THE FARM || ITASASU

Part 11

A/N: We've got a visitor

As the breakfast chatter continued, Sasuke found himself caught between the magnetic pull of Sasori's flirtatious demeanor and the lingering, complicated emotions he harbored for Itachi. He could still feel the warmth of Sasori's hands on his hips from last night, the boldness of his words echoing in his mind. It stirred something dangerous inside him—something that craved attention, even if it came wrapped in sarcasm and teasing.

But every time he caught Itachi's gaze, the guilt gnawed at him. Itachi's cool mask might have slipped for a moment last night, but Sasuke knew his brother well enough to recognize the storm brewing beneath the surface. The kisses they'd shared, the way Itachi had confessed his jealousy—it all tied Sasuke in knots. Itachi was an enigma, complex and unreadable, whereas Sasori was straightforward, almost refreshing in his boldness.

It was like being stuck between fire and ice, and Sasuke didn't know which one he wanted to get burned by more.

"You're awfully quiet, Sasuke," Sasori's voice broke through his thoughts. The puppet master was watching him with a knowing smile, as if he could sense the turmoil beneath Sasuke's stoic exterior. "Regretting that dance already? Or maybe you're just thinking about who you want to impress next."

Sasuke scowled, trying to ignore the flutter in his chest at the implication. "You're really full of yourself, you know that? Not everything revolves around you."

Sasori leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe not everything, but you've been revolving around me quite a bit lately, haven't you? I wonder what that says about you."

Sasuke felt his pulse quicken, but before he could respond, Itachi spoke up, his voice cutting through the air with cool precision. "Sasori, don't you have better things to do than provoke my brother?"

The tension crackled between the three of them, drawing the attention of the others at the table. Deidara's eyes flicked back and forth between them, clearly relishing the drama unfolding. Hidan was grinning like he was watching a particularly entertaining fight, but even he seemed to sense that things were teetering on the edge of something deeper.

Sasori didn't back down, his gaze locked with Itachi's as he replied, "Just trying to keep things interesting, Itachi. Unless you'd rather things go back to being dull and predictable."

Itachi's eyes narrowed, his calm slipping just a fraction. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"And you're holding back, afraid to make a move," Sasori countered, his voice smooth as silk. "Maybe it's time you stop hiding behind your composure and admit what you really want. Otherwise, it might just be too late, and you'll have to fight me for it."

Sasuke's breath hitched at the challenge in Sasori's words. He could feel the weight of Itachi's gaze, but there was something in Sasori's boldness that called to him. He hated how much he enjoyed the attention, how it made him feel seen in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

"I think that's enough," Sasuke muttered, his voice strained. He stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "I'm going out for some air."

He didn't wait for a response as he left the kitchen, needing to escape the suffocating tension that had taken root in the room. The cool morning breeze hit him as he stepped outside, and he took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. But no matter how hard he tried, the conflicting emotions churned inside him—desire, guilt, confusion. They all twisted together, leaving him feeling more lost than ever.

Footsteps approached from behind, and Sasuke didn't have to turn to know who it was. The quiet, deliberate way the steps fell was unmistakable.

"You're running away," Itachi said softly, his voice free of judgment but heavy with understanding.