Only being with a copy of myself is unappealing to me. If it is with you...
[And he is imagining it again—being able to see Stiles at his mercy from that perspective, as an audience, a fantasy previously possible only through genjutsu made into reality.]
["Spitroasted"... why are you inflicting this word upon him.]
That is why I left.
I was reading historical documents about this world. I had some time free. What are you doing today, aside from imagining inappropriate uses of my abilities?
[ As much as he's tempted to tease Itachi about getting hot and bothered in the library – ]
The next time you're going to swing by the library, let me know. I'm pretty good at weaseling out useful information. It was kind of my role back home.
[ Plus, he'd like to spend time with Itachi. ]
I'm at work, believe it or not. Amazing how being surrounded by dildos all morning will have an influence on the direction of your thoughts. Inappropriate uses of your abilities was inevitable. Also? I'd just like to point out that YOU'RE the one who has inflicted poor little unsuspecting me with said inappropriate uses of your abilities TWICE now. I'm just a victim. And an addict.
That doesn't surprise me. I still remember the first memory of yours I saw.
[Playing detective while the rest of his friends looked on with doubt. Few others would have pursued his own history with the same sort of persistence.
Also, fair argument. But he won't relinquish his pride.]
If not for your... influence on me over time, I suspect I'd never have thought to use my abilities in those ways. So you are at least partly responsible. You did force that book on me in Aefenglom.
My INFLUENCE! As if I'm some corrupting force set on debauching you with my lustful energies. Maybe I was an incubus in a past life. Think I'd look hot with horns?
Also, I totally resent the idea I "forced" that book on you. It was capitalism at its finest. You paid for the book fair and square. And it was SO tame. I have books here in Worst Dragon that'd bleach your pubic hairs gray.
Listen, this is like the patented “Does this dress make me look fat?” question girls like to ask guys. Just tell me the horns would make me look good, okay? My self-esteem needs to hear it.
Ah ha, sweet on me even back then, huh? Helpless to my salesman charms. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. I won’t tell anyone you had such a massive crush on me that you paid money to buy a book that I’d touched.
Seriously though, I wonder if things would have gone differently if you HADN’T bought the book.
It would be difficult to say. I had encounters with others in Aefenglom as well, so I suppose those experiences also played a part. However, I assumed your feelings were with Jonas and my brother for some time. It was not until Hell that I began to see you differently.
[ “I would enjoy you in any form.” It’s just as well they aren’t physically together at the moment; Stiles is so quietly pleased by this response that he thinks he would have dropped to his knees to blow Itachi right then and there, regardless of where they were. ]
Smooth. Really smooth. You’ve got game, Itachi.
[ Despite the teasing words, the thread of long-distance Synchrony will betray just how deeply gratified Stiles feels. ]
Yeah, that makes sense. Hell really set a lot of things in motion. Guess I’m grateful. As much as it sucked down there, I don’t regret any of it.
[He privately indulges in what is communicated back to him through Synchrony. If only they were together, so it could be stronger rather than these distant filaments of feeling. The longing is still new to him—may always be.]
[The next part is even harder. Itachi looks at those words for a short while, unsure how to respond—what the right way to respond even is when they still feel on tenuous ground at times.]
[ Stiles doesn't immediately respond. Given what happened last time, he's naturally hesitant to be vulnerable with Itachi on this topic again. But, after several minutes of silence, he finally opens up. ]
It'd be cool if you listened to what happened. I haven't really had a chance to talk to anyone about it.
[ He craves an outlet, a means to express the overwhelming current of emotions that drowns him whenever he thinks about his fate back home. ]
[It's as much, if not more, than what he owes Stiles given his treatment immediately upon his return. The scar of that interaction remains intensely raw, touched by fear forever prevalent now—fear of loss, of ruining this final life, of hurting Stiles irreparably.]
I'm listening. Tell me what happened.
If you'd prefer to do it in person, I can come to you.
[ The suggestion that they meet to discuss the topic in person drives a shard of jagged fear down his throat. Stiles is already typing a response, prepared to turn the idea down with an excuse – but he pauses, reconsidering. In truth, he really would prefer to do this face to face. Explaining what happened over text will be too detached; it won’t provide him with the catharsis that he needs. The anxiety of being vulnerable with Itachi, though… ]
I’d prefer not to talk about it at the store. I don’t want my employees to see me if I get emotional.
[ Exhaling, he compromises. Gathering at the house or the apartment will only heighten his stress, reminding him of the last time he tried to tell Itachi about the Ghost Riders. ]
Meet me by the main entrance to Emerald Park? I’ll leave work now.
[It's a compromise he understands. In his mind, all he sees is Stiles on that mountain cliff, a shadow of who he used to be, eroded to threads. His fault. Perhaps there is some part of the influence he has over others that is a self-fulfilling prophecy—that, or Danzou was right. Stiles doesn't deserve the bad luck of knowing him.
But he'd already tried to fix that once.]
All right.
[Itachi immediately redirects his own route toward Emerald Park, veering away from the apartment complexes nearby it. He will likely get there first, but this is fine; he has no issue standing in the cool shade of trees, lean and dark, waiting.]
[ By the time he reaches Emerald Park, a faint sheen of sweat has broken out along the surface of his skin, shiny and glistening. He jogged most of the trip from the Underground, energy fueled by the pent-up emotions burning bright and cold in his gut. And yet, despite his fear, it’s with a genuine smile of fond regard that he greets Itachi. ]
Hey. Sorry for making you wait.
[ Reaching out, he tugs the other man into him – pressing a brief kiss to the familiar line of Itachi’s mouth. Something settles in him as their lips meet, reminding him of all the obstacles they’ve faced to come this far. He can do this. It’ll be fine. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I am... willing to try it, at least.
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Are you sure? If it's that "distasteful" for you, we definitely don't have to.
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[And he is imagining it again—being able to see Stiles at his mercy from that perspective, as an audience, a fantasy previously possible only through genjutsu made into reality.]
Now you've ruined my concentration.
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I'd say I'm sorry, but that'd be a filthy lie. What're you concentrating on?
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[A moment later, he sends a picture.]
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[ A responding picture. ]
What were you reading up on?
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That is why I left.
I was reading historical documents about this world. I had some time free. What are you doing today, aside from imagining inappropriate uses of my abilities?
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The next time you're going to swing by the library, let me know. I'm pretty good at weaseling out useful information. It was kind of my role back home.
[ Plus, he'd like to spend time with Itachi. ]
I'm at work, believe it or not. Amazing how being surrounded by dildos all morning will have an influence on the direction of your thoughts. Inappropriate uses of your abilities was inevitable. Also? I'd just like to point out that YOU'RE the one who has inflicted poor little unsuspecting me with said inappropriate uses of your abilities TWICE now. I'm just a victim. And an addict.
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[Playing detective while the rest of his friends looked on with doubt. Few others would have pursued his own history with the same sort of persistence.
Also, fair argument. But he won't relinquish his pride.]
If not for your... influence on me over time, I suspect I'd never have thought to use my abilities in those ways. So you are at least partly responsible. You did force that book on me in Aefenglom.
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Also, I totally resent the idea I "forced" that book on you. It was capitalism at its finest. You paid for the book fair and square. And it was SO tame. I have books here in Worst Dragon that'd bleach your pubic hairs gray.
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[what is capitalism]
Please refrain from using that phrase again.
I did not say it was explicit, but it was the first exposure I had to some of those concepts. I also would not have purchased it from anyone else.
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Ah ha, sweet on me even back then, huh? Helpless to my salesman charms. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. I won’t tell anyone you had such a massive crush on me that you paid money to buy a book that I’d touched.
Seriously though, I wonder if things would have gone differently if you HADN’T bought the book.
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It would be difficult to say. I had encounters with others in Aefenglom as well, so I suppose those experiences also played a part. However, I assumed your feelings were with Jonas and my brother for some time. It was not until Hell that I began to see you differently.
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Smooth. Really smooth. You’ve got game, Itachi.
[ Despite the teasing words, the thread of long-distance Synchrony will betray just how deeply gratified Stiles feels. ]
Yeah, that makes sense. Hell really set a lot of things in motion. Guess I’m grateful. As much as it sucked down there, I don’t regret any of it.
How’re you doing, by the way? Like, your health.
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Do you mean today, or in general?
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[Has he spoken yet with a doctor? No, but he did promise Stiles he would, and he hasn't forgotten this.]
How are you feeling? In general and today.
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be careful with your limits
okay?
I'm fine. Some days I'm not. I guess that's normal though. For the most part, I try not to think about my world anymore. This is my life now.
1/2 i lied i’m not sleeping
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Is there anything I can do?
SLEEP!!
It'd be cool if you listened to what happened. I haven't really had a chance to talk to anyone about it.
[ He craves an outlet, a means to express the overwhelming current of emotions that drowns him whenever he thinks about his fate back home. ]
😤
I'm listening. Tell me what happened.
If you'd prefer to do it in person, I can come to you.
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I’d prefer not to talk about it at the store. I don’t want my employees to see me if I get emotional.
[ Exhaling, he compromises. Gathering at the house or the apartment will only heighten his stress, reminding him of the last time he tried to tell Itachi about the Ghost Riders. ]
Meet me by the main entrance to Emerald Park? I’ll leave work now.
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But he'd already tried to fix that once.]
All right.
[Itachi immediately redirects his own route toward Emerald Park, veering away from the apartment complexes nearby it. He will likely get there first, but this is fine; he has no issue standing in the cool shade of trees, lean and dark, waiting.]
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Hey. Sorry for making you wait.
[ Reaching out, he tugs the other man into him – pressing a brief kiss to the familiar line of Itachi’s mouth. Something settles in him as their lips meet, reminding him of all the obstacles they’ve faced to come this far. He can do this. It’ll be fine. ]
Walk with me?
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/fin