Series: Naruto
Setting: AU
Rating: M
Word Count: 8,094
Warnings: Language, abuse, blood, violence, suicide, sexual content
Summary: No one wants to believe it when they are told that they are getting a new member to Akatsuki. Even worse to find out exactly who they are getting for the job.
Bonus Writer Notes: I wasn't planning on bringing any others into it but I just couldn't resist -hangs head- He is only a minor player in the plot but I just needed something to temporarily pick up the happiness level of it because it will only get more depressing as it goes alone.
And I'm going to go completely out of my own little boundaries once again and say :O Read & Review... wow I feel dirty now -shudders-
I Am… Chapter 13
"A new member? Why would Leader be for foolish as to invite someone else to join?"
Given the events of the past three months, things were starting to fall into place with the arcane puzzle that their Leader has weaved for them. The holiday, the team bonding exercises and the insanely long hours the three of them had spent together all making everything clear to the Uchiha has he dropped the final piece into place to complete the bigger picture. He was preparing them for this day with the two long years together forging bonds that none of them thought were possible from the first day of that fateful meeting, thinking that throwing a spanner into the cogs may lead to some disruption.
One blonde and a blue hair male nodded in agreement to his words, actually supportive about something for the first time in a while, both of them content with their little family that they had formed but only to now have someone carelessly placed smack bang in the middle was just preposterous. While they each had their differences and not really seeing from eye to eye most of the times, it was hard to think that someone would just waltz in thinking that they instantly belonged and took over the team. In their minds that was what was going to happen. That's why the emergency meeting was called by their munificent chief Kisame… at the bar of all places.
Throwing his hand up he ordered another round of drinks for the boys and crossed his arms over his chest, humming vociferously in deep thought trying decipher what it all meant and why now of all times but every time he drew a blank, chugging back the pint of beer that was placed in front of him and promptly ordered a refresher. Alcohol was always the best to bring out theories that were buried to far inside to come out without a loose tongue. "Well whoever he is, he is nothing compared to my boy" he grinned widely, slinging a loose arm around Itachi's shoulder. Nicely said if you asked him.
A mouth dropped open, almost to the ground but swiftly recovered to tug the bar stool away from the great ogre's grasp and relocated his 'beloved' boy next to him so he wouldn't put his dirty mitts all over him. What was he? Chopped liver? While he might not have been so great in those yellow piercing but yet perverted eyes, he was part of the team too and had been there for longer than Itachi mind you. Sliding his arms over that taller boy's shoulder, one of them was out of place with a cast filled with small little doodles over it, hanging it deep down Itachi's chest only being able to rest it over his elbow from the inability to be able to move it to a more flexible position. A injury sustained that he had told no one about and made no plan to at any rate enduring the quick questioning from the group on the first day to which the subject was promptly dropped and accepted as is. It had become second nature to them seeing it now being close to the time where it was going to be taken off but damn how it itched some times.
Puffing his cheeks out in exasperation with him, Deidara gave one hell of a pout to show that he wasn't happy with the statement made, pushing the sympathy level to the maximum but the big ruthless shark lover wasn't biting. "Keep your thoughts off his dick for just one moment, un. We need to figure out what is going on. Did you hear this from Leader himself or second hand?"
One more beer down and another one the way, he certainly was drinking like a fish tonight especially with the way he was knocking them back, so much that not even Deidara was keeping pace still on his first drink. "Yep word came from the big man, he is starting tomorrow. So looks like we got some fresh meat" he mused baring his teeth in a ample grin.
The three members of Akatsuki discussed the plans for the new guy to the team but not much was really known about him to even come up with any clues towards why he was needed but they still plotted and were fully prepared to make a opening argument to their gracious leader if anything was not up to their standards. Actually Itachi was elected for that job since the other's assumed that he would be able to get through to him since he was always on the fat cat's good side.
Another hour of drinking and one wasted full grown male later, the trio decided to call it a night, Kisame slung over the two teens shoulders to help him to walk out, muttering his confessions of love to both of them when they dumped him in the car.
"I'll take him home"
Deidara stared at the intoxicated male and then at the Uchiha, clasping his wrist not wanting him to leave without him when he went to return to his car. Kisame was drunk, he couldn't take him home, he knew the effects of the mixture of substance abuse and one scorching crimson eyed teenager and he wasn't going to sit back and just let him take that, not again. His lips parted to voice his protests about it muttering nothing more than a soft squeak when he lost his voice to say something, staring down at Kisame and his happiness to sing a song that was on the radio despite the fact it wasn't turn on and then back to Itachi, shaking his head at him was all that he could do.
A calm hand was placed against his only to touch his fingers with the forearm cast blocking, comforting to him for his concern well being but it was not an issue. "I can handle it, I will come by tonight if you like"
The way he spoke to him, the deepening voice dropping down to that lower tone subconsciously barely above a whisper, the softness of his tender hand against him that gradually moved to his cheek, cupping it perfectly. No matter how much he tried not to succumb to the underlying charm that he wasn't aware of, Deidara was completely besotted for it, closing his eyes with a soft exhale rubbing his warm flesh into the touch. "Don't put yourself out for me, un. There is another time" His voice matched Itachi's level, taking a step in closer being careful not to break the contact when his thumb caressed over his cheek bone, shaking breaths when he opened his eyes to see him looking down at him. Why was he doing this to him? They weren't drunk, he barely finished one bourbon.
"Just kiss and get it over and done with. I want to go home now"
The two boys jumped with the moment hastily broken between them, turning to see the face of one drunken Kisame splayed across the wound up window, hands pressed flat against the glass like a stuck on Garfield toy. Except the drool running downstream… ewww he was going to have to clean that afterwards. Looking back at each other there was a shrug of the shoulders and a short nod saying their goodbyes as they parted, each ready to go to their perspective locations. But Deidara couldn't help but get one last reminder in with Itachi over the other side of the car, signaling to Kisame to wind the window down so he could talk to him, gripping his shirt and tugging his face over close to his to get hit with the foul stench of booze and pretzels and whatever else he had shoved down his gob that day. His eyes narrowed as he reminded him to keep his hand to himself, threatening to destroy one beloved wall sized fish tank that he held much pride in if he did anything. With his parting words he nodded again, now satisfied that he could leave.
A few close calls on the way back but everything stayed down in his stomach thankfully with the car ride back, the dead weight man hoisted over his shoulder and dragged into his apartment to be dumped down on his bed and stripped down to a raw state, tucked into bed by the younger man. He knew how Kisame liked to sleep all too well, underwear was just bothersome. "Is there anything I can get you?" he asked giving the impression that he was genuinely wanting to take care of him but only Itachi knew if he was really meaning it.
A big hand knocked him off balance to come crashing down onto the bed face first but catching him before he collided to pull him to his face level, lips barely touching from where he was being held. Parched lips parted murmuring with no sound giving the impression that he was going to be kissed making the almost adult stiffen, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled on end but his face completely drained to a stoic stare. A hard swallowed forced down his throat locking him into place but the burly man didn't advance on him any further, instead he crack up into hysterical laughter. Not knowing what was so funny Itachi moved back to sit on the bed to wonder what had broke the man's mind.
"You don't want this do ya kid. All you have to do is tell me to stop and I won't touch you again"
His laughter slowed down to a halt, a loud sigh when he just blurted out something that he never really wanted to say to him but as of late there was no enjoyment or satisfaction out of it, he always just lied there motionless with his eyes closed like he was just counting down the minutes until it was over. He wasn't that easy to break when he just shut off like that, it was a losing battle and he knew who was the victor. "He likes you, you know"
Light hands against his chest guided Kisame back down to the bed, tugging the fresh sheet up over his body and turning the fan on for him after feeling his heated skin from the alcohol making him glow. The back of his hand pressed against his forehead to check again to note if he felt hotter than he original thought, pressing against his cheeks to compare. It was certainly just the liquor reacting and nothing more. "I know he does" Itachi mumbled focusing cooling him after returning with a damp washcloth.
All he could do was shake his head at the boy with his complete cluelessness into human nature, his actions now were one of care and concern towards him not taking into account all the callous things that had been done to him over the course of time. Most people would have let the offender suffer to work through the situation alone but he was there at his side almost mothering him to make him more comfortable. He truly was a very strange individual. Maybe he should try and pass on a bit of fatherly advice as repayment.
"You always have some kind of thought going on in that brain of yours, try taking your time to think about what he means to you instead of just accepting that someone has an interest in your that's not purely to get into your pants"
That was all the words of wisdom he was capable of for the moment , now just wanting to go to sleep and hope that he didn't wake up in the morning with the hangover from hell but at least hopefully it might play on his conscious enough to get him to wake up to himself and realize what he had been denying. The way he acted towards him with that protective nature, the caring touches he expressed towards him that he himself wasn't aware that he was doing, he was becoming attached to him and clearly had more than a friend feeling towards the blonde teen. …Deidara really should thank him for all his hard work.
Itachi couldn't say that he was slightly stunned by the sudden change of heart from the older man especially since the impression he was giving off that he was more of the possessive type and then just to divulge something like that was completely puzzling. Taking it as the alcohol talking he shrugged it off and told him to sleep it off, if he wanted to talk there would be time later for it.
The sound of the television on showed at least someone was awake in the house still, hopefully it was his brother and not his father just in case he decided that sleeping at home would be a good idea for the night. Itachi lazily yawned as he locked the house up for the night, the day at taken its toll on him just in need of a good shower and eight hours sleep but like that was going to happen, cursing his body clock for depriving him of one of the basic things needed to function.
Feeling clean again and human without reeking of second hand smoke and booze, he headed towards the noise source happy to see his brother there watching the end of a movie that had been showing. Taking a deep breath he attempted to have a conversation with him but as soon as he said his name he was out of that room before a second word was uttered, the door slamming loud that lead to his bedroom. Another night spent in silence with the younger Uchiha still refusing to talk to him, another night spent by himself with the television to keep him company. He should have been getting used to it by now.
He crawled up onto the couch and curled up into a ball to watch the rolling credits of the movie with no inspiration to channel surf at all, still watching as the news came up keeping him up to date with the current events of the world. Americans were still sticking their noses into other countries businesses, a bus colliding with a semi trailer killed four people, an earthquake left thousands homeless in a Asian country. Nothing never changed with the world still being fucked up as ever. That was inspiration enough to change the channel since dwelling in others depression wasn't his thing, rolling over to find the remote which had slipped down the back of the lounge again but he stopped mid hand between the cushions to hear something that caught his attention.
"I'm not doing this for the money or the fame, it's service to the community"
Was that like his catchphrase or something? Watching the report more intently it looked like the boss had himself a trial that was bringing a lot of attention, being for good or bad purposes he couldn't tell just as long as anything revolving around Akatsuki was kept out of the public eye. After all this time Fugaku still had no idea that Itachi was a Bounty Hunter and if he found out, it wouldn't be pleasant with the son of the Police Chief picking the carcasses of their left over's. A picture of the accused flashed up on screen sending shivers down his spine at the creepy looking man smirking at the camera like he had a secret that no one else knew. Just as long as they weren't called upon to go and capture that guy then everything would be fine.
Just as the report ended the message tone sounded from his cell startling him from the fixation on the screen, the grey phone vibrating across the table threatening to fall onto the ground but was save from its death by a hand catching it on the way down. Flicking the lid opened he looked at the message received huffing amused at the text from Deidara telling him that he had got home safety and to have a good nights sleep as well not to bother about the new member, nothing could break them apart. The new member hadn't even crossed his mind long since forgotten since the bar but sudden thoughts of the obnoxious blonde came to his head in a small flash back on when they had met. It was so long ago now but he remembered it as if it was yesterday, walking into that office to be told that if he wanted coffee to go down the road. "Idiot" he muttered closing the phone up and throwing it on the table, going back to the screen now showing a late night movie.
"Itachi…"
His head poked up off the couch with the quiet call of his name, looking around through the door way into the hall and around the room to see who was calling him. There was no one else around with the only sound coming from the hissing of the set, nothing showing with the station closing down for the night. But still another call came for him, this time he wasn't hearing things, steady footsteps through the house looking around to see where it was coming from, not from Sasuke with his door still closed from before. He must have been hearing things but still the sound was coming from his room, cautiously pushing it open to let out a sigh of relief with Deidara standing in the middle of the room. Why he insisted in climbing in his window he couldn't figure out but it did save his ass whenever his father was home so he really couldn't complain.
"What are you doing here?" he asked curiously crossing his arms not impressed that he had just decided to show up in the early hours of the morning. Most people were sleeping and not playing burglar.
He stared at him for a while waiting for a retaliation or an answer on why he had snuck in his window but he didn't reply to the question, his head only hanging down lower like he was sorry after being scolded. That wasn't like him at all, he wasn't that rough on him for it. He had been thinking about it too much that he didn't expect to be grabbed by the hand and pulling in close, Deidara's head on his shoulder, an arm around his back clinging to him. Now he was definitely mystified on what was going on, maybe something happened and he needed to speak to him about it but if this was a game that he was playing then he wasn't in the mood.
"No matter what happens I will always be with you, un" he whispered sweetly to him, rubbing his cheek against Itachi's, closing his eyes to rest.
Itachi was astounded to reply to something like that not even a peep from him, staring wide eyed at the wall waiting for him to break the hold, his own arms hanging down by his side. "Deidara what's the matter?" he asked in return. Something seemed very strange about all of this. Hesitantly he raised his arms up locking his fingers around the blonde's back feeling him shiver with the draftiness of the air but it wasn't really cold not even for him and Deidara was like an electric blanket, he was always warm. "Please tell me"
"I didn't want you to see me like this but there is nothing else for me to do, un. Please don't hate me for my actions"
Something pushed into his stomach when he was pulled closer, warmth dribbling over his neck and down his back sent his hands exploring, feeling around below to grab a hold of something cold and metallic. Widen eyes knowing exactly what it was, Itachi quickly pulled away and almost tripped over his own feet to crash into the desk behind but his hand caught his fall before he could falter too far. Shaking his head he looked up at Deidara, covering his mouth in disbelief when he saw the weapon embedded in his stomach, the spreading crimson patch over his belly, only to tear open more when it was reefed from his gut leaving a gaping hole.
"I will always love you, un"
… No… this was not happening… not again. The focus from the bloody shirt moved up to his face, the near vacant eyes staring back at him flashing to onyx and back, the face so familiar like it was forever imprinted in his memory never to forgot him no matter how much he tried to escape him. He couldn't go through his again, the only person he had called friend was taken away from him prematurely, the only one who cared for him enough to stay by his side until he didn't give him what he wanted.
"Goodbye… Itachi"
Screaming out wasn't enough to stop him, heat of the fine mist of copper sprayed across his face trickling down his cheek after the knife cut through the skin cleanly with sharp quick precision severing the artery in his neck. Gurgling on his own blood that backtracked down his tracheal filling up his lungs didn't seem to bother the suicidal teen in the slightest with Deidara holding out his hand towards him smiling amiably and looking totally serene although choking to death on his own fluids. He tried to speak his last words but his vocal cords were severed only resulting in rough gasps, his skin turning ghostly white when the rest of the blood drained from him until the pressure of standing became too much, collapsing onto the ground at Itachi's feet, holding onto his ankle when his body started convulsion. Gradually the violent jerking stopped to nothing more than a twitch and then to nothing when his heart stopped beating.
Itachi cried out sitting up sharply in a cold sweat wheezing for air, his heart rate beating so hard it felt like it was going to tear his chest open as his head darted around to see where he was. The surroundings were more familiar to the night before, being back in the lounge room with the shows of children's television being played allowing Itachi a voiceless sigh of relief still on that sofa in the bright hours of the early morning. But it still didn't stop him from drawing his knees up to his chest to bury his face, the vision still vivid in his mind. Shisui… Deidara…
"Are you alright? You look like you have seen a ghost, un"
He almost fell off the couch in shock when the hand rested against his back rubbing him softly, peeking out of his hiding to look up at the blonde staring at him curiously with a raised eyebrow. It was a dream after all. "I'm fine" he grumbled shrugging him off looking around for the time. It was past nine. Shit he slept in, he never slept in.
The psychic connection between the blonde and the raven must have been working overtime with Deidara speaking "You must have needed the sleep, un" Then holding out a paper thermal cup with a black lid with a huge smirk he smiled "Coffee?" and passed over the cup to him before jumping over the chair and rebounded onto the cushion, surprisingly in high spirits for that time in the morning. "Your brother let me in, un"
That was going to be his next question but Deidara was certainly on the ball today or else he was getting too predicable. A nod in thanks for the kind gesture with the welcoming morning beverage, the Uchiha drank the hot liquid carefully to make sure that he didn't scold his tongue but something inside had to be certain it really was just a delusion, reaching out and touching the skin of his neck to feel for anything unusual. Deidara retaliated to the inspecting touch by giggling and pulling away to move to the other side of the sofa calling him a weirdo with a playful poke of the pink muscle out at him. It really was nothing more than a nightmare.
"Well well look who decided to join the party" Kakuzu sneered, walking up to the two boys as they walked into the office, slapping their pay in their hot little hands and then strolling straight past them after the exchange of money. It made no difference to him about the new guy, to him it was just another greedy grubbing hand to pay out to plus he had already met him previously. "Good luck" he waved on the way out. They were going to need it.
They just shrugged it off and took their perspective positions around the office in waiting, Deidara taking his typical seating place on the front counter while Itachi moved to his side, laying down on the counter top resting his chin in his hands. It wouldn't be that much of a big deal to put up with someone new and from what they had heard he was only a temp anyway, more like a contractor of the sorts only to be called on when needed rather than being there all the time. But when Kisame emerged from the office shaking his head the prospects of the new partner being somewhat welcomed plummeted straight down to hell. Another man about the same age maybe a bit younger than their boss filed out behind him, closing the door and made himself comfortable with a refreshing drink.
Itachi turned his nose up at him instantly with his wild green hair and almost albino pale skin that begged for a few hours in a tanning salon. Was he the new partner? There was no introductions at all so he might not have been plus he was familiar with the place but still Itachi was out of the loop, lifting his hand to question him when it was lowered back down, a shake of the blonde's head telling him that whatever suspicions he had were incorrect.
That was the only time I ever saw him. Zetsu was a scouter for the group with the keen eye for talent, knowing what skills was needed to make it in the business but he was not the most pleasant person to get along with at times. The guy mood swung more than a women suffering from the monthly curse with a normal disposition at one time and then the next second he was ready to stick his fist down your throat to reach into your chest cavity to remove your heart to show it to you as it was still beating. It was kind of a split personality thing on crack with the extreme opposite sides but his information finding skills were above exceptional.
A vacant stare went straight to his direction while he worked out what exactly made his tick, putting his studies into play analyzing the tall male but with the direction of his eyes it gave the impression that he was gawking straight at his hair. "What are you looking at?" he growled catching the teenager's stares. At least he had an excuse for it with a lesson well learnt, now to believe people when they say don't bleach your hair and then go swimming you damn well listen to them or else you end up in the same situation but those bloody eyes locked onto him in a glare freaked even him out. That one he was not involved in finding anything out for, he was more a pet project of Leader's once he had received word about him.
For ten minutes the room was utterly silent to the point that even Deidara wasn't talking, instead cleaning his nails from the boredom of wait that was forced upon them, chewing on them after a while to neaten them up which began to get on everyone's nerve with the loud clacking of his teeth when he bit through to crush his teeth together. The foul mouthed one was going to be the first to open his mouth about it but as soon as he tried the door to the main office finally opened causing instant silence in the room from anticipation. Who was he? What did he do? Was he insane or actually a normally grounded person for once?
"Seeeeeeeeeeeeeenpaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai" yelled the voice from behind the door bounding out into the room in a full run.
The tension was suddenly broke with the excessive cheering in excitement, no one got a glimpse of him as he whooshed past the crowd and bounded straight towards the door. Maybe he got scared off and was making his escape to freedom once he discovered what the job really was to run home crying but no one expected him to take the flying jump through the air, pretending that he was airborne with his arms stretched out wise in front of him, aiming straight for one wide eyed blue eyed boy.
Deidara didn't even have time to 'ack' when he was caught by the one pouncing on him, his waist was ceased in the same motion and included with the body mass that was taking up the rear, it knocked him straight back off the bench and flat on his back. Two of the group were stunned by the stranger, Hidan's jaw dropped to the ground almost while Itachi was just thankful that he stepped back at the right time or else he would have been taken away by the whirlwind but Deidara on the other hand kicked and screamed to get out from the weight of the other piled on top of him that was hugging him.
"Get off me, un!" he growled but came out nothing more than a whine as he flailed around, pushing up on the face of the one who was sticking to him like a parasite. He had no idea who this nutcase was or why he had called him Senpai since he was clearly older than him and on top of that why did he pick him out. Whoever he was he was worse than a slobbering puppy that wanted nothing more to share his love but only succeeded in dropping shoestrings of drool all over your face in their own signs of affection. And this fondness he didn't want at all so much that he yelled at him again that he couldn't breath and then kicked him in the butt with a steel cap, being thankful that he was so flexible.
It certainly did the trick when he gave a high pitched yelp, scrambling back to his feet but still sticking to Deidara's side like superglue when he rose. So this had to be the new recruit and already mass majority of them wanted to inflict some kind of grievous damage on him, not the best way to start out. The noise level rose with the masses bitching and complaining to each other about the newbie without a care that he was standing right there to hear it all, every little insult about him only made him bounce on the spot more just because he somehow became the centre of attention but one mood swing from Zetsu later and everyone's voice cut out to a dead halt instantly, so quiet that you could hear that pesky cricket that was caught up in the vent.
That was until one overly cheery male clung to Deidara's arm in a tight squeeze of happiness. "Deidara-senpai I'm so happy to finally get to meet you" he grinned widely. Not that anyone could have known about it but he was the blonde artist's biggest fan and he hadn't even met him at all in the past, only reading and hearing tales of the chaos that he had caused throughout his tender years.
When he was told to introduce himself to the others more formally, that was when he let go of the embrace he had on the blonde, almost tempted to drag him along with him but he left him be for the time being and stepped into the middle of the room in big strides, looking around at all of the eyes that were fixated on them. He wasn't an overly skinny man but he wasn't really toned either, more of an average build of the typical male but his dress sense was not to be desired, looking like he had his clothes picked out by his mother with the pressed suede pants neatly hemmed at the cuffs, the buttons done all the way up on his cream and tan polo shirt which was really finished off with the wire framed glasses. It was almost a jocks fantasy to beat up on someone like him resonating nerd but still it wasn't over to the point of being one with the loosely spiked hazelnut hair that still showed that there was someone hiding in there that really wanted to escape the body of the fashion victim.
He suddenly got star struck being the focal of attention this time and nervous waved at them taking a deep breath, pushing his glasses back up onto his head and rubbing his eyes drawing attention to the deep scaring he had down the right side of his face that restricted him from opening up his eye fully. He felt more under pressure when he felt their eyes stripping away at his imperfections, his left eye wasn't as bad as the other one but it was tinged red but it was nothing like Itachi's at all, not a pure deep colour but hazy between the mixture of green. Trying not to let it get to him too much since he was adjusted to the gawks of others but he wanted to make a good impression so he shoved his hands into his pockets before starting his greeting to them all. "Hi, my name is Tobi" he greeted everyone.
Tobi… what to say about him… special maybe well that's what Zetsu tried to remind us of constantly before he left. He was the most cheerful person that you would ever meet but to the point of almost being childish but he wasn't always that way. When he was thirteen he was constantly picked on due to his size from the hormonal growth spurt of starting to come of age, towering over the top of the others and being subjected to beatings almost every day of his life because of his looks. That was until one day they took it too far and almost killed him from the brutal beating he received from a group of bullies with fragments of bone embedding into his brain and leaving his face disfigured for life. Regardless of the immature nature he was extremely gifted and at times would have come close to rivaling me but it only came to light on the times it was needed.
"I will be your surveillance and information gatherer" he told them, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head not knowing exactly what to say to them.
Zetsu to the recue for him filling them in with the rest of the details behind Tobi's employment. He was indeed surveillance with on site investigation as well as scouting before the jobs with the retaliation of the police and the information they were refusing to hand over, it was his job to seek it out and relay it back so the trio could focus more on capturing the criminals rather than chasing them with the escalating amount of jobs they were getting. Leader had plans for them and now they included.
With no jobs for the rest of the day the time was allocated to become adjusted and welcome the new hyperactive member to the expanding group that was known as Akatsuki but Deidara was regretting the decision already with Tobi taking an instant liking to him, wanting to know everything about the great senpai and constantly reminding him that they were going to have so much fun working together. At least he was only a call in since none of them thought they would be able to handle him in more than a couple of hour blocks before trying to plot his 'accidental' death. Deidara already tried it once with a failed attempt in strangulation when he jumped on his back to koala cling to him. Tobi just thought it was cute. But as the day drew towards an end they all started to go their separate ways, Zetsu and Tobi leaving together while Hidan snuck out earlier on while they were distracted to leave the three of them. After a quick discussion between them it was decided that Kisame was to be Deidara's chauffer for the ride home, bumming a lift off him with a smirk playfully taunting him on how caring he was to his fellow team members but his smart mouth almost landed him a walk home instead.
Itachi however wasn't in a rush to get home with nothing waiting there for him except a garden salad and a couple of hours working out while he waited to see if his father was going to grace him with his presence since he hadn't returned home for a few weeks now. Business trip occupied part of it but the rest he had no idea, after all this time he still didn't know what kept him away from home on weeks even months on end only to show back up drunk and out for blood with someone to take this frustrations out on caused by whatever he had been doing away. His return would be soon enough so he would have to make himself scarce as possible.
It was well into the night time by the time he got home, no cars in the driveway no lights on in the house leaving it looking vacant for anyone who dared to rob them but at least it meant another day safe so it gave him that brief moment of relief. "I'm home" he murmured gently pushing open the door to the empty house. No one was there to answer him not even his brother becoming just as much as a ghost as his father recently but in Sasuke's eyes it was him who was alienating everyone from the heated discussion they had a few nights previous, his brother storming out of the house with the parting message on his selfishness and lack of empathy towards others.
Not even his dinner appeased him poking at the cherry tomato on his plate, in fact food at all was holding no value after being left with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. In the past he would have welcomed times like this and sort out for ways to find that time for himself without the hassles of being disrupted from his solitude with many hours spent locked in his room with nothing more than a book to providing him companionship, living the lives of the characters in his head but the time he had spent with others, that need to just have someone there was emerging, not wanting to be alone to be haunted by his demons.
Picking up his phone he stared at it for a while contemplating to contact the only person he knew that might even consider coming for a visit, at least he could offer him some ice-cream or chocolate something noting that he had such a sweet tooth.
"You want me to come over?" Deidara yelled at his phone over the loud music.
The sound was so excessive that if it wasn't for the vibration from inside the tight black pants then he wouldn't have know about it at all. His finger pressed deep into his ear to block off the surrounding noise but it was troublesome with the bodies tightly grinding against his own, foreign hands around his waist tugging him closer with the want of getting him to move. A quick snap and a whack on the hand got them to release allowing him to work through the frenzied crowd to go somewhere quiet so he could at least hear the conversation with the Uchiha just to make sure that he was hearing correct, ignoring all the pleas for him to come back and have some fun. The call was actually a god send after he was dragged out to the club by his brothers and sisters for a unforgettable night but the temptation of drinking himself stupid and get so high was something that he was trying to avoid and his will was not that strong.
"I will be around in about half an hour, un" he finally got to tell the other, now free of the smoky club and now out into the fresh scent of night. That didn't make a difference as he lit up a cigarette, strolling down the road with the phone still next to his ear continuing to talk to him for a while before ending the call, promising that he would be there soon.
His step picked up with almost a bounce, swinging his arms back and forth happily that he was actually invited to come over for once instead of just showing up and expecting his hospitality plus he had offered him dessert for the effort. Looking down at his clothes he laughed at the clubbing attire that consisted mostly of slick vinyl and leather accessories, perfect for eye candy but hopeless to sleep in so maybe he could talk Itachi into give him some of his clothes to wear for the night which was certainly appealing to him but would be at least three times his size.
Deidara was so caught up in his ecstatic thoughts that the car pulling up beside him didn't even startle him, not even when he name was called out so abruptly, that point he was blatantly ignoring them because he wasn't just a dog that could be called over on command. It must have been his lack of consideration for the call of attention that made the car swerve in front of him blocking him from going any further, the extravagant BMW would need some extensive body work to recover the dented panels after he laid his steel capped boots into it. A man emerged from the damaged car and grabbed him by the arm, throwing him into an alley way before he had a chance to react, gasping in shock when he finally saw his face and whose vehicle he had assaulted. Knowing what he was in for Deidara fought back as hard as he could, scratching down his face roughly to tear the skin up trying anything he could do to get out of his grasp. He certainly did know who he was, he was still suffering the pain from their previous encounter, another thing he used in the struggle when he smashed his casted arm into the temple of the man but it wasn't enough to deter him.
Suffering, he felt that. The skin on his head split open from being smashed into the wall grating down to smear blood down the bricks to render him immobile, dazed enough to be fully aware of everything that was happening but not enough to respond, not even his vocals cords complying with his screams from the excruciating pain at tore at him. Why couldn't they accept that he wanted to be free of this, it was not the person he wanted to be? They didn't even listen when he refused to be drugged but it wasn't for his own pleasure but just another way to shut him up so no one would be drawn to his loud mouth. 'Please Itachi save me. It hurts so much, un'… and then he felt no more.
When the half hour mark passed he thought nothing more of it, an hour he was starting to get concerned but when almost two hours passed he reacted only to think that someone was wrong. His phone was unanswered only to divert to voice mail every time he tried, taking to the streets to see if he could track down where the blonde had gotten himself to. The lighting was poor around the neighborhood with most of the lights smashed or just not functioning in the forgotten place, the government didn't want to recognize them and no one was willing to help them that it has become nothing more than a haven for homeless, prostitutes and addicts alike. A few spotted the sports car cruising the main strip thinking it was more than likely another rich businessman looking for a cheap fuck because while rolling in money, they were still too tight assed to pay the high class hookers. They were in for a surprise when the window rolled down and an hundred flashed at them asking for the location of certain person, lucky for him that the blonde was well known in the parts by all. One of them had saw him at the club, pointing over in the direction that he had turned to after he had left. Any information was good enough so they were paid and the lead was followed, scanning the streets for any small place that he could be hiding.
A mixture of feelings flooded him not knowing what to feel, angry because he had just disappeared like that even after he promised, fearful that something had happened that made his stomach sick and ever other thing in between. If something had happened to him then it would be his fault for such a ridiculous request without even offering to pick him up, just expecting him to jump to command to come and see him all because he wanted his company for the night. Why did Kisame implant that notion to delve deeper into his own subconscious to discover how he felt about him, he was fine until that dream.
Gunmetal grey approached at him in a rapid rate causing him to slam on the brakes to get onto the sidewalk before he became a causality of the rising road fatalities, cursing him at the near death experience that he almost had but his exit was questionable since he was only stationary just up the road a bit. It was the actions of someone who had just committed an act of crime and was hastily trying to flee the scene before the cops showed up. Curiosity drew Itachi in further creeping the car forward up the road, peering down the side street where he had been to investigate what might have been going on, raising his head higher to see over the piled up rubbish and debris only to catch a glimpse of something that made his heart stop. Fair caramel blonde hair, long fair caramel blonde hair…
The keys were ripped out of the ignition and he was out of the car just as quick, running down the damp alleyway to the body laying there unmoving. He prayed that it wasn't him, collapsing to his knees at his side cradling the smaller body in his arms, his clothes disheveled, streaks of red through his hair that transferred to his hands as he supported his head. His eyes didn't want to focus on his features not yet ready to accept the fact, only staring at the plaster wrapped around his arm with creative drawings on one side and personal messages on the other with the autographs of Kisame, Hidan, Tobi… himself. Next to his name was a tiny discreet love heart that was not there before, camouflaged by the rest of the pictures so it wasn't noticeable on the first glance but the more he stared at it, he was unable to deny it anymore. His chest felt heavy with the struggle to breath, emotions trying to force themselves out only to be wrenched back in ceased attempt from progressing any further, jittery fingers petting back the hair from his bruised face hushing him delicately.
"I have some ice-cream and chocolate syrup waiting for you back home. You can have as much as you want" he whispered gently but his voice crackled part of the way through it. But Deidara wouldn't respond not matter how much he tried to coax him into talking.
What had he done? This was all his fault.