@beastscales gave me feels.
He didn’t expect to be greeted with such a question as he walked into the Kusa hideout. He was more surprised over the lack of surprised he felt upon seeing Sasuke again after so long; Karin had most likely told him where he was or maybe he found out somehow by himself ( or perhaps the more unsavory option: Suigetsu told him ) .
Juugo just looked at him, tangerine irises empty, his lips straightening into a line as he pressed them together. He wanted to tell the Uchiha to get the hell out of here, that he has been so good without the mess of Team Taka, that he was doing good without everything. Yet, he just turns back around and begins to walk prior to stopping again. ‘ Are you going to follow me ? ’
Without waiting another moment, the devil began to stroll down the halls, cloak tightening around his body until it strained against his shoulders. Each moment that passed, the devil wondered why he hasn’t told Sasuke off, why he didn’t scare him away, why he didn’t just give a good ‘ fuck you for everything ’. He should, he wanted to, but his mouth remainedshut until he reached his room, opening the door, using his foot to keep it open.
‘ You can use my room until I fix one for you. I’ll sleep on the ground. ’ Juugo’s voice softened to a whisper, his breath stuck in his throat, eyes following Sasuke as he wanders into the room filled with clutter, traveling bird cages, and plants. ‘ What brings you here, Sasuke ? Why come to me instead of, I don’t know, Karin ? ’
Sasuke hadn’t been sure what sort of greeting to expect. It’s not as if they were enemies, but an idiot would be able to see the silent animosity Juugo has held for their group long before disbanding. Even still, perhaps it’s selfish of him to seek the quiet calm of the other man, but he desperately needs it.
“ --- I won’t take your bed. I can take the floor.”
The arrogance of the past had calmed with Sasuke. He wouldn’t push Juugo out of his own bed while visiting, that’s too far even for him. The Uchiha heir has struggled as of late, coming to terms with his own madness and the things he had done. He still stands by his motivations, but he is man enough to admit he had made choices that were not the best.
Taking in the sights of various cages, plants and just.... life, he already feels more at ease. This is Juugo. This is what he - strangely - needed.
Why come to me?
Admittedly, he has to think of the answer. He doesn’t have one readily available as one might expect. He should. He absolutely should. His silence, however; alludes to his thought process. After a lengthy pause, so long you may have thought his silence for refusal, he finally speaks.
“You don’t have me on a pedestal.”
He sees Sasuke, without sugar coating him or consistently comparing him to a mental image he’d created of who he should have been.
