Edit: I went back and made some minor alterations to sentence structure and flow. And I decided to make Sasuke a little bit more PC.
My poor attempt at writing something light-hearted as I ponder where to take Burdened and Beleaguered.
Please note this is strictly AU (which should be quite obvious as both Itachi and Izumi are alive). Izumi, for those who don't watch the anime nor have read the Itachi light novels, is a young Uchiha girl that has a romantic interest in Itachi. She is later killed by Tobi/Obito in the anime. Enjoy!
Sasuke had known his older brother's eyesight had deteriorated rapidly with his use of the Mangekyou Sharingan, but Itachi had managed with such dignity and poise that he sometimes quite simply forgot.
And anyhow, it wasn't Sasuke's place as the younger brother to criticize and nag Itachi. It wasn't like he was their mother or anything. Itachi knew how to take care of himself. He had lived as a rogue ninja for years, for God's sake.
But even Sasuke, stubborn as he was, had to put his foot down when one day, he caught Itachi walking straight into the transparent glass door, slamming his forehead against the glass with full force. Glancing off and rubbing the newly forming bruise on his forehead contritely, Itachi had spun quickly on his heels at the exasperated huff issuing from down the hall, where his younger brother stood, leaning against the wall.
"That," Sasuke told him flatly. "Is it nii-san. We're taking you to the optometrist."
"There is no need to worry on my behalf, Sasuke."
"You just walked straight into the glass door!" Sasuke gesticulated wildly. "You need help."
"That's right," Izumi chimed in, appearing beside Sasuke in the hallway. "You should listen to your otoutou."
Itachi sighed. "Teaming up against me is not playing fair," he gently chided the two of them. But he could sense when the argument was a hopeless cause.
"We only have your best interests at heart," Izumi cooned sweetly.
Sasuke picked up the phone.
"I'm going to book your appointment, nii-san."
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…
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The next day, Sasuke found himself practically dragging Itachi unceremoniously through the streets of Konoha, Izumi perkily prancing by their side as they made their way to the optometrist's office.
Once they were inside, the three of them took a seat in the nondescript waiting room.
After several minutes,a smiling optometrist appeared and led Itachi into the examination room, but not before the elder Uchiha nearly tripped over a small table.
Izumi stifled her giggles and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
Bored, he picked up a magazine and rifled through it. It turned out to be a magazine for pregnant women.
"Oi, Sasuke." Sasuke peered over the top of the magazine. Izumi stared back at him, a pair of dark cat-eye glasses perched on her nose. "What do you think of these?"
"Hideous." He rifled another page.
"Hmph. Not as hideous as the trash you're reading. I didn't know you were into maternity magazines."
Sasuke tossed the offending article aside. "What do you want, Izumi?" he snapped.
"I need you to help me choose some frames for Itachi when he's done with the eye exam." She gestured towards the glass case and picked up another pair.
"Here, what about these?"
"They'll make him look like a fucking hipster."
"Well if you think you've got such great taste, come here and choose one for yourself."
Sasuke stalked over to the case. He pointed to a nondescript pair of plain black rectangular frames. "These."
"God, those are much too dorky. What about these?" She pointed to another pair.
He scoffed and shook his head.
"Those are revolting. Are you sure Itachi is the one that needs glasses?" he asked acerbically.
"Why you little—" Izumi gasped.
The argument bounced back and forth, steadily increasing in volume and profanity. The terrified receptionist took one look at the lightning sparks starting to emanate from Sasuke's right hand as he snarled at Izumi, and quickly excused herself from behind the counter. Izumi for her part, looked ready to murder the younger Uchiha.
Just as she whipped out another insult and formed a seal with her hand for fire release, the door to the examination opened.
Itachi stepped out, blinking owlishly in the sudden bright light. He threw the other two a peeved glance upon seeing both Sasuke and Izumi taking battle stances in the middle of the reception.
"Please try to refrain from destroying this establishment before I've even made my purchase," he commented drily, flash-stepping in between his younger brother and girlfriend to ensure there was no exchange of ninjutsu.
Sasuke refrained from rolling his eyes with difficulty. "Just choose the damn frames, nii-san," he scowled. Izumi stuck out her tongue at Sasuke from behind Itachi.
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…
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Sasuke had to admit, it was a little strange to see Itachi wearing glasses. His older brother had finally settled on a rather attractive set of crimson oval frames, and while in Sasuke's private opinion the glasses made Itachi look a little weird, at least his brother was no longer walking into walls or tripping over furniture.
"I think Itachi looks rather handsome in his new glasses," Izumi said fondly. They were in the kitchen making dinner while waiting for Itachi to return.
"Hn." Sasuke drained the broccoli from the pot and set it aside.
"You don't think so?"
"It makes him look a little nerdy. But whatever suits your fancy."
"You just don't like people who wear glasses because of Karin."
Sasuke stiffened. He slowly reached for a cutting board without making eye contact. "What does this have to do with Karin?" he asked off-handedly, trying to sound casual.
Izumi smirked slightly. She knew when she had hit a nerve.
"Well everyone knows how obsessed she was with you," she responded knowingly. "And don't you think the frames are a little similar to the ones that she wears?"
Sasuke winced, and was glad he had his back towards Izumi.
"Hn." Was all he said.
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…
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Remember, reviews are much appreciated!