Deidara stared at Emmie. He couldn't believe his half-assed plan actually worked. She was standing right in front of him, tantalizingly close. After the failed call to her, he cleaned up his act and decided to create an exhibition that would draw the attention of the wealthy and privileged. She would have to come due to societal pressure to see the newest and hottest attraction. And there she was.
Emmie had lost weight; she was slim to begin with but now, Deidara was sure that if he tried, he could span her entire waist with his hands. She looked empty, fragile. "I guess congratulations are in order," he said. Emmie looked around for a way to escape but he blocked her at her attempts to go around him. "Emmie. Please, I need t- Hey! You can't run away when I'm trying to explain things!" Emmie feinted and zipped around him. How she was so fast in those damn pin heels escaped him but he grabbed her arm and quickly cuffed her to his own wrist.
Emmie stared at him with equal amounts of disbelief and exasperated amusement. "You're kidding. Cuffing, really?" Deidara shrugged, "Well you were running away and we need to talk. You can't run from this. I'm kidnapping you again." Dragging her away, Deidara took her to his loft. She ignored him the entire ride to his place, he didn't mind though, he was enthralled by her mere presence. Still beautiful, still addictive, he thought. Deidara led her inside, surprised she didn't call the cops yet. "I want to show you something," he rasped. It was the moment of truth, he was baring his soul in the paintings he was about to show her.
He watched her nervously as she surveyed his studio, lingering on some paintings longer than others. It was like she was standing in a hall of mirrors. On every canvas was Emmie in different styles and positions but it was all her, down to the very essence. She inhaled sharply, "Are they all…" she trailed off. "Every damn one. I couldn't forget you. I tried though; drugs, booze, women. Every time I got high I saw you. Every time I got sober, I still saw you. I couldn't let you go." Deidara admitted quietly as he uncuffed them.
"Deidara, I'm getting married. I'm happy, don't ruin this for me. You owe me that," Emmie said flatly. Fuck, those words broke his heart all over again but he nodded, "As long as you're happy. Look at me and tell me that he makes you happy." Emmie's eyes slid to right but she righted them and stared into his eyes, her gray eyes dead and cold like a rainy November day. "Kabuto makes me happy." Anger flared in him, "You're a damn liar, explain why you look like an empty doll in these," Deidara shoved magazines at her.
Emmie opened them seeing her wedding photoshoot. Deidara had called in some favors and got copies of Emmie's wedding and engagement pictures. They weren't supposed to be released yet. Still, there they were, lying open on Deidara's coffee table. In them, Kabuto stared at her adoringly but in every photo, Emmie was looking elsewhere, dazed and distracted. Her pretty smile vapid, her posture unnatural, and her eyes vacant. Just like an empty doll, unfeeling and posed. Emmie bit her lip, she didn't have an explanation. Deidara asked her gently, "Baby, what happened?" That brought her back to life. "You, you asshole, you happened. You manipulated me into thinking that I could actually care for you. I got my life back and I want you to get out of it," she said emphatically.
Deidara took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. "I messed up. I should have been honest with you in the first place but I was never going to turn you in. I'd rather blow up Hidan." Emmie bit her lip to hide her smile but it was there, "You did blow his head off." Deidara smiled at her tentatively, "I did didn't I?"
Emmie's smile faded, she reached for his hand and unthinkingly, he reached back. Examining the skin of his knuckles and in between his fingers she gasped, "Oh, Deidara. What did you do?" while stroking his hand gently. Deidara intertwined her fingers in his. "I couldn't deal with the way we left things so I tried escaping. I relapsed hard. I shot up so many times in my arms that the veins got all messed up and the skin, well it was basically shredded so I did it in my fingers." Emmie looked horrified but he pushed through, "It's bad between my toes too. I did all sorts of shit, even shrooms and acid. Hah," he gave an unamused laugh. "It's not bad though, it gave me the inspiration to paint again. You were my muse, you made all of this possible," he gestured around the studio. Canvases overflowed from the walls , spilling onto the ground.
Taking a longer look around, Emmie took in the sheer amount of paintings. "You stalker, that's me at the park, the same exact outfit too," she pointed to one of his favorites. It depicted her sitting on a bench under a brilliantly autumnal tree with colorful leaves littered on the ground. "Where's my fiancé?" she asked innocently. "That shithead doesn't belong in my paintings. He sucks the color out of you." Deidara growled pouring them some bourbon.
Emmie sat, then accepted the drink and took a swallow before admitting, "I feel like I've been drowning lately. I listen to so many people's problems but it seems like no one is listening to mine. Ironic isn't it?" Deidara nodded. They continued to sit next to each other in uncomfortable silence.
"Why am I here? You wouldn't have kidnapped me for nothing," she said icily, "Don't think I'm impressed by your stalkerish tendencies." Deidara gave her a crooked smile, "Don't underestimate me. I would've kidnapped you at some point, don't you worry. This just sped things up." He downed his drink while Emmie stared at him in disbelief. "No, you wouldn't there's no way an idiot like you would've been able to do it. Now tell me what is going on!"
Deidara raised his blond brows, "Babe, I kidnapped you in broad daylight from your own office." Emmie threw a pillow at him, "Don't call me that! Quit stalling, tell me what's going on." Deidara scootched closer and Emmie scootched away. Deidara continued sliding closer and Emmie retreated further until she was pinned to the side of the couch by his body. "I'll tell you if you give me something." He started. Emmie sighed, "I don't have any cash on me. Take this, it can go for 300,000." She slipped the outrageously large ring off and held it out to him.
Deidara stared at her offering. "That's what you think of me? And it's your engagement ring, doesn't it mean anything?" Emmie shrugged, "My love for Kabuto transcends all material things." Deidara backed off, "I don't want your money. I just wanted you to listen and believe me." Emmie crossed a shapely leg over the other, "Get on with it. Stop wasting my time." Deidara recoiled, more than a little hurt.
"Fine, your brother is in trouble. The hit was never taken down. And for whatever it's worth, I really am sorry. Forgive me, please. And if you want, I'll never bother you again," Deidara said in a rush. Emmie stood and wrapped her arms around her body. "And if I want you to forget me?" Deidara stood behind her.
"Never."
Emmie turned to him, shoving him she hissed, "God, now you put the blame on me! I feel guilty enough, but I don't want you to wreck yourself any more. Can you promise me that you will stay clean?" Deidara looked away, "I'll be fine."
Emmie grabbed his hand, "You are the worst liar I've ever known." Deidara looked into her stormy gray eyes, silvery with tears. His heart beating like a bird in a cage, Deidara held his breath, awaiting her next words. "I believe you. I know you had to take commissions and this was before we met and it was just your job. But it wasn't expected," she looked up into his eyes, "I thought I could trust you but then you said that. I need to know if I can trust you now." Deidara came closer to her, "Absolutely, nothing between us anymore."
Her lush lips were so temptingly close. Deidara leaned forward automatically but veered off when Emmie turned her head. It wasn't too bad, at least she didn't outright push him away. Progress was still made. Deidara went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of whiskey. Returning to her, he sat down carefully. "I don't get another drink?" Emmie sniffed. "Nope, I know you, you are like one drink away from being sloshed." Deidara said, studying his hands. They were starting to shake, damn it. "You counted how many drinks I had?" she watched as he rolled himself a blunt. "Nah, the bartender did and I asked him." Fumbling for his lighter, he let Emmie take it from him and light it. Deidara leaned forward to light and took the opportunity to study her through his golden lashes.
She was as beautiful as ever but in a melancholy way. Her lustrous hair cascaded over her shoulder and her skin was porcelain pale. Her long dark lashes just emphasized the darker skin beneath her glassy gray eyes and her cheekbones were razor sharp. "You look tired," he stated. Emmie's eyes held his for a second before looking away, "I've been working a lot. I'm fine though. Are you ok?" she asked when she heard the ice clink as the his hands shook.
"No. I'm having a withdrawal, reach in that drawer and give me the syringe," Deidara gritted his teeth, the sensation of cold and clamminess grew, heralding his withdrawal. Emmie looked like she wanted to argue but instead she asked quietly, "Do you have Narcan? Just in case?" Deidara rolled up his sleeves and grabbed for a tourniquet. "It's fine, I've OD'd before, I can handle this." Emmie laid her delicate hands on his, stopping him. "How many times?" Deidara closed his eyes, unwilling to meet her concerned gaze. "Recently? 3 times." Hearing her take a sharp breath, he tried to snatch the hypodermic from her. "I told you, I couldn't get over you. I've tried and tried to blot out those 2 weeks." Emmie climbed onto him, stopping his struggling. His heart thudded in his ears, "Let me do it, you're not in any condition to do it," she said softly. Emmie injected him expertly while Deidara ran his hands through her long hair, black as sin.
"I thought you were getting clean?" she asked while gently removing his roaming hands from her body, "I am. I'm cutting down, can't quit cold turkey now. I can go 24 hours before needing another dose." Deidara slid his hand up her thigh, enjoying the feeling of her silky skin, their proximity, and his high. Emmie disentangled herself, "Alright, I'll come back tomorrow. You're not going to be of any use for a while."
Deidara grabbed her hand, "Please, stay with me, I need you, I might relapse again." Emmie bit her lip, torn. "I won't touch you, just watch over me. Please," he pleaded. Emmie nodded, "Sure."
In a haze from his high, Deidara vaguely remembered undressing, brushing his teeth and climbing in bed. He woke up slightly disoriented and felt a weight on his chest, Looking down, he saw a black haired woman in his bed. Oh not again. "Wake up bitch, get out! Get dressed," he threw random clothes at her. "Deidara, it's me, Emmie. It's ok, shhh. I'm right here, I'm right here," Emmie soothed. "Get out!" Deidara smacked her with a pillow. "You aren't Emmie." He accused. "What? Yes I am! I am Emiliana Einaudi," Emmie grabbed the pillow and whacked him in the face. No one would dare do that to him. Her sassy reply sealed it for him, "Stop throwing clothes at me you ass!" Deidara looked at her in shock. Fighting his drug addled mind, he tried to dismiss the fantasy but couldn't and swept her into a deep kiss.
"No, you're not real. Emmie wouldn't be anywhere near here, she's mad as hell at me and I don't blame her," he muttered in between desperately starving kisses. "She hates me and probably is off dancing with her stupid shit fiance, who's probably making her happier than I could ever make her." Deidara rambled. stroking her face, "This is too good to be true. This is a dream, but I don't ever wanna wake up." Emmie was taken aback by his intensity and sat frozen as he lavished kisses on her lips. Deidara paused, uncertain as she gently pushed him down and laid her head down on his chest, tucked snugly under his jaw. "This is a dream. Enjoy it while you can." She ran her had across his chest in soothing circles. "Just a dream. I don't want it to end," he held her tightly and placed an affectionate kiss on the top of her head. "Shh, sleep," Emmie murmured.