This fic started out as small idea but went on longer than I expected. I hope you like it!
Surely Tobi would forget, Deidara told himself countless times throughout the day. Surely Tobi would forget such a small, meaningless promise the blond had let slip in a moment of desperation. Although he was mad at himself, Deidara choose to let it be. Promising to buy his partner lunch wasn't that bad, was it? He had done it before, but perhaps Deidara was more upset with the fact that he had been pressured into it by Tobi's incessant pleading. Whatever the case may be, the teen knew all too well that he would be spending a little extra on food today.
The smell of fresh food made it's way to Deidara as he stepped through the door of a small shop. He made his way to the back of the building, wearing a slightly irritated look on his face as he searched for the owner. The blond's eyes soon focused on an older woman behind the counter. He forced his expression to lighten up a bit as he spoke with her, placing an order for pork buns and then returning to the bench outside where Tobi was waiting.
The younger man plopped down beside his partner with a sigh, soon letting his gaze move over to Tobi, who was fidgeting with a leaf. Deidara couldn't help but notice how quiet the masked man was being, perhaps he had tired himself out from being a pest earlier, the blond thought to himself. But still, the teen couldn't help but wonder what Tobi was thinking about. His partner was rarely this quiet, at times like this, Deidara couldn't help but even feel a little uneasy. It was almost as if he was a completely different person sometimes.
The two of them had been working together for a while now, yet the only thing Deidara seemed to know about his partner was his name. Tobi was very childish and immature yet the blond wasn't even sure just how old he actually was. Deidara assumed that he was probably the youngest of the two, considering the ages of most of the other members, not to mention the masked man's stature and build.
Deidara was used to the age gap by now, that wasn't what bothered him. What he really wanted to know was what Tobi was hiding under that mask. Sure, there were many things the blond wanted to know, but seeing his partner's appearance was the top priority.
Deidara frowned as he kept his eye on the other man. He felt like he had the right to know more about his partner, especially after spending so much time together. The blond decided today would be the day he would find out more out about Tobi, even if he had to play dirty.
As Deidara's order was brought out to him, a sadistic smile crept onto his face. The first step of his plan was gearing into motion.
Tobi began to dance around at Deidara's feet in excitement, bringing his hands up to clap several times.
"Oh! I'm so lucky Deidara-senpai spoils me!" The masked man exclaimed, holding his palms outward, expecting to be handed his share.
"Not so fast, un." The blond interjected. "I'm only giving you food on one condition." Deidara continued as he held the sack of food away from his partner.
"Hm? What's that?" Tobi questions with a tilt of the head.
The teen chuckled evilly as he gripped the bag tighter. "You show me what's under that mask of yours, or else I make these buns into art!" Deidara reached into the sack and pulled out one of the pork buns, gripping it in a menacing manner to show that he meant business.
"Wha-?!" Tobi began to flail his arms. "B-But senpai, aren't you hungry too?"
Deidara shrugged. "Or maybe I'll just eat them all by myself." The shorter man threatened as he took a large bite out of the bun he held, wearing a pleased expression to further tease his partner.
The masked man fell to his knees dramatically. "How could you be so cruel?" He whined in a pathetic tone, his head hung downwards in defeat.
The blond only chuckled, thinking himself victorious. "Well, what'll it be then, un?"
Tobi cupped the front of his mask in his hands. "I can't do that! I'm far too shy!" He pleaded, swaying his body from side to side.
Deidara's smiled dropped into a frown instantly. "Fine. Suit yourself then." The blond blurted out as he made his way to another bench away from his partner.
The masked man remained on his knees, reaching out after Deidara as he walked away. "Senpai, wait!"
The teen only went a few feet away from his partner, who was now laying on his back in the middle of the dirt road. People walked past him every now and then, some stopped to ask if he was alright, only for Tobi to respond with, "I'm dead."
Deidara looked on in embarrassment and annoyance. He was sure his plan would've worked, considering how much Tobi seemed to love food. The teens eyebrows narrowed in frustration as he shoved the last of a pork bun into his mouth. He had already ate his share, only leaving two left that were meant for Tobi.
Deidara looked down at the bag beside him, then back up at his pathetic partner. The blond's expression twisted into pity as he snached the sack up with a heavy sigh. Rising to his feet, Deidara made his way back over to Tobi, kneeling down beside him.
The younger man had never took a good look at his partner from this angle before, the sun shined down into the eyehole of Tobi's mask, allowing him to catch a glimpse of something new. Deidara leaned in closer out of curiosity, for once he could easily see a part of his partner's body that was entirely foreign to him. Tobi seemed to have his eyes shut at the moment, hoping to get a better look at his eye, the blond spoke up to get his partner's attention.
"Are you gonna stay there all day or what?" Deidara questioned with a lighter sound to his voice than usual, hoping not to startle Tobi.
Almost instantly, Tobi's eye flew open, revealing a somewhat plain black pupil. Even if it was lacking in color or shape, the blond couldn't help but find it incredibly interesting. The masked man's gaze moved to meet Deidara's, the two of them making eye contact for what felt like the first time.
Tobi swung his legs up in the air, and in an instant jerked them back down with enough force to bring himself into a sitting position. Deidara flinched at the action, wearing a frown as he as he returned to his feet.
"Umm… Isn't senpai still angry at Tobi?" The taller man quizzed, clumsily pushing himself off the ground.
Deidara scrunched his nose in disgust. He didn't like to give in so easily, Tobi just had a special way to make the blond feel bad about himself. Narrowing his eyes, the teen extended the bag of food out to his partner.
"Here, un." The blond spoke bluntly through gritted teeth, still holding a strong sense of detest in his voice.
Tobi audibly gasped in surprise, his hands rising in excitement to reach for the bag. However the masked man froze before accepting the gift, instead choosing to back away quickly in fear.
"Hey! Hey! Wait a minute! You put a bomb in there, didn't you?!" Tobi waved his index finger in blame.
It took all of Deidara's might to hold back the urge to blow Tobi half way across the country after that comment. The teen knew it was a mistake, yet he attempted to be kind anyways. He hated being accused when he was genuinely trying to be nice for once.
"You're stupid if you think I would really waste my art on something so pointless." Deidara approached Tobi and placed the bag into his hands.
"Besides, I couldn't eat all that by myself even if I wanted to, un." The blond turned and made his way back over the bench.
Tobi remained silent, looking down into the bag to confirm Deidara's innocence. Hopping from one foot to the other in excitement, the masked man thanked his senpai before disappearing into the trees that surrounded the road.