We are born to carry a cursed pattern and be transformed by pain.

― Jeff Buckley

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The house was so quiet that the creak of his steps on the antique wooden floors was obvious and loud. It made him feel like he was intruding, even if he was there under the owner's instructions.

There was something sad about the Uchiha compounds- the remnants of an old dynasty that came to an abrupt end, leaving behind a small echo, a reflection of what used to be. The remnant being the mobster with eyes of onyx and hands trained to kill.

He often thought Konoha was a curse on earth.

Konoha was a trial sent down by the Gods, a way to weed out the weak and worthless from the bloodthirsty and ambitioned. And if Konoha was a trial of the Gods, then Sasuke was a tragic Greek hero, destined to live out his destiny and suffer for it.

Shikamaru walked through the empty compounds after seeing Hinata- alive and whole- after almost 4 years. It had left a bitter taste in his mouth, seeing the desperation and tears in her eyes, even though he was angry at her too.

But simultaneously, he didn't blame her for leaving behind Konoha- not if she had a child to protect.

Speaking of which-

He walked out of the compounds, making his way towards his car parked outside. He sat in the driver's seat and sighed. Starting the car, he turned away from the compound. A ringing signaled an incoming call.

Sasuke Uchiha

The Bluetooth display showed him the name of the caller. He sighed before swiping and accepting the call.

"What?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road that would lead him to his destination.

"Where are you?"

Sasuke's tone was clipped and Shikamaru couldn't gauge any emotions in his voice.

"I'm heading out of the compounds," he informed his boss. "Why?"

There was silence from the other end. "Don't leave the house again," the other man warned.

Shikamaru felt his temper rise. His employer could be insensitive and an asshole but that didn't mean Shikamaru was going to follow every one of his commands. He wasn't his lackey.

"The kid was asleep," he said, louder now. "And Hinata needs to eat. Or do you plan to starve her to death?"

"Don't fuck with me right now," Sasuke warned, temper rising. "Just do this one thing I asked you to,"

"And let me remind you again," Shikamaru cut in, "I'm not a goddamn baby sitter,"

Sasuke was silent on the other end. "Please,"

Shikamaru felt all his anger leave him at the word. That was a word he'd not heard from Sasuke in a long time. "Sasuke, what are you even doing?"

"Tying up loose ends. I just need a little more time," the other man said. "Don't worry about...her. Just stay with the kid,"

"Goddamnit," Shikamaru muttered. "What a drag,"

The call disconnected and Shikamaru pulled up in front of the house he had been driving to. For a moment, after turning off the ignition, he sat and stared at the front door.

He hadn't come here often, only on dire situations or when Sasuke needed his expertise in the early or late hours. But he had been here since yesterday, playing babysitter.

"Gods," he muttered before picking the grocery bag in the passenger seat and making his way inside the house. Checking his watch confirmed that he had been gone less than an hour.

"Google said kids nap a lot," he muttered as he deposited the bag on the counter and started taking things out of it. He took out the pudding packs, the bananas and the various assortments of food he'd deemed suitable for children after his research on the web.

He made his way inside the bedroom where he'd left the sleeping boy. He was a small thing, the toddler. Shikamaru marveled at him as he still slept, face buried in the pillow and hair falling over his cheek.

"Hey there little guy," he muttered, coming to sit on the edge of the bed near the child. He thought of last night, how Sasuke called him here.

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The frantic buzzing of his phone woke him up. He was confused as he leaned up on his elbow and reached for his phone. It was vibrating.

The caller showed Sasuke.

It also showed 8 missed calls from the man.

He picked up the phone, pressing it to his ear. "Hello?"

"I need you to come to my house," Sasuke said calmly.

"What the fuck?" he asked, pulling the phone away from his ear and squinting at the screen. It showed the time as 3 a.m.

"Are you deaf?" the other man snapped, "I said I-,"

"I know what you said," Shikamaru snapped. "But unfortunately for you, I'm not your booty call. Fuck you and I'll see you tomorrow,"

"Nara-"

"-stop!"

Shikamaru paused at the voice in the background. It sounded familiar, like something faraway tugging at his mind. "Who's that?"

"Come to my house,"

Then he hung up. Shikamaru sat there, sleep suddenly gone. He might be wrong, he thought, sitting up and starting to tie back his black hair, but that sounded like Hinata's voice.

He had rushed out of his house, driving at a speed to Sasuke's.

By the time he got there, Sasuke was gone. Shikamaru knew that the man had left not long ago because his wallet was still on the counter and all the lights were on.

So, he lit a cigarette and inhaled.

Sasuke returned approximately 20 minutes later. He was already smoking, his expression looked feral and he was disheveled. He looked unhinged, positively mad.

"What's going on?" he asked quietly.

Sasuke shook his head, exhaling the smoke, stamping on the cigarette under his boot and walking past him towards the interior of the house. He climbed the stairs and turned to, what Shikamaru assumed, was his bedroom.

Shikamaru followed.

"What-!" he started in a loud volume when Sasuke shot him a look.

He started looking towards the bed and Shikamaru followed his gaze. Then, he felt his heart stop for a second.

There, on the bed in front, amongst the dark bedding, lay a small child. He was sleeping soundly.

"What's his name?" he asked quietly. He'd seen the pictures of Hinata with the child; the ones he had given to Sasuke. But seeing him in real life was almost a miracle.

The child looked too much like his father for there to be any doubt. He was an Uchiha. Sasuke's son.

"That is Daiki Uchiha," the other man whispered. For a moment, there was incredible sadness in his voice as he looked on towards the figure on the bed.

Shikamaru didn't know what he was thinking, but he didn't want to know. He simply stalked out of the room and went back towards the kitchen downstairs, resuming his smoking. This was too much.

He was finished with his cigarette by the time Sasuke came downstairs, unbuttoning his coat. He sat across from Shikamaru around the table and allowed himself to look vulnerable for a moment.

"Where's Hinata?"

"She's in the compound,"

"Why?"

Sasuke was silent. "I didn't know where else to take her,"

"I take it she didn't part from her son willingly?"

"My son," Sasuke looked up, anger returning. "He's my son too,"

Shikamaru sighed. "I know,"

"I..." Sasuke started, before cutting himself off. "I need you to stay with him,"

"Huh?" Shikamaru asked. "What?"

"I need you to stay with him until I can...until I return,"

"Let me guess, you're going out for milk," he drawled sarcastically, annoyance simmering in his tone.

"Fuck off," Sasuke

"How about no?" Shikamaru started. "I don't know anything about kids,"

"Look it up," Sasuke said, already standing. "It's going to be a couple days,"

"And why aren't you doing it yourself?" he asked.

"I...need some time," Sasuke blinked before adding, "To take care of some things,"

Shikamaru could empathize. Everything that was happening was too fast. Sasuke needed the time.

"Then let him stay with his mother since he doesn't know us and will likely not like it when he wakes up without her,"

"No," Sasuke said shortly. "I don't trust her,"

"Sasuke, I can't do this," Shikamaru told him simply. "This isn't part of my extraordinary capabilities,"

"I don't trust anyone else,"

That had shut him up until Sasuke had left.

_____________

Daiki hadn't been much trouble, thank God.

Shikamaru had called his mother first thing to ask how one was supposed to care for a toddler. After assuring her that he did not in fact have a secret child and/or family, she had agreed to give him some tips.

The kid had fussed when he had woken without his mother.

"Where's mama?" he had asked, tears brimming in his huge eyes when he had caught sight of Shikamaru.

"Mama's at work," he had said, slowly approaching the boy. "It's okay. It's me,"

Daiki sniffled again but didn't start crying. "I'm Shika,"

There was no response, save for the child looking at him carefully. "Can you say Shika?"

Could 3 years olds even talk?

"Shika," the little boy said, and despite himself, Shikamaru felt his heart melt.

He had figured out what the little guy wanted, how to help him use the bathroom and how to keep him occupied. The kid loved making shit out of play dough and watching cartoons.

He'd gone for a nap easily and Shikamaru had been tempted to sleep himself. But then he'd thought of Hinata, alone and hungry and he'd felt obligated to go and feed her too.

Now, he simply laid down next to the kid, closing his eyes, exhaustion lacing him.

"Sasuke," he muttered as he burrowed into the pillow. "You owe me big for this,"

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Author's note: Okay so I haven't really uploaded another chapter because I didn't have the motivation. I'm really passionate about writing this story but the lack of response sometimes disheartens me. Still, here is the new chapter.

Thank you to everyone who comments and leaves a vote. I read all your comments and they make me very happy. 

Enjoy the story and leave me your thoughts <3