Freedom & Adoration

Freedom

Chapter One

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Uchiha, you have a visitor."

Sasuke felt his stomach tighten in anticipation as he followed Guard Yamato through the dusty prison hallways and to the visitation area. Naruto never failed to bring Itachi once a week to visit him and it was the main thing that had gotten him through the past four and a half years. The letters and the phone calls helped tremendously but seeing Itachi is what kept him strong and sane.

He sat in the assigned metal chair and smiled as Itachi pressed his hand against the glass with a tender smile. Naruto stood behind Itachi, adjusting his wheelchair and the blonde cheerfully smiled when they made eye contact. Sasuke pressed his tattooed hand where Itachi held his and picked up the phone.

"Sasuke." Itachi's voice crackled through the phone and relief spread through Sasuke's heart. It never failed to calm his nerves to see that his brother is okay. His long hair was pulled back and brushed. His cheeks were full, and his skin looked healthy.

"Hey Nii. How are you feeling today?"

Itachi chuckled as he nudged over so Naruto could take a seat next to him, "My health is well and I'm well. Naruto does a good job."

The blonde gave a sheepish smile as Sasuke regarded the live-in nurse. He'd never know how to show Naruto how eternally grateful he's been all this time. His brother was taken care of. He looked as healthy as he could be under his circumstances.

"I'm really happy to hear that."

Itachi twirled the string of his red sweater, "You get out in a few months. How do you feel?"

He scowled, "Ready to get the fuck out of here." He was okay. They would be okay.

"Naruto has been cleaning the house non-stop and fixing up your room." The nurse squawked and blushed at being called out by Itachi. Sasuke failed to hold in his smirk and mouthed a thank you through the glass. Naruto beamed and something fluttered in Sasuke's stomach.

He cleared his throat and turned to Itachi, "Are you excited to put me on ranch duty?"

His brother grinned, "Definitely. Too bad we don't have pigs or horses. I'd love to see you covered in manure." He could hear Naruto's melodious laugh in the background.

Sasuke wrinkled his nose, "That's disgusting."

"You know I'm joking." Itachi rolled his eyes, "We don't even have many animals."

"I know." He returned the eye roll with his own. "How are the restaurants?"

"Really good. Naruto takes me to visit them, we have good employees." Sasuke's eyes traveled back to Naruto, who was wearing a hideous long-sleeve orange polo. The blonde was distracted, making funny faces to a fussy toddler two seats away from them.

That's all Sasuke could really ask for. For his brother to live a peaceful and good life.

Sasuke caught them up on the latest happenings around the prison (not much) and discussed what book they should pick next. It was Naruto's idea for them to have a weekly book club and it kept Sasuke's mind occupied. He loved being able to argue with Itachi and seeing the way Naruto's pink lips pouted when he was in deep concentration.

The hour was up before Sasuke knew it and he felt his blood run cold. Each visitation felt shorter and shorter each time, but he just kept thinking, it's almost over.