There was probably merit to the concept of luck as something that happened in streaks, Sasuke pondered as he contemplated Itachi's shoes with a certain amount of fatalistic dismay. It wasn't as if he could turn back around and escape, not after Itachi had already acknowledged his presence; that was something that reminded him that he needed to send a strongly-worded missive to Naruto for no reason other than that his absence had removed Sasuke's most convenient excuse for staying out of the house past a certain hour.

He had no other options. The Sasuke that leaned into the kitchen wore a considerably subdued version of his usual excitement to see Itachi at home. "I didn't expect you'd be home."