[ Black eyes snap open in the dark. Loosely curled fingers grip the sheets tightly, securely and there is no jolt, no rapid, dramatic movement that would procure anyone's attention with absolute certainty. She doesn't have to think to know it isn't time to get up yet. It isn't time to make her silent rounds through the house, to be certain that everything is calm and secure and as it should be. Something had awakened her. Something? No, someone.
Itachi...?
She can hear his breathing--sounds rough and ragged and upset, not like when he's calmly sleeping--and as her eyes readjust to the darkness, she can see more clearly his face and form. The moonlight cascading through the window helps significantly when it comes to distinguishing frame and form, hues and details, and her eyes are sharp things, well-trained...
But she doesn't make a sound, her breathing deep, still hefty as it rightly should be. Had Itachi had a bad dream? She wonders, but stays still, watches him. Hopefully he'll go back to sleep. He needs to; she can scarcely make her rounds after he's only just drifted back to sleep. He'll wake up! She doesn't want to disturb him or Kisame. Frowns at the thought and warns herself against yawning, warding off the temptation to pick up her Hitomi and check to see what has visibly shaken Itachi from his slumber.
Too many nightmares, she thinks. Itachi, go back to sleep.
[The dampness of his shirt still bothers him, and Itachi pulls it away from his neck to relieve some of the stickiness of it clinging to his skin, but it does little good. He knows not why this dream seems to have affected him as it has.
Perhaps it is the feelings and reaction of his child-self despite his logical mind that no longer feels as he once did.
He sets down his Hitomi and stands, hands sliding along the wall beside where his mattress lays on the floor and follows it to where he knows his clothing chest to be--Kisame had showed him once Itachi had made it quite clear he would handle dressing and bathing himself after his strength had returned enough. He is very careful, methodical as he moves, knowing Kisame and Val have done their best to leave nothing obstructing his path, but still wary enough to keep caution in his steps.
He tries to stay as silent as possible, so as to not wake Valeria or Kisame.
Itachi keeps his one hand extended in front of his as he searches and eventually it runs lightly over the surface of the top of the chest his clothing are in. It is the one closet to his bed, so he knows it is his own.
He reaches down and grabs the bottom of the shirt he is wearing and pulls it up, dragging it over his head and dropping it down onto the lid of the chest. Reflexively--something that has become habit only so very recently--he cannot stop himself from lifting a hand to lightly glide along the rough area of skin on his shoulder where he knows Naruto's bitemark is.
He can feel the ridges of the broken skin, the area where it was more torn than pierced, where it bled the most. A brand. Before he wanted it gone, wanted to be able to ignore it as if it had never existed--or at least not know why it existed.
Now...it is a reminder of something he would never replace, despite that it is a time he knows will not happen again.]
[ Unfortunately for Itachi, Valeria is already very much awake and concerned, too, that the sounds she has heard up to this point have been all wrong. He isn't in his bed anymore; her eyes, abetted by the cold moonlight shining through the window, find his silhouette in the darkness and focus, steadily discerning details. He --
Has no shirt on.
She blinks at this and strains her eyes against the darkness, prompting her eyes to adjust more quickly to nighttime settings. True to the excess sound of shifting, sifting fabric, no shirt is right and Itachi is touching his... neck? (Is he injured?) She frowns and presses her palm flat against the bed, pushing herself up at an angle. Oh, there's something there alright. ]
Itachi?
[ Despite her concern, she speaks quietly. Her eyes flit briefly to Kisame, who--should be in a separate bed, yes, and not hers. Shoving the thought away, she looks back to Itachi, her concern cool, but evident. She wants to see what's under that hand... ]
[ Valeria is hardly surprised by how well Itachi guesses what direction to turn. He isn't guessing; he knows where in the bedroom she sleeps. She has slept in the same place, on the same mattress since Kisame brought it in for her. Even so, the speed with which Itachi turns is impressive... but it isn't nearly impressive enough to keep the mark on his neck from catching her eyes and drawing them to it. ]
I would have woken up sooner than later.
[ The words come of their own accord as her eyes flit from Itachi's face to the very visible interruption of the otherwise smooth skin of his neck. (Is it as soft as it looks? She wonders... because it looks very soft. Strong, yes, but soft and--woah. Woah, woah, woah, woah! Wait just a minute! This is Itachi, remember? Kisame's-partner-Itachi-who-she's-trying-to-set-up-with-Kisame-Itachi! That--it isn't--what--!)
Thankfully, he's blind.
It's a terrible thing to think, but for the second time that month (the first being Itachi's jubilant greeting the day she arrived at his and Kisame's home), she thinks it. She wouldn't--doesn't--want him or Kisame to see that. (She isn't blushing!) It's just... an allergic reaction or something with coincidental timing!
It's totally besides the point, too, so she swallows quietly, checks her voice and the color of her face, and forces her embarrassment to take the backseat to her concern because she is concerned. Itachi hasn't said anything about any sort of wound and if it's bothering him (he was touching it just now, wasn't he?), then something should be done.
She sits up entirely, ignoring the burning sensation in her cheeks. ]
Are you okay?
[ It is a stupid question. A very, very stupid question. The sheen of the layer of sweat coating his... chest, the suddenness with which he had awakened--oh, yes. It was a very stupid question indeed. Hopefully he wouldn't notice she was flustered to the point of ask it. (Tonight must clearly be Kisame's night and Kisame's alone because it definitely isn't hers or Itachi's....) ]
[Kisame has always preferred to sleep heavily, when it's safe to do so--he has an impressive knack for adjusting his habits to the situation. And in bed at home, with two people he cares about and trusts with his life, Kisame certainly feels safe enough to let his guard down and sleep as deeply as he likes. He sighs drowsily and shifts in bed as they speak, rolling onto his side to face them--]
[And proves to be sleeping quite contently still, completely undisturbed by their quiet conversation. Maybe it really is his night....]
[Her voice sounds off, and Itachi assumes its due to her being still somewhat drowsed. He's become used to her voicing concern in the time he has spent around her on a continual basis, but it is still something that confuses him. She does not know him well, and what he has learned of her is not as much as he knows Kisame is aware of--which is expected, given they were "married" at one time--but he cannot help but wonder if her concern for him is a byproduct of her obvious feelings for Kisame. He is Kisame's partner and therefore by leeping herself on his good side, Valeria knows she has less interference in remaining by Kisame's.
Of course this is a very cynical and suspicious way to question the motivations of her behavior, when so far she has done nothing but be a positive presence within the household, but Itachi is a shinobi. Suspicion is something that has been burned into his mind just as his body has been honed to kill.
Still, she is only asking of his well being and whatever her intentions, it is a kind gesture.]
I'm fine. I simply needed to change into a more comfortable shirt. Do not let me keep you from returning to sleep.
[He wonders if Kisame will awaken as well, but hopes that he is sleeping deep enough not to be bothered by their voices.]
[ What sound and movement is made by Kisame does not go unnoticed by Valeria, who tenses even as she snaps her eyes to observe the larger man. (Please don't be awake. Please, please--) This isn't exactly the scene she wants him waking up to, not when the trace amounts of red in her cheeks is so easily given away by the moonlight. It had been a stupid observation followed by a stupid question prompted by drowsiness and that terrible, confused state of mind caused by being mostly newly awakened, that's all! Explaining that--she isn't sure where to begin; she doesn't want to. She wants him to be--
Sound asleep...?
That much becomes apparent when her eyes settle on Kisame, whose eyes are comfortably shut. He doesn't seem to be the least bit uncomfortable or bothered or aware (thankfully not) of the conscious state of herself and Itachi, let alone her embarrassment, so there's no need to explain anything, which is good. Very good. So good, she almost forgets herself and sighs in relief.
Almost, but not quite.
Rather, she smiles at Kisame and turns her eyes to Itachi again. Sleep. Sleep sounds good. ]
If you're certain...
[ Certain is what she wants to be about that mark on his neck. Her eyes zero in on it, tracing it carefully. Yes, she can see it clearly now that her eyes have adjusted completely and it's... no. No, that can't be right (except that it is). The shape, the detail--the mark was made by teeth sunk deep into the skin, which could only mean that Itachi... Oooh!
It clicks.
And with something of a hybrid between a smirk and a half-grin, half-smile, Valeria settles back into the warmth of the sheets, drawing them closer to herself in the process. (Does Kisame know? If he doesn't, he will...) She caps a light yawn with a gloved hand, wondering how Itachi had acquired that mark (and who and given it to him, too. She wouldn't allow anyone to get between Itachi and Kisame; she couldn't, for Kisame's sake). After a few seconds, she removes her hand from her mouth and offers a sleepy, sincere: ]
G'night, Itachi.
[ Good night, indeed, she thinks, then sets about drifting back to sleep. ]
Itachi...?
She can hear his breathing--sounds rough and ragged and upset, not like when he's calmly sleeping--and as her eyes readjust to the darkness, she can see more clearly his face and form. The moonlight cascading through the window helps significantly when it comes to distinguishing frame and form, hues and details, and her eyes are sharp things, well-trained...
But she doesn't make a sound, her breathing deep, still hefty as it rightly should be. Had Itachi had a bad dream? She wonders, but stays still, watches him. Hopefully he'll go back to sleep. He needs to; she can scarcely make her rounds after he's only just drifted back to sleep. He'll wake up! She doesn't want to disturb him or Kisame. Frowns at the thought and warns herself against yawning, warding off the temptation to pick up her Hitomi and check to see what has visibly shaken Itachi from his slumber.
Too many nightmares, she thinks. Itachi, go back to sleep.
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Perhaps it is the feelings and reaction of his child-self despite his logical mind that no longer feels as he once did.
He sets down his Hitomi and stands, hands sliding along the wall beside where his mattress lays on the floor and follows it to where he knows his clothing chest to be--Kisame had showed him once Itachi had made it quite clear he would handle dressing and bathing himself after his strength had returned enough. He is very careful, methodical as he moves, knowing Kisame and Val have done their best to leave nothing obstructing his path, but still wary enough to keep caution in his steps.
He tries to stay as silent as possible, so as to not wake Valeria or Kisame.
Itachi keeps his one hand extended in front of his as he searches and eventually it runs lightly over the surface of the top of the chest his clothing are in. It is the one closet to his bed, so he knows it is his own.
He reaches down and grabs the bottom of the shirt he is wearing and pulls it up, dragging it over his head and dropping it down onto the lid of the chest. Reflexively--something that has become habit only so very recently--he cannot stop himself from lifting a hand to lightly glide along the rough area of skin on his shoulder where he knows Naruto's bitemark is.
He can feel the ridges of the broken skin, the area where it was more torn than pierced, where it bled the most. A brand. Before he wanted it gone, wanted to be able to ignore it as if it had never existed--or at least not know why it existed.
Now...it is a reminder of something he would never replace, despite that it is a time he knows will not happen again.]
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Has no shirt on.
She blinks at this and strains her eyes against the darkness, prompting her eyes to adjust more quickly to nighttime settings. True to the excess sound of shifting, sifting fabric, no shirt is right and Itachi is touching his... neck? (Is he injured?) She frowns and presses her palm flat against the bed, pushing herself up at an angle. Oh, there's something there alright. ]
Itachi?
[ Despite her concern, she speaks quietly. Her eyes flit briefly to Kisame, who--should be in a separate bed, yes, and not hers. Shoving the thought away, she looks back to Itachi, her concern cool, but evident. She wants to see what's under that hand... ]
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But he can't, and that knowledge hit him just as quickly.]
Valeria. I did not mean to make so much noise as to wake you.
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I would have woken up sooner than later.
[ The words come of their own accord as her eyes flit from Itachi's face to the very visible interruption of the otherwise smooth skin of his neck. (Is it as soft as it looks? She wonders... because it looks very soft. Strong, yes, but soft and--woah. Woah, woah, woah, woah! Wait just a minute! This is Itachi, remember? Kisame's-partner-Itachi-who-she's-trying-to-set-up-with-Kisame-Itachi! That--it isn't--what--!)
Thankfully, he's blind.
It's a terrible thing to think, but for the second time that month (the first being Itachi's jubilant greeting the day she arrived at his and Kisame's home), she thinks it. She wouldn't--doesn't--want him or Kisame to see that. (She isn't blushing!) It's just... an allergic reaction or something with coincidental timing!
It's totally besides the point, too, so she swallows quietly, checks her voice and the color of her face, and forces her embarrassment to take the backseat to her concern because she is concerned. Itachi hasn't said anything about any sort of wound and if it's bothering him (he was touching it just now, wasn't he?), then something should be done.
She sits up entirely, ignoring the burning sensation in her cheeks. ]
Are you okay?
[ It is a stupid question. A very, very stupid question. The sheen of the layer of sweat coating his... chest, the suddenness with which he had awakened--oh, yes. It was a very stupid question indeed. Hopefully he wouldn't notice she was flustered to the point of ask it. (Tonight must clearly be Kisame's night and Kisame's alone because it definitely isn't hers or Itachi's....) ]
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[And proves to be sleeping quite contently still, completely undisturbed by their quiet conversation. Maybe it really is his night....]
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Of course this is a very cynical and suspicious way to question the motivations of her behavior, when so far she has done nothing but be a positive presence within the household, but Itachi is a shinobi. Suspicion is something that has been burned into his mind just as his body has been honed to kill.
Still, she is only asking of his well being and whatever her intentions, it is a kind gesture.]
I'm fine. I simply needed to change into a more comfortable shirt. Do not let me keep you from returning to sleep.
[He wonders if Kisame will awaken as well, but hopes that he is sleeping deep enough not to be bothered by their voices.]
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Sound asleep...?
That much becomes apparent when her eyes settle on Kisame, whose eyes are comfortably shut. He doesn't seem to be the least bit uncomfortable or bothered or aware (thankfully not) of the conscious state of herself and Itachi, let alone her embarrassment, so there's no need to explain anything, which is good. Very good. So good, she almost forgets herself and sighs in relief.
Almost, but not quite.
Rather, she smiles at Kisame and turns her eyes to Itachi again. Sleep. Sleep sounds good. ]
If you're certain...
[ Certain is what she wants to be about that mark on his neck. Her eyes zero in on it, tracing it carefully. Yes, she can see it clearly now that her eyes have adjusted completely and it's... no. No, that can't be right (except that it is). The shape, the detail--the mark was made by teeth sunk deep into the skin, which could only mean that Itachi... Oooh!
It clicks.
And with something of a hybrid between a smirk and a half-grin, half-smile, Valeria settles back into the warmth of the sheets, drawing them closer to herself in the process. (Does Kisame know? If he doesn't, he will...) She caps a light yawn with a gloved hand, wondering how Itachi had acquired that mark (and who and given it to him, too. She wouldn't allow anyone to get between Itachi and Kisame; she couldn't, for Kisame's sake). After a few seconds, she removes her hand from her mouth and offers a sleepy, sincere: ]
G'night, Itachi.
[ Good night, indeed, she thinks, then sets about drifting back to sleep. ]
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