Chapter Text
As soon as they arrive in his house, Tobirama grips Hashirama’s wrist tightly. “Do not move from this spot, Anija. You know what will happen if you do.”
Hashirama nods. It is only the smallest dip of his head but Tobirama is used to Hashirama’s tells. “Very good.”
Tobirama gets up and walks over to his armour stand, lifting off his fur collar. It is heavy, weighted, soft, and saturated with his scent. He brings it back and places it around Hashirama’s neck, watching carefully to see the reaction it evokes. Hashirama tilts his head to the side in order to rub his cheek against softness of the fur. That is a good response. Today is a day for the collar then.
“Anija, we are going to the middle of the room. There are no obstructions between you and your destination. You are going to crawl. Follow my voice.”
Hashirama is obedient. He’s a shinobi and can move with all the grace of one, but here, blinded by nothing more than Tobirama’s will and his own desire to follow it, Hashirama moves without artifice, without performance. He is himself and all the more precious for it.
“Stop. Sit. Make yourself comfortable on the Zabuton.” Tobirama makes his voice calm, in control, but authoritative. There is no room for argument and he makes sure that Hashirama knows it.
Hashirama settles, fidgeting for a while before he relaxes.
Tobirama makes sure that he is down, at least for now, before he kneels in front of Hashirama and speaks again. “Today, you are a plant. What do plants require, Anija?”
Hashirama has to moisten his lips twice before he can speak. Even then, his voice is rough. “Air, water, sunlight, food.”
Tobirama nods to himself. “Yes. You breathe in the air, it becomes a part of you. You sit in the sunlight and take it into yourself. Now, I will feed you.”
Hashirama’s lips quirk with amusement but he suffers himself to be fed soup with mushrooms, a half spoonful at a time, until the whole bowl is gone. For dessert, there are slices of fruit that Tobirama feeds Hashirama with his hands. The intimacy settles them both. By the end of the meal, Hashirama’s shoulders are relaxed and his breathing is deep and smooth. Tobirama condenses water out of the air with his suiton and slides it into a cup, glowing with his chakra. “Water. Drink it and let it refresh your mind and heart.”
He places the cup against Hashirama’s lips, allowing his brother only small sips. When the cup is empty, he cups Hashirama’s face and brings their foreheads together. They sit, sharing breath, sharing life.
“We are a part of the world. Grow and live. Open your eyes.”
Hashirama’s eyes open, blinking a little in the brightness of the afternoon sun. The first thing he sees is the garnet of his brother’s eyes.
He brings his hands up to touch Tobirama’s face in turn. “Thank you, otouto.”
Tobirama smiles. “For you, anything, Anija.”
End.