Reisha: What's this? A chapter that's actually on time? What a concept! ^. .^ Welcome back, friends, to What Lies Beneath. Here we have a lovely example of timeskipping, otherwise known as roleplayers not wanting to go through all the rigmarole in-between major scenes so just saying, "eh, forget it." Hehe. Anyhow, I'll let you all read on. Have your tissues ready (Kira and I aren't liable for any bloody noses. . .) pull up a chair and enjoy. =P


Sasori had no trouble from any of Orochimaru's group, save for murmurs and dark grins, as the days passed into weeks. He could feel himself healing, becoming gradually less frightened to see Orochimaru every day. Each following week was a little easier to deal with… He knew he was going to be alright, was more certain of it the better he felt. The flow of nightmares ebbed, as did Sasori's visions of Orochimaru stalking him in his own home. The redhead looked over at his cell phone for a moment. Deidara was at home with his mother, probably... She would have to go to work soon. He sighed alittle and picked it up, typing quickly.

'Mind if I stop by later?' Sasori hadn't been in school because of work and an appointment, hadn't seen Deidara at all. It was actually kind of strange to not hear from the blond.

Deidara was leaned close over his homework, scribbling like mad to finish the last bit when his phone buzzed in his pocket and startled him out of what had almost been a trance. He couldn't help but smile when he saw who it was from... He'd grown used, the first few days, to sticking to Sasori like glue, but had been glad to see him recovering. Even so, it had been strange... lonely... to not see or hear from him all day.

'I'd like that. Missed you today,' he sent back, sitting back in his chair with a sigh. That was the last of his homework... Stuffing the papers into his waiting backpack and reaching behind his head to braid his hair quickly, keep it out of the way, he made for the garage. In the intervening time he'd been able to get some serious work done on his car. Now, though it still looked like a hunk of junk, it ran almost perfectly... almost. Grunting a little as he laid on his back beneath the undercarriage, Deidara went about fine-tuning a few things. He had to keep busy, he knew... Otherwise waiting for Sasori would make him fidgety, which would drive his Mom crazy.

Sasori smiled a little to himself as he read the text and slipped his phone back into his pocket before pulling on his jacket. The walk to Deidara's had him almost frantic with déjà vu. Sasori forced himself to calm down, though, as Deidara's house came into view. His stride broke almost into a run as he neared. Sasori couldn't help but glance over his shoulder every now and then to make sure nobody was there as he knocked. Even as long as it had been, as much as he had healed, he still got paranoid… This was the place where he had been taken.

It was Deidara's mother, dressed for work, that opened the door and smiled, stepping aside to let him in. Sasori had spent so much time at her house over the past year, and the last few weeks, that she couldn't help but think of him almost as a second son.

"We always seem to catch each other in passing, don't we?" she smiled, digging car keys out of her bag. "Well, you know how it goes, Sasori. Make yourself at home." The woman waved as she left, climbing into her own car and drove off. The redhead waved as she pulled away, pushing the door shut behind himself. There was a moment of silence before a clatter sounded from the garage, followed by a cough and sharp curse. Deidara had been loosening the bumper, intending to take it off and pound out the dents, but hadn't been paying attention and dropped the metal on his chest, winding himself for a moment. The sudden sound tore Sasori from his thoughts. He jogged to the garage to where Deidara was, knelt beside him.

"Klutz... you okay?" Sasori laughed softly and raised an eyebrow. "You always end up injuring yourself with this damn thing, I swear."

It was so good to see Sasori, and to see him happy again. It was like things had gone back to how they had been before, but somehow better, somehow stronger. With a grunt Deidara pushed the car bumper out of his lap and dropped the bolts that normally held it on in the curve of the metal with a series of clatters.

"Nice to see you, too, stud," Deidara said, voice yet a bit strained as he forced air into his lungs, but a grin lighting his face. He shook himself a little, wiping the back of a hand over his forehead before pulling off the work gloves he wore and leaning back on the heels of his palms to meet the redhead's eyes. "To what do I owe the honor, hn?" he joked, blowing his fringe out of his face with a 'pfft' and a slight shake to his head. Sasori let a smile come to his face and he reached up to brush blond hair from Deidara's eyes.

"I just haven't seen you all day. I was starting to really miss you," he whispered as his smile widened a bit more. "It's a weekend, so... I was looking forward to spending a little of time with you. If you don't have a problem with me hanging around, that is." He chuckled softly. Deidara laughed in reply, lifting a hand and pushing his own fingers back through the other's hair to hook behind his neck, pull him a little closer.

"That's a silly thing to say. I never have a problem with having you here," he grinned. When something wasn't pissing him off, the blond was generally the happy-go-lucky sort... But having Sasori nearby always made him happiest, made things feel most right. He pressed a quick kiss to the redhead's forehead before pushing himself to his feet and offering a hand to the other, taking a final glance at his car, glad to finally be able to work on the exterior and interior now that all the mechanical kinks were worked out... But that could wait. The car would be here later. Sasori was more important, and the offer of getting to spend time with him was far more tempting.

Sasori took his hand and stood, cuddling close to the other's chest before backing away and looking at him. The blond brought his arms forward around his boyfriend's hips to hold him close and secure, comfortable in the moment. For a few long seconds, the silence grew between them until Sasori stopped chewing on his lip and swallowed a little nervously.

"Deidara... I want to try and be like we were before. I've had time to heal, and to face my demons." He looked away. "I don't want you to hold back anymore. I want to do the things that we used to do together; I wanna be able to kiss you without remembering Orochimaru." Sasori nodded, almost to himself. He wasn't altogether sure if he was ready to face this ultimate challenge… He wanted to try to be intimate with Deidara again, but found that he doubted himself. Deidara was quiet for a moment in thought. It was true, Sasori had stopped moving as though in pain a while ago, and to see him smiling, laughing, like before had felt like coming home from a long journey. Deidara couldn't help but feel a seed of worry, though. He knew what the redhead was driving at.

"You're sure it won't hurt you?" he asked seriously. "You know I'll wait for you, as long as you need me to. I... I just don't want you to rush into this if you're not sure you're ready to try, hn." He stroked again at Sasori's hair. "I don't want to hurt you." That was his worst fear, seeing his Sasori hurt again... and knowing it was his fault. The thought of that possibility frightened him more than anything else.

"I want to try," he said, looking back up at Deidara's face. "I don't want to live in the past anymore. I'm over it, I want to try to start over where we left off the night of our anniversary." Sasori said as he reached to set his hands on either of Deidara's cheeks, framing his face. "If something feels wrong I'll let you know. Promise." It was nice knowing that Deidara felt worry for him. It reassured Sasori that, no matter what, Deidara would never hurt him. The redhead remained silent and still for a long while before shifting closer, leaning up just a little to softly, passionately, place his lips against Deidara's. For the first time in almost a month, he was able to show Deidara just how much he loved him without any hesitation behind his actions. There was no doubt in his mind that he had started to break free of that night, that pain... all of it.

Deidara nearly melted at the feel of that kiss, at the passion he tasted behind it. He murmured softly against Sasori's mouth, nibbling along his lower lip until he had to pull away for air. The blond panted for a moment, sighed.

"Alright," he said gently, resting his forehead against Sasori's, meeting his eyes. "Just... don't push yourself too hard, okay? Hn?" It had been a significant amount of time... if the redhead decided it was time to try, Deidara knew that, despite his reservations, his own body was more than willing. He had been careful not to push the other, to not put pressure on him about being intimate again, giving him time and space to heal... But there was only so much relief his own hand could give him when he was alone and in private. Sasori smiled at the acquiescence and reached down for the other's hand, narrowing his eyes alittle in mirth.

"Just... No handcuffs yet, okay?" He chuckled some as he said it, with Deidara laughing and nodding assent. Maybe someday he would be comfortable with that idea again, but right now was still too soon. Sasori sighed softly and headed towards Deidara's room, closing the door behind the both of them. The blond sat at the edge of his bed, watching with quiet eyes, wanting to take in all of this. Sasori reached to the hem of his shirt and pulled himself out of it, revealing his healed chest and arms, no longer marked with bruises of Orochimaru's rough hands. He had missed so much of Deidara while he had been healing, physically, emotionally and mentally, for these last few weeks. Now he had realized just how much he wanted it back.

The blond smiled a little as he reached to rest his hands on Sasori's hips and drew him close. The marks were all gone, the bruises faded to nothing... To look at the redhead now, it was almost as though Orochimaru's hold over him had evaporated as surely as the purple-black bruises had. Now Deidara wanted nothing more than to remind him of how things should be, to make love to his boyfriend the way he deserved. With a sigh the blond slid his arms completely around Sasori's waist, nuzzled his stomach and kissed his chest, reminding himself to be gentle, to be careful, but wanting to leave no part of him untouched, as though his own touch could wipe away the lingering memories of Orochimaru's.

Sasori took a moment, breathing deeply and savoring the other's touch before he moved to straddle Deidara's lap at the edge of his bed. His hands reached up to run through the other's hair, coming to rest on the back of his head as Sasori leaned closer to press his lips to the blond's. Deidara took just a moment to pull free the tie that held his braid, nearly purring at the sensation of Sasori's fingers tangled into his hair, the taste of his mouth. Things had become easier for Sasori to deal with since he had been able to move on away from that night. No longer was he hesitant about kissing Deidara. He wanted to show the other just how much he wanted to remember how they used to be, how intensely intimate they were like that.

Deidara couldn't help the murmur that escaped from his throat. He'd held back for just short of a month... Having Sasori like this again at last, close and warm against him... It was better than anything else in the world. The blond slipped his tongue out to trace along the redhead's lips, tasting him slowly, unhurriedly, palming his hands up the other's back to his shoulders and then scratching slowly back down his spine. He wanted him to relax, let go of his worry... Deidara wanted to make him forget everything but this moment together. Sasori slipped his tongue out to meet Deidara's while his hands ran down over the other's stomach and chest, down to the bottom of his shirt. He opened his eyes just enough to watch Deidara's face as they kissed, as his fingers ran over the top of his shoulders. Sasori pulled away just long enough to tug the other's shirt off over his head before leaning closer again to continue where he'd broken the kiss off. It was so easy to want Deidara... he didn't even have to try anymore to make Sasori want him.

Deidara laid his bared back willingly against his sheets as his boyfriend pressed his hands to his chest, tangling his own tongue against Sasori's once more and murmuring in appreciation as the redhead's taste filled his mouth. Deidara was not going to push him further, faster, than he was comfortable going... But, God, Sasori hadn't lost his touch, not one bit. Already the blond could feel his desire rising, warming his skin. He grasped at his boyfriend's sides for a moment before trailing his hands along Sasori's chest, reminding himself of every curve of muscle, the feel of his skin. As far as Deidara was concerned, there was no one in the world more gorgeous.

Sasori chuckled as he leaned back from the kiss to rise up on his knees, slowly unbuttoning his pants and undoing the zipper. Rose-colored eyes locked with blue, his intention clear: he wanted to see that look that he remembered, that loving hunger that only looked right on his boyfriend's face. He moved his hips alittle as he pushed away with his own pants, letting them fall to the floor moments later. Deidara lifted his head, sighed and grinned a little in admiration.

"You're almost too beautiful, Sasori, you know that? Hn?" he whispered, stroking the redhead's hip and the top of his thigh, raking his nails gently towards his knee. It never took much effort on the other's part to turn him on... But now especially, Deidara could already feel his pants growing tight. With a chuckle, he inched his own hips upward, rolling them against Sasori, swallowing a groan at the sensation he couldn't help but feel even through the denim of his jeans. The redhead arched alittle, his body moving on its own as his hips responded to Deidara's movements. He could feel it too. Slowly he slipped away from Deidara, stood at his bedside to unhook the other's jeans and pull them away from his body. The blond was only too glad to help kick off the constraining fabric. Sasori took a moment before crawling back over him to run a palm over the others yet-hidden length with a lustful smile, earning a husky groan and a shift of Deidara's hips as he begged wordlessly for more. It was getting harder and harder to ignore that ache that demanded relief, and he wasn't sure if he could wait too much longer. Going for so long... even under the circumstances, it hadn't been easy and now he was seeing just how much all that desire had built up.

Only the redhead seemed to be able to draw out this side of Deidara, to create the need that coursed through his veins in times like this... That need which hadn't for a month already, and now was throbbing in his blood stronger than ever.

"God..." he breathed, arching his hips up a little into Sasori's touch. It was always different, always better, when it was his boyfriend instead of just himself. Sasori smiled, hooking his fingers underneath the other's boxers and sliding them away to leave the other completely bared to him. His fingertips trailed over his length again, skin to skin, all the way to his tip. Deidara couldn't help the whimper that escaped him at that delicious touch. Even as he teased, Sasori's free hand worked down his own boxers, the last bit of clothing that remained until it joined the rest of their clothing on the floor. After a couple more seconds of stroking the other's length he moved again to straddle his hips, looking down at Deidara with a needy smile.

"I'm ready for you, Dei." He whispered, setting a hand against his boyfriend's cheek. Deidara could feel his heart beating quickly in his chest, was already panting lightly. He smiled up at the redhead, hooking his hand around the back of Sasori's neck and pulling him down for a slow kiss.

"Alright," he whispered, stroking his cheek before his hands drifted down to settle on his boyfriend's hips. "Remember... if you want me to stop, tell me, and I promise I will, hn." Concern shone in his eyes, an odd mix with the lust that gleamed there, too. There was no denying that he wanted Sasori now, needed him... But more than that, he needed the redhead to feel safe and loved and protected. He steeled himself with a sigh, settling his hips a little against the bed before slowly pulling him down, first against his tip and then over his length, biting his own lower lip with a groan. How he'd missed Sasori's tight heat... It was a constant battle to go slow, but the fear of hurting him, the desire to make love to him instead of just fuck him senseless, helped Deidara keep control.

Sasori pushed his hips down to meet the blond, gritting his teeth at the remembered pain, and the real discomfort. Everything came back to him in a flood of memory and emotion, making his heart race and his jaw tighten for a long moment.

Calm down. Calm down... Relax, he told himself with a whimper, biting at his lower lip as he settled himself completely around Deidara's length. His breathing had grown quick and almost panicked in the moment he felt Deidara pushing into him, remembering Orochimaru's face and the pain of how he'd relentlessly pounded into him with no restraint... He had to calm down. It was Deidara now. It was entirely different. Panting with the heat of Sasori's body around him, Deidara forced himself to pause, reaching to cup the redhead's cheeks, framing his face between his hands.

"Hey..." he murmured soothingly, having seen the panic, the remembered pain flit over the other's face as he'd pressed in. "You holding up okay? D'you want to stop, hn?" He stroked his boyfriend's face gently... That fear... That was what he wanted to erase most of all, that lingering hold that Orochimaru still had over Sasori. He felt the other relax gradually around him, stubbornly refused the insistent ache in his groin as he waited, making sure the redhead was okay, making sure he still wanted to do this now. Sasori took a moment to compose himself before looking down at Deidara with a small smile and a nod.

"I'm...I'm fine," Sasori said between panting breaths. "I want to do this," he reassured and nodded again. Sasori leaned over to rest his hands against the other's chest and press a kiss to his lips. The fact that Deidara was so concerned about him at a time like this, for his well being… That was what helped him to relax. He knew that for no reason would his boyfriend ever hurt him, especially like this... not like Orochimaru had.

"As long as you're sure, Sasori," he murmured, stroking the redhead's cheek before returning one hand to his hips. Deidara sighed slowly, pulling his hips back, withdrawing from the maddening, delicious heat until only his tip remained within. He paused for just a moment, swallowing before he pushed back in with a deep groan, eyes flicking closed for a moment at the sensation of having Sasori pressing around him. The redhead's name escaped his mouth in a slow groan as he rested within for another long moment, purposely keeping his strokes long and slow and gentle. Sasori shifted his hips down against him as he pushed back in, a soft whimper escaping his lips as his hips shifted away and then he pressed back down again. Softly, he mumbled the other's name, leaning down for a slow kiss. He could feel himself starting to loosen, to gradually melt into the feel of Deidara's hips pressing into him.

Deidara felt Sasori relax further, relaxed his own self-control just a little and increased his pace. The blond groaned against his boyfriend's mouth, inhaling deeply before deepening the kiss. He needed Sasori to know... needed to show him how beautiful and wonderful he was, how very precious and loved. Whispering the other's name, he slipped his tongue into the redhead's mouth to taste, feeling himself surrendering slowly to the pleasure blossoming through his body.

Sasori moaned into his mouth. Blue eyes flicked open quickly at the sound, darting over his expression to make sure the sound was born from pleasure, not pain, before relaxing, half-closing again with a smile gleaming there, mixed with lust. The redhead murmured the other's name against his lips as his tongue slipped out to run over his lips, and moved himself back against Deidara's body with every thrust in. This was how it was supposed to be. Making love... There was nothing about it now that he wanted to pull away from. Deidara drank in the redhead's expressions and sounds, the proof of his pleasure, like water in the desert. Tasting the other's moans and groaning back into his mouth, the blond's pace increased again, gradually. One of his hands drifted forward from where it rested against his hip to grasp at Sasori's length, stroking him from base to tip in time with his own thrusts, wanting to give the other as much pleasure as he possibly could.

Sasori panted roughly, moaning softly again as he felt Deidara's pace increasing further, heightening his own pleasure. Everything felt so right. He wasn't afraid anymore. Sasori could feel his gut tightening quickly as he rocked his body against Deidara's. Every subtle movement or sound he made was enough to drive him higher, faster than before. He wasn't going to last for long like this.

The pressure in the pit of Deidara's stomach was coiling into itself, increasing like a compressed spring. Deidara couldn't think, didn't much want to at the moment, content to simply be, to feel Sasori as he hadn't since before everything had gone wrong. The blond could feel his whole body tensing, preparing for release, but with a few gasping breaths he bought a little time, pushed the pleasure back, carefully measuring his strokes with the tension he felt in his boyfriend, as well. He wanted to try and time it perfectly, to arrive together... To make things right again and wipe away all the bad that had happened, even if only for a few moments. Sasori moaned loudly and arched his back suddenly.

"Dei..." he whimpered against his boyfriend's lips. There was no pain now… only pleasure. It was a whole different experience than before. Sasori's hands tightened on Deidara's shoulders as he pushed himself down around him one last time before the pleasure took over him completely. He tilted his head back and cried out with pleasure as his climax took over him. It was hard to breathe, hard to think with the pleasure that had suddenly consumed him like fire.

That was all it took. Deidara felt his control break at the same moment the pressure in his gut did. With a sharp gasp and an upward jerk of his hips he hilted himself in Sasori's heat, his grip tightening at the wash of pleasure that crashed over him. He only distantly heard his own voice as a counterpoint to the redhead's, a sharp groan in the shape of his name. The blond's arms tightened around his waist as he arched up, shuddering with his release, the feeling of Sasori's climax only feeding into his own. Deidara didn't count the seconds, but it seemed like almost an eternity before the wild release started to recede, leaving him to relax slowly back against his bed, panting mindlessly. Sasori shut his eyes tight, falling forward onto the other's chest and breathing heavily as he rode out the waves of pleasure that slowly disappeared. He swallowed as he clung to his boyfriend's shoulders, panting hard.

"Deidara..." He whispered, nuzzling the side of the other's neck. There was always something magical about the moment immediately after. Sasori reached to brush a hand through the other's hair, murring softly. The blond panted hard still, slipping his arms upward from around Sasori's waist to his chest, holding him close against his own yet-racing heart. Deidara blinked slowly, groggily, as though working to pull himself from a dream, grinning a little when the redhead's face came into focus. He pressed Sasori close, not wanting any space between them now, basking in the warmth of skin on skin and the afterglow of their retreating climaxes. He chuckled softly, kissing his boyfriend's shoulder, and then the side of his neck.

"H-how was that, hn?" he murmured a little thickly, a little short of breath. Deidara hadn't felt this relaxed in two weeks, this content and sated... But now, things were right again, and he savored every heartbeat. Sasori's lips turned up in a smile.

"Wonderful." He whispered, nibbling softly at the curve of the other's neck. He never wanted to forget this. Slowly he set his hands against Deidara's chest to push himself up enough to look down into his beautiful face. Sasori couldn't help but feel now that the horrid tie to Orochimaru had been severed at last. With everything that had happened... He smiled alittle more as he leaned down to press his lips to Deidara's again, savoring a soft slow kiss. His boyfriend grinned a little.

"I'm glad," he murmured, happy to see the fear, the pain that had shadowed Sasori's face for so long vanish. Deidara murred quietly against the redhead's mouth, reaching with one hand to stroke his hair, playing with it slowly. He loved this, loved having his boyfriend warm and sated and nearby, not minding in the least having his weight on top of him... Sasori wasn't very heavy, really, especially not in moments like this, moments that he treasured so deeply. "I love you, Sasori," the blond whispered quietly, forming the words against the softness of the other's mouth, savoring the way the words tasted mingled with the flavor of Sasori's lips. Sasori pulled his mouth away slowly, smiling down at the one beneath him.

"I love you too, Deidara." He spoke, setting a palm against the side of the other's face. With a small sigh he shifted to lie beside him, nuzzling against his chest. Nothing could feel more right at that moment. All of his fears had seemed to vanish completely. Everything was back to the way it had been before things had turned around on him. Deidara turned a little toward him, holding him close, tight... He never wanted to let go, never wanted to risk losing Sasori. He was far too precious to get go of, ever. For a few long minutes he was quiet, content to bask in the redhead's warmth, eyes just barely open and not daring to look away from his handsome face. Eventually a thought rose in the blond's mind and he scratched slowly, languidly, at his boyfriend's shoulderblades and back.

"Are you spending the night, or am I driving you home later, hn?" he asked lazily. He didn't like the thought of Sasori walking alone at night anymore, especially between their two houses. There had been too many instances of Orochimaru or his cronies causing trouble... First when the wonder twins had jumped Deidara, and then tried again to be chased off by Sasori, and then Sasori's kidnapping... for there to be any doubt that they knew where both of them lived. He knew that in a pinch the redhead was more than capable of defending himself, but it would be better, in his mind, to avoid the situation altogether. Sasori smiled softly, bringing his hands up against the other's chest.

"I wanna stay here with you. It's been far too long since I have been able to be with you like this, Dei." He whispered. To be honest, he wanted to stay like this forever. It didn't matter what was going on outside of this room anymore. Not right now. Deidara was here with him, and he felt safe in his arms. The blond grinned, nodding his understanding. To be honest, Deidara agreed completely... While it was true that he and Sasori had spent much time together, at the beginning almost every moment, it was different now than while he was healing. This was softer, warmer, more intimate... Even if he tried, though, the blond couldn't think of a way to properly describe it, and do this justice. With a mental shrug he gave up trying and contented himself with nuzzling against Sasori's hair, breathing his scent in deeply. Deidara sat up for just a moment, reaching to gather the covers around their tangled legs and draw them up around their waists, but was happiest to cuddle back down again, playfully biting his boyfriend's earlobe for a moment, tugging a little before resting his head down with a sigh, watching with half-lidded eyes.

Sasori shivered alittle at the feel of Deidara's teeth against his ear. He couldn't help but chuckle alittle, though. He closed his eyes then, cuddling as close to the other's body as possible, a gentle smile coming onto his lips.

"Forever..." He whispered, trailing off as he felt himself starting to fall asleep. He'd never been able to do something like this before, falling asleep next to the one he loved with such complete satisfaction. Deidara was the only one he could ever love so much. The blond smiled, stroking his fingers back through Sasori's hair as he watched him fall asleep.

"…And always," he finished in agreement, kissing his boyfriend's forehead slowly. "I promise, Sasori, hn," he breathed against his ear, nuzzling his temple and feeling his own drowsiness creeping over him. With a sigh, he pulled the sheets up over the both of them, tucking the covers in around his Sasori before cuddling close again and slowly shutting his eyes. They were safe here... The door was locked, and his mom had learned to not try to walk in long ago after a bit of an embarrassing incident one morning. The redhead was the last thing he saw before sleep overtook him, leaving him completely content, happier than he'd been in a long, long time.


Reisha: There's no such thing as too much fluff in the world, as far as I'm concerned... Which is a good thing, since there's seriously some uberfluff in upcoming chapters. Guess this one was one of those "more sex than plot" chapters... But there's nothing wrong with that, right? =P Well, folks, it's the usual schpiel, please read and review, and we'll see you next week for chapter 12. (Dang, this thing just gets longer and longer. Wonder if we'll hit the 100,000 word mark by the end of it?...)