Who: Itachi Uchiha (
prodigal_liar) and Uchiha Sasuke (
undertides)
When: Backdated... a lot. To, uh, August 20th...? I think.
Where: Sasuke's place.
Format: Paragraph
What: Sasuke is recovering after his fight with Naruto, and Itachi pays him a long overdue visit.
Warnings: None that I can think of, unless they start being angsty, in which case... duck and cover! Run for the hills! Do something!
The hush was an anchor that subdued his thoughts and refused to drag, an infectious quiet that stilled the water... and obscured the depths from view. It left no room for conscience, no room for guilt, no room for anything but that which was necessary for function, necessary to carry him the rest of the way... the way to Sasuke.
As mollified as Itachi was that his little brother had returned, he had gone out of his way to avoid unnecessary meetings with him up until now. There was something unmistakably different about the younger Uchiha this time around, however, something that Itachi could almost feel; it was something that he was afraid to face for the shame he knew would well up inside of him.
Not shame of Sasuke, but rather... at having let him down. At having failed him. As a brother, a catalyst, and as a protector.
But now? There was nothing but that stillness, nothing but his footsteps sweeping over the ground, and then pausing before the door of the building Sasuke had taken up residence within. He had wanted to do things on his own, had rejected Itachi's open door and open arms, and Itachi didn't blame him... but this time he had been asked for. His presence had been requested. How could he refuse?
The stillness gave way to a sliver of hope, a flicker of flame living dangerously in the wind.
He raised his hand... but instead of knocking, let his fingers curl around the door handle, twist, and silently push it open.