Chapter 4:
"So this is where that humming's coming from." Deidara said as he entered the kitchen. "Something smells good." He admonished.
"I should hope so. My cooking is worlds better than dad's." Tala said turning to him. He was stirring a large bowl of pancake batter.
"You realize it's two in the morning, right?" Deidara asked taking residence on the counter next to where the redhead was standing with a sketchbook and a pencil in hand.
"My team will be here at four, and practice will start at five. I wouldn't have time to make breakfast, if I woke up at half past three like I would when we were kids. Then again, back then, I never had to cook." Tala retorted moving towards the stove to start making the pancakes.
"Haven't you ever heard of fast food?" The blond asked absentmindedly letting his pencil draw of its own accord.
"There's a Mc Donald's not too far from here that delivers." He added finding himself unable to focus on his beloved art hobby because somehow he couldn't bring himself to stop looking at Tala.
"That stuff is meant for emergencies you know." Tala sounded repulsed at such a thing. "A host should never offer guests anything except the best. A little TLC and skill, and home cooking can go a long way."
Silence descended upon them. Tala cooked, and Deidara watched. Remembering Itachi Deidara tried to shake the things he was thinking out of his head. By the time Tala was finished cooking, Deidara had to excuse himself. It had started with a mere thought of how much grace and poise Tala carried himself with, stemmed to thoughts about the redhead's beauty and undeniable attractiveness, and then somehow without Deidara noticing, he was daydreaming about the guy.
Sexual fantasy after sexual fantasy ran through his mind. Deidara had nearly screamed when his eyes finally looked at what his hand had unconsciously, been sketching into his sketchbook. An image of Tala doing him in a changing room, and tons of little hearts with their names inside greeted him. Locking himself in the guest bathroom once back in the room, Deidara proceeded to take a cold shower.
He couldn't be having these feelings, he couldn't! There was just no way. He couldn't want the same guy as his best friend, he just couldn't. After his shower, Deidara found himself contemplating who he could talk to about this. Sasori had crushed on him for a while now, and Hidan would never be able to keep such a thing from Itachi. "Kisame maybe?" He muttered out before letting his head hit his pillow. "There has to be someone I can tell." He mumbled.
Deidara couldn't think of anyone, and by four a car horn had startled him out of his thoughts, and lured him to the window. From the window he could see Tala run out, and greet his team, the shortest of them ending up on the redhead's back as they headed inside. Sighing Deidara shook the small wave of jealousy that engulfed him away, and headed for the first floor.
"I knew it." He could hear Tala's voice as he entered the kitchen.
"You guys have been eating junk since I moved." And saw the redhead sigh after his team didn't deny he was right.
"Who's your friend Tal?" One of them asked noticing Deidara.
"Hm?" Tala asked turning. "Oh. Hey Deidara." Truth be told Deidara wanted to melt from the smile Tala gave him.
"Guys this is Deidara, Deidara these are my teammates. This is Kai, Bryan, Spencer, and the little one's Ian." Tala introduced pointing them out respectively.
"Nice to meet you." Deidara said as Tala pushed him down into a chair.
"Eat." The redhead ordered placing a plate with a stack of chocolate-chip pancakes in front of him.
"Thanks." Deidara said deciding he'd best listen.
He didn't regret it. One bite and a smile broke out onto his face. "How did you learn to cook like this?" He asked. "Someone had to cook after dad got arrested for the experiments he conducted beneath the abbey, and none of these lazy-bones wanted to take up the torch." Tala replied causing Bryan to snatch his fork out of his hand, and eat the piece of pancake there while glaring all the while.
"My point exactly." Tala said sliding his plate over to the lilac haired blader, and getting up to get another for himself.
"Is Itachi coming today?" Deidara asked.
"As far as I'm aware he's coming. I'm not sure about Sasori, Hidan, and Kisame. We'll find out when Itachi gets here." Tala replied and smacked Bryan's hand. "If you want more, get it yourself." He said glaring at him.
"Bry that was stupid," Kai started as Bryan sat down and dug into his third plate of pancakes. "You should know by now not to push Tal's buttons in the morning."
"Leave it alone Kai," Tala started looking at Kai. There was something in those ice blue eyes that Deidara couldn't place as he observed. "I'd rather not listen to you two argue right now." Tala finished directing a look that Deidara could only describe as pleading at Bryan.
"Bad memories?" Spencer asked eying Tala with a look of compassion.
"Spence I'm coping ok?," Tala started offering a half-hearted glare in return. "Don't do this to me, please, not now." There was nothing in the redhead's voice and Spencer visibly twitched because of it.
"Kai, would you like to start or should I?" There was no way Spencer was going to drop it.
"I don't want to talk about it!" Tala growled out.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Deidara asked.
"In short, we want to get Tala to talk about what's bothering him, and we're not going to stop until he does." Ian answered.
"OK. In that case," Deidara got up and left the kitchen. None of the Demolition Boys, not even Tala were prepared for what he did next. Deidara re-entered the kitchen with various cans of paint, and without any warning what so ever, started covering all of Tala's teammates with the contents inside.
"What the hell was that for?" Bryan asked. He looked like a snowman.
"Shit man, I think you got my eye!" Spencer spat coughing a bit.
"Friend of Tala or not, I'll get you for this!" Kai hissed at Deidara death-glaring all the while.
"Fuck you!" Ian growled, and made an attempt to tackle Deidara, but Tala grabbed him, and held him tightly to him. It was then that Ian noticed the sound Tala was emitting. In spite of everything, Tala could still, and was currently laughing.
"Deidara, not that I'm complaining, obviously this is too funny for me to do that, but why have you done this?" The redhead could barely speak clearly.
"I just didn't think you should have to talk about something you didn't want to." Deidara replied smiling at the sight before him. Tala was holding his stomach which was now in pain from how much he was laughing.
"As for you guys, I know you're worried about him, and that's wonderful. It's great that you care, but Tala trusts you doesn't he? Don't you think he'd talk to you when he felt ready?" Deidara's voice was somewhat disbelieving, and reprimanding. How could they put so much pressure on their friend? Before their leader, Tala was their friend, and a human being. He could only take so much. It wasn't hard to see that was it?
"Yeah he trusts us, but if we wait for him to make the first move, he'll never say anything, and Tala isn't quite so pretty, when he's bottled too much inside. Trust me, we were doing exactly what he needed." Kai's voice exuded certainty.
"I don't claim to know him better than you, but this laughing Tala, is a lot more appealing than the miserable one you four brought out trying to interrogate him. Not trying to insult any of you, just putting it out there: YOU MIGHT JUST WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM! It doesn't look to me like you'll be much help to him trying to solve it the way you usually would." Deidara said and looked at Tala. "Underneath it all, he's just human. Treat him like it." With that he took it upon himself to wash the load of dishes in the sink.
"Kai?" Spencer, Bryan, and Ian looked at him questioningly.
"No way." Kai replied seemingly knowing their question.
"Wrong answer Kai. This is one thing I actually want you guys to let me keep bottled up. I'll deal with it when the need arises." Tala said and went over to Deidara.
"I know you're still recovering. Sorry to leave the clean up to you, but thanks to you, I have other cleaning to do." He said and embraced Deidara from behind.
"Truly," He whispered in his ear.
"Thank you." If Tala wasn't holding him Deidara swore he would've fallen from the shock of Tala kissing his cheek.
"I am so royally fucked." Deidara lamented to himself when Tala had taken off with his teammates to get them cleaned up and changed.
While Deidara washed the dishes Tala was thinking of how exactly he should go about getting the paint off of his teammates. As he thought they decided to be themselves, and well...piss him right the fuck off.
"He's certainly cute. Thinking of moving on Tal?" Kai received a glare in response to that.
"Don't be secretive about it Tal. We won't tell. Remember when you were head over heels for Hiro?" Bryan just caused Tala to go grab the hose and prepare to soak him.
"If you guys try getting me to talk about Hiro one more time, I swear you will not soon forget the punishment I give you!" The redhead growled glaring at them all.
"So you don't miss him?" Kai asked.
"That does it!" Tala exclaimed and opened fire.
In an hour Tala's teammates were soaked to the core, and still not cleared of paint. If anything the paint looked even worse now that it was dripping off of them like rapidly peeling skin. Tala put the hose away with a satisfied smirk, and went inside. Returning with a portable hair-dryer he proceeded to end their misery, at least the part caused by them being soaked by cold water. Their clothes now barely resembled what they'd originally looked like.
"Hey Tala, the others are here. When are you gonna show us those bit-beasts?" Deidara poked his head out into the backyard and blinked. "Do I want to know?" He asked after a look at Tala's team.
"We'll be starting in half an hour, and no, but take note of this. This is the kind of thing that happens, when I get pissed off." Tala replied and Deidara felt something malicious behind the smile the redhead had given him after.
"You smell like him." Itachi said hugging Deidara. Deidara tensed up in his arms.
"What are you hiding?" He inclined at that.
"Smell like who?" Deidara played dumb. "I'm not hiding anything."
"You know who I mean." Itachi countered dragging him to the floor. "Talk Dei, now!"
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about! I am not hiding anything, I swear!" The blond tried wrestling the raven off of him, but Itachi kept him straddled beneath him, and pinned his hands at either side of his head glaring at him. "'Tachi stop it. Come on, you know I can't lie to you. Besides, you're hurting my wound dumb-ass!"
"That's exactly why you should talk. If you have nothing to hide, be honest with me like always. I know you're not telling the truth Dei, I can see it in your eyes." Itachi countered shifting a bit, but Deidara still couldn't get him off.
"I can't 'Tachi...this is something, I can't tell anyone." Deidara tried again in vain to get him off of him and sighed. "We can stay like this all day, I'm not talking."
"Fine by me. You'll talk Dei, I'll find some way to make you." Itachi said with a devil's smirk on his face.
"Do YOU know what's going on?" Kisame asked Hidan.
"No idea. You?" Hidan passed on the question to Sasori.
"I have a theory, but I'm not voicing it." Sasori replied.
"You stupid weasel, get the hell off of me!" (Deidara)
"No way." (Itachi)
"Let go, and get off now!" (Deidara)
"It's not happening Dei." (Itachi)
"Let's hear it. I'm sick of hearing them argue." Kisame said to Sasori.
"Sasori, if you say what I think you're gonna say, I'll get you!" Deidara exclaimed managing to kick Itachi in the balls.
"What the hell is going on in here?" The five of them turned to see Tala staring at them questioningly.
"It's nothing. These two were just behaving like idiots. Don't bother with it." Sasori said helping Deidara up as Kisame checked on Itachi.
"I'm going to have a migraine before this day is over, I know it." Tala muttered shaking his head. "I'm taking your word on this Sasori. Make sure they're okay, and come out back, we're starting. Deidara knows the way." With that the redhead left them alone.
"I thought so." Sasori said noticing the disappointed look in Deidara's eyes.
The blond was discouraged because Tala hadn't come to make sure he was okay himself leaving it in Sasori's hands instead. "Call me tonight. I promise I'll keep your secret." He whispered in Deidara's ear.
He had liked Deidara, but if Deidara's happiness came with someone else, he'd be happy for him, and live with it. Had it been anyone else he might've been able to bring himself to try having them by force, but Deidara was too adorable and innocent for him to try that on him. It was that Deidara that he loved, and he wouldn't be responsible for breaking that being, even if he had to suffer the pain of seeing him with someone else.
"Danna." Deidara sighed, and started crying into his chest, hugging him for dear life.
"Hey I'm not your master anymore. I quit teaching martial arts a long time ago." Sasori retorted, but started running a comforting hand up and down the blond's back, while holding him to him with the other.
"It was only a year ago, and you'll always be my danna. Either way, please, let me be selfish right now." Deidara's voice came so quiet that Sasori was sure the others hadn't heard a word.
"I would have given you the world." He said softly.
"And then some, I know danna, I'm sorry I can't return your feelings, I'm so sorry." Deidara whispered back.
"Hey! What gives? I want to know what's wrong with Deidara!" Itachi struggled in Kisame's arms, as he was carried out of the living room, Hidan following with a knowing look on his face. "Tell me! You know something don't you? Tell me!" He snarled.
"Believe me, you can't help him any more than we could. Leave this to Sasori." Hidan said punching him on the head.
"Put me down Kisame! Hidan I'm gonna get you bastard! Just wait until I get my hands on you!" Itachi exclaimed after Hidan's retreating form.
"How long will you guys be practicing?" Hidan asked entering the backyard.
"Well, considering Kai and Tala's skills are even right now, I'd say till nightfall the earliest, and midnight the latest." Spencer answered looking at him. "Why? What happened?" He asked.
"There's a little bit of a problem being taken care of inside, and considering the state of mind of the ones involved, it could take a while." Hidan replied. "Hey, are those bit-beast things out right now?" He decided to check out what he was invited to see instead of worrying about his friends.
"Up there." Bryan answered pointing. "The phoenix is Dranzer, she's Kai's. The ice goddess out now is one of Wolborg's two forms, that's Tala's, it's other form should come out soon just watch." He explained.
"Wow, those things are really real. I always thought it was a fairytale." Hidan said entranced. "Go Wolborg!"
"Thanks!" Tala exclaimed looking at him. "Wolborg, finish it! Antarctic Blizzard!"
"You haven't won yet Tala! Now Dranzer, Desert Heatwave!" Kai as always was ready with a counter attack.
"Whoa! That's one hell of an explosion." Hidan commented waiting for the smoke to clear.
"I'm not losing!" Tala said attacking Kai's blade mercilessly.
"Yeah? Well neither am I!" Kai bit back pushing back with a similar attack.
"You're in perfect form." Tala said smiling.
"And yourself." Kai said smiling back.
"This'll be a good fight." Tala said overpowering Kai.
"Agreed." Kai said as Dranzer's blade gained a sudden burst of power.
"Why don't you even the score?" He asked trampling all over Wolborg's blade.
"Humph," Tala started jumping back. "You asked for it. Let's go, Wolborg!"
"This is so cool!" Hidan exclaimed watching the two blades clash. For each clash he could see Tala and Kai moving and quickly came to the conclusion that this game required mental and physical strength as much as it required skill. The two honestly looked like they were fighting each other as much as their bit-beasts were.
"This always happens." Bryan said sighing as Kai and Tala retrieved their beyblades from a crater in the ground and got into launch position again.
"They're too evenly matched, in every sense of the word. It'll be a lucky victory for either of them, if they beat the other." He explained seeing the look of confusion on Hidan's face.
"Ian, count us down already!" Kai and Tala commanded in unison.
"You two are going to destroy your beyblades if you do this all day." Ian said shaking his head.
"When has that ever stopped us before?" They countered.
"Fine, fine." Ian sighed. "I swear, you two love pain." He said but counted them down abiding their command.
A/N: Here's another update. Tomorrow I will probably update yet again. That will be the last of the week though, because I'm babysitting this weekend. Keep voting and I hope you enjoy. RNR!