@slug-desu // continued from here
He knows; he has for quite some time. But still, Orochimaru
cannot indulge Tsunade in her desires. He will not. It wasn't
so much that she deserved more than what he could give,
it was simply that he wouldn't give. Not now. Not when his
experiments held such titillating promise. Orochimaru need-
ed time. He needed patience; not only his own, but Tsunade's.
Yet it seemed only wishful thinking and he had long accepte-
ed her inevitable disgust, merely allowing it to ricochet into
nothingness.
Still, his lips strained thin at her latest barb. It sunk much deep-
er than he would have expected, and his eyes flickered cold,
betraying him for only a moment. He exhaled, locking her
gaze. Voice low, he said,