We are not Hopeless.

     And the usual still frame:

Though the hospital kept him one more night, Genji was beaming as they walked out of the hospital the next morning….though Hahari had a practical grocery bag of medicine and instructive home care.

“Does it hurt to walk?” She asked in concern, making their way home. She would have to do work from her home office today, but once she was assured Itachi was settled she could return tomorrow. “I know the report says your legs weren’t injured, but I’m worried about too much motion straining your abdomen-”

Genji flitted around like an errant little bird, saying hello to his neighbors, chasing butterflies, and smelling flowers….though he always checked to make sure his parents were close. Having his father home again meant he could stay at home with all of his toys, and have freedom to play in the yard now, or even go out when Itachi had the energy.

Their homey residence….just outside of the Uchiha complex, was a beacon of home.

Genji swung open the door, letting Hahari and Itachi in, before going to fiddle with the fridge while Hahari helped Itachi sit and sorted the medical bag. “Dad! How much dango do you want?” He pulled out the platter inside. “We’ve got iced tea too!”

“Genji, he can’t eat a whole plate, he’ll get sick!”

“Not any more than it seems to.” It was a way around what Hahari was asking. Yes, it hurt..but no, he wouldn’t be caught dead being wheeled out in a wheelchair when his injury was in his side. “It’s not as bad as it was when I came back.”

As they finally got closer to home, Itachi allowed himself to relax and as they walked into the front door, he gave a small, tired smile. “Iced tea and dango sound wonderful...” And he turned to Hahari, “How many do you think should do, dear?”

“It would be worth it. I’m already injured, it can’t get much worse.” It was teasing, the lilt in his voice belied his facetious words. But still, he took a stick of dango off the platter and ate it, making sure to make a delighted face just so Genji would understand without a doubt that he enjoyed it.

Hahari’s face grew concerned. “They built this village so there wouldn’t be sacrifices. They already-”

She stopped herself though, noticing Genji looking at her curiously. Genji wasn’t aware of the history of the village’s founding. How the founders wanted to end the constant cycle of children being trained and sent to die before they could grow up.

Genji’s attention span grew short, and he turned back to his dad. “I’ll sneak you out!” He offered eagerly. “We’ll disguise you as a doctor and slip out the back!”

There was a small knock on the door, and Hahari turned to see a nurse peering in. “Uchiha-san, your superior has come to see you.” She announced. “He says it’s a private manner.”

Hahari sighed. She was being kicked out, and she scarcely had gotten to see him since he had gotten back. “Don’t let him bully you, okay?” She urged gently, giving him a kiss. “It’s not nice to scare your wife and make her worry about becoming a widow.”

“Daddy, come home soon!” Genji smiled sunnily, hopping off the bed. “We’ll make you lots of yummy food and then we can play together!”

___________

Itachi tilted his head to the side, knowing well that Hahari could probably talk about the village and it’s shortcomings for a long time. He acknowledged they were there, but.. the system still worked. The village was relatively peaceful. If he had to sacrifice more of his time, he would surely keep it that way. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for his family--he did--more than anyone else--but he had to make sure that war would never touch his family. If he had to bloody his hands and do things that most people would call him a monster for... well, he didn’t care for their opinions.

“Genji, that would be great. We could use some genjutsu!” He was only teasing, but it would be great for him to go home without talking to his captain.

He knew that he would be read the riot act for attempting a mission without proper rest and recuperation and for being sloppy. His injury should never have happened, and they both knew it.

“I’ll have to speak to my captain, but he’ll surely want me to rest for a while before my next mission.” He assured Hahari, his expression sincere. He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair before she could pull away, and he murmured, “That won’t happen, dear.”

But.. as they left, Kakashi loped in, his hands in his pockets, his slouch not there—? What?

“Itachi. I’m ordering you to take time off. Fully rest this time or I’ll have you removed from ANBU. Hokage’s orders.”

Itachi wasn’t worried about the Sandaime—he was worried about Danzo. Danzo wouldn’t settle for this.. but he would have to. If even Kakashi was warning him—seriously warning him..

Itachi raised his hands in surrender and he said, “Alright. No more missions until I’ve fully recovered...”

“Speaking of.. do you think you could get them to let me go? Hahari would be delighted to have me home rather than here.” Besides, she would make sure he would actually rest.

When Kakashi disappeared through the door, his slouch was back, and he only stuck his hand through the door with a thumbs up.. “I’ll make sure to have Hahari come back.”

Hahari huffed, and began absently, worriedly stroking his hair out of his face. “They grill you so much about protecting everyone else that you spend almost no time protecting yourself.” She scolded mildly. “A village can’t just depend on one person to do all the work. If they depend on you all the time, how will they protect themselves if you died?”

Genji was still giggly and cheerful to have his father holding him and mussing his hair. “Dad, when you come home, I’ll make you dango! I can make rainbow colored dango now!” He bragged. “But we can leave Death some outside so he doesn’t bug you.”

“Darling-” Hahari rolled her eyes, but let it go. “-I do want to see you come home though. You’ll rest better with my cooking and your own bed.”

“Perhaps, but that’s the way the world works,”Itachi said quietly, “And to them, what is the sacrifice of one person for the good of many?” It was something he reminded himself often. He had so many precious people to protect. If it was at the expense of his life, then he would do so willingly and without hesitation.

“Death would see that as an appropriate offering, surely.” Itachi responded with a small smile. “Rainbow dango? They sound great. Maybe you can make me some when I’m allowed to go home!”

Genji giggled to have his hair mussed. “Mama’s teaching me to cook at home! I made our lunches today!” He boasted. “But I’m getting bored hanging out by myself! Even Mama’s office is getting boring!”

“You just can’t sit still is all-” Hahari made a face at him, laughing as her son made one right back. “-though it is nice to exercise once in a while chasing you around.”

As for her husband. “I worry about you no matter what you’re doing.” She sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. He would be resting for months until he was healthy, and then the cycle would resume. Eventually, she knew the cycle would end…and unhappily. “You should at least get to pick what you want to do every now and then. I know you’re very good at defying death-” She eyed his bandages nervously. “-but death gets impatient too.”

“Give him a candy.” Genji suggested, ignorant to what they were talking about. How could he know? He was only four. “Then he won’t be so antsy when you do that.”

“You’re learning how to make food? I’m sure it’ll be as good as your Mama’s!” Itachi made sure to keep a keen eye on Genji’s moving around as they talked together and he chuckled at their interactions..but did Hahari truly worry that much about him?

“I’m good at escaping death. My eyes never deceive me and illusions are just that--illusions. We all have the illusion that we’re never going to die, but we are.” When he turned to Genji he raised an eyebrow.

“So I should give the reaper a stick of dango? That might keep him coming back and we don’t want that!” He ruffled Genji’s hair again and returned his arms to the child’s middle without missing a beat. Yes, he was moving around but Itachi, even in his injured state was able to do this without too much trouble. “Death isn’t an enemy, but also not our friend.”

guide take them by the hand, arm, or shoulder to guide them.

shelter protect them.

shove push them.

loop drape an arm around their shoulders.

touch a gentle touch like rubbing their back, hugging them, holding their hand. 

kiss a kiss on the cheek, knuckles, forehead, in their hair.

palm smack them upside the head.

bed rest gently push them back down when they try getting out of bed.

aid help them with a task.

note pass a note to them.

cry wipe away their tears.

wash wipe something off their forehead, cheek, so on.

bandage patch them up when they get hurt.

heal take care of them when they get sick.

book silently read a story with them. 

carry pick them up. 

scrap punch them.

cherry find blood on them.

sit help them sit down.  

medical wake up in the hospital and find them holding their hand.

steer place a hand under their chin to make them look up. 

beat dance with them.

stare stare them down. 

off track get lost with them.

no shaking their head in disagreement. 

yes nodding their head in agreement.

rush tackle them to the ground.

theredpalace‌

Hahari arrived at the hospital, fresh out of the office, at the notice that Itachi had come home. Severely injured, yes, but assuredly going to survive.

If she could, she would have a serious dressing down for every member of the Anbu, council, and Hokage all at once. There was scarcely a mission they sent her husband on where he didn’t risk, and endure, serious injury….and even if these missions were blended between months of recovery and home stay, it also meant several months of a cold bed await Hahari…and the dread that he might not come back one day.

Genji remained blissfully ignorant, whining when Itachi was gone, and chipper when he was home. But he was only four.

Hahari managed to persuade the doctor to let her and her son be alone with Itachi for a while. If his Anbu Captain got here first, it would only depress him. So she scooted a chair by his bedside, wincing at the sight of him heavily bandaged and attached to an IV drip with medicine and a blood bag. They really took it out of him this time. Hahari thought wearisomely.

Genji, was patient in his mother’s lap for a while, but soon grew bored and began to fold paper airplanes, zooming them around the room with surprising agility. Hahari was momentarily distracted and amused….when one landed on Itachi’s chest.

And she realized he was awake.

“Oh! Itachi!” She got up and leaned over to kiss all over his face, relieved at no less than a dozen before sitting back. “If you keep on worrying me like this, I really will make you retire and become a house husband you know.”

“Daddy!” Genji’s head barely came up over the bedside, but he scrambled up and mussed up sheets until he was sitting on the bed. “Why you sleep so much? It’s kinda boring in here!”

Itachi chuckled a little to himself and tried not to wince at the pain. That...was a bad idea. Of course, he was stable and recovering but that didn’t mean that the pain was completely gone. “I’ve had worse,” He reminded her, “And eventually I will have to retire.” Until then, he had to protect the village until someone else could step up and replace him.

“I’m sleeping because I got hurt and that’s what the doctors say I need to do to get better.” And then he smiled a little, “Yes, it is boring in here.” He would much rather be at home eating dango or starting another mission, but here he was. On bed rest for the foreseeable future. At least he would be able to spend more time with Genji and Hahari. That was the only upside.

Of course, by now, people would know that he was “fatally” injured and security would have to be increased. He gingerly picked up the paper airplane and sent it gliding up as he ruffled Genji’s hair with his other hand. “What have you been up to lately?”