It was the cold that woke Itachi. He lazily blinked his eyes open and the spot next to him was empty.

He sat up and a sharp pain shot up his lower back – but that was to be expected. Instead, what caught him off guard was the pain on his right collarbone. Itachi looked down and saw it was Shisui's teeth imprints. He smiled slightly, what happened last night was pure lust but Itachi had a tingly feeling that it was more than just lust...

He slowly stood up, wrapping the sheet around him. The sun hadn't risen yet, but it was clearly about to. He navigated his hallway into the lit up kitchen. There was some clinging and frustrated sighing coming from the room.

He peaked around the corner just as Shisui turned around. Shisui stomped his feet like a child throwing a tantrum, "You were supposed to stay in bed."

Itachi smiled gently, "I'm sorry."

Shisui flashed his toothy smile, "I- uh- I only know how to make eggs..."

Itachi looked down at the plate and it was indeed scrambled eggs, "You didn't have to do that", he muttered sleepily.

"I wanted to", Shisui approached Itachi. He gently lowered Itachi's grip on the blanket to reveal his bruised collarbone.

"Does it hurt?" Shisui asked worriedly.

"Just a little", Itachi pressed his head against Shisui's bare chest, relishing the older male's scent. Shisui wrapped his arms around Itachi, pulling him closer. They stood like that, just enjoying each other's warmth.

"Let me see your back", Itachi realised as he had clawed at it last night. He gently turned Shisui around and there were fresh scrapes on his toned back.

"Do they hurt?" Itachi asked as he traced a scratch gently with his fingertip.

"Just stings a little", Shisui responded gently, "Sit, eat something."

Itachi wobbled over to the chair and tentatively sat down, wincing slightly. Of course, Shisui noticed, "Itachi, I'm sorry. I was clearly too rough with you last night", his shoulders squared up – preparing for a fight.

He was caught off guard, "I liked it", Itachi mumbled shyly.

"But..."

"Shisui, I really liked it...don't apologise – I have never felt better", he said softly, blushing slightly.

Shisui smiled calmly, his heart felt perfectly at peace and the atmosphere was a calm, gentle one. Itachi slowly began eating his eggs and Shisui simply stared at the sleepy Uchiha as he ate.

"We should probably shower", Itachi mumbled, putting some of his hair back behind his ear.

Shisui grinned but was still slightly uncertain, Itachi noticed that, "Just shower, Shisui."

Shisui held out his hands in defence, "Okay, okay."

Itachi laughed softly and tried to get out of his chair and the familiar pain shot up his back again, Shisui was by him in an instant, "Here", he picked Itachi up as if he weighed nothing and carried him to the shower.

Shisui found a pleasant water temperature. Itachi dropped the sheet and stepped into the spray of water. Shisui lowered his jogging shorts and got in behind Itachi. His lips met Itachi's neck, "You're so beautiful", Shisui mumbled against Itachi's skin.

"You're the beautiful one", Itachi mumbled back. He reached for his shampoo bottle but Shisui snatched it from his hands.

"I like your hair, I was glad to see you didn't cut it", Shisui mumbled as he lathered shampoo into Itachi's long hair.

"Maybe I will cut it", Itachi teased.

Shisui chuckled and rinsed Itachi's hair off. He then stopped, "So...how does...conditioner work?" Itachi heard the confusion in Shisui's voice and started laughing.

"Don't laugh at me", Shisui laughed back.

"Here", Itachi took the bottle and applied it to his tips before running his fingers through his wet hair. He picked the shampoo bottle back up and stood on his tip toes, he then applied some to Shisui's hair.

Shisui stared intently at Itachi's focussed face, "Itachi, you are beautiful."

Itachi stopped rubbing the shampoo into Shisui's hair, "Stop saying that", he blushed.

Itachi grabbed a loofah and lathered some of his body wash on it, then rubbed it on Shisui's chest, he went in circles, going down Shisui's ab muscles until he stopped above the pubic area. He looked away, blushing.

"Go on", Shisui said. Itachi could hear the smirk in Shisui's voice – he could also feel Shisui drawing shapes on his wet back.

They eventually got out of the shower without being intimate, despite all of Shisui's hints.

Itachi blow dried his hair as Shisui towel dried his, Itachi then gave Shisui a spare bathrobe but he declined, "I brought a change of clothes." He turned to leave the bathroom to go to his bag but Itachi lightly grabbed his wrist, "Wait."

"What's wrong?"

"Turn around", Itachi took out the first aid kit from behind the mirror and opened the disinfectant ointment. He gently rubbed some on Shisui's scratches.

"Your turn", Shisui whispered, lowering one side of Itachi's robe to reveal his collarbone. He then applied some ointment to it. They stood staring into each other's eyes.

"Sasuke will be home soon, Mellissa and I go with him to...group therapy sessions on Saturdays."

Shisui looked confused, "Group therapy? Is he okay?"

Itachi fixed his robe and pulled it back over his shoulder, "He's suffering from depression, I go to support him but he doesn't let me go in with him...only Mellissa..."

Shisui looked down at the ground then back to Itachi, "It's okay...Lets go get dressed."

Shisui then caught Itachi off guard by kissing the top of Itachi's head.

The two of them got dressed in Itachi's room, Shisui putting on the clothes from his bag and Itachi throwing on a random outfit.

"You should wear more red, you look good in it", Shisui remarked.

Itachi looked down at his all black outfit, "I should maybe buy more colour", he commented.

There was wild, obnoxiously loud beating on the front door and Shisui jumped up in alarm. Itachi just laughed slightly, "Don't worry, it's just Mellissa."

Itachi walked to the front door with Shisui hot behind him, he opened the door and Mellissa burst in, she smiled when she saw Itachi and then her facial expression froze as she noticed Shisui behind him.

"No way..." She stepped closer to Shisui, "There's no way", Itachi could see the emotion in her face.

Shisui smiled gently, "Hi, Mellissa."

Mellissa pounced on Shisui, and he caught her easily, "I haven't seen you in years...and I didn't know if I'd ever – you've grown so tall!"

Itachi could hear her holding back her sobs and he looked down in shame. The only reason Shisui disappeared was because he pushed him away. He only thought of himself – not Sasuke, not Mellissa and certainly not Shisui.

Itachi didn't notice Shisui acknowledge the pain on Itachi's face. Shisui made a point to talk to him about it later.

"Anyway", Mellissa peeled herself off Shisui, wiping a stray tear, "Sasuke's in the car waiting."

"I guess I'll see you soon?" Shisui said, intending for it to come out as a statement but it came out more of a question.

"Ye-" Itachi was cut off by Mellissa.

"Why don't you come with us – if you don't mind? It might make Sasuke more...comfortable..."

"Aunt Mellissa, he has to stu-" Once again Itachi was cut off.

"I'd love to", Shisui smiled.

Itachi did a double take but had no chance to question Shisui as Mellissa rushed them out. Itachi hurriedly locked the door and was dragged to the car.

Shisui and Itachi sat in the back seats, Sasuke turned around and smiled at Shisui, "You came back?"

Itachi sensed a loaded question, and he wanted an answer – did Shisui come back? Was this a permanent thing or a passing fantasy?

"Of course", Shisui smiled back at Sasuke.

Itachi kept quiet.

He said that for Sasuke's benefit...not for me. Don't get your hopes up.

*****

The car came to a halt outside Konoha psychiatric hospital. It was a reoccurring theme of Mellissa and Sasuke leaving Itachi in the car. Sasuke turned around as he opened his door.

"Shisui...do you want to come with?"

Itachi kept quiet, looking down at his hands folded on his lap.

"I think I'll keep your brother company, you've got this Sasuke", Shisui smiled his toothy smile. Sasuke smiled in return and closed the door.

The car was quiet, Shisui's leg was touching Itachi and that small contact still set his heart ablaze.

"You looked sad, when Mellissa hugged me...why?" Shisui asked softly.

"Are you really...back? Like you told Sasuke?" Itachi deflected.

Neither answered each other's question. Itachi's heart sank, because Shisui's silence was the loudest answer he had ever gotten. He had no one to blame but himself. He held no resentment to Shisui for his decision – Itachi knew he deserved it when Shisui decides to leave.

"I want to be back...but you need to let me this time. You need to let me be back", Shisui whispered.

Itachi's eyes widened, he rubbed his hands harshly, anxiously. His heart sped up even further and he suddenly felt nauseous. He once had such control over his emotions but Shisui always seemed to break the dam holding them at bay.

"I was sad because...Mellissa and Sasuke hadn't seen you in four years because of me. I was selfish – I only thought of myself. She wanted to cry, Sasuke's depressed. All because I was selfish; all because of me..." Itachi whispered – barely audible – sadly.

"You were selfish..." Shisui replied.

Itachi looked down in shame. The shame was just too great, it was too heavy. His hands continued viciously rubbing each other. He wanted to cry – but not in front of Shisui.

"But, you can't put that all on yourself. Your brother lost his parents – that's why he's struggling. Mellissa, like any person, would be overjoyed to see someone they thought was gone for years. You overthink too much." Shisui placed his hand on Itachi's fumbling ones, "Stop doing that, stop being nervous."

Tears finally spilled from Itachi's eyes. They leaked out, and soon Itachi could barely breathe. Shisui pulled Itachi closer, cooing and hushing him.

"You've been strong for too long, for too many people. It's time someone told you 'it's okay not to be okay'. You're allowed to feel things Itachi."

Itachi clung to Shisui's shirt, his breathing slowly returned to normal. He wiped his eyes, "I want you to be back – and I know I don't deserve it", Itachi raised his eyes so he could meet Shisui's gaze, "So this is me sitting in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night...and if we loved again, I promise to love you properly..." Itachi looked down, "But if the chain is on your door – I understand."

Shisui tucked a strand of Itachi's hair back behind his ear, "I'll let you back in, but I won't let you out. I'll lock you in with me. No more running – because I will catch you, I'm much faster." Shisui smiled his close eyed smile.

And just like that, Itachi was put to ease.

A/N: So some of you didn't like the abundance of sex scenes lmao so here is a sprinkle **sparkles** of fluff ( - 3 -) Let me know what you all think❤️ and abuse that vote button ❤️❤️❤️