Series: Naruto
Setting: AU
Prompt: 08. Magic
Rating: K
Word Count: 1, 409
Warnings: None
Summary: Magic exists even if it's not what you expect

Glowing Wonders

School holidays had come bringing the end of the year for the youngsters of pre school, someone of them were sad to be leaving their friends behind over the long break period with promises to come over and visit while others looked forward to leaving their homes behind to go and spend it with family members who lived far away or to go on holidays to far off places. Itachi was one of the lucky ones that got to go somewhere else but his was different, not with his family but with another after being invited by Deidara's parents to go away to a resort up in the mountains to spend the recently cooling Autumn nights.

Everything was packed and accounted for, just to make sure Mikoto went over everything again not wanting to have him left without something vital. Underwear, clothes, warm clothes, swimmers just in case, pajamas… that seemed to be everything, all nice and neatly packed away into his duffel bag along with a few of his favorite books and some new ones that he had bought him just for the occasion. It was touching to see him dressed up ready to go away on his first trip away from home, the first time he had been away from her since he was born, a moment that was hard for any mother to go through to see her baby boy growing up, having to let them go out into the world on their own. "You all ready to go baby?" she sweetly asked primping his clothes to make sure he looked perfect.

A gently nod showed that he was, dragging the over-packed bag behind him down the stairs quickly taken off him once he got to the bottom with the packing that would see him through for a month when it was only a week they were going away. Into the car and out to his friend's household, climbing out of the luxury car with his bag slung over his shoulder looking around for someone to come out and attack him, stiffening his body ready for the attack. And right on time came the blonde bouncing out the front door ecstatic that he had arrived, dressed brightly in emerald and blue light winter clothes pouncing on the one that had enough layers on him to resemble the Michelin Tyre Man. Giggling he told Itachi about all the things they were going to do out there and where they were going, there was going to be a nice old style cabin and forest to explore in and camp fires and marshmallows! Itachi tried to process his rapid speaking blinking a few times interpreting the words he didn't understand with the strange way he talked, just nodding a lot to say that he understood.

Kneeling down in front of him, his mother brushed his long ebony bangs out of his eyes, placing a tender kiss on his forehead unable to stop the tears of pride that her boy was growing up, the small hand wiping them away telling her that he would be fine. A tight squeeze around his chest telling him how much she loved him and another kiss goodbye, saw Mikoto taking her exit and two boys ready for a trip. It took a long time to get there, a really long time when you were a restless child fidgeting in the back wanting to do something, Deidara tried to keep himself entertained with a colouring in book, showing Itachi every so often what he had done while he immersed himself in the new book he had, glancing over to nod and comment before back into the land of fantasy. Finally the time came pulling up out in front of the private chalet that had been hired, climbing down out of the massive 4WD onto the dirt looking around at the pretty setting like something out of a story book. They weren't allowed to go out and explore straight away instead ushered inside the log cabin to unpack their belongings and sit around to wait for lunch to be made, happily eating their sandwiches once they had been made and then off to find themselves a bear. Itachi didn't want to see a bear.

The week passed quicker than expected with the amount of fun they were having, now on their final night there before having to get back into the car for the long tedious trek home but it was going to be worth their while with the soothing night air at just the right chill for a camp fire. Huddled around the dancing flames the adults helped them toast their sticky sugar balls on a stick, half mouthful of goodness when Deidara asked them if they could go off to the cave that they had found earlier on in the week. A reluctant groan from his father at first not wanting young children just to roam freely around in a potentially perilous place but after persuasion and showing him where it was, he agreed since it was close by, giving them a flash light each and telling them that he will be back in an hour to come and get them before bath and bed. Groaning but agreeing Deidara nodded, crawling into the cave followed by Itachi.

It was really damp inside with the rain they had earlier on in the day but only in the air but that wasn't going to matter because out came the packet of marshmallows that he had palmed from camp side to eat while they hide out. "Are you afwaid of the dark?" the curious blonde asked, shoveling a fluff ball into his mouth. For someone with such a small frame, his stomach was an endless pit. He didn't wait for the answer instead turning the torches off so they were surrounded by infinite darkness not even able to see their hands in front of their face. Snickering softly he felt around for where his friend had got to, finding his face as well as his nose with a finger disappearing up the small cavern by accident, quickly retracting with an ewwwww.

Darkness started to fade with something lighting up the room again, buzzing sounds close by and a dancing light fluttering by them. Not just one but another one then a few more, gathering of small bugs lighting up the damp hideout flittering around their bodies bringing everything back into focus so they could see each other. Deidara's mouth opened in awe at the floating lights one brushing against his nose giggling from the tickling sensation it brought "It's magic, un" he exclaimed reaching out to cup his hand around one of them, opening it up to see the captured firefly inside burning brightly.

"Magic doesn't exist, its just illusions or some kind of reaction to the light" Itachi replied being the rational and knowledgeable child that he was. But still he was in a trance drawn to the beautiful glows resonating from the backs of the strange creatures, magic might not have been real but the element was truly a miraculous experience.

"I wanna take one home, un" he cheerfully announced not caring one bit about the explanation gave, to him it was real magic and extremely picturesque.

The time spent with the special insects was cut short with the time limit expiring, collected and taken back for the shower and bed that they were informed about earlier, waking up early the next morning to pack up and get back into the car for the trip home. The entire time all Deidara could think about was the fireflies, taking out his sketch book drawing in secret until after a long hard hours work he turned it around to show Itachi his masterpiece with a smile, the two of them sitting together with the yellow and green glows around their bodies as memory of the moment. Small warm smile spread across his face taking the picture to have a better look told that he could keep it if he wanted to, Itachi giving a small nod in thanks still staring at the drawing with the slightest turn up of his lips from his normal stoic look that he had. Maybe it wasn't magic although Deidara still believed that it was but to see his friend's eyes light up as vibrantly as the glow worms did in the present was received, that was more of a magical experience.