L is for Loss (because revenge has consequences, too.)

Sasuke adjusting to life with Orochimaru (without Team 7) and finding that in some ways it's similar to grief and in other ways thinking it's almost worse.

Sasuke keeping his guard up at all times and finding it exhausting, at first. He'd done it after the massacre, kept himself closed off from the world, perfected the patented apathy of his Clan and worn it like a cloak - until Team 7. Now wearing it as a second skin.

Finding himself turning to the side, after completing some awesome technique, unconsciously looking for a reaction - jealousy, approval, admiration, irritation, anything - and realizing what he's doing, aborting the movement with carefully concealed frustration.

Craving touch, of all things, at the strangest of times - a friendly one-armed hug, an aggravated punch, a hand ruffling his hair, the barest of weight on his arm, hesitant and unsure - and steadfastly ignoring the glaring sign of weakness.

Never smiling, ever, even at significant progress and finding that the movement itself is foreign to him. His default expression remaining blank and wholly unreadable.

Silence becoming his constant companion. Preferring it to silky promises and only just cordial instructions. And yet... hearing echoes of excited chatter, of gushing and chiding in turns, and of that know-it-all, smug drawl in the throes of training, in his barely lived in room, under the light of the moon.

Thinking "what are they doing now" and clenching his fists so hard they bleed - because he's not allowed to have these thoughts, has no right to care, not after severing their bond himself. Telling himself he must think "how can I get stronger" and of nothing else.

Being taunted and confronted with news of his old village at every turn, his reactions being recorded and analyzed, Sasuke Uchiha being reduced to an experiment. But he knew what he was getting into. Biting out "it doesn't concern me"s and other half-truths, walking the fine line between betrayer and victim and it becoming easier over time.

Understanding, truly understanding "me against the world" mentality and pushing on anyway because no one ever said vengeance was easy.