Disclaimer: See 1st chapter
Warning: See 1st chapter
Note – picks up right after the last chapter.
Also Tobi will mostly be referred to as Tobi, easier that way. And I'll usually point out when Madara is speaking (deep, velvety voice or something similar). If he says Senpai, he's usually talking like Tobi (childish, obnoxious). I didn't want to switch between bold font and regular to distinguish who is speaking
Sorry for the wait, because of the rewrite of chapter 9, I had to edit, alter and add things to get everything flowing right and have it progress the way I wanted it.
Edited by: JJKMagic – Thanks :)
SadisticPyro – Thanks for the favs/Alert and the review. Glad you're enjoying it so far :)
Last time – Small Summary - Tobi informed Dei of being an Uchiha and the real leader and that he loved him.
Hidden Underneath
Chapter 10 - Dealing
Tobi relaxed, now that the hard part was over, still…
With his mask still planted on the side of his face he glanced at the blond, who had shifted towards the stream, his bang blocking his face from view. Deidara may have said he didn't hate him but that didn't mean he was giving him a chance.
He sighed lightly, as a cool breeze brushed over his formerlly hidden skin; he always had his mask on his face so it was rare for him to get to feel the fresh air. It was a nice feeling…
"So…" Tobi broke the silence, staring at the blond hair as he uttered with none of his hidden hesitancy, "Will you give me a chance?"
Deidara jolted slightly, give Tobi a chance? He couldn't be serious! Tobi was an Uchiha! A freaking Uchiha! He may not hate Tobi but he was still an Uchiha. That and he wasn't even Tobi anymore… if he had then maybe… but he was Madara.
Deidara scowled, his hands clenching tightly, and Madara was the leader! The leader of the blasted organization that he despised, the one he'd been forced to join.
How could he give Madara a chance?
Deidara bit his lip as he shook his head, the entire situation hadn't quite sunk in fully, and the shock hadn't fully registered yet…
He shook his head again and Tobi deflated, "Why not?" his voice holding sadness.
Deidara scoffed, refraining from looking at the other, he didn't want to see those eyes…
"Why do you think?" Swiftly, he stood not waiting for a reply, stomping off.
"Deidara!"
Said male froze at the demanding deep, velvety voice, a chill sliding down his spine.
"Make sure you eat."
Blinking, Deidara cocked his head slightly back, as Tobi informed, "I have to go on another scouting mission with Zetsu."
Deidara frowned, what did that have to do with him eating? Huffing Deidara continued back to the base, leaving a depressed raven behind.
~88
Kisame groaned in mild irritation as he put away the groceries. He'd been the unlucky person to get sent out to buy food. It just wasn't something he enjoyed… any kind of shopping was a pain. Having to deal with people giving him weird, wary looks was the most frustrating thing about shopping, especially since he couldn't kill anyone, if he did Pein would be furious that he pulled a stunt like that.
Shuddering Kisame resumed the task he'd paused briefly when a loud grating noise sounded through the kitchen. Sighing Kisame glanced briefly in the masked nin's direction offering a light, "Hey Tobi."
"Hello Kisame!" Tobi squealed energetically before rushing to one of the bags on the kitchen table and starting to root through it. "Tobi will help!"
Kisame blinked several times while opening his mouth before shaking his head slightly and snapping his mouth shut, thinking better than to tell Tobi not to bother. Hopefully the masked nin would be more helpful than not…
It was just a little to three hours since breakfast, and by the time he finished with getting everything put up it'd be close to lunch time. Kisame grinned slightly at not having to have pancakes again. He'd bought plenty of sandwich meat.
"Not there! The cupboard." Kisame rebuked the raven lightly as he caught sight of the other putting peanut butter into the fridge.
The masked nin froze for a moment before swinging his head around to look at the blue skinned male, "B-but peanut butter is good cold! It's the best that way!"
Kisame frowned in mild disgust, peanut butter was meant to be warm. "The cupboard." He reiterated.
"Aw…" Tobi pouted but did as the other said but couldn't refrain from asking, "Why? Do you not like cold peanut butter?"
Kisame dug through the brown paper bag and pulled out several jars as he frowned in response to the annoying nin, "No and I don't care to."Before opening the cupboard and sliding the jars inside.
Tobi sighed lightly and Kisame heard him mutter something about 'not knowing what he was missing' as he dug through the bag for another item.
Shaking his head Kisame did the same.
For a few minutes everything was silent save for the quiet ruffling of the bags and things being opened.
Tobi opened the fridge and stuffed the bottle of syrup onto the shelf only to have Kisame reach in and grab it with a glare.
Tobi scratched the back of his head sheepishly as he watched the mist nin put the syrup into a cupboard. "Are we having more pancakes for lunch?" Tobi questioned as Kisame pulled out several loafs of bread from one of the bags.
"No." Kisame answered while placing the loafs onto the counter by the toaster before gesturing to the bread as he glanced at the stationary masked nin by the kitchen table, "We're having sandwiches."
Tobi squealed, his arms snapping up towards the ceiling in excitement as he shouted, "Yay! Tobi was getting sick of pancakes!"
Kisame would have glared at the raven if he wasn't feeling the same.
"Tobi will help!" Tobi shouted determinedly.
Kisame whipped around to stare at the overly ecstatic nin with plain horror before uttering quickly with a wave of his hand, "Not necessary, Tobi. I can manage just fine."
"Aw… Tobi really wanted to help…" The masked nin stated sadly, his shoulders drooping in disappointment.
Kisame grunted as he rummaged through the last of the bags, "Why don't you go get, Dei-chan?"
The masked nin visibly jolted at the mention of his Senpai, tilting his head in silent question at the back of Kisame's head.
When Kisame didn't elaborate Tobi shuffled closer as he asked ponderingly, "How is that helping?"
Sighing Kisame turned to look at the raven with a slight frown, "I don't need help making the sandwiches. But maybe Dei-chan will be more willing to eat if it's not pancakes."
Tobi stilled his eye narrowing behind his mask as a small frown etched onto his features but asked cheerily with a touch of concern, "What do you mean? Has Senpai been forgoing eating still?"
Again Kisame sighed as he bunched up the brown paper bags glad that the groceries were all put up with little trouble from Tobi. "Yeah..."
Kisame ran a hand through his short blue hair in frustration and mild irritation, "I swear that everything concerning eating goes in one ear and out the other." He opened the pantry to toss the bags into the trash before leveling his gaze to the unusually silent masked male. He hoped by sending Tobi that he'd annoy Deidara to no end and get him to eat.
Tobi was just as concerned and worried at the blonds' lack of eating and therefore would pester the hell out of the other.
Tobi jolted slightly as if realizing that Kisame was staring at him, he thrusted a fisted arm into the air as he shouted in firm determination, "Tobi will get Senpai to eat!" And not waiting for Kisame to respond, if he were going to Tobi sped from the room, his entire focus on finding Deidara.
~88
Deidara sighed as he flipped the page of his art sculpting book. He'd read it several times in the last few days and he was bored! Mostly everyone was out searching for their quote and Kisame constantly badgered him about the importance of eating so he'd taken to alternating between the living room and his room.
He really needed to get more books… Working on his clay was relaxing, he lost himself in it and everything else faded. No thoughts about Tobi, no thoughts about Tobi's declaration… but he'd ended up using the vast majority he'd had and now needed to replenish. But to do so would require leaving the hideout and going to the nearby stream.
Sighing heavily he ran a mouthed hand over his face, he stilled instantly when the door opened. A chill slid down his spine, something telling him it wasn't Kisame.
Tobi entered the room, his eye instantly going to the artist's bed, locking onto the blond sitting with a book in his lap and his head down. His blond hair that rested over half his face hid his features as his head was tilted down.
He quietly made his way over to the other, taking in the tenseness of the other's body and knew the blond was aware it was him. It would seem the teen hadn't quite gotten used to the idea of him being Madara or the leader.
Not that he'd really expected the artist to warm up to him instantly but he felt the teen was taking it a little too hard.
Not once in all the years that they had been aquatinted did he ever do anything hurtful, harmful or cruel to the blond. And while a good part stemmed from finding out that Tobi wasn't real and that he was an Uchiha he knew most of the blond's anxiety and fear rested on the fact that he was the real leader, well and the sharingan.
Sighing inaudibly he came to a stop before the artist on the bed, "You haven't been eating." Tobi stated in his deep, smooth voice forgoing the pleasantries, also holding a hint of displeasure.
Deidara's shoulders hitched slightly, his breathing pausing for a brief instant at the voice. He closed his eyes in sadness and mild anger that it was in fact Tobi. He had hoped the other would be gone longer than a few measly days but seeing as they were now officially partners he supposed that it would not be ideal. No matter what he had told himself about the situation, it had come crashing down and he found himself scared.
Tobi had lied to him all these years, was really the true leader and wasn't even Tobi and possessed the sharingan. Despite his initial belief that he wouldn't use it on him, it didn't change the fact that he possessed it and that while he was sure Tobi wouldn't, Madara could… It was all just so confusing, a part of him wanted to bang his head into a wall, and he wasn't quite sure what to think or feel.
When the blond remained silent Tobi reached out and gripped the sculptor's chin firmly forcing him to look at him as he demanded, "Senpai." He did not like being ignored and while it was a given to happen as Tobi, Deidara now knew the truth and he would not tolerate it.
Deidara stared fearfully at the swirled orange mask, his throat tight and constricting, his hands gripping his bed sheets tightly enough that his knuckles turned white.
Tobi sighed inwardly at the blatant fear on Deidara's face, a part of him wishing he'd waited in revealing himself. He'd almost lost Deidara, he didn't want to wait around anymore and risk the blond dying either by the artist's own doing or by another. And as much as he had preferred waiting around for the right time, waiting for Deidara to feel something more for Tobi it had been taking too long. But he supposed this was bound to happen no matter when he did it.
Lightly he shook the blond's head watching as Deidara cringed as he stated almost angrily, "I told you to eat. It wasn't a suggestion."
Deidara swallowed tightly but didn't dare try to pull away. He'd told Tobi before why he didn't want to eat and while that hadn't been the full truth it should have occurred to Tobi that just because he told him to eat didn't mean he would.
Just because he was Madara and the real leader didn't mean he was going to do everything the bastard said. Though to be honest he hadn't really given the other's words about eating much thought… even though Kisame had pestered him earlier, which was becoming a constant thing.
Tobi's eye narrowed at the continued silence from the blond, feeling a bit annoyed but reminded himself that yelling at the teen wouldn't help get the other to eat. And he supposed he was being a bit hard on the blond but over the course of the scouting trip, he'd had time to stew over being rejected. And it hurt, left him feeling angry and while he hadn't given up a part of him just couldn't help but be mad at the situation. Though he shouldn't take it out on the blond… that certainly wouldn't help…
"Why didn't you eat?" He asked softly.
Deidara blinked at the change in tone but found himself feeling a little more comfortable and a tad safer. He figured telling the masked nin that he hadn't and still wasn't hungry would only anger the other. After all even before he found out the truth, Tobi had been adamant and persistent about him eating.
"Well?" Tobi prodded, not to keen on waiting for an excuse.
Deidara swallowed thickly as he realized the other didn't have the patience or interest in waiting for a lie. Lowering his gaze to the edge of the orange mask he muttered lowly, softly, "F-forgot…" which was kind of true…
Tobi's eye narrowed in mild anger and he tightened his hold on the teen's chin ever so causing Deidara to squeak with a flinch. "I would buy that if Kisame hadn't told me he'd been pestering you about it."
Deidara tried in vain to shake his head as his lip began to tremble lightly. He was not going to cry! Surely Tobi wouldn't hurt him… Would he? But this was Madara… not Tobi. Agh… this was all just so frustrating!
Tobi sighed heavily as he noticed the gathering tears in the blond's one visible eye and released his grip from the teen's chin.
Deidara's head fell down slightly as he hadn't been expecting to suddenly be released; he closed his eyes tightly to calm himself, not daring to look at the other if he didn't have to.
"You need to eat." Tobi stated firmly, letting go the blond's reason for neglecting his daily meals.
When the blond remained silent, Tobi reached down and grabbed his left wrist gently yet firmly and pulled. Deidara squeaked softly but allowed Tobi to pull him up from the bed and towards the door. He didn't see any reason to fight it… Tobi was stronger than him and he would still be dragged to where ever the older male was taking him. Though Deidara suspected it was the kitchen, seeing as how the entire conversation had been about his lack of eating.
"We'll just have to fix your eating habits then." Tobi stated over his shoulder with a hum, sending an unpleasant feeling down Deidara's spine.
Tobi pulled the compliant teen out of their shared room and down the hall as he added, "If you don't eat on your own then I'll just force the food down your throat."
Deidara's breath hitched and he bit his lip in mild alarm, how could Tobi possibly pull that off without raising suspicions!? But he supposed the real question was if he really wanted to find out.
Upon entering the kitchen Deidara decided that 'no' he did not want to know.
Tobi dragged him to a seat and he quickly took it sure that Tobi would force him into it otherwise. Once seated Deidara noticed Kisame at the counter making sandwiches, apparently someone went shopping.
"Hey Kisame!" Tobi chirped cheerily, which sickened Deidara. How could the bastard just act like that? Why did Tobi have to be fake?
Kisame glanced over his shoulder at the masked nin with a toothy grin and a nod before going back to making his sandwiches.
The masked male shuffled closer to the mist nin, peering at how many sandwiches there were, earning an amused look from the blue skinned male. "Are you that hungry?" Kisame asked his tone carrying his amusement.
Tobi paused for a moment as if contemplating the other's words before nodding energetically and saying, "And Deidara-senpai needs to eat."
Kisame blinked, his hands stilling over the sandwich as he turned to look behind him, noting the blue eyed teen at the table with a disgruntled, annoyed and mildly pissed expression. His eyes were glued to the table, his left hand propping up his chin. He grinned lightly, glad that Tobi had managed to get the teen into the kitchen and apparently willing to eat something.
Facing forward again Kisame offered, "Go ahead."
Tobi squealed as he snagged two of the made sandwiches and bounded over to the table, taking a seat besides the younger male. He held out one of the sandwiches, curious to see if the blond was going to put up a fight about eating or not. He really didn't want to force Deidara to eat but clearly talking wasn't going to cut it, so therefore if he had to force the other he would. He would not have the teen dying from malnutrition.
Deidara eyed the offered food with distaste before slowly, hesitantly and very grudgingly taking the sandwich. He eyed the insides, noting lunch meat and lettuce… Swallowing and pointedly not looking in the masked nin's direction, he took a bite.
Once the teen began eating Tobi nodded in slight approval before he slid his mask up just enough to uncover his mouth and he too began eating.
~88
Deidara lay in his bed that night curled on his side with his face pressed into his pillow, his hair out of his usual partial pony tail. True to Tobi's words he made sure that he ate every meal. And as much as he didn't want to he didn't want to see what drastic means the masked nin would go to.
Shuddering slightly Deidara wished for the first time that he could rewind time. To the point where he could prevent ever being forced into the Akatsuki and therefore never meeting Tobi.
"Stupid…hmm." He muttered lowly in the quiet of the room. It was a waste of time dwelling on such things. It was impossible to go back in time… he should be focusing on his situation, what to do about it.
Ignoring the others love declaration was impossible; no matter how much he'd prefer not to deal with it. It was weird and left him feeling awkward around the older nin. Then there was the fact that he wasn't just Tobi but the real leader, how was he supposed to deal with that? Did he have to treat Tobi differently when alone? Treat him better?
Deidara scowled into his pillow as anger shot through his veins, no way was he going to treat the bastard differently. It would be simpler to treat him the same as he always did.
…Tobi wouldn't hurt him or something if he didn't, would he? He didn't think so... if Tobi wanted to be treated differently than Deidara was sure he would have said so.
Ultimately it'd be simpler if he just ignored everything and pretended that nothing had changed…
But he could only run for so long… They shared a room, went on missions together. Eventually he'd hit a dead end and there would be no other option but to deal with it, to accept it.
But surely Tobi wouldn't force him into a relationship, if he didn't want one… Tobi had come back from his scouting mission and his tone had scared him… he just didn't know… was it just how Madara always talked?
Tobi said he loved him, if that was truly true then he'd respect that.
Deidara groaned. If the past was anything to go by then he'd believe that Tobi wouldn't force him but he wasn't just Tobi anymore, he was Madara and he didn't know him. Would he abide by his wishes? He hoped so.
Deidara groaned, all this constant back and forth was a pain…
The door opened followed by a small squeal, "Senpai!"
Deidara cringed but ignored the other, hoping Tobi would just think he was asleep. His breath hitched as he felt his blanket shift and the bed dip; clearly Tobi was sleeping in his bed.
Why? Deidara thought despairingly. Tobi had his own bed, why did he have to sleep in his… Apparently Tobi was adamant despite Deidara's earlier rejection.
Deidara felt a hand lightly brush his face before moving some of his hair out of the way, Deidara stayed as still as possible.
"Senpai… I know you're awake." Tobi murmured softly, shifting onto his side.
Deidara's forehead creased, his eyebrow twitching but he remained stubbornly silent, despite how commanding Tobi had been earlier he was partially positive Tobi wouldn't physically hurt him. Not like Sasori… considering how the other had acted when he'd found out.
Tobi sighed softly at Deidara's stubbornness before reaching out and tugging the blond flush against his body. Deidara squeaked startled and mildly shocked as he was enveloped in Tobi's warm arms, his face pressed into the other's shirt. He swallowed thickly keeping his eyes clamped shut, apparently Tobi wasn't going to take no for an answer.
Tobi lightly ran a gloved hand through the long blond hair before trailing down the artist's body. Deidara jolted as he felt Tobi's hand run down his back a little freaked out. It was one thing for Tobi to hug him but this!? No one had ever touched him before… a small, very small part of him thinking Tobi was going to rape him… he had after all rejected him…
And when Tobi came back, it was clear he wasn't overly happy but he'd been pegging that being because he wasn't eating…
However Deidara's fears were unfounded as Tobi rubbed soothing circles into the sculptor's back. Deidara slowly ever so slowly began to relax, huffing lightly into the black shirt Tobi wore.
Once Tobi felt the artist begin to relax he buried his unmasked face into the long blond hair, inhaling the soft scent. Feeling the blond's even breathing signaling that the other was relatively calm now, he murmured gently, "Why can't you give me a chance, Senpai?"
Instantly Deidara went rigid, his hand clenching tightly as he swallowed thickly to rid himself of the knot forming in his throat. Surely Tobi couldn't be that… foolish? He was an Uchiha… He'd thought the reason was obvious…
Tobi continued moving his hand in circular movements and Deidara found himself relaxing again and figured he wouldn't get anywhere if he didn't try to talk things out. It's not as if Tobi being the leader prevented him from voicing his opinions.
Gulping as quietly as he possibly could, Deidara shifted slightly trying to get a little more comfortable, seeing as how he was sure Tobi had no plans of letting him go. Before he uttered almost inaudibly, "B-because… un." He paused trying to find the right words; he didn't want to risk Tobi getting angry. He, after all, was refusing to give the Akatsuki leader a chance.
When the blond took too long to gather what he wanted to say Tobi spoke up, "I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you-" He cut off as he felt the blond jerk against him and it didn't take much for him to know the artist was thinking about the sharingan.
"I want you to love me, Deidara." He said in his deep velvety voice before pressing a light kiss to the blond's head. "You liked Tobi, did you not?" He asked though it was clearly a statement, but Deidara nodded against his chest anyway before he continued, "Tobi and I are the same. We are one and the same. So why can't you give it a try?"
Deidara lay there silently seething; Madara and Tobi were not the same! Madara himself had said Tobi was a façade!
Infuriated Deidara snapped, "No, you're not!" Tobi's hand stilled on his back as he continued, "Tobi would never-" Deidara was cut off as Tobi tangled his hand into his long blond hair and gently yanked his head back, blue meeting red. Deidara gasped lightly, fear gripping him as he stared into those mesmerizing orbs. He may not hate the other for having those blasted orbs but it was still hard to look into those eyes… especially since he didn't know if Madara would refrain from using them on him.
"Yes, we are. Tobi was created, that's true but he became a part of me. So long as I exist so will Tobi." Tobi stated staring deep into azure eyes, seeing the fear. He lightly ran his hand through the long hair in comfort as he murmured with fierce conviction, "I would never use my sharingan on you, Deidara. Never."
Deidara's breath hitched, gaping at the other as he stared into the red eye, seeing the truth of the other's words. But could he really believe him? Madara went around pretending to be someone who wasn't real, surely he could say something and not mean it? But his eye told him he was being honest and it was difficult for someone's eye to lie…
Could he really believe Madara? So far he'd proved himself… but it also hadn't been long since he'd met Madara… but Tobi had proved himself for years…
Tobi leaned closer to the artist's face as he murmured imploringly, "Well? Can you give it a try?"
Deidara swallowed but did not try to pull away as he frowned, even if Tobi was telling the truth it didn't change the fact that Madara and Tobi were not the same. No matter what the raven said. So how could he possible give this a try? Give a relationship a try with someone who had lied to him? Someone he didn't love… someone who wasn't Tobi?
Seeing the conflicted emotions travel across the teen's face Tobi sighed lightly before closing the scant distance between them and capturing the blond's mouth in a searing yet still gentle kiss.
Deidara gasped, his eyes fluttering as a blush broke out over his features, his hand unconsciously gripping Tobi's shirt tightly.
After a few short seconds Tobi pulled away reluctantly, not wanting to get carried away as he marveled at the blond's blushing face. Deidara was so beautiful and stunning…
As Deidara collected himself Tobi bent down and lightly nibbled on the sculptor's ear earning a shudder from the younger male.
Gasping Deidara closed his eyes and willed away the blush on his face feeling embarrassed… it was humiliating to constantly blush over being kissed! He didn't even want it! So why did he have to keep blushing!? Okay so he'd only been kissed twice… but every time he thought about it, he blushed… did that mean he… liked it?
Releasing Deidara's ear Tobi softly uttered in the artist's ear, "In time you will love me to." Deidara obviously felt something otherwise he wouldn't react the way he did when he kissed him. Content that things were looking promisingly he buried his face in the teen's hair and tightened his hold ever so while running his hand through the long hair. For now they'd get some sleep.
Deidara frowned in anger at the other's adamant certainty but refrained from arguing. It would hardly get him anywhere; he squirmed lightly trying to get comfortable. He had little space, it was a bit cramped.
And who knows maybe Tobi was right…
Tobi loosened his hold a bit at the blond's constant squirming enabling the teen to get comfortable. "Good night, Deidara."
Deidara ignored the other as he slowly drifted off…
~End Chapter
Note – I've got a summer math class and have been swapped. I have had only time on Sunday to do any writing, so updates will be slower, unfortunately. My goal is to make it in a month.
I have it written – a lemon is coming up and should be in chap 12 or 13. Unless I decide to merge and make one chapter longer. But either way there will be a lemon.
I like the idea of Deidara and Naruto being related. I was thinking of making them brothers in this story, it wouldn't be a major focus though. My question is, do you think that would ruin the story?
Please, if you care at all about the plot, tell me what you think. Otherwise if I don't get any feedback on the idea I'll have to decide alone…
And if you don't like the idea, it would be nice to know.
Posted: 06/18/2012