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To have been in such a vulnerable state in front of Nagato was mortifying.
Of course, Nagato did nothing harmful, not even an attempt at looking under his mask (surely, he would have jolted awake if that happened). But when Obito woke with Nagato’s hand on his head, the soft breathing of the redhead above him, he nearly phased straight through the very bench he was laying on (and Nagato’s lap). He did not, but he certainly almost made a move that could have knocked Nagato’s sleeping form over.
When it dawned on him exactly what happened, that’s when the embarrassment hit. The oh-so-powerful man ‘Madara Uchiha” fell asleep on just another one of the pawns in his plan (albeit a very vital one). He’d managed to slip away from Nagato without waking him. He very nearly walked away and left him sitting up like that...
Yet he found himself gently adjusting the frail Uzumaki until he lay on his side. When he saw a shiver come over Nagato, he was a little too quick to throw a blanket over him and watched those chills subside.
He should have woken him up. They had far too much work to do. But he didn’t. He left without a word. It wasn’t as though they could get work done when they both were passing out in the middle of a meeting.
Next time, he’d get plenty of sleep to make sure this sort of thing happened.
But he lied to himself. What did you expect from him?
It was as though it was a form of self-harm, but it was a symptom of a mind focused on one greater goal. Nothing else should matter.
Except for something... someone else did matter. Sometimes. (Nothing should matter.) To whom? To Madara Uchiha? To Obito Uchiha? To “Tobi?” Nagato’s face the first time he pulled that act out was one he committed to memory. It was not often he saw Nagato’s face scrunch up ever so slightly in confusion. Konan’s was similarly confused, but she seemed almost insulted by his behavior.
Though to be fair, it felt as though every step he took and every word he spoke garnered a negative response from her. If Nagato’s opinion of him remained one of loyalty, there was no need to fear. If he could be rid of her though, that’d be a weight off his shoulder.
It had been a good idea to send her off on some other mission. Meetings with Nagato alone were often met with far less resistance.
They never spoke of their interrupted meeting from a month ago. There was no need, they both silently agreed. They more than made up for that work lost by the next day and everything was back on track.
He thought today’s meeting would be the same as ever. But it was not meant to be. However, this time, it was not on him.
“Send Hidan and Kakuzu on this mission. They’re most suited for a mission to eliminate the targets in this manner and- Nagato, are you paying attention?” He paused as he looked up from the scroll, staring at the redhead across the way.
His eyes were half-lidded, seemingly focused on Obito but not truly all there. He seemed paler than normal. He knew that look.
“I’m listening, Madara. Continue, please...” Nagato’s voice was heavy, breathy, and oh so quiet. He almost didn’t hear what he said.
“In that case...” Doubt dripped off Obito’s voice, but he continued nonetheless. Send Deidara and Sasori here, Itachi and Kisame here, so on, and on...
But even as Nagato’s head bobbed along in agreement, it was clear this was getting them nowhere.
They both never learned, did they?
He closed the scroll, stood from his seat, and walked to stand by Nagato. He wasn’t reacting.
“If I was an enemy this could have spelled your end.” Obito shook his head. He knew he was one to talk, considering what happened last time.
And the way Nagato looked up at him, his body slouched, and cloak lazily draped over that fragile body, eyes staring blankly off into the distance... He knew this meeting would never last.
“Apologies, Madara.” Nagato said in a soft voice, “I’ll- “
Nagato didn’t get to finish that sentence. He was cut off as he was lifted off the bench with ease and into arms much stronger than his own.
“Madara... I- “
“We’re getting nothing done this way.” Obito began to leave the meeting room with Nagato in his arms. With Nagato’s weight, it felt as though he were carrying nothing.
He helped create this state Nagato was in. A fact he could never forget. Everything he’d pulled Nagato into, sacrifices for the sake of a new, perfect world. (Lies upon lies told to the one in his arms.) In that world, Nagato would be healthy. In that world, Nagato would have his friends by his side.
In that world, they would never meet.
“You’re going to rest, and then we’ll finish up afterward. How fortunate for you that today was going to be nowhere near as excessive as last time.”
And besides, he did have to pay him back for the time before... Not that he would say it out loud. He hoped Nagato continued their unspoken agreement.
“What about you?”
“What?”
Nagato’s head lay against his chest, tired and yet not allowing himself to drift to sleep in the arms of another. He felt his heart rate speed up for but a moment.
“Will you rest? Last time- “
“I have had a satisfactory amount of rest.” Obito lied almost automatically, by nature.
His chakra must have fluctuated (when he was this close it was harder to hide), because the way Nagato glanced up at him with doubt in those eyes mixed with a blank expression told him that he was calling him on it. Truth be told, he was running on fumes. But when was he not? When was Nagato not as well?
They’re both rather hypocritical, aren’t they?
Nagato didn’t say anything else, as though accepting his answer despite the lie. Of course, were this a more serious issue he’d never allow Nagato to see through him... Nagato is a rather... imperfect lie detector.
When he arrived in the rarely used bedroom of Nagato’s, he placed him down on the, admittedly, very soft and plush-looking bed. On his side, of course.
“Contact me when you’re sufficiently rested. Then we’ll continue with our work.”
Obito was about to leave, but a sudden force pulled him back and he was sitting right on that torturously comfortable bed. The force was firm, it didn’t hurt, but if he had been prepared for it, it would have never happened to begin with. He looked over at Nagato, his arm that was held out slowly dropping to the bed below.
“Stay, Madara,” Nagato spoke in a drowsy, yet somehow firm voice. It was not an order, but certainly a strong suggestion, “Let’s rest. Lay down.”
Nagato patted the area next to him. His red hair spread out under his head and his bangs brushed to the side allowing both eyes to stare right at him, those eyes filled with power and a sharp, piercing gaze no matter how close they seemed to be shutting and giving into sleep...
It was a rather mesmerizing sight. Even more so with the softness of the bed surrounding him. He swore he wasn’t this tired before. He swore he could handle it. Yet here he was, removing his cloak, tossing it to the side, and slowly lowering himself onto the bed by Nagato’s side. His back sunk into it, his tense body allowing itself to somewhat relax.
“Satisfied, Nagato?” Obito mumbled out as he turned his head to look at him. The rare sight of vulnerability in Nagato was too fascinating a one to pass up.
Though he imagined it was a similar feeling from Nagato.
“I am...” Nagato nodded, finally allowing himself to sink further into the bed.
The moment Nagato shivered, as though on instinct, Obito pulled the blanket up over them. He didn’t need it. But there was not an ounce of fat on Nagato’s body to keep him warm.
Body heat would help.
He ignored that thought immediately and chalked it up to a foggy, tired mind.
“Madara...” A soft voice said the inherited name.
“Yes, Nagato?” The man called Madara asked.
“Thank you...”
With those final two words, Nagato’s eyes finally closed. Obito remained quiet. The only sound now in the room was that of Nagato’s slow breaths.
‘Thank you...’
He was simply returning a favor. But... how long had it been since he shared a bed with another? He’d never seen Nagato sleep so peacefully before, on the few occasions he’d arrived at an inopportune time.
The bond Nagato shared with Konan and the long since deceased Yahiko was different than the other he as Obito shared with Kakashi and Rin. Did something as simple as the presence of another help?
Despite how comfortable he was, he could not yet sleep. His sight was locked on to the one right across from him. How many years had they known each other now? Twenty? And he was only just now seeing new sides to him. Useful, of course, but that was not what was presently on his mind...
A gloved hand reached out, carefully, and rested itself on the side of Nagato’s face. Thin strands of red falling between his fingers. He blamed his tired brain for this action.
He continued to blame his sleep-deprived brain as he leaned forward, inching his body closer.
While one hand brushed long bangs away from his forehead, the other lifted a part of his mask, only enough for his lips to show.
A kiss was placed on Nagato’s forehead, and all the while, he blamed a brain that was about to fall asleep anyway. Nagato shifted for only a moment, a tired sound leaving him, but it was... content.
Setting his mask sloppily back into place, a hand playing with red strands of hair, sleep began to take him over as well. Slowly, cautiously relaxing and allowing it to take him over.
Shinobi should never allow themselves to be vulnerable, not even in front of their allies.
But in that moment of peaceful rest, such rules were forgotten.