Inspiration music: Krakow, from The Sky Crawlers
Reviews are gold.
.
He is so close. So, so close. But he can barely move.
His brother is standing there, arms braced against the walls, trying to defend himself. He has nothing to defend against, though – nothing, at least, that he is aware of yet.
Itachi haltingly takes one step. Than another. He remembers, just in time, to reach out with his two fingers and curve them, as if to tear his brother's eyes out of their sockets. They are both close to death. But Sasuke will not die. No, Sasuke will live on, like he's supposed to, meant to, destined to – Itachi turns his blurry, dark, eyes toward Sasuke as he shuffles closer, and he's relieved to see the whites of his brother's eyes bulging out at him in blatant fear. Still human, after everything Itachi put him through. Still fearful.
He smiles.
This is the last time.
He looks into his brother's eyes and sees everything that could and came to pass, and underneath the broken surface, a little of the boy they both used to be. Perhaps there is redemption for both, instead of one, after all.
His fingers meet the damp forehead, and his strength leaves him.
.
.
.
then he is gone.