When she found him he was charred beyond recognition.
He heard, rather than saw her pad cautiously towards where he lay – and exhaled sharply at the burns covering his body. He didn't want to risk opening his eyes just yet; if he did that would mean he would have to acknowledge that his jutsu had failed. His jutsu, the utter pinnacle of perfection; the jutsu that was meant to destroy him in a beautiful, gut clenching explosion – had failed.
She was still hovering over him; fingers twitching. Waiting, waiting for any sign he was still alive. He let out a huff of a laugh, maybe she could recognise him under the layers of burnt flesh. After all, he was trying to capture, and suck the life out of her best friend. Ah, of course she would recognise him. Yeah, she was the one who fought with Sasori...
She was still contemplating whether to kill him quickly or leave him to die in agony. He certainly deserved the latter; why should she show mercy to he who did not know the meaning of it. He had blown up multiple villages – full of innocent people going about their lives peacefully. He had helped hunt down the bijuu and participated in the ceremony that killed them slowly for 3 days. All for his leader's god complex and foolish ideals. It wasn't right.
She had been raised to care for others and as a medic nin she was used to preserving life; not ripping it away on a whim. But, sadistic killer or not, he was still a young man. Lying in agony, dying alone on a forest floor. At one point he must have been someone's son, or sibling. Someone's precious person and something terrible must have happened to him to lead him down this path. And the medic in her couldn't just let him die.
Ah yes, she was the girl with the extraordinary strength. The way her petite hands had smashed away the cave entrance had captured his attention right away. He didn't really take notice of her at the time but he supposed she was pretty, once you looked past her ridiculously pink hair. He smirked, and felt the skin around his mouth stretch taught and rip.
What a foolish man. What possibly could have compelled him to smile in the condition he was in. She sighed and shakily kneeled down next to his head. She glanced over the expanse of what she supposed once was his torso, then up towards his face. His hair – what was left of it, was melted and plastered across his scalp. She winced, how could he possible still be conscious was beyond her.
His eyes suddenly flew open – she jerked back but managed to catch herself before she completely fell. She glanced up at him and was shocked to see his vibrant blue eyes focused on her.
He looked absolutely defeated.
Here was Deidara, the S Class bomb expert of the notorious Akatsuki; captured the Kazekage single handed and had almost killed Uchiha Sasuke. And he was completely at the mercy of Sakura.
"Oh fuck."
"Indeed."