Disgusting, was the first thing Deidara thought when he woke up later that day, or rather evening. The sun was starting its descent soon, and it was still raining, just that it had dwindled down to a drizzle by then. It annoyed Deidara that he had actually slept for so long. A glance to the clock told him that 'so long' was roughly four hours.
Deidara hated sleep, in all entity of the word. Yes, sleep was necessary but he felt that it was such a waste of time, especially extra sleep. Life was transient enough as it is; there was no need to take any measures to shorten it some more, which was why the blonde was so sickened right now. Basically, he had wasted the day away and he felt like crap. Too much sleep or extra sleep always did that to him, no matter how much he needed it. Rather than refreshed, he felt sick and drowsy more than anything.
Heaving a sigh, he managed to drag himself out of his bed. He was about to head to the bathroom to wash up but he noticed his cell phone blinking, indicating a call. His initial reaction was to ignore it but he changed his mind when he saw that it was Hidan.
"What, un?"
"BLONDIE, I CALLED YOU TEN FUCKING TIMES! ABOUT BLOODY TIME YOU ANSWERED!" Hidan raged at the other end. Loudly. Deidara had to hold the phone away from his ear in case Hidan did some serious damage to his ear drum. Deidara could just imagine the amount of looks the albino must be getting now and tried really hard not to laugh, because that would only serve to enrage the albino further. Not that that wouldn't be funny.
"Sorry, Hidan, un," Deidara replied but he sounded more amused than anything. Hidan probably picked up on that because he spent the next five minutes or so hurling obscenities at him. When he was done, ending with "and you damned motherfucker will be bloody condemned by Jashin for the rest of your screwed up and pathetic little life", Deidara was sure he could write a book on every curse word ever invented and how they can be used.
"Done, un?" Deidara asked, sniggering a bit when Hidan muttered something under his breath.
"What took you so damn long?" Hidan snapped in response.
"I was asleep."
"Fuck, blondie. I would love to fucking get some shut eyes."
Deidara really didn't mind exchanging places with Hidan if that was what the slightly older guy really wanted. Hidan could have his four hours of sleep and he could have Hidan's four hours of free time, awake. Honestly, he didn't know what he would actually do with that time, but at least it wouldn't be wasted on sleeping.
Yeah, just wasted on something else.
"So what do you want, un?" he asked, sighing silently, pushing that thought out of his mind and locking it in the part of his brain that he never accessed.
"I'm bored, blonde," Hidan declared. Deidara waited for him to elaborate but his friend stayed silent.
"So what do you want me to do, un?" Deidara questioned, frowning slightly. He hoped that Hidan didn't ask him to go with him to pray to Jashin or whatever. The last thing he wanted to do on a Friday night was worship some God he didn't believe in.
"Dude, we're fucking friends right? Fucking best friends?" Hidan asked in a matter-of-fact voice. In fact he sounded like he was talking to a three-year-old, save the language.
"Uh huh," Deidara replied, not very sure where this conversation was going.
"So let's hang out," Hidan replied. Deidara could just see him rolling his eyes and wondering why he made the blonde his best friend. "I'll meet you at the park near your house."
It was phrased as a statement of course, but Deidara could hear the questioning tone in Hidan's voice. He knew that the Jashinist wouldn't mind if he said no (after all, they had only known each other for about a month), and that he sure as hell wouldn't force him to go out but despite everything, it was obvious that he wanted him to. Because he sounded really bored. Deidara wanted to reject him though. Sure, he liked being in the company of people (when he had to be) but there was just something that always held him back from overly interacting with people, let alone opening up to them.
He had hung out with Hidan before of course, but it was always during school hours or just after school, where he didn't have time to escape per se. It was different now though. He could spin up a tale on how he was busy and couldn't go out. Like how he had always done to other people in the past, best friend or not. He couldn't go on living like that though, always dodging the company of others. He knew that (had known that for a while actually) but the feeling of wanting to be alone always won out.
"Blondie, if you had fucking hung up on me, don't doubt for a second that I'll rush to your apartment and rip you from bloody limb to limb."
Hidan's voice snapped him out of his reverie and as usual, he was quick to respond.
"You don't know which floor I'm on."
"Yeah, the fucking alternative is me banging on everyone else's door, demanding that the motherfucker Iwa Deidara return a hundred million which he bloody borrowed but never fucking bothered to return. You'll totally get evicted."
Deidara really wanted to retort, but staying in his apartment any longer would make him lose all will to go out, though it was not like he had any in the first place. He was just convincing himself that he really wanted to socialise.
"I'll see you at the park in five minutes."
With that, he hung up, cutting off Hidan's spluttering. He didn't mind waiting. He just had to get out of the flat before he decided that meeting people was just a waste of time. He splashed some water onto his face and threw on a random shirt and jeans. In less than a minute, he was out of his house. He took the stairs instead of the elevator, because the waiting might make him turn back.
Once he was out of the building, he heaved a sigh of relieve and walked quickly to the park. He had forgotten how suffocating it was to be alone. Yet it was what he wanted. Letting out a groan, he tried to block out his thoughts. He hated himself sometimes, when he didn't know exactly what he wanted. He always ends up wanting two things which are the exact opposite, so whichever choice he made was bound to upset him in some way.
"You're here already?" Deidara asked in surprise when he saw Hidan sitting on one of the benches, chatting with Pein and Konan. "And so are they," he added slowly.
"I'm overwhelmed with joy at seeing you too," Pein replied in his usual emotionless voice while Konan waved happily.
"Hi Deidara!"
"Scared I wouldn't come, Hidan, un?" Deidara joked as he sat down beside Hidan. It was all good now. He didn't feel the dread at seeing his friends, or the urge to run. And thank God, he didn't feel like he hated them.
"Actually, they found me sitting here," Hidan answered before a wicked grin appeared on his face. "And guess what? The two fucking lovebirds here were on a lovely date. Sweet huh?"
"Real sweet, un," Deidara drawled, smiling at Pein and Konan sweetly, amused at the way Konan blushed a bright pink while Pein suddenly decided that looking at them was too much for his eyes. It was kind of cute how they were still so shy after dating for (close to) three years.
"Well, where do you two want to go?" Pein asked suddenly, noticing the way the two younger men exchang knowing smirks but choosing not to comment on it. Pein usually decided where they go, not that they minded. It was just that him asking them to choose was a first and the reason for it was quite hilarious. It was almost like him telling them not to talk about the date any further. Scratch that. It was exactly like him telling them not to talk about the date any further. Like hell the two would pass up on such an opportunity though. It was not every day the almighty Pein pleaded with people, no matter how indirect it was.
"Are you sure you two want to come with us, un? We would hate to intrude on your personal time, un," Deidara said in a worried tone, but the smirk on his face gave everything away.
"Yeah, bitches, we would totally understand if you two fuckers would rather go fuck – oh I mean spend some bloody quality time together," Hidan continued, looking on in delight as Konan turned so red that she looked like she was about to faint. Pein's face still looked as plain as ever but the slight twitching of his eyebrows was a clear indication of the limit of his patience.
As provocative as Deidara and Hidan were, they recognised danger when they saw it, especially when said danger came in the form of Pein killing them in their sleep, or anywhere really. They wisely changed topic.
"Right, un. So anyway, I have no idea where to go, so Hidan will decide, un," Deidara replied, smiling happily at the couple who looked relieved that the two were done with their teasing. Honestly, Deidara thought that that didn't even qualify as teasing (seriously, one line each from him and Hidan) but he let it pass. Pein was a scary being. On second thought, so was Konan. The two of them combined was… yeah…
"Okay, let's go freaking drinking!" Hidan cheered and stood up before anyone could protest. They silently followed him, because only Jashin knows how furious Hidan would get if anyone tried to stop him from drinking. "But we're gonna have fucking to use your damned car, Pein. I know a fucking good bar but it's more than a half fucking hour walk from here. It'll only be ten bloody minutes by car though."
"Sure, my car's over there," Pein said, waving in the general direction of a nearby open car park. Besides, Hidan wasn't really asking.
However, instead of the expected ten minutes, they took fifteen minutes to arrive at the bar. The extra five minutes was due to the minor fight between Konan and Pein. The former had wanted to drive because she felt like it but the latter didn't want to let her because he was afraid that she would get them lost. Konan was infamous for being bad with directions. Eventually, Pein gave in though, because Konan threatened to ignore him for a week. Hidan almost murdered a few birds from the wait. Deidara simply busied himself with picking at the random things in Pein's car.
"Where do you have a drill in your car, un?" Deidara asked from the backseat. He lifted up said drill with a disturbed face while Hidan looked at the drill in fascination. Probably thinking that he could use it for one of his rituals.
"I was supposed to bring it to my cousin today but I forgot," Pein replied, rolling his eyes. What, did they think he was psychotic killer?
"Nope, just wondering, un," Deidara said defensively, placing the drill in the middle seat.
By the time they actually arrived at the bar, Hidan was royally pissed off. He had been deprived of alcohol for a whole week and he really needed a drink. He almost broke the door when he entered, the other three close behind.
"It's so fucking crowded!" Hidan shouted in irritation, though it was barely more than a whisper over the loud blare of the music.
"It's a Friday night, un," Deidara deadpanned, but Hidan ignored him as he pushed his way passed the mass of bodies which stood between them and the wretched bar counter which held his beloved drinks captive. The other three immediately followed him before the path he made became overridden with people again. Hidan was unbelievably fast. By the time they had settled in their seats, Hidan was already on his fourth shot of vodka.
"Dude, control yourself, un" Deidara said, laughing lightly as he watched Hidan drown another shot. He soon made a face though. "Please tell me you have a high tolerance level, un. I am so not dragging your sorry ass back to your apartment."
"Blondie, it's going to take more than five freakin' shots to get me fucking drunk and incapacitated," Hidan shot back, but he ordered a cocktail this time. Deidara ordered the same, while Pein and Konan both got a glass of brandy each.
"Wimps," Hidan insulted but no one paid him any heed.
"Oh Sasori! Itachi!" Konan called suddenly, almost causing Deidara and Hidan to spit their drink out. When the hell was she ever friends with them?
"Konan, Pein," Itachi greeted. "I see that you have some peculiar company tonight."
"Fuck off, un," Deidara said pleasantly before turning to Konan. "I'm not sure if I'm friends with you anymore."
She chuckled, ruffling his hair, something which he hated and she knew. He glared at her, but she kept on smiling. She was so lucky that Deidara actually liked her, or he might just kill her.
"Come on! The two of them are nice people! You'll get along just fine eventually," Konan comforted, while Hidan groaned.
"Probably, if your 'eventually' is my 'never', un," Deidara replied, turning back the red head instead. "Oh, hey, Danna!"
"Brat," Sasori replied, out of courtesy more than anything, even if he did doubt whether the blonde even deserved this amount of politeness. Still.
"You two are secretly close, aren't you?" Konan cooed happily, to which both Deidara and Sasori grimaced.
"Unlikely."
"No way, un."
"Well, anyway, you guys can bond while I go over there with Pein," Konan announced as she stood up and dragger her boyfriend to wherever 'there' was.
In the meantime, Hidan and Itachi had both sneaked away, leaving the two medical students together. Sasori sighed and sat down beside Deidara, much to the latter's surprise. It was not that Sasori wanted to; it was just that this was a better alternative to going back to where his – probably drunk - friends were. Both of Zetsu's personalities became impossibly rude and obnoxious when the man was drunk, while Kakuzu would grumble non-stop about money, going as far as to give a lecture about it. Kisame would start talking about the sea. Sasori really didn't want to be near them right now.
"That's all you're drinking?" Sasori asked, raising an eyebrow sceptically. "I expected you to be more of a drinker."
"You should probably be dead soon if you keep this 'assuming things about people' thing up, un," Deidara retorted, smiling. "Danna."
"If what you're saying is right, I should have been dead about ten years ago," Sasori replied, rolling his eyes. "Brat."
"Anyway, acetaldehyde has rather unpleasant results. Basically, I would just really hate a hangover among other things, un," Deidara said, the smile never leaving his face.
"I know the effects of drinking and the science of it, thank you very much," Sasori replied curtly. "But since you apparently know so much, why not convince your friend over there to drink less?"
"Why not convince yours?" Deidara shot back quickly. "But anyway, to answer your question, I did, un. He threatened to sacrifice me to Jashin. Don't ask."
"Wasn't going to."
"Shota! Shota! Wake up!" a voice shouted, interrupting the banter between the two. They turned to the direction where the voice came from and saw a woman shaking an unconscious man frantically. A crowd was slowly gathering (as it always did when these kind of things happen) and there were some people whispering and pointing, while others merely looked on in disinterest. Deidara and Sasori exchanged glances before walking over.
"What's wrong?" Sasori asked immediately.
"Shota... Shota was knocked down... knocked down... by... by a car just now," the woman said hysterically in between sobs. "But he got up afterwards and was fine!"
"Move," Sasori ordered as he knelt down beside the unconscious body. The woman hesitated at first but eventually did as she was told, turning to Deidara with tearful eyes.
"Can you help him?"
"Call an ambulance, un," Deidara replied as he knelt beside Sasori. "Did he hit his head or something?"
"Yes, his head!"
Sasori immediately started feeling the man's head and he soon found a bump.
Damn it.
"Brat, he has a blood clot," Sasori said calmly, figuring the blonde would understand.
"Hidan! Get the fucking drill from the car!" Deidara shouted to his friend, who had decided to join the onlookers.
"The fuck -"
"Now, damn it!" Deidara snapped. Hidan scoffed but he turned and ran out of the bar, shoving people aside. Deidara turned to Sasori. "Tell them to turn on the proper lights, please."
"What the fuck are you thinking of?" Sasori asked, though he had a pretty good idea. "You're not experienced enough. Heck, you're a year one medical student."
"You do it then, un," Deidara replied in annoyance, brows furrowed together.
"We should wait for the ambulance," Sasori retorted, equally frustrated.
"To collect his corpse?" Deidara asked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
"They'll be collecting his corpse if you do something stupid," Sasori reasoned, watching anger flare in the younger man's eyes. This was the first time he had ever seen the blonde so serious and he definitely did not expect it.
Deidara was about to retort when the music stopped. The disco lights were subsequently switched off, replaced by the bight, white light. Deidara blinked, wondering who the kind soul was when he saw Konan giving him a peace sign and a soft smile. Pein was beside her, looking slightly worried but was otherwise his normal impassive self. Hidan ran back to them with the drill, passing it to Deidara. He did not look too happy about the whole thing, but he did look rather concerned as to what Deidara wanted to do with the tool.
"If you can't stand blood, lots of it, run, un," Deidara told the crowd, not bothering to ensure that those people actually listened to him.
He then proceeded to start drilling a hole in the man's skull. He vaguely registered the woman fainting and the screams of some people, but he couldn't care less. All his attention was focused on what he was doing. If he drilled into the skull too deeply, the man would be dead in an instant which defeated the purpose of why he even decided to make a hole in the man's skull in the first place. Slowly, he pushed the drill deeper into the skull, feeling and listening carefully. Honestly, it would help if the place was quiet but Deidara would make do with his situation. After what seemed to be eternity, blood started coming out, signaling that he was successful. Gently, he removed the drill and turned it off, dropping it onto the ground. He barely had time to say anything when a group of four paramedics rushed over. One of them took a look at the situation and his eyes widened in shock. They quickly placed the man - Shota - onto the stretcher and the other three carried him out. The last one approached Deidara.
"Wow, doctor, that was an awesome job! You saved the man's life," he told Deidara, voice laced with amazement before he held out a hand. "I'm Genma, by the way."
"I'm a first year medical student," Deidara replied swiftly, watching in amusement as Genma's face changed from shock to horrified to impressed in the span of five seconds. He eventually put his hand down – rather awkwardly – when he realised that Deidara wasn't going to shake it. "You are good," he managed to get out in the end.
"Thanks," Deidara answered tersely. "I'm going. People can be freaky when they stare." With that said, the man turned and walked briskly out of the bar before anyone else decided that they wanted to talk to him. Hidan followed close behind, shooting dark glares at anyone who even dared to look at them.
"Chiyo-san, you're back so soon?" Kakashi asked in surprise as he saw the old lady walking towards her office. "I was expecting you to take at least a year off."
"Well, I have to come back to help my grandson," Chiyo told the other professor, smiling lightly. "I'm glad that he has gotten such a good opportunity, so I have to ensure that he's fully prepared."
"Oh, yes, Sasori is really smart," Kakashi said, nodding his head. "He has the potential to become a great doctor. But, I take it that you didn't hear the news?"
"News?" Chiyo asked, baffled. What other pressing news was there, besides Sasori's internship?
Kakashi simply smiled.
"Guess who enrolled?"
