Series: Naruto
Setting: AU
Prompt: 018: Beach
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2, 603
Warnings: Language
Summary: A fountain, a blonde and detention from hell. How could this all add up?

Damn The Man

"It's sooooooo hot, un. I feel like I am going to die. Put the air conditioning on or we will report this as child abuse!"

Deidara wasn't the only one that was feeling the effects of the sweltering heat. The rest of the classroom slumped against their desks, lethargic, dying, beads of sweat trickling down their faces with the busted cooling system. It was a private school damn it! Didn't they pay enough for fix these kinds of things without needing government funding?

It had been reported over the past couple of weeks over the news that it was the hottest Spring on record, the effects of global warming turning the seasons around into some kind of insane sauna. Teenagers and heat did not mix too at all, turning them into grumpy whiny children at least half of their age, flailing around complaining that they were going to die. But it was noticed by the faculty at least, trying to get a technician out there to fix the system that was taking its toll from the overuse of power in the city, draining the electricity needed to run it which in turn caused it to fail. Something in the meantime was going to have to be done to brighten the spirits back up before they had a revolt on their hands.

One of them was staging that on his own, bolting out the door stripping clothes on the way through ignoring the screaming teacher's command to get back to his desk. Every adolescent on the west side heard the commotion and the screams of "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah," on the way through, darting to the windows pressing their face against the glass to see what was going on. There was only one they all were aware of that would pull such a prank half way through the day and they were hoping to witness the greatness, the master at work, the one that would certainly be in detention in a good ten minutes.

Almost stark naked except for the pair of pool ball clad boxer shorts, Deidara streaked through the empty corridors, down the stairs, waving his hands in the air grabbing the most attention he could from the adjoining classrooms otherwise it would be a waste of his time. He needed an audience, all eyes fixated on him, attention whore at the best but yet he provided the goods.

The teachers had not yet caught up to him as he bounded for freedom through the front doors of the school, a hop, step and a jump, leaping straight forward to his objective... the fountain. Installed a couple of years ago as a donation by one of the ultra snobby parents, the six foot water fountain was put in display uselessly to make the school look richer perhaps, a show of money and the victim of soap suds for a good six months afterwards. But now it was something more than a symbolism of money. It was for rebellion, chaos, indecent exposure, the FU of all students!

Water splashed over the sides of the concrete holding bath as Deidara jumped into it, - it was shallow so he couldn't just dive right in-, laying down in the chilled liquid swimming circles around the ridiculous posing... something's. Maybe the Principal with a bikini top on? Whatever it was, the blonde splashed and played around cooling the body temperature down to a normal level once again, giggling the entire time knowing very well that the old bat was storming down there to pick his ass up to scrub the kitchen floors with a toothbrush.

Windows flung open one by one in a Mexican wave effect along with the screaming as loud as a sporting event, students hanging out the windows yelling their praises to the law defying blonde that stroked his ego even further. Deidara scaled the monument and sat on top of its head, holding his hands up in the air for all to see with his ring and index finger down covering the tucked away thumb in the universal sign of the rocker. The crowds roared even louder, banging the fists against the panes chanting his name louder. Teacher could not stop this anymore; it was worse than a soccer riot.

Azure eyes scanned the faces one by one, taking a quick divert down to see the swarms of teachers running out to capture him but he stayed firm, continuing to search for one that he could not miss. He bet that bastard was just sitting there with a book in his hand reading the time away instead of having some fun, learning about modern literature instead of how to be free and easy but as the flash of crimson passed his eyes, Deidara gave an almighty grin. Itachi was watching him as well. Bringing his hands down to his side, one of them raised back up with his index and middle finger extended, moving it to his lips kissing the tip softly. Anyone could have taken the credit for being on the receiving end except that it was only for him, blowing the imaginary kiss into the wind to find its target against Itachi's cheek.

And that was the last that he could do, grabbed on the leg by the scaling teachers trying to pull him off without causing serious injury to him. He would have got down if they asked him to but he was too busy looking up at the Uchiha, lost in deep thought that only revolved around their strange relationship that had blossomed over the past couple of months.

At the beginning they were enemies, hated each other to bits, Deidara going out of his way to cause problems to make his life a hell. Then it started to change and develop into something else, moving along to maybe a friendship, maybe understanding, maybe he was just sick and tired of the shit of his supposed friends and Itachi was his way out. Regardless of that permanent glare on his face, the complexion that looked like it mocked and ridiculed wordlessly, he felt that Itachi didn't judge him. That the Uchiha didn't look down upon him or expect him to live up to his expectations. He... felt... whoa shit!

Deidara lost his balance from the tugging at his leg, tumbling down into the water landing with a huge splash that drenched the teachers. Six very pissed off and judgmental teachers and one principal loomed upon, waiting to swoop down and pick his carcass clean. Ohhhh but where they wrong. He would not go quietly. He would take the stand for one last show.

Jumping clean out of the water almost losing his heavy water logged boxers, Deidara without shame turned to the faculty and dropped his pants flashing the white untanned backside at them.

"We demand that we get the air conditioner back on or else one kid every half an hour will act out against the system! Fuck the system! This is..."

"Sparta!"

Hundreds of teenagers started laughing at the overused catchphrase from that popular movie. The blonde just rolled his eyes and shook his head at the lack of originality.

"Thank you the smart ass up there, un."

But that was the last of Deidara's rampage, grabbed from behind and demanded that he pull his pants back up before they escorted him off to the awaiting office for some very serious punishment. All of the students returned to normal once the distraction was taken away, back to their books and their lessons except for Itachi who continued to stare out the window watching the white ass of Deidara's get dragged away.

"Idiot."

"I got probation for three weeks," Deidara whined, kicking the grass of the oval with his boot.

This totally sucked. If he did anything that was out of place for three weeks, one little bit of trouble at all then he would be suspended or worse, expelled depending on the severity of his crimes. What happened to that free speech stuff and all that jazz? Oh that was right; they were in Japan, the land of the anal and not in the free living United States of America. That was the big difference there. All day he could hear the voice of his mother echoing over and over again on how important this year was and just to behave for the duration so he could graduate and then move onto college like a good boy. Get a career like she had... pfft, sure, just an excuse not to come home. He was not going to live like that but he did need that degree.

"What do you expect? You dropped your pants in front of the entire school, disturbed the teachings and caused a revolt. Did you expect to get off lightly?"

Itachi was right on that but he was surprised that he had so much influence over the students. Just as he had audaciously yelled out right at the end, others too had taken suit every half an hour doing more of the most randomest things to get the attention needed. Protests in front of parliament and all that were useless. Acts loud enough to get their attention worked. They should all just swim in their fountains when they needed someone acted upon.

Deidara collapsed against the ground splayed out in a star shape against the freshly wet grass from the sprinklers, wiping his face with the hem of his shirt utterly exhausted. "It's too hot to play today, un," he complained, motioning for Itachi to sit down on the ground next to him.

Besides that, there was a little something that he had picked up on since they had been doing this together, something that Itachi seemed to be intent on hiding.

"How long are you going to hide that?" he asked curiously, pointing to the knee brace he was wearing.

It wasn't the fact that he wore it; many athletes did for extra support especially when they had prior injuries but prior injury or not, Itachi was masking a limp with his walk. It was not just when he was practising but it was showing through in his everyday walk now. He wanted to teach him about his only loved sport and share the experience with him but not at the cost of his body. That thing must have hurt. The dedication of the sports players were ridiculous at times especially now that the competitive season had started, Itachi wasn't available on Saturdays because of the game but the more he pushed it, even Deidara knew that it was going to snap or something.

When Itachi just ignored him, Deidara took things into his own hands, pulling the thermaskin brace down to have a look at exactly he had done. Ohhhh it looked nasty, more so because it was kind of bruised looking and puffy but the two diagonal scars down his knee told the story of an old injury playing up. "Whatcha do to it?"

"Came down the wrong way during a game. Tore some ligaments and went through a couple of months of surgery to fix it. It was about five years ago."

Now that really had to suck beyond anything he had known, not that Deidara hadn't had his fair share himself but nothing past a broken bone and stitches. To date, he had not yet had one operation and he planned to keep it that way.

His fingers tenderly caressed over the scar tissue, shuffling closer to get a better look at it. How much of it did he keep bottled up inside of him? Not just from his leg but from everything. He was always so quiet, reserved, cagey and distant. Had anyone ever broken that barrier to get through to him at all or was he always like this? How could his parents stand to have a child like him that lacked all animation but the most important question was, what would have to be done to get him to open up?

"Since it's as hot as hell today, you want to come to my place instead and do something? My mother isn't home, un."

That wasn't meant as an invitation for anything that would have made the Uchiha uncomfortable but more to state that his mother was not someone he wanted to really come in contact with. He loved his mother very much but since his father had left, it seemed like there was no time for him at all. He was sure he would get a call tonight after hearing about water fountain incident so he wanted to get in some good quality nothing time before that so Itachi could join if he wanted to.

"Sure," Itachi agreed, pulling his brace back up and getting up.

"We will call a cab for this one and get your leg checked out or else I am going to have to make you watch movies where the person's life was ruined because they didn't listen to everyone else and caused serious injury."

The way Deidara said that was a joke, light chuckle and a smile except he was deadly serious behind it. He was worried about his well being for some reason. Of course Itachi just shrugged it off and gave the generic response that he would but he had made a plan to keep an eye out for him just in case he didn't.

"We have an announcement. Everybody stop what you are doing and listen."

Just as the voice of God... err the Principal said over the speaker box, the school body stopped everything they were doing and looked upward to the front of the classroom, staring at the stuck on speaker as if it was a real person there. Random announcements were always fun mostly because they were mass students getting called to the office after pranks and other practical jokes so they were prepared to have a giggle. Always a great way to end the day.

"The decision has been made in regards to the cooling issue that is currently plaguing us."

Now this was starting to get juicy. What was it? Day off school? Going home early? Day down at the pools for gym class? Damn it, why where they keeping them in suspense? Almost everyone in the school including the teachers was clinging to their desks with anticipation to what the proposed deal was.

"Technicians will be arriving to fix the problem on Friday so as a result, school will be cancelled for grades eight to ten."

The younger students of the school roared with excitement for the long weekend that was about to come up for them, hugging their friends already making plans for what they were going to do with their time off. The upperclassmen however started to riot, yelling swear words in retaliation to them making sure that they would do more than skinny dip in the fountain next time.

"Years eleven and twelve will be going on a day trip to the beach for assignment purposes."

...Assignment purposes!?

Who cares! The rest of the school now followed suit and cheered to the high heavens for their victory won, all thanks to a blonde streaker who decided that showing his wang to the world and frolicking like an idiot in a pond would actually pay off. In his victory, he turned to Itachi and smirked, breaking down into hysterical laughter as he even got a small glimmer of a smile from him as he shook his head and turned away. Damn the man! Booya! They had won.