It was a simple message.

Unknown number: We need to talk.

I immediately knew who it was. 

Me: I know.

Unknown number: National museum, 12 pm? I buy entrance, you buy cakes and coffee?

An olive branch; the entrance was expensive.

I accepted and showered and got dressed. I looked at myself in the mirrors. In the three years that had passed since Madara quit, I had let my hair grow to shoulder-length. I had also taken to wearing necklaces and rings. I hoped my fans liked it, being used to me having a more simple style. I hoped Madara liked it, even if he wasn't part of my life anymore in anyway.

I put on my coat, took a deep breath and left to meet Tobirama, my twin whom I still played in a band with but didn't talk to, whose number I hadn't transferred from my old phone to my new one simply because there was no need.

They had just set up the Christmas lights around town. The snow had come early this year, and I suspected that had made them put up the lights even earlier than usual. Or they just set them up earlier and earlier on default each year.

Tobirama was waiting for me at the top of the marble stairs to the national museum. It was long ago I saw him in anything but his stage clothes, which was his usual black trousers and black polo. He looked neat and tidy in a black coat and red scarf. He nodded to me and handed my ticket; he must have been here an hour earlier to spare me the wait in the queue. The olive branches would soon make up an entire tree. 

"Thank you", I said awkwardly.

We started walking, looking at national treasures; paintings, fossils, asteroids, everything worthwhile of exhibiting for the public eye. There were great halls and big saloons and small, darkened rooms for video art.

Somewhere along the Egyptian dig-outs, we started talking.

"I texted first", Tobirama said, not looking at me. "So I'll go first. How do you feel about Madara Uchiha?"

"I loved him", I said without a moment's hesitation. "I love him still. I can't stop thinking about him, even if I have at least somewhat moved on from any form of hope."

Tobirama nodded.

"Same."

"Was it when you realised this you stopped taking other men?"

Tobirama looked at me sideways. I had said what I had said with a hint of bitterness in it, and I hoped it wasn't too much.

"I stopped taking other men when I realised Madara loved me, too", he said simply.

We walked on to another part of the museum, this one with a glass ceiling that let in the snowy sunlight.

"I came here with a very specific proposition", he said.

"Tell me", I said.

He was silent, looking up through the glass and into space. I became nervous. What could this be all about?

And then he told me. 

He told me as we walked through the hall of antique China. He told me as we browsed through the impressionist section. He told me as we pondered over questionable modern art pieces. And he told me over a coffee each and a pistachio cheesecake and a raspberry and custard pastry that we halved and shared. 

It was a strange experience, hearing my brother talk so much. Or leading a conversation. I found I liked it; his voice, his intonation, his soothing aura. I love you, I thought. I would die for you. But I couldn't give up Madara for you. What did that say about Madara, really? 

When he was done, I hid my face behind my coffee cup, taking a slow sip. My first instinct had been to say no. Absolutely not. Not a chance. 

But then, as Tobirama had talked on, I had started to look at him more curiously. I started to realise that he had probably moved in more experimental sexual communities than I would even dare to think of, and I tried to force myself to keep an open mind.

I asked him questions, and he answered them. He asked me questions, and I answered them. We built up scenarios, things that could go wrong, and how we could approach problem-solving. 

I realised I had agreed without taking an active decision to. 

"There's only one catch", Tobirama said. 

"Madara", I said. 

"Madara", Tobirama said. 

"It's been three years", I said. "He has probably moved on."

"He has probably moved on. But..." Tobirama leaned forwards and grabbed both of my hands in his. It made me jerk, and then feel warm; we had never been physical with one another, Tobirama not being a fan of physical touch. "But if..." He couldn't finish the sentence. "If... Then I want too."

I looked straight at him.

"Me too."

Suddenly, a waiter showed up.

"And can I offer this lovely couple a refill of coffee?" he asked sweetly.

I was shocked. Tobirama was my twin! Sure, we didn't look anything alike if you didn't look closely, to be fair, so maybe it wasn't so strange the waiter thought we were a couple, seeing we were holding each other's hands and gazing longingly into one another's eyes and everything. But still. 

I moved to pull my hand away, but Tobirama grabbed them harder, and started circling my skin with his thumb.

What the fuck?

"Oh, I'm good thanks, but please, a bit more for my beloved. It's my treat." He winked at the waiter.

I almost choked in my attempt not to burst out laughing. This was a side of Tobirama I had never seen before. He was having fun! Oh, how the man had grown these past years. 

"Certainly, Sir", the waiter said and left.

Tobirama looked down, knowing that if he caught my eye he would crack. Then, when the waiter was far away, we could finally let loose and laugh. Oh, how we laughed! It felt wonderful, filling me up with lightness and relief.

"Just a question", I managed when we had calmed down after our lovely outburst of laughter, after the waiter had poured coffee for me while Tobirama played with my hand in such a sensual way it made me want to throw up, and left. 

"Yes", he said, suddenly serious. He didn't let go of my hand, holding it leisurely in his.

"You... Why did you keep bringing men backstage? Was it to hurt Madara?"

Tobirama looked genuinely aghast.

"No!" he said. "No, not at all. Hashirama, I genuinely did not understand that Madara liked me. I genuinely thought it didn't matter."

"Why didn't you ask?" 

"It's difficult to ask a question that you don't have." Touché. "I literally didn't even consider that to be a possibility. I think..." He looked down into his empty coffee mug with a tired smile. I suddenly saw crow's feet at the corners of his eyes and wondered if I had the same. Probably. Hopefully, they looked beautiful on me as they did on him. "I think I have problems reading people."

I twisted and turned the situation in every way I could think of, but however way I turned it, I couldn't make it not make sense. It did make sense. However much I wanted to, I couldn't say he'd done anything wrong. He had been totally clueless.

And the brave, brave man had even made the suggestion he had just made. 

"I just want my big brother back", he finally said.

It will be fine. It will all be fine because I have a brother again.

I smiled at him. 

"You ordered another coffee for me when it's me who's paying, you dumb fuck."