[The tug is subtle at first, nearly missed, a flutter of red from the corner of one eye on an especially hot, dark night in greater Sumarlok, after he's left the humid beaches of Filia and returned to the city. When he looks down, seeing the string that unspools off into the distance like a long vein, he doesn't need a native to tell him what it is. Evidently, such cultural ideas overlap even with his own world. Itachi may not identify it as a soulstring, not in that single evocative word, but the sense of purpose—a spiritual tether made real—isn't any new concept.
This recognition doesn't ease the cold shock he experiences in any way.
The decision to follow it to the other end doesn't immediately occur to him as an option; an entire day passes, slender crimson string knotted to his right index finger for all of those twenty-four hours, gently tugging as if pulled by some distant, invisible force. The area around his finger begins to ache after that day, skin pink and chafed, irritated, a message that ignoring it will not make it go away.
Itachi possesses no true expectation for who might be on the other end—whether it will be a face he knows or a stranger's eyes, looking back at him blankly. When the string leads him down below the city, into the choked, dark streets of the Ruby Underground, he finds that his body is taken with tension, primed for a threat. Neither has this other person sought him out; perhaps they don't know what significance the string carries culturally, here or in any other dimension. Perhaps they don't care.
The building would have been difficult to find without the string, tucked in a derelict corner of the neighborhood, barely lit, dank with moisture. It leads down into a basement level. With red eyes, Itachi descends, perceiving the crowd hemmed-in around a raised platform: an illegal fighting ring, as soon becomes obvious. The string vanishes somewhere into this chaotic scene.]
[ one morning, he wakes up to a curious red string tied around his finger, leading to some(one)where unknown. this is probably the first time six has encountered anything like this so of course the first thing he tries to do is cut it off, figuring it was rokurou's attempt of playing a trick on him. when it becomes clear that this isn't the case, he does the next best thing: he ignores it.
for the rest of the day.
he winds up in the heart of the ruby underground one way or another, every inch of him itching to work through the the tension in his bones. there are only a few arenas around here that allow the gembonded to participate and this is one of his usual haunts. the organizers already know by the look on his face just how badly he wants to be here (he doesn't) so of course they toss him right in.
the first round goes by pretty easily; a rookie fighter who doesn't know any better. the second one gives him a bit of trouble but he manages to take the guy down in less than ten minutes. the third one would have ended up the same as the latter two, but something is different this time. something else catches his eye — the string feels taut, almost as though it can snap at any moment.
his opponent takes this opportunity to swipe at him, catching him off-guard, knocking him off-balance. the crowd goes wild because it's the first time anyone has been able to land a hit on him, but that barely bothers the erune.
what does bother him is how he has a clear line of sight to who it is he's attached to.
who is that person...?
without hesitating, he wanders away from the ring much to the dismay of everyone watching. the boo's are loud and vicious but he's only got one thing in mind — a straight beeline to the one on the other side of this string. ]
... You. What is the meaning of this?
[ you know, just in case it was this guys' idea. ]
[The abandonment attracts attention, voices following the fighter as he escapes through the crowd, making quick work of the distance between them. Itachi tilts his head forward; he dislikes the weight of so many eyes on them. While it doesn't surprise him that this individual believes the strings are his own fault—with less knowledge and reasoning, he could follow the same thought—a quick shake of his head is answer to it.]
This isn't my doing.
[Said in a low, even tone even as a red gaze scrutinizes the man in front of him, lingering on the point of ears.]
... Let's have this discussion outside.
[And without word or agreement, Itachi turns back toward the door, a tug on the thread between their fingers giving tell of that movement.]
[ the tug coming from the soulstring is almost irresistible, something he can no longer ignore now that the one on the other side has shown himself right in front of him. it barely matters to him that he's disqualified from the prize of the night when something else that has been distracting him is more important — even if all he wants to get out of this is just simple understanding.
he follows after the other man, just as silent, just as watchful. they both have every reason to be wary of one another because it isn't like they've ever seen each other until now.
he waits until they're far enough away from the noisy crowd, a secluded area that's probably just as equally going to bring them trouble as well as solace and privacy. ]
... Well? If it isn't your doing, then do you have an alternative explanation?
[ someone has never heard of this concept before, so. forgive him. (or not.) ]
[Outside, around the corner, they’re standing in the dark shadow of the building cut away from electric red lights near the street. The string has shortened considerably; it holds taut between them now, would vibrate from a single pluck. He surveys the individual in front of him for a long moment, deciding what to say and picking up on what must be ignorance toward the nature of this kind of symbolism.
That doesn't surprise him. For how many different worlds are out there, concepts and ideas of fate can't all be the same.]
It may be the work of this dimension. I don't have an explanation for its presence, but traditionally a red string would bind together those who are considered soul mates, their intertwined destinies fated.
[Is it something he himself believes? Not if this is engineered by another source here.]
[ six is no stranger to intertwined fates — after all, it wasn't that long ago when he was made to confront this, to challenge it out of a pure (and desperate) desire to save someone's life. however, this... this, he finds it hard to believe, that it would be so easy to stumble upon one's "soul mate" despite never having met them before. ]
... My name is Six. Is this something you believe in?
[ he brings his hand up to show the now tightly wound-up string, seemingly much shorter compared to before they found each other. ]
[A name carries powerful weight except, he's learned, in other dimensions where clans no longer have meaning. He doesn't recognize Six. He hadn't expected he would, dark eyes drifting up to stare at those alien ears in intense interest. To some degree, they're distracting—although he can mask it with only occasional glances.]
Itachi. [To pay back the introduction in kind.] This seems too artificially engineered for it to be genuine. While it's possible there was a real reason you and I were chosen to be tethered together, I don't believe it is because of fate.
[A fist moves, winding the string around it, red across the backs of knuckles.]
My first assumption would be Synchrony, since it appears to be the solution for many situations here. Are you willing to try that?
[Is he? It's difficult to tell, Itachi's demeanor remaining calm and opaque, no hint of hesitancy to be seen.]
[ the name offered to him alone is enough to cross out all the possibilities he can think of. this isn't someone infamous from the skydom he came from, or he would have recognized the name once he heard it. no, the only possibility left is that this is just one of those things that come with living here at noctium — annoying, but he can deal with it.
he's been through a similar situation before, where synchrony is the answer, so... ]
Are you?
[ with an eyebrow raised and all, since he doesn't care either way. but something else is bugging him and he can no longer avoid bringing it up. ]
[The second question coaxes dark eyes away, a flicker of lashes that signals he's been caught looking too long. Normally it wouldn't bother him; he is known to stare, it is part of his arsenal for a reason given the abilities of Sharingan. Yet in this case, his attention has a different meaning. Distraction.]
… No. It's only that I haven't seen someone who looks like you before.
[Those ears remind him of a cat's, slender and triangle-pointed, and he knows exactly how they would feel to the touch. Soft, twitchy, warm velvet…
Itachi forces himself to look back, expression straight.]
While I am not comfortable doing so with a stranger, if it's necessary for severing this link, I'll abide.
as if on cue, six's ears flicker ever so slightly around the same time a sigh escapes him. it doesn't really bother him so much anymore given that it tends to happen with almost everyone he meets for the first time, but it does make him wonder what makes his ears so interesting. ]
... They're real.
[ real soft and warm and velvety, that is. ]
We either go through the process or we're stuck with each other for however long. Do you have any preferences?
[ this is beginning to sound like a business transaction but it's probably better this way, given that they're strangers. ]
I didn't doubt their authenticity. [He has seen many individuals with unusual appearances in his lifetime; he isn't staring for that reason alone. However, better to discard that angle of his interest as inappropriate.] I apologize if I've made you uncomfortable.
[Does he have preferences? More than anything he had discussed last time, with the only other stranger he'd allowed Synchrony with, but far from an unreasonable question. Part of him appreciates Six's courtesy in asking at all.]
... I prefer to minimize physical contact, but in our case, I don't think it can be avoided. Some amount will be required to make the connection possible.
[And here, Itachi extends one slender white hand, black sleeve hiking a few centimeters above his wrist. Burned scar tissue is just visible in a strip beneath it.]
[ six can only shake his head when the apology comes, a motion that's quickly followed by a simple don't worry about it, and that's the end of that discussion.
the burned area isn't something he fails to notice, but it’s also not any of his business to comment on it, not when his own palm is calloused from years of using his hands as his main weapon. he is careful when he tugs off one of his gloves to reveal an equally pale hand, reaching forward to be the first one to grasp the other's. right now they're particularly banged up because of what he'd been preoccupied with earlier on, bruised knuckles and all.
at least his fingers aren't cold, a comforting warmth to curb the awkwardness of this whole exchange. ]
One can only hope this won't take forever.
[ and now they wait.
all the while, six keeps a close eye on the red string that keeps them together. ]
[Clasping that other hand, his own fingers are more chill to the touch, eyes briefly surveying the evidence of damage from fights and worn use across Six's knuckles and palm. He does not feel in any rush, content to let this play out as long as it takes—although the discomfort of Synchrony never manages to fade completely. It requires intention and focus of him in the moment, so Itachi clears his mind, allowing that channel to widen between them, amethyst glowing pale purple in his throat.
His emotions are only a slow trickle at first. Cool, impersonal, starved like a river almost run dry to its riverbed, greater depth hidden like the sheer drop of a cliff at a distance. He keeps red eyes leveled on the Erune with an intense, almost meditative concentration, examining his expression rather than the string between them.
What is it about this person that the forces of this world would tether them together? Or is it random? He won't ask outright, not carelessly, and yet he's driven to wonder...]
[ synchrony will never stop being a source of discomfort for six either. it's worse around people he doesn't know, but at least it means the exchange of emotions isn't as exposing: his own are just as guarded, walls all the way up, a neutral feeling that's neither up nor down. he can't tell if this is doing anything since the strings remain tied to them for now. ]
... Here? It helps me work through the excess energy.
[ back home, he's someone who was always on the go, an eternal meant to fight against the enemies of the skies. being here in noctium is almost like an extended (unnecessary) vacation. ]
I was curious. There seems nothing to gain from these fights, except perhaps a reputation among the locals of this dimension. You're accustomed to combat, that much is obvious.
[Interest that lingers still, red eyes never straying far from the erune in front of him. An individual with a menacing aura about him, suitable for the context of violence—but for those ears and the light, floral scent Itachi notices given their proximity. As someone who looks for these details, it does not escape his notice.
With that thin, starved trickle of Synchrony between them, the red string remains taut, shimmery like a magical vein between them.]
... Perhaps we need to go a step further. [His frown is subtle, mild, lips pinched at the corners.] I have some ideas.
You're right. There isn't anything to gain from them.
[ even though the money can be good, it's not like six is the type of person who needs a lot of it to survive. he's never been materialistic nor does he ever plan to be, so most of his reasons for participating in cage fights is purely for the thrill of it. ]
As for this...
[ his brows knit themselves together, eyes narrowing. it's true that what they're doing doesn't appear to be enough to grant them freedom but how much further do they need to push this? full synchrony with a stranger is out of the question.
[Not a productive reason to be fighting, yet still he does it. The concept is foreign to him but he can make the leap of logic nonetheless; an understanding brought by the world he's come from, built on battle. So he leaves it alone.
The better to confront their current predicament. Either they must somehow work to expand the flow of Synchrony between them by allowing it to run deeper—exposing more depth to emotional vulnerability in the process—or they must discover the other method that will loosen the string. As Itachi sees it, the options are slim.]
We discuss ourselves and our backgrounds and attempt to determine if there is a reason the two of us were specifically bound together. [Conversation, not his strong suit. And less when it might require revealing private information.] ... Or, perhaps, increased physical touch will allow Synchrony to work more efficiently. That has been my experience in the past.
[Red eyes watch the cat-eared stranger, cool and collected despite the proposal.]
[ when the suggestion to offer up more than he's willing to share comes up, six can't help the way his eyes narrow — he understands that their options are limited, but that doesn't mean they have to rely on doing something like this. it's already hard enough as it is for him to open up to someone he actually cares for, so asking him to do it with a stranger...
his answer is clear. ]
The latter. It's the lesser of two evils, wouldn't you agree?
[ it's also just as uncomfortable but it sure beats sharing his whole life story with a stranger. ]
[The lesser of two evils, but not necessarily made easier. Not being under the influence of outside magic, he rarely initiates physical contact with even those who are closest to him; to do so now goes far against his nature. Yet the conditions don't necessarily require anything too intimate.
He's already made his decision even before Six poses that question. A slight incline of his head is his initial response meant to communicate agreement, then seconds of hesitation, and arms are slowly lifted.
The concept of a hug should not be so difficult. Still, for someone who hasn't willingly initiated one even with his beloved sibling or significant other, the act is... difficult. A step closer brings himself into Six's personal space—slight, covered arms closing around the Erune's narrow shoulders—and it happens. The most awkward hug. Between them, the red string shimmers as it tangles into the embrace, slack and hanging loosely.]
[ it's not itachi's fault that the erune's first instinct upon seeing those arms wrap around him is to freeze up like a deer caught in headlights. years of dealing with people trying to steal his mask have left him with little to no trust, especially around strangers, but once his mind understands that this isn't one of those scenarios, he gradually relaxes.
while mentally chiding himself for being so foolish.
he knows that it takes two to tango, especially if they want it to count, so he returns the embrace — just as awkward and uncertain. at least the suffering is mutual and that knowledge alone somehow makes this a lot easier... sort of.
he starts counting down the seconds, not quite sure when he should let go, if he should be the first to do so, but it's because he has no idea that he stays put. the silence between them probably makes this worse but he has no idea what's there to say.
the string hangs much more loosely now, ready to unravel at any moment. ]
[Despite the air of awkward and uncomfortable tension, Itachi prefers the silence. There is nothing easy about physical contact, worse with a stranger—is it comforting to know that Six feels similarly to him about their predicament? Surely it would be more challenging if he had to engage in something like this with a less understanding individual. It feels as though the entire situation has played out without difficulty due to some sense of agreement on an intuitive level. Understanding.
In the space of that silence, it is easier to accept what he is doing in the moment, easier to sink into the pleasurable comfort of Synchrony as he has begun to do with Stiles. Muscles relax, warming into an embrace that is less the stilted thing it began, loosening into something proper. Synchrony becomes more fluid—still small and starved, yet not the uncomfortable stutter it had started, running clear with emotions of uncertainty and interest alike.
He takes in a breath. His eyes drift half-closed, eyelashes low, head drooping down. He's close to those twitching ears. In sudden compulsion, Itachi leans and allows his cheek to brush up against one, to see how soft and warm it is. Just like a cat's.
Suddenly the string between them vibrates, then begins to fray apart, unraveling loose from both of their fingers. Itachi is quick to withdraw and step back. His gaze hovers somewhere near the ground, uncharacteristically discomfited.] ... It seems we've satisfied the requirement made of us.
[Please don't mention anything about how he almost rubbed his face all over your ears.]
[ that single thread of understanding between the two of them might have been the only thing that made this a lot more bearable than it should be. six doesn't want to call it lucky to have the other person be just as uncertain as he is, because itachi could have been so much worse, but he can't deny feeling relieved that neither one of them attempt to go beyond what is necessary.
at least, that's up until he feels something solid nuzzling against his ear. that causes both ears to twitch and flicker, suddenly alerted to the fact that this is happening, but before six can say anything, itachi is pulling away from him. it doesn't register that the string has now completely unravelled until moments later.
a part of six knows he shouldn't say anything. another part wants to know what was that for—? ]
So it seems. [ ... ] Did it satisfy your curiousity?
Itachi's gaze automatically latches onto twitching ears, unable to repress the feelings of nostalgic fondness dredging up in him at the sight. That, and for the first time in several years, he finds himself considering something cute. But he will not say that aloud; he still has that much composure.]
I apologize. My behavior was impulsive and unacceptable. [He definitely would not have done that five months ago; the gembond is a bane.] ... I'll leave you now. Goodbye.
[Time to escape with what honor he may still have.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@wray
This recognition doesn't ease the cold shock he experiences in any way.
The decision to follow it to the other end doesn't immediately occur to him as an option; an entire day passes, slender crimson string knotted to his right index finger for all of those twenty-four hours, gently tugging as if pulled by some distant, invisible force. The area around his finger begins to ache after that day, skin pink and chafed, irritated, a message that ignoring it will not make it go away.
Itachi possesses no true expectation for who might be on the other end—whether it will be a face he knows or a stranger's eyes, looking back at him blankly. When the string leads him down below the city, into the choked, dark streets of the Ruby Underground, he finds that his body is taken with tension, primed for a threat. Neither has this other person sought him out; perhaps they don't know what significance the string carries culturally, here or in any other dimension. Perhaps they don't care.
The building would have been difficult to find without the string, tucked in a derelict corner of the neighborhood, barely lit, dank with moisture. It leads down into a basement level. With red eyes, Itachi descends, perceiving the crowd hemmed-in around a raised platform: an illegal fighting ring, as soon becomes obvious. The string vanishes somewhere into this chaotic scene.]
crawls here slowly...
for the rest of the day.
he winds up in the heart of the ruby underground one way or another, every inch of him itching to work through the the tension in his bones. there are only a few arenas around here that allow the gembonded to participate and this is one of his usual haunts. the organizers already know by the look on his face just how badly he wants to be here (he doesn't) so of course they toss him right in.
the first round goes by pretty easily; a rookie fighter who doesn't know any better. the second one gives him a bit of trouble but he manages to take the guy down in less than ten minutes. the third one would have ended up the same as the latter two, but something is different this time. something else catches his eye — the string feels taut, almost as though it can snap at any moment.
his opponent takes this opportunity to swipe at him, catching him off-guard, knocking him off-balance. the crowd goes wild because it's the first time anyone has been able to land a hit on him, but that barely bothers the erune.
what does bother him is how he has a clear line of sight to who it is he's attached to.
who is that person...?
without hesitating, he wanders away from the ring much to the dismay of everyone watching. the boo's are loud and vicious but he's only got one thing in mind — a straight beeline to the one on the other side of this string. ]
... You. What is the meaning of this?
[ you know, just in case it was this guys' idea. ]
opens arms
This isn't my doing.
[Said in a low, even tone even as a red gaze scrutinizes the man in front of him, lingering on the point of ears.]
... Let's have this discussion outside.
[And without word or agreement, Itachi turns back toward the door, a tug on the thread between their fingers giving tell of that movement.]
no subject
he follows after the other man, just as silent, just as watchful. they both have every reason to be wary of one another because it isn't like they've ever seen each other until now.
he waits until they're far enough away from the noisy crowd, a secluded area that's probably just as equally going to bring them trouble as well as solace and privacy. ]
... Well? If it isn't your doing, then do you have an alternative explanation?
[ someone has never heard of this concept before, so. forgive him. (or not.) ]
no subject
That doesn't surprise him. For how many different worlds are out there, concepts and ideas of fate can't all be the same.]
It may be the work of this dimension. I don't have an explanation for its presence, but traditionally a red string would bind together those who are considered soul mates, their intertwined destinies fated.
[Is it something he himself believes? Not if this is engineered by another source here.]
Who are you?
no subject
... My name is Six. Is this something you believe in?
[ he brings his hand up to show the now tightly wound-up string, seemingly much shorter compared to before they found each other. ]
If it isn't, then how do we get rid of it?
[ surely he can't be alone in wanting it gone. ]
no subject
Itachi. [To pay back the introduction in kind.] This seems too artificially engineered for it to be genuine. While it's possible there was a real reason you and I were chosen to be tethered together, I don't believe it is because of fate.
[A fist moves, winding the string around it, red across the backs of knuckles.]
My first assumption would be Synchrony, since it appears to be the solution for many situations here. Are you willing to try that?
[Is he? It's difficult to tell, Itachi's demeanor remaining calm and opaque, no hint of hesitancy to be seen.]
no subject
he's been through a similar situation before, where synchrony is the answer, so... ]
Are you?
[ with an eyebrow raised and all, since he doesn't care either way. but something else is bugging him and he can no longer avoid bringing it up. ]
And... is there something on my face?
no subject
… No. It's only that I haven't seen someone who looks like you before.
[Those ears remind him of a cat's, slender and triangle-pointed, and he knows exactly how they would feel to the touch. Soft, twitchy, warm velvet…
Itachi forces himself to look back, expression straight.]
While I am not comfortable doing so with a stranger, if it's necessary for severing this link, I'll abide.
no subject
as if on cue, six's ears flicker ever so slightly around the same time a sigh escapes him. it doesn't really bother him so much anymore given that it tends to happen with almost everyone he meets for the first time, but it does make him wonder what makes his ears so interesting. ]
... They're real.
[ real soft and warm and velvety, that is. ]
We either go through the process or we're stuck with each other for however long. Do you have any preferences?
[ this is beginning to sound like a business transaction but it's probably better this way, given that they're strangers. ]
no subject
[Does he have preferences? More than anything he had discussed last time, with the only other stranger he'd allowed Synchrony with, but far from an unreasonable question. Part of him appreciates Six's courtesy in asking at all.]
... I prefer to minimize physical contact, but in our case, I don't think it can be avoided. Some amount will be required to make the connection possible.
[And here, Itachi extends one slender white hand, black sleeve hiking a few centimeters above his wrist. Burned scar tissue is just visible in a strip beneath it.]
no subject
the burned area isn't something he fails to notice, but it’s also not any of his business to comment on it, not when his own palm is calloused from years of using his hands as his main weapon. he is careful when he tugs off one of his gloves to reveal an equally pale hand, reaching forward to be the first one to grasp the other's. right now they're particularly banged up because of what he'd been preoccupied with earlier on, bruised knuckles and all.
at least his fingers aren't cold, a comforting warmth to curb the awkwardness of this whole exchange. ]
One can only hope this won't take forever.
[ and now they wait.
all the while, six keeps a close eye on the red string that keeps them together. ]
no subject
His emotions are only a slow trickle at first. Cool, impersonal, starved like a river almost run dry to its riverbed, greater depth hidden like the sheer drop of a cliff at a distance. He keeps red eyes leveled on the Erune with an intense, almost meditative concentration, examining his expression rather than the string between them.
What is it about this person that the forces of this world would tether them together? Or is it random? He won't ask outright, not carelessly, and yet he's driven to wonder...]
Why do you fight here?
no subject
... Here? It helps me work through the excess energy.
[ back home, he's someone who was always on the go, an eternal meant to fight against the enemies of the skies. being here in noctium is almost like an extended (unnecessary) vacation. ]
I have nothing else better to do. Why do you ask?
no subject
[Interest that lingers still, red eyes never straying far from the erune in front of him. An individual with a menacing aura about him, suitable for the context of violence—but for those ears and the light, floral scent Itachi notices given their proximity. As someone who looks for these details, it does not escape his notice.
With that thin, starved trickle of Synchrony between them, the red string remains taut, shimmery like a magical vein between them.]
... Perhaps we need to go a step further. [His frown is subtle, mild, lips pinched at the corners.] I have some ideas.
no subject
[ even though the money can be good, it's not like six is the type of person who needs a lot of it to survive. he's never been materialistic nor does he ever plan to be, so most of his reasons for participating in cage fights is purely for the thrill of it. ]
As for this...
[ his brows knit themselves together, eyes narrowing. it's true that what they're doing doesn't appear to be enough to grant them freedom but how much further do they need to push this? full synchrony with a stranger is out of the question.
at least he's willing to listen for now. ]
What are your ideas?
no subject
The better to confront their current predicament. Either they must somehow work to expand the flow of Synchrony between them by allowing it to run deeper—exposing more depth to emotional vulnerability in the process—or they must discover the other method that will loosen the string. As Itachi sees it, the options are slim.]
We discuss ourselves and our backgrounds and attempt to determine if there is a reason the two of us were specifically bound together. [Conversation, not his strong suit. And less when it might require revealing private information.] ... Or, perhaps, increased physical touch will allow Synchrony to work more efficiently. That has been my experience in the past.
[Red eyes watch the cat-eared stranger, cool and collected despite the proposal.]
Which would you prefer?
no subject
his answer is clear. ]
The latter. It's the lesser of two evils, wouldn't you agree?
[ it's also just as uncomfortable but it sure beats sharing his whole life story with a stranger. ]
Perhaps more contact...?
[ can they survive a hug?? ]
no subject
He's already made his decision even before Six poses that question. A slight incline of his head is his initial response meant to communicate agreement, then seconds of hesitation, and arms are slowly lifted.
The concept of a hug should not be so difficult. Still, for someone who hasn't willingly initiated one even with his beloved sibling or significant other, the act is... difficult. A step closer brings himself into Six's personal space—slight, covered arms closing around the Erune's narrow shoulders—and it happens. The most awkward hug. Between them, the red string shimmers as it tangles into the embrace, slack and hanging loosely.]
no subject
while mentally chiding himself for being so foolish.
he knows that it takes two to tango, especially if they want it to count, so he returns the embrace — just as awkward and uncertain. at least the suffering is mutual and that knowledge alone somehow makes this a lot easier... sort of.
he starts counting down the seconds, not quite sure when he should let go, if he should be the first to do so, but it's because he has no idea that he stays put. the silence between them probably makes this worse but he has no idea what's there to say.
the string hangs much more loosely now, ready to unravel at any moment. ]
no subject
In the space of that silence, it is easier to accept what he is doing in the moment, easier to sink into the pleasurable comfort of Synchrony as he has begun to do with Stiles. Muscles relax, warming into an embrace that is less the stilted thing it began, loosening into something proper. Synchrony becomes more fluid—still small and starved, yet not the uncomfortable stutter it had started, running clear with emotions of uncertainty and interest alike.
He takes in a breath. His eyes drift half-closed, eyelashes low, head drooping down. He's close to those twitching ears. In sudden compulsion, Itachi leans and allows his cheek to brush up against one, to see how soft and warm it is. Just like a cat's.
Suddenly the string between them vibrates, then begins to fray apart, unraveling loose from both of their fingers. Itachi is quick to withdraw and step back. His gaze hovers somewhere near the ground, uncharacteristically discomfited.] ... It seems we've satisfied the requirement made of us.
[Please don't mention anything about how he almost rubbed his face all over your ears.]
no subject
at least, that's up until he feels something solid nuzzling against his ear. that causes both ears to twitch and flicker, suddenly alerted to the fact that this is happening, but before six can say anything, itachi is pulling away from him. it doesn't register that the string has now completely unravelled until moments later.
a part of six knows he shouldn't say anything. another part wants to know what was that for—? ]
So it seems. [ ... ] Did it satisfy your curiousity?
[ might as well call him out. ]
no subject
Excuse me, why are you doing this to him.
Itachi's gaze automatically latches onto twitching ears, unable to repress the feelings of nostalgic fondness dredging up in him at the sight. That, and for the first time in several years, he finds himself considering something cute. But he will not say that aloud; he still has that much composure.]
I apologize. My behavior was impulsive and unacceptable. [He definitely would not have done that five months ago; the gembond is a bane.] ... I'll leave you now. Goodbye.
[Time to escape with what honor he may still have.]