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Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

Hmm… No, too old… No… That guy is weird looking… Still nothing… The hell is going on? Shouldn't this work?

Obito knew that this was probably one of his stupider ideas. It was something only a child would think to do. But he couldn't decide on any other plan of action (talking to someone apparently wasn't viable). Because Kakashi was the first guy Obito had ever been technically attracted to (maybe… he wasn't confirming anything), Obito didn't know if this was a weird one-off thing or if he was genuinely attracted to guys in general.

To decide on this, he had just been eyeing up anything male and remotely close to his age to see if he found them attractive. Since he couldn't remember the last time he'd been interested in a girl, he was a little confused.

I always thought I was straight…. But thinking about it, I never really think about sex with girls… This felt like a discomforting revelation. It felt like he didn't really know who he was, a strange feeling when thinking about yourself. He'd have found it easier to wrap his head around Anko suddenly coming out as a lesbian, rather than this.

And If I am gay without really knowing, what the hell else am I? What if I like cross-dressing? What if I'm into kinky stuff? I've never done it so I don't know… He felt like he couldn't trust his own mind since it seemed to be doing things at random nowadays.

Although he wasn't finding other guys attractive like he was starting to find Kakashi, he was still unsure. Ever since he had talked to Kakashi, he'd been walking around like someone in a dream. He was trying to shake it off on the way to work but it was proving difficult. He knew Kakashi wouldn't be in today but he'd still have to pull himself out of that weird mental state he was in, in order to converse properly with other people.

What the hell am I going to do? I need to work this out somehow…OK, focus. Obito took a deep breath. It would be easier if he could organise this. A girl… Any girl…

The first one to come to mind was Rin but he shook that off. She was too good a friend for that shit. Instead he picked the nice girl from the next class over called Lena. He imagined her leaning in to kiss him, pretty blue eyes staring up at him, her arms wrapping around him, the feel of her breasts on his- OK. No. Not doing it.

He had definitely used similar situations involving breasts whilst… having some alone time… but they just weren't doing it. Then again, he'd never been that keen on boobs as a rule.

Hmm. Wait. Oh my god. Deidara! Another guy he knew. And a rather pretty guy too. Obito tried the same again, this time with Deidara in the role of leading lady. Yet again, nothing happened, although he now felt extra weird about the guy for using him in his weird fantasies.

It was time for the main test. He was going to have to see just how badly he had it for Kakashi…

Kakashi pulling the mask down, Kakashi giving him a slow and steady smile, Kakashi placing a hand gently on his cheek and leaning in to plant soft lips on his own… This sparked an immediate reaction; pulse racing, body warming, throat dry.

And it seemed only Kakashi could draw out the full response from him. This was enough to confirm his awkward feeling.

So I'm at least attracted to Kakashi… Is this a good thing? I mean, he likes me and he'd be happy… But is this OK? Can he like me?

Obito could be a coward at times, especially with something as messy as complex feelings. He'd struggled a lot with what had happened to his parents since he'd not known how to deal with the strong emotions ripping though him and this he ranked with the other traumas.

I shouldn't be afraid like this. Why am I so scared? What's wrong with me? Obito could only feel a crushing thing. Falling in love was always described as a good thing but he was too freaked out to enjoy it like he probably should be. Maybe I'm just wrong.

The shop was in sight now and he bit his lip. It was time to push it all to the back of his mind and focus on getting through this shift. Perhaps he'd be with Asuma or Kurenai? They were usually relaxed. As long as it wasn't-.

"Sup Obi." Ah shit. Obito froze in place, unsure of how to react to the Deidara idling on the counter.

"What are you doing here?"

"I work here?" Deidara went back to his… whatever it was. It was probably something dodgy that would annoy someone else.

"I just wasn't expecting you."

"Or you're disappointed that I'm not Kakashi."

"I knew he wouldn't be in today actually." It was hard to fight the steadily rising heat in his face.

"You two are so cute."

There was just no arguing with him and so Obito huffed into his seat, trying to escape the scrutiny of the creepily perceptive blonde.

"How is the relationship progressing then?"

"It's not a relationship! It's only a friendship!"

"So you're still in denial" Deidara sighed. "Obito you adorable fuck."

"Just shut up!" It was too damn embarrassing. Especially considering his recent daydreaming. It was hard to meet his eye. I should have known he'd be here. Why the fuck did I use him? I'm an idiot.

He slumped down and placed his forehead against the cool surface of the counter. He was going to ignore that the surface was probably covered in bacteria from all the people touching it. The darkness and cold touch soothed his warm face and for a moment he could forget how much of a moron he was being.

"You are cute." I don't like that tone. It sounded suspicious. Obito tensed up and stared at Deidara. The blonde was leaning on the counter and giving him a flirtatious smile.

"What are you doing?" The speed at which he shifted away was probably offensive.

"You are easily crept out aren't ya? Why so jumpy today?"

"No reason." It would be fatal to show any hint.

"OK, another question. Have you and Kakashi tried to resolve the obvious sexual tension between you yet?" Obito spluttered. "I thought not."

"There is no 'sexual tension'! I'm straight!"

"He lied."

"I did not!"

"He added untruthfully."

"Stop the narration." Deidara smirked. "Why are you going on about this?"

"Because you looked upset and I was trying to help. Because I'm a good friend. But since you think so badly of me…" That was fake. Definitely.

"…OK, I'm sorry!" Curse my sense of guilt!

"So…?" He settled down. "What happened?"

"Um…" This guy loved gossip. What if he spread it around?

"What? Why won't you tell me?"

"Because I feel the whole fucking town will know if I tell you."

"Well you're not wrong." He shrugged. "I guess I could swear a vow of silence."

"You don't sound so sure." Obito was not willing to risk everyone knowing his personal shit.

"OK, I promise I will not tell anyone whatever you tell me. Scout's honour." He placed one palm on his chest and held the other hand in the air.

"Are you a scout?"

"No. Does it matter?" Obito groaned. But, he figured, this could be a good chance. The only person he knew to be gay was Kakashi but he didn't want to talk to him about this. But Deidara… Wait…

"You're into guys right?" Wait, wasn't that really rude? Shit. I hope I didn't offend him. Deidara raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah? Didn't you know?" Oh. I guess it's Deidara.

"I wasn't sure…"

"Hehe… You fool. Want tips on how to seduce your man then?"

"No!" This would probably be frustrating. But if it helped… "Ok… How did you know you were gay?"

"I preferred the prince in the Disney films."

"Seriously?" He looked serious enough.

"Just fucking with ya. I thought guys were cute and the girly parts didn't do it for me."

"So you've never liked a girl?" Obito had. He thought so anyway… It was becoming increasingly hard to determine his feelings.

"Nah. I think Sasori did once. That was a one-off though."

"Huh…" Now he was just more confused.

"Obito. Babe. You need to chill." Obito glared. He wasn't sure he could chill right now. "Maybe you just like one particular guy, maybe you're exclusively into guys, maybe you like both. It doesn't matter. The problem is, you're stressing out over something you shouldn't be freaked out about. He likes you and you seem to like him. So go for it!"

"But what if I'm just reacting to him telling me he likes me." Deidara rolled his eyes.

"Are you that creeped out by the idea of him kissing you?"

"…No…" That he could tell.

"Would you like being in a relationship with him?"

"I don't know… He's fun to be around I guess."

"Think of him as a best friend you would occasionally do sexy stuff with. That's what I think makes a good relationship anyway."

"That… was actually really good advice."

"Don't sound so surprised!" Deidara had every right to slap him like that so he made no move to defend himself.

"I… Um… What should I do?" Why am I asking?

"What do you want to do?" Now that was the question.

"I don't know…" He could feel a kind of burning sensation behind his eyes. "I really don't know."

"Is it worth crying over?"

"I don't know." This is so humiliating. He hated crying in public.

"OK buddy." Deidara put an arm around him and pulled him into a side hug. He appreciated the gesture and let out a pitiful 'thanks' as he sniffled. "What are you scared of?"

"I don't want to hurt him if I'm wrong."

"For starters, I think it's obvious you like him. Secondly, he thought you weren't into him. He still told you I spite of that so I think he can take it."

"I guess… But-."

"No! No more buts!" Talk to Kakashi about it and make your decision with him." He was right of course but Obito was still scared.

"But what if I freak out? What if I make a huge mess of it all?"

"That's life. It's hard. And think about what it's like usually. You actually know he's into you. And if you don't talk about it, you're gonna carry on being depressed."

"…I'm still scared…"

"That's normal. Just be your lovable, dorky self. He loves that." Obito gave a small laugh. "That's better. Now, you are going to take the next opportunity you get to tell him."

"But-."

"What did I just say? What do you have to lose?"

"Um…" Kakashi probably wouldn't stop being his friend. He was a nice person.

"And what would you gain?"

"…" He thought about Kakashi. Kind in spite of his occasional prickliness and always having fun with him.

"You know what you need to do."

"Yeah, I do." He was still terrified of course. "You've given me really good advice… Thanks." Maybe it was a good thing that Deidara had been there.

"I would make a great counsellor, I know. Now…" Deidara reached out and grabbed the paper he had been drawing on. "What do you think?"

Obito looked at it for only a few seconds before he lost himself to laughter. After all that crying, the humour felt extra good. Deidara had drawn one of his caricatures, this time of Sasori, a disappointing scowl on his face. His body had been drawn with puppet joints and strings, controlled by an evil-looking cartoon Deidara.

"I know, I'm a genius."

"It suits him so well. You missed the stick up his ass though."

"If I can turn your attention to side B." He flipped the paper. There was indeed a stick puppet Sasori.

"Ok, I have no complaints."

"Wonderful."

Relaxing like this made him feel like, maybe everything would be ok. And hopefully if he could do this right, everything really would be.