Black Fingernails, Red Wine
Chapter 28
"Okay." The word was heavy with a desire to recollect information that seemed too difficult to comprehend. There was rare anger in the tone. "Fugaku told Shisui that Deidara lied and was hiding from Fugaku and to go get him, and he gave Shisui a gun telling him it was fake, but it wasn't and Shisui shot Deidara by accident. And Deidara's doctor friend happened to be here…?"
"He's supposed to be teaching a lecture. Which is now four hours late," the doctor who had tried to stop the redhead before said. Not just a doctor. Dean of Medicine. "He's very hard to schedule be—"
"Last I checked if a teacher is fifteen minutes late, class is considered cancelled," Sasori commented.
The Dean started to argue, but Mikoto held her hand up to silence her. She looked down at Itachi who had his head on her shoulder. "And your teacher is claiming to be Deidara's mother?"
Itachi nodded mutely against her, feeling as though his brain was going to explode from overload. He had felt terror for hours, confusion, betrayal. His mother's shoulder was a solid, reassuring form. Deidara had said his mother was a foreigner and that she was a lawyer. Deidara had picked out his school from a whole pile. Chance? Doubtful. How had he not seen it? They had the same hair, same eyes…
"I thought that Deidara was an orphan," Mikoto said in a tone that was both protective and accusatory. He appreciated her caring about him like her own.
"Technically…" Sasori commented, drinking from a mug that read 'come back when I've had my coffee so I can ignore you properly'.
"She left him," Itachi said quietly to his mother.
He felt his mother's head jerk towards him and imagined the enraged expression on her face, but it was Sasori who explained, "She didn't want a boy." He gave a shrug as though he didn't care one way or another, but Itachi had seen how he had reacted when he had come out from the operating room a few hours after he had first disappeared and saw her. He had been furious and all but physically threw her out of the waiting room. In his short introduction to the redhead, he didn't seem like someone who let himself get more than annoyed on a regular basis. "She dumped him on a sidewalk, told him to wait for her, and drove away."
"What?" Mikoto gave a gasp of horror, mortified at the thought of a mother abandoning her own child. Her hands flew up to hold Itachi tighter, as though assuring him that she would never do such a thing to him or to Sasuke. "I thought… I thought Daichi had taken him in."
"No," Sasori shook his head. "Mura found him still waiting for her to come back almost two days after she left him. Then took him in."
His mother gave a sharp exhale of anger and disbelief, running her fingers affectionately through Itachi's hair. He hadn't sat like this in a very long time, curled up against his mother like a frightened child. She had arrived after Sasori had gone back into the room with Deidara a second time. Shisui had called her, but had only said that Itachi was at the hospital. She had burst in expecting to find Itachi injured, but had found him staring at a door that he was not allowed to go through. He had explained what had happened to her and Sasori had come out again, supplying the reassuring news that the blond was stable. It had been then that adrenaline left and exhaustion had hit Itachi and he'd been leaning against his mother since. He didn't care how childish he looked.
"Does anyone have his insurance card?" the Dean asked in the silence that followed.
"He doesn't have insurance," Sasori stated.
She spluttered in horror. "You! You gave him… all those tests! Operated on him. You aren't covered by the hospital. You… used my staff and medicine and he doesn't—"
"I'm covering for him," Sasori cut her off as her rant slowly rose to a screech. She stared at him in disbelief, but he didn't seem bothered by her anger. "This chat is boring. Excuse me, I find it much more entertaining to watch my patient wake up in their own personal nightmare."
"Can I go see him?" Itachi asked, lifting his head to look at him.
Sasori looked down his nose at him. "You're covered in blood," he replied and went back through the door.
"I… I apologize," the Dean said to Mikoto. "He is not one of my doctors, I had no ide—"
"That's quite alright," Mikoto said in the voice Sasuke affectionately called 'The Uchiha Tone'. It silenced the Dean's babble instantly with its inarguable nature. "Is there a shower where Itachi can clean up and change so he can see Deidara?"
"That isn't allowed," the woman said, apologetically. "He can go back to the school and—"
"No," Itachi said, firmly in his own Uchiha Tone.
"I think you can make an exception," Mikoto said, just as firmly.
It only took a few minutes to convince the Dean to allow him to use the showers. Mikoto used Itachi's phone to call Kisame to ask to bring him a change of clothes while he stripped and got under the hot water of the nurse's shower. He had thought he had been tired when he sat with his mother, but as the water hit him, exhaustion made him sink to the bottom of the shower. All that traumatic stress washing down on him with the water. He wanted to sleep. Maybe this was all a dream and if he fell asleep he would actually be waking up. He watched the dried flakes of Deidara's blood detach from his body and float away to spiral down the drain. His mind drifted back to when he had first met the blond. He had hated him so much, wanting nothing to do with someone like him. How things had changed… he had almost lost him today and it felt as though a piece of him had been torn away. He might still lose him and it made his chest want to cave in at the thought. Deidara had said he loved him too. Itachi knew he did, knew it in the way he laughed at things Itachi said, the way he complained that Itachi was 'so damn boring', the way his face lit up when he arrived each weekend to visit, the way he trusted him. He had never expected to hear it out loud.
He didn't want to see him all beat up and bandaged with tubes and wires attached to him. In that much pain, terrified of his surroundings. Deidara was tough and fearless. 'I've had worse' he'd probably say, but Itachi knew that was a lie. He had been shot in the back. What if it had hit his lung? Sasori said he was stable, but that didn't mean anything. What if he couldn't breathe on his own at all? What if he had only said he loved him too because he knew he was dying? What if he died? What if…
His mother found him much later, coming to find him when he took so long to come out. Sasori was with her, but didn't offer any help as she shut the water off and wrapped a towel around him, talking to him quietly to snap him out of his panicked trance. He hadn't had an attack in a very long time, not since before Fugaku had left. He pulled the clothes on that Kisame had brought, noticing that his roommate had also brought the blond's hoodie. He stepped out into the hallway, clutching it tightly and Sasori finally spoke.
"He's in his own room now. Awake."
Itachi looked up at him and saw the redhead staring at him curiously. He was studying his reactions, assessing them silently the way Deidara did sometimes when he wanted information, but didn't want to ask questions. He wondered if it was a coincidence or if the blond picked it up from him. He probably was expecting him to look happy, relieved, but he didn't move or speak.
"The bullet missed his lung," Sasori continued as though Itachi had asked him a question. "It pierced under it and shattered a few of his ribs, one of which inflicted heavy damage to his left lung. He's on a machine to help him breath for a little while, and he's currently on morphine and sedatives to keep him from panicking and blowing his heart. The bastard's survived yet another near death experience. Wish he'd just die and save me all this trouble."
The corners of Itachi's lips twitched. "He's not about to die," he said quietly. "He's too stubborn."
Sasori grunted in what could have been agreement and they followed him through the hospital to an area labeled Recovery. Itachi stopped when they came to the door to the blond's room, swallowing nervously, afraid of what may be on the other side. Mikoto squeezed his hand, worry etched on her face as well. "I called Mura," the redhead informed him. "I assume he'll be arriving soon, so you might want to get your alone time in before he arrives… or Deidara dies."
Deidara felt as though he were underwater, everything seemed dull and muffled, but his body felt like it was floating. He weighed nothing, he was nothing. It was a wonderful feeling that was broken by a sound that finally came to his senses. A pulsing rhythm. A beep…beep…beep…the sound quickened as he realized what the sound was. He wasn't floating. Drugs gave that illusion, but he wasn't on anything. Drugs didn't make beeping noises so it must be morphine making him feel like that which meant… Which meant… He tried to voice his protest, but he had no voice, no breath. The beeping matched his heart rate to display his panic. He didn't know the people around him, strangers holding him down. He knew these sounds. How could they ask him to be calm? This was a hospital! Why was he here? He had to get out! Why—
A hand gripped his face.
"Deidara, if you don't hold still, I will strap you down and take away all your morphine." Pale skin, brown eyes and red hair came into his fuzzy vision. "You have far too much luck for the average person," the voice muttered scornfully. "You've got a hole in your back and a tube down your throat. Stop struggling."
Deidara tried to speak again to ask Sasori why. Why. WHY? Sasori threatened him again and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block everything out. He felt himself shaking. Sasori was here, but why wasn't he telling them to let him go? A hole? In his back? Suddenly memories came back to him, slowed down by the pain killers. Shisui chasing them. Shisui with a gun. Itachi in the line of fire. He gripped Sasori's shirt and tugged it sharply, a new panic rising as he tried to speak, but only a horrible whine came out.
Sasori looked at him for a moment then shoved his hand away. "He's in the shower," the redhead told him, pushing his way between a nurse or two to check his vitals and that the bandage was on correctly. "Get out. I can do this myself."
"Dr. Akasuna, you're not employed here. You—"
"Out." They listened. Of course. Once they were gone, Sasori closed the door and came to sit on the stool beside the bed. The two of them stared at one another for several long moments until Deidara's brain finally shifted into thinking mode and he gave Sasori a curious look, unable to speak. The redhead understood. "I was supposed to give a lecture on treatment of airborne poisons," he answered. "Met a frantic brunette looking for you and stepped in to make sure no one killed you. Don't try to smile, moron, I don't want my test subject dead because someone made a mistake. I have questions. Blink once for no, twice for yes. Was this Uchiha? That was three, you idiot—stop trying to grin. Was he here?"
Deidara blinked once.
"Did he do this? What did I say?! There is no three—ah… he had someone do it for him."
Two blinks.
"Do you know the person that did it?" Sasori continued, then gave him an exasperated look. "Are you trying to make three blinks mean 'sort of'? Right, fine. I told you and told Mura to make sure you stayed low and instead you set fire—"
Deidara furiously shook his head even as Sasori reached out his hand to hold him still. He did not start that fire. He would never have started that fire! Even if he wanted to, he would never have let a building slowly burn with people he liked still inside. He would have blown it up. Sasori watched him as he slowly calmed down before releasing him, settling back to watch him wince in in pain. He sighed and pushed a button to raise his morphine dose.
"It's not really your style," Sasori commented offhandedly. "You could still die. Bullet missed your lungs, but barely. You've got a few broken ribs and they tore a bit of your lung. Don't do anything that will make your heart rate or breathing go up."
Deidara reached his hand up to point at his mouth, but Sasori shook his head. "You're silent for the first time in your life. I'm keeping you that way as long as I can. I'll be back in a moment with your new pet."
It was difficult not to slip into panic mode when Sasori left. Without a distraction, the hospital sounds became loud in his ears again. He had seen his hand, stuck with needles. They itched, he wanted to rip them out. To keep the sounds out he started singing as loud as he could in his head. He hoped Sasori wouldn't keep him here for long. He hated hospitals. So… so much. But Sasori was going to get Itachi. Oh, shit, Sasori knew about Itachi now. He'd have to warn him to avoid Sasori as much as possible.
It didn't take long for the door to open again, but he kept his eyes squeezed shut. No more nurses. No more needles. Someone please put those godawful machines on silent. Then he heard a voice. A voice so sweet to his ears, relief swept over him. It sounded odd, worried and timid, not like it normally did, but it was still Itachi's voice all the same.
"He looks like he's in pain…"
"He's not," Sasori stated before giving the bed a good kick. "He can't feel anything." That was true. Deidara cracked his eyes open and looked at them. Itachi was staring at him, eyes wider than normal. Mikoto was standing next to him, looking concerned and unhappy. It took hours to get here… how long had he been out? Sasori stepped into his vision, looking smug – an entirely indecent expression for the redhead. "You little bastard," he told him. "That's your secret, isn't it? Him? Itachi Uchiha? Your boyfriend? Is that what you wouldn't tell me?"
Deidara glared at him. He would not touch Itachi. He would not. He would leave them alone, but Sasori was taking advantage of his silence to continue looking smug. Someone had to distract him before he began to plot. The two Uchihas thanked Sasori and stared at him until he finally stepped out of the room to give them privacy.
"Are you okay?" Itachi asked, face pale with worry. Deidara gave him a half-hearted thumbs up and Itachi came over to take his hand. "I was scared. You were losing so much blood… I thought…"
Mikoto came up behind him and place a comforting hand on his shoulder, whispering reassurances and Itachi gingerly sat down on the bed, eyes darting from him to the monitors. Mikoto came around the other side and placed her hand on Deidara's forehead to push his hair off his face. He wasn't the one that needed comfort though and he shifted uncomfortably and watched Itachi, wishing he could speak to offer him something that would calm the Uchiha down. It was another hour before Sasori finally came back and took the tube out, but he had to keep a plastic mask on his face that force fed him oxygen.
Not long after, Daichi came storming in, looking white faced, but furious as he stopped at the foot of Deidara's bed staring down at him. Deidara also gave him a half-hearted thumbs up with the grin he gave the mechanic every time he injured himself, but Daichi just gave an exasperated sigh like a deflating bull. "You should have told me where you fucking were," he growled. A few others from the garage filed in behind him, looking worried.
Deidara gave Itachi a nudge and Itachi jerked his head from the monitor and glanced back at Daichi. "Deidara's phone was in the apartment," Itachi told him.
"I know he has another phone," the mechanic scoffed.
"Sorry," Deidara croaked out, making it as sarcastic as possible.
With his stitches and bandages, he would be unable to properly wash his hair, so some of the guys came around to braid his hair into hundreds of tiny braids so he wouldn't have to wash his hair as often. Itachi didn't seem thrilled with it. He had migrated to laying down next to him after Deidara had aggressively demanded him to by hitting the mattress. He fingered a finished braid and told him later it didn't feel right. Once Deidara was able to talk, Itachi seemed to relax a little, but continued to monitor the screens and his face carefully.
The furious Dean had discovered them all crowded in the room and Sasori, who was sitting in the corner away from everyone, reminded her that he wasn't an employee so it wasn't his job to enforce things like hospital rules of number of visitors. With her breathing down their necks, everyone left, some saying they'd come visit again later and Daichi said he was renting a hotel room nearby for the night so he would be back when he could to demand answers. Deidara glanced at Itachi, then at Mikoto who returned to her seat when Daichi had vacated it. She took both of their hands and rubbed them with her thumb as she watched.
"Deidara," she called softly, as though he had been asleep. He turned his head to her and she leaned up to kiss his forehead, reaching up to cup his cheek, her expression fierce and intimate. "Thank you for saving my Itachi again, you sweet, sweet boy."
Deidara made a noise of embarrassed protest, but she continued to smile at him, her thumb rubbing his cheek. "I'm going to bring you two something to eat," she said.
"I'm not hungry," Itachi muttered.
The blond tried to nudge him in protest but moving his left arm was a bad idea and he gave a soft grunt, the brunette noticed. "Don't be stupid," he said instead. Mikoto nodded her agreement and stood to leave the room. It was quite dark outside now, but the artificial light kept the room quite painfully bright. "I don't want to stay here," he murmured, voice still rough but not as bad as it had been. Itachi wouldn't make fun of him for being afraid. "Let's sneak out, un."
"No," Itachi said predictably. He lift his head off the pillow so he could see him better. "You can't, not yet. I'm sorry."
He grumbled quietly. Reaching up, he placed his hand on the back of his neck and pulled him closer. The movement was with his right arm, but it still strained his left side painfully. Seeing this, Itachi hurriedly leaned closer. "I want a kiss," he stated when Itachi looked confused.
"Deidara," Itachi sighed, sounding both irritable and apologetic. "I might hurt you. Just relax, okay?"
"I want a kiss, un," he insisted, turning his chin up at him. Itachi sighed again, and leaned down to give him little more than a peck. Deidara made a grumbling noise and gave him another tug. "More."
Itachi's red tinted eyes stared at him, looking apologetic as he shook his head. He began to protest, but Itachi shook his head. "Deidara, no. I will hurt you," he said firmly. "Did you mean what you said?"
"When?" he asked in confusion.
Itachi's hand came up to rub his nose gently with the tip of his finger, a small smile on his lips. It was almost too affectionate. Too tender. "Right before they paramedics came," he told him. "Did you mean it?"
Deidara felt his cheeks growing hot in embarrassment and he quickly pulled his breathing mask up to his face to cover it up as he turned his head away. Crap, he had said it hadn't he? He took a few small breathes from his mask, unable to take any deep breaths. That thing that had made him so uncomfortable, that thing that he was sure he would never say because it was such a vulnerable thing to say. Why would anyone willingly bare themselves that much to someone who could tear themselves away from you on a whim? Itachi had said them many times to him as if it was a promise, but himself? The last time he had said it to someone... He closed his eyes trying to block out the memory, stuff it down and away where it wouldn't bother him anymore.
Too late.
"Shit," he muttered, pressing his palms into his eyes, stars bursting against his lids.
"What's wrong?" Itachi asked, sitting up on his elbow. "Is something hurting? You don't have to say it, it's okay, I'm sorry."
"No," Deidara muttered, letting his hand fall. He looked up at the ceiling and took as deep a breath as his pained lungs would allow. "I did mean it," he finally said in a soft whisper.
Next to him, Itachi smiled and his finger reached up to gently brushed his chin with his finger. "Does it upset you that much?" he asked, seeming to sense the root of his turmoil. "Have you said it to someone before?"
He closed his eyes. Itachi wouldn't judge. Itachi was safe. "Mutti," he replied softly again. "My mom," he clarified.
Mikoto saved him from further embarrassment by returning with food from the cafeteria – sandwiches, salad with water for Itachi, soup and grapes for Deidara along with orange juice and a straw for him to drink from. Even though he had said he wasn't hungry, Itachi sat up and ate the food while Mikoto carefully fed Deidara after propping him up gently. When they were finished, she told them that she was going to check into a hotel as well so that she could come visit tomorrow. It was too late for her to drive home. Itachi was going to stay with Deidara so he wouldn't be alone in the hospital. He was grateful that Itachi didn't bring up those words again, but settled down against him when the bed was put back down, tucking him in and stayed by his side all night, sleeping soundly with him until Sasori came in the next morning to check up on the blond.
"Two vanilla milkshakes, please," Itachi said to the woman behind the counter.
"And fries too?" she asked, grinning at him. "How is that boy of yours?"
Itachi gave a small grin and told her he was fine. Three days of the hospital and much of staff knew both of them by name now thanks to Deidara. The blond had declared the hospitals milkshakes and fries superb and wanted one as a snack multiple times a day. Itachi wasn't fooled. It was true, but also an excuse to get Itachi out of the room so he could sneak out and have the hospital staff spend hours tracking him down while he smoked a cigarette. There were some that believed themselves to be clever and thought they could easily find him, but Itachi knew better than them to check the same place twice. He might be on the roof for a smoke, but it would be in a different level, or on a balcony, or out in the garden. Everyone seemed to know who they were now – the loud, obnoxious blond and his quiet, polite shadow.
"What can you tell me about the incident, Mrs. Williams?"
Itachi turned to look over his shoulder. Sitting a few tables away from the counter was his headmistress and a man in a cheap looking suit with a note pad. A reporter, perhaps? Professor Williams had her back to him, her wavy blond hair pulled off her face into a smart bun, so Itachi couldn't see her face, but her voice sounded tired as she replied, "unfortunately the identity of the shooter is unknown, but it certainly was not a student from my school. When I arrived at the scene, the boys were already on the ground and it was impossible to tell what had happened. The police are investigating, and security has increased. There is no danger to our students."
"And what of the rumor that you claimed the victim was your son when you entered the hospital?" the reporter inquired. Itachi couldn't see her face, but could see that she stilled, her shoulders tensing until the reporter spluttered an apology and closed his notepad. "Right. Of course, thank you very much."
The reporter stood and left, but Williams did not. She continued to sit and stir her cup slowly with a plastic spoon.
Itachi paid for the milkshakes and took the bag of fries from the woman at the counter and went over to her table, dropping into the newly vacated seat. He couldn't help it. He was so angry at her, furious. He felt deceived, betrayed. This woman was someone he looked up to, someone he enjoyed learning from, wanting to meet her wit with law, psychology, and logic and hopefully overcome it. Yet the truth stained her. Deidara's mother. A woman that left her eight year old son on the streets, alone to die. Her son that still didn't hate her for what she'd done, just mutely accepted that he wasn't good enough. He caught a glimpse of her before he sat down. She looked remarkably like Deidara as she stared out the window. He hated her for it. Itachi's hands released the milkshakes before he squeezed them too hard.
"Itachi," she exclaimed in surprise, startled out of a day dream. "What are you doing here?" When Itachi indicated the milkshake, her surprise faded a little and she looked irritable. "I meant in the hospital."
"Deidara's here," he replied shortly.
"That's right," she said smiling. "You were with the boy when he was shot. That's nice of you to visit with him."
"He's my boyfriend," Itachi told her, just as shortly.
"Oh…" her lips pursed a little, but otherwise didn't react. "I didn't know you knew him."
"I didn't know you knew him either," he glowered.
Silence. Professor Williams was staring intently into her tea. "Sasori Akasuna told you I'm sure," she finally murmured. "He's always given him attention." A bitter tone.
"Deidara told me, actually," Itachi replied sharply. "A long while ago, but I didn't know it you he was talking about."
"What did he say?"
"Does it really matter?" Itachi asked, wondering if she'd deny what the blond had told him. Memories of the conversation on the mountain came to mind. The stars had been reflecting in Deidara's sad, pale eyes. No contempt, no anger, no accusations. In Deidara's mind, it was his fault his mother didn't want him. Something he had done that he didn't know and couldn't take back. He didn't think Deidara could lie and fake a look that vulnerable. "Does Deidara have any other siblings you left to die on the side of the road till you got the one you wanted?"
The resemblance to Deidara's flashing look of anger shocked him again. Eyes sharpening, mouth tight with a slight turn at the corners, demanding to know what gave him the right to question her. "I only have a daughter," she replied with cool dignity. "Only a daughter. You are young, you wouldn't understand."
He wasn't sure if he hated her more for not even trying to deny her actions. "I am not a child," Itachi said to her. "Give me a logical explanation for someone to leave their only child on the curb, promising them that they'd come back for them, just because it's the wrong gender."
"You have no idea how difficult he was!" she snapped angrily, her voice not growing louder so as not to attract attention from people around them. "I didn't have—"
"You had other choices," Itachi snapped at her. "You could have given him to someone else, or actually treated him like a human. He waited for you, he waited and waited. An eight year old boy who just wanted his mother. He waited for you." He stared at her face, eyes narrowing at his anger. There was no remorse in her face. He found himself disgusted with her. "You don't have to be here. No one wants you here. You're pretending to be concerned for the 'victim' for good press. Just leave."
He didn't wait for a reply. If one was thrown at his back it was lost in the swish of the cafeteria door. He had to get out of there. A moment longer and he might have been kicked out of school for hitting his professor. His own wonderful mother who had dropped everything to help them was sitting in the room with Deidara when he arrived, she had brought their phone chargers and Deidara's DS from Daichi's, who had to go back to the city for work after grilling Deidara for every single detail he could recall the day of the fire after he left the garage - "why didn't you tell Rin about the unmarked cop car?", his journey here – "where is my motorcycle?", and Shisui's attack for a few hours. When he ran out of questions the mechanic had sat, staring at the blond with his dark eyes intense, before reaching up to grip the top of his head and give it a gentle shake; both critical at the danger he had put himself in and relief at his survival.
"What took you so long? It's melting," Deidara complained after taking the milkshake from him.
"Sorry," he said, trying to smile as he returned to his place on the bed next to him. His fingers slowly twisted the tiny braids of blond hair. He would have to go back to school eventually. That school. Her school. Her classes. He could get the classes switched, but that would have to go through her. Being stuck with her for two hours once a week was better than working out a schedule with her.
"Itachi? Are you alright?" his mother asked. He looked up at her frowning at him.
He sighed and looked down at those blue eyes and those boyish long lashes staring up at him in concern. He bit his lip, but decided to ask. "Did you know?" he asked him.
"Know what?"
"Who she was when you picked the school out for me," Itachi replied, reaching hand up to stop the straw hurriedly going into his mouth so he wouldn't have to answer. "Is that why you picked the school? Because of her?"
"It's a good school," Deidara mumbled in his defense, but his reaction made the answer clear.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Itachi questioned.
"You wouldn't have gone," the blond replied.
"You wanted to see her?" Mikoto asked gently.
Deidara frowned down at his milkshake, about to say something, but the door opened and he froze, staring at something over Itachi's shoulder.
"She followed me," Sasori's voice sounded from the door. Itachi expected to see Deidara's mother, but there was no one with him. The redhead picked up the milkshake Itachi had bought for himself but left on the counter. "Next time, get me chocolate," Sasori said, taking a sip and looked a little disappointed. "It's melting…"
"Hello! I made this for you!"
Jerking around, he saw a little girl with pigtails and dark eyes standing next to Mikoto by the bed. She was holding out a handmade card to Deidara. It was pink and very glittery with crayon drawings of a pony with purple spots having a tea party with two yellow haired people. Inside was a smiley stick figure with wings surrounded by glittery balloons and flowers. On the right hand side were the words 'get better' in misshaped child hand writing.
"I made it myself!" she boasted, swishing her dress that matched the one the doll in the crook of her arm wore. "Mr. Sasori said you were sick and so I made it because getting cards makes people all better when they're sick!"
The three adults turned to look at Sasori who seemed fascinated with something out the window with his back to them. Deidara swallowed and took the card from her. "It's very pretty. Thanks, Marianna."
The girl gasped dramatically. "You know my name?"
"Sasori… told me, un," Deidara stammered out. Sasori gave an unhelpful scoff from the window.
"Oh," she giggled, giving him a big grin. "This is Victoria, she's from France."
"She's very pretty. I like her dress, but it looks cuter on you," Deidara told her. Itachi turned to stare at him, but the blond ignored his questioning look, eyes only for the girl. Itachi had never heard Deidara talk to like that before.
"Marianna," the door opened again, Sasori finally moving to stand in the way, but Professor Williams just barreled passed the small man. "Sweetheart, you were supposed to stay in the play area. You shouldn't have wandered off like that."
"I was with Mr. Sasori, mutti," she said, bouncing over to her. "I made a card!"
"That's nice of you, Liebling," Professor Williams said. "Go find your daddy."
The little girl turned and obediently left the room, leaving a silence behind. "Sasori," Professor Williams said coolly, turning to him. "Please leave my child alone."
"Which one?" Sasori asked sardonically, eyebrow rising.
Professor Williams glared at him, but with a sudden movement, Mikoto flung out her arm and slapped her across the face. Itachi started, almost grabbing Deidara, who had jumped as well, in shock. He had never seen his mother so angry before, never seen her lash out. His mother was breathing hard, her dark eyes sharp and angry. Professor Williams seemed to consider throwing something back at her, but his mother's expression stopped her. Mikoto drew a shaking breath and stood up to her full height, sliding her hands down her jacket to settle herself. "You," she said, her voice a forced calm, "are not welcome in this room or near this boy."
"I was collecting my daughter, Ms. Uchiha," Professor Williams told her coolly.
"Your daugh—your daughter? Your son is lying on this bed," Mikoto flared up again, pointing her finger at them. "How could you do such a vile thing? Your son!"
His headmistress took a deep breath, nose turning up a bit as she seemed to be forcing herself not to look at the bed. The anger between the two women clashed, but Professor Williams seemed wary about facing Mikoto in an argument. Instead, she also straightened her jacket, but marched out of the room with as much dignity as she could muster. Sasori's eyes followed her, then looked at Mikoto as if she had impressed him. "Fix your face," the redhead snapped. Itachi started, thinking he was talking to him, but realized he meant Deidara. "Ten years, Deidara."
"Shut up," Deidara bit out, dragging the covers up as far as they would go and jerked to the side, away from them.
"Dei, don't you're going to tear your stitches," Itachi warned, trying to gently turn him around.
"She didn't care then, she won't now," the redhead continued.
"Shut up!"
"Sasori," Mikoto scolded.
"Stop expecting something from her."
"Why did you let Marianna in then, un?!"
"…Clearly I have a weakness for persistent and obnoxious blond midgets," Sasori rationalized. "I didn't think Maria would come in."
"Sasori, please leave," Itachi started, but Sasori continued.
"She doesn't want you. Wake up and get out of your fantasy that she'll change your mind."
"Get out!" Deidara yelled, sitting up in his bed.
"Don't take your anger out at me," Sasori said, as monotonous as always.
"Sasori," Mikoto said, moving between Sasori and the bed protectively. "Please step outside." Sasori stared at her, then at Itachi who had arm around Deidara as he curled up to clutch his chest in pain. Though what kind of pain, Itachi didn't know. The redhead finally turned and left, the door sliding firmly shut behind him. Deidara laid back down, pulling the covers up again and jerked his head away from the two Uchiha's.
"Dei…don't lie like that, you'll hurt yourself," Itachi told him, trying to roll him back around.
"I'm fine," came the muffled reply.
Mikoto came over, leaning down to touch Deidara's shoulder, murmuring kind words to him as she had to Itachi. Finally he let them roll him onto his back, Mikoto checking his bandages under his hospital gown as he stared up at the ceiling looking furious at himself. "Oh sweetheart," she murmured gently, hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry…"
"I'm fine," he repeated, flinching away from her touch and turned his head away from her against Itachi's shoulder. He would take Itachi empathy over Mikoto's motherly warmth that made him so uncomfortable, emphasizing worse than ever since she knew what he had never received. She didn't try to touch him again. "I've just got glitter in my eye from that stupid card, un."
Itachi didn't say anything, unsure of what to say. Instead, his hand rubbed slow, gently circles on Deidara's stomach. Either he didn't mind the touch, or he was too preoccupied with the card in his hands from his little sister to notice while Mikoto watched them both with tears in her eyes.
