Chapter two

Itachi didn't know how it happened, but after the first time Deidara had come to his house, it had happened more and more times. They spend a lot of free time together and not just because they had become friends.

A month after their first meeting, Deidara had actually taken it upon himself to give Itachi's house a makeover.
Itachi had argued with Deidara about it for hours, telling him that his house was perfectly fine the way it was and it was how he liked it.

Deidara though, wouldn't have any of it, and Itachi had decided to just go along with it. He didn't want to fight Deidara, since he actually liked thinking about spending more time with the blonde. He didn't know why.

Since Deidara wasn't going to listen to him, Itachi decided he could at least try and be happy about the change.

Itachi had been living alone for a few years now and Deidara had made it quite clear that his house was dull, boring, grey and nothing positive was happening in there. He had asked Itachi if he had the money to brighten it up. Itachi had. His parents were rich so they provided for him in practically every way.

His mother would be thrilled if he changed his place. He hadn't been too sure he wanted Deidara involved in that though. He didn't want his place to be filled with caterpillar paintings and bright colors, like he knew Deidara would want it to be. He didn't want the time he and Deidara spend together to end though, so he had agreed.

Right now, they were coming back from shopping for wall paint. His stuff had been cleared out of the way in the living room, so they could paint it.

"So which wall do you want to be striped yeah?" Deidara asked.

Deidara had decided the walls needed the most work, because they were plain white (and boring according to Deidara). He had told Itachi they needed to paint a wall and they needed to give another one stripes.

"We'll see when we're home. You're probably gonna decide anyway." Itachi said, but gave Deidara a smile.

Deidara had allowed Itachi to pick the color, as long as it wasn't grey. So he picked blue. Deidara hadn't agreed and then picked out some orange color instead. It wasn't all too bright, but Itachi found it just too… colorful.

He had agreed though, when Deidara had looked at him hopefully again.

"Not if you pick the right wall yeah." Deidara grinned at Itachi, who opened the door and let Deidara in.

They set the paints down and Deidara crashed on the couch.

"Let's take a break first, ok Itachi?"

"Sure. Tired already? We haven't even started yet."

"I'm not tired, I'm resting so that I can be artistic later yeah!"

Itachi let out a small chuckle as he sat down next to the blonde.

"Can I borrow some old clothes of yours?" Deidara asked as they sat in silence for a while.

"I'll get you some."

Itachi went to his room to get on old shirt and pants and then went back to give them to Deidara.

"You can change in my room if you want."

Deidara nodded, took the clothes and changed.

Itachi looked around a little now. He had gotten used to his surrounding the way they were. However, he was also used to spending his time alone studying and he had liked the change. The change Deidara had given him. It was strange, he never thought a single person could change his lifestyle, and now that same person was gonna change his house, just like that.

It was sudden, so sudden it overwhelmed Itachi a little.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by his bedroom door opening.

"They're a little big." Deidara was wearing a black shirt, the was hanging over his shoulders slightly. The pipes of Itachi's pants were covering both his feet completely and Itachi couldn't help but smile. Deidara looked cute this way. Cute? Why was he thinking of that word?

Itachi shook the thoughts off and walked to Deidara, kneeling down to fold the pipes up a little.

"There. The shirt is fine."

"It's too big, but I can work with it."

Itachi saw Deidara pull his hair into a high ponytail and he smiled again. Quickly fleeing to his room with the excuse of changing, he left Deidara by himself.
He was left with his thoughts again, as he slowly changed into other clothes.

Deidara really had an odd effect on him. Whenever he was around Itachi felt himself more relaxed than usual. He was forgetting things and he was having thoughts about Deidara as well. Thoughts he really shouldn't have. Things like finding him cute or appealing, that kind of things. Things he normally should be feeling for girls.

However, Itachi always knew he would never feel that way for a girl. He just hadn't expected them to grow when he met a guy.

"Itachi!"

Itachi couldn't help but chuckle when the source of all his over thinking was yelling at him like that. Itachi quickly pulled on the rest of his clothes and then went back to the living room.

"Sorry, I had trouble with finding the right clothes." He said.

"Ok. Come help yeah." Deidara was already busy painting one wall orange now.

Itachi smirked slightly, picking up a paint roller and dipped it in the paint as well.

"I thought I could pick which walls would be coloured."

"You took too long so I picked yeah."

"I can see that. You picked the biggest wall."

"I want to paint a lot."

Itachi smiled at that as he saw Deidara busy with the wall, he himself started painting as well. He had to admit, he liked the color.

"You like art a lot hm?" He asked.

Deidara nodded. "It makes me feel free yeah."

"Free?"

"Nobody tells me what to do when I do art, I can do what I want."

Itachi smiled at that once more, noticing that he was smiling a lot lately as well.

"So, what do you need to feel free from then?"

Deidara shrugged. "I don't know. School. Home. Life yeah." He answered. Itachi didn't like the sound of that.

"Don't you enjoy life?"

When did this conversation become so heavy?

"I enjoy life. To the fullest yeah. But sometimes you need to be free from everything." Deidara smiled at Itachi, who let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding.

As he was about to get back to painting, he felt something wet on his arm. Looking at it, he saw it was bright orange and Deidara was grinning at him, paintbrush still in hand.

"Why did you do that?" Itachi asked confused.

"You shouldn't take everything so heavy. You always do that yeah." Deidara answered, giving him a grin before turning back to the wall.

Itachi got back to painting as well, thinking of that. Deidara had a point. He had the tendency to make anything more than it is. He just didn't want to regret anything, so he had to take everything seriously.

He felt something wet across his cheek now.

"You're doing it again."

Itachi couldn't help but smile at Deidara before taking his own paintbrush and painted on the shirt Deidara was wearing.

"It's not very nice to paint me you know." Itachi said and earned a smirk from Deidara.

"Says the one who just painted me yeah."

"I painted your shirt. Or rather my shirt."

"I painted you."

Itachi let out a chuckle now. "I know, I should take revenge."

He put his paintbrush in the paint again and then painted Deidara's ear. Deidara quickly took a few steps back, acting as if he was very displeased, but then laughed.

"That's gross yeah." He put his finger on the tip of his paintbrush, aimed it at Itachi and then let go, making the paint drops go all over the place. Itachi returned the favour and just like that they started a paint competition. Deidara quickly got the upper hand though. He was simply quicker and knew how to use his paintbrush.

Itachi wouldn't have any of it, and in the heat of the battle, he managed to grab Deidara from behind, sneaking an arm around his waist.

In that flash of a moment, the tension rose and both boys stood still, frozen in the spot. Itachi's arm was wrapped around Deidara and suddenly Itachi noticed how close they were. Where did this tension come from and why wasn't Deidara moving anymore? Why wasn't he himself moving anymore?

Itachi could feel Deidara's breathing as they stood there in silence, before he finally had the courage to pull away.

"Let's get back to painting the walls." He said and put his brush to the wall again.

He could see Deidara nodding from the corner of his eyes and turning back to painting the wall again as well.

The air was thick for at least ten minutes, as neither spoke. But then Itachi felt something wet on his arm once again. He looked to the side and saw Deidara smirking at him, then turning back to the wall. Itachi smiled. He must have misread the whole situation again. Maybe the air was only thick for him.

Deidara must not have even noticed how nervous touching the blonde had made Itachi.

-.-.-

"Pfew, that was more work than I thought it would be yeah."

Itachi put the last swipe of paint on the wall as he saw Deidara sitting down on the couch carefully, making sure it wouldn't get stained with paint.

"It's done now. Do you want a drink?" Itachi asked, putting away his own paintbrush.

Deidara nodded. "Some lemonade if you have that yeah. I like the walls now."

Itachi just nodded as he went to get some drinks. Deidara was right though, the walls were better. They weren't screaming orange like Itachi had expected. The striped orange wall was nice as well.

As Itachi came back, Deidara was staring at the walls, satisfied. Itachi handed him his lemonade and sat down as well.

"I like the walls Deidara. You picked the color well." He smiled slightly.

"Thanks yeah. I figured you would like it. It was nice right, painting? Next time we'll change the Furniture."

"You want to change the furniture too?"

"Of course, look at how dull they are yeah."

"I like my furniture."

"You liked your walls as well and they were dull too."

"What furniture would you pick?"

Itachi wasn't sure why he was asking that. This sounded like he was agreeing on buying new Furniture.

Maybe he was.

"I wouldn't pick a grey bench, that's for sure. Maybe a white one, and then throw some pillows on them yeah. And pretty chairs, you need pretty chairs." Deidara said.

"What do you mean by pretty chairs?"

"You'll just have to find out when we go shopping for them yeah."

Itachi watched Deidara grin at him and then shook his head amused.

"Fine, have it your way. It's late, do you want to stay for dinner?"

Deidara nodded smiling.

"Love to. Can you cook?" He asked.

"I've been living alone for a while now, I can keep myself alive obviously."

Itachi knew he was not giving himself enough credit. His mother had taught him how to cook at a young age. He had been a natural at it.

"Good yeah. I'll help." Deidara got up from the couch and dragged Itachi from his seat as well.

The two went to the kitchen, where Deidara decided they were gonna eat pancakes, whether Itachi had the ingredients or not. It didn't take long before they had the batter ready and Itachi started making the pancakes out of it.

It also didn't take long before Deidara came up with the 'brilliant' idea that he wanted to flip the pancakes by tossing them in the air. It went wrong of course, and the half-baked pancake landed on the ground.

"Whoops."

Deidara stared at the pancake that lay ruined on the floor.

"I could have told you that would happen."

"But you didn't yeah."

Itachi sighed and started cleaning up.

"Can I try it with another one?"

"No."

"Please?"

Silence. More silence. Itachi could feel Deidara putting up his pleading eyes.

"Fine." He finally said. "But if you ruin that one too, you'll never flip a pancake in my house ever again."

Deidara apparently was pleased with that answer. Maybe he knew Itachi would let him try over and over again until finally he got the hang of it after the sixth try.

"I did it yeah!" The blonde said enthusiastic.

Itachi smiled at him now. "Yes I saw. Very good."

"You can have that one. Specially flipped for you yeah."

"Thank you."

Itachi smiled at Deidara, who smiled back. Itachi was slowly finding out that Deidara might have an effect on him with that smile for a reason. But he was not going to jump to conclusions. He was just enjoying the company for now.

Itachi's smile grew.

"Let's make more." He said.

-.-.-

Somehow, after the two had eaten a lot of pancakes, they ended up watching TV together until it was too late for Deidara to go home. So Itachi had offered for him to sleep over and Deidara had agreed.

Itachi felt slightly nervous about having someone else sleeping in his house with him though. He wasn't sure how to do this. He had a spare bedroom for whenever Sasuke would stay over. He figured Deidara could sleep there.

Would it be weird to sleep in the same bed? It probably would. Having Deidara in the spare bedroom was probably for the best.

"What are you thinking about?"

Deidara woke Itachi from his thoughts. They were still sitting on the couch, the TV was on as well.

"Oh, nothing really. You can sleep in the spare bedroom tonight."

"What? No, that's not fun. Don't you have a mattress I can put on the floor in your room yeah?"

"Why do you wanna sleep in my room?" Itachi felt himself become slightly nervous.

"Because then it won't be so lonely and we can talk if we want yeah. So I'll sleep in your room. Where can I find a mattress?"

Itachi got up and went up the stairs, Deidara following him. He could hear that strange tap in Deidara's walking again and suddenly he wondered why that tap was even there.

"Deidara. You have a funny walk."

"Do I?"

"Yeah, when I hear you following, it's like you take an extra step or something."

"Oh that." Deidara walked next to Itachi now and looked at his left foot. "I had an accident and now I can't roll my foot like most people. So I have to land on the back first and then land on my toes."

As he explained, Deidara was smiling.

"Isn't that quite serious?" Itachi asked.

Deidara hit Itachi in the shoulder, smirking. "I told you not to take everything so seriously. It's fine yeah. Everyone has something right."

"I guess. So, it doesn't hurt?"

"Only if I walk for an entire day. Now where is the mattress?"

Itachi opened a big closet and pulled out an extra mattress. He wondered how this was going to end up. He probably shouldn't be so nervous. Deidara wouldn't sleep in his bed anyway.

Just in his room.

-.-.-

The next morning, Itachi woke up from the sunlight that was shining in his face. He groaned and then stretched a little.

Itachi was definitely a morning person, but he had stayed up far too long that night to get up any earlier. Deidara had kept him awake by talking nonstop.

Itachi turned to see if Deidara was awake, only to find the mattress next to his bed was empty.

"Deidara?" Itachi asked, but he got no answer. Frowning, he got up from his own bed and pulled on his robe.

He walked out of his room, downstairs and into the living room. He found Deidara there. And when he wanted to tell him good morning, he found something else in the room. Something he really didn't want there.

He was met with another of those ridiculous caterpillar's Deidara seemed to love. It was painted on the wall next to the fireplace.

"What the hell did you do?"

Deidara turned around now, looking innocent and then smirked.

"Now now Itachi, I didn't think you approved of swearing."

"Why a caterpillar in heavens name?" Itachi ignored Deidara's remark.

"They're cute. You needed something cute."

"Caterpillars are not cute."

"Yes, they are yeah."

"No. And we're not playing this game of yes and no." Itachi quickly said as he saw Deidara opening his mouth. Instead, he now pouted.

"Well, I think they're cute, please leave it on there yeah."

"Fine. I guess it does look good, although it's weird."

Itachi walked to the kitchen now and started getting stuff for breakfast.

"Are you angry?"

Itachi hadn't even heard Deidara walk into the kitchen, but he was standing right next to him. How did that happen?

"No. Why would I be angry?"

"Cause you don't like me drawing and painting on your stuff yeah?"

"I don't mind. Not anymore."

"You don't?"

Itachi sighed and turned to Deidara.

"I have to admit I thought it was annoying at first. But now I just have to adjust to it. It's nice having something a bit more unpredictable in my life."

Deidara smiled at that and Itachi smiled back.

"And you're telling me I take things too serious." He earned a fist to his shoulder.

"Shut up yeah." The two smirked at each other, before Itachi turned to make breakfast.

"I'll make us some eggs." He said.

They made breakfast, talking about small things until it was ready. They put the food on the table in silence.

When they sat down to eat, Deidara started talking again.

"Can I ask you something yeah?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Do you like someone?"

Itachi nearly choked on the piece of egg he just put in his mouth as he looked up at Deidara.

Shit.

-.-.-