"Can I have a goodnight kiss?" Sasuke looked up at Itachi hopefully. "Please?"
Itachi froze for a moment, somewhat surprised by his younger brother's request. "A… goodnight kiss?"
Sasuke nodded vigorously. "Yes. A goodnight kiss."
"Aren't you too old for this, otouto?"
"No!" Sasuke looked like he was about to cry. "Please, nii-san! Just one! I only want one!"
Sighing, Itachi reluctantly agreed. "Just this once, then."
Sasuke squeaked in excitement and beamed as Itachi's lips touched his forehead in a small kiss. He squirmed in sheer happiness under his brother's larger, warm body, delighted.
"Thank you, nii-san!" Sasuke chimed as Itachi's lips left his forehead.
Itachi, looking somewhat embarrassed, shrugged. "You're welcome, I guess." He sat quietly on Sasuke's bed for a long time quietly, waiting for his otouto to fall asleep so he could return to his room. Hours seemed to pass before Sasuke's small, frightened voice broke the silence.
"I'm cold, nii-san. It's so dark. I'm scared. Please don't leave."
"Don't worry, otouto, I won't leave," Itachi promised. "I thought you were asleep. Try and fall asleep, I'll stay here until you do."
Sasuke lay in silence for a few moments before blurting, "I'm still cold!" He frowned. "I'm still cold, nii-san."
Itachi tried in vain not to smile. Thankfully, the darkness concealed most of his emotions. "So?" He hoped his voice wouldn't betray him.
"Well, aren't you cold?" Sasuke pressed, staring intently at his older brother. If Itachi hadn't known better, he would have thought that this was a glare with murderous intent.
"No," Itachi replied bluntly, "I'm not cold."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"But, nii-san-"
"I'm not cold. Really."
Silence followed Itachi's words.
Sasuke's tearful voice soon followed. "So… so you don't want to snuggle with me?"
"Wha-?" Itachi was bewildered at yet another bizarre request from his little brother. "You want to what?"
"Snuggle." Sasuke's voice was firm and stubborn.
Itachi couldn't help but laugh. "Snuggle?"
Sasuke nodded happily. "Yes. Snuggle."
"Oh, otouto. You're too old for this." Itachi sighed. "A goodnight kiss was okay, but snuggle? I think the kiss was enough."
"No, no, no!" Sasuke squealed. "I'm not too old! Not too old! Please, nii-san! Just for a little bit, and then you can leave! Please?"
Itachi could hear tears in his voice and couldn't stand hearing his younger brother cry. "Oh, alright. Baka! Really, grow up," he teased, poking Sasuke on the forehead and hesitantly slipping under the covers with his little brother's small body next to his considerably larger one.