It was cold. Itachi was cold. The chill was bone deep and permanent. Nothing he did, or said, would ever heat him. Nothing could melt the blanket of frost that hugged his shoulders like an old, tattered rag.

He carried this blanket, this sin, everywhere. And nobody could see it, but you. The way it weighed him down, the hands of those he'd slaughtered pushing down on his shoulders, his every step laboured and hard.

You reminded him so much of the little boy he'd betrayed. Maybe it was your gait, your mannerisms.

No.

It was your eyes.

The way you looked upon him with no judgement, with no hate.

Sasuke used to look at him like that, too.

"I've done terrible things." He whispered, unable to look into your eyes, despite the comfort your gaze provided. "Things I'll never atone for... So, why.."

Why do you keep me around?