I know it's been a few years since the last update... but I present to you! Chapter 8! Thank you all for waiting :)
Konan had seen how Pein had studied the blonde and was unsure if she should do as she was instructed, 'I pray you don't do anything stupid.' Konan thought to herself as she walked into the living room to get Deidara.
Konan looked around and studied everyone as they continued to introduce themselves to Deidara. The boy still looking around stunned at the turn of events that was taking place, she sighed and silently walked over to the group. "Deidara-kun, Leader is calling for you" she whispered, the way she spoke the words sent a shiver down Deidara's spine.
Deidara looked to Sasori for some kind of word; the puppeteer all but ignored him and started to walk away into another hallway. "Danna!" he shouted wanting to go over to the other but stopped as he felt Konan's icy yet gentle gaze. Deidra sighed in defeat and nodded at Konan and the two parted ways from the group going into another hallway.
The walk was silent aside from the footsteps of the two, Deidara glanced at Konan – wanting to ask what was going on and why the leader was wanting to see him.
Konan tilted her head towards the blonde and gave a smile, "I know what you want to ask but I cannot give you an answer." She offered to the blonde. Deidara's shoulders dropped at her answer to his unspoken question. At last the two stopped at the Leader's door. Konan nodded at Deidara to knock. "If at any time you don't want to be there just call me, I will be outside." Konan comforted. They heard the 'enter' from their boss and Deidara slowly opened the door and entered cautiously, closing the door behind him.
It was just Deidara and Pein in the dimly lit room. Pein got up and motioned with his hand to the chair by his desk. "Come in, make yourself comfortable." The leader spoke, authority in his voice. Deidara walked over slowly, his body shaking slightly and finally took the seat. "You see Deidara, everything in my organization has to be perfect. That's why I called you in today. As you know, your partner will be Sasori. If he gives me any reports of you neglecting your duties or to this organizations cause you will be properly dealt with." He stopped, letting the blonde take in all the information. "Any questions before I continue?" his eyes piercing through Deidara.
Deidara recoiled from the intense gaze, he knew he shouldn't ask any questions but his curiosity over took him. "H-how do you expect me to be dedicated to the cause when I was kidnapped?" he whispered and averted his gaze away from Pein.
Pein smiled slightly and let out a low and dangerous chuckle, "Would you really call that a kidnapping? You should be thanking me! Is it better to be broken down in a village, to be a slave to them, to have no freedom, to be rejected by everyone?" his voice taking on a new edge, hurt lacing his words. "It was only a matter of time before you snapped and took off on your own and found your way to us. Is it not better to have someone – a family per say to be there for one in such a time?" Pein clenched his hands into fists, "Would you really want to be back at that disgrace of a village doing their bidding? You have all the freedom in the world here, all I ask in return is your loyalty to me, and the other Akatsuki." His speech fast as the anger in him started to bubble up. Not once in many years had he felt those emotions.
Deidara stared back at the leader, thinking of the words he spoke. They were all the truth – Deidara knew that he had been at so close to being at the end of the rope. No one had ever accepted him, not even his parents, the leader of the village always sent him on ridiculous missions that either demeaned him or almost got him killed. It was just him looking out for himself, there was no one, unlike at Akatsuki. Deidara could feel tears prickling in his eyes and averted his gaze from the leader. He could feel the other smiling at him, no hatred, no fear, just compassion beamed. "I'm sorry" Deidara whispered out as the tears spilled down. He was unable to control his emotions, years upon years of rejection washing away as he finally felt like he belonged.
Pein let Deidara empty the bottled up feelings, "Better" he smiled at the blonde who sniffled and looked up in response.
"Thank you un" Deidara sighed, "I will do my best to help the organization. I still don't think your method of getting others to join is a good one un." He chuckled
Pein smirked at the blonde and leaned against his desk, looking the boy over. "True but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Get trained up so I can use you and Sasori on missions," he stated and started to shuffle through some of his papers. "Finish getting yourself acquainted with the base. If you ever need supplies just go to the village." He continued and then nodded, "You are free to go." Pein said and watched as the blonde got up to leave, "Take care" he bid his farewell and watched the blonde leave. Pein rubbed his face and let out a low sigh, what was he going to do with members that were resistant to so much change? Especially if they were forcefully taken from their village even if they didn't want to be there.
Deidara greeted Konan once he got outside with a small bow which she returned and left her to go find Sasori. He walked in on some of the other members grabbing food or just lounging around. Deidara looked around until he spotted Hidan and ran over to him. "Hey Hidan, have you seen Sasori?" he asked while the silverette raised an eyebrow.
"Haven't seen the puppet freak around, he probably went to his room to make adjustments on who knows what," he responded while he scratched his head. "Instead of paying attention to the freak how about you and I go out in town an-" Itachi hit the silver head with papers that were laying around,
"Stop flirting with Deidara, Sasori went outside to train in the back." Itachi motioned over for Deidara to follow him outside.
The blond smiled and the two went out of the base and towards the back where they could hear someone training. They stumbled upon Sasori throwing kunais at a far distance from the moving targets – each of them landing around the middle. Deidara watched in awe as his partner weaved in and out around the obstacles in the training ground, not missing a single target. They watched as Sasori stopped dead in his tracks and turn towards them.
Sasori's dead face glanced at the blonde, their eyes meeting. Deidara couldn't hold onto the intense stare and looked elsewhere as Sasori smirked in victory. "What do you want brat? Can't you see I'm training?" he sighed, kind of glad that his training was interrupted.
Deidara looked back at Sasori, still at a loss for words, he wanted to come up with anything! "Hmm, you seem slow while you navigate around" he pointed out making the red head give him a death glare and scoff at him.
"Nonsense brat!" he hissed out, his grip on the kunai tightening. Deidara hung his head – there was going to be no way to work with the red head.
"Fine fine!" Deidara pouted and turned to Itachi for some help.
"You know he's right Sasori." The raven haired boy turned and waved to the duo and left. Sasori glared at Deidara who put his hands up, surrendering to the other.
"Well then why don't you spar with me un?" Deidara pipped in, trying to get on the better side of his partner.
Sasori looked at him bewildered, "Why would I spar with someone whos weaker than me? Do you not remember the times you tried to escape and I retrieved you?" Sasori hummed, waiting for the blond's reply.
Deidara was at a loss for words, angry boiling in him again. "That doesn't mean anything! And first of all that wasn't sparring, secondly you weren't my partner! Damn, I hate you, and I hate this place!" Deidara shouted in frustration and pain. Kicking at the ground he stalked away, still brewing in anger. He didn't want Sasori to be his partner. He didn't want to hear Sasori around him. He didn't want to see the man. He didn't want anything to do with him.
Sasori watched as the blond hair faded out, he felt something that he'd never felt before but couldn't place his finger on it. With a sigh he packed up and started after the blond, it wouldn't do good if he and Deidara didn't get along even if their partnership did get off to a rocky start. He hated kids, he hated having to babysit.
.
Deidara huffed around and shut the door behind him into the base, some of the others that were in the common area watched silently and steered clear of him. Deidara spotted Itachi eating, he didn't want to bother him, his only other thought went to Pein. With a shakey sigh Deidara started to make his way to the Leader's office. His legs felt heavier the closer he got to the office door, once he was at the door he pressed his ear to the door to see if he could hear anything.
.
.
Silence
.
.
The door pulled open and Deidara fell through onto the ground on his hands and knees. "Deidara-kun?" Konan deadpanned and helped him up to his feet.
Deidara could feel Pein's eyes on him. "S-sorry Konan, I was just wondering if I could talk with Pein-sama" Deidara spoke out, getting Pein's attention even more.
Konan stiffened up a little at what she heard. She turned to Pein, waiting for some kind of answer. Pein nodded and motioned for her to leave the two of them. Konan bowed and shut the door behind her.
"What seems to be the problem?" Pein started and got up from his desk and to the front, crossing his arms as he watched Deidara fidget around.
"I-is there anyway that I can have someone besides Sasori as my partner?" he whispered while looking down at the ground. He didn't want the leader to see him in such a state.
Pein frowned and started to approach Deidara, finally making the shorter boy look up at him. Deidara felt beyond intimidated as Pein towered over him. "Now why is that?" Pein purred out and took a lock of the blond's hair in his hand, caressing it with such affection.
Deidara didn't know what to feel, flattered, grossed out, or everything. He wanted to pull away but he had a feeling that Pein wouldn't let go of his hair and it would be tugged beyond hard. "I just don't think he and I are a good match," Deidara started, he wanted to tell Pein what all had happened earlier.
Pein smiled down predatorily at Deidara and with his other hand placed it on Deidara's shoulder, with the hand that was caressing the lock of hair – he moved it to the back of Deidara's head and gently smothered the back of his head. "My my, seems like little kitten is already getting comfy and ready to bare their fangs." Pein grabbed a fistfull of the blond's hair and jerked Deidara's head upwards as the blond had taken to facing away from him.
"No! It's not like that!" Deidara gasped out, his heart rate going all over the place. Pein leaned closer so their faces were mere inches away. Lips grazing each other.
.
Sasori ran inside and scanned the main area. "Where's Deidara?" he spoke, his voice tight and a lot louder than he normally spoke. Everyone looked around, no one said anything.
"He went towards Leader-sama's office." Itachi offered, everyone watched as Sasori all but ran out the area.
"Someone's in a hurry to see his lover," Hidan laughed and went back to eating his food,
Sasori prayed it wasn't to late, he saw Konan outside the office and barely stopped in time from tumbling into her. "Pein-sama is seeing someone and does not want to be disturbed." She stated and blocked Sasori's path.
Sasori gritted his teeth, "Konan, you and I both know that there isn't much time! You have to let me through!"
Konan paused for a moment, "I can not do that"
"STOP!"
Both stopped as they heard Deidara shout out, desperate. Sasori wasted no time in by passing Konan and opening the door, her belated shouts going through one ear and out the other. The two were greeted with Deidara and Pein on the ground, Deidara pinned down, his clothes a mess, his hair in disarray, tears rolling down his eye. Pein glared at the two who interrupted and in one fell swoop got off Deidara and straightened his clothes out.
Sasori eyed Deidara sadly and walked over to him offering his hand. Deidara slapped it away and darted off to god knows where. "Annoying brat"
"Get out, both of you!" Pein barked and slammed the door shut. He was going to get Deidara one way or another.
Hope you all liked it! More to come in the next week or so, promise!
Lord Kharl