A thick silence weaved its way around the Akatsuki base.
Like that was ever something new.
Between himself and his missions, Zetsu never felt the want to have a relationship with another person, be it friendship or love, which Zetsu himself often doubted he had such an emotion inside of him.
As he stared at himself through the cracked and dust-coated mirror in his bedroom, he pondered why he thought over emotions. Sure, he wasn't anything like Sasori... Zetsu may have plant-like DNA, but that didn't pull him away from being human.
Perhaps this was what made him feel empty inside.
He was seen as nothing but a spy, a cereal-killing criminal with a blood-lust to match no other. He knew it was true, a fool could tell. But behind the blood and the intimidation that coated him, he was like any other human.
He longed for interaction... For love and friendship, for something to hold close to his heart and protect.
Sure, the plant-man would never admit such a thing. But as he watched the many Akatsuki members forming a stronger bond each day, a small piece of his being cracked.
He longed for a strong relationship, like Itachi and Kisame had...
He longed for a trusting friendship, like Deidara and Sasori had...
He longed for a love like what sparked between Konan and Pein...
Zetsu may be two people, but ultimately he had one heart. One side may be pure hate, and the other may be blissful kindness, but they shared the thing that kept them alive.
So Zetsu sat, watching those around him grow stronger and begin to fulfill their needs as his heart grew short one beat.
"What are we?" The darker half asked. "What purpose do we serve?"
"I have no clue." Answered the lighter half. The white hand trailed it's way up the mirror and stopped just over where his chest was in the reflection. "We are here to kill. For simply that." The words sounded so rehearsed.
"So why do we keep on this horrid life? Mindless killing, for what? We risk our life each time we leave this hellhole for a paycheck!" The lighter half blinked, stunned by the outbreak.
"We are here because we are out of the eyes of others... Because no one would ever even remotely accept us. We are very lucky we are able to live here." This was only a sigh.
"We serve no purpose, shunned by the eyes of reality. What does this mean for us to live? We're just another waste of space." The darker half's eye looked downward. "We have no reason for love..."
"Say it as you will... You know this is an excuse. Nobody would ever want to love us. We are a monster." A sound split the air, and two shaky lines appeared in the mirror.
"What we wouldn't give to be called a friend." Both sides said in unison as the lighter hand slipped away from the mirror.
Zetsu remained standing there as he looked at the uneven shatters in the mirror... Right where his heart was.
And as his heart pounded in his chest, a piece of glass fell to the floor, taking one more beat.