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He falls in love with Itachi in the spring; they’re only just kids.
They sit at the edge of the engawa, legs dangling and feet skimming the top of the pond uncle Fugaku keeps the koi in. The koi sometimes nibble at their toes causing them to laugh and splash at the water.
A fresh plate of dango sits between them and Itachi is quick to snatch up a stick every time he finishes one. Shisui doesn’t mind, he likes dango well enough but more than it he likes how happy it makes Itachi.
They talk about their school lessons and what they’re excited to learn. Itachi talks about Sasuke and how much he likes being a big brother. Shisui will tell him a story about his crows later, something small and insignificant in the grand scheme of life, but here in the bubble of spring and young life it’s everything.
A feeling flutters in his chest, big emotions that he doesn’t fully understand and won’t for years to come. Shisui wants to stay in this moment, happy and content with his favorite person forever.
He falls in love with Itachi in the summer; they’re only just teens.
The summer air is thick and hot, their shirts stick to their backs and stray strands of hair to their foreheads.
The afternoon is still young and theirs to do as they please but after around of sparring they both fall into the grass on their backs.
“It’s too hot to move,” Shisui complains and uses his arm to shield the sun from his eyes.
“We should get something sweet to eat,” Itachi counters but neither of them make a move to get up.
Shisui drops his arm from his face into the grass beside him and feels Itachi’s fingers brush his. He turns his head to look at the other Uchiha and smiles fondly.
“We could just stay here,” Itachi adds instead. “For a while.”
Shisui nods.
“For a while,” he agrees and shifts his hand to lace their fingers together.
Sasuke will come get them in a few more hours and they’ll all walk home together. Shisui will hold Itachi’s hand and they’ll trade shy smiles before parting ways for the night.
Tomorrow they’ll do it all again.
He falls in love with Itachi in the autumn; they’re in their late twenties.
They’re walking the streets back to the compound and all around them are the signs of autumn setting in. The air feels crisp, cooler, a juxtaposition to the harsh summer heat.
Itachi’s arms are laden with scrolls, his latest assignments from Minato-Sama. Each is filled with rare important history and information on various treaties and agreements that Itachi will be tested on later.
Shisui’s offered to carry them but they decided the dango they picked up would be safer in his hands and the scrolls in Itachi’s.
“What do we want for dinner,” Shisui asks as they walk. “You can live off dango and tea you know.”
His shoulder bumps Itachi’s lightly, not at all hard enough to jostle anything from his arms.
“Something light,” Itachi answers, and Shisui nods. They’ll mull it over for a few more hours and Shisui will end up just picking something for the both of them while Itachi eats too many sweets.
Soon enough Itachi will be Hokage and this sort of free time will be limited. Shisui doesn’t mind and silently vows that he’ll still take care of him and always make sure he’s eating right.
He falls in love with Itachi in the winter; they’re in their sixties.
A fresh blanket of snow covers the village. It dampens the sound of the streets around them, the cold itself keeping many inside.
Life moves slower in the cold and Shisui moves slower these days too, they both do. He stands in the open doorway looking out at the back garden enjoying the cold air filling his lungs.
The patches of dirt where Itachi’s plants their gardens during the spring sit idle and waiting. Shisui loves to watch Itachi work the garden, is happy to give him this kind of peace in their late years.
Itachi settles in beside him, a blanket draped around his shoulders and a warm cup of tea pressed between his hands. He holds onto it like it’s a life line and perhaps for him it is. Itachi’s never done well with the cold.
“You’re going to run me out of here,” he says and Shisui offers a lopsided grin.
“Nah, I’ve never been able to run you away,” he teases fondly and settles an arm around Itachi’s waist holding him close. He takes a last breath of the crisp air and steps back to move them inside, sliding the door behind them.
They make their way to the kotatsu and settle beside each other. It’s a companionable and warm silence as Itachi takes up his writing task. Their legs press together beneath the heater and Shisui watches him work.
He’s happy to have this quiet retirement, stable peace they’ve worked so hard for.
Love flutters in his chest, a big emotion that he’s long too familiar with. Shisui wants to stay in this moment, happy and content with his favorite person forever.