Bonds

[fantheflame]

Who: Uchiha Itachi, Trafalgar Law, Uchiha Sasuke
What: A serious discussion.
When: October 19th
Where: House 22
Summary: Sasuke's back from his Mallynap - and big brother and partner have something to tell him.
Rating: PG (Possibly PG13 for swearing? We'll see.)


It had taken a while for Sasuke to convince himself it was okay to just come over. He certainly wasn't going to walk in unannounced, but even once he reached the porch, it was a long minute before he raised his hand to knock.

He had no incorrect self-assertions that it was about being polite, even when it came to Itachi. It was about whether or not he was welcome, period, and while he was slowly starting to get it into his head that he was... Ten years of distance wasn't easy to undo. (Nor, frankly, was the childish undercurrent of jealousy.)

Whatever. It was mid-afternoon when he knocked sharply but politely, straining the edges of his chakra to try to tell if they were home.

Comments

[deathsdoctor]

[The sharp tang of tomatoes in the air, and a variety of other savoury scents is a good first clue that someone's around. They waft out a partially open window where a black cat sits, nose to the wind, before turning her head to look at this new arrival.

The second clue is the presence of someone strong approaching the door and opening it. Law's behind it, casually dressed and with a quiet smile on his face. There's another cat behind him.]

Hey. Come on in.

[yourhatred]

[Itachi had been in the kitchen, but he comes out within view when Law goes to answer the door. He can tell his brother's chakra a mile away, and it's important that he's there to greet him.

The greeting itself is silent, though - a simple nod of his head. Law has already taken care of the invitation itself.]

[fantheflame]

[That smile is more comforting than Sasuke would have thought it would be. It's still hard to forget all of that crap from the Valley, fake though it might have been, and what a shit he was to Law in those memories. Memories that really weren't all that out of character for him, truth be told.]

[But there's greeting and welcome all the same, and the corners of Sasuke's lips give a small, tentative upturn of their own as he steps in, toes off his shoes, and nods in return to his brother.]

...Figured I should let you know I'm back. [Ugh, wow, he's always been bad at small talk.]

[deathsdoctor]

[A slow nod.] How are you? [... none of them are really good at small talk, really. Makes things awkward sometimes. But Law tries anyway. He's not in a position where he can avoid it.]

[He hasn't forgotten a thing from the Valley (he really doesn't forget his AU lives, though the edges do fade in time) but... to Sasuke's credit, at least he was honest in it. That's easier to deal with than something more passive aggressive and it's less infuriating. Less hurtful.

... it does make him a little tentative and concerned about how this will go, mind you. But he and Itachi will just have to deal with it as it comes.]

[yourhatred]

[The unfortunate issue in Itachi's case when it comes to his brother's disappearances is that it happens far too often. Perhaps not lately - he's been around and visible longer this time than many others - but in the past he could go months without knowing what condition his brother was in.

And he just had to deal with it.

Having him come to his doorway to announce his return is a welcome change, and he can't help his own smile as he takes a few steps further into the entryway.]

[fantheflame]

[It takes Sasuke a moment to answer that. I've been worse kind of sounds... overly melodramatic at the moment, for all that he usually doesn't give a damn whether that's the case. But he's okay. He's not hurt. He's here. And his brother is happy. It's still really bizarre to parse that last part but it's too important and good a change for Sasuke to want to fuck up.]

I'm okay.

[Not good - he sort of never is - but not implying that he's off, either.]

Being gone was weird. I'm... not sure if I imagined some things.

[His next glance toward Itachi is actually kind of sheepish. Yeah. That whole trying to stab his brother to death as a twelve-year-old thing... he's not really sure if that happened or was a fever dream or more fake memories or what. Either way he swallows and opts for paying attention to one of the cats instead of looking at either of the other humans, for the moment.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Okay is fine. No one is really good in Luceti after a while. Law isn't good. Itachi isn't good.

... they just have better days and worse days.]

That's good to hear. [...] Being in their custody isn't fun.

[Pumpkin cants her head up at Sasuke and wanders closer curiously. The ginger cat wants a good sniff. Sumire is content to stay put at her spot at the window, and Itachi's cat, Amaya, pokes her head around the corner to see what's going on.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi is wondering whether Sasuke remembers the incident when he was younger as well. If it's anything like what happened to him, than he likely does. It's not worth bringing up right now, however.]

It's enough that you're safe.

[He gestures toward the kitchen, where both he and Law had just come from.]

You should come have a seat. We'll get you something.

[fantheflame]

[Sasuke wonders, briefly, if this whole thing will ever stop being strange. Talking comfortably with Itachi, having something like a home life. Speaking comfortably with Itachi's boyfriend. He's getting over most of the jealousy of that at least (or trying to), but it's still just... strange.]

[Still, he kneels down to offer a lower profile and the back of his hand to the approaching cat, give her a rub once she's close enough, and, if she's amenable, gently lift her onto his chest and shoulder and continue to rub her chin and ears.]

[The offer of a seat and food really only adds to the feeling of strangeness, but at the same time... it's nice. He nods, going along without protest, still mostly at a loss.]

Thank you.