A/N: Leave a comment ❤️ I love interacting with you guys❤️

Itachi went with Shisui to buy a new door for their bathroom that morning. The raven Uchiha didn't want to worry his husband any further – Itachi knew Shisui wanted to get out but didn't want to leave Itachi alone.

Itachi had always been a homebody. He hardly ever had the urge to leave the apartment. Something had shifted though as Shisui pulled the car out of the apartment parking lot. Being outside the apartment seemed to fill the Uchiha's lungs with a different kind of air. An air that, perhaps, had been there all the time – Itachi had just never appreciated it before.

"Where do you even go to buy doors?" Itachi asked in confusion, watching the buildings zoom passed his window.

Shisui frowned in concentration, "A hardware store?" He suggested, knowing he wasn't exactly sure.

Itachi squinted his eyes, "I've never- Where exactly is this elusive hardware store anyway?"

Shisui came to a stop at a red traffic light, "Aren't they like, attached to supermarkets?" He asked, also confused now.

Itachi looked at Shisui, "Wow, so neither of us know where the hardware store even is."

"I'm telling you, it's right next to the supermarket", Shisui grumbled stubbornly.

A soft smile teased Itachi's lips, "Let's make a bet then?"

Shisui kept his eyes on the road but narrowed them in suspicion, "What kind of bet?"

"I bet that it's not attached to the supermarket."

"And what does the winner get?" Shisui asked smugly, deciding he had already won.

"I was thinking that the loser has to make dinner tonight", Itachi returned to watching buildings pass the window.

That's all? Such a simple request, Shisui thought in adoration at his innocent husband.

"You're on", Shisui agreed to the bet.

*****

"So what are you going to make?" Itachi casually asked Shisui who parked the car.

The older male stared in disbelief at the supermarket – that clearly had no attached hardware store. His mouth was agape and his brows furrowed, "I don't understand! In the movies it's always right next to a supermarket!"

Itachi opened his door, "Well we're here now so we might as well get ingredients for dinner."

Shisui narrowed his eyes and got out of the car, cataloguing what food he could make that Sasuke would like but that would also attract Itachi's scarce appetite. The couple huddled as they walked through the chilly morning air, the heat in the car made them forget for a blissful period about the blatant winter outside.

Itachi grabbed one of the shopping carts that were lined outside the doors. As he grabbed the handle, the sleeve of his red jersey rode up his wrist slightly and revealed the violent purple bruise on the Uchiha's wrist. Itachi sighed in annoyance and adjusted the sleeve casually – grateful that Shisui was distracted by the lack of a hardware store. The raven Uchiha wanted to keep up the joyous atmosphere, he didn't want any reminder of what had happened. Shisui seemed more at peace after Itachi's talk with Sasuke that morning. Itachi didn't want to ruin the peace of mind he had so carefully constructed earlier that morning.

He and Shisui walked through the automatic doors that slid open for them, a blast of heated air immediately warming them up.

"I'm thinking pasta..." Shisui pondered out loud, still scanning the store hoping to find, at least, a hardware section.

"Okay, pasta..." Itachi mumbled back, looking at the hanging signs from the ceiling to guide them to the correct aisle.

"There", Shisui pointed at aisle six and the pair quickly walked through the rows of products. Shisui made quick work of grabbing ingredients as Itachi followed him quietly, watching his husband with love. The Uchiha had a small smile on his lips as he watched Shisui stick out the tip of his tongue in concentration. Despite Shisui's large form and height, he still revealed his childish nature sometimes.

It was as if nothing had happened – and Itachi was overjoyed at that.

The pair made their way to the checkout counter and the typical dance started. It was a chess game between Shisui and Itachi. It started with one another's body language.

"You are a little tired today", Shisui commented.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. The next move was to look at the bigger picture.

"I suggested the bet, so I pay", Itachi countered.

Shisui anticipated this, "I'm the one who chose the products, so I'm paying."

Itachi glared at Shisui, it was a regular occurrence when the couple went shopping together. Itachi didn't want Shisui to pay and, likewise, the older male didn't want the long haired Uchiha to pay.

Itachi opened his mouth and then shut it, unsure of what to say back. He settled for just rolling his eyes and walking up to the counter, a grinning Shisui bouncing beside him – he knew he had won.

The couple started taking out their groceries and handing it to the cashier to be scanned. Itachi absentmindedly grabbed the cheese, and placed it in front of the cashier, his jersey riding up his wrist slightly. Her blue eyes instantly landed on Itachi's wrist, she stared intensely. Itachi reacted out of discomfort and pulled his sleeve down to hide the bruise Kakashi had given him.

She then made eye contact with Itachi and, automatically, her eyes bounced to the taller and bigger Shisui – who had also noticed this silent encounter. She looked at him, her blue eyes widening slightly in worry and fear.

"What? You think I did that to him?" Shisui asked in disbelief.

Itachi placed his hand on Shisui's chest, "Calm down – let's just pay and leave", Itachi spoke quietly.

The blissful period of selective amnesia had come to its bitter end, Itachi knew that now. Shisui seemed sad all over again as he swiped his card, ignoring the wary gaze of the blue eyed cashier. Itachi wanted to snap at her for blatantly accusing Shisui with her eyes, but restrained himself from causing a scene.

He didn't want to be one of the people that belittled employees... And he was afraid that if he did, somehow Kakashi's name would be brought up – Itachi's paranoid mind immediately jumping to a conclusion that was a mixture of police uniforms and the silver haired man.

Shisui easily picked up the bags and Itachi followed him quietly out of the store.

"Shisui, give me the car keys", Itachi spoke gently as they speed walked to the car.

"I'm fine", the older male responded quickly.

"Shisui, pl-" Itachi tried again.

"No, Itachi. I'm fine!" Shisui snapped as they reached the car. Itachi immediately started fiddling with hands – as he always did when he grew anxious. Shisui noticed this and sighed. He loaded the groceries in the car, made sure to open Itachi's door for him and went around to the driver's seat – climbing in.

The couple sat in silence, Itachi worried about upsetting Shisui further and Shisui just stared at the steering wheel.

Itachi's fiddling hands got more intense as he tried to think of what to say to diffuse the tension. A tan hand covered his fidgeting pale ones, "Stop... Stop..." Shisui urged Itachi to calm down.

"I'm sorry... Calm down", the older male continued.

Itachi stilled his hands and thoughts, "Can we please pretend that didn't happen? Can we just carry on enjoying the day as we were?" Itachi asked.

Shisui squeezed Itachi's hands, "We can't pretend forever, Ita... That did happen and it's going to carry on happening until the bruises heal. We'll have to face that one day..."

"That day doesn't have to be today", Itachi countered desperately.

Shisui took a sharp breath in and started the car, "Okay, okay..." He consented.

*****

Despite the sun reaching its peak in the sky, Itachi shivered as he unlocked the door to their apartment. He held it open for Shisui who stubbornly refused to let the Uchiha help him lug the door inside.

The mystical hardware store happened to be on the complete opposite side of town. To Shisui's annoyance, there wasn't a supermarket anywhere near it. Once inside Itachi knew instantly he was out of his depth. There were doors – that he could easily tell. But there were all sorts of tools, different kinds of screws – there were even different types of hinges. He looked wearily at Shisui and the older male looked around like a kid in a candy store. At that point Itachi let loose a silent breath of relief, leaving the door in Shisui's capable hands.

The long haired Uchiha knew his husband was trying his best to act as if the encounter with the cashier hadn't happened. He appreciated that, but it irked the Uchiha that Shisui had to put so much effort into trying to forget. Itachi really started to feel as if he had, once again, caused trouble for Shisui.

Shisui dragged the door inside and headed for their bedroom as Itachi closed the front door behind the tan man and then set the groceries down on the kitchen counter. He easily began unpacking the groceries and putting them in their appropriate place, as he knew Shisui was already transfixed with installing the new door. Once everything was where it was supposed to be, Itachi made his way to the bedroom.

There was a whirring noise as Itachi sat on the bed, watching Shisui power-drill in the final screw. He had already removed the destroyed door, prepped the surface and had now just finished installing the new door. At some point Shisui had removed his jacket, his grey T-shirt had a wet patch by Shisui's nape.

Itachi noticed it and grew aroused – he missed Shisui. He missed being intimate with his tan husband. Itachi stood up, undoing his ponytail just as Shisui turned around. The tall male wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead with a proud grin, "There! New door!"

Itachi smiled softly and made solid eye contact with Shisui, "Thanks", was all he said. He knew Shisui could see the lust in his eyes. He knew because Shisui swallowed thickly.

Itachi walked over to his tan husband and casually threw his arms around Shisui's neck, he focussed his gaze on Shisui's lips, "Are you tired?" Itachi asked softly – seductively.

Shisui's free arm wrapped around Itachi's waist by instinct, "N-no", Shisui stuttered – a faint pink dusting across his tan cheeks. His right hand still gripped the power tool. Itachi blatantly slapped the tool out of Shisui's hand.

"Good", Itachi pressed his lips to Shisui's. Shisui responded eagerly, kissing Itachi back just as passionately. Itachi backed them up to the bed, spun them around and nudged Shisui onto the bed. The taller man landed softly on his back. Itachi wasted no time straddling Shisui, continuing the union of their lips.

Itachi clawed at Shisui's shirt in annoyance as Shisui easily dominated the kiss. The raven Uchiha broke the kiss, panting in need, "Take off your shirt."

Shisui smirked and easily removed his sweaty shirt, pulling Itachi back into the kiss. The older man placed his hands on Itachi's waist, bouncing him slightly to create some friction.

Itachi's breathing picked up even more as he felt Shisui's member harden through their jeans. His hands roamed Shisui's firm chest, they roamed lower feeling the ripple of Shisui's abs – his tan husband then groaned into the kiss as his tongue explored every crevice of Itachi's mouth.

This time Shisui was clawing at Itachi's clothing. He broke the heated and sloppy kiss, eyes dark with lust, "Now take off your shirt."

Itachi pulled back and peeled off his shirt and jersey in one motion, his hair falling like a black silk curtain across his pale shoulders. The raven Uchiha placed his hands on Shisui's chest – both males breathing rapidly in lust.

A bright colour attracted Shisui's attention and he found his eyes focussed on Itachi's wrists. Specifically the bright purple bruises that resembled handprints.

"Itac-" Shisui began softly.

Itachi immediately picked up on Shisui's gaze and slammed his lips against Shisui's.

"Mmhm", Shisui tried to speak in the kiss. But Itachi desperately kept going, eyes closed and hoping Shisui would get distracted again. Just for this moment. Just to be close again.

The tan man gently grabbed Itachi's shoulders and pulled him back, breaking the kiss, "Itachi-"

"No. No, I'm okay. I'm fine", Itachi spoke rapidly, hearing the thick worry in Shisui's voice.

Shisui just sighed, " 'tachi, it just... It doesn't feel right right now."

Itachi then looked Shisui sadly in the eyes. A small sad smile was re-painted on the Uchiha's face, "You mean, I don't feel right right now..."

Shisui cupped Itachi's cheek gently, "I love you, you know that..."

Itachi kept sad eye contact with his husband, "It's starting to feel like you hate what happened to me more than you love me..." Itachi whispered with that sad smile still on his face and his onyx eyes full of understanding.

Shisui was taken aback by those words. He wasn't offended and he wasn't hurt, he was...saddened. And, he was too slow. Itachi got off of him, quietly tugged his jersey back on and looked at Shisui again, "Thanks for fixing the door... I think I'm going to take a shower..." That soft, sad smile still on Itachi's lips.

The bathroom door was closed quietly and Shisui shut his eyes, unsure of how to proceed.

What do I do now? Shisui asked himself.

Meanwhile, Itachi looked at himself in the mirror. Long black hair framed his face. His eyes still crinkled in sad understanding. He looked deep into his eyes and eventually couldn't anymore so he dropped his head.

He shed his clothes and got under the spray of the shower, staring dejectedly at the bruises on his wrists. To him, they were just bruises. A little tender, bright in colour but otherwise meaningless. But, clearly, to Shisui they were something more...

"At this point...I don't love me either."

*****

Dinner wasn't an awkward affair. Sasuke chatted happily, Itachi smiled softly – absorbed by his little brother's energy – and Shisui glanced every now and then at Itachi's plate.

The food untouched. His husband just twirled the fork around from time to time – but didn't eat anything.

Sasuke sighed in satisfaction and food-induced fatigue, "Thanks, Shisui, that was delicious! Itachi's vegetables couldn't even compare", Sasuke teased playfully.

Itachi just smiled, his brother – thankfully – oblivious to the older Uchiha's leaking heart...

Shisui clenched a fist in desperate concern under the table at Sasuke's statement.

"I have homework and then I'm going to sleep for like, centuries", Sasuke stood up and sleepily walked out of the kitchen.

Itachi stood up slowly, Shisui moved to grasp his wrist and luckily stopped himself – remembering the bruises, "Itachi, eat something..."

"Thanks for dinner, I'm a little tired", Itachi smiled weakly.

"He didn't mean tha-" Shisui tried to say something, anything to brighten Itachi up.

"I think he did", Itachi kept his weak smile up and walked calmly out of the kitchen.

Shisui stared at Itachi's plate of food, untouched.

"It's starting to feel like you hate what happened to me more than you love me..." Itachi's words floated through Shisui's mind.