middaeg | [closed] wish there was something real

[Unfortunately for Stiles, the unclaimed crow has decided on this permanent roost: talons grip over Stiles' shoulder as it settles down, plump and content to be ferried around wherever, nipping at any fingers that attempt to shoo it away. Its behavior is almost domestic—a clingy animal that doesn't wish to be separated from its owner—though there's no ignoring the sharpness of talons and glossy beak.

Stiles won't be rescued right away. As Itachi follows the magical tether between himself and the summon, then turns the corner, he immediately stops. Realization hits. For whatever reason, this bird's behavior has been erratic and unpredictable since he first attached himself to it... almost to a point of seemingly willful disobedience.

Naturally it would find the person he least wishes to encounter in the entire city and glue itself to them.

Itachi leans himself against the wall with one hand extended, takes a deep breath, then steps around the corner to intersect Stiles' path.]

... [He's going to feed this useless bird to Sasuke once he gets it away from Stiles.] It won't hurt you. [Probably.]

[ After several minutes of standing in the middle of the street in a random neighborhood with a frankly obese bird merrily roosting on his shoulder, Stiles surrenders to the strange fate that has befallen him and continues walking. Sure, this is weird – yet somehow, par the course for the casual insanity of his daily life. Jonas, who he was in the middle of texting before he became an impromptu landing pad, suggests naming the crow “Russell,” which is both absolutely unhelpful and totally brilliant. ]

Like the sound of that, big boy? [ he asks the bird, daring to tentatively stroke a finger down its chest. ] Russell Crow? Yeah, you do. You love it, don’t you? Good boy.

[ Stiles is starting to get attached. Starry-eyed, he envisions a world where an animal doesn’t hate his guts for once. A world where he has a cool pet to talk to every day, one that won’t get bored of the sound of his voice or frustrated by the whiplash of non sequiturs he introduces to the conversation. A world of animal companionship and friendship. A beautiful world.

And then Itachi creeps out from behind a building like the old hag in Snow White and the dream promptly crashes in a fiery explosion of messy betrayal. ]

Tell me Russell Crow isn’t yours. [ Is he pleading? It sounds like he’s pleading. Listen, Stiles has already considered where to build a proper nest for his new pet. This is no joking matter. ] Please.

[Itachi stares blandly in the face of that plea, a furrow of confusion at his brow. He's missed most of Stiles' cooing and gleeful naming, which is for the best, because otherwise this would be a much shorter encounter.

He's not entirely above destroying his crow summon and creating a new one—but it's not an ideal time when his magic is already unstable and he needs the creature's bonded presence as a conduit. Starting from scratch would be tedious and could even go awry. So, he's stuck with this retrieval mission.]

I don't know what you mean by 'Russell Crow'. [A partial lie. He gets that it's a name simply through context, but he's not accepting it.] It's my bonded familiar.

[So, very much his.]

Now release it.

[As if Stiles is holding it hostage and it's not just obstinately sticking to him, ignoring Itachi...]

[ A familiar, just like a certain iguana back at the cottage. Dammit Jonas, you’ve done it again, you absolute madlad. Eddie the Lizard and Russell the Crow. When he sees Jonas next, Stiles will need to give props where props are due. Until then…

Stiles looks at Russell Crow. Russell Crow looks at Stiles. As one, they turn to stare at Itachi. ]

Okay. Sure.

[ Nothing happens. The bird begins grooming itself. Watching this remarkable display of unadulterated obstinance, Stiles decides he loves this crow and will protect it with his own life. ]

[Cease and desist at once.]

... [An awkward few moments pass, where Itachi's eyes narrow to irritated slits when the bird fails to obey. It's not Stiles' fault—not directly—but it may as well be. Itachi blames him. The crow has not clung stubbornly to anyone else quite like this.

He holds his arm out to see if perhaps it will swoop over onto the perch. It doesn't. Itachi just looks dumb.]

Stiles, put the bird on the ground. I'll take it from there.

[Please, cooperate, he's begging you (in the Uchiha way of staring with dead eyes and anticipating compliance).]

[ Wow. This is actually so embarrassing that he can’t even enjoy it. Itachi is getting iced out harder than Stiles ever did when chasing after Lydia Martin in early high school. At least she had no idea who he even was back then; what’s the excuse here? Allegedly, this bird is Itachi’s familiar. Big yikes. While he’s hardly above being petty, Stiles has no desire to draw out this moment of secondhand cringe longer than necessary. ]

Just…grab it?

[ A little nervous about the idea, he reaches up to do so – only for Russell to merrily shuffle from one shoulder across to the other, away from his hands. Stiles pauses, glances at Itachi, then tries again. The same result. ]

…Are you sure this is your familiar?

[How kind of you, Stiles. Still, Itachi is annoyed to see that the crow once more refuses to obey, frowning.]

It is. However, its behavior has been... erratic. [To say the least of what he's witnessed over the last few weeks since its initial summoning.] I was not aware a familiar would have such a distinct personality. It's unusual, and different from what I'm more accustomed in summonings.

[The crows he once relied on were never so autonomous, never so... opinionated as this one appears to be. It's problematic, making it more challenging to use the bird as he'd intended — there's always going to be uncertainty in any decision he tries to make, taking the animal's nature into account.]

Perhaps I need to start over. I can get rid of this one and summon a new one, potentially, when my magic is more stable. [So, like... kill it.]

[ “Summonings” visibly piques his interest, though it’s followed on the heels by a compunctious expression that doesn’t suit the moment. He facilitates wildly between wanting to pursue that subject and avoiding all talk of the shinobi world with a ten-foot pole. Goddammit, Sasuke. ]

Weird, [ he begins, voice thin from how hard he’s trying to affect a light and playful tone, ] I didn’t take you for the high road type.

[ But that’s because he doesn’t actually know Itachi at all, does he? Stiles closes his eyes, takes a measure of comfort in the presence of the bird – a warm, strangely reassuring weight on his shoulder – and buckles up to be a big boy. He can do this. Swallow his pride, do the right thing, smooth things over. Doesn’t he owe Sasuke that much? ]

I’m sorry. [ Sometimes, it feels like that’s all he says these days. ] For harassing you before. My opinions haven’t changed, but I shouldn’t have tried to force them on you in the first place. So, I’m sorry.

[ Stiles, the man just wants his fucking bird back, not an awkward apology. ]

[Itachi is still processing the former comment's interpretation of his words when the apology comes. It's more than unexpected, after determining Stiles to be a bullheaded and stubborn individual who also carries the misfortune of high intelligence (aka, a nuisance to his entire life).

So he stares, black eyes slightly narrowed, in the face of it. He stares long enough that it verges on uncomfortably awkward... as if anticipating a follow-up, some version of 'hah, psych!' that would fit well with his image of this boy.

When it doesn't occur, Itachi understands better. His posture loosens and his attention drifts from his familiar for now.]

Did you speak with Sasuke? [You're transparent, Stiles.]

[ Stiles, unwilling to back down from a perceived challenge, stares back. Uncomfortably awkward doesn’t even come close to describing the atmosphere. Totally oblivious to it all, Russell contemplates the meaning of her possibly brief existence while grooming his scalp. The question, when it comes, puts him on the defensive – which Stiles struggles to keep in check. ]

Does it matter?

[ Grumpy now, he kicks a nearby pebble loose from the cobblestone road toward the gutter. Russell, with an obnoxiously robust caw, flies after it like a dog after a stick. ]

[At least Russell is having a good time.]

It does.

[This said point blank, in the same calm and lowly even tone he's used throughout this encounter.]

I want to understand your motivations for apologizing to me. If you spoke with Sasuke, then it's possible he's influenced your need to clear the air with me. [Or so is the conclusion a deeply paranoid person has drawn, one who has spent their entire life questioning other people's intentions and meanings in the desire to riddle out the beliefs, fears, and preconceptions of potential enemies.] I believe you're being honest about your opinions. But are you sorry for our argument, or are you sorry because of Sasuke?

[ Blowing out a loud, frustrated breath, he studies Itachi in the fading late afternoon light. He’s not an honest individual; lying comes like second nature, to the point where his tongue is already shaping the words to spin some canned bullshit on autopilot before his brain catches up. With a click, his mouth snaps shut as he reconsiders. ]

I don’t care about the argument, [ he answers flatly. ] Like I said, my opinions haven’t changed. And, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not the kind of guy to keep my thoughts to myself.

[ Glossy wings catching the light, Russell returns to their feet with an unclaimed lottery ticket in her beak, which she places happily on the ground. If either of them bothered to scratch the ticket, they would win ten million cunes. Stiles disregards both the bird and the trash. ]

…But maybe I’d say things differently, if I had a chance. [ She tries to get his attention by pecking his shoes. ] I don’t know. I’m still figuring out how to feel about you.

[ Without even glancing in her direction, he moves away from Russell. In a fit of pique, the sadly ignored crow destroys the lottery ticket. ]

I’m sorry what I said upset Sasuke. [ A beat, marking a moment of self-awareness. Then, in mild consternation, he continues, ] …And for treating you like you’re not really a person beyond your relationship to him.

[ There. That’s all you’re getting out of him. ]

[Russell has forsaken us.]

I see.

[This is all he says in the moment following Stiles' explanation, face an inscrutable mask, as if forming some evaluative judgment on every word. It takes longer to decide his own reply, but it does come:] You aren't wrong to approach with caution given what you know of me. And it is in your nature to be mistrustful, isn't it?

[One of Stiles' memories had cemented this particular assumption.]

I have no expectation of you to engage with me simply because Sasuke is my brother. [Let's get that out of the way.] Your desire is to know more about him. It's reasonable you would approach me for this knowledge, though your methods - and my lack of desire to entertain this want - led us into our current predicament.

[Russell takes this moment to hop up onto her owner's shoulder, as though ruffled about being snubbed. Itachi doesn't move from his spot despite reclaiming his familiar.]

I accept your apology. Unfortunately, your opinions are not likely to go away. So it's best to anticipate that inevitability if we continue to communicate.

[ When Itachi begins to speak, it’s clear that Stiles is bracing himself for a “but”; his arms are folded defensively over his chest, brow furrowed moodily, body language altogether indicating that he’s unreceptive to whatever the older Uchiha has to say. In spite of this, he does listen. The response, cool and logical, goes a long way to soothe his nerves. Slowly, bit by bit, Stiles relaxes. ]

Yeah, that’s fine. We don’t need to agree on everything.

[ Not when they tacitly agree on what’s most important – Sasuke. ]

Well, glad I got that off my chest.

[ A beat. Stiles peers at Itachi meaningfully. ]

Anything you feel like apologizing for, buddy?

[At least one of them feels better. Itachi is still the same lukewarm, grey and neutral mood he usually is, unaffected by this seeming resolution. He has no perception of what Sasuke's thoughts are on the situation, but if this makes it easier for his brother... it's a small effort.

In the face of that question, Itachi frowns, the slightest tilt of lips.]

No. Why?

[Truly, he can't think of anything he's done that would warrant it. What is Stiles getting at now?]

Edited 2020-05-28 01:23 (UTC)

[ Stiles: tilts his head back to stare up at the sky, closes his eyes wordlessly, and asks a god he doesn’t actually believe in to grant him patience. Amen. ]

Oh, y’know, [ he begins in a deceptively blithe tone. ] How about for…knocking me out and then stuffing my unconscious body in a closet? That seems like a good place to start. Just an idea.

[Oh, that. Even now it isn't an action he regrets, nor does he find anything particularly wrong with the decision.]

You forced my hand.

[By making him!! uncomfortable!!]

I ensured you weren't hurt.

Edited (pls proof) 2020-05-28 16:02 (UTC)

I woke up with a crick in my neck!

[ Okay, wait, hold on. That’s not the point. Don’t get sidetracked, Stiles. Scowling, he tries again. ]

No one “forced your hand.” You made a deliberate choice. Don't shrug off responsibility like I held a gun to your head.

[ Realizing that reference might be too difficult for Itachi, he impatiently corrects himself with the wording he used when describing to Sasuke what happened. ]

Held you at knife point, whatever!

[Yes, well, talking to Stiles gave him a headache. They're even.]

You persisted in speaking with me when it was clear I wanted you to leave. You had ulterior motives in learning more about Sasuke through me, regardless of my desires.

[Only room enough for one nosy, Sasuke-obsessed person here.]

I didn't harm you, although I was capable of it. Why are you upset?

[ Temper, rising. ]

Why am I upset? Why am I upset? Are you kidding me!? [ he demands sharply, voice thin with anger. ] How can you be this seriously out of touch with reality!?

[ With a strangled yell of frustration, Stiles turns around and begins marching in the opposite direction. The further away he gets from Itachi, the better. He did his part; Sasuke can’t blame him for this. ]

[Far from the most emotional outburst anyone has had in his presence, still it coaxes Itachi motionless with incomprehension, forced to watch Stiles' quickly vanishing back. For a moment it seems certain he won't follow or protest in light of the abrupt end of their conversation.

He's reminded, inexplicably, of a sentiment his cousin had once shared. It feels a lifetime ago: said to him when he had gone to Shisui and asked for help on an impossible mission, the assassination assignment of a powerful spy that would see him brought into the fold of ANBU—another step closer to a dream he eventually failed. When he was told he could take someone else, he'd asked Shisui, citing that there was no one else he knew and no one else he could trust.

That's because you're bad with people.

He remembers those words, even if he can barely recall the sound of the boy's voice who first said them.]

Stiles, stop.

[Itachi takes a few steps after him, calling out. The crow on his shoulder is taken to sudden flight, wheeling up and over the top of a roof, a black flicker that soon settles on a windowsill's perch. He doesn't pay attention to it. His voice is quiet, yet it sounds almost urgent.]

Explain it to me so I can better understand. Why are you upset?

[ The sound of his name doesn’t make him stop, though the vibrations in the air as sensed by the trichobothria – alerting him that Itachi moved in his direction – do. While the other man isn’t close enough to grab him suddenly like that day in the library, Stiles isn’t taking any chances. And so, without turning around yet, Stiles stares sightlessly into the distance and resigns himself to a longer conversation with the shinobi. Why is he cursed to never get the last word in when dealing with an Uchiha? ]

I’m not talking about this in the middle of the street.

[ Slowly, he pivots to face Itachi. There’s a storminess to his expression, sharpened into an almost challenging look he slings at the other man. ]

I need something to eat. If you’re that interested in understanding, you can come with me.

[Continuing closer as Stiles speaks to him, he stops a short distance away, out of arm's reach—primarily out of habit and an above average need for personal space. The request Stiles makes is reasonable, even if he isn't hungry himself, at the moment. It's an activity he can tolerate participating in.]

Then I will follow you.

[Look how nice he's being, he won't even assert any preferences on a location.]

Christ. Okay, no, fine. This is a good starting point.

[ And yet he hesitates, taking a moment to simply scrutinize the other man in silence. Stiles isn’t a forgiving individual; given their past interactions, he’s inclined to flip Itachi the middle finger and take off without a backward glance. But he has to make an attempt to find common ground here. Against all odds, Sasuke obviously loves his older brother. That’s enough to motivate Stiles for the time being. The only remaining issue is how grossly unprepared Stiles is to educate Itachi on basic human etiquette. ]

See, “follow” has a pretty specific connotation. [ A beat. ] It’s creepy. Take off the shinobi hat if you can. Instead of “following” me, how about you walk with me. Like a normal person.

LOVE HIM

CRIES

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