PARTNERS: WHAT WERE THEY GOOD FOR? The Uchiha asked himself as he climbed endless stairs towards the rooftop, gun in hand as he stayed to take the rear while Adachi took point. The rookie stayed as close as possible to Adachi as they climbed—feeling the stairs stretch with each step. The journey was infinite; the feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins was endless. But Sasuke knows how this one would end even more so as they continued the neverending trek upward. He could feel his chest tighten as the change in pressure was affecting the both of them. Every time this dream occurs, it seems like the stairs would get longer and longer—prolonging the impending result that Sasuke knew.

In truth, Sasuke was afraid to turn towards Adachi in this moment. Not because we wasn’t used to having teammates lose their life but it was because he knew the outcome. He didn’t want to turn around, but he would be programmed to in this dream. Sasuke would foolishly turn around and Adachi as well—exchanging coy smirks with each other. This meant they were going to bag in a huge perpetrator and it would be a career changer. The feeling of exhilaration at the thought was enough for Sasuke to watch Adachi kick the roof door open. But he knew just how foolish that would be.

But Uchiha was programmed to have a smirk on his face, matching Adachi’s.

❝ You take left, I take right Uchiha. Let’s get this over with. ❞

Adachi’s voice would soothe Sasuke as it would be a voice of hope and future happiness. Sasuke’s heart would feel a pang of pain because he knows, but he’s programmed to take left in the crowded roof. Every single time he would return to this dream, it would seem like the roof would get more and more crowded. He disliked it because he knows just what would happen in the upcoming scenes. It was as if a movie was playing over and over—scenes being riddled with a few extra props each time he starred. And the pain in his heart would magnify each time. Because he knows. 

However, Sasuke would blindly follow his orders in this dream. Gun points forward as he walked carefully and silently in the maze of barrels, machinery, and vents. If they manage to gain the upper hand then it would be over. They’d be considered heroes back in the precinct—something Sasuke innately wanted because it proved he wasn’t so evil nor weak after all. But he would hear that dreaded clatter of the barrels soon and the way back to Adachi would feel like a labyrinth. He’s just counting the milliseconds till that would happen. He had read once that people could manipulate their dreams—they call it lucid dreaming. He had tried once, my god he did. It was out of desperation. But it made things worse. So much worse. It made things more painful for him in and out of the dream. And like clockwork, problems would start arising at this point as he hears that familiar sound of barrels hitting the ground in hurried succession. This is the part where Sasuke would run; run as fast as he can to reach Adachi. But the barrels would change and he would lose his way to him.

❝ Sasuke! ❞

He would hear him yell as if he was only a few feet away instead of what seemed like miles. And this would make Sasuke’s fight or flight response activate. Adachi needed him. Adachi was in danger. He was going to be in grave danger. But no matter how much Sasuke ran, the barrels, vents, and machinery would end up giving him a dead end or the way back would get farther and farther. Adachi, where was Adachi? There would be a laughter at this point, and Sasuke knew the minutes would tick. The laugh was mocking him and the elongated way back would hurt his chest. Why was he weak? Why can’t he do anything? Adachi needed him. Sasuke openly struggled, as he tried kicking his way out of the impenetrable labyrinth. And then he would hear a gun clock, ready to fire. Like clockwork, the rooftop would clear and he would be at a standstill.

Adachi was there, struggling in a headlock as an unknown man placed the gun on his head. Sasuke tried to scream out, but he couldn’t. He always struggled in this dream. He always struggled to be vocal enough to stop until…

The sound of the trigger split the silence open and he’s forced to watch Adachi’s limp body fall to the ground as the figure now looms over him. Sasuke’s face was always exemplifying pure, delicious terror.

❝ You’ve always been weak. ❞

The voice would call out as the rooftop crumbles where Adachi’s body was. Sasuke’s feet tried running—struggling to catch up to the body, hands outstretched as he yelled his name.

❝ Adachi! ❞

Sasuke would always be too late; he’s forced to watch Adachi fall in the black hole. But he would always wake up before he could watch his limp body land on the ground. Partners: