**All Characters are aged up to 20+!!** Content ahead: some nervous boy energy Word count: ~ 1100 Pairing: Modern AU!Itachi x reader Summary: itachi likes you and he doesn't know how to tell you! A/n: for a request! Theres no smut in this, but if yall like it i can make a part 2 ;) hope you like it!
Master List
Part 1 Part 2
Between Classes
The smell of the old coffee shop was strong with robust espresso beans and cinnamon from the latte of the day. He had been there for hours, laptop open, papers scattered across his table and an empty cup sitting in a forgotten corner of the table.
He wasn’t expecting to see you; pale eyed, long dark hair lazily thrown over your shoulder.
It was your third year of college and his fourth year. He had been focused on his studies in international relations, and that’s how you met. Your degree in political science had you both overlapping a handful of classes, and he hasn’t been able to get you out of his head. Study buddies.
But today wasn’t your normal meeting day; it was a random Thursday. He wanted to stand and greet you, a pleasant surprise to his hectic and stressful day, but he couldn’t move. What if you were busy?
You walked up to the counter and you were just close enough to him for him to hear your order; a hot earl grey tea with warm steamed vanilla milk– to go.
Of course you’re taking it to go. You had a huge test tomorrow for one of your classes and you’d get way too distracted by studying outside of your calm dorm room.
You didn’t notice Itachi– he was quiet, in a hoodie with his hair thrown back into a bun, glasses pushed up to the crown of his head. He shook his leg in anticipation. He was waiting for you to notice him, but it was only so that he could pretend he didn’t notice you first.
You waited patiently for your tea, opening your phone to scroll when your older brother, Neji, called.
You picked up the phone, and unbeknownst to Itachi, you spoke very friendly with someone. Boyfriend? Girlfriend?
He looked down in shame for feeling like he was stalking you almost– though, in his defense, he wasn’t expecting to see you there. He glanced back down to his work and continued.
You had gotten your tea and hours passed. It was 2:32 am; you were both exhausted and way too revved up to go to sleep from the caffeine you had been drinking. Your class wasn't until pretty late in the day so you could afford to pull a late night, but you couldn’t possibly study anymore.
Your phone began to go off and when you glanced down at it, you saw a text from Itachi.
Itachi: hey, i’ve been studying for hours. do you wanna take a walk?
Yn: oh! hey, tbh same. yeah ill be down in a few
What a relief. Something to get you out of your room, if anything for a few hours. And of course he knew you were awake. You were always awake.
You had thrown on your comfy clothes that were definitely not suited for a night walk with Itachi Uchiha, so you put on some shorts, vans, and a loose baggy t-shirt.
Your stomach fluttered with excitement. Honestly, you tried to find every reason to run into him in public. But he clearly wasn’t interested in you; he didn’t even notice you at the coffee shop today. It’s by the gods good will that he even thought to text you.
You made your way down, trying to calm the sweat forming in your hands. Neji has tried to teach you how to be more calm, more collected. But maybe it was how college was beginning to affect you, maybe it was the amount of caffeine that you drink a day, but your anxiety didn’t allow you to ever just be chill.
Your keys, fob and phone in your hand, you met him outside of your building.
“Hey, yn,” he said, smiling at you.
“Thank you for joining me. I’ve been alone all day studying and didn’t realize I hadn’t even talked to anyone until I got on my phone.” He explained.
You smiled at him, squinting your eyes. “It’s okay, me neither! Well, besides when my brother called. But he was only talking about family stuff.” You said.
Your brother! Of course! He forgot you had a brother.
“Is everything okay?” He asked.
You nodded, before shrugging your shoulders.
“Yeah… it’s nothing too dramatic,” you said, sighing. “I come from a family that’s… well, traditional, very structured. People tend to notice when a Hyūga walks into a room. Neji’s handled most of the heavier stuff at home while I’ve been at school, so I haven’t had to deal with it as much.” You glanced at him, a small smile tugging at your lips. “It’s… normal for us, I guess. Nothing really shakes the family. I’ve just gotten used to it.”
“It sounds complicated,” he responded.
You nodded your head again. “I suppose so, but my brother is kind of dealing with the brunt of the family drama. Basically so that I can go to school.” You finished.
“But when I get my degree, I’m going to do great stuff for the family.”
He chuckled, elbowing you lightly. “I don’t doubt it.”
You both stopped at a lake on campus, sitting in the soft grass.
“What’s your family like?” You asked.
His black eyes wandered the scenery, finding a good place to begin.
“They’re… also complicated,” he started, smiling at you.
“Think less royalty and more neighborhood watch… with lawyers.” He didn’t realize how complicated it would be to explain to you, but you giggled at his answer.
“They’ve been involved in the local affairs and polities for generations now. My father kind of oversees all of it.” You nodded.
“So, I guess we’ve got that in common,” you offered, nudging him a bit.
He had been looking at you, but the way the moon caught your iris, the way the breeze blew through your hair, his joking expression on his face dropped and he finally realized where exactly he was right now.
You recognized the situation as well, laughing to yourself, pleased with your proximity to him.
“I, uh– I’ve never been good at stuff like this,” he explained. For the first time in his life, Itachi Uchiha felt awkward.
You could sense where this was going, but you let him finish.
“I… enjoy being around you, Yn,” he said, his eyes darting all over the place.
You smiled at him, leaning back on your palm. “I enjoy being around you as well, Itachi.”
He looked at her for a long moment, eyes flicking to the lake and back. “I… I mean, I didn’t know how to say it. I just know that I like you. I have feelings for you. More than anyone else, I think.”
She felt her chest tighten, heat rising to her cheeks. “I… I feel the same.” They both let out a small laugh, tension melting into something quieter, softer, but no less full of meaning.
