Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the Uchiha brothers. Do support Masashi Kishimoto and the official anime/manga releases.
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Chapter 4 : Sleep
Every time Sasuke had a nightmare, he would tiptoe out of his room and wait outside Itachi's bedroom. No matter how many times he had done it, the boy would worry about having disturbed his brother. Other times, he would feel a sense of shame for his weakness. With his green dinosaur toy close to his chest, Sasuke would looked at the door yearningly in the darkness where the shadows would attack him.
Every time he felt his brother's presence outside his bedroom door, Itachi would chuckle at his shy brother before opening the door. When the brothers were snuggled together under one little blanket, they would drift off to their own dreams; dreams of playing with each other. No more nightmares of monsters underneath his bed. No more nightmares of killing and blood.
On the days when his brother was away, Sasuke still stood outside his brother's bedroom. He would count to seven seconds, the time it would take for his brother to open the door once Sasuke reached it. Then, the boy would slowly and quietly pushed the door open. The room was empty and silent. Other than a photograph of the family and one of the brothers, the room's appearance had little personal touch to it. The windows were closed and the air smelled like jasmine, the scent his brother wore at home. The door clicked close as Sasuke climbed onto the bed.
The green dinosaur in his arms. The blanket wrapped around his small body. Sasuke rubbed his face into the white pillow as he closed his eyes. He imagined his brother hugging him close, keeping him safe and protected through the night. While he did not need a nightmare as a reason to sleep with his imaginary Itachi, Sasuke still preferred having the real Itachi breathing in his scent and rubbing his back. Once again, Sasuke dreamt of his older brother.