See me comin' to town with my soul, Straight down out of the world with my fingers

[revengeisbitter]

Day: 30
Characters: Sasuke Uchiha [revengeisbitter] and Hige [apathywolf]
Summary: Time to find out what the fuck is wrong and fix it, once and for all.
DAY/NIGHT & Time: evening
Status: closed, incomplete

Comments

[apathywolf]

It had never even really occurred to Hige exactly what the loss of his collar had implied, but once Sasuke had mentioned it, the wolf finally realized that it really was gone, torn beyond repair. His shoulders didn't have the familiar weight anymore from the collar hanging loosely around his neck. When he was a wolf, it fit more snugly around his neck, but it had been so long since he'd been seen as a wolf, trapped in this human illusion that was now very real, that he almost had begun to wonder if he even truly was a wolf anymore at all.

Sasuke's words had even made him wonder if he'd ever been a wolf in the first place. Sure, he wasn't like Blue, who was half-wolf, or Toboe who was better suited as someone's pet than a wild and free canine, but he had been kept even worse that Toboe had, without even realizing it. He couldn't remember when he'd been given the collar, but it signified his ownership by Jagara, he could remember that much, and now that Suchong had used the collar to control him as well, Hige couldn't help but wonder if he'd probably been a pet since he was a pup, never really as free and Kiba or Tsume, or even Toboe had been.

He felt different without the collar on. It was better in a way, but he felt lost, and without any idea of who he was without it. He wasn't even sure he could even be called Hige anymore, since he didn't know who that really was. Was he still Hige, or was that just a poor wolf that had been born for a noble's purpose?

Sasuke gave him courage though, the ninja's words steeling his growing certainty that this was good, that as long as Sasuke was here, the wold could still be a wolf, even if he'd changed so much by being here. Sasuke was right, for the most part. Hige was free now, he wasn't a pet or a dog, in any sense now.

"That's not true, Sasuke," He whispered softly. "I still belong to you." He pulled the boy easily into his lap, the wolf's arms wrapping around the ninja's waist as he leaned in to kiss him again, instead going to Sasuke's neck, where the mark he'd made recently had already started to fade from them being apart so long, and kissing it lightly, choosing to spare Sasuke from the acrid taste that lingered still in the wolf's mouth.

"I don't belong to anyone anymore, but I gave myself to you willingly."

He smiled a little, his typical, carefree smile that had been a mask originally, but had over time gained true meaning, the wolf finally knowing what it meant to smile like he always had.

"You look perfect, Sasuke. Beautiful... And mine." He lightly lifted the other up a little, indicating it was time to get up. "I wouldn't mind some company though, especially yours."

[revengeisbitter]

It was curious, how steadily Sasuke's perceptions of things seemed to change, each part rolling over one another--transcending, changing. So many things had culminated here: reuniting with Naruto, facing off against Deidara, meeting Hige--and yet so many things had ended: nearly losing Naruto, nearly dying by Deidara's hand, being pulled away from Hige. He'd been so sure that somehow, the staff here would reach beyond the things that could heal and repair and find something in him that could never be replaced, taking it out and wrecking it forever.

He'd been so sure he'd lose Hige, just like he lost his family. He'd never imagined anything could induce the same fear, confusion and grief that night had inspired in him, but-- When he'd thought Hige would be taken away from him, after he'd revealed so much to the other boy, finally let himself out, let someone else in-- His throat had started to close, burning, his legs had shook, his eyes had prickled, and he'd just told himself over and over move, move, move...

He could count the times he'd felt fear like that on one hand, and... It surprised him, how similar the emotions had been. It surprised him, how easily he could slip into the guise of that frightened child, though this time--this time, he wasn't helpless.

He'd never let someone he loved die in front of him ever again.

A low purring sound rolled in his throat as he was pulled close, settling comfortably in Hige's lap and relishing the closeness. It was thrilling, how their hearts seemed to bounce back and forth again, striking each other somewhere between their bodies. Sasuke's jerked, twisted in midair at the sound of Hige's words, falling back into his chest, where it pumped blood vigorously straight to his face.

"I'd never treat you like--he did," he muttered, struggling to focus as Hige's lips trailed over the sensitive flesh of his throat. "You're free to make your own choices...though..."

He smirked at the other, shifting a little on his lap teasingly. "Except you aren't allowed to chase girls anymore. That's my only rule."

Blushing a little more at the compliment, and stood up reluctantly, tugging at Hige's hand and feeling like something had bubbled up in his chest, frothing merrily to the surface of himself. It took him a moment to realise it was happiness.

"You won't have any company but mine," he said simply. "Now come on... I'm spending all day with you, so you'd better not have any more plans. You're mine."