The bar is nearly empty, and Sasuke sits, hunched into his usual corner.

He glowers at his drink, thudding his kunai into the dark wood of the table. He leaves it there, watching the split wood impaled by metal, and he gouges out the splinter. He repeats the action. The bar tender catches sight of him (and the pile of splinters) and quickly moves towards him, whereas Sasuke stands and downs the drink.

The amber liquid burns his throat, but he keeps on gulping, Adam's apple bobbing. The bar tender shouts at him as he leaves through the door, telling him to replace the table and never return – but that seems somehow contradictory.

Besides, he's underage.

As he steps onto the pavement, it takes two seconds for him to realise that he has drunk too much. It takes another for his face to hit the floor.

…

Itachi looks at the form on the floor. He prods it with his toe, tilting his head as he looks at the dark hair that falls across a shadowed face.

Sasuke moans, low and breathy, face scrunching up in pain.

Itachi makes his decision.

…

He wakes up, disorientated and groggy, clutching at bed sheets that he knows aren't his.

"Fuck." Sasuke mutters, sitting up, running a hand through his hair. He looks at the clock, and swears when he realises that he is late for work. He scrambles up, slightly grateful that he is still clothed, but still rather crinkled and nasty.

He looks through the cupboard, pulling out a red shirt that is only slightly larger, goes into the bathroom and borrows a toothbrush.

Looking into the mirror, he scowls at his reflection.

…

"You are LATE! Again!" The director screams. "Get yourself to the set now!"

Sasuke ignores him, trudging to the coffee machine.

"Now, or I will cut your pay by half."

He stands still, for a very long moment. Then he starts walking, fast. No wages, no rent. Damned if social services would come and try interfere. He makes his way through the corridors, aiming for costume.

"I'm your only living relative," Itachi smirks, suddenly appearing behind him.

"Go away."

Sensing danger, and ignoring it, Itachi changes the subject.

"We're filming together today."

Sasuke opens the door to costume, and Itachi almost thinks that he hasn't heard, until the door is slammed shut in his face.

…

Scene one

There is something satisfying about the power running through his veins, and he quickly forgets about Orochimaru, high on speed and adrenaline. He feels it through his body, as he skips from tree branch to tree branch with agility that is born only from the Uchiha clan.

He stops suddenly, crouched on a branch. Someone is watching him. He jumps up, and the branch snags onto his clothing, dislodging his balance. He hangs upside down, caught on the tree.

Itachi steps out from behind a tree, muffling his laughter by covering his mouth with a hand that has fingernails painted black.

"CUT."

"This should be canon," Itachi says, looking rather disappointed.

…

Break

Sasuke's face is bright red as he tries to ignore the giggling that is behind him. News travels fast.

However, the only thing that keeps him from killing people is the fact that he has a hangover from hell, and he isn't sure he can reach them without tripping over his feet. He considers throwing a kunai, but then all coherent thought vanishes as Itachi sits next to him, sidling close.

He decides to ignore him.

"I like your shirt, where did you get it from?" Itachi asks.

"Leave me alone."

"Have a rough night, did you?"

Sasuke regards his brother suspiciously for one long moment.

"You were absolutely great, little brother." Itachi drawls, wrapping one long arm around Sasuke's waist. "It's wonderful what alcohol can do for one's inhibitions."

Sasuke jerks out of Itachi's grasp, jumping to his feet.

"I can't have possibly…"

"The shirt says it all." Itachi replies, mouth settled firmly into a smug smile.

Sasuke checks the label, and sees a designer make. He also smells something familiar, and he realises that it is cologne.

He remembers borrowing the toothbrush. He gags.

…

Scene two

Someone is watching him. His skin crawls, and he stands still on the branch, closing his eyes.

There.

Lightning fast, he whips out a kunai and it flies towards its target. It thuds into wood with a dull thunk, and Sasuke opens his eyes to see Itachi, head tilted to allow room for the kunai.

Itachi smiles. He pulls the kunai from wood, and within a moment, he has Sasuke pinned to a tree trunk, kunai pressing dangerously into Sasuke's neck. His cloak covers them in a shroud, and he presses against his brother's body, feeling hard muscle.

"Still weak, I see."

Sasuke smiles nastily, and his face dissolves into mud, and Itachi realises that this is Sasuke with Orochimaru's techniques – and suddenly it is Sasuke that is pinning him into the tree. The kunai is at his neck, but regardless, Itachi reaches for Sasuke, smiling a perverse smile.

"Is that the only thing he taught you?"

Sasuke punches him.

"CUT!" The director walks towards the pair, and he whacks them both with his rolled up script. "Itachi, stop deviating from the script. Sasuke, just…stop doing things wrong."

They both scowl and untangle themselves from each other.

"I hate you." Sasuke mutters, under his breath.

"Judging from your performance last night, I really doubt it."

Sasuke hisses, and Itachi dodges kunai again.

tbc