The Secrets We Keep *COMPLETE* (Sasori x OC? / Itachi x OC?)

Escape

Even though Itachi isn't around, Maeme decides to go to his room, pulling her hood up along the way. She never entered his room without permission but she needed a distraction from the surge of emotions raging inside her and she didn't have a book to read. She hesitates as she enters the raven haired man's room, her eyes wandering over the few personal belongings he had in the open. She spies something on the floor sticking out from underneath the edge of his bed and arches a brow. Carefully, she picks it up and turns it over to find a photo. The picture is wrinkled and faded in a few spots, but she recognizes a younger version of Itachi beside a younger child with similar features.

"That's my brother."

Maeme jumps and turns to face Itachi who is leaning against the doorway. She opens her mouth to apologize for the intrusion but can't seem to form words so instead she holds the picture out to him. He takes it and places it on the table beside his bed.

"Is there something you need help with?"

"Oh, no. I'm sorry." She answers with a bow. "I was just going to borrow a book. I need a distraction and well, I wanted to ask but you weren't here... I-I'm just going to go." She mumbles, heading toward the door.

"You didn't pick a book." He says with a hint of amusement in his tone as she tenses.

"Right..."

She turns around again and walks to the bookshelf across the room. As her fingers lightly skim the spines of the books, her mind stirs up the thoughts that had started to settle before Itachi's arrival.

"You seem distracted." Itachi comments as he removes his cloak.

"It's been an interesting day I suppose." She hums. "Is it alright if I stay here for a while? I feel like avoiding everyone."

The two had never been particularly close, but held conversations regularly and were known to sit in the same room while reading books. Maeme found it a peaceful way to drown out the world around her without being glued to Sasori and still had a relative barrier between Orochimaru and herself. She finally chooses a book and settles down at his desk after he closes the door. The room falls into a calming silence until a question escapes her lips.

"So, you have a brother?"

"His name is Sasuke."

Maeme glances up at Itachi in time to see pain flash in his eyes before fading into his cool indifference.

"I'm sorry I asked." She tells him, returning to her book.

"It's fine. You could repay me by telling me what brought you here looking for an escape."

She sighs and adjusts her jacket hood. "Long story short, I lost a bet and I'm an undesired and disruptive presence whose life purpose was chosen for her. Also I punched Sasori."

"Why does any of that bother you?"

Itachi studies the blonde as she mulls over his question then looks up at him. The raven haired man leans back on his bed, resting his back against the wall while watching her curiously.

"I honestly have no idea. I was told that I should find a reason to live for myself, but I do not care what happens to me so I see no point."

"Some people live only for others." He replies simply.

Itachi looks up from his spot on the bed a short while later as the door opens. His eyes fall on Sasori as he apologizes curtly for the intrusion then asks if he'd seen Maeme. Sasori tenses as he spots the girl in question curled up beside Itachi, book in hand and fast asleep with her head on Itachi's upper arm."

"I'll take her back to our room."

"I don't recommend bothering her." Itachi interjects, halting the man's movement.

"She's my subordinate."

"I believe if she wanted to be around you, she wouldn't be in my bed right now." Itachi smirks.

The blonde shifts in her sleep causing the book to slip to the floor with a loud thud, the noise cutting off the brewing argument.

"If you touch her I will tear you limb from limb." Sasori threatens as he stares down at her sleeping form.

"I didn't think you'd care so much about someone whose presence bothered you."

Sasori glares at Itachi, seeming to debate on something before simply walking out without another word.

With the puppeteer gone, Itachi returns to reading, careful not to wake Maeme. A few minutes after her brief explanation of her day, he had noticed her shifting a lot in the chair due to her injuries, so he invited her to sit on the bed to be more comfortable. They read their books in silence for about ten minutes until her head fell on his shoulder. Itachi had debated on waking her but in the end chose to let her sleep. He could tell that whatever happened while he was gone really bothered her. Maeme told him a few more details about it but not enough to get the whole picture. From what he pieced together, he knew Sasori was at the center of it, so he chose to annoy the man for his own amusement.
 

He glances down at Maeme and frowns as he notices a stray hair that escaped her braid had fallen in her face. Pushing thoughts of the hair aside, he returns to his book only to find himself focusing on the hair. He sighs softly before weighing his options. He closes his book and carefully uses his free arm to awkwardly reach across himself in hopes of moving the hair without disrupting her. As his fingers brush her face, she shifts again, burying her face in the crook of his elbow and allowing a few more strands to escape their tie. His expression falls and he accepts defeat as a small smile crosses her face. It's the first time he'd ever seen her smile. When her face wasn't hidden underneath her hood, her emotions ranged from anger, bloodlust, or stoic indifference. He still wasn't sure what to think of this strange woman.