[Voice]

[earned_my_eyes]

[The Forge clicks on with the ease of someone’s who has used it before, who still remembers, who couldn’t forget if he tried. There is no scuffle of feet against the ground, oh no, but there’s the wind whispering against the microphone, suggesting movement, quick movement. Quiet movement.

[Going home didn’t change much.]

Again.

[Surprise, but it

Comments

[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

You're you. [Slightly surprised. Him. Sasuke. A younger him. Which is a relief because it means the older him is where he's supposed to be. These worlds don't do duplicates all at once after all.] I see.

[And he remembers. Which gives Naruto a choice of two to pick from. Perhaps three - he almost hopes three as opposed to the idea that Sasuke could ever have said those things to Sakura, but he knows that two is more likely.]

As unnecessary as the words might be, welcome back.

[ voice -> Video]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Who else would I be, idiot?, he wanted to ask, but bit it back with a marginal amount of self-control. Something was different, something about the tone, about the words chosen, about it...

[It was Naruto, sure, never doubted it for a second as he knew that voice as well as he knew his own, but he sounded... older. The tone was different. Sasuke blinked and stared down at the Forge, knowing he hadn't been gone long, no way, not at all. So, was he really here at all then? Was the flow of time that different? Was this a dream, or...worse?

[Hissing, he turned on the video, scowling a little more, though with an odd air of curiosity painting it.]

Why welcome me when you know it's not where I want to be?

[ voice ]

[couragetodare]

[It's strange, the differences between this Sasuke and the one he knows inside out. The impatience, the odd air of ... immaturity. It's also slightly jarring, perhaps the first thing to really jar him since arriving back here. But Sasuke always did have a knack for that.

He smiles. But he doesn't switch to video. Sasuke looks young. Naruto's caught with the sudden urge to ruffle his hair and knows it's inappropriate.]

The feeling behind it stands. Even if this isn't where you want to be, it's where you are right now, and I'm glad to see you.

[ voice ]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Everything was guarded, he knew it, could feel it. Maybe it was that weird tone of voice, or the safe, close-kept answers he was giving, but either way, Sasuke wasn't able to place it. Something was different, something was...altered, wrong here.

[The video was switched off, the voice kept on; it was easier to move and speak rather than move and text, and Sasuke wasn't ready to stop yet.]

How long was I gone? [To the point. Brief and punctual.]

[ Voice | Private ]

[prodigal_liar]

I have nowhere else to go, little brother. Nowhere else I should be.

[A pause that lingers... and then he interrupts it, words spoken softly, warmly... somehow a little distantly. Evidence of worry. Worry this is all... just another trick. Another illusion. Something that will slip through his fingers and vanish when the sun comes up tomorrow.]

Whenever you are ready, I am.

[You know what for, Sasuke.]

[ Voice | Private ]

[earned_my_eyes]

Of course not.

[Because the alternative didn't exist, not really. Not for Itachi, anyway, and Sasuke was reminded of that rather suddenly, wasn't he? The cruel hammer that descended out of nowhere and struck the second he left this pit of a city?

[There was nothing but here for his brother.]

An hour.

[Always leaving Sasuke to set the time, aren't you?]

[ Voice | Private ]

[prodigal_liar]

I'll be waiting.

[He's a lot more eager than his tone implies.]

[ Voice | Private ]

[earned_my_eyes]

Hm.

[You aren't the only one, Itachi. You aren't the only one. Still, either one of them were ever very good with their words, were they?]

[Voice]

[sucker_punches]

... Sasuke?

[No honorific, they're past that... at least, she and her Sasuke are. The Sasuke ten years older, and this one isn't that one. She can almost hear the years he's lost; or rather, hasn't gained yet. Teenaged Sasuke.

It's surreal.

Yet... he remembers Anatole, which means he must be familiar to her. But she doesn't know what to say immediately, and is therefore stunned into uncharacteristic silence.]

[Voice]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Don't think that he doesn't notice, Sakura. He wants to chalk it up as simple shock that he's returned; he wouldn't know any better anyway. There's no way for him to understand the scope of what's happening in this stupid place, to know what's happened to the people.

[Or rather, want's GOING to happen.]

Mm. [A pause.] Where are you?

[Voice | Private]

[sucker_punches]

What do you remember about this place?

[Notice how she doesn't answer his question. She doesn't need Naruto's warning to know to exercise some caution--some restraint--and find out information before she goes giving any away. She's grown up.

It hurts, though, acting as though she doesn't trust him.]

... how old are you?

[Voice | Private]

[earned_my_eyes]

Everything.

[Vague much? But he wasn't about to mince words, wasn't about to go down the long list of issues they had here, the life that extended along it. It wasn't easier to simply answer it and mov--

[--Her voice was different, too. Different than the one he remembered. Deeper. Smoother. Older.

[Two could play at ignoring questions.]

What happened here?

[slaythemoon]

You know, I can think of somebody who'd take those words as invitation to a fight, but he probably doesn't know you, so you're lucky.

[ Voice ]

[earned_my_eyes]

I guess it's good for him that he isn't here, then. [Cocky much?]

[ Voice ]

[slaythemoon]

Yeah, you're probably right... He'd enjoy having someone else to beat the shit out of. [He's just going to leave the "that isn't me" off of the end of that sentence.]

[ Voice ]

[earned_my_eyes]

[Oh, you can't see him, but he's so linefacing at you.] You're not referring to me. [It's not a question, Ichigo. It's a statement.]