How's everyone been? I got lucky and didn't get a lot of homework, so I got to work on this for you guys. :3
Takes place next day, after school.

Deidara was glad Sakura had been absent. It meant he didn't have to explain anything else to her. Ino and Naruto had merely tried to talk with him and hang out when he wasn't lounging around with Kisame or Itachi, Sasori for a few occasions. Although, he did have to answer for the hundredth time to Naruto's question of, "Do you think Sasori's hair is his natural color?" Why didn't Naruto just ask that of himself? Mr. Blond in Japan: heh, yeah, sure. Deidara knew he was a natural blond, though. The pictures his parents had proved it. Unless, for some whacked up reason, they dunked him in a bowl of blond hair dye right after he was born. But, back on topic, Sakura not being in school took a lot of pressure off his back.

"Hey, Deidara!"

He snapped out of his thoughts, blinking at the sight of Sasori. "Hm?"

Sasori pointed. "Over here, brat! Come on already!"

The blue-eyed boy's face screwed up in annoyance. He was staying after for whatever reason Sasori had wanted him to, and the guy still treated him partially like dirt! And, not to mention, he was still so impatient. Deidara sighed, speeding up his walk as Sasori disappeared around the corner.

Just as he reached the corner, Sasori's face popped up in front of his.

Deidara blushed, jumping backwards. "Wh-What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You were taking too long," Sasori grumbled, looking away, light redness coating his cheeks. "Stupid brat, couldn't you have walked faster? Or even ran?"

An offended look appeared on the newest student's face. "Hey, look. I'm staying after today because you wanted me to. The least you could do is treat me like a human being and not some crap on your shoe."

The redhead blinked. "You…didn't want to stay?"

"No, I had other plans. Like getting my homework done quickly so I could just relax for a while."

"Is that right…" Ash-rose eyes narrowed. "I'm…sorry I disrupted your schedule, then…"

Deidara felt his gut wrench at the other's expression. "No…I'm sorry…I've just been on edge all day…I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Sasori's face didn't change.

"Sasori-san…" Deidara took a step forward, placing a hand warmly on Sasori's left shoulder.

"I…didn't want you…your plans…" Sasori tensed slightly. "You said you were free, and…"

"I thought I was…I didn't know we'd get so much homework…and I just wanted you to be happy…"

The silver-eyed teen looked up, surprised.

Deidara moved his hands until they were tugging the corners of the other's lips upwards. He grinned slightly, cocking his head. "Smile…you look so much better when you do."

Sasori blinked, flushing slightly.

Hands moved to Sasori's back, shoving him into a loose embrace.

"I'm here now…" Deidara murmured. "So how about we go to whatever you have planned in the cafeteria, un?"

"…M-Mm…" Sasori's face was hazed over in a dark crimson mist. He resisted the urge to clench his fist and send it flying into Deidara's jaw for the contact, instead submitting into the warmth.

"…Sasori-san?" Deidara blinked, before realizing what he was doing, immediately trying to release the other. "Ah, sorry, I–!"

"No…"

Deidara's eyes widened as his arms were caught and held, prevented from moving.

"I…I don't mind…if we stay like this…for a bit longer…"

The blond was sure his face was as red as Sasori's hair as he returned his arms to where they previously were, holding Sasori tightly. Was this a daydream? Or maybe he was still dreaming in bed. Yes, and his mom would wake him up any minute and scold him for sleeping in.

"D…Deidara-kun…? Deidara-kun?!"

Deidara froze, slowly lifting his head to look straight into jade eyes.

Sakura had a hand to her mouth, dropping her backpack onto the ground. "I-Is that Sasori?!"

"S-Sakura…!" Deidara bit his lip. "I thought you were absent today…!"

"I came to get my homework!" Sakura snapped, her mouth dropping open as the redhead turned. "Oh my God, that is Sasori! What are you doing with him?!"

"U-Um…"

"What are you doing with him?! I'm going to kick your ass if–!"

"Hey, bitch," Sasori interrupted, smirking darkly as he strode over to the girl. "What's up?"

"What do you want?!" The pink-haired girl backed up a step.

"Oh, nothing." Sasori cocked his head, now in front of the female. "Honestly."

"I don't believe you," Sakura hissed, glaring.

Sasori chuckled ominously, leaning forward and whispering into Sakura's ear, "You touch my Deidara and you'll regret it."

"Wha–?!" The light dimmed from Sakura's eyes as a sharp blow was given to the back of her head.

The ash-rose-eyed boy backed up so the girl wouldn't fall on him, eyes narrowed. Did he just put 'my' before 'Deidara?' No…it was just a mistake. It just came out. Not on purpose, of course. And it most certainly wouldn't happen again.

"Sasori-san…?"

"It's alright. When she wakes up, she'll just think it was a dream." Sasori turned around. "Let's go to the cafeteria now."

"We can't just leave her, un!"

"We can and we will."

"But–!"

"Look, it'd be more…realistic then. She was out sick, so if she thought she saw something, it's best to just leave her where she thought she saw it. Because if she's moved, she might think that it wasn't a dream. It's how the human mind works."

"Un…okay then…" Deidara looked once more at the unconscious girl. "Sasori-san, she's bleeding!"

"Well obviously. She just landed on her big stupid head."

"W–!"

"No we won't do something about it. Really, do I have to explain everything to you?" Sasori sighed, cocking his head to the side while staring into blue eyes. "She thinks the whole thing is a dream, right? That means she must've passed out. Meaning she fell. So, if she knows she fell, it'd be peculiar if she wasn't bleeding."

Deidara looked away.

"S-o-f-t-i-e."

He looked back, offense apparent in his eyes as he stared at the smirking face.

"You do know what that spells, right, brat?" Sasori placed a hand on his hip. "'Cause it's what you are."

"You have a gift that makes someone want to punch you when they previously didn't three seconds ago, un," Deidara growled, a fist forming on his right hand.

"Oh?" Sasori's face seemed to light up. "Do it."

"What? Punch you? No!"

"Come on. I want you to prove that you're not a softie." Sasori extended an arm, catching the wrist that connected with the fist. He slowly brought it to his lips, pressing it against them for a brief moment. "Right here. Hit me right here."

Scarlet paw prints dappled the blond's face as he pulled his arm away. "You're so weird! Wanting me to punch you…" And doing that… The skin still tingled from the touch, like a feather was brushing it over and over.

"You're going to hurt my feelings, Deidara."

"Tch, whatever!" Deidara spun on his heel and began striding over to the cafeteria entryway. "Be weird if you want. It's your own dignity at sta–!" He opened the door, his mini-lecture being discontinued as a piece of cake hit him right in the middle of his forehead.

"Ah?" Hidan blinked before a grin split his face. "Oh, Deidara-chan! Hey, I din' know you were comin' in! 'Thought 't was redhead, yep!"

"Why you–!" Deidara reached up and wiped the food off his forehead, shaking it off his hand onto the floor. "Hidan!"

Hidan laughed, pointing. "Ya looked funny with that frostin' on yer head, Deidara-chan!"

"Because you put it there, you bastard!"

"Ah, Kakuzu help me!" Hidan sprinted away as the blue-eyed teen chased after him. "Deidara-chan's tryin' t' get me!"

"Will you stop calling me 'Deidara-chan?!'"

"He's got quite the temper, doesn't he?" Pain asked as Sasori entered. "Must take after you. What do you do, give him private 'How to Be Sasori' lessons?"

"Funny, Pain," Sasori snorted. "He acts that way on his own."

"That's hard to believe."

"Like you and Konan not going steady?"

"Sasori!"

The redhead ignored his leader's outburst, instead locking his eyes onto Hidan, who was still running from an infuriated Deidara. "…Is he drunk again?"

"Unfortunately…"

"Why the hell did you let him near alcohol?"

"He brought it, Sasori."

"And he drank it. All of it."

"Yes…"

"How much did he bring?"

"Two bottles or so."

"Great." Sasori walked away towards the purple-eyed boy, lip curling. "Oi, Hidan. Do you need me to personally snap you out of your drunken state or what?"

"Aha! Redhead, no, Sasori!" Hidan flung himself away from Deidara, latching himself around Sasori's midsection, snuggling his face into his chest. "I lurves ya, yes I do! Aww, you luvs me too!"

Sasori stared down in disgust before shooting his knife-like gaze at Kakuzu, barking out, "Kakuzu! Get your stupid little shitwad off of me right now before I rip out his insides and shove them down his throat!"

"Calm down, Sasori, he's drunk. Give him some slack," Kakuzu scoffed, walking over and trying to get Hidan off. "Hidan. Come on. Get off of Akasuna."

"Tch, and that's an excuse why?" Sasori muttered.

"No! No!" Hidan protested, clinging on tighter, much to Sasori's chagrin. "Sasori, save me! The bad guy's tryin' t' take me away from you! And I luvs you!"

Sasori growled.

Hidan blinked, releasing the other. A grin accompanied a mischievous spark in violet irises and a raised silver eyebrow.

"Sasori-san!" Deidara ran over, blue eyes wide.

"You like Deidara-chan, don't ya, Sasori?"

"Wh-What?!" Sasori's face heated up, though Deidara couldn't tell whether it was from embarrassment or anger.

"I knew it! You do like 'im! Aww, that's so sweet!"

"You son of a–!"

"Deidara-chan! He wants to be in your bed with you!"

"…!" Deidara felt a flush instantly coat his face as well, freezing. "Wh-What–I mean–No–!"

"Hidan, that's enough," Kakuzu warned, glancing at the infuriated expression on Sasori's face.

"Aw, no it's not!" Hidan laughed quietly, wiggling one of his arms free and shoving the redhead's back. "So go get 'im, Sasori!"

Deidara felt his stomach flip as he saw Sasori stumble towards him from the blow, eyes wide as their lips met clumsily.

Konan's eyes sparkled, a big smile on her face as she hastily took out her camera for photography and snapping a picture.

"Konan!" Pain stared at her in disbelief.

The smile morphed into a smirk as silver eyes came to rest with gray.

"Blackmail!" she sang, snickering.

"Konan, you know that–!"

"Yeah, yeah, but look at Sasori's face! It's priceless!"

Sasori quickly backed up, eyes wide, face dangerously red. He whipped around to face Hidan, hate shrouding his body. "You piece of shit! I'm going to massacre you!"

"You won't do anything to him, Akasuna." Kakuzu intervened, stepping in between.

"Damn you, Kakuzu! Are you blind, or did you not just see what he made me do?!"

"Sasori, calm down–" Pain quickly came over.

"I'm leaving!"

"S-Sasori-san!" Deidara called after the redhead as he stormed off towards the other exit.

The orange-haired teen sighed, setting his gaze on the masked boy. "Kakuzu, try and keep Hidan under control, got it? We can't have this happen again."

"Sorry we're late. Kisame was helping me with…" Itachi trailed off as he and Kisame walked in through the first entryway. "…Did something happen?"

"No, nothing, Itachi," Pain answered from across the room, rubbing his forehead. "Just Hidan being drunk again."

"…" The Uchiha watched as Deidara ran off, dark eyes blinking.

x––––––»

Goddamn it all… Sasori folded his arms over his propped up legs, resting his chin on them, eyes narrowed. Stupid Hidan…stupid Kakuzu…making me do that…and in front of everyone… He tilted his head until his forehead was resting on his arms. Goddammit…

Noise sounded next to him and he looked up, stiffening at the sight of blue eyes. He hastily buried his face back into his arms; releasing a muffled, "Go away, shit."

"Sasori-san, I…"

"I said go away."

"No…I'm not going to…" Deidara sat down next to the shorter boy, tenderly reaching out and pressing his hand to the other's back.

Sasori stiffened.

"Why the hell do you always have to act like some Goddamn idiot woman?!" he snapped, raising his head to glare viciously at the blue-eyed teen.

Deidara's hand shot back, fear dancing in his irises.

Sasori's eyes widened. He retreated back to his previous position once again. "I…just go away, Deidara…leave me alone…"

"Sasori-san…" Deidara extended his arm once again, this time not taking it back when the other tensed. "You don't like being alone…so I'm not going to."

Sasori let his muscles relax, lifting his head so his eyes peeked over the barrier of his arms, watching the blond through the corners of his eyes. "…You know me way too well."

"Is…that a bad thing, un?"

"…No…"

A tiny smile cracked onto Deidara's lips as he withdrew his hand. "…Are you feeling alright?"

"…I…"

"Is…something bothering you?" What a stupid question…Hidan just made us…in front of everyone…!

"…I'm…sorry…"

"For what?"

"Doing…that…I should've stopped myself…"

"You couldn't have…don't beat yourself up over it. I…" He cut himself off before he could utter the words "didn't" and "mind." "…I don't blame you."

Sasori smiled slightly, unfolding from his protective position. "…We should get Hidan back for that."

"We should." Deidara paused. "So…what was going on in there? I don't believe I figured that out…"

"You didn't?" Sasori tilted his head. "It was a…sort of mini-party for you joining. We would've done a better job, but that was the best Tsunade would let us, since we'd need 'adult supervision' if it was any bigger."

"So then…don't you think we should return?"

"…In a bit."

"Un?"

"…I just want to relax for a bit…away from Hidan and Pain."

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

A smile graced Sasori's features.

"I'd like that."

Hidan drunk…randomly got that idea. xP I don't know if that's really how people act when they're drunk, so I just guessed.
Sasori's a sucker for hugs. 'Cept…it's like his fear of being alone. If it's someone he really doesn't give a damn about, it won't work. So, like, if Sakura tried to hug him, he'd kill her. Like he wouldn't really care if she left him alone.

～Arrina