Deidara steps carefully in this place, the place where according to Zetsu, his Danna has died. He looks around, hoping that for the first time, Sasori is kidding. Somewhere in the gloom, a rock falls. Deidara moves forward, catches sight of something that just might be Sasori… No, just an empty shell of a puppet, still caught in the air. The blades on its back almost look like wings at first, making the whole image like a broken angel.
"Danna?" Deidara asks, standing on tiptoe, as if to check for a pulse even though he knows there won't ever be a sign of life from the puppet. He stops, afraid to confirm what he knows to be true.
A sound of rustling fabric on the rocky floor, followed by a hiss of pain and a thud. Deidara spins on the spot, eyes scanning every surface for the source of the noise. The last thing he wants is to be attacked while in mourning.
"Who's there?" He asks. The enemy sounds in pain, but Deidara is in no shape to fight. He's already exhausted the last of his strength. The bomber takes a step out of the light, attempting to hide his missing arms from view.
"Brat… Over here…" Deidara is there before the sentence is finished; kneeling beside what he thought was just a pile of broken weapons. Looking closer he can see the three blades shining in what sunlight can reach the shadows. He begins pulling at the puppets that he assumes must be crushing Sasori and all he can think is that it's going to be okay because Sasori's alive and he'll be forgiven.
But then he recognises the bright red hair and feels like screaming. Sasori is lying face down in the dirt with various sharp weapons sticking out of him. Even so, Deidara remembers that the worst thing that could happen is Sasori being angry at having to be rescued. Gently, he turns Sasori on his side. No reaction, but soon the puppets eyes snap open and look to the side.
"You're a little late, Brat." He says, closing his eyes again. Deidara curses aloud, shaking Sasori a little. His eyes don't open until the bomber pulls him into his lap. The swords shift a little and Sasori yelps in pain and shock, meeting Deidara's gaze.
"Danna, you'll be okay, un, Zetsu knows healing jutsu, un, he'll be right here!" Deidara chokes out the sentence, still in shock. He looks around, as if he can summon the plant-man simply by saying his name. Sasori looks up at Deidara, revealing a crack running right across the left side of his face. He smiles in a way Deidara has never seen before, more bitter than happy. Sasori never smiles unless Deidara's there. With shaky movements, Sasori reaches a hand to try and wipe away the tears that are already forming in Deidara's eyes.
"And I thought you didn't care about me?" He says, almost amused. Deidara doesn't see the joke.
I wish I'd never met you! I wish you were gone!
Maybe Sasori can see thememories rushing through Deidara's mind, because he leans in a little closer, wraps his arms around his soon-to-be former partner.
"What happened to your arms?" He asks, without moving. Deidara turns away, embarrassed by showing weakness even now.
"It doesn't matter, you're more important…" But Deidara knows it does matter, because it means he can't hold Sasori one last time before he's gone forever.
"There has to be a way, Danna, un!" Deidara's not making any effort to hide his tears now.
"It's Sasori…I'm Sasori." Deidara is confused, before he notices the glazed look in Sasori's eyes. Was he dreaming? Of what?
"I know, Sasori, un, just keep talking, un…" Deidara's voice fades to a whisper, and Sasori wakes up again.
"Who said you could call me by name?" Another strange smile. Deidara recognizes the conversation from when they'd met.
"See, un? You'll be fine…" Deidara's clutching at strings now. Sasori shakes his head in pity. Even now, he's annoyed by his partner's stupidity.
"It's over…" He says, just so he believes what he's saying. "But… I was so close…" Sasori moves so he's resting on Deidara's shoulder, taking care not to accidentally kill him.
"Deidara…" The tears have stopped now, but at the sound of his name, Deidara can't help but let another teardrop fall.
"Yes?" There's no answer, and for a moment Deidara wonders if Sasori is already gone, but then there's something, barely audible.
"I'm scared…" Then there really is nothing, save for the sound of two heartbeats turning to one, and a promise.
"I'll bring you back Sasori…whatever it takes."
At the end of the world
The last thing I see
You are never coming home
Never coming home