[ Itachi comes and the world seems to still, hanging on by a single gossamer thread as the man pumps him full of seed. With a weak groan, Stiles shudders through the sensation. He expects to feel come dripping down his ass from his sore, abused hole only to find that Itachi’s cock has sealed every last drop inside him, that channel too tight to allow even a trickle of ejaculate to pass. There’s a part of him, greedy and obsessive and manic, that revels in this – in keeping the essence of the other man buried deep inside him, molecular proof of a claim Itachi has staked on his body. Another part of him, unromantic and pragmatic, simply wants to shower. Badly.
His breath hitches on a small, pained gasp as Itachi disengages, leg muscles seizing up stiffly from where they’re still locked behind the shinobi’s back. A wince creases his countenance briefly, though it’s quickly eased away by the considerate thumb dragging along the edge of his jaw. Smiling helplessly, he catches that hand to press his mouth against the bloodied finger pad. ]
Ah huh, [ he croaks, pausing to lick the blood away with a slow, hot drag of his tongue. Then, pressing a kiss to Itachi’s palm, Stiles continues, ] Just a little woozy, stud. That was…
[ An effort to leverage himself up onto his elbows is hastily abandoned, his aching body demanding a reprieve from all activity. His smile shifts into a goofy, dazed grin. ]
That was… Wow. [ Finally, his ankles uncross and allow him to slowly lower his legs back down to the mattress, each limb prickling from pins and needles due to the prolonged elevation. ] Kinda blew my mind.
[ But through Synchrony he senses that sharp dip in mood from Itachi, there and gone so quickly he almost wonders if he imagined it. Brows knitting, he reaches out to carefully pull free the sweat-matted strands of hair sticking to Itachi’s face, tucking them behind the man’s ear. ]
[He'd noticed. Though the low swing of mood does not linger, soon sealed out with ease of practice, emotions between them are a rainbowed, patterned familiarity of intimacy. Of course he'd noticed. Itachi moves to shake his head, but is stilled by the touch of fingers at his face. Hair curls over an ear. Eyelashes droop low, gaze venturing over the bare inches of Stiles' body next to him, distraction front and center, palm tingling where Stiles had kissed it in that warm passing gesture.
Eventually Itachi eases backward, legs crossed on the bed. Tension feels looser through his body than usual. In the aftermath of a powerful orgasm, drowsiness is like a gauze over his mind, and it seems irrational to stick on a single fleeting thought—even if his brain follows paths of negativity with ingrained habit.]
Yes, I'm fine. [And he means it. Eternally better at actions than words, he reaches to entangle their fingers, thumb rubbing the silky inside of Stiles' bare wrist. Then he tugs.] Will you shower with me this time?
[It's something he has never done before with another person. In light of novel experiences, he finds that he would like to see Stiles naked and wet and clean under his hands, even in a non-sexual context.]
[ Something, ephemeral yet poignant, had coursed powerfully through their shared connection, a bitter taste of poison in a glass of otherwise perfectly aged wine. Stiles wants to push the issue. Communication is key between them – not only because they’re now officially in a relationship, but also because Itachi is an intensely private individual who has a nasty habit of keeping important details to himself. That said, the bulk of his concerns are alleviated when the man entwines their fingers, Synchrony confirming Itachi’s claim in a clear, melodious song of contentment. So, in the interest of keeping the peace, he allows the subject to drop instead of hounding it like a dog for once. ]
Definitely.
[ However, Stiles remains where he is, splayed out on the mattress with come slowly dribbling from his ass. Every attempt to move, muscles tensing to react to his will, has him sinking further into the bedding with exhaustion. ]
…Think I’m gonna need a boost outta bed, though, [ he admits, rubbing his free hand over his face wearily. ] My legs feel like jelly.
[ Hips wiggling in an entirely non-sexual manner, he tries to wrestle himself toward the bottom of the bed. ]
[A brow hikes at the humorous display, any thoughts linked to previous emotions washed out in the face of this moment now: relaxed, amusing, pleasantly warm. Sentiments he rarely felt prior to his exposure to this particular boy. Strange to recognize, even now. And still brightly new—he has no count of the days that have passed since Tsukuyomi, since Club Penance and all that transpired during their stay in Hell, but he knows the number is lower than even he can guess at.
Itachi rises fluidly from the bed, smirk shaping his mouth from its usual neutral line.]
I'll have to remember that next time you request that I don't hold back. [Low, subtle teasing.] Perhaps I overestimated what you could endure.
[He reaches for Stiles, pulling, grip firming in a hold that soon hauls him up into leanly powerful arms, sweeping his weight into a bridal carry, uncaring of the mess between them. One hand strays dangerously and purposely close to the boy's ass, dripping slick with his own come, just to squeeze over the faint blue-bruised marks coloring to life. Then he heads toward the adjoined bathroom with his stolen burden.]
[ A squawk of genuine surprise is jettisoned from his throat as he’s swept up into a pair of arms, his own automatically moving to loop around Itachi’s slender neck. The cruel, pointed pressure against his forming bruises has him jolting in place, eyes wide with shock when it summons the pained dregs of desire in his groin. God, even after all that, his overworked body is still balancing precariously on the edge of arousal. He wants to claim that he couldn’t possibly come again, that he’s been wrung dry, but as Itachi purposefully presses long fingers into his blue-and-purpling skin – well, Stiles has always been a bit of a masochist.
What really causes his breath to catch though is that quietly sly smirk playing at a mouth that’s usually constrained to cool, dispassionate emotions. Stiles swallows, heart fluttering rapidly in his chest, and then squirms to close the distance between their faces, pressing his lips to the underside of an angular jaw. ]
Oh, shut up, [ he grumbles unconvincingly, resting his head against Itachi’s shoulder. ] I totally endured. My mortal body just needs a little bit to recharge.
[ Confidently, Stiles continues: ] I could’ve taken more punishment. Don’t underestimate me, pal.
[In the short distance between bed and bathroom, Itachi's hold tightens, a possessive cradle of the boy's body against his own lean front that he is not wholly conscious of doing, chin tucked over the crown of a head. Only when they reach their destination and he's lit the interior with a bony jab of an elbow at the lightswitch does he relinquish the grip, easing Stiles down onto his own bare feet where he may more easily use the wall for support.]
So you say.
[Smoothly sliding off the drawstring slacks he still wears, these are folded over the counter of the sink. Then he crosses tile to turn on the shower, knob twisted hot, glass door slid open, naked body stretched forward in the gap to reach. His voice carries in the acoustic space.]
Can you manage to stand on your own, or will I need to carry you inside as well?
[ In spite of the bold words, Stiles is shaky on his feet when returned to them. His legs tremble noticeably, back arched and shoulders hunched as if he were still stuck in the same position from when they were fucking. Hand on the wall for support, he tries smoothing out the bowlegged stance one limb at a time, ignoring the sensation of cooling come drying on the inside of his thighs. Naturally, his attention wanders the moment that Itachi fully undresses, brown eyes greedily drinking in the sight of the other man naked with hair loose and disheveled.
Itachi is, undeniably, beautiful.
Feet slapping noisily on the tile as he approaches, Stiles slumps over that long, lean body with his own, nestling his hips firmly against Itachi’s backside and hands clasping in front of the shinobi. It’s an intimate embrace, partially ruined by his need for physical support as the blood flow returns to his legs. ]
Such a smartass, [ he remarks fondly, sinking his teeth into the man’s shoulder in a playful nip that leaves a reddened imprint behind. ] Just get in the damn shower already. I’m dripping all over your floor.
[ And then he’s pushing forward, urging Itachi forward into the water’s spray with his hips. ]
[Although he hears the slap of heels on tile at Stiles' approach, that loose and lazy embrace still manages to successfully disarm him, warmth pooling at every point of contact between bare bodies as he allows himself to be ushered into the glass stall from behind. Stiles' hips nudging at the small of his back - in combination with that blunt pinch of teeth - summon arousal into his belly, as though he hadn't glutted his appetite mere minutes ago in bed.
Itachi tests the temperature with one hand, fingers splayed, then slides beneath the rain of water obligingly. It skews on the hotter end of the spectrum; their skin flushes pale pink in moments, a scalding spray that soothes shoulders into a loose and pliant slope. It also brightens the flesh around the bite marks in his throat, which Itachi deliberately tilts out of direct contact with the hot water.]
... Earlier, I hadn't responded, but this injury came from Guanshan. He was feral due to Malachite's influence and attacked me. [His voice remains low and calm in the small space, cheek slightly turned, dark eyes seeking sight of Stiles at his back. Black hair is soon soaked and plastered down nape and spine.] I was forced to incapacitate him until he calmed down and returned to normal. Nothing significant happened between us otherwise.
[A clarification that targets Stiles' insinuation before, that it might have been sexual in nature.]
[ Steam gathers in the shower stall as a cloud of moisture, rising heavily off flesh from where heated bullets of water pelt them. The temperature is ruthless. Perfect. Enjoying the sensation of sore muscles gradually loosening beneath the spray, Stiles stretches languidly – movement that briefly peels his body away from Itachi’s before he crowds close once again, purposefully aligning their hips. Even spent as he is, Stiles remains overcome by an emotional need to suffocate all distance separating them. He clings, uncaring of how needy it may come across as. And if he rubs himself slowly against the other man’s backside, flaccid dick dragging up and down the pinkening swell of ass cheeks? Who can possibly blame him. Stiles is young, horny, and in love; a recipe for disaster. ]
What a jackass.
[ Finger pads drift over the bite wound, as if he could soothe the injury away, and then he’s turning his attention toward the water-logged hair spilling down smooth shoulders. Stiles carefully angles Itachi’s head directly under the showerhead, then sets his fingers to the other man’s scalp, gently massaging as dark strands stick to his wrists.
It’s hard to think, stuck in a daze of post-orgasmic bliss as he is. But the relief Stiles feels should be palpable through Synchrony; he’s glad Itachi isn’t deliberately keeping him in the dark. As for Guanshan – the redhead got his comeuppance when Stiles encountered him. One feral bite for another. Too bad Stiles’ packed more of a punch. ]
While we’re clearing things up… Why’d you leave the closet, that time on the space station? I get that you came back now, but at the time…I thought you were taking off on me.
[Glass goes opaque with the heat of water, tiny droplets tracking lines his eyes follow as Stiles molds against his spine in a warm and slippery press. Somehow the embrace is more intimate than anything they've yet shared, a brand of physical affection he abides for the first time in his life. No necessity in the proximity. The way Stiles' soft cock tucks into the crease of his ass, body hair tickling skin, hips framed together—Synchrony is a constant low pulse between them, mingling vestigial emotion in a wide channel like an open vein. The light of purple and green gems casts a pretty, electric-colored pattern on the white tile.
As hands push into the wet, heavy strands of hair plastered to his face and neck, Itachi's head obediently tips forward beneath the spray. His eyes close. The moment is a relaxed eternity. Stiles' words hang unanswered for an endured period of time; his slight weight leans, using the boy for support as much as he himself is used.]
Mmm. [The sound gives the vague impression of a cat purring. A lifetime's burden of tension seems to ease from the tight angle of slim shoulders, chin lowered to his chest. Speaking is slow and measured when it eventually comes.] ... I had to clean off. You'd managed to dirty my face and hair.
[There's no blame in the statement, only quietly threaded amusement and drowsiness.]
[ In the pregnant silence that follows his question, Stiles simply exists – enjoying the quiet victory of successful teamwork as they prop each other up through leaning against one another, weight gently seesawing back and forth between them. He tips at the perfect angle to nuzzle the skin joining neck to shoulder, mouth pressing lazy kisses there. It would be easy, too easy, to nod off like this. The idea tempts him as he cards his hands through wet tresses, raking the dried sweat out of Itachi’s hair in slow, methodical passes.
Ask about the tattoo, he thinks sleepily, exhaustion steadily claiming him even as his hips ambitiously roll forward into a firm backside. You always forget to ask about it.
But then Itachi speaks, low voice almost hypnotic in the curtain of steam and water pulled around them. It makes sense, given the man’s track record; after almost all their instances of intimacy, Itachi has made a point to shower afterward. Fastidious to a fault, it seems. Stiles sighs in exasperation, thinking back on his own teenage angst over why the shinobi had so abruptly departed from the storage closet, and then drops one hand to vengefully pinch a nipple. ]
You need to communicate that kind of thing, [ he admonishes without heat, fingers thumbing over the irritated, peaked nipple with the same care that his other hand still strokes through dark locks. ] I thought I did something wrong.
The shirt, though… [ Stiles trails off, pausing to consider how to answer. ] I wanted something of yours to keep. What can I say? I’m a sentimental guy.
[ Despite the nonchalant humor he injects into these words, there’s a slight tension to his body that hadn’t been present before. ]
Gonna let me have it? I’ll buy you a new one, if you want.
[A hiss answers the pinch, body flinching as fingers tweak at a sensitive nipple; his hand raises automatically to leash Stiles' wrist in a strong squeeze in case he should pursue other similar avenues of revenge. It hadn't even occurred to him to tell Stiles before he left - he assumed he would return soon enough, and the boy would be waiting. Yet it isn't the first time Stiles has ever acted against his expectations. It was easier to predict behavior in combat; this realm of interpersonal intimacy, on the other hand, is entirely new.
He could also argue that coming in his hair was a misstep, but it would not be true. At least not with the gravity Stiles suggests.]
No, that's all right. [The comment comes after a pause, as he considers what Stiles' attachment to such an arbitrary belonging as his shirt means. The clothing holds no significant meaning to him. It is easily replaced, less valuable by far than the boy's evident desire to possess it. A slight shift of movement has Itachi turning around in the shower, gently disengaging from hands in wet hair, so that they stand face to face. Eye to eye. His expression is relaxed, undemanding of an explanation. Pale fingers lift to pass once through Stiles' own hair, slick and short, almost black where it has pasted to temples and forehead.] I don't need it. Though I hope you've washed it since then.
[Soft, accusatory humor as he reaches next for soap to soak a clean hand cloth and begin lathering his own body.]
What conclusion did you come to, that time we were discussing Donovan? [Itachi's voice reverts to sober seriousness like the snap of a band. His mind has lingered on this question for days, now.] Was what I allowed too much?
[ The tension that had started to wind through his slender, trim frame abruptly unspools from his body upon hearing that Itachi will allow him to keep the shirt. Brown eyes slide shut, Stiles sighing in quiet contentment as a hand cards through his hair – tilting his head back to expose his flushed throat, the white scar there standing out in stark contrast to the pinkened skin.
It’s a relief that the other man chose not to pursue a line of questioning over the stolen article of clothing. Stiles isn’t quite ready to put into words his human need to own something real and tangible of Itachi’s. Something to keep him company at night when he wakes up from the nightmares. Something to hold when the homesickness begins to chafe his heart too raw. Something to cherish should Itachi ever vanish without warning from this dimension. If he could, he’d carry along with him a piece of everyone dear to his heart – his dad, Jonas, Sasuke, Itachi, Fenris. Oh, if only he could.
Stiles opens his eyes. ]
No, [ he answers softly, expression twisting with a bittersweet smile. ] It wasn’t too much.
[ For a moment, he watches the shinobi lather the soap in silence. Then he reaches toward the unfamiliar bottles sitting on the shelf, checking both before selecting the one labeled shampoo. Pouring a generous amount on his palm, he begins the painstaking process of washing Itachi’s hair. Both hands knead the mixture into the scalp, tendons flexing in his arms as he pays especially close yet gentle attention to the roots. ]
I don’t remember how much I’ve explained to you, but I broke up with Malia and my best friend Scott over what happened with Donovan. [ Somehow, what should be a fraught memory is recalled calmly, the bulk of his attention dedicated to what his hands are doing. ] Scott accused me of murdering Donovan in cold blood and refused to let me explain what actually went down. I guess part of me is still reconciling the fact I’ll never be what Scott wants me to be. I’m…different.
[ Touched by the Nogitsune, nursing a dangerous darkness in his soul. Stiles used to regret it; after Itachi, he’s not so sure he wants to, anymore. ]
[If Itachi notices the easing tension in that posture, he makes no comment of it. The reasons may still be nebulous to him, but that doesn't mean he'll deny any sentimentality attached to the boy's behavior. At this point it would make him an outright hypocrite. His simple indulgence in everything Stiles -- this shower, their relationship, the activities that had occured in his bedroom tonight -- is all driven by that same trench of sentiment. The measure of its expression is less important.
As Stiles goes on to explain, he angles his head obediently for careful hands at a sensitive scalp, chin jutted up to avoid any soap sliding into eyes. The moment is slow, quiet, meditative. Relaxation spreads through his limbs with a diffusive lull. It feels impossible to imagine turning someone away for murder, especially in the defense of one's own life; he reminds himself that their worlds are not the same. Their experiences are not shared.
He does not know Scott, but even though the tug of dislike is small, he still notices it.]
Stiles. [Low and calm in its certainty.] If you were not different, it's unlikely you and I would be here now.
[He transfers the sudsy cloth to Stiles' body, cleaning it off in meticulous drags, down arms and across shoulders, over his chest and flat belly.]
[ The tone of Itachi’s voice when he speaks commands Stiles’ attention. Fingers slipping away from the scalp that’s been thoroughly shampooed, he stares across the short distance separating them and listens to what the other man has to say. A strong emotion swells up in his chest, hotter than even the water descending on them from the showerhead. Had he the energy for it, Stiles might have cried. The idea that, after everything he’s done, there remains someone close to him who prefers him to be himself – no matter how fucked up he may have become – is honestly overwhelming. With a shuddery exhale, he leans forward to prop his forehead against Itachi’s shoulder. ]
…Thanks, [ he chokes out, throat tight, even as his thoughts instead form the words I love you with fierce, unyielding devotion. ] I…
[ Stiles trails off, unable to finish the sentence. But Synchrony conveys some of what he wants to admit, pouring a small flood of affection and gratitude over their open channel like thickened syrup. In the end, there’s little more to say; they continue to wash each other with methodical care, then eventually retire to the bedroom. Though Itachi presents him with his back, Stiles wastes no time in curling up against it, loosely curled fists pressed to skin and face nuzzling a shoulder. He sleeps better than he has in months that night, evidently too exhausted for nightmares or sleep walking. And when he wakes up and finds Itachi still in bed with him?
Smiling to himself, he gazes at the back of the man’s head on the pillow, black hair fanned out like rivers of spilt ink, and thinks those dangerous three words again. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
His breath hitches on a small, pained gasp as Itachi disengages, leg muscles seizing up stiffly from where they’re still locked behind the shinobi’s back. A wince creases his countenance briefly, though it’s quickly eased away by the considerate thumb dragging along the edge of his jaw. Smiling helplessly, he catches that hand to press his mouth against the bloodied finger pad. ]
Ah huh, [ he croaks, pausing to lick the blood away with a slow, hot drag of his tongue. Then, pressing a kiss to Itachi’s palm, Stiles continues, ] Just a little woozy, stud. That was…
[ An effort to leverage himself up onto his elbows is hastily abandoned, his aching body demanding a reprieve from all activity. His smile shifts into a goofy, dazed grin. ]
That was… Wow. [ Finally, his ankles uncross and allow him to slowly lower his legs back down to the mattress, each limb prickling from pins and needles due to the prolonged elevation. ] Kinda blew my mind.
[ But through Synchrony he senses that sharp dip in mood from Itachi, there and gone so quickly he almost wonders if he imagined it. Brows knitting, he reaches out to carefully pull free the sweat-matted strands of hair sticking to Itachi’s face, tucking them behind the man’s ear. ]
How ‘bout you? Everything okay…?
no subject
Eventually Itachi eases backward, legs crossed on the bed. Tension feels looser through his body than usual. In the aftermath of a powerful orgasm, drowsiness is like a gauze over his mind, and it seems irrational to stick on a single fleeting thought—even if his brain follows paths of negativity with ingrained habit.]
Yes, I'm fine. [And he means it. Eternally better at actions than words, he reaches to entangle their fingers, thumb rubbing the silky inside of Stiles' bare wrist. Then he tugs.] Will you shower with me this time?
[It's something he has never done before with another person. In light of novel experiences, he finds that he would like to see Stiles naked and wet and clean under his hands, even in a non-sexual context.]
no subject
Definitely.
[ However, Stiles remains where he is, splayed out on the mattress with come slowly dribbling from his ass. Every attempt to move, muscles tensing to react to his will, has him sinking further into the bedding with exhaustion. ]
…Think I’m gonna need a boost outta bed, though, [ he admits, rubbing his free hand over his face wearily. ] My legs feel like jelly.
[ Hips wiggling in an entirely non-sexual manner, he tries to wrestle himself toward the bottom of the bed. ]
no subject
Itachi rises fluidly from the bed, smirk shaping his mouth from its usual neutral line.]
I'll have to remember that next time you request that I don't hold back. [Low, subtle teasing.] Perhaps I overestimated what you could endure.
[He reaches for Stiles, pulling, grip firming in a hold that soon hauls him up into leanly powerful arms, sweeping his weight into a bridal carry, uncaring of the mess between them. One hand strays dangerously and purposely close to the boy's ass, dripping slick with his own come, just to squeeze over the faint blue-bruised marks coloring to life. Then he heads toward the adjoined bathroom with his stolen burden.]
no subject
What really causes his breath to catch though is that quietly sly smirk playing at a mouth that’s usually constrained to cool, dispassionate emotions. Stiles swallows, heart fluttering rapidly in his chest, and then squirms to close the distance between their faces, pressing his lips to the underside of an angular jaw. ]
Oh, shut up, [ he grumbles unconvincingly, resting his head against Itachi’s shoulder. ] I totally endured. My mortal body just needs a little bit to recharge.
[ Confidently, Stiles continues: ] I could’ve taken more punishment. Don’t underestimate me, pal.
no subject
So you say.
[Smoothly sliding off the drawstring slacks he still wears, these are folded over the counter of the sink. Then he crosses tile to turn on the shower, knob twisted hot, glass door slid open, naked body stretched forward in the gap to reach. His voice carries in the acoustic space.]
Can you manage to stand on your own, or will I need to carry you inside as well?
no subject
Itachi is, undeniably, beautiful.
Feet slapping noisily on the tile as he approaches, Stiles slumps over that long, lean body with his own, nestling his hips firmly against Itachi’s backside and hands clasping in front of the shinobi. It’s an intimate embrace, partially ruined by his need for physical support as the blood flow returns to his legs. ]
Such a smartass, [ he remarks fondly, sinking his teeth into the man’s shoulder in a playful nip that leaves a reddened imprint behind. ] Just get in the damn shower already. I’m dripping all over your floor.
[ And then he’s pushing forward, urging Itachi forward into the water’s spray with his hips. ]
no subject
Itachi tests the temperature with one hand, fingers splayed, then slides beneath the rain of water obligingly. It skews on the hotter end of the spectrum; their skin flushes pale pink in moments, a scalding spray that soothes shoulders into a loose and pliant slope. It also brightens the flesh around the bite marks in his throat, which Itachi deliberately tilts out of direct contact with the hot water.]
... Earlier, I hadn't responded, but this injury came from Guanshan. He was feral due to Malachite's influence and attacked me. [His voice remains low and calm in the small space, cheek slightly turned, dark eyes seeking sight of Stiles at his back. Black hair is soon soaked and plastered down nape and spine.] I was forced to incapacitate him until he calmed down and returned to normal. Nothing significant happened between us otherwise.
[A clarification that targets Stiles' insinuation before, that it might have been sexual in nature.]
no subject
What a jackass.
[ Finger pads drift over the bite wound, as if he could soothe the injury away, and then he’s turning his attention toward the water-logged hair spilling down smooth shoulders. Stiles carefully angles Itachi’s head directly under the showerhead, then sets his fingers to the other man’s scalp, gently massaging as dark strands stick to his wrists.
It’s hard to think, stuck in a daze of post-orgasmic bliss as he is. But the relief Stiles feels should be palpable through Synchrony; he’s glad Itachi isn’t deliberately keeping him in the dark. As for Guanshan – the redhead got his comeuppance when Stiles encountered him. One feral bite for another. Too bad Stiles’ packed more of a punch. ]
While we’re clearing things up… Why’d you leave the closet, that time on the space station? I get that you came back now, but at the time…I thought you were taking off on me.
no subject
As hands push into the wet, heavy strands of hair plastered to his face and neck, Itachi's head obediently tips forward beneath the spray. His eyes close. The moment is a relaxed eternity. Stiles' words hang unanswered for an endured period of time; his slight weight leans, using the boy for support as much as he himself is used.]
Mmm. [The sound gives the vague impression of a cat purring. A lifetime's burden of tension seems to ease from the tight angle of slim shoulders, chin lowered to his chest. Speaking is slow and measured when it eventually comes.] ... I had to clean off. You'd managed to dirty my face and hair.
[There's no blame in the statement, only quietly threaded amusement and drowsiness.]
Why did you take my shirt?
no subject
Ask about the tattoo, he thinks sleepily, exhaustion steadily claiming him even as his hips ambitiously roll forward into a firm backside. You always forget to ask about it.
But then Itachi speaks, low voice almost hypnotic in the curtain of steam and water pulled around them. It makes sense, given the man’s track record; after almost all their instances of intimacy, Itachi has made a point to shower afterward. Fastidious to a fault, it seems. Stiles sighs in exasperation, thinking back on his own teenage angst over why the shinobi had so abruptly departed from the storage closet, and then drops one hand to vengefully pinch a nipple. ]
You need to communicate that kind of thing, [ he admonishes without heat, fingers thumbing over the irritated, peaked nipple with the same care that his other hand still strokes through dark locks. ] I thought I did something wrong.
The shirt, though… [ Stiles trails off, pausing to consider how to answer. ] I wanted something of yours to keep. What can I say? I’m a sentimental guy.
[ Despite the nonchalant humor he injects into these words, there’s a slight tension to his body that hadn’t been present before. ]
Gonna let me have it? I’ll buy you a new one, if you want.
no subject
He could also argue that coming in his hair was a misstep, but it would not be true. At least not with the gravity Stiles suggests.]
No, that's all right. [The comment comes after a pause, as he considers what Stiles' attachment to such an arbitrary belonging as his shirt means. The clothing holds no significant meaning to him. It is easily replaced, less valuable by far than the boy's evident desire to possess it. A slight shift of movement has Itachi turning around in the shower, gently disengaging from hands in wet hair, so that they stand face to face. Eye to eye. His expression is relaxed, undemanding of an explanation. Pale fingers lift to pass once through Stiles' own hair, slick and short, almost black where it has pasted to temples and forehead.] I don't need it. Though I hope you've washed it since then.
[Soft, accusatory humor as he reaches next for soap to soak a clean hand cloth and begin lathering his own body.]
What conclusion did you come to, that time we were discussing Donovan? [Itachi's voice reverts to sober seriousness like the snap of a band. His mind has lingered on this question for days, now.] Was what I allowed too much?
no subject
It’s a relief that the other man chose not to pursue a line of questioning over the stolen article of clothing. Stiles isn’t quite ready to put into words his human need to own something real and tangible of Itachi’s. Something to keep him company at night when he wakes up from the nightmares. Something to hold when the homesickness begins to chafe his heart too raw. Something to cherish should Itachi ever vanish without warning from this dimension. If he could, he’d carry along with him a piece of everyone dear to his heart – his dad, Jonas, Sasuke, Itachi, Fenris. Oh, if only he could.
Stiles opens his eyes. ]
No, [ he answers softly, expression twisting with a bittersweet smile. ] It wasn’t too much.
[ For a moment, he watches the shinobi lather the soap in silence. Then he reaches toward the unfamiliar bottles sitting on the shelf, checking both before selecting the one labeled shampoo. Pouring a generous amount on his palm, he begins the painstaking process of washing Itachi’s hair. Both hands knead the mixture into the scalp, tendons flexing in his arms as he pays especially close yet gentle attention to the roots. ]
I don’t remember how much I’ve explained to you, but I broke up with Malia and my best friend Scott over what happened with Donovan. [ Somehow, what should be a fraught memory is recalled calmly, the bulk of his attention dedicated to what his hands are doing. ] Scott accused me of murdering Donovan in cold blood and refused to let me explain what actually went down. I guess part of me is still reconciling the fact I’ll never be what Scott wants me to be. I’m…different.
[ Touched by the Nogitsune, nursing a dangerous darkness in his soul. Stiles used to regret it; after Itachi, he’s not so sure he wants to, anymore. ]
no subject
As Stiles goes on to explain, he angles his head obediently for careful hands at a sensitive scalp, chin jutted up to avoid any soap sliding into eyes. The moment is slow, quiet, meditative. Relaxation spreads through his limbs with a diffusive lull. It feels impossible to imagine turning someone away for murder, especially in the defense of one's own life; he reminds himself that their worlds are not the same. Their experiences are not shared.
He does not know Scott, but even though the tug of dislike is small, he still notices it.]
Stiles. [Low and calm in its certainty.] If you were not different, it's unlikely you and I would be here now.
[He transfers the sudsy cloth to Stiles' body, cleaning it off in meticulous drags, down arms and across shoulders, over his chest and flat belly.]
I wouldn't change that.
no subject
…Thanks, [ he chokes out, throat tight, even as his thoughts instead form the words I love you with fierce, unyielding devotion. ] I…
[ Stiles trails off, unable to finish the sentence. But Synchrony conveys some of what he wants to admit, pouring a small flood of affection and gratitude over their open channel like thickened syrup. In the end, there’s little more to say; they continue to wash each other with methodical care, then eventually retire to the bedroom. Though Itachi presents him with his back, Stiles wastes no time in curling up against it, loosely curled fists pressed to skin and face nuzzling a shoulder. He sleeps better than he has in months that night, evidently too exhausted for nightmares or sleep walking. And when he wakes up and finds Itachi still in bed with him?
Smiling to himself, he gazes at the back of the man’s head on the pillow, black hair fanned out like rivers of spilt ink, and thinks those dangerous three words again. ]