a/n. THIS CHAPTER IS NOT GOING TO SUCK AS MUCH AS THE PREVIOUS TWO.
I promise. c:
disclaimer. Roses are red, violets are blue.
I don't own, so you don't sue.
--x
Konan was - frankly - terrified.
She was hosting the graduation party that May, almost all of the Akatsuki being able to walk across the stage earlier that day and earn their diplomas. All except for Hidan - who had officially dropped out, placing his allegiences with Kakuzu - and Deidara who had one class to make up that summer before he would have all of his credits. Nevertheless, all of the Akatsuki was at the party.
Konan was terrified because, somehow, getting Madara, Deidara, Pein and Zetsu all in one room together - especially with a drunk Hidan who would definately throw some off-color comments in there - ... did not seem like a good idea. She watched tentatively from the chip bowl, her anxiety causing her to munch on them unconciously.
Madara was tossing back drinks like nobodies business, ignoring Deidara to the best of his abilities. Deidara eventually gave up and made his way to Sasori - who leaned in way too close for friendship and whispered something in Deidara's ear that made the blonde flush, then the two of them disappeared. Madara would normally be enraged that he had been played. While he played people all the time, it was not a two-way street. But, he couldn't bring himself to care. He was simply relieved Deidara had shut up....
Zetsu was seated on Peins lap, his head nestled into the crook of the gingers neck. He was rather tired, having been unable to get to sleep last night. Today had been the last day of high school. This was it. And last night his mind had been plagued with Madara, which wasn't unusual ever since they'd split. He didn't get it - Madara had cheated on HIM. How was it possible for him to want the man back so much? The feeling clearly wasn't mutual since Madara had never approached him about what had happened. He felt Pein grab his hand and the two-toned man curled up closer to the ginger, his eyes squeezed shut. Now was NOT the time to cry.
"Are you okay?" Pein whispered quietly, tilting his head down to kiss the top of Zetsu's head.
Ignoring his feelings, Zetsu nodded but otherwise did nothing.
"KONAN." Madara eventually called the woman over, cross and sick of looking at Pein and Zetsu cuddling. They clearly had no shame. The lithe blue haired woman made her way over, looking tense.
"Yes?" She questioned, chewing on a corner of her lower lip.
"What kind of SHIT alcohol did you buy? How are you supposed to get fucked on this cheap bull!?" He glared down at the woman who seemed completely unphased by his irrational anger.
With a sigh, Konan grabbed the bottle Madara was waving around, trying to prevent him from hurting someone. "Here." She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the kitchen.
Zetsu had to choose that moment to look over - and he felt his stomach drop. NOW Madara was playing around the other side of the line too? "I'm sorry." He jumped up, pulling his jacket sleeves over his knuckles, wrapping his fingers around them. "I need some air." Not giving the ginger a chance to respond, he lost himself amongst the rest of Akatsuki and hurried outside, making his way to the side of the unfenced house and leaning against the wall, listening to the birds chirp and the slight breeze rattle the trees. He pressed his hands against his face, letting the sleeves absorb the tears that began to flow freely.
Madara glared down at the back of Konan's head, wondering what she was up to. "What is it?"
"Oh, stop comlaining!" She snapped in exasperation and Madara relented, keeping quiet.
Konan eventually reached the garage and opened the freezer where Madara was amazed to see tons of bottles; wine, whiskey, vodka - anything and everything. "Who the fuck woulda thought... Konan's an alcoholic." He looked at her as if she was a heavensent angel.
Konan flushed heavily, stepping back so Madara could take his pick. "They're not mine, I hold them for everyone else. Unlike everyone else, I manage to keep myself away from the cops." Okay, so, some of it was hers. SOME.
Madara reached in and fished out a bottle of vodka, reading the labels to gauge how effective it would be. A few seconds later he pulled Konan to him, kissing her on the forehead. "You - my dear - are my new best friend~!"
Konan made a face as he pulled away. "Ewww, who knows where your faggot mouth has been!?" She teased, wiping her hand over her forehead.
Madara smirked at her. "I bet you can guess." Then he left for the party again, Konan making disturbed noises as she followed him out.
Half a bottle of very strong vodka later, Madara was starting to wonder when Itachi grew two heads.
Oh, and where the fuck Zetsu went. That was very important too. Seriously, Madara hadn't seen him for an hour and a half.
At least it felt like an hour and a half.
Abandoning his liquor, he made his way to the back door, sliding it open and stepping outside. Dammit, the sun was bright. Fucking summer....
He shielded his eyes from the sun and looked around, disappointed to find the back yard deserted. He peeked around one side of the house - nothing. With a little wobble he turned around and checked the other side of the house, where he found Zetsu sitting against the house, his head pressed against his knees and his arms shielding the side of his face. He looked pathetic.
Madara made his way over, sliding down beside the man. All though he was slightly drunk, he managed to stare down at Zetsu seriously. "...Hey."
Zetsu glanced up at the familiar voice, golden eyes shocked. "H-hey...." He could tell Madara was a little smashed but he'd seen a fully fucked Madara convince twelve cops he wasn't drunk with nothing but words so he wasn't surprised to see him talking legibly.
"What's wrong?" Almost without thinking, the Uchiha reached out to brush a tear away from Zetsu's cheek.
Understandably, the two-toned man jerked back, nearly cracking his head against the side of Konan's house. He turned and backed up, pulling himself to his feet. "What's wrong!? How dare you ask me that!" He was shaking but he couldn't believe that Madara was this full of himself.
Calmly, the Uchiha stood and didn't make a move towards Zetsu, letting the man say what he wanted.
"You cheated on ME! With DEIDARA! You lied so you could be with him!" The tears were rewelling in Zetsu's eyes and he soon found he couldn't keep his voice down. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I GO THROUGH AT NIGHT! I'm always seeing you, remembering you, wishing you were THERE... it isn't FAIR!" Running out of anything but tears, Zetsu gave up on speaking, letting the sobs rip from him, his tears blurring his vision.
The yelling had brought most of the Akatsuki out for a look-see, everyone curious as to why Zetsu of all people was shouting. Heads peered around the house, nobody attempting to be stealthy at the situation. Pein broke out of the crowd to approach Zetsu, hurt to see him crying so horribly. Before he got two steps out of the crowd, Madara had seized Zetsu, pulling the man to him. Their lips crashed together and Madara could taste the tears, drinking in the sorrow.
"It wasn't fair..." Madara breathed as he broke the kiss, still holding Zetsu to him. It nearly broke his pride as he spoke the next words: "I was such a fucking idiot, so stupid for leaving you..." He could hear Zetsu's sharp intake of breath. "I would do anything to have you back..."
There was a silence.
"Of course..." Madara pulled away, taking a step back from Zetsu. "If you're happier with Pein, I understand..." He shot the ginger a rather nasty look, contradicting his own words. He turned back to the silent, unmoving man. "I... whatever's best for you, Zuzu...." He whispered, looking into golden eyes with his own remorseful - if dull from the alcohol - crimson eyes.
Zuzu did it. The waterworks kicked back to life a third time and Zetsu lunged at the Uchiha, tackling him to the ground and showering him with sloppy kisses and tear drops.
--x
Close to two in the morning... the party ended. Konan had just taken a shower and let everyone do whatever and when she exited, everyone was gone. Dressed in her pajamas, she pulled an empty garbage bag into the room and started piling trash into it, sitting on her knees. A can dropped into the bag from above her and she jumped, jerking her head around and coming face to knee with...
"Pein?" She stared up at the ginger who quickly stooped to help her pick up.
"Here. You just showered, I'll do it." The quiet words were paired with his motion of pushing Konans hands away, grabbing the trashbag and pulling it towards him. He turned away after that, making his way to the other side of the room under the prefix of cleaning.
It was silent for a long time, Konan staring at the floor and Pein cleaning up. Eventually the room was remotely clean and Pein tied the bag off, setting it by the doorway to the kitchen and then standing. He surveyed the quiet, decent looking room, running a hand through his orange hair. "Alright then... I guess I'll be leavin-" He turned towards the door in time to have Konan run at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. "K-Konan...!" His ringed eyes widened, making his bewilderment at her actions known.
"I'm sorry..." She whispered, unable to bring her eyes up to look at him. "About Zetsu and Madara a-and everything... ever since kindergarden, when you became my very first friend... I always thought the least I could do was keep you safe. I... I apologize for failing." She pulled away from him and bowed down at the waist, a physical way of showing her apology.
Gray, ringed eyes stayed widened and Pein couldn't bring himself to move. He'd never known Konan had felt so strongly about their friendship - and all this time, he hardly paid any attention to it. It just... was. Letting out a deep breath of air, he knelt down on a knee, tilting her face up to look at him. "Konan... you didn't fail me. You're a terrific friend, and-" He was cut off by the indigo haired girl closing the distance between them rapidly, her soft lips ghosting over his for a mere hesitating second before they pressed firmly against his own.
She pulled away when he didn't respond, flushing. Pein liked GUYS, why was she making an ass out of herself? Her eyes welled up with tears out of pure embarassment and she stumbled back a step, straightening up. "I-I'm sorry, I know you like guys, I dunno what came over me...."
Konan kept retreating as Pein stood and approached her, something close to wonder in his eyes.
"And, I mean, w-we're like, best friends, right? S-so I understand that i-it'd be completely weird... and, plus--"
"Konan. Shut. Up." The blue haired girl shut her mouth instantly at his words, finding herself quite literally against a wall. Pein leaned in close to her, pressing his forehead against hers. "Tch. Some best friend you are. If we were REALLY best friends... you'd know I'm not gay."
Konan blinked at him cluelessly.
"I'm bi."
The distance between them was closed yet again, by Pein this time.
--x
That night, as Zetsu laid his head on Madara's chest and felt an arm wrap around his waist... he couldn't help but feel like everything was going right for the world.
It was true what they say -
You can make yourself a beautiful facade, a mask of lies to hide your feelings behind... but, in all honesty... people never change.
--x END
a/n. HEY HEY YOU YOU
That's all. c; I hope you enjoyed it.
Marina -- Merry late Christmas. 3