AU RP--

[mooneye]

...

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[mooneye]

Obito stood and just let him look. There was a lot. Grooves and ridges, and down the center of him the spaced, short slashes that the deep clips from the start of his recovery had left. "It doesn't hurt anymore," he said. "It hasn't in years."

[youngesthokage]

He hesitated for a long moment before stepping closer, looking to his face for permission with his hand up.

[mooneye]

A pause, and then he nodded. Not that he was ashamed. But people who saw him this way--casual lovers, mostly--were usually uneasy and a little repulsed the first time they touched his right side. Not that he blamed them. But it was going to sting a little if he got that reaction here.

[youngesthokage]

It was pure curiosity as he reached to brush his fingers gently over one of the deep marks, his head tilting to the side. "And these... where the rocks were?"

[mooneye]

"...Sort of." He watched his cousin's hand as it traced the groove. "It's not my flesh. Well, it is my flesh, now. But where the rocks were... not much of me was left."

[youngesthokage]

His fingers wandered up the scar network, to the side of his neck, his cheek, to circle his eye. "But some."

[mooneye]

That made him shudder all over. Not displeased, just--deeply affected by the touch. That single eye was the most dangerously powerful part of him. Also a vulnerable part--if anything ever took it from him, after all, he would be totally blind, and even the mokuton would not be much use then. He reached and touched Itachi back very lightly, just on the side, almost like he was checking that he was real. "Yes," he agreed. "Some of me remains."

[youngesthokage]

He stilled for a moment, then stepped in to lean against him as he slowly, gently, trailed his fingertips over the curve of his eyebrow, the uppermost part of his cheek, then brushing across his eyelashes with utmost delicacy.

[mooneye]

His lips parted in surprise, and his breathing got deeper and sharper. He hadn't expected this touch, or what it stirred up in him. "Please..." he started, but he wasn't sure just what he meant to say, just what it was he wanted to ask for.

[youngesthokage]

His other hand came up, curving gently against the unscarred side of his face as he ran his fingertips to the outside corner of his eye in a gentle brush of fingers so that he could open it. He didn't... He wasn't entirely certain how he should react to the plea, but he didn't pull away.

[mooneye]

Another shudder, smaller than before, though leaning against him Itachi could probably feel how it gripped him up and down. Obito hesitated and then lifted one hand to cup the back of his cousin's neck. The other--his left hand, his Uchiha hand--he raised, brushing the fingertips against the soft skin below his eye, just as Itachi had done for him.

[youngesthokage]

He stilled, unafraid. Then again, he'd never been one easy to scare, and he watched him, eyes half closing at the gesture as he remained trustingly quiet in his hold. Another shinobi, even another Uchiha might have panicked at the unconscious threat of the position, but it never even occurred to Itachi to be disturbed.

[mooneye]

It was strange. His own helpless trust had surprised him, though it had come naturally, overwhelmingly. Now Itachi's surprised him, as well. What reason had Obito given him... But here it was, like a gift. And he traced so-so lightly along the lashes of each eye, and--

"...Close them," he said. And bent and pressed his lips gently against each shut eyelid.

[youngesthokage]

He trusted him, wouldn't have come to such a secluded place with him if he didn't, and the request was easily met. He'd given him a reason once, and in spite of his long absence, that reason hadn't wavered. Thus, he let him do as he liked, calm under his touch, though clearly paying attention.

[mooneye]

He drew away slightly, just watching him back. He could still feel the places around his own eye where his cousin's fingers had traced. Nobody had ever touched him in that way before. He would not have allowed them to. What did this mean, he wondered?

[youngesthokage]

At the pause of contact, one eye opened just enough to peek at him through his lashes, though he didn't move, curious if he'd finished whatever it was he wished to do.

[mooneye]

Obito stayed still. His hands had slipped down to Itachi's shoulders, and he held onto him gently. Not really thinking just... letting this linger, waiting.

[youngesthokage]

He stroked his cheek after a moment, the scarred one, and smiled at him, both eyes opening fully.

[mooneye]

He watched him sort of intently for a few seconds before slipping back to being easy and relaxed, and smiling back. "Thank you, for that." He meant it.

[youngesthokage]

"Nothing to thank me for Obito-nii-sama." It was a low murmur, and he smiled softly.

[mooneye]

Who had ever been this kind to him? Nobody, he thought. Not out of fondness. He shook his head and smiled, letting Itachi go and stepping back. He glanced down at the bathtub. "I'll just be a minute. If you're sure you don't want to wash up first."

[youngesthokage]

He shook his head slightly. "I've gotten into the habit of soaking recently."

[mooneye]

"Fair enough." And he bent and slid over the edge of the tub and into the water himself. It was nicely warm, but he was planning to linger or relax particularly. Just scrub clean quick and efficient.

[youngesthokage]

He moved back a few steps, turning to set about stripping. If he was going to bathe as well, no point in waiting around. He made sure there were enough towels.

[mooneye]

Obito didn't quite notice at first. He was pulling his fingers through his hair, sorting the tangles into manageable locks when he glanced sideways. He went very still, just watching.