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Disclaimer: Is Lee getting chased by Seme's that want him as their Uke? No? Then I don't own Naruto.
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Title: Angel or Devil
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It didn't register that he was looking into Sharingan eyes. Nothing really registered in his mind anymore. He just...wandered. He had no goal, no purpose. He simply couldn't think of one in his almost completely broken mind.
He didn't even remember anything past being in that cell. It was all a blur with just some flashes. All the flashes were about Sasuke though -but even those were vague and he barely remembered what he looked like. He mostly remembered the name and it sent a rush of rage/fear/betrayal through him so hard that his eyes burned and he wanted to scream-; he didn't want to think of the boy who was the reason for his loss of everything.
Lee blinked and stared just like the man did to him.
...He looked oddly familiar.
Then Lee walked over to him.
Itachi did nothing but stare as the bloodied boy slowly sat on his knees next to him. The oddly colored boy -which wasn't really odd when you take Kisame into consideration- didn't exclude any harmful intent. In fact, he didn't exclude any intent at all and even his movements reminded him more of a doll than anything. Something…lifeless. It was that that made Itachi stay still, just to see.
Lee took a deep breath and he could practically taste the damage inside of the relaxing man.
How nice would it be...to just take that damage and sleep forever.
Lee slowly reached forward and just touched the man's hand with one finger. His power activated and suddenly, Lee felt a click and he felt like he could breathe, then...just pain. His organs felt like they were trying to shut down and a little blood dribbled out of his mouth from his convulsing lungs but he didn't cough. His eyesight dimmed to blackness and he sighed hoarsely.
"What did you do...?" Itachi's voice was deep and monotone except for the hint of surprise, awe, and confusion that he couldn't hide.
He could...he could see. His Sharingan had shut off for a second then he kept it off as he could actually see the scenery like he used to when he was younger. The constant pain that crippled him no matter what he did was gone and he felt like he could breathe.
He could breathe.
"You were meant to die a very long time ago...You must have an incredibly strong will..." Lee said in an almost too soft whisper. If he was a normal person with what the man had, he would have died years ago. Now, he was going to -hopefully- die in a few hours.
He knew that. He remembered that at least.
He couldn't see the man look at him, but Lee felt it. But Lee felt so tired now; his body trying to keep him alive long enough to transfer the damage to someone else, something he wasn't going to do. So, Lee began to lie down and by coincidence, he laid his head on the man's lap.
"...Will you listen to me? …If you wish, you can think of it as payment for healing you." Lee whispered and after a long moment, the man made a noise Lee took as an agreement.
So Lee talked.
"I cannot really remember anything past my cell anymore. The memories are vague and faded like disturbed water. I was from a ninja village...I think. I can almost remember them taking away a headband from me, but I do not remember what the symbol was anymore. All I have is Oto's flashing in my brain...mocking me..." Lee said in a soft whisper. His lungs seized for a moment and he began coughing. It felt like it'd go on forever but when it did fade, he felt even more tired than before but...he wanted someone, anyone, to know his story.
He forgot so many things; he didn't want to be another thing forgotten.
"How I got there...on that cold table...a person I considered a friend gave me up. They always said just how eager he was and that I should not keep him waiting. They said that he wanted me by his side but they did not need the willful... I did not even know that six months had passed until they said that they were going to doll me up for him..."
A friend, a friend made him go through that torture. One he called a friend tried to break him- no...his friend broke him.
He could feel it and he just wanted to die now.
"I do not know what I did to deserve it. What did I do to go through all of that? Was I truly such a horrid person? I do not even know anymore...he stole that away from me too."
"Then one bet that once Sasuke-kun used me, he would toss me to others." Lee said his voice achingly hollow as he said his 'friends' name for the first time. The taste of it sick on his tongue.
He felt the man's leg tense for just a second under his head but it relaxed again.
"We were friends and he is the reason I was hurt so often and so much...I am not me anymore. I do not know who I am, only I hate the me I see." Lee whispered, voice still hollow even as tears fell from his blind eyes, "Everything is so very wrong."
Then he felt himself falling asleep.
"Stranger-kun..."
"...Itachi."
Lee almost smiled and he corrected himself, "Itachi-kun...please do not let me..."
Lee fell asleep before he could finish his plea.
Hopefully, he wouldn't wake up again
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Lee woke despite not wanting to. His grey-white pupils shrunk to pinpoints at the bright light shining through his too long grey-white bangs. His blindness was gone, so was the pain of his organs trying to shut down. He looked around then felt something warm against his bare hand.
Lee looked to the side and saw a woman, a nurse, collapsed on the ground. He shifted his fingers and felt for a pulse but there was none. He let go of her hand and it made a soft thud against the ground. He looked around and saw that he was in a hospital room. He felt people coming close and got out of bed without another thought. He opened the window and jumped out of the third floor, holding his hospital gown down so it wouldn't fly up as he distantly realized he was nude under it.
He landed on his feet and would have crumbled to the ground starvation and exhaustion if an arm hadn't wrapped around his waist and pulled him back up. Lee tensed up and felt a harsh response of fight and panic before the feeling suddenly clicked and he realized that the chakra belonged to the stranger, to the one named Itachi.
Lee relaxed and slowly looked up at the black eyed man, subconsciously gripping the sleeve of Itachi's odd coat tightly.
Itachi seemed to look him over and then Lee got the feeling that he was asking a question when he somehow locked eyes with Lee even through his bangs.
"Wow kid, those civilian docs must be something if you're already jumping around." A rough amused voice came and Lee turned his head to see a man who sharply reminded him of a shark.
"You looked like you were at death's door!" The shark-man chuckled.
Lee blinked and whispered, "Death spared me and took the nurse instead..."
The shark-man blinked and his nose twitched as if he was smelling something but Lee turned back to Itachi and stepped a little closer, still holding onto Itachi's sleeve though the man had let him go.
"...I am hungry..." Lee said and his whispering voice was strained. He slumped against Itachi weakly, feeling the strain on his body from trying to keep him alive for so long. There was only so much that taking health could do when so close to death. He needed nutrients.
"Why did the nurse die?" The shark-man mumbled but Lee looked up at Itachi.
Itachi stared down at Lee then softly sighed. He began walking and Lee followed him like a lost puppy.
Kisame stared and sighed as well, "Does this mean we are gaining a pet?"
Itachi didn't even bother to answer him so neither did Lee.
A little bit later, Lee was eating and eating and eating. Itachi stared with barely widened eyes and Kisame only laughed.
"Damn kid, you can pack it away!" Kisame snickered and Lee paused in eating.
"I have to." Lee said then went back to eating.
"...Why is that?" Itachi spoke, voice slow and monotone but Lee paused again, shutting his eyes for a moment as he liked it.
Despite how emotionless Itachi sounded, Lee somehow felt safe.
"I was really close to dying. My body strained itself trying to keep me alive until I transferred the damage. Now I am weak and in need of sustenance. It helps me recover much faster than if I just left it alone." Lee answered. He wasn't lying. He knew it now from how long he'd been in that cell. Barely surviving and feeling like each one of his organs were being carved out from how hungry he was.
Sometimes they fed him good things.
Sometimes they...
Kisame hummed.
"Kid's not lying..." He said, "What do you mean, transfer?"
"It is how the nurse died. She touched my hand." Lee's lips turned down for a moment, "That is what I was going to say, Itachi-kun. Please do not let me touch anyone."
"Touching meant you lived. You did not want to live?"
"...no...I am broken Itachi-kun. I am someone I hate...I believe I said that before." Lee's voice was still a whisper, still hollow, but he was polite with his words.
"Damn, this shit is depressing." Kisame mumbled before saying, "Look kid, you're young. You can be whatever makes you happy. You got time."
Lee paused and looked at Kisame, quiet for a long moment before whispering sadly, hopefully, "Really...?...How?"
Kisame blinked in surprise then pushed down the urge to grimace at being asked for advice; it really wasn't his strong point. He rubbed the back of his head in thought. This kid did heal Itachi so...
"Uh...travel. It'll help get an idea of what you want?" He said, slowly.
Lee continued to stare then slowly went back to eating. Travel...? It sounded nice but...lonely.
Lee finally finished eating after twenty more plates and Itachi paid without a word. Lee stared at the dark haired man and held onto his sleeve again, pressing close. Itachi looked down at him then began walking again.
Itachi lead him into a clothing store.
Lee blinked and looked down at his hospital gown. He softly frowned and said, "But...I do not have any money."
Itachi looked at him and Lee got the feeling the man was saying 'I know, but I do. So choose something.'...Lee looked down,
"But...You paid for all of my food." Lee whispered then there was a gentle pressure against his back, pushing him towards the clothes. Then Kisame groaned and said,
"Just do it kid. Apparently Itachi has a soft spot for pups."
Lee frowned softly in confusion; not knowing what puppies had to do with anything but finally went anyway. He looked around and slowly picked out some clothes. He pulled out a light grey sweater that interested him and some black spandex pants. When he tried them on, the sweater was more like a dress on his small and slightly malnourished frame, going down to mid-thigh. It hung off both of his shoulders but the stretchy material stopped from going past his mid bicep. The sleeves covered his hands completely. The spandex pants clung to his legs comfortably and Lee liked how the outfit felt.
But when he looked in the mirror, he was sharply reminded of how different he looked, as if seeing through light grey hair and always seeing his dark grey hands wasn't enough. He looked at his hair again and thought of putting it in a braid since it went to the middle of his back but decided not to. He...he liked being hidden by his hair.
Lee walked out of the changing room and showed Itachi, wanting his opinion.
Itachi's lips quirked up for just a second and Lee felt warmth rush through him for the first time in months. Lee sighed happily.
Itachi took the tags off the clothing and gave Lee some shoes too before taking the tags off those too and giving it to the seller to pay for everything.
Kisame looked Lee over and said, "You look cute pup." putting his hand on Lee's head.
Lee blinked then closed his eyes and pressed into Kisame's touch even as he said, "My name is Lee, stranger-kun."
"And I'm Kisame." Kisame answered before grinning and saying, "Pup."
Lee's lips vaguely formed a pout and Kisame laughed. Itachi came back and Lee immediately latched onto his sleeve again.
"...Lee." Itachi said, having heard their conversation.
Lee looked up at the man.
"Your friend...what was his full name?" Itachi finally spoke the question though deep down, he feared the answer. If his Otouto really went down that path...
"I...I do not really remember..." Lee said, "But..." Lee was silent for a few moments before nodding and saying, "The man who called the bet said Uchiha so maybe that is his full name?"
"Uchiha?" Kisame asked, frowning, "Hey, is he talking about-"
"Yes." Itachi said, answering Kisame's interrupted question and Kisame sighed, knowing that it was something Itachi oddly wanted to keep secret. Kisame shrugged.
"I told Itachi-kun my story." Lee said, "My friend is the reason I was hurt really bad for a really long time."
"Something tells me that it's a lot worse than that sounds." Kisame sighed, "Great, nothing is ever easy."
"What do you plan on doing now, Lee." Itachi said, looking down at the dark boy.
"I-...May I...travel with you?" Lee slowly asked, feeling like the answer could make or break him.
Itachi stared and he was tempted to say no. The path he traveled was dangerous and wasn't suited for someone like Lee. Lee who needed somewhere stable and kind to heal from his mental and emotional scars. Itachi slowly lifted his hand and moved Lee's grey-white bangs so he could see Lee's eyes.
Grey-white orbs stared back at him from a stark grey background and even with the coloring making it hard to read Lee, it was too easy to know from the subtle slant of light grey brows. Lee needed him to say yes.
For what Sasuke had done to this boy, Itachi felt like it was his fault. He was the one who pushed his Otouto down that path.
Itachi closed his black eyes for a moment then lightly tapped his two fingers against Lee's forehead and said,
"You will always listen to me."
Lee's eyes widened and slowly, his lips formed a very tiny smile. He nodded and suddenly pressed against Itachi in a hug. He heard a rough chuckle come from Kisame but he only really paid attention to Itachi's hand resting on his bare shoulder.
Lee sighed in bliss.
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Lee traveled with the two quietly. He acted like Itachi's shadow, just holding onto the older man's sleeve as they walked. It was a quiet first day and when night came around, Lee followed Itachi's orders.
The only actual order was him to stay in the camp though.
He was offered fish as food and ate it slowly, savoring the gift. Kisame went to sleep first, lying near the fire opposite of Itachi and him. Itachi leaned against a tree, still close enough to feel the fires' warmth. Lee stared at the older man then crawled over.
He rested his head on Itachi's lap just like he did that morning but this time on purpose. He sighed in content, closing his eyes. Itachi's leg had tensed under him but then relaxed after a moment. Lee could feel Itachi's gaze on him and far from unnerving him, it made him feel better.
Then, he felt a large warm hand rest on his head.
Lee practically purred as he felt Itachi slowly stroke his hair and the moment he felt Itachi pause, he gave a little whine and pressed into Itachi's hand.
The stroking slowly began again.
Lee mewled happily and curled up, hands tangled into the bottom of Itachi's cloak. Like this, he barely even felt cold, even though his skin prickled with it. Still, he fell asleep.
When he woke, he was still on Itachi's leg but now he had a cloak acting as his blanket. He blinked under his bangs and looked up in confusion.
Itachi was still wearing his cloak so...
Lee got up and whispered good morning to Itachi who was staring at him then looked around. He saw Kisame step through the bushes, holding a line of fish for them to eat and not wearing a cloak. Lee held the much too large cloak around his body and had to lift the hem so he wouldn't step on it or trip as he walked.
Kisame raised an eyebrow at him, an amused smirk on his face as he said, "Ah, sleeping beauty is finally awake."
Then Kisame froze as Lee fell against him in a hug.
"Thank you..." Lee whispered, nuzzling Kisame's upper stomach as that was as high as he reached.
Kisame cleared his throat, "...Well, couldn't just let you freeze cause you didn't grab a jacket." He said, sniffing slightly.
Running through Kisame's mind was the entire story Itachi told him last night. Everything that Lee had told Itachi was repeated and damn if Kisame didn't feel like Lee got the shittiest luck on the draw. Kid couldn't even remember anything past being...yeah.
Usually Kisame couldn't give two shits for ninja in those situations but...this was a kid dammit. Even he still had morals, as loose as they were.
Unless it came to a mission, then well...a mission is a mission. But Lee wasn't a mission, and the kid did heal up Itachi.
"Okay, okay, that's enough hugging." Kisame said, pushing Lee away, "Making me look soft." he grumbled and went about cooking the fish.
Lee's lips quirked into a tiny smile then he went over to Itachi and did as he pleased, which was to curl up and press against Itachi's side.
They ate and after, they left with the clearing looking like no one had slept there.
Their days went like that often, traveling, making camp -the odd times when they stayed at an Inn, Lee slept beside Itachi-, and repeat. Lee always meant to get a jacket for the cold nights but he kept forgetting during the day. When he started feeling guilty, Kisame said to not feel so full of himself, someone as tough as him didn't care about the cold.
It was the first time Lee had giggled so freely in a long time.
A few months passed before it clicked that Itachi and Kisame were actually gathering information. Then again, the first time they were attacked, Lee had no idea what was going on. His body reacted without him thinking in the slightest and he stepped in front of Itachi, arms spread to protect.
An arm wrapped around him like a steel band and Lee was yanked away and quickly flying through the air. He was set onto a high branch on a tree and Itachi pinned him with pretty red eyes.
"Stay." He said, voice hard and Lee nodded, expression turning down in sadness.
The battle was over quickly and Lee stayed in the tree like a good child.
When it was time for him to come back down, Itachi got him once more. The moment his feet touched the ground, Itachi turned him and said in a strict tone, "Never do that again."
Lee frowned and his brows slanted in worry, "...But..."
"Never do that again." Itachi repeated
"...I do not want you hurt..." Lee whispered in a small voice, looking down
Itachi sighed hard yet it was subtle and carefully kept his expression blank. He glanced at Kisame who was leaning against a tree, body tense, and decided that he was far enough for a whisper not to be heard.
Itachi leaned in and whispered into Lee's ear, "From now on, you will stay behind me. You can watch my back as I protect you."
Lee's head snapped up and his heart felt strange in his chest, beating too fast. His cheeks felt warm too and he had the sudden -though not uncommon- urge to hug Itachi and never let go. Slowly, he nodded and his lips slowly formed an actual smile, not the tiny quirks that he was in the habit of forming.
Itachi's lips quirked up for only a second but Lee saw it and it meant the world to him.
He lunged at Itachi and hugged him tightly, feeling a strange but so warm feeling enveloping his insides.
"Itachi-kun..." Lee whispered and his smile grew, making his cheeks ache, "Itachi-kun, Itachi-kun, Itachi-kun..."
"Hm?" Itachi hummed in answer and Lee shook his head
"I think...I feel so happy," Lee said. It was the only thing he could think of with his limited memory.
"Hm," Itachi hummed again but this time it sounded just a tiny bit happy as well.
Lee sighed in pure happiness. It was settled; he didn't mind that he couldn't remember past what was now nine months ago. As long as he had Itachi and even Kisame, he could face anything.
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