Deidara's social life was on the decline and he knew it. His friends especially knew as they fussed, making it vocal as they noticed the lack of him joining them for dinner and other outings. The most often they saw him was when he'd grab a coffee to go with his baggy of cookies he got from his neighbor, or a smoothie to go with a salad or other dish. That was okay, but cafes weren't sitting down meals where the entire group could sit down and have loud fun, especially when Deidara was too focused on his pre-made food.

The real problem was Deidara didn't see the point in socializing with his friends anymore. If he wasted his time away with them, focus on the word 'wasted', he may miss out on a delicious meal prepared by the one and only Sasori. The boy was already hooked and he didn't even know it.

What could be so good to eat away from home? Homemade was always the best, right? Deidara eyed his happy friend and reached over the picnic table. Tasting his friends french fries he cringed in shock. Had fries always benn that bad? Sasori made him fries a couple different times. They were fluffy and crispy, delightful rippled wedges, and seasoned lightly with a concoction of spices. A different time they were also on the thinner side, the main focus being that crisp and salty taste; not quite like a chip, but close. Not to mention the time Sasori had made yam fries... Oh how Deidara wished he had a never ending plate of those fries. Not like this crap his friend was eating. They tasted bitter, greasy and so salty! How did the potatoes get so bitter? Who needed that much salt on fries! It completely dulled his other senses and immediately coated his fingers in a greasy film after just the one.

Deidara did eventually start questioning things though. Was this really the best way for him to live? Spending his days making art, going to school, working and waiting for the next meal Sasori would invite him over to eat. What in the world happened to him? What in the world happened to the guy who loved to go out with his friends? Being rowdy and getting into mischief? It was just all too confusing since what he did know was he couldn't miss out on Sasori's amazing cooking! Humming as he wiped his hand of the grease, he was going to ask Sasori's opinion on it as the man had proven to be fairly wise.

"Do what makes you happy." Sasori simply said as he cleared the plates from their lunch. An open perspective but also a very vague one.

What did make Deidara happy? Having friends to be with or eating? Maybe he'd need to sleep on it.
However that night what Sasori had made for dinner made the quest for answers even more difficult. Deidara was shaken to his core as he stared at his plate of food. How in the world could this even be considered leftovers? This? This was incredible. Sasori really had outdone himself this time and he hadn't even tasted it yet as he had only had a taste with his sense of sight and smell.

"My god you look good..." Deidara said catching Sasori off guard. Unsurprisingly he was talking to his plate of food, not Sasori.

"It's just something I was craving. Made a little too much. It's no big deal really." Sasori gently shook off as if it were no big deal.

Deidara gawked at Sasori and slammed a hand on the kitchen island, "No big deal! This looks like one of them fancy pants hundred plus dollar dinners you get at a gourmet steak house, un!"

"And yet it's cheaper, and I find even more delicious to eat at home." Sasori said, making subtle hints that staying to eat and be with him was the answer Deidara was looking for.

There on the plate was indeed a meal you would find at a five star steak house. A beautiful steak, scallops and shrimp, covered in a light bearnaise sauce with a side of yellow and green beans. It was even given the signature Sasori-look as he had presented it as if the person who was going to eat it was actual royalty.

"Are you sure I can even eat this?"

"Of course. It's either you eat it or I throw it-"

"Nooo! I'll eat it!"

Deidara sliced into the steak and started to salivate at the sight of the perfect medium rare cooked inside. The knife itself sliced through the meat like butter. There were no thick pieces of fat and certainly no gristle on this perfectly rendered, juicy piece of meat. It was glorious.

The scallops and shrimp were just as heartwarming and wonderful as well. They were cooked perfectly, golden-brown and the sides looking opaque, soft and tender, still just a little pink and not even the slightest bit rubbery. Even Deidara knew how hard scallops were to cook. This was phenomenal.

"Sheesh..."

Oh the sauce was divine. The bearnaise was not to heavy as to distract from the proteins. Of course he couldn't forget that bed of beans either. Never had Deidara had the light yellow wax beans, they were just like the green ones however with their stark contrast in colour somehow made it all the more bourgeoisie. They were cooked perfectly like everything else, not stringy and having a good chew and a squeak as they rubbed against his teeth has he chewed.

Deidara was being spoiled rotten with this particular meal. It was delicious. Never had Deidara eaten something so decadent and grand. Sasori truly had outdone himself.
"Sasori, This has to be my favorite thing you have ever made..." he spoke with his mouthful, near to tears at the flavor pallet. "This is cooked so perfectly... I could eat this and then die happily in a massive explosion."

Sasori frowned. Weird flex, but okay.

"Yeah." Deidara moaned and took another bite of the perfectly tender steak, "This is my favorite thing of all time."

Eating at home with Sasori really was the best.

-x-

"By the way Sasori, I won't be here tonight for dinner."

Sasori nearly bit threw his fork in horror. He thought he had a firm grip on the guy, even after that fiasco a week ago with the weight thing. That talk about Deidara questioning his diminishing social life to rather spend time with him. Now he was leaving him to go out for dinner!?

"Oh, Okay." Sasori breathed in and out carefully, "I'll save you any of the leftovers and make you a mid morning snack with it. You can pick it up tomorrow morning."

"Thanks Sasori!" Deidara gushed. "You're the best!"

Back to eating the best oatmeal he had ever eaten in his life, Deidara moaned, "mmmm, who knew oatmeal could be so delicious?"

"I'm glad you're enjoying the changes. I was worried you wouldn't like eating foods with less calories."

"I didn't even notice, un!"

After last nights steak dinner and berry tart dessert, of course he didn't. Sasori was just that good.

That afternoon Sasori watched as Deidara ate his last meal. It wasn't his actual last meal, but it felt like one to Sasori. He was devastated at the thought he had to eat dinner alone again. Dinner was their time together. It was the time they really got to talk, really have their personal date time. He was going to miss Deidara, especially when he was "out for dinner". Had Deidara really just up and gone, choosing a well rounded social life over him?

At the restaurant Deidara was initially excited to be with his friend again, but after looking the menu over got a little bored; as he had most of the times he would head out o a coffee shop with a friend and grab a pastry. They were awful!

The menu was fairly basic, with a few specialties. There was the usual dishes, burgers, pastas, fries, chicken strips, and more. A lot of the stuff on the menu he had already eaten at Sasori's place. Sasori versions though? He was a food wizard since they tasted like pure magic. That man could turn such normal dishes into something incredible, making them his own masterpieces.

Now that was something to be admired. Deidara thought the expression on the redhead's face was just charming as he mentioned that the food he prepared was like ephemeral art. Made, plated and presented; only to be devoured in seconds. The way Sasori's face scrunched up and that loud scowl... It was such fun to tease him, especially about his silly opinion on art. He had such a good time eating with his neighbor.

"Here is your food sir."

Deidara looked up at the waitress and thanked her as a plate filled with pasta was placed in front of him. It was a garlic, herb and butter based sauce, penne pasta and tons of vegetables. Sasori had once cooked him something similar and he loved it, this version missing a few different veggies and actual fresh homemade pasta.

It had summer squash, diced tomato, thinly sliced carrots and spinach. The one Sasori had made him also had thinly sliced eggplant, mushrooms, the pasta was handmade and it all came topped with freshly shaved Parmesan cheese. Sasori seemed to put Parmesan on everything and it was fantastic.

"Eugh..." Deidara immediately recoiled away from his dish after one bite, "blegh!"

"What's wrong Dei?" One girl asked, leaning over the table. "Don't you like it?"

One boy rolled his eyes, already knowing what was going to happen.

Deidara ignored the boy's mocking snickers and focused on the girls question as he shook his head, "No it's weird... the pasta is over cooked and the carrots are under cooked. The sauce is...it's bitter... it shouldn't be this bitter."

"Oh? Have you had this pasta before?"

"Yeah, my neighbor made it for me. His was delicious though. This...this sucks!"

Another male friend reached over the table and forked up some of Deidara's food, "I don't understand? This is really tasty Deidara!"

"No... no it's not." Deidara growled, his mind already wandering to last nights steak dinner and how each bite had made his toes curl in delight and his face burst into a smile.

"Wow Deidara. You might as well just make this neighbor of yours as your bride!" Yet another male laughed while a couple more friends soon joined in, already knowing fully well that Deidara was being fed by the older guy next door to him.

The female from earlier took a bite of his food too, "This is good Deidara... where is it bitter?"

"I think it's the garlic... they burnt the garlic. Sasori told me that garlic doesn't brown, but burns fast. Burnt garlic always ruins the dish."

"You have such refined taste buds Mr. Fanypants!" Mocked one of the guys who also went in for a bite, not minding the taste at all.

Another male coo'd, "Oooh! Mr. Fancypants can't eat peasant food, ooooh!"

Deidara took another bite of his pasta with a scowl directed at his mocking friends. He immediately regretted the bite as he shuddered at the incredibly distinctive bitter taste.
Maybe he could get those leftovers from Sasori still when he got back home instead... He certainly wouldn't be eating out with his friends for a long time. Food that wasn't made by Sasori was so gross and the company sucked.

After giving away his doggy bag to a friend to have for another meal for another day, there was a gentle tug on his sleeve leading him a few steps away from the group. Maybe the leftovers from Sasori would have to wait a moment longer.

"Uh, Deidara... can we talk?"