ND - A Brother's Comfort

Another clap of thunder shook the house. Not long after, a bolt of lighting split through the sky.

Itachi moved over to one side of his bed. He knew that it would only be a matter of moments before his little brother came running down the hall to his room, seeking comfort from the storm.

Idly, Itachi wondered when Sasuke would grow out of this. Of course, his younger brother was only three years old, so it was expected that he’d be frightened of storms, but why did he come to Itachi’s room instead of his parents?

Father would send him away. He answered his question immediately.

Itachi knew he shouldn’t baby Sasuke, his father would not want it, but Sasuke was still just a child, he deserved to be babied some.

Itachi never received such treatment. His mother had often tried to treat him as the child he was, but his father would always undermine her efforts, treating him as if he were already a man.

Another clap of thunder. Sure enough, a soft, but frantic pitter-patter of footsteps was heard right before Itachi’s bedroom door was slid open.

“Itachi?” Sasuke whispered.

Through the darkness, Itachi could see Sasuke clutching the blue stuffed cat that he’d gotten at the fair a few months ago. Itachi remembered the Hokage buying one for Sasuke and his two friends, Sakura and Naruto.

“Come on.” He whispered, lifting up the covers.

Sasuke wasted no time crossing the floor and climbing into the bed with his older brother. “I’m scared.” He whispered shakily as the sound of lighting echoed through the room.

“The storm will be over soon.” Itachi whispered with a tired voice. “Go to sleep.”

Smiling, Sasuke hugged his stuffed cat close and drifted to sleep.