Chapter five

It had been three days since Itachi had seen or spoken to Deidara. He had texted him three times and called him twice, but there had been no response.

Itachi had enough of it.

So now he was walking through the school, heading to a certain person's locker. He, just like Deidara, had remembered the other's schedule and since neither of them had class for at least three hours, he was taking Deidara out for lunch.

He spotted his object of affection and stopped next to him.

"Deidara." He said, knowing his voice sounded stern and monotone. He didn't want to take no for an answer.

Deidara turned to him and that was when Itachi got a little shocked.

Deidara looked like he hadn't slept in days. His hair wasn't shining like it used to and his face wore no smile.

Itachi lost his will to stay calm and composed.

"What's wrong?"

Deidara sighed, seemingly on the verge of tears but pulled himself back together.

"Sasori and I have been fighting for days. I'm just tired."

Itachi frowned. Fighting for days? He was wondering if Sasori and Deidara would even work out.

Sasori sure didn't bring out the best in Deidara. If any, he brought out the worst.

"What were you fighting about?" Itachi asked.

"Just stuff." Deidara sighed again and closed his locker, before looking at Itachi patiently. Or tired, it could have been both.

"Well, I was already planning on taking you out for lunch in between classes, so let's go."

Deidara frowned and sighed and then frowned again.

"There's something I gotta tell you first yeah." He said.

It was Itachi's turn to frown this time. He waited for the continuation.

"Sasori and I weren't fighting about random stuff yeah." Deidara sighed once more. Itachi wondered what he was going to say.

He wasn't quite prepared for what Deidara said next.

"We were fighting about you."

Itachi was having trouble registering what Deidara had just told him a few seconds ago.
He was staring at the blonde a little dumbfounded.

All Deidara could do was look Itachi straight in the eye.

"I'm not following." Itachi said confused.

Deidara took a deep breath, before he started talking again.

"That day when I was at your place and he called me home. Turns out he just didn't want me to be alone with you."

Deidara looked at Itachi and seemed really upset. Itachi didn't know what to say. Or what to think.

Deidara continued.

"He thinks you like me."

"I do." Itachi said, not thinking things over like he usually did.

"No, I mean like like me." Deidara looked at Itachi intently, apparently hoping he would get it.

Itachi didn't, so Deidara rolled his eyes.

"Sasori has this weird idea that you're in love with me."

Neither said anything for a full minute, Itachi was sure of that. He felt like he was struck by lightning.

Because Sasori was so right.

What should he say now? Yes Deidara, your boyfriend is right, I did fall in love with you. Go out with me?

Itachi had a feeling that wouldn't go over well.

So he said the only thing he could think of.

"You're my friend. That's all."

It was killing him and Itachi thought he saw disappointment on his friend's face. But it was gone a second later and Deidara smiled a little.

"I know. Sasori seems to think otherwise. He doesn't want me to hang out with you anymore."

His heart was beating rapidly and Itachi was sure this was the last time he would talk to Deidara like this.

"I'm not going to listen to him, I never have. You are my friend and I like spending time with you so I won't stop."

Itachi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and smiled sincerely at Deidara.

He would rather have him as just a friend, then not at all.

"I wouldn't want to come between you and… him." Itachi said, hoping Deidara didn't notice the venom in his voice.

"If Sasori wants to be with me, he'll accept that you're my friend yeah." Deidara answered determined.

He then smiled at Itachi and grabbed his arm.

"Now treat me to that lunch, cause I am starving."

Itachi had to smile at that goofy grin on Deidara's face. At least he was happy.

Itachi felt like he was falling. Hard.

-.-.-

"So, what you're saying is that the blonde's boyfriend is onto you?"

Itachi and Sasuke were eating dinner. Itachi had told his younger brother about what happened the other day with Deidara.

Itachi could tell Sasuke thought he hadn't tried hard enough.

But really, what could he do?

"I guess so."

"And you said it wasn't true?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow as Itachi nodded.

"Why?" He asked.

"I don't stand a chance against an ex. I haven't known Deidara for long." Itachi said, shrugging slightly.

"Bullshit."

"Watch your tongue."

"Oh come on Itachi." Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. "You could've at least tried. If you ask me, that Sasori guy isn't too good for Deidara. What kind of boyfriend forbids you to hang out with your friends?"

"He is right though, I do like Deidara."

Sasori had a reason to not want him around Deidara. Even though Itachi was pretty sure Deidara wasn't into him like that.

"It's not like you would do anything."

"Sasori doesn't know that."

Sasuke sighed and stuffed more food in his mouth. He was about to talk with his mouth full but Itachi stopped him.

His little brother had no manners.

"Let's change the subject Sasuke." Itachi said. "How have you been?" He realized that all they had talked about lately, was Deidara.

Sasuke shrugged.

"I don't know."

Itachi frowned. Sasuke seemed upset about something.

"You don't know?" He asked, knowing Sasuke would become agitated if he pushed things too much.

Playing dumb was the better option.

"Things are fine." Sasuke stayed silent for a while, so did Itachi.

"Dad's been on my case." Sasuke continued. Itachi could hear the bitterness in his voice.

"I'm sure he's doing it for your own good." Itachi knew that would drive Sasuke crazy, but he wouldn't bash his father.

He got an angry glare nonetheless.

"Don't give me that crap." Sasuke spat. "He was mad because I was five minutes late. Five minutes."

"Are you sure it was just five minutes?"

Another glare, even angrier this time.

"Thanks, Itachi." Sasuke was pissed. Itachi could tell cause he left the table with food still on his plate. Sasuke rarely lost his appetite.

"Sorry." Itachi said, hoping his brother would sit back down.

Sasuke glared at him for a few seconds before sitting down again.

He stayed quiet though.

Itachi sighed. "Honestly Sasuke, I don't think dad would be mad at you just for that." He tried again.

Yet another glare, but at least Sasuke responded this time.

"You're one to talk. Dad practically scared you out of the house."

Not too nice a response sadly.

"Dad and I just couldn't meet eye to eye."

"And neither do me and dad. I've had more trouble with him then you have, yet I'm not allowed to go anywhere, let alone live on my own."

"You're sixteen, of course you can't live on your own." Itachi said frowning.

He didn't know Sasuke had wanted to leave. He could imagine, seeing how their father had gotten so demanding he himself had to move out before things got out of hand.

"I honestly don't know why you and mom can't stop defending the man." Sasuke hissed.

Itachi had wanted to tell him that no matter what, he was still their father, but the doorbell rang and Itachi got up.

As he walked to the door, he wondered who it was, but since his front door was part glass, he could see the blond hair on the other side.

He opened the door.

"Deidara. What brings you here?" He asked.

"Thought I'd stop by yeah." The blonde replied smiling.

"Come in then." Itachi stepped out of the way to let Deidara in, but instead was shoved to the side, as was Deidara.

Sasuke walked out without saying anything and Itachi knew he was brooding about their conversation.

"Sasuke." He raised his voice slightly, but it was futile he knew.

"What got up his ass?" Deidara asked, slightly offended as he stepped in.

"Trouble with our father." Itachi closed the door and as they entered the living room, Itachi decided to clear the table.

Which still had plenty of food left. Sasuke was really angry. He should call him later and apologize.

Itachi looked up and saw Deidara look at him questionably.

"What?" Itachi asked the blonde, who sat down on the couch, but turned around to look at him.

"Just wondering what your family is like yeah. I mean you live on your own, but you could've lived with your parents right?"

Itachi nodded.

"My father and I couldn't agree on anything. He's really hotheaded and I'm cold you could say."

"You're not that cold to me." Deidara said smiling.

Itachi really didn't know what to do with that and stayed quiet as he looked at Deidara.

Who seemed to notice his awkwardness and continued the conversation.

"Did your father and you fight yeah?"

"Not physically." Itachi shook his head. "But our fights could be very heated. The biggest issue was me not wanting to become a cop like him."

"Why not though? You could be great at that."

"I'm not that much of a people person. Besides, I want to become a landscape architect."

This seemed to shock Deidara greatly, as his eyes grew wide.

Luckily, so did his smile.

"Really? That's a great choice yeah."

Itachi chuckled. Of course, Deidara would think that. It was something that was creative.

"I'm glad you approve."

"It's really good to have a goal in life yeah. I don't."

Itachi sat down next to Deidara.

"That's fine too. You can do whatever you like for now."

"I know, great right?" Deidara was smiling so brightly, Itachi was started to find it suspicious.

He frowned.

"You seem happy."

Deidara fidgeted some with his hair and then grinned.

"That's... nothing really."

Itachi frowned even more now.

"Ok..." He said doubtful.

Deidara just sat there, grinning some more before he suddenly blurted out something Itachi had not expected.

"Sasori and I had sex yeah."

Itachi chocked on the air and started coughing. That was neither something he was expecting, nor something he wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry. It's just, since you're my friend I thought I could maybe talk to you about it yeah."

Itachi held his cough back and took a sip of water. When he looked up, he saw Deidara's apologetic face and he felt kind of bad.

Was he a bad friend for not wanting to hear this?

"I just really wanted to talk to somebody about this yeah." Deidara softly said.

"It's ok." Itachi quickly told the blonde. "You can tell me."

He would just have to swallow it and try to not get angry.

Even though he really already was.

"You won't be bothered by it? I know that gay sex might not be a subject you would want to hear about."

Deidara's spirits seemed to be uplifted a little again.

"Really, go ahead." Itachi said. Deidara smiled.

Itachi wasn't prepared for the stories about Deidara and Sasori's steamy make out session, or the fact that Deidara had been really... turned on.

He hadn't really paid attention when Deidara told him about all the things they had done together leading up to the deed, because he did not want to hear that.

What bothered him a lot though, was the fact that Deidara briefly mentioned that he only had three other bed partners and that this was definitely not the first time with Sasori, only the first since they met up again.

Itachi definitely wasn't going to tell him that he was still a virgin.

-.-.-

Weeks had gone by and Itachi and Deidara had met up more often than less.

From what Itachi heard from Deidara, Sasori was still pissed at the idea and Itachi couldn't help but feel slightly smug about it.

Even though Uchiha Itachi never really felt smug about anything.

Itachi and Deidara had gotten to know each other better and better. For instance, Itachi now knew that Deidara had somewhat of a rough childhood, growing up poor and, as far as Deidara had spoken about it, pretty uncaring parents.

He also knew Deidara had met Sasori at an art gallery, where they had argued about art but hit it off.

Sasori even took Deidara under his wing, and Itachi had to admit that he was thankful for it.

Had Sasori not done it, Deidara would not have been the amazing guy he was now.

In return Itachi had shared more of his past with his father, telling him about a lot of the arguments.

He had also started to open up more about his love life.

His non existing love life that is. Deidara now knew he had never had a girlfriend, nor a boyfriend even though Deidara somehow just assumed that Itachi was into girls.

Itachi believed they were as close as could be without being lovers.

"So, are we going over to your place today after school yeah?" The blonde walking next to Itachi asked.

"Of course, I was going to educate you in history, since you told me you were on the verge of failing that."

"I'm not gonna fail history but whatever yeah." Deidara said smirking.

The two of them casually walked out of the school, onto school grounds.

As they approached Itachi's car, where Sasuke was waiting, Itachi as Itachi frowned.

Wasn't that…?

"What's Sasori doing here?" Deidara beat him to the punch as the three of them met.

"Deidara." Sasori said. He only acknowledged Itachi with a suspicious look on his face before turning to Deidara again.

Itachi decided to play it cool.

"Sasori, nice to see you again." He spoke.

"What are you doing here yeah?"

"I came to pick you up. We're going home."

Itachi frowned.

"What? Why?" Deidara said offended. "I'm going over to Itachi's yeah."

Deidara was so stubborn, Itachi thought to himself.

"Not today." Was all Sasori replied.

"Sasori honestly, I'm going."

Deidara moved past Sasori and started walking, only to have Sasori grab him by the arm and pull him back.

Itachi decided to stay out of it when he saw how angry Deidara looked.

"Let go!" He said loudly.

"No Deidara, I say we go home so we go home."

Sasori actually managed to drag Deidara for about 3 feet, before Deidara yanked himself loose.

"You are not my boss Sasori yeah." Deidara snapped. "I'm not fifteen anymore."

"You sure as hell still act like you are." Sasori calmly said back, but the look on his face betrayed his anger.

Itachi looked up to Sasuke, who was looking at him with a questionable face.

Also, a look of impatience, but Itachi decided to ignore that for now.

"Please calm down, both of you." Itachi tried, but neither one of the two were listening.

"Stop treating me like you did years ago? We changed. At least I did yeah."

Deidara was fuming, his face was red, whether that was from embarrassment or anger, Itachi couldn't tell.

"Well, we do not need to discuss this in front of him. So let's just go home." Sasori said, but he said it through gritted teeth.

"No."

Deidara was really standing his ground.

Itachi also hadn't missed the venom in Sasori's voice when he addressed him.

"Deidara, I swear if you're not coming with me." Sasori threatened.

Itachi narrowed his eyes a little, not quite understanding how the two could be in a relationship like this.

He might not have been in a relationship before, but he knew he would never treat Deidara like that.

Deidara suddenly pulled Sasori away by his arm and went far enough so that Itachi and Sasuke couldn't hear their argument.

"What's up with that?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

Itachi shrugged as he watched Deidara's wild movements, obviously raising his voice at Sasori.

Who in return looked angry and seemed to be arguing back quite venomously.

"You should save him from such a disaster relationship." Sasuke said. "Open the car."

Itachi shook his head and did as he was told. He heard Sasuke get in the car.

Deidara and Sasori's argument lasted a few minutes longer, then Deidara came storming back, obviously still angry.

He grabbed his bag, which he had dropped to the ground earlier and turned to Itachi.

"I'm sorry, but the massive asshole refuses to let me go anywhere but home yeah."

Itachi was taken a little bit aback by the fact that Deidara spoke so violently.

"It's ok Dei, he's displeased so you should go." Itachi'd rather throw Deidara over his shoulder and take him with, but that would look kind of odd.

"I'll make it up to you, promise." Deidara said and Itachi nodded.

The blonde then turned, huffed and walked over to Sasori again. The two walked away, clearly still arguing over the decision.

Itachi sighed and got in the car.

"Finally." Sasuke said, sitting with his feet on the … board.

Itachi gave him a look and Sasuke removed his feet, rolling his eyes in the process.

"So. The redhead won the argument?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Itachi answered as he started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

"I don't know about you, but that whole ordeal made me feel sorry for the blonde." Sasuke said.

"I think I'll call him later today to ask how he's doing." Itachi contemplated that idea. Would it be wise?

After all, this whole fight probably started because of him.

"You should. That redhead doesn't have the right."

Itachi was surprised to hear Sasuke be so defensive of Deidara.

It made him realize that even Sasuke, who wasn't Deidara's biggest supporter, found this wasn't ok.

Itachi suddenly felt obliged to do something.

Tonight, he would go over to Deidara's one way or another and talk this over.

With Sasori.

-.-.-