Hi～ I somehow managed to get a lot of time to write, so here's the chapter early. :3
This is the next week, from math class to after school (Just so you don't get confused).
A sigh blew from Deidara's mouth as he stared out the window.
Up at the head of the class, Iruka was giving his lecture on how to find the degrees of angles that make a straight line.
Already know how to do this… Deidara fought a yawn that threatened to escape, half-closed eyes widening as they caught sight of something outside. Sasori-san?
The redhead was playing basketball, lithe body weaving through the bodies of his classmates until he got close enough to the opposing basket and received the ball, scoring once he did so.
Deidara felt a blush start to wander onto his cheeks at the sight of the other, eyes catching almost every detail of how he had stealthily and quickly found the route through the sea of students and scored the basket with such grace. A smile curved at Deidara's lips as he saw Sasori roll his eyes before lifting his arm up, smirking while he hit his forearm with Pain's. However, another sigh made it's way from Deidara as he saw him lower his arm when Kiba came to try the same, scowling while jabbing the Inuzuka in the back.
Silver eyes suddenly shot to the red-haired boy's right, scowl disappearing as he saw Deidara in Iruka's class. "Deidara?"
"…!" Deidara froze as his eyes locked with Sasori's, returning the small smile as it was given. He slowly held up his hand in a tiny wave, face reddening slightly more as the redhead did the same. Suddenly, the wave transformed into a pointing finger, pointing to Deidara's right.
"…Deidara-kun?"
"U-Un?" Deidara shot to attention as he realized that Iruka had been trying to get him for the past ten seconds. "C-Could you repeat the question?"
Sakura blinked, leaning back to see what the boy next to her had been so preoccupied with. But the only thing she saw was Sasori pushing Kiba out of the way as the brunette had tried to tap forearms together.
Iruka's head tilted, eyebrow rising. "If one of the angles on the board is 33.8º, what are the other two?"
A glimpse of the image flashed in Deidara's eyes. "33.8º and 112.4º, un."
"Correct. Now…"
Deidara relaxed back in his chair, eyes closing.
"Deidara-kun?"
"Un?" He opened his eyes to look at the pink-haired girl.
"What was so interesting outside?" Sakura asked, redirecting her gaze to the window again.
"Oh, ah, nothing. I…was just distracted by the pretty scenery," Deidara replied, turning to mask the flush that had reappeared on his cheeks.
"But…it looked like you were waving at someone…" Sakura looked at the class outside.
"Er, trees. I was waving at trees, un."
"You were waving at trees?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Oh…no reason…" Sakura hesitantly returned her attention to Iruka, muttering under her breath, "Maybe because normal people don't wave at trees…?"
Deidara mentally sighed. The girl had been on top-notch suspicion of him ever since that 'dream' she had last week. She had confronted him about it the day after, having caught him during math.
«––––––x
"Deidara-kun! I had the worst dream ever!"
"Wh-What? What was so bad, Sakura?" I bit my lip as she ran into my arms. Touching me yet again.
"I…I saw you…you were with Sasori…hugging, blushing…you were happy…and…before he…before Sasori knocked me out…he called you his Deidara! His!" She trembled, gazing into my eyes.
I stiffened. His? But…that was definitely no dream…so…he actually said that? He…called me his? "That…that's ridiculous! I'd never get together with him!"
"But you're friends, aren't you?"
Ah…shit. "W-Well…"
"Deidara-kun…" She backed up, staring me straight in the eye. "I…think it's time for you to answer some of my questions now: for real. No secrets."
I shifted uncomfortably. "O…Okay…what do you want to know?"
She swallowed slightly before beginning.
"Who invited you into Akatsuki?"
"Sasori-san…"
"Why did he invite you? Why do you call him Sasori-san?"
"I don't know why he invited me…because we became friends, un…?"
"When did you two become friends?"
"…After we fought that one day."
"What…?"
"Well…not really…but that's where it started…"
"Tell me."
"I…felt bad about hurting him. I took advantage of his leg, as you know…so I tried to help him as much as I could afterwards…bandaging up his leg with the bandages from my arm…helping him to the nurse's office…homework…giving him a gift…"
"So that's why you were missing those bandages when I saw you walking home! And you did have detention because of him…and why you stayed after a bit longer that one day for math…"
"…Un…"
"So you two just got closer after that?"
"Pretty much."
"…Does he act weird? As your friend, I mean."
No, of course not. He just, I don't know, stole both my first and second kisses, teases me like the flirt he is – though I doubt he knows it – with his stupid English skills, offered to be my slave for a day, wanted me to hug him, wanted me to punch him after hugging him, acts like a kid whenever I try to leave him and shows me a side I doubt most anyone else has seen. He's so completely normal as my friend it'll shock you. "No…he treats me like a human being sometimes, but he's nice either way, un."
"Sasori? Nice? Are you feeling alright?"
"He is nice!"
"Alright…" She paused, averting my gaze. "Do you like Sasori?"
"Wh-What?"
"Like…more than a friend."
"I-I already answered this! No, I don't!"
"Oh…that's good."
"…What did you do to him?"
"Excuse me?"
"He said that you hurt him, really bad. What'd you do, un?"
She sighed. "I…was different back then, okay, Deidara-kun?"
"So you did hurt him badly."
"No, I didn't!" She bit her lower lip. "He hurt himself, the liar."
"Sasori-san wouldn't lie about something like that."
"He's lying, Deidara-kun."
No he's not, Sakura. "…Fine."
"How do you know he wouldn't?"
"Because he's too…nice to do that…un…"
"He lies, Deidara-kun. Maybe not to you, but he does. And all I can advise you is to be wary, because you never know when he will."
"How do you know he does lie?"
"Because he's lied to me…to everyone."
"What do you mean?"
"…He hasn't told you yet?"
"Told me what?"
"…Never mind."
"No, Sakura, I–!"
"I said never mind!"
Sasori-san…couldn't lie about something so important…could he? No…not with that face…not with those eyes filled with pain…but…she has a point…he hasn't told me what's bothering him, what's up with his fear of being alone, so…maybe…he could lie about things like that? Trying to keep whatever he has a…secret… "If you say so."
She sighed. "Sometimes you can tell when he's lying, I bet…but that one…no one expected it."
Dammit, stop talking about it if you won't tell me whatever the hell it is! "Un…"
"I just want you to be safe, Deidara-kun…and Sasori…hanging around him won't have you safe. It'll put you in danger."
"Because he's not nice?"
"Don't use that tone with me when I'm trying to help! Ugh, anyways, no, it's actually because–"
The roar of approaching kids reached both our ears.
She made a face. "Looks like we have to end it here…and explain to Iruka-sensei why we were out for the bathroom for so long…" She sighed once more. "We'll continue this talk later, okay?"
I watched as she began to walk off. "No."
She turned, eyes wide. "What?"
"You heard me. I'm not going to talk about anything to do with Sasori-san unless you tell me everything you know about him."
"I can't do that!"
"And why not?!"
"I do have morals, Deidara-kun!"
I froze, seeing the pure anger in her eyes.
"I may not like the guy, but I do respect his right to keep things to himself if he wants! And if he hasn't told you, he doesn't want you to know!"
"Well did he want you and everyone else to know?!"
I saw her falter.
"W-Well…that…" She shook her head, then turning to leave. "I…I've got to go, Deidara-kun. I'll tell Iruka-sensei you're sorry for being so long and get your homework for you. So you just go to your next class."
"Sakura, wait–!" I tried to stop her, failing as she kept walking away.
«––––––x
Deidara was still a bit uneasy at the thought of Sasori lying about important things. If Sasori lied…then who knows what lies Deidara had already been told? He shook his head. Sasori-san wouldn't lie to me unless it was for good reason. And then he'd have an excuse…so then…
"Deidara-kun…"
He turned, blinking at seeing the girl standing up. "What, un? Is something wrong, Sakura?"
Sakura giggled slightly. "No, stupid, class was let out already." Aww…is he starting to care for me?
"O-Oh…sorry."
"It's okay."
x––––––»
"I'm happy that…we could just talk like this for this long already…alone, without…Hidan or Pain around."
"I thought you didn't like 'girl-talking,' un."
"…Not especially, but somehow…it's not 'girl-talking' when I'm talking with you."
Deidara blinked. "Un?"
Sasori leaned back against the tree, tilting his head towards the blond. "It's more like…expressing myself. Does that make sense?"
"Well…"
The shorter teen sighed, turning to the other with a slightly annoyed, slightly embarrassed look clouding his features. "When I talk with you…it's like…I can tell you everything without worrying…"
"…It's called 'trust,' Sasori-san."
"I know what it's called, idiot!" Sasori snapped, averting blue eyes. "It's just…it's odd…"
"Whatever you say…" Deidara stood up, stretching. "I have to get home now, un. It was fun talking to you, but I have to call Mom since she's going to be out later today."
"…!" Ash-rose eyes widened.
Deidara smiled at the silver-eyed male before beginning to walk off. "See you soon, Sasori-san."
"…Don't…don't go!"
The newest student turned, blinking at seeing Sasori standing up. "Sasori-san?"
"I want to talk some more! I…want you to stay!"
"I can't, un. I told you, Mom–" Deidara was cut off as the shorter boy latched himself onto his back. "Sasori-san!"
"No! No, don't go!"
He's in this state again… "Sasori-san, come on, let me go home!"
"No!"
"I have to go!"
"Don't! You can't go!"
"Sasori-san, I have to! Mom's gonna get worried if I don't call her soon!" Deidara argued, trying to gently get the other off of him.
"No!"
"Sasori-san!"
"You're not going!"
"I'm going! You can't stop me!"
"No!"
"Dammit, Sasori-san, I'm going back to my house!"
"You're not going! You're not!"
"School's over! You have to get back to your house too!" Deidara began moving forward, struggling to as the redhead tried to hold him back. "You're not going to stop me from going to my own house! I live there!"
"No! You're going to die if you go! You're going to die!"
Deidara's eyes widened, his strain forward stopping. He felt liquid seep down his back, in rhythm to the irregular gasps of breath from Sasori's mouth. "I'm…going to…die…?"
"You can't die…! You can't die and leave me alone! Don't…don't leave me alone!" Sasori tightened his hold.
"Sasori-san…" Deidara looked back, his blood running cold as he saw the other's expression. He spun around instantly, tugging Sasori in a tight embrace. "Sasori-san, I'm not going to die…I won't die, un…"
"You're going to…if you go, you're going to…" Sasori protested, shaking his head. "I know you are…! You'll leave and then never come back!"
"No…I won't die…I promise you, I won't die…"
He's acting so violently about it…
"You will…so don't go…! Please…! I…I can't be alone…!" Sasori dug his fingers into the Deidara's back, pushing his face into the side of Deidara's neck.
"Sasori-san…it's okay…" Deidara tried to calm Sasori by stroking his back. "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay…"
What the hell happened to him…to make him so scared like this? This person leaving him alone, dying…
"Don't die…you can't die…no…not again…"
Again? Deidara unclasped one of his hands, reaching up and turning Sasori's head to look him straight in the eye. "Sasori-san, I would never leave you…you're scared…and no one in their right mind would ever leave you like this…"
What is he hiding? He has so many secrets…so many things he needs help with…but he only pushes people away…
"So you'd leave me if–!"
"That's not what I'm saying." Deidara softly wiped the tears away. "Sasori-san…I need you to calm down…"
There's so much I want to ask him…why he covers up this side of him with one so completely opposite…why he's so afraid of being alone…why he was afraid I was going to die…why he changes into this state when threatened to being left alone…why he never asks for help…why he has to keep so many secrets…why he never lets anyone into his mind…
"Please…" Sasori looked at the other with pleading silver eyes, trembling fingers clutching to Deidara's back as if it was the only safe place in a crumbling world. "Don't die…I couldn't live…if you died…"
"I won't die…I won't leave you alone…I'll meet with you every day, if that's what it takes…"
Just what the hell has he been through?
Deidara suddenly pressed his cheek to Sasori's forehead, pulling back moments later. "…You have a fever…let's go to my house…my mom is going to be late from work today, so I can get you some medicine before she gets back, un…"
Sasori nodded, a blush pooled across his face. "Okay…"
x––––––»
"Do you need anything else? Anymore ice or…"
"No, I'm fine…thank you…" Sasori smiled weakly, looking over as Deidara made his way over to sit next to him on the couch.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, idiot." Sasori smirked before standing up, removing the ice pack from his forehead. "I have to go now; I've overstayed as it is. You don't mind if I…keep this, do you?"
Deidara shook his head. "Not at all, un."
Sasori chuckled for a second. "You know…women…they might be pointless, do stupid things and all, be too…soft…but…I guess…that's why they're so likeable."
Blue eyes blinked.
"…See you in school."
The newest student blinked again, before calling out, "Wait! Sasori-san, I…"
"Yes?" Sasori turned, head tilting.
"Earlier…you were scared that I was going to die…" Deidara stared into the other's eyes. "…What exactly…were you thinking about?"
Sasori froze, eyes widening. A small smile lit up his features immediately after, and he answered, "I…lost my pet when I was younger…he was a dog, and I got him as a present. But a car hit him, and I've…never quite gotten over it. Sorry if I scared you."
He's lying…he was way too distressed, broken…for it to be over a dog…Sakura was right…he does lie about important things… "It's okay…I'm just happy you're alright, un…"
"I'm flattered." Sasori held up a hand as he departed, cocking his head. "Bye."
"Un!" Deidara put on a smile until the other had left, then depressing it back down into a frown.
Why was he so violent about being alone? And…me dying…? Was it a brother who died? Sister?
He narrowed his eyes in thought, bringing an arm up to cradle his forehead.
Dammit…
So does that give you an idea of where Sasori's autophobia came from? xP
Poor Deidara. Can't figure it out. Mm, but then again, I probably wouldn't be able to either…I'm an idiot like that, ahaha.
Yeah, I believe Deidara figured out Sasori lied once before or so…but that was like…for the 'girl-talk' thing, and it really wasn't for something big, so… -is confusing herself- xx;
～Arrina