Another year, another place to corral stray fic and fragments. Some of them may make it to AO3 eventually, some of them may not. Series, pairing, rating, and any relevant warnings in the subject of each comment.
"Sorry Sasuke, maybe next time." He flicks two fingers, gently, against Sasuke's forehead. It's still bare, for now. Soon, that will change. As soon as the graduation ceremony takes place, he'll be flicking the cold steel of his little brother's hitai-ate instead of the warm skin he's used to.
"You're no fun anymore. You sound like Father," Sasuke says, turning away to sulk.
Itachi sighs. "Well, maybe just a little can't hurt," he says. "But don't tell anyone." He reaches over and ruffles Sasuke's hair. The thick strands stick out between his fingers, flying every which way in their usual unruly tangle.
"Itachi...Itachi..."
Itachi blinks, reaching out as if he could grab onto the fleeting fragments of the dream and hold them close.
Kisame's face swims into view in the dim confines of the cave. "Pain summons us. In person."
Itachi sits up and reaches for his robe. Even in the darkness, it doesn't take him long to dress; he trusts his fingers more than his eyes these days.
They step outside as soon as he's ready. The sun shines bright overhead, but it doesn't make much difference to him. Everything is blurred these days. How long has it been since he saw the sky clearly? How long since he last saw his little brother? Some memories fade with time, but he still remembered Sasuke's face as clearly as ever. Still remembered the way Sasuke would run over to hug him when he though no on was looking.
How long had it been since he had last touched someone like that? How long since he had felt the simple affection of a passing hug or fingers ruffling through messy hair?
Too long. The hugs had gone first, when Sasuke began to worry about appearances, and when their father began policing perceived weakness more strictly. The smaller gestures lasted longer, but there came a time when they were entirely one-sided. As much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, it wasn't the same when they were brushed aside instead of reciprocated. "It's okay, Sasuke," he had wanted to say, "you're not alone," but he had missed his chance then. Out of all of his regrets, the biggest was that his best intentions had stilled failed his little brother.
"Itachi," Kisame repeated. He placed a cool hand on Itachi's shoulder to catch his attention. "Pain is waiting."
Itachi pulled himself together. Kisame tried, though he was never sure whether it was instinct or some unspoken awareness that drove Kisame's occasional touches and good-natured pushing. Kisame tried, but it was never the same. Whatever lay between them, it was the function of proximity and shared cause, not the deep, immovable bond he felt with Sasuke. Kisame might ease the worst of the ache for a time, but he could never heal it entirely. If anything, it served as a reminder of what he had lost, of what he had given up for Sasuke's sake.
He didn't hope for much anymore, but he hoped from the bottom of his heart that he would have one last chance to see Sasuke. That he would have one last chance to hug his little brother and tell him how much he meant.
Touch Starved: Naruto, Itachi & Sasuke, T
"Sorry Sasuke, maybe next time." He flicks two fingers, gently, against Sasuke's forehead. It's still bare, for now. Soon, that will change. As soon as the graduation ceremony takes place, he'll be flicking the cold steel of his little brother's hitai-ate instead of the warm skin he's used to.
"You're no fun anymore. You sound like Father," Sasuke says, turning away to sulk.
Itachi sighs. "Well, maybe just a little can't hurt," he says. "But don't tell anyone." He reaches over and ruffles Sasuke's hair. The thick strands stick out between his fingers, flying every which way in their usual unruly tangle.
"Itachi...Itachi..."
Itachi blinks, reaching out as if he could grab onto the fleeting fragments of the dream and hold them close.
Kisame's face swims into view in the dim confines of the cave. "Pain summons us. In person."
Itachi sits up and reaches for his robe. Even in the darkness, it doesn't take him long to dress; he trusts his fingers more than his eyes these days.
They step outside as soon as he's ready. The sun shines bright overhead, but it doesn't make much difference to him. Everything is blurred these days. How long has it been since he saw the sky clearly? How long since he last saw his little brother? Some memories fade with time, but he still remembered Sasuke's face as clearly as ever. Still remembered the way Sasuke would run over to hug him when he though no on was looking.
How long had it been since he had last touched someone like that? How long since he had felt the simple affection of a passing hug or fingers ruffling through messy hair?
Too long. The hugs had gone first, when Sasuke began to worry about appearances, and when their father began policing perceived weakness more strictly. The smaller gestures lasted longer, but there came a time when they were entirely one-sided. As much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, it wasn't the same when they were brushed aside instead of reciprocated. "It's okay, Sasuke," he had wanted to say, "you're not alone," but he had missed his chance then. Out of all of his regrets, the biggest was that his best intentions had stilled failed his little brother.
"Itachi," Kisame repeated. He placed a cool hand on Itachi's shoulder to catch his attention. "Pain is waiting."
Itachi pulled himself together. Kisame tried, though he was never sure whether it was instinct or some unspoken awareness that drove Kisame's occasional touches and good-natured pushing. Kisame tried, but it was never the same. Whatever lay between them, it was the function of proximity and shared cause, not the deep, immovable bond he felt with Sasuke. Kisame might ease the worst of the ache for a time, but he could never heal it entirely. If anything, it served as a reminder of what he had lost, of what he had given up for Sasuke's sake.
He didn't hope for much anymore, but he hoped from the bottom of his heart that he would have one last chance to see Sasuke. That he would have one last chance to hug his little brother and tell him how much he meant.