๏ผ he looks down at their joined hands. he lets it happen without protest, but there is no physiological response to the touch. neutrality, in this, is perhaps the only thing he can offer. deep affection and years of friendship are what hold back cruel impulse.
there are so many things in the world he has taught himself to stand. compassion is not one of them.
yet his tolerance for it from the man before him now is something earned. hard-won, and sharp-edged. it is a thing with teeth, and not baring them is a choice made with calculated deliberation. ๏ผ
Perhaps it is more accurate to say — I did not find it to be so. My parents did their best to shield me from the hatred and the fear. My skills made me useful to the village I love. If you gave me the choice of a thousand lives, each more peaceful, more perfect than the last — I would still, and always choose to live and die as Uchiha Itachi of Konoha.
[His hand tightens around Itachi's and he bows his head in understanding, feeling his heart swell with admiration for the man in front of him. Once after Itachi's betrayal, he had questioned his loyalty, as if it was owed to him when they were honestly little more than friendly strangers. His ire had been well earned, but the assumption of disloyalty incorrect. He is sure now that there is perhaps no one more loyal than Uchiha Itachi once that loyalty had been truly earned.]
I'm pretty fond of him myself. [He says quietly and then rises to press a kiss to Itachi's forehead before pulling back to sit again. A teasing look crosses his face and he adds] questionable taste aside.
๏ผ he exhales. but there is nothing further to be said, and nothing he wishes to express besides — so he simply lets the silence settle between them, and takes his breakfast in its swell. ๏ผ
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๏ผ he looks down at their joined hands. he lets it happen without protest, but there is no physiological response to the touch. neutrality, in this, is perhaps the only thing he can offer. deep affection and years of friendship are what hold back cruel impulse.
there are so many things in the world he has taught himself to stand. compassion is not one of them.
yet his tolerance for it from the man before him now is something earned. hard-won, and sharp-edged. it is a thing with teeth, and not baring them is a choice made with calculated deliberation. ๏ผ
Perhaps it is more accurate to say — I did not find it to be so. My parents did their best to shield me from the hatred and the fear. My skills made me useful to the village I love. If you gave me the choice of a thousand lives, each more peaceful, more perfect than the last — I would still, and always choose to live and die as Uchiha Itachi of Konoha.
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I'm pretty fond of him myself. [He says quietly and then rises to press a kiss to Itachi's forehead before pulling back to sit again. A teasing look crosses his face and he adds] questionable taste aside.
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