33. Video Post
[The video is by candle light and shows little, really nothing more than a sharpening stone sliding over the blade of a thin sword that gleams in with the help of the small flame. The hand that works it was moving slow, and the voice is clipped, annoyed, bordering on lines of rage.]Another day, and I'm not any closer to going back. My purpose isn’t here, and they insist on keeping me. Every day I’m here is another where they sit in their arrogant seats, getting away with everything they have done.
[His hand twitches on the stone, gripping it tightly for all of a second before he throws it across the room. He’s snarling, all teeth, and his fist strikes the wooden table next to the communicator with a savage strike. The words that follow are spat like curses, poison slid into the warm underbellies of food.]
Complacent. Distracted.
I will never be. I refuse. I’m not a sheep to be fucking coddled! One of them will have to help me. One of them, even if I have to-
[Aaron can be seen behind him, leaning against the wall, having just come up the stairs. For a moment, his face falls, biting his lip. Pale hands tremble behind Sasuke, unseen by the ninja. And then the shaking starts, and Aaron doesn't look mad, he looks positively furious.]
[Sasuke doesn’t seem to notice, but anyone who knows the level of training that the young Uchiha has is plainly aware that he simply doesn’t care. The people in the pagoda are non-threats to him; it’s what lurks outside that proves to be the most challenge.]
The heartless situation seems impossible here, but that girl. That girl might have something useful. I will make a meeting with her as soon as this annoying mess is over.
I refuse to be the last one. I refuse to be the one left here. I was the start, and this… Even if I have to sell my soul, there is no price I wouldn’t pay. Not for this.
[Those eyes widen, and for a moment that hurt look returns. His shoulders start to sag, and then he's glaring at Sasuke's back, biting his lip harder before stalking forward. There's a glitter to the corner of his eyes as he says his name.]
Sasuke...
[Sasuke turns, the sword leaning against the table had had been sitting at shortly before. He doesn’t look apologetic for what he has been saying; in fact, he looks like nothing, no expression on his face besides a mild curiosity.]
Hn?
You...
[He's trembling now and without warning he lunges, fist slamming into Sasuke's jaw.]
You JERK!
[The sound is deafening, not because of its decibels (because what sort of punch can generate that much noise, when it’s just skin striking skin, really?), but because of what it means. Sasuke’s head rocks back to the side, his eyes wide, almost comical in their look of surprise. Aaron has never hit him; in fact, he has never thought Aaron WOULD hit him, which was the only reason the blonde probably got through. The skin is already reddening as he turns back to look at him, the hand at his waist curling and clenching and threatening to respond to violence with violence as he has been to trained all his life.]
What?
[And his hand is still again, restrained and calm. His voice carries something more than the astonished question; there’s a hint of newfound respect underneath it if one looks enough.]
[There are a few tears in those eyes, looking ready to fall at any moment, yes. There's a wealth of hurt feelings and anger, love, and devotion in those eyes. And there's the fear of betrayal. But Aaron doesn't answer at first, taking a few steps back, fists balled at his sides.]
You just think you can rip your heart out and that'll make it all better, right? I said I didn't mind, but...this is selfish, even for you. You'll do what you want anyway.
[He's still furious, positively glaring at Sasuke, for once not offering to tend his bruise, perhaps taking some pride in what he's done.]
I'm leaving.
[This time he does take a step towards Aaron, though there he hesitates. One of his hands reaches out to grabs the thin wrist, trying to hold him there.]
Aaron. Stop being an idiot.
It's coming up on two years, Sasuke.
[He doesn't elaborate on it, freezing as Sasuke's hand circles his wrist, other hand dashing a few tears from his eyes.]
Why the hell am I the idiot?! Is it because I actually care?!
[He rounds on him then, right in Sasuke's face, those blue eyes blazing, daring Sasuke to back down.]
[At the reminder of it being two years, two years off and on that have been spent here, kept away from his goal, the dark eyes widen, and a pale face turns slightly whiter. His hand tightens around that small wrist, unconsciously, and he growls in the back of his throat. Two years. Two years, and the anger is plain on his face.]
Aaron.
[He lets go of the wrist before he can bruise it, and he takes a step back before he looks at the door.]
I’m going out.
No.
[For once, when he reaches for Sasuke, it isn't to comfort or embrace, instead tugging at his wrist, moving ahead of him. There's that wounded look, and still so much anger, anger and fear he's been hiding for months.]
I love you. And you'll never say it back and someday you'll have them rip your heart out. It already happened once! Did you forget?!
[He sags, seeming tired now, turning his back to Sasuke.]
This time. I'm going to be the one heading out.
[There’s the sliding whisper of the door, and it’s too quiet to explain all the anger that resides in the pagoda tonight. Sasuke’s left standing there, still as any statue, his breathing silent like the rest of him. It’s almost believable to think that the communicator is broken, stuck or the network is frozen until Sasuke’s hand moves to grab it and throw it across the room.]
[Everything goes to static when it hits the wall.]
[His hand twitches on the stone, gripping it tightly for all of a second before he throws it across the room. He’s snarling, all teeth, and his fist strikes the wooden table next to the communicator with a savage strike. The words that follow are spat like curses, poison slid into the warm underbellies of food.]
Complacent. Distracted.
I will never be. I refuse. I’m not a sheep to be fucking coddled! One of them will have to help me. One of them, even if I have to-
[Aaron can be seen behind him, leaning against the wall, having just come up the stairs. For a moment, his face falls, biting his lip. Pale hands tremble behind Sasuke, unseen by the ninja. And then the shaking starts, and Aaron doesn't look mad, he looks positively furious.]
[Sasuke doesn’t seem to notice, but anyone who knows the level of training that the young Uchiha has is plainly aware that he simply doesn’t care. The people in the pagoda are non-threats to him; it’s what lurks outside that proves to be the most challenge.]
The heartless situation seems impossible here, but that girl. That girl might have something useful. I will make a meeting with her as soon as this annoying mess is over.
I refuse to be the last one. I refuse to be the one left here. I was the start, and this… Even if I have to sell my soul, there is no price I wouldn’t pay. Not for this.
[Those eyes widen, and for a moment that hurt look returns. His shoulders start to sag, and then he's glaring at Sasuke's back, biting his lip harder before stalking forward. There's a glitter to the corner of his eyes as he says his name.]
Sasuke...
[Sasuke turns, the sword leaning against the table had had been sitting at shortly before. He doesn’t look apologetic for what he has been saying; in fact, he looks like nothing, no expression on his face besides a mild curiosity.]
Hn?
You...
[He's trembling now and without warning he lunges, fist slamming into Sasuke's jaw.]
You JERK!
[The sound is deafening, not because of its decibels (because what sort of punch can generate that much noise, when it’s just skin striking skin, really?), but because of what it means. Sasuke’s head rocks back to the side, his eyes wide, almost comical in their look of surprise. Aaron has never hit him; in fact, he has never thought Aaron WOULD hit him, which was the only reason the blonde probably got through. The skin is already reddening as he turns back to look at him, the hand at his waist curling and clenching and threatening to respond to violence with violence as he has been to trained all his life.]
What?
[And his hand is still again, restrained and calm. His voice carries something more than the astonished question; there’s a hint of newfound respect underneath it if one looks enough.]
[There are a few tears in those eyes, looking ready to fall at any moment, yes. There's a wealth of hurt feelings and anger, love, and devotion in those eyes. And there's the fear of betrayal. But Aaron doesn't answer at first, taking a few steps back, fists balled at his sides.]
You just think you can rip your heart out and that'll make it all better, right? I said I didn't mind, but...this is selfish, even for you. You'll do what you want anyway.
[He's still furious, positively glaring at Sasuke, for once not offering to tend his bruise, perhaps taking some pride in what he's done.]
I'm leaving.
[This time he does take a step towards Aaron, though there he hesitates. One of his hands reaches out to grabs the thin wrist, trying to hold him there.]
Aaron. Stop being an idiot.
It's coming up on two years, Sasuke.
[He doesn't elaborate on it, freezing as Sasuke's hand circles his wrist, other hand dashing a few tears from his eyes.]
Why the hell am I the idiot?! Is it because I actually care?!
[He rounds on him then, right in Sasuke's face, those blue eyes blazing, daring Sasuke to back down.]
[At the reminder of it being two years, two years off and on that have been spent here, kept away from his goal, the dark eyes widen, and a pale face turns slightly whiter. His hand tightens around that small wrist, unconsciously, and he growls in the back of his throat. Two years. Two years, and the anger is plain on his face.]
Aaron.
[He lets go of the wrist before he can bruise it, and he takes a step back before he looks at the door.]
I’m going out.
No.
[For once, when he reaches for Sasuke, it isn't to comfort or embrace, instead tugging at his wrist, moving ahead of him. There's that wounded look, and still so much anger, anger and fear he's been hiding for months.]
I love you. And you'll never say it back and someday you'll have them rip your heart out. It already happened once! Did you forget?!
[He sags, seeming tired now, turning his back to Sasuke.]
This time. I'm going to be the one heading out.
[There’s the sliding whisper of the door, and it’s too quiet to explain all the anger that resides in the pagoda tonight. Sasuke’s left standing there, still as any statue, his breathing silent like the rest of him. It’s almost believable to think that the communicator is broken, stuck or the network is frozen until Sasuke’s hand moves to grab it and throw it across the room.]
[Everything goes to static when it hits the wall.]