[For a time Al says nothing, just sits there with his knees drawn up to his chest, arms around them and hair falling down over one shoulder. Then he tips his head to one side and the smile stays the same size, only more gentle than sad. His voice is soft, but not patronizing.]

You'll come to find, Itachi, that I almost never do things the easy way.

[He says nothing more for a time, but by his little smile and the look in his eyes, there's the sense that he understands what Itachi was trying to say.]