Waiting... (for eyes_that_burn)

[sanzengarasu]

 After a few fiascos of shopping with Uzumaki Naruto, Itachi learned some things he hadn't before. His brother must have more patience than he realized for one. Two, Naruto had no concept of personal space... and absolutely no taste in fashion. He always thought the orange was glaring and screamed a little too loudly for attention as a Shinobi, but he never thought the other would want others to do the same. After a great deal of arguing (where he said no and Naruto begged), Itachi faced the facts that he couldn't be so sure of anything the blonde helped him purchase. Especially after the ruckus it caused with Sasuke and him when they had come back.

Granted, he was certain their sudden disappearance didn't add good will to that. Itachi was sure he could feel the burning of eyes on him from both his brother and Sakura when they returned. The only good that came of it was the pity Kakashi had shown him. Something he had not expected. At least he could trust his former captain not to dress him in such a bright fashion that he might scare off wildlife for miles when he and Sasuke left Konoha soon. 

Soon. He wanted to leave days ago and he was sure that Sasuke felt the same. No... he likely felt more crazed to leave than even he did.

Which was also why Itachi sat alone now. Sasuke's team mates had sunk their claws in deep for a desperate attempt to keep him there with all their might. Something that had quietly shoved Itachi aside until he felt like he might suffocate being in the same room with all of them. And there were other things to deal with... such as how he was starting to feel about his brother to a point he knew he was in trouble.

Perched silently in the open window, he left his hair down, freshly washed and almost dry now from the breeze that rushed over him. The hospital gown was gratefully put away and he sat in a more traditional style clothing. The loose material was black according to the sixth Hokage. From the feel of it, it was a gi that he put on top of the mesh shirt he managed to have cleaned before. He liked it. The loose feeling but more covering than the hospital gown would ever be. 

His right arm curled over his knee where he could feel the pricks of claws scraping at his skin from where a crow sat perched there. He'd missed that companionship, and for now, he felt less alone with his own exile from Sasuke's room. Letting slender fingers slip over slick feathers at the bird's breast bone, he felt the animal puff up it's feathers and start to preen. Trust. For birds, there was no greater trust that could be shown to another. 

Dropping his head back against the frame of the window, his hair slipped back over his shoulder and some was blown across his face with a gust of wind. He made no move to brush it away, he couldn't see anyway. At least he found a certain amount of peace knowing that the crows always warned him. They watched over him and cried in that harsh voice when someone came near. That would serve an even greater purpose now. The bird croaked at him lightly as it bumped the cool smooth beak against his fingertips. A soft slide of feathers on skin alerted him to the twist of its head for him to rub it's neck. Shifting the attention, he sighed. "I wonder... if he'll get away from them now." Or if Sasuke was planning to make him wait. 

His fingers stilled as his brow furrowed. "Do you think he'd leave without me?" He questioned the crow softly and only heard the answer of wings flipping and feathers ruffling before it made the low rattling sound they made to their 'family'. "I know." They never left him. And he knew they would help him find Sasuke whenever he needed them to. But perhaps he was being paranoid... 

But considering he had all of his things (few though they were) packed and ready to just grab as he head out the door said something about his eagerness to leave as well as his fear of being left behind. The bird rattled at him again and he felt the smallest of smiles pull at the corner of his lips. "I know you could find him. Crows always know how to overwhelm hawks." Something he had watched them do countless times.

Comments

[eyes_that_burn]

Naruto. Naruto. If Sasuke had known he was the one to take his brother shopping, he would have stopped it before it began. Or, better yet, he would have demanded to come along and been the point person the mission so desperately needed. Orange clothes were not allowed, and all the comments that it would be easier to find him in a crowd only served to annoy Sasuke more.

Itachi was still a shinobi, blind or not. He was still someone who would be wanted, who would be a target. Bingo books weren't updated with the frequency that they should be, and it was bad enough that there would be people hunting Sasuke; he didn't need them seeing the orange and going after Itachi, too.

But, as usual, Naruto didn't think that far ahead, and strategy went out the window; he was about impulse, about what felt good now. (Sasuke was starting to learn some things about that.) Maybe he had secretly hoped that the clothing would keep them here, locked in and down under the village's leanings. Maybe he thought he would get Itachi to stay; Naruto was strangely insightful on some things, and he already had an idea that Sasuke was itching to leave.

Maybe he just wanted some memories with them before they went.

Because they could leave soon, Sasuke thought; his arm was getting better with his regular visits with Sakura, and while it was bandaged still, he thought he could let them off more often than he did. Sleeves felt strange, and he still tried to reach for things, but it was fine; he was learning to work around it. And seeing Naruto's own arm...

It made him smile.

But it was Itachi's health that was keeping them, and the tests. He was wondering how many more Sakura would need to run before they were free.

Sasuke's free hand had a bag filled with a new cloak; returning the orange one had been easy, people nodding in sympathy and admitting that they only kept orange in stock because of Naruto's preferences as they appealed to the war hero and his fans. Sasuke had snorted, ignoring the glares of other shoppers, and returned with his wares.

And he had been fine until he could see Itachi in the window. Sitting. Poised. Calm. He was beautiful like that, with a peace around him that Sasuke had only truly seen in his youth and since he came back. The light bathed in such a favorable way, no harsh shadows, no blinding lights against pale skin, but just the soft glow of someone almost ethereal. Like that day in the cave.

You're not supposed to be here, Sasuke reminded himself. But don't go back.

Fingers tightened on the handle of the bag. The gentleness with the crow was fascinating, and Sasuke stood, transfixed. He couldn't hear what he was saying, but he watched his lips move. Something about leaving. Something about hawks. Something.

He wanted to call to him, but the words died in his throat. For the moment, he was content to just appreciate from his point. Eyes turned red, committing it all to memory, this moment, how he looked, everything because he didn't want to lose it. He didn't want his most clear memories of Itachi to be the ones where they were fighting.

It was time to make a new start.

[sanzengarasu]

The bird nipped at his fingers, not in warning or anger but soft guidance. He let them be moved to the spot requested for preening and gently worked with the feathers. It seemed his companion didn't mind the blindness or his slower reaction to cues without his vision. Instead it felt more companionable. A rumble left the bird as he felt the wings droop in content against his arm.

Leaning in, he almost laughed when he felt the beak grab at his bangs and preen at them carefully. "I assure you, it's clean." He teased the little creature that suddenly tensed and moved to face the door to his room. A wing brushed his cheek as they spread in a manner to look bigger and he cawed sharply in warning. Turning his head to the door, he blinked a few times and listened through the noise the bird was making before he finally smiled warmer this time. More pronounced.

"Shh... it's just Sasuke." The bird growled in that low sound of irritation and fluffed its feathers in irritation. The sharp caws ceased as he felt the bird run up his arm to sit on his shoulder. The wings were still open just a little as the bird set himself between Itachi and his brother. It only managed to make him huff that sound that was so much like laughter but not really.

Tipping his head in a parody to look around the little feathered body, he sent Sasuke an affectionate look before nudging the bird with his fingertips. "Go. I'll call you later."

Wings flipped in irritation before they settled against the sleek body. Finally the bird hopped to his knee then took off into the air to return the flock circling over head. The would settle soon. Just like his feelings of not liking being vulnerable now that Sasuke entered the room. "Sorry. They've stayed with me for a long time." Sasuke knew. He'd shown him his past. "I think they know I need their eyes now."

Touching his head back to the frame, he arched a brow at the younger. "They finally let you escape your room?" How much longer do we need to be here..?

[eyes_that_burn]

"Day pass. Just for a few hours on the promise that I would return." And he would; they knew he would. Itachi was here, and that was as much of a leash as he ever needed.

Coming into the room, he glanced at the crow and snorted, frowning a little. The birds hated him; he knew it, could tell in the way they bristled when he was anywhere near his brother. Maybe they could smell the snake in him, or the hawk. Maybe it was residual from his fight with Itachi. Either way, it wasn't a mutual admiration.

You're part of their murder, I suppose.

The bag was not-so gently deposited on the floor as he dropped his own dark cloak on the bed; he wasn't comfortable with everyone seeing his empty sleeve yet. The questions. The pity. The resentment. The justification. The thought of it grated on what nerves he had left. Unhooking the cloak was easy with one hand; catching it to set it down was a little more difficult. He needed to understand rhythms, functions, how to make things work in a life catered to two hands. Hm.

It would take time, but he wasn't exactly patient.

"I traded the cloak that Naruto bought for you," he explained, foot nudging the bag so the other could hear it. There was a tentative glance back at his brother, trying not to think about beautiful he looked. His cheeks went red. "It's black instead of stupid orange."

This had taken a lot out of him, the trip, the walk, but it...felt good to be around his old team his old team for a bit. Naruto's typical tone didn't grate on him the way it had, and listening to Sakura scold him reminded him of his old frustrations when he was young. Some things came naturally, and being around them was one.

But he had one foot in that world and one outside. It was difficult to balance them both.

"How do you feel today?"

[sanzengarasu]

"Hm... that was kind of them." He said it with a lilt of teasing that felt somehow restrained. Itachi didn't want to get in the way. Didn't want to stand between his brother and those he loved. Which was why he started drifting out of the over crowded room when his teammates and Kakashi came. None of them needed to be in the room with him even if they knew the truth. The rest of the village didn't.

Running a hand through his hair, he carefully swept it out of his face even if the motion wasn't necessary. His head tilted at the sound of the bag hitting the floor then to the slip of fabric as it fell from Sasuke's shoulders. Itachi could almost picture the motions in his mind and a wistful look flitted over his face.

However it melted to irritation as he remembered that fiasco. "I honestly didn't think he would..." Do that of all things. But whether it was a joke to Naruto or simply good intentions. He wasn't too sure when it came to people's thoughts on him. "Thank you." The words were quiet especially after the thought of Sasuke going out. Which, shouldn't have made something tighten in his chest like that after he'd let Naruto drag him out without informing or inviting his brother.

Sliding from the window sill, he caught a hold of the frame to steady himself. How long had he been sitting there?

Counting his steps across the room, he started to brush his hair back with his hands to pull it back before remembering he left the tie in the bathroom when he took a shower. Something that still made him frown as he'd had to ask a nurse which bottle was which and she took great pleasure in lingering and offering to help. Instead he'd convinced her to set them in certain spots and he found ways to make them distinguishable by touch. The idea of someone that close to him irritated him beyond all reason.

Letting his hair slip from his fingers, he looked toward where his brother should be and thought that question over. "I don't feel as sore today. Moving is easier. I think... I can breathe deeper than I could when I first woke up." It was a significant improvement in his mind. "Are you doing better?"

I hope this is okay! Forgive the typos. Work makes it hard to tag sometimes.

[eyes_that_burn]

“I even was allowed out without a tracking device.” At least, one that he knew of; what they happened to stick on him without his knowledge was beyond what he could stop right now. While his chakra was slowly building back up, it was just that: slow. His reserves weren’t there even if he wanted them to be.

He wasn’t at his top end yet. But in time…in time…

“Don’t underestimate the idiot. The second you think he won’t do something is when he will.” And maybe that made him predictable with the unpredictable, but that didn’t matter, not really. While he wished that Naruto was more…delicate in his plans, he knew that his heart was somewhere in the appropriate place. He wondered if Itachi knew that about him. He wondered if he should explain it.

“He needs to learn that not every piece of clothing needs to be orange. One time, I came back to orange socks on my bed.” He smirked, and while Itachi couldn’t see it, he could probably hear it. “I set them on fire.”

There was a sense of pride in that, but also familiarity, these tales and jokes that had happened without Itachi. Lips pressed into a small smile, then faltered a little as he watched his brother start to take his steps. He was still as graceful as he was beautiful, but hesitant in his movements. It would get better, he reminded himself; once he was used to this, he would get better.

So Sasuke pushed forward and met him halfway, his hand reaching out to touch his brother’s arm. “Mm. The pain is an ache rather than shooting. I’m…relearning things.” How to dress himself. How to style his hair. How to navigate. They were both in for so much education.

“Nii-san…You should…” He trailed off, mumbling something that sounded strangely like take your eyes back. In fact, that’s exactly what he said. “They are yours.”

No problem at all! It's lovely <3

[sanzengarasu]

"They really are showing a little trust now." He smiled, lowering his head to huff another laugh like sound that just didn't quite come to fruition. To most it might sound more like a snort or something derisive when in fact he really was amused. "Soon they may let you venture out of the building alone."

He felt a little hypocritical knowing he would have been more protective if he'd not had to kill his family and life had been normal. "At this rate, I will have to kidnap you and carry you away from Konoha. And I don't know what's left of my pride can handle if I trip or run into something in the process." His tone was light, almost playful as he paused to listen to his brother talk about Naruto.

"Mm... after hearing that I don't feel so terrible about telling Naruto if he put a bell in my hair I would make him eat it." Had he mentioned the bell argument to Sasuke before? "It didn't help... he mentioned putting it around my neck thinking it was an offense to my hair." Something he might have laughed at if he wasn't so turned off by the idea of a bell on his person. He was not a child and he refused to be considered a complete invalid being blind.

Angling his head, he smiled at his brother. "Orange is not your color, so burning them was for the best."

Shifting his hand after the touch, he slipped his fingers over Sasuke's arm and touched his chest. From there he brushed his chin until he curled his fingers around to the back of Sasuke's head to pull him down. Moving, he kissed his forehead adoringly. "No. I always meant for you to have them. I was losing my eyesight long before I gave my eyes to you."

Brushing his lips over Sasuke's temple, he gently pulled back and let his hand catch Sasuke's. "So. Do me a favor." Releasing his hand, he turned and moved till he brushed his fingers against the door to the bathroom. Leaning in, he smoothed his fingers over the counter till he found the tie and brush. "Help me with this." He waved at his hair before turning to Sasuke again.

A furrow in his brow formed as he rubbed the back of his head. "It took me a long time to convince the nurse I was fine on my own. I had a feeling she would follow me into the shower any moment. Especially when I know I'm not ready to do it on my own yet."

XD god I hope this makes sense.

[eyes_that_burn]

Sasuke was attentive, and things caught his ear, dragging his mind towards and through what his brother was saying. Kidnapping him. Carrying him away from Konoha. Guilt began to bubble up, leaving him to wonder if he should be working harder on getting them both out of the village. Was Itachi upset over the lack of progress, that Sasuke wasn't pushing Sakura harder?

Neither one was happy here, but Sasuke would have an easier time at it for the moment; he had connections, lines that could root him if he needed it. Itachi...only had him. And he would do well to remember that, to keep it in the forefront of everything.

It was too easy to get pulled back to old bonds.

"Nii-san..."

But the kiss to his forehead stopped him before he could say anything else, and he closed his eyes, sighing. He knew Itachi wouldn't go along with it, but that didn't mean that the offer wasn't there. "But they're yours," he muttered, and there was a minor sulk that masked the guilt inside them. After they were transferred, if they were given back, would the sight be restored? Or would it be as it had started with?

Had anyone ever tried?

"You could have one and I could have one." Which would have them at half power, faulty depth perception, everything, but Sasuke was willing to suffer, to learn that as well as how to live with one arm. He knew his brother wouldn't accept that either, just as Sasuke wouldn't give up trying to find another way around this. His brother should see. He should see more than anyone else out there.

But for now, there were favors. "Anything," he murmured, following him to the bathroom. There was a questioning look before he realized the other was talking about his hair, and then--

"...She was going to what?" Maybe it came out more growly than he meant, but these people going to take advantage of his brother when he was weak, and-- No, it was definitely full of a growl. How disrespectful. How dare they think they could just--just--

In the shower with him? Nude with him?! That was his brother!

"What was her name?!" he hissed, already plotting out in his mind how he was going to confront Sakura about the staff here.

It totally did!

[sanzengarasu]

Itachi could feel it. The tension and brooding roiling off of his brother. "Don't brood, otouto." He said it soft, with a lilt of teasing as he shook his head. The other was over thinking something, though he was not exactly sure what it was that preoccupied the younger's mind.

Glancing back at his brother from the bathroom, he held a finger to his lips to tell the younger to stop a moment. "I gave them to you. They were a gift." The greatest and most valuable gift he could ever possibly give Sasuke. What could possibly be more valuable to an Uchiha than his eyes? Other than his baby brother...

"I will learn to live without seeing. I will just have to learn to be patient." He wouldn't learn everything at once. The process of learning to live without one of the five senses would be taxing, but he knew Sasuke believed in him, and he refused to let the other down. Itachi would learn and he would learn well. No matter how long it took or how many mistakes he'd make in the process.

Listening for Sasuke's footfalls, he smiled just a little at the instant reply to do anything. It felt so trusting and made something tighten pleasantly in his chest. Still, Sasuke's next reaction he didn't expect. The complaints about the persistent nurse were just that, complaints. He'd not appreciated her abrasiveness approach or the way he felt like she might not leave even after he tried to close the door on the bathroom. Nurses were meant to help, but Itachi already hated their ministrations that were necessary. Having her in the shower was not necessary.

So hearing his brother growl like that and demand a name like she'd sullied his honor took Itachi back a bit. Blinking a few times, he lowered his head as he felt that flutter of warmth in his chest that pulled at his lips and made him smile. A low soft laugh escaped him, causing him to cover his mouth with a hand.

Reaching out, he caught the younger's shirt and pulled him all the way into the bathroom with him and probably too close for Sasuke's comfort as he leaned back against the bathroom counter. "She went off duty half an hour ago. I don't recall her mentioning her name... and I didn't ask." He never asked their names. Most didn't want to be in the room with him until her. Perhaps she was too young to really know any better.

Fingertips grazed down Sasuke's arm as he angled his head, eyes closed with an amused smile on his face. Soon he pressed the brush into his brother's hand slowly, letting his fingers linger longer than necessary on Sasuke's fingers. Something about that strangely jealous display made him a little bolder, a little more willing to tease his otouto and see what reactions he could draw out of him. "I'm sure she was just doing her job." And maybe press a few more buttons just to see. "I think she said she was assigned to me tomorrow, too."

Itachi moved his hand to brush Sasuke's wrist softly just before sitting on the edge of the counter and tipping his head forward to his brother. "Part it for me. I have a feeling I won't be getting it straight on my own anymore."

<3<3<3

[eyes_that_burn]

Itachi was laughing, smiling and laughing, and while Sasuke wanted to believe that it was a good joke, he knew it was at his own light-hearted expense. Well, a little. He was, to be fair, laughing at the cuteness of it all, of the interactions, of the jealousy; even he realized that in the moment. Still, it only made him blush more, cheeks burning in ways that Itachi couldn't see but could probably feel if he touched his face.

He made sure to avoid that.

A hand grabbed his shirt, pulling into the bathroom; the rooms were small at the facility, enough for a wheelchair to come in along with one caregiver and a pole filled with pumps, but not much beyond that. Sasuke frowned, imagining her leering as she sidled up next to him, offering...offering while Itachi was alone. Vulnerable. Nude.

Stop thinking about it.

But it was unprofessional. It was taking advantage of someone's weaknesses. It was wrong on every human level, and if this was what they were going to do, then dammit, they needed to leave sooner. He snorted at his brother not knowing her name, muttering, "Another reason to not leaving your side." It wasn't as if Itachi could read name tags in his state.

"Especially tomorrow."

No. No, he wasn't leaving her alone with him at all.

His fingers tingled at the touch, from tips to wrist, and he sighed a little after; Itachi was being too generous, too kind, too patient. Clearly, Sasuke needed to be more involved. He gripped the brush tightly, his eyes skeptical as he looked at it. Brush hair...but he couldn't put it in a ponytail; he didn't have control and skills with his fingers yet. "I'll try," he offered, running the bristles through the dark, silken hair, root to tip and back again. "But you will have to pull it back if that's what you want, nii-san."

Omg... Itachi is having too much fun with this....

[sanzengarasu]

Being close to his brother felt different. Warm and wanted. Like this proximity was something he'd been missing for years. It made him wonder if things could have been different. Was there even a possible reality that he could have this for a lifetime and not have to live through hell to get it and die.

But isn't that what it meant to say you had something worth dying for?

The thought made his smile softer, thoughtful even. Shifting his hand from Sasuke's wrist, he bit his lip before daring to reach out and curl one set of fingers in the hem of his younger brother's shirt. Living for someone was harder... wasn't it? Living for Sasuke had to be his greatest promise yet, didn't it?

"Hm... If you can escape your escort, you mean." His voice was soft, a mix of wistfulness and amusement. He didn't want to take his relationships away from Sasuke. He didn't want to make the younger think he couldn't have all that if he wanted it. He... didn't mind being background noise. Right?

"I'm sure it will be good training fending off a nurse." Not really. She was not a ninja at all... just persistent. Persistence in a small room made it harder to evade her 'help', but he managed without hurting either of them.

The moment Sasuke drew the brush through his hair, his eyes closed. Focusing on that feeling, he felt it like a warmth tingling over his scalp. Itachi never let anyone else mess with his hair. It bothered him usually. But maybe that was because he only let Shisui and Sasuke touch it in the past. "I know. I can do that part."

He just knew that left to his own devices, it would likely look out of place and disarrayed if he parted it himself. In fact, Sasuke didn't need to brush it at all. Just straighten the parted line... but he knew stopping his brother now was out of the question. Not when he was enjoying it this much. It made him want to do strange things... like pull his brother to him to hug him again. "If it's troublesome.. I could get it cut." He didn't want to, but at the same time if Sasuke hated helping, he would.

Keeping his head down, a faint heat staining his cheeks as he reveled in that feeling of Sasuke brushing his hair. Letting most of the hair slip into his face to hide that flush, he hoped it would fade as fast as it hit him. Fingers curled tighter into Sasuke's shirt as he spoke softer. "I just need... to learn how to label things. Maybe she will leave me be if I don't ask for anything." And then Sasuke wouldn't have to waste his time babysitting his brother and... do something else he would likely enjoy more.

Later.

Right now he just wanted to enjoy this moment for all it was worth. Which was why he hedged then finally lifted his head to look at him. "Do you think... it's a bad idea to get food somewhere other than here? Together..." Because hospital food... sucked. And honestly, if Sasuke didn't say no, he would be navigating his brother to a place to get his favorites and possibly real tea and not the stuff here. He didn't like the attention he got when going with Naruto, he didn't know Sakura and Kakashi still seemed to stay an entire room away from him at all times. Well... he did use Tsukiyomi on him.

XD It's one way to get what you want!

[eyes_that_burn]

His escort. There was a roll of his eyes, and he knew his brother was kidding, but at times it felt no less than that. They were watching him, he knew; they were watching him for as much of their own benefits, their own desires as hisown.

He couldn't blame them; they wanted him to stay after all these years of being away. They wanted a chance to start over. They wanted him to get officially cleared, which would be difficult to do if he wasn't in the village, showing his face, doing their dance that he had changed.

"You're not going to have to fend her off," he muttered, "because I'm not leaving you alone with her." Not now. Not ever. Tch.

The brush moved slow, carefully; there was no other hand to hold the hair if there was a tangled knot, so he was cautious, mindful. Yes, all he needed was the part, but ...he liked brushing his brother's hair. There was a quiet bonding that came with it, something reserved for families, for loved ones, and he was glad to be a part of this moment. A sigh slipped free from his lips, comfortable and pleased, and he moved the bristles back to the top and moved it down again.

"Don't." Don't cut it. Don't. He had never seen Itachi with short hair; he didn't want to start now. It was a part of him, and he wouldn't be needed to do this if there was no hair to brush. "I don't mind. I'll do it every day, if you want." If you keep it long...

The grip into his shirt made his hand falter for a moment. His brother was holding onto him, he was blushing again...It had to be the vulnerability. It had to be the intimacy. What if he didn't want Sasuke doing it every day? What if he wanted to get his hair cut?

"Nurses never leave you alone." He had been in the hospital enough to know. After his fight with Itachi back at the hotel, it had been a non-stop parade of medical professionals, constantly wanting to check his vitals, examine his chakra, do neurological checks...He had hated it. Hated them. Hated himself most of all. "I'll talk to Sakura and tell them to keep to the medical aspects only; I can handle everything else." He was going to have to soon enough, anyway; when they left, they would only have each other.

And his brother had watched out enough for him over the years that it was time to return the favor.

Using the brush, he started to work at the part, cursing under his brother when it wasn't perfect. He started again. "Mmm. Do you want me to get it and bring it back?" Or...go together? Among the streets, with people? It would be easier than trying to carry it back...

So so true!

[sanzengarasu]

A tiny voice told him he shouldn’t be so happy to hear Sasuke say that. Wanting your brother’s nonstop company likely didn’t get classified under normal. But Sasuke saying he would not leave him alone made something break loose in his chest. Some fear that he would end up alone in a world where no one would ever want to know him and he honestly didn’t want them to. What did he care about their thoughts of him? All he ever cared about stood right in front of him in this moment.

Smiling quietly, he let his fingers shift from the shirt to very lightly rest on Sasuke’s hip. Itachi realized how silly it sounded when his brother only promised not to leave him with her… but it gave him a little more hope. “Thank you.”

Sighing into the feeling, he knew his body shifted toward Sasuke’s ministrations even if the brush did snag a tangle caused by the wind before. He liked this. He realized he honestly could get used to feeling this strangely simple intimacy with his brother everyday like he offered. Huffing a pleased sound, he tapped one finger against the younger’s hip. “Then I won’t.” Hesitating a moment, a questioning look shifted over his face slowly. “I like this… so yes… please.” It made him happy.

Even though he sighed at the idea of nurses, he still kept that relaxed expression on his face. “I know.” He knew too well. He saw many doctors and took so much medication somedays he thought he might just give up. It fed into his dislike in being in hospitals. Itachi resigned himself to death. But things were different now… However, he didn’t expect Sasuke to make that offer. Perhaps he should feel terrible, but he really didn’t mind being taken care of for a change if that person was Sasuke. “I appreciate that.”

Smiling at the soft curse and the reattempt at the part, he found Sasuke’s difficulties his gain. If he kept trying, he didn’t stop. Opportunistic? Probably.

However, the smile faded as he blinked at Sasuke’s offer. Aside from not really wanting to spend his time here in this room among nurses and the prodding, he wanted to go with his brother somewhere. “Are you worried about me being in public?” After all, Itachi knew the reasons were plentiful. His status of being wanted. His blindness. He had plenty of reasons why Itachi shouldn’t go out of the room. But weren’t they going to travel together eventually? No one had caused him problems with Naruto, but that had also been Naruto.

Still. Sasuke also saved them.

“If you’ll let me… I want to go with you.” If he said it clearly, would Sasuke relent? Would he allow him to walk at his side and learn to maneuver people and objects? Itachi needed to learn. He then tried a pained look at his brother that was more feigned than honest. “Please don’t make me ask Naruto.” It was too much. Like standing next to the sun. Itachi respected Naruto. He believed in him. But he couldn’t deal with being in the spotlight beside him.

But he didn’t want to leave it there either. “You’re the one I want to go with.”

<3

[eyes_that_burn]

The resistance of that brush at the tangle made him stop, catch his breath. Shit, that must have hurt, and without another arm to balance it out... Maybe he wasn't the best one to be doing this after all, as bitter as the thought might be.

"Sorry, nii-san," he mumbled, taking the brush slower, more thoughtfully this time. Long strokes. Patient.

They stopped when he heard his brother asked if he was worried about him being in public.

He was, of course. He was worried about Itachi being lost in a sea of sounds and sensations, with no sight to help him navigate. He was worried about people striking out at him, unable to understand that he was no threat to this village, this place; the only person who had right to pass judgement was Sasuke, and he had, he had chosen to forgive him. He was worried about someone taking advantage of him. He was worried he might not come home.

But it was because of the world's frightening place rather than any need to be ashamed of his brother. He hadn't minded when he had gone out with Naruto, other than the terrifying clothing options that were obtained on that trip; he knew that Itachi was safe.

Did... he think Sasuke was embarrassed of him?

It felt strange that Itachi was asking permission. "Of course." The brush slid out of the hair, then rose and started at the top once more. It stopped when he mentioned who he wanted to go with, pausing only for a heartbeat. His brother wanted to spend time with him. His brother...acknowledged him.

It had never been so sweet.

"Me, too." He handed the brushed to his brother (rather, put it into the palm of his hand) and nodded. "I think it looks fine now. What do you want to eat?"

That icon melts Itachi... just saying

[sanzengarasu]

Itachi didn’t flinch or try to pull away. The pain was minimal and something he could easily ignore. But when Sasuke apologized, he lifted a hand to softly brush along his brother’s wrist affectionately. “It’s fine. It didn’t hurt.” Not enough to even bother worrying about and certainly not enough to make him want Sasuke to stop what he was doing. That idea didn’t even enter his mind.

However, the shift in how his brother drew the brush through his hair almost felt… sensual. Like a caress instead of a stroke. Breathing in slowly, he fought the urge to lean in closer to Sasuke and… do what? What would he do? Almost like a whisper of a memory his lips tingled from that kiss. That memory would stay fresh in his mind and cause a certain warmth to flood into his cheeks. When he thought about it.

He should want to push the memories away. The right thing to do was to pretend it didn’t happen. But he didn’t want to.

But for now he would move his thoughts forward to the present. Focus on his brother’s answer to his request… even if he might have shifted closer to him without thinking about it. Lips parted with an inhale upon that affirmation. Finally, he gave a nod in reply to him. A faint smile flit over his lips before curled his fingers about the brush as it was placed in his hand.

Shifting to set it where he wanted it for future use, he tugged the tie from around his wrist and reached back to collect his hair. Smoothing it back into a ponytail, he loosely tied it back. His hands slowed, however, when Sasuke returned that sentiment. The smile grew just that much more as he moved again to finish the task. “I’m glad.”

Slipping off of the counter, he knew that he put himself in Sasuke’s space, and he balanced himself by resting a hand on his shoulder. His thumb smoothed along the line of Sasuke’s neck thoughtfully before he let himself drift closer to touch foreheads. “Anything would be fine as long as I can get maybe tea and…” He hesitated, his lips pressed together as the notion of being childish for asking colored his cheeks. “Dango..?”

awwwww!!! I like yours!

[eyes_that_burn]

Little things. They kept having these little interactions, this private touches; Sasuke realized that he could be reading them wrong. His brother...his brother meant them as nothing more than little motions of reassurances and steadiness in such a strange and foreign world. They solidified their stand together, their place at one another's side. That...was all, right?

Still, that forehead to forehead made him close his eyes and simply breathe, taking in the moment as if he could read his brother's mind and find his place inside of it. Fingers twitched at his side, wanting to reach up, to touch him, to make sure that he was real, that he was breathing, that he was alive; at times, in the dead of night, he wondered if they hadn't really lost to Kaguya after all, that this wasn't some stupid genjutsu from the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Things...felt too right, even with the pain, even with the lack of an arm.

How would he ever know?

"Tea and dango." It had been some time since he had been here, but he didn't think it would be difficult to find some establishments that would be able to accommodate those wishes. Whether they would serve two known criminals...that was something else entirely, but something they would face when the moment came.

And if they wouldn't, well, he had a sharingan that would change their minds before Itachi would be able to sense it, he hoped.

Sasuke pulled back, his hand grabbing his brother's to try to lead him out of the bathroom. "Do you need anything before we leave?"

I thought it cute tooo... I had way too much fun getting more icons x_x

[sanzengarasu]

Itachi blinked. Stunned as his body suddenly moved with Sasuke's pull on his hand. The feeling of that warm grip made him feel suddenly breathless and he couldn't put his finger on why. Not really. Letting himself get pulled from the bathroom, he reached out with his other hand and smiled a little bit more on the amused side. That hand landed somewhere along his brother's spine, hopefully not to low to be considered terribly inappropriate.

"Shoes." He pointed that out matter of factly, a tone touching his words that likely only Sasuke could ever pick up on that gave way to his inner laughter.

Sweeping his thumb over his brother's knuckles, he oriented himself with the placement of the bathroom door and walked his memory for where he left them. soon he pointed toward the bed, hopefully to the right side. Carefully releasing his brother, he moved in that direction and put his hand out with the correct step to touch the edge of the bed. Shifting his motion, his fingertips ran along the surface as he maneuvered about the room carefully.

When he got to the right side, he dipped down and furrowed his brow. As long as no one moved them, they should be here. Touching the floor first, he shifted his hand till he bumped into the item lightly. Itachi released the breath he'd been holding... no one moved them. Picking them up, he flushed a little when he realized something as simplistic as grabbing his sandals likely took far longer than necessary now. Biting into his lower lip, he sat down onto the edge of the bed carefully.

As he pulled them on, his fingers did the seeing for him. Following hems, zippers and lines in materials to make sure they were on right. He was about to do the next one when he hesitated. "I'm slow at this... I'm sorry for that." Perhaps he'd get faster. Otherwise he had a feeling Sasuke would grow tired of this waiting.

[eyes_that_burn]

The touch of the hand surprised him, Sasuke's back straightening out of instinct than an actual need. But once he rememebered who it belonged to, he sighed, relaxing into it, even as he pulled him along. Out of the bathroom. Away from there and into the main part of the hospital room.

Shoes. Of course shoes were needed. He smiled a little at the feeling of the thumb over his knuckles. and he wondered if his brother would still fight, would still kill if he needed to. Had this turned him into something of a pacifist, the dying, the death, the coming back only to do it all again. History repeated itself, probably more with them than anyone else.

Sasuke felt the need to grab Itachi, to take him to the bed or to his shoes, but he had it on his own. Sasuke waited, not wanting to help him due to Itachi's own pride. He needed to do this alone, as much as it tore Sasuke apart. He had to do it without help. Sasuke...might not be there forever to help him. He knew that.

Did Itachi?

He didn't want to think about it, about what would become of Itachi if Sasuke wasn't there for him. Who would he go to? Where would he go? Could he trust Naruto?

...Yes. He could. And someday, not today, but someday, they would have to discuss what would happen if they were alone. Who they would go to. What...awaited them.

He watched Itachi work, watched his fingers move, and smiled. When he spoke, his voice was surprisingly patient, calm, quiet. "You're fine. I'm slow with my shoes now, too." Though, for the moment, he had nothing more than glorified slippers; occupational therapy had gotten them for him to get used to.

"Take as long as you need to, nii-san. I can wait."

[sanzengarasu]

His fingers stilled a moment at that tone of voice. It took him back to so long ago and made him remember Sasuke's words when he tried to convince him not to go. It reminded him of what it was like before everything. Now, it felt like he knew what Sasuke meant. It also made him feel a pang of sadness that they wouldn't be able to fight like that again.

Pulling up the zipper on the other shoe, he let his fingers move over his leg to check the way it felt and if it laid correctly against his calves, ankles and feet. When he approved of it, he only momentarily rested his cheek against his knee with a small smile. He liked hearing Sasuke's tone like that. It contrasted so sharply with the anger and hatred and soothed a part of him that he honestly never thought would be soothed ever again. Like maybe... he could start sleeping at night again.

Maybe.

Sliding his feet off of the bed, he rose and tapped the toe of each sandal to the floor before moving cautiously toward the door. But soon he stopped and took a slow breath. Glancing in his brother's direction, he hesitated before holding his hand out to him. "I think I'm ready now." Just not ready to step outside alone and hope he ended up going the right direction.

His brow furrowed a little at that thought. He needed to learn. Needed to step out into the chaos and figure things out. Yet, it slightly terrified him how much he needed to rely on someone right now. Dropiing his head to stare blankly at the floor, he chewed at his lip and trying not to think about how it felt to have his hand touching nothing but air in an expanse of empty space in a room he couldn't see. It all felt so very frightening.

Fear shouldn't even be an option. "Sasuke..." Drifting off, he let the fears scatter on the air for a moment before he tried again. "I'm likely going to have to rely on you a lot..."His hand started to lower, a feeling of defeat clawing at his chest and dragging him down. "But I promise I'll try to improve." Yet... he still couldn't admit that this terrified him. And he didn't really want to ever burden Sasuke with that.