Title: Amidst the Wake.
Series: Naruto: Shippuuden.
Rating: M
Genres: Uh... General, family-ishness... And I dunno what else.
Warnings: Vague indication of abuse,
Prompt: Love - myself.

DHC: Same AU, again. Yay. Bet you're getting tired of it, hm? xD

He gasped, optical nerves cutting off to a blank white oblivion. His lungs collapsed under the pressure, unable to continue their usual respiratory pattern.

"You alright?"

He moaned in response to the question, unable to answer with words. He registered the hot touch to his cheek, letting his head turn to cradle in it, boneless.

His eyes fluttered, regaining sight slowly, though it was fuzzy. His systems were overcome, quite literally. He needed rest. He gave what he hoped to be an apologetic smile, before his endless onyx eyes rolled back and his eyes closed, succumbing to unconsciousness.

His eyes flung open, mouth opening to let out a sound--any kind--but nothing came. He tried to move, but nothing happened. Panic rose to the front, but he shoved it away. His eyes betrayed his franticness in the way they darted around, hoping to recognize where he was and why he couldn't move.

"Relax," A voice murmured lowly in his ear

His body shivered in return, recognizing the voice. It took a little longer for his cognitive thoughts to register it though.

"I can't...move..." He murmured dazedly.

"Why...?" Came the response. "I've had a Mechanoid before, they could move after..."

He sighed heavily, letting his eyes fall closed again.

"I'm not a normal Mechanoid, though..." He muttered, mostly to himself.

"Then what are you?"

"I'm....a special model. A..." He paused, frowning, glancing over at the other, hesitant, almost shy-like. He was pulled into their gaze, their eyes were similar to his own in a way, just like--

"I'm a prototype for a new model," He whispered softly, bending the truth, but he couldn't tell the truth. "My brother and I escaped from the labs..."

And that was how it had all begun. He told what he could to the other, bending truths at parts, but otherwise was completely honest. If only he knew then that he was just continuing the downward spiral his brother had unknowingly started, he never would have said a word... He left things out he knew he couldn't share, and pretty much spilled his would-be heart out to them. Even to the point where tears hit the pillow beneath him--He'd never thought himself capable of crying before, the notion eluded him. He'd never cried before at any of the pain when it happened. Perhaps he'd never let himself.

"...I wasn't made for...everyday uses. It'll take approximately...6.2 more hours before I can move again... At least, that's what my system tells me."

"...That's amazing. But six hours? ...Damn."

He gave a wry smile. "Yeah..."

"So, what's your name? We never properly introduced."

He almost laughed. "I don't think after something like this you could ever be 'proper'."

He got a laugh in return and the sound rang in his ears like a soft chime. Or perhaps he was still out of it somewhat.

"You're right. But still. I'm Shikamaru."

"Shikamaru..." He murmured, testing the name with a curious expression on his face. "I'm..." He frowned. What had he been named? Truly? Not just his model-name or the project name.

The Uchiha project--Shisui, Madara, Itachi--Model U-061002-S. Class: S. Type: S.E.A.I.

"A-a-aniki..."

"Shh. Don't be afraid. It will pass."

"I-It hurts... So much..."

"I know, but be strong... It will be alright..."

"I-Itachi-nii!"

"Be strong, Sasuke..."

"Sasuke." He responded after a moment's time, an expression of pain ghosted over his face for a moment before it was gone. "Uchiha...Sasuke. That's...my name. Aniki named me that..."

"I see. I take it you don't have fond memories of the place you were made?"

"No... I don't... There was much...pain. We had to watch another one of us suffer to the brink of insanity. Niisan was forced to kill him... There were four of us. But...three, now. The elder of us escaped a year ago before us. They caught aniki and I... They kept us under such tight security..."

"I'm sorry... I didn't know."

"It's okay... Not many human's know the process and pain we Mechanoids feel. Though, generally they wipe the general model's memories and imput new ones, sometimes...they still remember things."

"Well, you're safe here, I doubt anyone would ever think to check a place like this for a Mechanoid."

I highly doubt that... He thought, but didn't respond, only nodded. They'll tear every inch of every city and area apart looking for us because we're the only ones with--

He shifted as best as he could before he turned on his side, hissing lightly as his pain sensors responding immediately. His arms were immediately around him, body pressed behind him.

"Don't push it, okay?"

"...Why are you being so kind?"

"I don't really have it in me to be mean... I can't stand anyone hurting. Just because I don't really know you doesn't mean I won't be nice."

"...." Well, what could he say to that? He didn't understand how different humans could be individual to individual.

"Aniki...?"

"What is it, Sasuke?"

"H-Have you...ever been outside? We have all of this knowledge of humans and things at our disposal, but, I want to know what it's really like."

"Once... Though I barely remember it. I was being transported here from another lab. Though there was no one there besides the scientists..."

"Are... Are all human's as mean as these?"

"No, otouto. Not all human's are like these. There will be a humans of many types, ranging from nice to cruel. I pray that any human you meet will be kind to you. You deserve nothing else but love and kindness."

"...Love, Aniki?"

"Yes, Sasuke. Love."

"What is...love?"

"There are many forms, otouto. Like my love for you as family as one example."

"But...what of the others?"

There was a pause, before a small smile--he had never realized then how sad it had been. They flicked him on the forehead.

"Another time, Sasuke."

He laid there, remembering everything he and his brother had talked about. Perhaps...what this was, was another form of love? He didn't want to think it, so he wouldn't be crushed if it was something different, but it hurt when he thought of it like that. His eyes closed again.

"...Don't leave?" He asked in a voice, weak and helpless, much like-- "I...don't want to be alone."

There was a long silence.

"I wasn't going to."

A breath he didn't know he was holding exhaled.

"Thank you..."

"Sleep, you need it."

"H-hai..."

His body relaxed as his systems slowed down back into a regenerative cycle that immitated sleep.

And for once, he let himself dream of what love was really like.

Owari.

DHC: And now...for some weirdness. xD