Kisame blows a whistle, reaching into the bucket of fish he's carrying. A blonde haired mermaid swims to the surface, putting their arms on the edge of the tank and making a happy chirping noise when Kisame hands him the fish. The blue-haired trainer chuckles and hands him a second fish before pointing out the new guy across the way talking to their boss. "Look, Dei. There's the new trainer here to replace Sasori."
The new guy is already in his wet suit, the clingy material highlighting dreamy washboard abs and tiny hips. His hips lead to long, toned legs that speak of hours in the water and strong calves. He has broad shoulders and thick arms corded with lean muscles. The wet suit stretches into a mask over his face, strong jawline and high cheekbones being shown off. Wild silver hair is pushed high into the air by a silvery hand band. Deidara stares at him in wonder, squeaking and diving underwater when he waves to Kisame and walks over. Pale feet drop in the water along with Kisame's familiar tan ones. He can hear them through the water, though it's distorted as usual.
"So, did they tell you when you're starting shows?" Kisame asks. He tosses a fish in the water for Dei to see if he'll come back, but it is snatched under the surface instead.
"Hopefully next week. I'm learning how everything works and I'm saying hello to everyone this week." Kakashi drops a fish closer to them, trying to tempt Deidara. The mermaid's tail brushes their feet as he snatches the fish and swims back to safety.
"Just be careful." Kakashi sets a fish down on his foot in the water, nodding at Kisame.
"Is there any tips you can give me?" Deidara bites his foot hard and swims away with the fish. Kakashi bites his lip, rubbing his foot. Kisame can't help a chuckle.
"Dei bites. But he likes whistles." Kisame put the whistle back to his lips and blows into it, and within a few minutes, the mermaid surfaces a few feet away from them with a chirping sound. Kakashi grins, curiously holding out a fish for him. His fingers are safely tucked away, however. Deidara swims over to them slowly, looking up at Kakashi cautiously before reaching for the fish with one pale hand. Kakashi looks at him, holding the fish out further. He smiles when they lock eyes.
"Hello." Deidara steals the fish before darting back under the water with a swish of his translucent black and red fin. "Can we swim with the mermaids? Or do we need their permission?"
"Normally I'd say go for it since you're with me, but Dei's finicky." Kakashi nods, curiously looking at him.
"Will you swim with him?" Kisame looks at him for a moment before sighing and slipping in the water. The mermaid instantly surfaces right beside him, hugging the trainer for a moment as if this is the first person he's seen in a long time. Kakashi 'aww's to himself, the bond between the two being one of the main reasons he became a trainer. Deidara looks at him shyly, hiding behind Kisame and peering over his shoulder. Kakashi gives him a little wave and a smile. Deidara tugs Kisame a little closer to whisper something in his ear and he grins before waving Kakashi over. "Come on in."
Kakashi slips in the water, looking totally at ease in the water. He swims over, the headband keeping the hair off his face. Deidara swims a few circles around the two of them, strangely over-excited to be swimming with people. Kakashi swims under the water, playfully tagging Deidara's tail and darting away. The blonde swims after him, tapping his shoulder before diving down further into the tank. He swims to the bottom, practically slamming into the concrete. Kakashi blinks at that, swimming down to make sure that Deidara is okay. He seems alright and grins sheepishly before tagging Kakashi again and darting away. Kashi swims to the top after another moment in the water, ducking back down to catch Deidara off guard and pinch his side. Deidara laughs, bubbles pouring from his mouth as he swims after Kakashi. While they play and Kisame watches them, a security guard comes over and practically shouts at them about being in the pool with Dei.
Kakashi surfaces with Deidara, frowning at the security guard. "Hold on, nothing's wrong. I'm supposed to be getting to know everyone." The blonde hides behind Kakashi when the guard glares.
"Well, you have obviously gotten to know him. Get out, he has a show in a few minutes. Kisame, I expected more from you." When the guard walks away, Kakashi swims to the edge and lifts himself out.
"Are you alright, Deidara?" The blonde whines, grabbing his ankle.
"Don't go…" Kakashi gently tucks some hair behind his ear, giving him a little smile.
"I'll be back tomorrow after I hang out with Hidan." Deidara whines, but lets him go when Kisame gets out too. He goes back underwater, planning to hide and not perform to spite the humans even though it means he won't get any food. Kisame 'accidentally' kicks some of the fish in the pool, heading out.
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The next day when Kakashi heads into work, he passes by Dei's tank on the way to their locker rooms. The blonde is entertaining some children at the underwater viewing window where they can watch him swim around, blowing bubbles and waving at them and seeming happy to have interaction with someone. Kakashi pauses for just a moment, smiling before he moves on.
When Kakashi slips in the water later, he is immediately glommed by the blond. Deidara then tags his shoulder and darts away with a happy whistle. Kakashi laughs, continuing their game of tag. It goes on until Kisame walks over to undo the gate to his tank.
"Hey, Kakashi. Feel up to performing, Dei?" Kakashi treads water, speeding up when Deidara latches onto him. Kisame looks at them worriedly. "You're sure? You know the rule, Dei."
Deidara chirps at him, not letting go of Kakashi. Kisame sighs and leaves to go do the show with Hidan. Deidara chirps happily, tugging Kakashi underwater when another group of children walks by. Kashi hangs out with Deidara and entertains kids and adults alike, surfacing every two to three minutes for some fresh air. Deidara keeps tugging him down for longer and longer, not really understanding that humans don't have gills. Kakashi eventually surfaces and treads water, and tugging Deidara up when the mermaid tries to bring him down. "Air, Hun. I need it." Deidara pouts, going back underwater without him when there's another group of children.
Kakashi gets out of the pool, grabbing Deidara's food to try and coax him to eat. Deidara refuses the food, not wanting to get into trouble. He tries convincing Kakashi to eat one of the fish, poking him with it. The trainer chuckles, shaking his head. "That's for you, Dei. Not me. You gotta eat it." Deidara shakes his head, pulling himself up on the ledge to put it back. Kakashi looks over Deidara, always surprised at how long and fluid his tail is. "May I touch you?"
Deidara nods with a little chirp, moving his tail into Kakashi's lap. It's black with koi-like red splotches and his tail-fin is light and translucent and goes from black to red. Kakashi slowly runs a hand from his flank to the edge of his tail, being especially careful with the fragile end. "You are beautiful." Deidara covers his face with his hands, whining softly and flopping his tail. Kakashi chuckles, hand petting the slick scales in the middle of his tail. They are jagged in several places, cuts spider-webbing their way over his tail.
"Has Kisame seen these? They'll get infected if we don't take care of them." Deidara shakes his head, poking at the scales and showing Kakashi that they're scarring over.
"Okay, un. 'm okay, un." Kakashi blinks at the blondie's voice, looking up with something uncomfortably close to awe. Deidara blushes with a worried whistle.
"No one's spoken to me yet. Do you like being here?" Deidara shakes his head.
"It is…" Deidara holds up his hand with his index finger and thumb just a little bit apart, as if to say "small".
"How did you get here?" Deidara whines.
"Taken, un." Kakashi strokes his tail soothingly, pulling down the mask to breathe easier.
"Poachers?" Deidara nods. Kakashi strokes a bit higher, by where a human hip might be. "Just you?"
"Uh-hu. The others were born here, un."
"What was your family like?" Kakashi smooths his hand over Deidara's tail, smiling at the texture. Deidara scoots a little closer to him with a soft whistle.
"They were nicer to me than Hidan and everyone else, yeah." Kakashi nods, continuing to pet his tail in that soothing way.
"I miss my family. It was normally just me, my dad, and the pack, but... They were family."
"Where are they, un?"
"Back on base. We used to move a lot when I was a kid, so I normally figure out where they are when I get a letter from Asuma or Gai." Deidara blinks at him with innocent curiousity.
"What's a 'base', un?" Kakashi smiles softly, an expression that makes emotions swirl in Deidara's stomach.
"A place where the soldiers- people who fight for Konoha- all live."
"Oh." Deidara scoots halfway into his lap so he can nuzzle at Kakashi. The trainer helps Deidara sit comfortably in his lap, the blond unable to help the way his tail curls possessively around the other man. They sit in companionable silence for a while before one of the other trainers comes to get Kakashi for some training thing with Hidan. He yanks back up the mask before helping Deidara back into the water, giving a little wave goodbye. Deidara disappears back under the water with a little wave.
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Within the week, Kakashi is assigned to Deidara. The other trainers have noticed how well they get along and figured that Kashi could make Dei perform. He's assigned to spend all his time working and playing with Deidara. (The fact that Kashi obtains his own whistles thrills him and Deidara). However, the first day that they are scheduled to perform, Deidara refuses to leave his tank for the show. In fact, he doesn't even surface for Kakashi, instead hiding in the little cut out "cave" in the side of the bottom that serves as a den of sorts.
Kakashi distracts the audience with some fancy water moves while they grab a different mermaid, grabbing a breathing line and heading down to see what's up with Deidara. He's curled up in his little hidey-hole, tail blocking the entrance. Kashi very gently strokes his delicate fin, carefully but firmly moving his tail out of the way once he has established contact. Deidara squeaks, trying to move back more away from him. There's something different about his body language and the look in his eyes. Kashi holds out a hand for Deidara to investigate, giving him a smile to try and convey 'it's okay! Just Kashi here'. Deidara makes a clicking noise, shying away from him.
Kakashi drops his gaze from Deidara, looking totally away and carefully holding out his hand again. There's a long pause before a cold hand hesitantly pokes at his own before flinching away again. Kakashi stays still as he can in the water, only breathing out bubbles from the mouth piece or floating with the very slight water movements. There's a hesitant whistle from the blonde when he notices the silver whistle dangling around his neck like Kisame's. When the man doesn't move, it seems like an alright plan to take this as his own. Deidara darts out of his cave, snatching the whistle as he darts past. Kashi sucks in a lungful of air, giving chase with a joyful grin. Deidara flees in a circle, going back in his little cave to stash the shiny whistle with the other stuff he's hoarded.
Kakashi heads to the surface, getting more air and putting the mouth air thingy back in his mouth as he heads down to Deidara. Deidara is much more firmly hidden away this time. Kashi tugs gently on his tail and breaths bubbles at him, attempting to coax Deidara out. Deidara flicks his tail, but peaks out at him when he sees bubbles. Kakashi blows more at him, backing away slightly. The blonde squeaks, darting out again and trying to catch them. Kakashi laughs, sending out a small pop of bubbles for Deidara. Deidara claps his hands around them, looking down in confusion when they disappear. Kashi continues to blow bubbles for him and occasionally tugging at his tail to get Dei to play. Deidara seems content to play with the bubbles, reminding him of a cat chasing a lazer.
Kashi eventually heads to the surface, luring Deidara with bubbles to come with him. Deidara surfaces, only to squeak and go back under when Kisame walks by. Kakashi shoos Kisame away, painstakingly leading him back to the surface. Deidara blinks as he adjusts to the light, looking at Kakashi curiously. Kashi gives him an absolutely huge grin, a happy, fluttery sensation spawning in his belly at the look. Deidara blushes with a little whine and swims closer, poking him to try to get him to make the bubbles again. Kashi splashes him a little, the best substitute he has for bubbles. Deidara squeals, swimming a circle around him and splashing him back. Kakashi laughs, spluttering when he gets water in his mouth.
"Hey!" Deidara laughs, a squeaky sound that gives Kakashi the weirdest feeling. Kashi blushes softly, half-heartedly pushing water at him. Deidara splashes him back before going underwater with a flick of his tail. Kakashi sighs quietly, swimming to the edge and hoisting himself out. Deidara surfaces again once he's out, and watches him walk away without looking back, frowning around the whistle in his mouth. Deidara's totally unprepared when Kakashi sprints back, cannonballing into his pool. Deidara yelps, disappearing underwater spooked. Kakashi emerges, laughing. "Dei!"
The blonde isn't at the surface where he was expecting him to be. Kakashi ducks under water, peering around for him. He's cowering at the bottom. Kashi blows a few bubbles, making a mermaid noise. Deidara whistles back, tentatively swimming to him. Kakashi opens his arms to the blond, hair floating around him. Deidara hugs him tightly, clinging to him and shaking a bit. Kashi pulls them to the surface, stroking Deidara's hair and hugging him close. Deidara hides against his neck, skin cold even though the wetsuit.
"Shh... It's okay. I'm right here. I've got you." Deidara whines and pulls away after a few moments, whistling and poking Kakashi's face with the metal whistle. Kashi moves his head slowly, mouth closing over the whistle. Deidara looks up at him expectantly, whistling again. Kakashi whistles back, smiling a bit around the obstruction in his mouth. Deidara claps his hands with a joyful squeal. He's like a totally different person from the hyperactive mermaid that Kakashi had been working with. Kakashi shows him a flip then a whistle that goes with it, arching an eyebrow. Deidara tilts his head in confusion, whistling back so Kakashi will make the noise again. "Ready? Flip. Then I'll whistle."
Deidara tries it, landing with an awkward splash instead of a fluid movement. Kakashi whistles for him before showing Deidara again and helping him this time. Deidara does it right, looking at him expectantly. Kakashi gives him several whistles for that, cheering for him. Deidara squeals happily. Kakashi lets Deidara try out the whistle, watching him curiously. Deidara swims in circles around him, blowing into it happily. Kakashi floats easily on his back, occasionally whistling to Deidara. Deidara eventually calms down and floats with him, blowing the whistle again. Kakashi looks over at him, bumping his elbow on Deidara. "Mm?"
Deidara rolls onto his stomach and floats that way, blowing into it again and squeaking when it makes bubbles on the surface of the water. Kashi grins, turning his head to blow bubbles on the surface. Deidara squeaks, tail slapping Kakashi in the face when he dives under the surface to catch them. Kakashi flails when he goes under and snorts water up his nose, coughing as he comes out. Deidara comes up with a pout when he doesn't catch them, squeaking and hiding behind Kakashi at a crash of thunder. Kakashi looks up at the rapidly darkening sky, swearing. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's go inside your special pen."
Deidara squeaks, going under water and hiding. Kakashi dives under, coaxing him up to the surface. By the time they get up, the other trainers are screaming at Kakashi to get out of the water. Kakashi climbs out as it starts absolutely pouring, Deidara squeaking and hiding underwater again. Kakashi dives back under just as lightning cracks nearby, grabbing Deidara and starting to determinedly haul him to the surface. Deidara goes along with him, too scared to protest. Kashi pulls him out of the water, coughing. "Can you change by will?" Deidara nods shakily and after a few moments there are pale legs where his tail should be. Kakashi picks Deidara up bridal style, moving quickly inside with him. Kashi snags a towel for Deidara's privacy. The rest of the mermaids are already there, sitting around and Deidara joins them when one of the trainers calls Kakashi for help with something else. Between the trainers, all the mermaid are quickly helped into their loose comfy clothes in case of emergencies and are wrapped in lots of blankets. They sit in the room set off for them while the trainers go about their business closing down the shows and trying to decide if they should completely close down the park.
Management decides to shut down when the storm doesn't let up, most of the trainers going home. Kakashi, Kisame, and a few others stay to help get the various life settled and comfy. Deidara sits a little away from everyone else when the trainers put a movie on to distract them. Kakashi settles next to Deidara, looking (he blushes to even think about it) handsome and cute in his human clothes. They look soft and well worn. "Do you want to come with me away from people?" Deidara shakes his head, leaning against Kakashi a bit. Kakashi very gently kisses his head, rubbing his back.
The storm continues through the night, the trainers finding blankets and pillows for everyone to sleep with on the floor. Everyone settles down in a snuggly pile, Kakashi's warm back to Deidara's. Deidara snuggles closer to him and falls into a light sleep.