Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo. Also, the plot for this story was based off an animated movie called Strange Magic that I saw on Netflix once, although of course it's filled with my own little twists.
Deidara
"They've crossed the border, and our men are about to intercept them," Itachi announced.
"Good, and our other lines?" Minato questioned.
"In proper positions and ready to fight. All woman and children have been moved safely into the castle, and many guards are standing outside the room to protect them."
"Good. We will not allow our defenses to be breached. You may leave, Itachi."
Deidara watched as his best friend took his leave, and he found himself alone with his father. His kingdom had been prepared for war when he got back, and after getting about two hours of asleep, Suna attacked. He'd been woken up immediately, and was now required to stay with his father the whole time. Minato had wanted him to learn about leading an army, and this was the best way to do that.
"Deidara, after this is over, we need to talk."
"About what, un?"
"You're 19 years old, Deidara. You're of legal age to become king, but first you need to grow up. You still think like a child, and refuse to marry or even look at a possible candidate. You need a queen, and an heir. Until you realize that, you will never be ready to rule this kingdom."
"It's complicated. Father, you don't understand, un."
"What's not to understand? This kingdom relies on you, and it is you job to rule it one day. You have to care for everyone within our borders, and you must provide their children with a future by giving them an heir."
"Dad, I know. I care about this kingdom, I really do. But I can't provide them with an heir. I can't have a kid with someone I don't love, un!"
"If you gave one of those girls a chance, then I'm sure you would grow to love her."
"No, I wouldn't! I can't love any of those girls, un."
"Why not, Deidara? Why are you being so irresponsible?"
He didn't know how to react. Could he really just come out and say it? He was afraid of how his father would react, but Sasori had said he'd accept it. Sasori said that he had to, to set an example for the kingdom. There had never been a homosexual heir before, nor king or queen. By being the first, Deidara would be setting an example for the kingdom. That liking the same gender was okay and accepted. So, he said it.
"Father, I'm gay, un."
Minato froze in his place, and Deidara gave a slight smile. He knew it was reasonable, after all he hadn't told his father this for so long. He took a minute or so to process and Deidara walked closer, lifting his arms to pull his father in for a hug. Sasori had been right, it wasn't that difficult. All he'd had to do was say it, and everything would be okay. His father would understand, he knew it.
That was only he felt the stinging pain in his cheek, and his body hit the floor. He didn't know how to react, he'd just been hit. Minato, his father, had hit him. Lifting his head, he stared upwards towards his father in surprise. The look on his face was furious, and Deidara found himself yanked to his feet by his shirt. He attempted to pull away, but Minato would not release his hold.
"Who have you told?" the king seethed.
"J-just my friends, and a couple of the Dark Forest faeries found out, un."
His voice came out barely a whisper and his father shoved him back down to the ground, beginning to pace back and forth. Deidara didn't understand, his father was so incredibly angry. But... why? He remembered being raised, being told that liking the same gender was okay and accepted. But his instincts had always told him to keep it from his father, and he now knew exactly why.
"You are never to say that word in my kingdom ever again," Minato ordered. "You are straight, and you will marry a female and produce an heir."
"I don't understand. Why, un?"
"Heirs are not gay. They are straight, and if you truly care about this kingdom then you will be informing your sexuality to your friends, and you will be getting married."
"I'm not an only child. Naruto and Ino could be my heirs, their children could be my heirs. I can't marry some girl, I won't do it, un."
"You will do as I say. Since you're obviously unable, I will be choosing your wife after we defend against this attack. You will marry her, and become king. If you're not going to cooperate, then you will be stripped of your title and disowned from this family."
"B-but, father. I can't marry someone else, I can't get married when I'm already in love with another person, un."
Deidara's desperation showed in his voice, and he could feel the wetness falling down his cheeks. He couldn't get married, not when he was already in love with someone else. He had allowed himself to fall for someone who could never return his feelings, and he hated himself for it. He fell in love with a straight man, and one who would never see him as anyone more than just a brat. He was a kid in his love's eyes, and that's all he would ever be.
"Who did you fall in love with, Deidara?" his father demanded with a snarl.
"U-un..."
"Tell me his name!"
"S-Sasori. I fell in love with Sasori, un."
"You're a fool, Deidara. A damned fool. You're not my son."
He was speechless, and broken. Hurting from the words that had come from his father's lips. Had he come this far for this moment? Is this truly what had been meant for him? The harsh glare on Minato's face did not soften nor change, and Deidara could not stop the tears as they began to pour from his eyes. His feet stumbled backward, and he could not stay there. He could not stare at the man who was supposed to be his father.
"I hate you... I hate you, un!"
He sprinted from the room, and finding himself slam into his mother as he reached the door. She tried to stop him, to ask what was wrong, but he didn't want to hear it. So he ran, he ran as far away as he could. Through the halls, down the stairs, out the door and into the pouring rain. The guards tried to stop him, but they were not as quick as he. Just like that, Deidara was gone.
Running.
Running.
Running.
Escaping the hell he'd returned to, the home that was no longer his, the family that was no longer there. He was left all alone, in a world or cruelty. And he could help but wonder, why had this happened to him? It could have been anyone else, but it had been him. Why had Sasori taken him? Why not another? Why had he been born the way he was? Why had he been born as a person who would be gay?
"Why are you crying, child?"
And as he lifted his head, his eyes fell on a man he'd never wanted to see again. He couldn't fly away, and he no longer had the strength to run. He was alone in the pouring rain, standing across from the pale man with the malicious grin. He had to get away, he wanted to be home. But home was no longer where he belonged, and it was no longer his home. His head lifted with a courageous feeling, as he stared straight into those golden eyes.
"What do you want, Orochimaru, un?"
"Answer my question honestly."
"My father just took away the only thing I had left that brought me joy, un."
"And, what would that be?"
"My family, and my kingdom, un."
Orochimaru moved closer, and thunder roared loudly above. Deidara's feet automatically stepped back, but with Orochimaru's longer strides he was soon directly in front of the blonde. A pair of arms wrapped around his body, and his mind no longer knew what to think. He couldn't trust this man, not after what happened. But why was he doing this? Why had he come here to help him?
"Don't be frightened, Deidara. Come with me, and stay by my side. I'll be your new family, and I will give you more love than any other. We can rule the Fairy Kingdom together, and show your father exactly how wrong he was."
"I... I can't. I can't love you, un."
"You don't need to, I have enough love for the both of us. Join me, Deidara. Join us."
More figures came out from the bushes, from behind trees and he knew it was an army. An army led by the man who was offering him everything if he agreed to be his. He had no where else to go. He had lost his father, the man he loved and soon would lose his position as heir. But could he agree to be by someone he didn't love? It hurt, just to think about it. To think about abandoning all those he cared for.
"But, I can't abandon the people I love. I won't leave them, un."
"But why stay? When they don't want you anymore. Don't you know why we're here?"
"W-what do you mean, un?"
"As soon as you left, Sasori teamed up with Gaara. He wants you dead, Deidara. He sent us to kill you."
Deidara's heart felt like it had been stabbed, and his legs just let out beneath him. Sasori... had done that? Had he really ordered them to kill him? After everything that had happened between them, after he'd allowed himself to fall in love with him. He had been betrayed, by his father and by the person he cared about most. His hands moved to his heart, and he was afraid. Love made him weak, and he cursed his heart for the emotions overtaking his mind.
"It hurts, doesn't it? When the ones we love most betray us. Come with us, and we'll rule our new kingdom together. No one wants you here, can't you see this is the best option?"
"Why would he do it, un?" Deidara choked out.
"He was testing a new form of torture, one where the victim's emotions are played with and tricked. Then when they find out in the end, it destroys them. Join me, Deidara. We'll get our revenge together. We will be the first married kings, and we will prove that we are stronger rulers that any straight couple."
"I don't know, un..."
A battle cry suddenly sounded from behind, and Deidara looked back in shock. He recognized the red hair and the brown eyes as he charged forward towards him. Orochimaru quickly barked orders and Deidara sound found himself in the middle of a protective circle along with the man who had betrayed Sasori. But Sasori had betrayed him, and this man was offering him something Sasori would never give him.
A pink bottle was lifted, and Deidara stared at in shock. Orochimaru only smiled as he went down on one knee, hair soaking from the pouring rain above. The cork was pulled from the top, and the blonde watched as Orochimaru poured some of the dust into his rough hands. He knew exactly what it was, and exactly what it could do. Was this really the path to his happy ending.
"Be mine, Deidara. We'll rule together happily, and you can forget all the pain. We will love each other, don't you want to be loved?"
"I... I do, un."
"That's my boy. Now, open your eyes wide for me."
And with that, Orochimaru lifted his hand holding the dust above his eyes. The blonde prince took a deep breath, but made no movements to fight against his fate. He needed to forget everything, and this was the only way to do that. Besides, he would be happy and loved. Orochimaru would love him, and he would love Orochimaru. He would receive his happy ending.
"Deidara, no!"
His head turned slightly, eyes falling on the man with the red hair. He was sprinting, running straight to him. His fear grew, and he shrunk closer to Orochimaru. His Danna wanted to kill him, that's what he had been told. He heard more battle cries, and found himself in the center of a battle field as men from his own kingdom joined the fight against Orochimaru's men. Had they joined Sasori? Did they want to kill him too?
"Say goodbye, Deidara. Say goodbye to all your pain. We will live together, and I will make you the happiest man on earth."
"Goodbye, un..."
The dust of the love potion was dropped, and he felt a pounding feeling in his head. He began to see things, appear in his head, and he recognized them with memories. In each one was a man with red hair with brown eyes, and he watched as the man slowly turned pale, and his hair grew black. His hands went to his head, as screeches surrounded him. He heard his name, and once more his body hit the ground.
He saw one final image of the redheaded man with the dull brown eyes. The word 'Danna' appeared in his mind, and soon his skin turned to a pale white. His red hair grew out longer, and soon turned to a pitch black colour. Brown eyes turned golden, and pupils narrowed into slits. Then the image of the redhead was forever gone in his head, and he heard a dark and devious voice in his ear.
'Forget him, and I will give you love.'
'Who are you, un?' Deidara asked the voice.
'I am a part of Konan, the sugar plum fairy. She created me to bring people love. Let me take control, and I will bring you love.'
'You will bring me love, un?'
'Yes, but only if you forget him.'
The image of the redhead appeared once again, and my mind recognized him immediately. He was King Sasori Akasuna, the man I loved. He wanted to forget, but he didn't know how. How did he forget? How could he? A small light appeared in front of him, and a girl was formed from it. Her wings were purple, but they looked like a monarch butterfly. She had amber eyes, and short, purple hair.
'I don't know how to forget him, un.'
'I am not Konan, and do not have the power to make you forget. But I do have the power to take over. Take my hand, and give the control of your body to me. I will give you all the love you could ever ask for.'
'I... I want to be loved, un.'
'Take my hand, Deidara. We'll be loved together.'
Deidara lifted his hand, and finally placed it in hers. A new feeling began to surge through his veins, and his body began to glow. Fear overtook him, and his eyes squeezed shut. But then the feeling began to pour into his heart, and a peaceful emotion took over. He felt love, she had given him love. His fear flew away, and the sound of thunder faded. When his eyes opened, he stood quietly in a meadow.
Finally, he felt free.
Finally, he was loved.
"DEIDARA!"
He thought he heard a voice, one he recognized. But he couldn't figure out where he'd heard it before. Still, he no longer cared. He was in a happy place filled with love, and he'd get to stay there forever. He would remain in the meadow where the purple-haired girl called Konan would bring him love.
Love.