Tobirama waits until they’re in bed together and then he holds out the very same book Kakuzu had been looking through days earlier when they had stepped into a bookshop but had left empty handed as neither of them had money at the time. Surprised, Kakuzu takes it with a quiet thank you and a ‘you shouldn’t have,’ that gets returned with a huff and a bit of an eye roll.

It’s not long before Kakuzu is sitting comfortably between Tobirama’s legs and reading out loud as Tobirama brushes out his still damp hair; his reading pauses here and there as he hums or sighs with eyes closed as he enjoys the pleasant sensation of fingers against his scalp and the gentle tugging and pulling on his hair.