Dedicated to sommergymnastica for just being an amazing person!

Itachi's stoicism was his strength – and he utilised it that morning. He had purposefully set his alarm earlier than usual so he could avoid walking with Shisui to school.

He switched off his memory – switched off his anger and got ready, making a point to ignore his phone that was tucked away in his bedside table.

His parents weren't up yet, the sun had barely started peeking up the horizon. He scribbled down a note and left it on the kitchen counter – explaining to his parents that he needed to get to school earlier that day.

He stepped out into the chilly, early morning air and made his way to school. His surroundings were all vague – he barely paid them any attention. All that replayed in his mind was a shirtless Shisui, grinding against him – making him feel intimate splendour.

Then stopping.

The cold morning air touched Itachi's face – his hair dancing in the breeze. The streetlights were still on – but he had no doubt that they would be turned off in a few minutes. Their orange glow was nostalgic – reminding him of the first time Shisui kissed him. Itachi remembered the feel of Shisui's lips on his – how it felt...right.

Itachi knew, that deep down, he was furious. A violent anger dwelled within him. He had shown his most vulnerable self to Shisui – only for Shisui to cruelly deny him.

He didn't want to see Shisui at all that day.

Having being lost in his never ending thoughts, Itachi arrived on campus sooner than he had expected. The school building, adorning a pink sky like a crown was a beautiful sight to see.

He went inside and decided to just wait in his first class until the other students arrived – that included Shisui. Itachi was still formulating a plan on how to avoid him since Shisui sat next to him in almost every class.

There was a light coming from his first period class room – casting an eerie glow as he was the only person in the building. Itachi walked toward the light and peeked in the door.

In his ordinary seat, at the back of class sat white-haired Kakashi. His face buried in a book – an intense expression painted on his face. Itachi could tell he was so engrossed in the book that his surroundings went unnoticed.

Itachi stepped lightly into the room, "You're here early."

Kakashi jumped slightly and looked up from his book, "Oh! Hey, yeah, I usually get here this early so I can read in peace."

Itachi approached Kakashi, "Do you mind if I ask what you are reading?"

Kakashi grinned and scratched the back of his head, "It's not for everyone", and covered the title of the book with his hand.

Itachi gently removed Kakashi's hand from the cover of the book, oblivious to the way Kakashi tensed when their skin made contact, "A compilation of erotic stories?" Itachi read the cover.

They were quiet then, Itachi staring at the cover and Kakashi shyly looking at Itachi.

Was what happened with Shisui yesterday erotic?

"I know what you're thinking, I'm some kind of perve-" Kakashi started, memorising all the insults he had received regarding his preferred reading material, but was silenced by Itachi.

"I'm not judging you Kakashi. If anything, I'm curious...Why erotic novels?" Itachi slightly tilted his head to the side.

Kakashi cleared his throat, "Well...I'm a very sexual person, and I just appreciate it, is all."

Itachi contemplated Kakashi's words. Appreciation of sex – an interesting way to think about it.

"So you have had sex then?" Itachi asked nonchalantly.

Kakashi nodded confidently. No words were necessary, but he didn't want Itachi to find out about this part of himself. He didn't expect Itachi to ever find out now that Shisui had basically claimed Itachi. Itachi was truly stunning in Kakashi's eyes. His long raven hair, his smooth pale skin – even his small stature.

Kakashi could tell there was something on Itachi's mind, despite the latter's impressive ability to hide almost everything.

"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked, closing his book.

Itachi sighed, "I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to avoid Shisui when I sit next to him..." Itachi said, lost in thought.

"Well...you could sit next to me today", Kakashi suggested hesitantly.

Itachi's cold expression warmed up slightly, "If it's okay with you?"

Kakashi grinned, "Of course. But why are you avoiding him?"

Itachi felt his stoicism flare up, "We had a fight."

Kakashi noticed the change in Itachi's posture – despite how miniscule the shift was. Itachi pulled out the chair beside his white haired friend and sat down.

Itachi retrieved his notebook and got lost in chemical equations as Kakashi continued reading his book. He felt blissfully at ease knowing that Itachi wasn't judging his preference in reading material. They sat in comfortable silence, aware of one another but lost in their own worlds at the same time.

*****

Students entered the classroom in a herd, and Itachi couldn't resist the urge to look up from his notes – in search of a certain tall boy. Shisui entered the class room last, his eyes immediately landing on his shared desk with Itachi.

It was empty.

He scanned the sea of faces and his eyes met Itachi's. Itachi looked back down at his notes, not interested in entertaining any further thoughts about Shisui.

Kakashi slid a note over to Itachi. Itachi looked from the note to its sender – and Kakashi just smiled easily.

"Lunch again today?"

Itachi smiled slightly and nodded, completely unaware of Shisui's heated, molten gaze at the exchange. Itachi looked back down to his notebook, getting lost in chemical symbols.

So lost that he didn't feel Kakashi run a gentle hand down his low ponytail, admiring its silky texture.

*****

Much to Itachi's luck – Kakashi shared most of his classes with him. All except for biology, his last class – which he would have to attend with Shisui. He decided to cross that bridge when he got to it.

Currently he sat next to Kakashi in English class – a class he didn't share with Shisui. Kakashi had been a true saviour so far – keeping Shisui at bay by showing Itachi hiding places in the hall during class changes. Kakashi was most certainly adept at hiding in the shadows.

Itachi looked at the poem on the page of his textbook:

"I will be

the eye

of your storm.

I will be

the stillness

in your chaos.

I will be

all these things,

and more

If you will only

let me.

-John Mark Green"

It felt surreal to Itachi, a poem being discussed in English class portrayed what he thought Shisui was trying to wordlessly say. It made him feel slightly bad – but he reminded himself of the painfully unburst bubble he had trapped inside of him.

Itachi wasn't oblivious to Shisui's eyes on him from time to time in other classes – if anything it fuelled his anger more. He wanted, desperately, to know where Shisui had gotten his audacity from.

The bell went off, signalling the end of class and Itachi sighed – he knew Shisui would be waiting for him outside of class.

Kakashi seemed to read Itachi's thoughts, "Here", he said, opening a window at the back of the classroom.

Itachi looked at Kakashi quizzically, then Kakashi climbed out the window. Itachi's mind buzzed in realisation. He hurriedly packed up his books, threw his satchel out the window and followed Kakashi's lead.

He landed on the grass expertly and they strolled to Kakashi's lunch spot – under the shade of a tree near the football field.

*****

The sun was soothing, interrupted by the occasional shadow of a branch. Itachi closed his eyes, relishing the moment as Kakashi continued reading.

There was a dark part of Itachi's mind that begged to be set free – it had a name: Doubt.

Was he doing the right thing by avoiding Shisui? Was he being immature and acting out of emotion?

"You can tell me, you know. Whatever is clearly on your mind, it might help to get it out", Kakashi spoke, not taking his eyes off of his book.

Itachi sat up, "I'm just wondering if I'm acting appropriately..."

Kakashi closed his book and shifted toward Itachi as the gentle grass cushioned them.

Itachi told Kakashi everything, the grinding, the bubble in his stomach and the way Shisui stopped as his bubble was about to burst. He verbalised his sense of betrayal by showing his vulnerability only for it to be disregarded so cruelly.

The entire time Itachi told his experience, Kakashi's face remained composed – but there was a twinkle, miniscule in size, that appeared in Kakashi's eyes.

Itachi finished his tale and there was a different presence about Kakashi, a shift.

"If I were him, I wouldn't have stopped", Kakashi said in a deep voice – a voice that had a lustful undertone. An undertone Itachi didn't notice.

A/N: Dearest readers, I need your help! Writer's block is approaching - I can feel it FML. So please do comment and tell me what you'd like to see more of in this story - what are your thoughts so far? Support Itachi and vote lmao! Best wishes, stay safe - Love, Icy ❤️