God, I really had no idea what to title this. Titles, as you've probably noticed, are not my strong point. The file on my computer is "AU blind Itachi." By the way, the club I'm thinking of is The Viper Room in LA, it's really the only club I've been to. Sad or snobbish? ^_^

Itachi really didn't like going out to clubs, but his little brother did. So he was dragged here feeling more like a sixth or seventh wheel. He was pressed into the furthest curve of the U-shaped booth, his brother sitting on one side of him and Neji—his soon to be brother-in-law if Sasuke ever grew a pair to ask Hinata to marry him—on his other side. Hinata was sitting next to Sasuke.

Neji was just as uncomfortable as Itachi. He excused himself to find a bathroom. Sasuke took this opportunity to ask Hinata to dance now that the chaperone was gone. Itachi took a sip of his whisky, his own quiet way of telling his brother he would be fine by himself. Sasuke and Hinata left him alone. Itachi took a gulp of his whiskey once they were gone. Itachi wanted to go home.

xxxxx

Kakashi wanted to go home. He hated clubs, but Gai, Genma, Tenzou, and Hayate had dragged him out. Something about how he hadn't dated or even gone out in six months or something. He was depressed; this was the last place he wanted to be.

Kakashi leaned against the wall while Gai danced alone and tried to pick up any women also dancing alone. Kakashi swore that if Gai got lucky tonight, he would hang himself. Genma was chatting up a blonde at the bar while Tenzou and Hayate were dancing together. He sighed.

His friends had tried to pry off his mask and eye patch, but there was no way in hell. Kakashi didn't care if he scared people away, he didn't mind being alone, not anymore. He thought about bailing and catching a cab or bus home. He ran his gaze over the club as he considered if buses ran this late. But his eye stopped on the most gorgeous creature he'd ever seen.

Sitting alone was a young man with long, sable hair, pale skin, and—oddly enough—wearing a pair of sunglasses. Kakashi was drawn across the club to him, seeming to glide to him without any conscious thought to do so. He suddenly found himself in front of the booth where the young man was sitting alone sipping at a glass with his head down, not seeing him.

"Mind if I join you?" Kakashi asked.

Itachi's head came up. "Sure. My brother and his friends have temporarily abandoned me." Kakashi slid in beside him.

"I'm sort of glad."

"Hmmm, so am I," Itachi said with a small smile.

"Can I get buy you a refill?"

"How about an amaretto?"

Kakashi signaled for the waitress. "An amaretto and a scotch, neat."

The woman walked off and they were alone. Neither spoke, nervous. Their drinks were brought and Kakashi handed her twenty dollars. Another reason he hated clubs. Kakashi put Itachi's glass in front of him. He found the way Itachi slowly reached for the glass strange, but it made him more intrigued. So much grace. He watched him take a sip. Itachi wasn't looking at him and didn't seem to notice that Kakashi was staring.

"My name's Kakashi," he said.

"Itachi."

"You don't seem like you like this kind of place."

"My brother drags me out with him all the time. He worries about me too much."

"That's like my friends; they brought me here because I don't get out much."

"Ditto."

"Do you, ahh, want to bail and go somewhere else?"

"Before this goes any further, there are two things you should know. First off, I'm really not interested in a one night stand."

"Actually, I'm not keen on a one night stand either. But I would consider it with someone as beautiful as you, but I might want something more. I was thinking a quieter coffee shop."

Itachi gave him a charming, apologetic smile. "Second, if you haven't guessed, I'm blind. Some people consider me a liability. I won't think bad of you if you walk away; it's a little more of a commitment than most relationships."

Kakashi was shocked silent for a few seconds. "Actually, I find that interesting. Let me take you out for dinner tomorrow."

"Alright."

Kakashi looked up to see a very angry little brother; there was no mistaking the relationship.

"Who are you?" Sasuke demanded.

"Heel, Otouto," Itachi said.

"My name is Kakashi."

"What's with the mask?"

"Sasuke," Itachi admonished.

"It's fine," Kakashi said.

"You didn't even know he was wearing a mask, did you?" Sasuke accused.

"It's just to hide a few scars," Kakashi explained.

"Otouto, shoo, have fun with Hinata. I won't leave the table."

"You touch my brother and I'll kill you." But Sasuke did leave.

"I'd say ignore him, but he's serious."

"He's very protective of you."

"Very. Ever since I lost my sight. The only reason he brings me along is to get me outside and keep an eye on me. Are you more attracted to me because I'm blind? If you wear a mask . . ."

"It crossed my mind after you told me, but no. I've never seen anything as gorgeous as you; I want to get know you."

"I wish I hadn't promised him I'd stay here. I wish it was quieter; I'd ask you about those scars."

Kakashi slid in closer, but not close enough that their bodies touched, trying to keep out of Itachi's personal space, but getting closer to him. "Well, I was in Afghanistan. Body armor doesn't cover the face. I was close enough to a IED to get some shrapnel in the face. I was still good to fight, so I stayed in. Then I ended up in a knife fight with one of the Afghanis we were training after he killed two other of our guys. He sliced through my eye, but I killed him. I was given a few metals and discharged."

"Wow. War hero, eh?"

"I don't know about hero. I didn't save those two soldier's lives."

"Nevertheless. I lost my vision while I was in Africa."

Kakashi figured by some tropical disease or parasite or something, so didn't ask. "I can't image how hard it's been. You must be a very strong person."

"You don't really have any choice. You lost an eye too, didn't you say?"

"Yeah. It's hard, took a lot of adapting, but nothing like what you've gone through." Kakashi glanced up. "Shit," he said. "My friends are looking for me. I'll save you the torture of meeting them. Where can I pick you up from tomorrow?"

Itachi smoothly presented a pen and gave Kakashi the address which Kakashi wrote on a napkin. He also gave him his phone number. "Call me before you leave so I can be ready and try to buck off a chaperone."

"I will. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Kakashi got up and intercepted Gai. Itachi could hear him. "Kakashi! I thought you ran out on us!" He couldn't hear Kakashi's quieter reply, just the sound of his voice.

Itachi was uncomfortable. What was he doing? He'd just be thrown out again. He didn't want a relationship, but he also desired it more than anything. Being blind had left him feeling defenseless and scared. He really did love the fact his brother was so protective, but he feared he was tying his brother down. One day, Sasuke would grow tired of taking care of him. He downed the rest of the whiskey in one gulp, then sipped at the amaretto and savored it. What was he getting himself into? But what did it matter? He just wanted to curl up and cry. He wasn't as strong as so many took him for. He wanted to go home. To just curl up and stay in his room.

Sasuke rejoined him. "Where'd 'Phantom of the Opera' go?"

"It wasn't that kind of mask, was it?"

"No, one of those that go over the mouth and nose like a motocycle or snowboard mask. And he had an eye patch. He abandon you?"

"His friends were looking for him."

"So he said."

"I could hear someone say he was looking for him."

"Oh."

"Where's Hinata?"

"She went to the bathroom."

"So, have you proposed yet, Otouto?" Itachi asked.

Sasuke looked at the sunglasses which reflected the lights of the club beautifully. "No."

"You're not going to do it here, are you?"

"Of course not. I haven't come up with a good place or time yet."

"I'm seeing Kakashi again tomorrow."

"No," Sasuke said strongly.

"Why not? You can't be with me all the time. And why do you even bring me out. I don't want to be here. I love being with you, but I'd rather stay home."

"Fine, but I'm going with you."

Itachi sighed. But maybe it was for the best; he didn't know this guy and couldn't see to defend himself. "Alright. Get me another whiskey. Please."

The Hyuuga siblings returned and Itachi and Neji suffered through another hour of this stupid club.