Authors Note: Hi all! This account has been dead for a very long time. I wanted to do some writing again and as practice I'm going to do a character study of my very old OC, Aiko. You can find the original story by Lies To U here on ff, "Our Time of Dying".
1.
Their introduction was awkward. Deidara could feel the waves of uneasiness emanating from her closed form. She didn't want to be here and he didn't want her to be here. There was no misunderstanding, in that respect.
If only she didn't have red hair. It burned in Deidara's vision like some glowing symbol of irony meant to torture him. Did Pein do this on purpose? Pair him with another red-head? Remind him of his failures? He hated to admit it but it was bothering him, more than it should have. Every time he glanced her way he saw nothing but the infuriating red hair.
"Why won't you look at me?"
Her voice wasn't angry or demanding. She didn't even seem curious. Her apathy only hurt him more. An apathetic redhead. Again.
"You're not worth looking at," he spat.
He heard her sigh and begin to walk away. Deidara finally turned and looked at her retreating form, some unknown rage boiling inside of him. He willed her to disappear. Give him his old partner back. Her red braid swayed behind her, the pendulum marking the time her presence would remain.
"Why are you even here?" he screamed at her, spittle flying from his mouth.
She turned and looked him dead in the eye for the first time. "I am here for my own reasons," she said in a strained voice, "If you have a problem with me, take it up with Pein. I will not be subjected to your anger for your cathartic enjoyment."
Deidara's eyes were wide with fury, jaw so tight he could feel his teeth straining. She looked him over for a moment.
"And I thought I was a fucking mess."
Aiko turned and walked away without another thought to Deidara. He waited until she was out of sight before he fell on his knees. His jaw unclenched and his eyes began to water. It was karma, wasn't it? It had to be.
Another fucking redhead.