[uchihasavior]

"If five minutes counts." Then yes, he'd slept a little. Unfortunately that did not count, he'd almost dropped off when Mother came back in with another cup of tea. The next hour after that was spent dragging himself to the bathroom to pee and then being ushered back to the bed.

His eyes plead with Iruka. Please take him somewhere else. He feels like he's five.

[senseiofthesea]

He gave him a wry smile and moved to dig through his closet, snagging a few of his softer clothes and sleep things from there and the dresser, enough that he could sweat through a few sets and be able to change. He hadn't had enough restful clothes for that so he was remedying that. He made a neat pile, then collected a pack and shoved them inside.

He could see the look he was being given while he worked, but didn't ask immediately, a touch of amusement in his voice when he did, since he was sure that Itachi wasn't going to protest. Still, formalities. "Would you like to come back to my house Itachi?"

[uchihasavior]

Iruka was truly a blessing.

He watches him gather his clothes with a certain sense of relief, already looking forward to the rest he's going to be able to get hidden in the man's house, away from the rest of the world, basically.

He is quick to nod, even going so far as to work what little energy he has into sitting up, so that Iruka may lift him with ease.

[senseiofthesea]

He only just bit back a laugh as he slung the bag over his shoulder, moving over to dash off a quick note saying Itachi was fine and resting, setting it on his desk. Then he moved over, leaning down and scoop the man up against his chest. "Alright, no need to exhaust yourself to get there. If we're quick, we can make it out the front door, willing to risk it or would you rather I take the window?"

[uchihasavior]

He might just curl up. Almost does. Not quite enough energy for it, so he divides it into relaxing but not going totally limp. It would just make it that much more difficult for Iruka to haul around dead weight.

He waits. Listens, wants to make sure the hall is clear before he speaks.

"They won't expect the front door." he croaks. Especially since Itachi's own habit was window escapes. It'll be the first area they check if they don't notice the note and think they can catch him.

[senseiofthesea]

"The door then." He carefully tucked him in against him so he'd be able to get the doors open, and quickly started down the hall, listening to make sure that they didn't get intercepted on the way out.

No good would come of an angry Mikoto.

[uchihasavior]

He made sure he tried to clear his nose before Iruka stepped out of the door, lest something like a sneeze, cough, or groan alert his mother (or Sage forbid, Sasuke) that he was making his daring escape.

They are in the clear, though, and Itachi peeks over Iruka's shoulder just to be extra sure.

[senseiofthesea]

He slipped out, keeping an eye on their surroundings as he carefully got the door shut behind him and moved away from the house. Being spotted from the window or by a helpful neighbor was the last thing they needed at the moment. He used the tap of his sonar jutsu, as embarrassing as developing it had been, it's uses were undisputed, to make sure that he didn't miss anything his eyes didn't spot.

[uchihasavior]

Too weak to invoke the Sharingan, he could only provide meager vision support, shifting but once or twice during their trip. Even then, it was spotty-- the movement wasn't exactly helping, though he knew it would stop soon enough. Occasionally he had to will his eyes shut, stifling a groan at the pressure in his head.

[senseiofthesea]

He made sure to keep his stride even, relaxing out of the district as he made his way quickly back to his place and slipping inside once he was sure no errant Uchiha would spot him and flag him down. He didn't try to talk, deciding to let him rest until he juggled him a little to get his door open so they could go inside. "We're here."

[uchihasavior]

Iruka gets a muffled groan in relief as a response. Followed by attempted snuffling, but his nose is too stopped up and he'd rather not get mucus everywhere.

The first thing he notes is relative silence. No padding of extra feet, no surrounding voices...

He's tired. Yet still, he makes at least one attempt to stand and find his own way to the bed. If he can't make it, he knows Iruka will carry him there.

[senseiofthesea]

He huffed a soft laugh and held the Uchiha closer to his chest. The man was too light. He didn't need to be sick, he already shed weight too quickly as it was. "Stop that, it wasn't a cue that I was putting you down."

He toed off his shoes carefully, keeping an eye on Itachi to see if he'd press the point of trying to stand and walk on his own as he did.

[senseiofthesea]

It had been days since he'd brought Itachi home so he could recover more easily, and he'd since then declared that he didn't care if Itachi stayed in his bed or not, he was done sleeping in the mess of blankets Itachi usually used when he stayed over. It made getting out of bed a bit more complicated, admittedly, but once Itachi had stopped having cold sweats every time he slept it had been comfortable enough.

It's not like he wasn't used to sleeping around Itachi, which is the only reason it even worked.

Still, be was surprised that after so many days Itachi hadn't made any move to leave. It was, quite possibly, the longest that Itachi had stayed in his home to date, and he'd even had to go and get him some more things from his room at his mother's house during that time.

Currently, he was working on dinner, having set aside a pile of grading to tackle after he'd eaten. Last he'd checked, Itachi had been settled with a book in another part of the house.

[uchihasavior]

There was still the occasional bout of his head feeling heavy, and stuffed, making it quite bothersome to read, as his focus would shift in and out, and if it weren't for his Sharingan, he'd skip nearly entire pages because he simply kept his eyes traveling down out of habit.

His strength was slowly returning to him, but he found he enjoyed Iruka's form of care quite a bit, and even with a mild version of his illness, others would fuss over him. It was better that he recover fully before attempting to leave.

Sharing the bed with Iruka had been an ordeal at first. If it wasn't worrying that he would get him sick as well, it was his sweating and turning that would surely irritate the other. But they'd managed, and the contact was comforting.

He raises his head and sniffs the air appreciatively as the scent of the food catches his nose. It's nice to be able to breathe again, and Iruka makes sure he is very properly fed.

[senseiofthesea]

When he finished the food he drifted over to come check on the other man, looking around the doorway. "Food's finished, if you're hungry."

While slowly getting used to Itachi practically living with him for the moment, he knew it wasn't likely to continue much longer, and thus wasn't terribly worried about it, not really. Instead, he'd just tend to the man until he decided to go.

[uchihasavior]

He offers a smile in return, void of its usual weariness, gently folding the upper corner of his current page and closing the book with care, setting it to the side.

He's at ease here, though he knows it won't last forever. He has to return to missions and the compound eventually...but at least he will be in better health and unlikely to fall ill as quickly again.

Not much to worry about as he can stand easily, making his way to where the food is set.

[senseiofthesea]

He looked after his friend thoughtfully, then shook his head, following to get food served out and settling at the table. "You're looking a lot better than you have since I brought you home with me."

[uchihasavior]

"I have your care to thank for that." he hums, pulling a few locks of hair back behind his shoulders as he settles into his chair. Hasn't felt like pulling it up recently, and maybe he can work out that curve in his hair that's been trying to set.

Mother cares, and so does Sasuke...but the hovering didn't help.

[senseiofthesea]

He blinked, then laughed. "I've hardly done much Itachi. I've been away half the time running around the village."

[uchihasavior]

"You've fed me, clothed me, and even bathed me a few times. All without over-worrying." He deeply appreciated it. Gave him a combination of the care and the time alone that he so desperately needed. Besides, Iruka's cooking certainly didn't count as nothing, and he was about to dig in.

[senseiofthesea]

"Aside from the last point I'm pretty sure that you would have gotten all of that at your mother's house too." He shook his head, but started in on his food with a quick salutation over it.

[uchihasavior]

Ah, well then, he raises his brows gently.

"You make sure I get sleep." Something that would've been a luxury, or almost impossible, at his own home. He understood their worry, but no amount of reassuring comments would've halted them from floating around him constantly.

"Itadakimasu." he whispers, and soon he's swallowed the first mouthful.

[senseiofthesea]

"I still think you're awarding me too much credit, but I won't argue it with you any more." He gave him a wry smile. "It doesn't seem to be to my benefit."

[uchihasavior]

Well...if he would've received the same care at his home, he would'nt have agreed to Iruka's care.

"There is a reason I wanted to come with you." he adds, after he's chewed properly and swallowed. Well, more than one.