Kindling

Tobirama was… confused. He didn’t understand what was going on, he didn’t know why Madara wanted to touch him, he didn’t know how Madara realized he was a Guide- he had been traying so hard to keep from making Madara uncomfortable-, he didn’t know why Madara asked him if he was Madara’s, didn’t want to tell him – but there was nothing he wouldn’t do if Madara asked and no question he wouldn’t answer truthfully for his the Sentinel. “Yes” but he had to tell Madara that that didn’t mean anything, that Tobirama knew that that didn’t mean anything that – oh. (guh) ooohhh, that, ah, he couldn’t stop the noise that slid past his teeth, shuddering at the feeling of so much bare skin on his, at those amazing muscles pressed close and warm (Madara had a tendency of taking off his shirt at the slightest provocation, Tobirama hated it almost as much as he loved it). Madara was asking him something and Tobirama forced himself to focus, had to answer, had to “A one-way bond is still a bond, one willingly taken. But I would never force you to-“ but Madara interrupted him with a shifting of skin on skin (ooohhh) and asked him -  and there was nothing Tobirama wouldn’t give Madara if asked for it; he reached, touching the walls inside his heart, unwinding the lines of seal and self-control and letting his presence slide out (only a little, not to much, hold the roaring whirlpool inside tight, don’t let it pull at anyone - anything, control, let it out only in tiny swells only in little ripples, nothing more).

His attention to control was shattered (but not the control?) when teeth sank into his shoulder (somehow it was easier now, control clearer with his Sentinel’s teeth on his skin) and Tobirama, Tobirama had to fight it, had too “Madara, you’ll bond” he whispered, desperate to keep the Uchiha from falling into a bond he couldn’t undo and uncertain as to why this was even happening. Why could Madara be doing this? Unless, had his instincts gotten the better of him? (that felt insulting to the Sentinel, he knew Madara was strong enough to never lose control like this, but there was no other reason Tobirama could think of for his wanting Tobirama at all) Madara’s teeth dug in deeper and Tobirama’s mind filled with white noise as Madara said  “MINE”

Tobirama whimpered

his hand snapped back and up, fingers tangling in the dark hair where it was pulled up and back out of the water. He wanted. He hadn’t known he could want anymore (he had to tell Madara- iron around his wrists, every finger held still in twisting chains- before anything), but here, he couldn’t - not here “No” he whimpered. Madara froze going utterly still and starting to draw back- no, that wasn’t- “not here, please” Madara pressed close again, nuzzling into his neck and petting at Tobirama's shivering sides. “Alright, alright, easy” the Uchiha whispered, there was movement and Madara murmuring to someone behind them but Tobirama couldn’t think past the gentle hands smoothing over his sides (over the scars covering his skin), couldn’t get his mind to shift past the overwhelming sensation of so much touch -  far more than Tobirama had felt since he was a child. “Come on pretty eyes, focus now” Madara coaxed, Tobirama blinked, trying to pay attention to what was going on around him.

Hashirama smiled reassuringly at little at his little brother, it was, um, fucking awkward, really fucking awkward to kneel in front of his little brother and best friend with both of them naked and pressed together like Madara was trying to make sure the albino could never get away (….actually that might be what was happening) but after kicking everyone (except Izuna who wouldn’t leave) else out he needed to help them get to Madara’s home as fast as he could and both of them looked a little like intentional movement was completely beyond them (especially Tobirama, his face was even showing small twitches of emotion, Hashirama shoved back the tears at that.) “Come on little brother, let go, just for a moment, let me get you in a robe and you can go home” he coaxed; Tobirama let go reluctantly, hands shaking like leaves in the wind and trying his best to focus on Hashirama. Madara unpeeled himself from his Guide (aww, no, Hashirama didn’t want to see that look, he didn’t want to see that look Madara) and hurried to climb out of the pool almost falling when he couldn’t take his eyes off Tobirama; Hashirama grimaced and looked at his little brother again, coaxing his shaking form out of the water and into a Hashirama’s over robe (it was too big of course, which made him look even frailer than he was).

“Did I do something wrong?” Tobirama asked in a tiny voice (Madara heard it, freezing as Sentinel senses caught the words) and Hashirama leapt to reassure him “No, no Tobira, you didn’t do anything wrong, Madara’s just getting dressed, he’ll be right back, just give him a minute.” The older Senju said, voice warm and light. Madara touched his shoulder, his eyes were dark and not totally focused visibly fighting back the instincts that were pulling at him as he tried to get Tobirama somewhere safe. “What’s going on?” Madara asked on the edge of a growl “Why is he so upset and out of it and why – I mean, why can’t he look like he clearly feels?” Hashirama sighed, chewing on his lip sharply “When we get him to your house, I’ll tell you when he’s safe.”

Madara forced himself to stay in control, forced himself not to tear Hashirama’s throat out for touching Madara’s Guide, focused on getting back to his home, back where he could get Tobirama safe and figure out what was going on; they slipped in the back door, flashing through with enough speed that most people would only get the briefest of glances as they moved past (of Madara with a look of predator intent on his handsome face, of Hashirama- dark and focused- carrying his pale brother swamped in his large robe and looking nothing short of fragile with his face turned away, of Izuna following them silently with a thoughtful frown). As soon as they were in the door Madara led the way to the Null room, aiming for the safest place in the house to get his Guide calmed; Hashirama laid Tobirama on the bed as Madara kicked off his sandals and over robe again, snarling with frustration as Tobirama made a terrible sound of sadness and pulling the albino into his lap on the bed as fast as he could, relaxing a little when Tobirama calmed somewhat “Explain” he snarled.

Hashirama sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed with a sigh and curling his hand around Tobirama’s fine boned ankle “It’s… a long story. And I’m not sure how much I should tell you but, well, he’s so upset because he’s overwhelmed. It’s not been easy today, bathing with others- letting others see the scars on his sides- is not – not good for him and then when that bitch” wow, Madara had never heard Hashirama call someone that before “suggested a chakra seal it reminded him of, um, of what happened when he got the scars. So he was on edge and fighting flashbacks and feeling threatened and then. He never, would have expected this and having it happen when he was vulnerable. As for the other… it’s easiest to show you I guess.” Hashirama reached out with chakra coated fingers and shooting a glance at Madara before he touched Tobirama, Madara nodded jerkily and Hashirama’s fingers brushed over the red line on Tobirama’s cheek. The change shocking enough that Madara flinched closer at it; one second Tobirama was tucked against him shaking and almost whimpering but with his face completely still (honestly the dichotomy was a little unnerving) the next the red tattoos light up and then Tobirama’s face filled with expression.

It was like emotion was a sudden color soaking up through the still ivory until his expression matched his body language perfectly, he was suddenly so expressive that it almost hurt to see, the difference was painful and eye opening; there was a tight inhale from the door and Madara shot a look at Izuna who was staring at Tobirama with a horrified expression. Hashirama sighed “Father had Tobira spur-broken when he was fifteen and it… shattered him. not totally, he’s still sane and he tries his best but his bond with you wasn’t enough to keep him together, not with it being oneway” Madara started at that, the bond with him? “So we made some seals, things that could help him and support him, make it easier. For the most part they work- I mean, he’s still alive- but these ones” he gestured at his face “they take so much chakra that brother almost never uses them, it’s to hard to keep them active. And he says that at this point if people saw him wandering around and feeling things they would think he’d been replaced or something, better to just let things stay as they were. I didn’t like it, but the seals are hard to keep up, I don’t have the energy to keep them running for very long so…”

Hashirama looked down at where he was playing with his brother’s long fingers, a tight agonized look on his face. He didn’t see Madara or Izuna’s horrified looks “Did you ever wonder why his hands show you what he’s feeling? Why they shake when his face never changes?” Hashirama was far away, hardly talking to them anymore “It’s because they bound his hands- smart enough not to let him make any hand signs- wrapped every finger in rough chains and pulled them tight until he couldn’t even twitch. It was almost a month before they healed enough for him to use his hands again, Father was furious.” Hashirama held up on pale hand, tilting it until the light caught on silvery white scaring that covered his entire hand. Madara felt like he was going to be sick. He took a shuddering breath, pressing his nose to white hair, stroking a pale cheek under the glowing seal torn between loving the emotion on his face and hating what it meant.