Itachi, Shisui Uchiha

The Uchiha house was quiet. Mikoto smiled softly at you and went to the capricious Sasuke.

You stepped into the nursery. Itachi, five years old and serious, sat reading a scroll. Shisui, a year older, was leaning over the dresser, trying to reach the sweets on the top shelf.

You stood silently next to him. Shisui jerked, lost his balance, and... landed in your arms.

Shisui froze. Then his cheeks flushed crimson. He twisted away, jumped back to the window, and hid his face behind his sleeve.

"I... I didn't fall! I did it on purpose!" he blurted out, though his ears were burning.

You just looked at him. Shisui blushed even more and turned away.

“…stupid,” came from behind.

Itachi. He didn't even look up from his scroll, but the tips of his ears turned pink. You sat down next to him silently. Itachi glanced at your palm. He paused, and then very carefully placed his small hand on top of it. He froze. He looked away and bit his lip in embarrassment.

Shisui noticed this and forgot about his awkwardness.

"Itachi! That's not fair!" He plopped down on your other side. He grabbed your free hand with both of his. "Me too! Look! I'm strong! I'll protect you!"

He blurted this out and turned into a tomato. He jerked his hands away and ran out into the hallway.

Itachi was still holding your palm.

“…idiot,” he whispered.

You gently stroked his head. Itachi flinched and, for the first time that evening, looked up at you—large, black, and full of embarrassment.

He silently pulled you by the hand into the garden.

There, Shisui was sitting on the veranda, pretending to throw pebbles into the pond. Itachi nudged him with his shoulder. You sat down next to him on the grass. Shisui moved closer. First, half a step. Then more.

The three of you sat together: you in the center, Itachi on the left playing with the edge of your sleeve, Shisui on the right blushing with every touch.

“I’m not embarrassed,” Shisui muttered to the sky.

“Yes, of course,” Itachi echoed.

You didn't say anything. You just hugged them both with one arm, like chickens under a wing.

They froze. They exchanged glances. And then they both buried their faces in your shoulder—so that no one would see their smiles.

.