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[ Not long after receiving his free network phone from the retailer, Stiles makes his first text – to Itachi, naturally. ]
Hey. How's it going?
[ Small talk may not be Itachi's forte, but Stiles genuinely wants to know. For now, he puts aside his doubts and fears concerning their as-of-yet unnamed relationship. There're way more important matters to discuss, like Sasuke. ]
Hey. How's it going?
[ Small talk may not be Itachi's forte, but Stiles genuinely wants to know. For now, he puts aside his doubts and fears concerning their as-of-yet unnamed relationship. There're way more important matters to discuss, like Sasuke. ]
[It’s the first message he’s received, Stiles’ contact name alongside the only other one inputed into his device: fuckoff. His own name is displayed in the default “Uchiha, Itachi” because he hasn’t bothered to change it.]
Acclimating.
[Short and sweet and absolutely unhelpful in taking a temperature on the state of things between them, the Uchiha way.]
Sasuke’s here.
Acclimating.
[Short and sweet and absolutely unhelpful in taking a temperature on the state of things between them, the Uchiha way.]
Sasuke’s here.
[It’s impossible to know what they discussed, but he can assume Stiles was as curious about Sasuke’s future as he was—and a part of him wants to vent this small, painful, glass shard of a truth. At least it will be safe with Stiles.]
His daughter’s name is Sarada.
[Not my niece, but that burns under it without being said.]
His daughter’s name is Sarada.
[Not my niece, but that burns under it without being said.]
[why would you do this to him]
It's complicated. It isn't something I should have ever learned, if not for this place. Family... being an Uchiha... I'm not certain I would wish it on a child. But perhaps Sasuke's version of the future is a different place.
It's complicated. It isn't something I should have ever learned, if not for this place. Family... being an Uchiha... I'm not certain I would wish it on a child. But perhaps Sasuke's version of the future is a different place.
She's inheriting a big legacy. Sasuke will look after her, though. He's not going to let the past repeat itself.
[ If only Stiles knew. ]
Weird question, but...did you guys Sync? I got the feeling he was carrying some baggage about Synchrony where you're concerned.
[ If only Stiles knew. ]
Weird question, but...did you guys Sync? I got the feeling he was carrying some baggage about Synchrony where you're concerned.
[ Who the hell actually takes the time to type out "hm" in a text message. Itachi Uchiha, apparently. ]
He made it seem like Synchrony between you two wasn't an option. Wanted me to look out for you and make sure you Synced regularly.
[ Stiles could leave it there, but... ]
He seemed unhappy about it. Not about me Syncing with you, the other thing.
He made it seem like Synchrony between you two wasn't an option. Wanted me to look out for you and make sure you Synced regularly.
[ Stiles could leave it there, but... ]
He seemed unhappy about it. Not about me Syncing with you, the other thing.
[Leave his old grandpa ass alone.]
He physically touched me. Synchrony didn't occur. When I verbally offered to Sync due to his weakened condition, he said he would find someone who was "compatible."
[It feels so weird to talk to someone openly about Sasuke, but if there's anyone in this world he would do it with, it's Stiles. That's no longer in question.]
He physically touched me. Synchrony didn't occur. When I verbally offered to Sync due to his weakened condition, he said he would find someone who was "compatible."
[It feels so weird to talk to someone openly about Sasuke, but if there's anyone in this world he would do it with, it's Stiles. That's no longer in question.]
Edited 2021-02-01 03:25 (UTC)
[ Well, shit. Stiles doesn't respond for a time, thinking. ]
Why didn't Synchrony happen?
[ He knows from interacting with others that it can occur through layers of clothing. Which would mean that the only reason it didn't occur between the brothers is because...well, one of them was holding back. And if Sasuke reached out first – ]
Did you ice him out?
[ It's an easy guess to make; having been Bonded to Itachi before, he understands how the man operates when it comes to emotional connections. ]
You need to explain what happened. He's definitely interpreting it wrong.
Why didn't Synchrony happen?
[ He knows from interacting with others that it can occur through layers of clothing. Which would mean that the only reason it didn't occur between the brothers is because...well, one of them was holding back. And if Sasuke reached out first – ]
Did you ice him out?
[ It's an easy guess to make; having been Bonded to Itachi before, he understands how the man operates when it comes to emotional connections. ]
You need to explain what happened. He's definitely interpreting it wrong.
["Did you ice him out?" Itachi finds himself staring down at the small, backlit screen, frowning deeply. A line furrows at his brow.]
I was startled.
[Explain??? what??? happened??? sorry he doesn't know what those words mean in that combination.]
You should understand an emotional connection would be difficult between us.
I was startled.
[Explain??? what??? happened??? sorry he doesn't know what those words mean in that combination.]
You should understand an emotional connection would be difficult between us.
Edited (goddamnit) 2021-02-01 03:34 (UTC)
I understand – but difficult doesn't mean impossible. You're his big brother. You need to put in the extra effort to bridge that divide. Especially now when he thinks you guys are incompatible, which is no way true.
He loves you, Itachi. You just need to learn how to open up to him.
He loves you, Itachi. You just need to learn how to open up to him.
]Alright.
[ He'll relent. For now. ]
It went okay.
[ Stiles begins to write out more, then pauses, remembering the realization he'd come to concerning Jonas' fate. Grief settles on him like a funeral shroud, but he doesn't want to dump his feelings on Itachi after what happened between them on the space station. So far, the shinobi seems not to hold it against him – but it's hard to tell over text whether or not Itachi is pissed at him.
For maybe the first time since they've met, Stiles doesn't follow up with additional information. He simply leaves it there. ]
[ He'll relent. For now. ]
It went okay.
[ Stiles begins to write out more, then pauses, remembering the realization he'd come to concerning Jonas' fate. Grief settles on him like a funeral shroud, but he doesn't want to dump his feelings on Itachi after what happened between them on the space station. So far, the shinobi seems not to hold it against him – but it's hard to tell over text whether or not Itachi is pissed at him.
For maybe the first time since they've met, Stiles doesn't follow up with additional information. He simply leaves it there. ]
[That response is far more lacking than he expected—especially given the vulnerability he’d offered in his own honesty about Sasuke. It isn’t difficult to put the pieces together, however, after a reach back into his own mind for possible clues.
Jonas.
It had occurred to him when talking to Sasuke early on. What it would mean, in the murky mess of timelines and memory, for a boy who direly needed rescue.]
There’s more. Isn’t there? I understand if it isn’t anything you wish to discuss.
[Considering he just bailed on his own sore subject, fair is fair. He can’t help but think he’s unsuited to this conversation no matter how it goes.]
Jonas.
It had occurred to him when talking to Sasuke early on. What it would mean, in the murky mess of timelines and memory, for a boy who direly needed rescue.]
There’s more. Isn’t there? I understand if it isn’t anything you wish to discuss.
[Considering he just bailed on his own sore subject, fair is fair. He can’t help but think he’s unsuited to this conversation no matter how it goes.]
[ Itachi gives him an out. Teeth grit against the despair bubbling up his throat in the form of stomach acid, Stiles decides against taking it. ]
You told me Jonas disappeared from Aefenglom. Unless he’s in another pocket dimension like we’ve been, he’s dead. Sasuke isn’t going to be able to save him. Not with how things seem to work.
You told me Jonas disappeared from Aefenglom. Unless he’s in another pocket dimension like we’ve been, he’s dead. Sasuke isn’t going to be able to save him. Not with how things seem to work.
We don’t know that. Anything we assume is still a guess. And the possibilities are countless. Given that Sasuke is twenty years older than I knew him, reaching into the future is possible.
Logically, then, reaching into the past is not unimaginable.
Have you met Eren?
Logically, then, reaching into the past is not unimaginable.
Have you met Eren?
He is a younger version of himself, from the past.
[Something Stiles may already know. He’d never been aware of their relationship while in Aefenglom; it’s pointless to ask now.
It feels like a brittle argument easily rejected before he even says it. But the alternative is admitting they cannot interact with other dimensions at will, cannot retain their memories from these pocket realities—and, by extension of that, cannot change the course of the future. Which means Jonas is dead.
Which means Itachi is dead, as soon as his time in these other worlds comes to an end. It is far from something he intends to make Stiles aware of, given the situation. Jonas is the priority here; he could still have had a chance.]
I don’t think we have enough information to make evaluations on what is or isn’t true of our circumstances. We should focus on what we can actually affect in our present.
[Something Stiles may already know. He’d never been aware of their relationship while in Aefenglom; it’s pointless to ask now.
It feels like a brittle argument easily rejected before he even says it. But the alternative is admitting they cannot interact with other dimensions at will, cannot retain their memories from these pocket realities—and, by extension of that, cannot change the course of the future. Which means Jonas is dead.
Which means Itachi is dead, as soon as his time in these other worlds comes to an end. It is far from something he intends to make Stiles aware of, given the situation. Jonas is the priority here; he could still have had a chance.]
I don’t think we have enough information to make evaluations on what is or isn’t true of our circumstances. We should focus on what we can actually affect in our present.
[ But his tender emotions make Stiles argumentative; he’s not willing to let the conversation go so easily. ]
Eren’s from the past. Sasuke’s from the future. They have one thing in common. They don’t remember anything.
Since running into Sasuke, Stiles has spent many nights restlessly thinking about the situation. The mental fatigue has worn him thin – he’s already arrived at the same conclusion as Itachi. ]
Maybe Aefenglom hasn’t happened yet for Eren, but then wouldn’t he have mentioned Noctium at some point while we knew him there? And if our Sasuke was sent back to your home world, you can’t tell me he wouldn’t use his powers to try and come get you. With everything that he’s told me about his abilities, it should have been possible for him.
Here’s the bottom line: Jonas is dead because no one remembers these pocket dimensions when we’re sent back.
Eren’s from the past. Sasuke’s from the future. They have one thing in common. They don’t remember anything.
Since running into Sasuke, Stiles has spent many nights restlessly thinking about the situation. The mental fatigue has worn him thin – he’s already arrived at the same conclusion as Itachi. ]
Maybe Aefenglom hasn’t happened yet for Eren, but then wouldn’t he have mentioned Noctium at some point while we knew him there? And if our Sasuke was sent back to your home world, you can’t tell me he wouldn’t use his powers to try and come get you. With everything that he’s told me about his abilities, it should have been possible for him.
Here’s the bottom line: Jonas is dead because no one remembers these pocket dimensions when we’re sent back.
[He could argue Sasuke returning to get him, but it would only further deviate them from the point he recognizes Stiles is trying to make.]
You don't know that. It is also conceivable that they could be separate versions of the people we knew. Different, branching realities. Certain genjutsu that exist within my own world make me unable to discard this possibility.
But if you do believe it, then what will you do? By your logic, our interactions within these isolated dimensions are ultimately meaningless.
You don't know that. It is also conceivable that they could be separate versions of the people we knew. Different, branching realities. Certain genjutsu that exist within my own world make me unable to discard this possibility.
But if you do believe it, then what will you do? By your logic, our interactions within these isolated dimensions are ultimately meaningless.
Edited 2021-02-02 00:58 (UTC)
[ That last remark hits a little too close to home considering how their last encounter ended. Wounded by the implication, Stiles continues to argue. ]
They’re not meaningless right now. And there’s always the chance that we figure out how these dimensions work, stop our memories from being erased. I’m searching for answers one way or another.
They’re not meaningless right now. And there’s always the chance that we figure out how these dimensions work, stop our memories from being erased. I’m searching for answers one way or another.
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