There was a messenger bird waiting for him at the windowsill. A very familiar bird. Hashirama rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands before taking another look. It took a few seconds to register that, yes, that is Madara's falcon, and took an embarrassing amount of gaping to notice the unassuming slip of paper tied to one of its feet. Such a little thing, barely worth anything, and yet, it felt as if the world would shake apart if Hashirama touched it.

Taking the tiny scroll carefully, with slightly trembling fingers, he read the contents.

Meet me at the river immediately. I will be waiting. Don't be late, idiot.

Kami, how long had it been since he had seen that rushed, spiky scrawl? Hashirama tugged the end of his ponytail, biting back his initial instinct to fling himself out of the window in front of him and run to the river. It had been years since he'd last talked to Madara outside the battlefield, and to meet with him now...

It didn't even cross his mind to refuse, or even double take at the impulsive demand. Madara has always been impulsive. Always driven by his emotions. He can tell by the handwriting alone that the note was written in rush. So like Madara. Impatient as always. The odd little note captured Madara so perfectly- always in a rush, that one- that Hashirama had the odd desire to keep it

Smiling to himself, he took a few moments to stretch out his chakra, sensing the people within the perimeter of the house. Tobirama was out on a mission so it would be easy for him to slip out of the compound, and His father was busy with clan matters and probably wouldn't bother him for a couple of days. They did just clash with the Uchiha days ago.

With the coast clear, he merrily made his way to the river, wondering what Madara wanted. A casual call perhaps? Or business?

Frowning a little, he tried to recall if something happened that would make Madara call on him for business. Izuna was not included in their last clash. Tajima was occupied with his father as always. Then him with Madara. Although, Madara did seem a bit distracted last time. Maybe something happened?

He frowned as his heart rate picked up. He sped up, trying to shake the thought from his head..

When he landed near the river, he could see Madara on the other side in the open, leaning on a tree. His mood lifted when he saw that Madara, at least, was uninjured.

"Madara!" he called out, bounding across the river.

Madara's head shot up at that. "HASHIRAMA!" he cheerily shouted.

"Are you drunk?"

"What? No!" Madara tilted his head to the side and blinked owlishly. A sheepish smile overtook his innocent expression, "I am tipsy though." He admitted, dangling a flask between them.

"Give me that." Hashirama sighed, exasperated, "Why are you even drinking? Did something happen?"

Madara's eyebrows furrowed together, "Happen? What?" he shook his head. "No. No. I- that's my liquid courage," He gestured at the flask "You're holding my liquid courage," he hummed to himself thoughtfully, "Maybe you'll need it too, Later... Maybe."

"Courage? For what?" Hashirama felt a bit lost and wary too. Something was going on with Madara, he was not one to act like this. Unsure and fumbling was usually Hashirama's role. Madara was strangely open, vulnerable, almost, in a way that was foriegn compared to the man's usually spiky countenance, "What's going on Madara?"

"I had an epifan- Epipf- Effiepun- I think of something! Thought of something? Epiphany! Yes that's the word! I had an epiphany!"

Madara looks so satisfied so Hashirama didn't have the heart to interrupt him.

"You" he said while pointing at him. "You are Senju Hashirama. You are my best friend. You're very important to me." He takes a step closer with every sentence, until he is right in front of him, "You. Are. A Thief."

Hashirama felt a tinge of hurt, "A thief? Why?"

"Because you stole my heart." Madara lamented. "I didn't even notice! I didn't think you with your bowl cut and your stupid smile would get so close."

He was looking at him with wide eyes and Hashirama thought, almost absently, that he might be the only one that could get as close to an Uchiha as Madara was to him at the moment and not die a gruesome, genjustsu-filled death.

Madara was saying something more but Hashirama's brain was stuck somewhere in 'you stole my heart' and he can't help but stare. And stare. And stare some more because that couldn't- Madara? Surely not? But he's still here and looking at him with those eyes and his brain is melting because MADARA JUST SAID HE STOLE HIS HEART?

"HASHIRAMA! Are you even listening to me?" And suddenly there was hurt in those beautiful eyes. He didn't know what to do. Was he even worthy of that hurt? That- dare he say it- love? He was clumsy, and scatterbrained and Madara… Madara was worth so much more than that.

"I- Madara" He swallowed, his eyes darting away from Madara's as he searched for words. Thank you? I love you? I appreciate it? Why me? He doesn't know what he feels. The thought of hurting Madara makes his chest hurt for some reason.

Madara scrambled to cover his hurt, stepping away from Hashirama and looking down. "I just- I just want you to know that. I want to be able to tell you this. That you're very important to me."

Hashirama stepped forward, lifting Madara's chin with a gentle hand., "You are very important to me as well Madara," he said firmly, "You're my best friend- but these are dark times. We would both be forced to face each other on the battlefield. And... I do not want to hurt you." He desperately hoped that Madara would understand- he didn't want Madara to take this the wrong way and accidentally hurt him, not again. Even the very thought of Madara leaving and walking away is enough to bring him to his knees. He still vividly remembers the empty, hopeless feeling when Madara turned his back from him in this very river. He needed to look closely at himself- this wasn't something someone could help him with.

Madara smiled wryly and took a step back. "I know that. Our fathers have the habit of pitting us against each other."

There was that strange tightening in his chest again. "Madara I-"

"Sleep with me."

Hashirama was taken aback, "What?"

"Sleep with me," Madara repeated, eyes intent "Make love to me."