Warnings: Incest, Anal sex

A Family Affair

Chapter 16

"Let's go out."

That was the first thing Itachi said when Sasuke finished explaining what had happened at the hospital once he showed up on his brother's doorstep. And, suffice it to say, it was definitely not the response Sasuke had been expecting.

So, he answered the only appropriate way. Dumbfounded.

"What?"

"Let's go out," Itachi repeated as he got up from the couch. "Get out of the house, you know?"

"Yeah, no, I get the idea," Sasuke said as Itachi walked away, heading to the bedroom. Sasuke followed him. "But where? And why? I mean, don't you think we should try to figure this out?"

Itachi stopped in front of his closet and turned around to look at Sasuke, who was standing in the doorway to the room. Watching his brother and waiting for an explanation.

"What's there to figure out, Sasuke?" Itachi asked. "Whether he has the pictures or not, clearly Naruto's not going to stop until he's done the damage he wants to see."

Sasuke didn't have anything to say to that, because Itachi was right. Totally and unequivocally so. And Sasuke had known it since he looked into Naruto's eyes in the hospital.

No. That wasn't quite true.

He'd known it since last week. Since Naruto threatened him the first time. He'd just been trying to buy them some time.

But that, obviously, hadn't worked. And now, here they were.

"So, the way I see it," Itachi continued. "Is that we either sit around here, counting down every minute before it happens. Or…" Itachi shrugged and turned to look in his closet.

"Or we go out," Sasuke finished.

Itachi pointed in his direction like he was going to announce that Sasuke had just won a prize. "You got it."

Sasuke considered Itachi's suggestion. It was strange to think about it—the prospect of not worrying. Or, rather, of not sitting around and stewing over something he knew he couldn't change.

And while accepting what was going to happen seemed almost too ridiculous a concept, Sasuke found himself nodding. Agreeing with his brother's idea.

"But what'll we do?" he asked. "Where will we go?"

"Ah, that's easy," Itachi answered as he stepped back from his closet with a change of clothes in hand. He gave Sasuke a smile. "We're going to go drop off the deposit and pick up the keys to our new place."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "We're gonna go to Oto?"

"Sure; why not?" Itachi asked. "Unless you had somewhere better in mind?"

"No," Sasuke replied quickly, shaking his head. "I just…"

He trailed off, not knowing what point he'd been about to try and make. Because there was no argument to be had. Itachi's idea was better than anything he could have thought up, and the longer he sat with the idea, the more comfortable with it he became.

Until, surprising himself, he felt a little smile begin to pull at the corners of his mouth.

"No, Itachi," he repeated. "That sounds great."

His brother seemed happy to hear that. Itachi's face lit up before he walked over to kiss Sasuke.

"Great," he said. "Now — he shifted his clothes in his hands — just let me change and we can head out."

XxX

A short while later, they were in Itachi's car, heading out of the village. Something that Sasuke found to be a thoroughly surreal experience as he stared out the window as they drove.

"What's on your mind?" Itachi asked after the silence in the car had stretched on for miles.

His voice pulled Sasuke from his thoughts. "Nothing really," he answered as he turned to look at Itachi. His brother glanced over at him, an eyebrow arched skeptically.

"Are you sure about that?" Itachi asked. "You've been quiet since we left the village."

"Yeah," Sasuke said softly. He looked back out at the road in front of them, staring at it but not seeing it as the scenery blurred past. "It's just… It's crazy, you know?"

"What's crazy?"

Sasuke shook his head like it didn't matter. Like it was an idle thought, not worth the time or conversation. "It's nothing."

"No, c'mon, sweetheart," Itachi urged. "Talk to me. What is it?"

"I mean, it's everything, Itachi," Sasuke replied, giving in easily. "Everything that's happened between us, with Naruto, now with this—today, here, now. It's all just happened so fast, and, and…" Sasuke shook his head again, not knowing what else to say.

Because he wasn't wrong. Because they had just done this a few weeks ago—leaving the village. Only last time, it had been to go to Suna and that trip had served as a trial of sorts. For their relationship and for what life could potentially look like for them going forward.

But now everything had changed.

Now it wasn't just potential or possibility that lay before them. No, instead they were driving toward their actual future—toward the place they would call home at the end of all of this.

And the prospect of that left Sasuke feeling dizzy. Especially at times like this—when he had a moment to himself, to think, to reflect on it all.

Which was something he figured Itachi understood when he cleared his throat and muttered, "I know, Sasuke. And I'm, well—I'm sorry. Not for what's happened between you and I—"

"No, and neither am I," Sasuke said quickly.

"—but I am sorry for everything else. I'm sorry that we haven't had the opportunity to take this slower. I'm…" Itachi sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry that I did this to you."

"Hey, no," Sasuke said softly, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he looked over at Itachi. He reached over the console between them to put his hand on Itachi's knee. "Things just…happened. You didn't do anything to me."

"No," Itachi mumbled in agreement, though he didn't seem to feel any better. "But I know if I'd never gone to mom and dad's that night. If I'd never stayed to talk with you, then we'd be—"

"Miserable," Sasuke interrupted, squeezing Itachi's knee. "We've talked about this, and you know we'd both be miserable, Itachi."

"But we wouldn't be here, Sasuke," Itachi shot back, daring to glance over at him. "We wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. And that's why… Fuck."

Itachi pressed his lips together and fell silent, gripping the steering wheel tight. Sasuke studied him, growing concerned when he saw his brother's eyes flicking back and forth quickly, as if he were searching the road for something.

Before Sasuke could ask what was wrong, Itachi flipped on his blinker and pulled over to the shoulder. He put the car in park and took a deep breath as he turned to look at Sasuke.

"And that's why I need you to know that you can go," Itachi said, his voice quiet.

"What?" Sasuke asked, completely taken aback.

"You can go," Itachi repeated. "Just say the word and I'll turn around right now. I'll take you back to mom and dad's and I'll…" He licked his lips and shook his head. "I'll leave," Itachi breathed out, forcing himself to continue. "I'll leave you alone and I won't keep doing — he gestured at Sasuke — this to you. I won't keep fucking up your life. I promise."

Sasuke blinked. He hadn't expected to hear that, hadn't expected to see his normally strong and confident brother sitting beside him with bloodshot eyes, fighting back tears. Especially not when, just a little while ago, Itachi had seemed so…okay with everything.

So he could only ask one question: "Itachi… What are you talking about?"

Itachi let out a little noise. A half-laugh/half-sob. Or maybe it escaped from him without his knowledge. Either way, the sound of it set Sasuke's heart slightly out of rhythm. Because he knew even before Itachi continued exactly what his brother meant.

"I'm giving you the choice, Sasuke," Itachi muttered. "To live a normal life. To forget me—to forget…"

Forget us.

"But why would I want to do that, Itachi?" he asked quietly.

"Because you still have a chance, Sasuke," Itachi answered, desperation in his voice. Like he was pleading for Sasuke to understand. "I'm being selfish, trying to keep you all for myself. But you still have a chance. You can go home—tell Naruto it's over between us for good, and maybe he'll let it all go. You can live a good life without me."

"Because I can't live a good life with you?"

"I'm not saying that…" Itachi answered, unconvincingly. "But if you stay with me—if you let me take you to Oto, then…" Itachi looked down. "Then that makes this real. It means that you—that you want this. You want me, and," Itachi let out a broken laugh. "Fuck, Sasuke, I want that so much, but I… I…" Itachi closed his eyes and clenched his fist against his leg, unable to say it out loud.

But Sasuke understood.

"You're still scared," he said softly. Not accusing his brother, not taunting him; just stating the fact.

A tear fell as Itachi nodded. When he continued, his voice was barely a whisper, "I'm still just scared that I'm not good enough for you. That I'll never be good enough. That one day, I'll wake up and you'll be gone, and all I'll have is another text. Just like—"

Itachi stopped himself, but he'd said enough.

Just like last week.

"Itachi, I…"

Sasuke trailed off, his stomach churning violently with guilt after hearing that. Because he knew it was his fault. He knew he'd done this to his brother. He'd made Itachi doubt his feelings for him. He'd made Itachi insecure about them. About their future.

And Sasuke hated himself for that.

"Itachi, I am so sorry," he finally managed to say.

Itachi shook his head. "No, it's okay."

"No, it's not," Sasuke said quickly, firmly. "It's not okay, and it will never be okay. And I will never be able to tell you how sorry I am that I did what I did."

"But it was—"

Sasuke held his hand up, stopping Itachi when he looked up to argue. The tear stains on his brother's cheeks made his heart clench.

"I know that Naruto was behind it, but, Itachi, I was the one who did it—I agreed because I was scared. Which means that I was the one who did this, who broke your trust and made you feel like you're not good enough." He took one of Itachi's hands in his, squeezing it gently as he continued. "I was the one who fucked up your life—not the other way around."

"You could never fuck up my life, Sasuke," Itachi said. And Sasuke knew he meant it.

"And you could never fuck up mine," he replied. "So, I want you to understand that the last thing I will ever want is for you to leave me, okay?" He shifted in his seat, moving a little closer. "I know it might be hard for you to accept that because you're still my big brother and I know you're trying to look out for me. But, Itachi, I'm not a kid anymore. I can make my own decisions."

"I know that," Itachi said.

"I know you do, up here," Sasuke said, reaching up to put his finger against Itachi's temple. "But can you accept in here — he moved his hand down, laying it over Itachi's heart — that I know and understand what I'm doing by being with you? Can you put that part of you away that wants to treat me like I'm nothing more than your younger brother?"

Itachi was quiet, thinking, considering Sasuke's questions as he looked him over. Sasuke could feel every beat of his heart underneath his hand, could feel his brother's warmth, could even feel the soft tremor that passed through him before Itachi brought his own hand up to lay over Sasuke's. Pressing Sasuke's hand even closer.

"Yes," Itachi said. "Of course, I can, Sasuke."

Sasuke smiled softly. "Then please understand that this is my choice." He moved to caress Itachi's cheek, lowering his voice. "You are my choice, Itachi. Every time, and in every way."

"Sasuke…" Itachi's shoulders relaxed slightly. A whisper of a smile began to play at his lips.

"But you have a choice here, too," he added. "We can go back to the village. We can…pretend none of this ever happened—go back to how things had been before. Or," Sasuke held Itachi's gaze for a beat before he turned to look at the road that lie ahead of them. "We go. We make this real. We make a life, together. The way we've talked about."

He turned back to Itachi.

"I'll accept whatever choice you make, Itachi. But I want you to make the choice for you. Not me—not us. Just tell me what you want."

Sasuke took a breath when he finished speaking and managed a smile. One he hoped wouldn't betray how nervous he felt as he put the decision to his brother. Because he knew there was a possibility that Itachi would change his mind.

Fear was powerful, after all. And one thing Sasuke had learned was that his brother, as strong as he was, wasn't immune to it.

So he braced himself, repeating over and over in his mind the words that Itachi might say — that he worried Itachi would say — hoping it would make the blow a little easier to take. While knowing full well that it was futile.

But the rejection never came.

Instead, Itachi reached up so he could squeeze the hand Sasuke still held to his cheek. Then he asked, quietly, "Are you sure, Sasuke?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yeah, Itachi. I am."

Itachi's eyes began to brighten as he looked Sasuke over.

"Then let's go," Itachi said.

Sasuke's heart stuttered in his chest, making his breath catch. "You mean…?" he asked.

Itachi smiled. Like there had only ever been one answer.

"I choose you, Sasuke," he answered. "Always. I choose us."

Sasuke laughed.

He couldn't stop himself. It bubbled up out of him, a sound of pure glee, of happiness, and he surged forward over the center console between them so he could kiss Itachi. His brother kissed him back firmly, smiling wider against his lips.

They stayed that way for a minute or two, lost in each other, exchanging kisses while the world and the cars outside continued to whiz past.

When, eventually, they parted, Sasuke felt something inside him settle. Something he hadn't even realized had been loose and jangling about. He could see it in his brother, too. In the way Itachi's shoulders relaxed, the way his jaw unclenched. He could even feel it when Itachi grabbed his hand and brought it to his lips, kissing Sasuke's knuckles gently.

"You ready?" Itachi asked.

Sasuke nodded. "Let's go, babe."

The endearment slipped out of him fast and quiet—awkward because of the newness of it, because Sasuke didn't know if he was doing it right. He just knew he'd wanted to say it a hundred time before and had just been too afraid.

But today, here, now, the fear was gone.

Replaced, instead, by embarrassment as soon as it was out of his mouth. Especially when Itachi's eyebrows rose curiously and his dark eyes glinted with humor.

"Babe, huh?" Itachi asked, his lips twitching in repressed delight.

Sasuke pointed at his brother as he felt heat rise to his cheeks. "Don't you dare make fun of me or I swear I'll take it back," he threatened.

Itachi laughed, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Alright, alright," Itachi said. "Whatever you say, babe."

He turned back toward the steering wheel and flipped his blinker on again, grinning as he merged back onto the busy roadway.

Sasuke groaned with embarrassment and covered his face with his hands, but he couldn't stop the smile that pulled at his own lips as they continued on their way to Oto.

XxX

It was another couple of hours before they arrived. Along the way, they stopped for something to eat and came to the mutual agreement that for the rest of the day they were going to leave their cares before them. Neither of them wanted the thought of Naruto or what might happen on Monday to tarnish the here and now for them.

"And, anyways, we'll have all day tomorrow to worry," Itachi had said casually, jokingly when they had finished eating. "I just want the rest of today to be about you and me."

Sasuke completely agreed with that, so he had no problem casting his cares aside and enjoying the rest of the day.

After all, it was honestly hard to keep being worried when they were this far from the village. Especially when Itachi pulled up to the apartment complex he'd told Sasuke about over lunch and parked.

It wasn't like it was anything astonishing, but the complex was different from what he was used to seeing in the village, which was enough to make it interesting. With buildings that were all brightly colored in shades of blues and greens. Whereas in Konoha, everything tended to lean toward creams, browns, and greys. There was a pool near where they parked by the management office that glittered in the sun, looking inviting even though Sasuke was sure the water was too cold to enjoy. And decorations around for some event but Sasuke couldn't tell if it had already passed or if it was coming up.

It was all a bit much to take in so suddenly that Sasuke didn't notice Itachi staring at him until his brother said, "I hope that look means this place seems okay."

"Yeah," Sasuke said quickly. "I mean, I didn't really know what to expect, but this place looks like…wow." He didn't have any better way to put it as he looked around again. When he glanced back at Itachi he couldn't help but ask, "And you're sure they're actually gonna let us live here?"

Itachi chuckled. "Well, they will once they get their money. So — Itachi opened the driver's side door so he could get out — let's go."

Sasuke followed suit. Itachi locked the car behind them before they walked toward the management office. Sasuke felt a flush rise to his cheeks when Itachi held the door open for him.

Inside, there was a cheerful-looking woman sitting behind a desk. She stood up when she saw them come in.

"Good afternoon," she said. "How can I help you?"

"My name is Itachi Uchiha," Itachi said as he followed Sasuke inside. "And this — he put his hand on the small of Sasuke's back — is my boyfriend, Sasuke. I spoke with Ms. Masamoto earlier about my application for an apartment."

The woman's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, of course, Mr. Uchiha!" she said, smiling as she looked between them. "I'm so glad you were able to make it today. Please, take a seat." She motioned them over to the two seats across the desk from her.

They both took a seat, but Sasuke stopped paying attention almost immediately when Itachi and the woman started talking. Not because he wasn't interested, but because his mind was stuck on loop. Replaying his brother's words over and over again.

This is my boyfriend, Sasuke.

It had surprised him to hear Itachi say that. So casual—like they could have been dating for years and Itachi could have introduced him similarly a thousand times before.

But he hadn't, and that was what surprised Sasuke so much.

Because not even when they were in Suna did Itachi openly acknowledge to someone else that they were dating.

Sure, he had held Sasuke's hand; he'd kissed him in public. But saying the words was something new. Something special. Something that made Sasuke feel good. Because Itachi had said if they came here then they would be committed to this — to them — being real.

And, of course, Sasuke knew this had been real between them the entire time, but now…

Someone knew.

Someone outside of Konoha knew.

This woman knew now. She knew them. But not as brothers — no, she'd never known them as that — she knew them as something more.

And, again, that made Sasuke feel good and warm and whole inside because…

This is my boyfriend—

"Sasuke?"

"Huh? What?" Sasuke said, turning toward the sound of his name as he was snapped from his thoughts suddenly.

Beside him, Itachi was standing, looking down at him with a smirk on his face. "Are you coming?" Itachi asked.

"Oh, are we done?" Sasuke stood up. The woman who had greeted them was walking away, heading into a back room.

"Yes," Itachi said. He held up a set of shiny silver keys. "Everything is signed and paid for. So, did you want to have a look around?"

Sasuke nodded and followed Itachi back out. Instead of going back to the car, Itachi took a turn down a path directly outside the management office. It led them down a winding, tree-lined sidewalk that seemed like it would lead them through the whole complex.

When they were a few feet away from the building, Itachi looked over at him. "Are you okay?" he asked. "You seemed to space out in there."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sasuke answered quickly. He didn't miss the way Itachi raised an eyebrow at him.

"You sure?"

"I promise," he said reassuringly. "I was just surprised is all."

"Oh? What about?"

Sasuke gave a little shrug before he looked down at the sidewalk. Making note of every crack in the concrete that they went past.

"It's silly," he said several steps later. "I just realized that was the first time you ever called me your boyfriend. In public, you know."

He glanced over at Itachi, squinting slightly when sunlight peeked through the trees, and was happy when he saw his brother smile.

"Well, that's what you are," Itachi said. "That's all anyone here will ever know we are."

Sasuke stopped on the sidewalk. Unable to help the ridiculous smile that spread over his lips when Itachi stopped next to him. He reached out to grab Itachi's hand, lacing their fingers together—glad to be able to have the opportunity to do so openly again.

"I like the sound of that," Sasuke said quietly before he moved closer to kiss his brother quickly.

Itachi looked pleased when they parted.

"I like it, too," Itachi said. "Now, c'mon." He started back down the path, his hand still linked with Sasuke's. "I want to show you around here before we go see our apartment."

XxX

Over the next half hour, Itachi showed him around, telling Sasuke the things he'd read about the complex online.

It was cute, really, seeing how excited his brother was to make sure he knew that there was a small screening theater in the community office that they could reserve to watch movies together on a big screen. Or to tell him that there were community events that they might have to see about signing up for in order to meet people and make friends.

"You, make friends?" Sasuke asked, chuckling when Itachi brought that up. "I can't believe you, of all people, would even suggest something like that."

Itachi rolled his eyes. "I'm thinking of you, Sasuke," he said jokingly. "I know I can survive without friends, but you, well…"

"But me, what?" Sasuke challenged.

"Well, you heard Sakura yesterday, didn't you?" Itachi teased. "She said you're useless on your own."

"Hey!" Sasuke exclaimed in much the same way he had yesterday. But this time he was close enough to shove his brother playfully when Itachi laughed.

"Seriously, though," Itachi said when he caught his balance after stumbling away. He turned and smiled at Sasuke. "I thought that it'd be nice to, you know, maybe try and make a friend or two of my own, too."

Sasuke's faux-exasperated expression fell from his face when he realized that Itachi was actually being serious. "I think that's a great idea, Itachi," he said. "I think that would be really good for you. For both of us."

Itachi gave him a half-smile. "Yeah, me too."

They stopped a few minutes later at a fork in the path. Itachi looked up at the two buildings the different paths led to before he started down the right one.

"C'mon," he said, glancing back at Sasuke. "This is our building over here."

The path ended ten feet down, opening up to a blue-colored building three stories tall. From where they stood, Sasuke could see the doors of fifteen different apartments—five on each floor and a staircase near them at the end of the first row.

Itachi led him to the staircase and they started climbing, going all the way to the third floor before walking to the very last apartment in the row, the one farthest from the stairs. Each door they passed along the way looked nondescript. Just a red-brown door with a silver knob and keyhole.

But when they stopped in front of the door that Sasuke assumed was theirs, he couldn't help but feel that it was different somehow. Like maybe the paint was fresher or the doorknob gleamed a little brighter. He was pretty sure that wasn't actually the case, though.

What was more likely was that he was just overly excited because this was going to be where he was going to live. With Itachi. For…well, for the foreseeable future. And it was also going to be the first place he would live away from their parents.

So it was a lot to take in. Which was something that, thankfully, Itachi seemed to recognized since he didn't move to usher them inside immediately. He just waited at Sasuke's side, patient and silent, until Sasuke took a deep breath and let it out.

Only then did Itachi move, holding out the keys to Sasuke.

"Would you like to do the honors?"

A thrill shot through Sasuke as he stared at the keys in Itachi's hand. As he understood that one of them belonged to him. The thought of that made him smile and he took the keys from Itachi.

"Sure," he said. Without wasting anymore time, he unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Inside, everything was shades of white. Stark white walls and blinds, cream carpet in the living room, strange eggshell/off-white/light grey wood and tile elsewhere. It wasn't terrible to look at, just neutral. But as Sasuke walked inside, he couldn't help but like it. Because he could see them living there.

He could picture Itachi's couch, chair, and small entertainment center/bookcase arranged neatly in the living room where they would get ample natural light during the day from the windows on the far wall. He could imagine the two of them cooking in the small kitchen to his right, dancing around one another with a practiced ease.

And as he turned to go down the hall on his left, he could see… Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

Well, he could see three doors.

Three?

Which meant—

"It's got two bedrooms and one bathroom," Itachi supplied helpfully when he noticed Sasuke had stopped to stare.

Sasuke nodded slowly. And because he was curious, because it was too tempting a question, because he just couldn't stop himself from asking, he turned to Itachi.

"And it has two bedrooms because…?"

"Because I figured I'd still set up an office?" Itachi said, giving him a curious look. But when Sasuke's shoulders fell in relief, Itachi looked back down the hall and let out a soft noise of understanding. "Did you really think I was going to tell you we have separate rooms?"

"No!" Sasuke answered quickly, but the flush he could feel rising in his cheeks gave him away.

Itachi didn't laugh at him, though. Instead, his brother gave him a sweet smile and put a hand on the small of his back.

"C'mon," he said softly. He gestured to the door closest to them in the hallway. "Let's go look at our room."

Sasuke went ahead with Itachi following behind him. As soon as he turned the corner to get through the doorway, Sasuke let out a nearly inaudible gasp at what he saw. Straight across from him was a large floor-to-ceiling window that looked over a balcony. Beyond it was a gorgeous view of the city that sloped down beneath them into a valley. The late afternoon sun was shining down momentarily through the cloudy sky, making the city glitter and Sasuke was enthralled by it as he walked over to the window.

"It's beautiful," he breathed.

"I know," Itachi said, still in the doorway. "I saw the view online and I knew it was right for us. It just made me think of the view from the top of—"

"Hokage mountain," Sasuke finished, nodding. "Yeah, it really does."

Itachi came over and wrapped his arms around Sasuke's waist, holding him from behind. "I hope you like it," he whispered, kissing the side of Sasuke's head sweetly as they took in the view together.

"I love it," Sasuke said. "I love all of it, Itachi; really. I mean, I can't believe that this is gonna be our place. Our kitchen, our living room—"

"Our bedroom," Itachi added playfully, giving him a squeeze. Sasuke rolled his eyes, ready to give his brother a little jab for making fun of his excitement. But before he could, he felt Itachi's breath against his ear. "And just think about how nice it'll be when I take you in here for the first time."

A shiver ran up Sasuke's spine. He let out a soft noise and leaned into his brother, giving Itachi access when he started to press gentle kisses down Sasuke's neck to his shoulder.

"Why just think about it, though?" Sasuke asked innocently as he put one of his hands on top of Itachi's. To make it obvious as to what he was suggesting, Sasuke guided his brother's hand down and let out a small gasp when he pressed Itachi's hand firmly against his crotch.

"Why, indeed," Itachi mused, grinning against Sasuke's neck. "But are you sure you want this right now?" he asked even though he was massaging Sasuke slowly through the fabric of his pants, his touch gentle, his fingers teasing as they worked over his cock. "I mean, there's no bed."

"So?" Sasuke's fingers brushed against Itachi's hand as he moved to undo his pants, inviting his brother to take things further. He moaned softly when Itachi's hand slipped into his boxers. "You were the one that said we needed to enjoy today, right?"

"Mm, I did," Itachi agreed, letting out a soft groan of his own when Sasuke started to rock back against him in sure, slow movements.

"Then let's enjoy it," Sasuke whispered, hoping that would be all the encouragement his brother would need to take him. But he groaned in disappointment a second later when Itachi gave his half-hard cock a squeeze before he pulled his hand out of Sasuke's pants and let him go.

And for a single beat, Sasuke thought that his brother might tell him no. That Itachi would have some standard for where he'd fuck him and how, and Sasuke turned around, ready to reprimand, to apologize, to beg him to do it anyway. But he didn't get the chance as Itachi captured his lips in a sweet, bruising kiss, pinning him against the window.

The chill of the glass against his warm skin made Sasuke gasp against his brother's lips and Itachi took advantage of the moment to kiss him deeper as they both reached down to undo Itachi's pants. Sasuke pushed his brother's hands away though and did the work himself, slipping his hand under the waistband of his boxers seconds later to take his cock in hand.

"Haah, fuck," Itachi panted, steadying himself with a hand on the window while he looked down to watch Sasuke jerk him off. "Feels good. Missed you."

The admission made Sasuke cock pulse with heat and want. Or maybe it was because Itachi reached down to rub him through his boxers again. Either way, he felt dizzy and desperate, wanting more of his brother while knowing he wouldn't be satisfied just by this. So he fisted Itachi's shirt in his hand and pulled him into another hot kiss as he teased the head of Itachi's cock with his thumb.

"Then fuck me, Itachi," he begged against his brother's lips. "Please."

Itachi closed his eyes and let out a low moan. "You have no idea how much I like to hear you talk like that," he muttered. When he opened his eyes, Sasuke was pleased to see the deep glint of need in his gaze.

"Show me," Sasuke urged. He pressed another kiss to Itachi's lips, this one softer than the others. "Show me how much you missed me."

Itachi licked his lips, but he pulled his hand away from Sasuke and stood up straight. "Turn around," he ordered. "Spread your legs."

Sasuke was more than happy to comply. He pushed his pants and boxers down before kicking them off and then turned around. But when he moved to brace himself against the wall next to the window, Itachi made a noise.

"No," Itachi said. "Here." He rapped against the window in front of him where Sasuke had been seconds before, his nail making a sharp tap, tap, tap against the glass. "I want the world to be able to see you when you come with my cock stuffed inside you."

A low swooping feeling settled in Sasuke's stomach at that and he had to bite his lower lip to keep himself from reaching down to bring himself off right then and there just from the sheer audacity of the idea Itachi had put in his mind. Thankfully, he was able to fight it and he did as he was told, bracing himself against the window in front of his brother. Feeling overly exposed, especially when a cloud darkened the sky outside, allowing him to see his own ghostly reflection staring back at him in the glass. Looking desperate and halfway to broken, with flushed cheeks and a dripping cock all because of Itachi.

But instead of making him self-conscious, the sight of himself and his brother's dim phantom in the glass only made his cock throb harder. And when Itachi pressed three fingers to Sasuke's mouth, he didn't hesitate to take them in, enthralled with watching himself suck his brother's fingers off until Itachi removed them so he could press them against his entrance. He prodded and teased his hole until Sasuke couldn't help but mewl as he tried to shift his hips so he could take his brother's fingers inside of him, but Itachi wouldn't allow it.

"Tell me how badly you want this," Itachi said softly, shifting closer until Sasuke could feel his brother's hot breath on his ear again. "Tell me how badly you want me."

"I want you," Sasuke breathed out hurriedly. He glanced over and caught his brother's eye, letting out a moan when Itachi started to press a finger inside of him. "I want your cock or your fingers or, or—fuck, just anything, Itachi; please. I'm so hard for you. I need you."

A smirk pulled at Itachi's lips as he leaned forward and kissed Sasuke, but before he could kiss him back, Sasuke broke away with a low groan of pleasure when Itachi finally thrust his finger inside him. He worked quickly to add the others as his unoccupied hand roamed Sasuke's body—trailing up his thigh, teasing his cock, sliding under his shirt and up his chest to abuse his nipples. Until Sasuke was falling to pieces beneath him. Panting and moaning as he rode Itachi's fingers, waiting for his brother to just take him already.

And, thankfully, Itachi didn't make him wait much longer. He pulled his fingers out of Sasuke, leaving him empty and aching while he pushed his pants down just enough to free his cock so he could spit into his hand and slick it. Then, before Sasuke could beg for him again, he felt the head of Itachi's cock press against his hole.

The steady, probing pressure felt good, better than his fingers even, but Sasuke needed more. His body was crying out for more and more and more of his brother. And he got it when Itachi moved a second later, grabbing his hip, digging his nails into the flesh there as he thrust forward and pulled Sasuke back onto his cock at the same time. Spearing him open in one quick motion.

"Itachi, fuck!" Sasuke gasped. His fingers pressed hard against the window as he kept himself steady while Itachi let out a low groan from behind him.

"Fuck, I forgot how good you feel," Itachi muttered. He pulled out of Sasuke slowly, letting him adjust. But after a second thrust, Sasuke rocked back against him, giving Itachi all the permission he needed to pick up the pace and take him the way they both wanted.

It was hard and fast after that. The kind of fuck they'd been desperate for, the kind that made Sasuke feel cheap and dirty like a whore when Itachi pressed closer and his thrusts became shallow, rough and erratic. Because they'd never fucked with their clothes on before. Because he'd never watched himself fall apart before. But he could see it all now thanks to the reflection in the glass—the way his mouth fell open with every moan and grunt and curse of pleasure, the way he ground back to meet each of Itachi's thrusts, the way he reached down to stroke himself when Itachi snaked his other arm up Sasuke's chest over his shirt and pulled him backward. Giving him an even better view of how he was being taken.

"Do you like to watch yourself?" Itachi grunted near his ear. Sasuke looked for his brother's reflection in the glass and let out a soft moan when he saw the way Itachi was looking at him. Predatory, dangerous, hot. Sasuke nodded, tilting his head back and crying out when Itachi pinched and twisted his nipple through his shirt. "Then I want you to watch yourself when you come," Itachi demanded. "I want you to see the way you break because of me."

When Sasuke nodded again, he saw Itachi grin at him in the reflection before his brother let him go. Sasuke fell forward, putting all his weight behind his hand against the glass as Itachi's fingers dug into his hips while their bodies met roughly, once, then twice before—

"Fuck, Sasuke!" Itachi moaned as he snapped his hips forward one last time, burying his cock deep inside Sasuke as he came.

The heat inside Sasuke began to spill over then, and as his brother fucked into him through his orgasm, Sasuke did exactly as Itachi had told him. He watched himself, taking in every detail as he jerked himself off, coming with a gasp only moments after his brother when Itachi panted from behind him, "You're mine; you're mine."

It took them both a minute or two to come down from the high of their orgasms, but once they had, Itachi pulled out of him and tucked his cock back in his pants. Sasuke groaned only a little bit at the loss before he lowered himself to the floor. Not bothering to even look around to locate his pants and boxers when he felt how shaky his legs were.

He laid out on carpet, enjoying the plush feel of it even though he was hot and sweaty. And after chuckling at him, Itachi got on the ground too, moving to lay down next to Sasuke on his side, putting his hand on Sasuke's chest.

They laid there like that for a little while, content and silent. Itachi tracing his finger in random patterns over his shirt and Sasuke watching the sun slowly set through the window. It was nice, and Sasuke thought idly about how good it would be to feel this way forever. To be happy. In their own place, without the stress of people knowing the truth of who they were. Sasuke was ready for that.

"What is it?" Itachi asked from beside him when he noticed the smile that had spread across Sasuke's lips.

"Oh, nothing," Sasuke said. He looked over at Itachi. "I just think I'm gonna like it here."

Itachi's lips turned up. "Me too," he said wistfully.

"Were you wanting to head back soon, though?" Sasuke asked. Only because he had to, because the deep oranges and crimsons of the sunset that cast a beautiful light over Itachi were turning dark and fading as night rolled in.

Itachi shrugged. "In a little while, sure," he said. "But first, let's take a nap. It's still a long drive back."

"A nap?" Sasuke asked. He glanced around the empty room. "Just here on the floor?"

"Why not?" Itachi shot back. "We just had sex against a window, didn't we? There's no rule that says we can't nap on the floor."

Sasuke let out a soft "Hmph," but he couldn't really argue with his brother. Especially not when he could agree that a nap did sound nice—even if he had to take it on the floor.

In a bid to remedy the situation a little bit, though, Itachi said, "Hold on," before sitting up. He pulled off his shirt and wadded it up to make a make-shift pillow. Then, exposed from the waist up, Itachi turned onto his back. He opened his arms in invitation and said, "Come here."

Sasuke scooted close, a smile on his face as he settled his head against Itachi's chest.

"I love you, Sasuke," Itachi said quietly, giving Sasuke a little squeeze once he was comfortable.

"I love you, too, Itachi," he replied as he closed his eyes. And he fell asleep there, wrapped in his brother's warmth, listening to Itachi's heart beating steadily in his chest.

XxX

When he woke sometime later, it was completely dark out. Sasuke sat up, wincing at the stiffness in his back and neck. He looked around the room, seeing Itachi still sleeping peacefully and grabbed his pants from a few feet away before he stood up and pulled them on. Then he slipped his phone from his pocket and used it to light his way as he snuck from the bedroom to the living room, where he found and flipped a light switch.

Sasuke blinked, blinded momentarily by the reflective white emptiness of the room. It was strange to be faced with such a blank canvas of a space, but Sasuke knew that, sooner rather than later, it would feel as much like home as Itachi's house did now. If not more.

He walked further into the room, noticing now that he wasn't distracted by Itachi that there was a door on the far side of the room. It shared the same wall as his and Itachi's room, but since there was no door in their room, Sasuke figured it had to go out to the balcony he'd noticed through their window.

So he went over and opened it, and, sure enough, the balcony stood empty in front of him. Sasuke stepped out onto it, thankful that it wasn't too cold out yet and sighed contentedly as he admired the view. Hoping that he'd have the pleasure of seeing it for a while.

But after a few minutes, his admiring was interrupted when his phone vibrated in his hand. He glanced back behind him before looking down at it, expecting to see Itachi's grinning face dimly lit behind him through the window to their room. But Sasuke frowned when the room was still dark and there was no sign that his brother had woken yet. He turned back around and looked at his phone, immediately freezing when he saw that the message was from their mother.

"It's getting late, Sasuke. Are you on your way home?"

"Shit," Sasuke mumbled, looking at the time to see that it was just after 10:00 PM. He started tapping out a message as quickly as he could.

"I'm sorry, mom. I went over to talk to Itachi today and patch things up. We've just been hanging out ever since. Is it okay if I stay over at his house tonight?"

He sent the message, only feeling a little bad for lying to her. His phone vibrated with her response seconds later.

"Of course, sweetie!"

Then dots appeared on his screen, so he waited to see what else she had to say.

"I'm so glad you and your brother made up! It makes me happy to hear you're getting along again!"

Sasuke breathed out a laugh. "Yeah, if only you knew, mom," he muttered.

His eyes narrowed as soon as he said it and he slipped his phone back into his pocket, trying not to acknowledge the thought that had come to him so sudden and unbidden.

Because, what if—

No.

Sasuke shut the thought down immediately. Because it was stupid. It was dangerous. It…

Well, it was going to happen anyway, right? If Naruto got his way, that is.

No!

Sasuke shook his head. He couldn't. They couldn't.

…Could they?

"You okay?"

Sasuke jumped when he suddenly heard Itachi's voice from beside him. He looked over as Itachi stepped out onto the balcony next to him, fully clothed and with a concerned look on his face.

"Yeah," Sasuke said quickly, waving his hand. "Yeah, I'm great, Itachi."

Itachi arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course," he answered. But his voice was a little softer, more subdued. "I was just thinking is all."

"Oh?" Itachi looked interested. "What about?"

"Nothing," Sasuke said. He shook his head. "Just… Just a bad idea."

Or was it?

"You've been having a few of those lately," Itachi said, trying to joke. "So, go ahead and lay it on me. I'm interested to hear what you've come up with."

"Oh, I really don't think you are," Sasuke muttered.

He turned to look back out at the darkened sky, but from the corner of his eye he could see Itachi's concerned gaze return. Could see him step forward so he could put his hand on the small of Sasuke's back.

"What is it, sweetheart?" he asked quietly. "You know you can tell me anything."

Sasuke nodded but he didn't answer immediately. Not because he didn't want to, but because he was unsure of exactly what it would mean when he did. When he openly stated the stupid idea that suddenly made too much sense.

Because it did make sense.

And he knew it could be the answer they'd been looking for.

But how was he supposed to say it? How could he just blurt something like that out? How—

"Sasuke," Itachi said again, breaking through his frantic thoughts. His brother's thumb was rubbing little circles on his back. "Just tell me what's on your mind. Please."

For some reason, that calmed him.

Maybe because Itachi sounded scared, like he didn't know if he really wanted to know Sasuke's idea but knew he needed to hear it. Or maybe because he'd spent enough time keeping things from Itachi lately and he didn't want to do that to either of them anymore.

Whatever the exact reason, Sasuke took a deep breath and turned to look at his brother, just saying it before he could talk himself out of it.

"I think we need to tell mom and dad."