Sometimes I was jealous of their connection. A link stronger than friendship, something that bordered on the love a brother has for another, and yet not at all. It was a love that I could never reach, but that came to them as easy as breathing.
-Friend-
"Stop pouting like that, it's unbecoming."
Hashirama sank further in his chair, his chocolate eyes filled with sorrow. It almost frightened Madara how his friend's sadness pulled him in, urging him to… to what?
His hand twitched, fingers itching to reach Hashirama's bowed shoulders. What was he even doing here, why did he do this to himself? Tobirama should be here, console his brother, and… oh who was he kidding. Tobirama had the emotional sensitivity of a rock. Madara pulled back, his chair scrapping noisily on the floor.
"You're acting like a child," he sneered, the real bite removed from his voice.
"Let's face it, a girl like her could never be with a fool like I."
Madara twitched, once more caught unprepared for the sudden shift in Hashirama. He was a fool one moment and a wise-man the next, switching between emotions like the wind through leaves.
"Well then, consider yourself fortunate that she is already your betrothed and has basically no say in the matter." He didn't want to sound bitter; he had no real reason to. But he was, and that bitterness, that envy at Hashirama's… everything reflected in his tone.
"Tell me, Madara, do you hate me?"
"Would I be here if I did?"
Hashirama laughed and it sounded like ash blown in the wind. "You are here for your clan, for peace, for—"
"You really are thick-headed. I pity Lady Mito, she has ended up with the most stupid man I know." This time his words did bite, the fire of tightly-leashed feelings scorching his tongue.
He turned to leave, and his hand, treacherous as it was, lingered on Hashirama's shoulder like the apologetic caress after an angry slap.
You should have realized by now that I don't give a damn about peace…