It's a few weeks later, when Deidara is watching the news alone in his house. He sees Kakashi sometimes during the night at the club, but they don't get to interact at all. Kakashi has withdrawn a bit from the club, Naruto and Sasuke rising to more prominence. The news is currently talking about the 'body of a fourty-something year old man has been found shot and dead in a gutter. Multiple stab wounds were found on his body and an insignia that is associated with a gang was carved into his skin'. They show a picture of Orochimaru. Deidara pulls out his cellphone, calling Orochimaru's number and hoping that Kakashi is home.

Kakashi's answers, a quiet 'Hello, sir or ma'am. This is Master Orochimaru's home, his whore speaking'.

"Kakashi? It's Deidara. Turn on the news, un." Deidara says quickly, hoping that they stay on this story for a few more minutes. They stay on it, Kakashi sucking in a quick breath. Deidara waits tensely for him to say something.

"I- I have to stay home. I have to wait for him. I- I have to wait for him." Kashi manages to get out, line clicking off. Deidara then calls Pein, as this is another day the club is closed.

"Hello?" He answers.

"Master Pein, it's Deidara. I was wondering if you saw the news this morning, yeah."

"I have not. What's going on?"

"Orochimaru is dead, yeah. May I go get my sub, un?" Deidara's voice is deadly, making the mafia leader on the other end of the line think carefully about his answer.

"Get him here. I need to inspect him." Pein's voice is rather short.

"Yes, Sir. What is the address, un?" Deidara asks, getting something to write it down on.

"3456 W Laney Ave." Deidara writes this down and hangs up. He hurries to that address. It is a huge cream colored house with white accents and molding. Deidara walks up the long drive and up the front steps, knocking on the door. Kakashi answers the door, completely nude except for the collar and a tiny pair of shorts. Deidara is standing there, looking worried and excited at the same time.

"Kashi? He's gone, un. Will you come back with me, un?" Deidara looks up at him hopefully. Kakashi looks scared.

"I- I have to wait- He said he'd be right back. Do- Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"Kakashi, he's dead, yeah." Deidara answers bluntly. Kakashi shakes his head slightly.

"N- No. I thought that once. He beat me when he found me going ho- to your house." Deidara thinks for a moment.

"Kakashi, Pein wants to see you, too, yeah. If he catches us, I can call Pein and he'll explain, yeah." Kakashi nods slightly. Deidara enters the house, managing to find the sweats and shirt Kakashi wore home a few weeks ago and handing them to him.

"Get dressed, please, un. It's snowing, yeah." Kakashi strips right there, pulling on the other clothes. Deidara leads him to Pein after forcing him to wear Dei's coat. Pein is in the basement with a new guy, one who looks like someone Dei's serviced. Probably someone else who's rich, horrible, and wants someone to hurt. Deidara growls when they enter, hugging Kakashi to him when the man shrinks away from this new buyer. He gives Pein the 'so help me I will bite your dick off' look. He doesn't use it unless he's really angry and wants to get his point across, which is how he gets away with it.

Pein sends the guy to another floor to be serviced by Kisame.

"Deidara? What?"

"This is why you wanted to see him, un? He won't survive with another guy, yeah!"

"I've found him incredibly resilient thus far. He can survive another guy and he'll like it." Kakashi whimpers, hiding against Dei. Deidara holds him close, protecting him.

"He'll break, Pein. And I can't live without him, yeah." Pein arches an eyebrow.

"You'll lose a week's pay. He'll lose a month to pay for it. Take him away. Now." Pein turns his back on them. Deidara takes him back home. It's snowing, but Deidara doesn't feel the cold. He's overjoyed, in spite of the fact that they're going to be broke for a while.

"You get to come home, yeah!" He coos, nuzzling Kashi as they walk. Kakashi hesitantly looks at him, keeping up with him as they walk.

"Home?" Deidara frowns at his confused tone, gently kissing his cheek.

"Home, yeah." Kakashi hides against him at the curious stares they get as they leave the club.

"We- We're going the wrong way, Sir."

"Do you remember where I live, un? Where we used to live together, yeah?" Deidara asks, glaring at a guy who gives Kakashi a lusty look.

"Oh. Yes. I'm sorry, Sir. I thought we were going to Master Orochimaru's house." Kakashi shrinks a little in submission.

"Kashi, he's dead, yeah. You're gunna live at home with me now, yeah." Deidara explains again as he lets him go so he can unlock the door.

"Oh. U- Um-" Kakashi shuts himself up, following Deidara quietly. Deidara holds the door open for him.

"Come on in, un. The heat hasn't been working right, so I'd leave the coat on, yeah." Kakashi nods, awkwardly pausing when he's inside.

"Can I look at the heater? I'd like to fix it for you, Sir."

"Um- if you think you can fix it, un." Deidara shows him where it is. Kakashi settles down with a fork and some duct tape, giving Deidara his coat back and setting to work. Deidara leaves him to it, heading off to change into sweats. An hour later, the heater is running much better. While Kashi was gone, Dei finally moved the rest of Yukio's stuff out of the apartment. Deidara goes over to him.

"Thank you, un. Kakashi, you can take the collar off if you want to, un. He's not coming back, yeah." Kakashi nervously touches it before pulling his hands away.

"I- I can't."

"Why not, un?"

"M- Master put a shock on it. I can't take it off." Kakashi guiltily drops his gaze, fidgeting.

"If you could, would you want it off, un?" Deidara asks, looking at it.

"Oh. I- I- Master said never to take it off-" Kakashi twists his hands in his shirt, looking down.

"He isn't your master anymore, yeah." Deidara says, touching Kakashi.

"I- I'm sorry, Sir. I- I'd like it off?" Deidara sighs softly.

"Please be honest with me, un." Kakashi puts his hands up, though he knows that he gets beat worse when it happens.

"Pl- Please, Sir. I'm sorry. I am telling the truth-" He cuts off in shock when, instead of hitting him, Deidara places a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Okay, un. It's okay, 'Kashi. I'm not gunna hurt you, yeah." Deidara says, tone gentle. Kashi makes a soft sound of confusion, averting his gaze from Deidara and getting on his knees to be used because that's all he knows. Deidara gently pulls him to his feet, instead.

"Will you go sit on the couch for me, please, un?" Deidara asks. It has been a long time since Kakashi heard the word 'please' instead of 'now'. Kakashi hurries to go do it, feet under him and head bowed in what's clearly the expected position. Deidara sits beside him on the couch, pulling Kakashi into his lap instead. Kakashi awkwardly settles there, curling a little into himself.

"S- Sir?"

"Yes, un?"

"What- What do you want me to do for you, Sir?"

"Nothing, un. You do whatever you want to do, yeah." Deidara says, looking at him honestly. Kakashi curls a little more into himself, trying to shield himself. He's clearly not used to freedom. Deidara holds him, just trying to be there for him. Kakashi whimpers softly. He eventually moves out of Deidara's lap, going to sit in the corner in that same position as earlier. Deidara leaves him be, hoping he will eventually realize what's going on. It's a few hours later that Deidara finds him in the same position, feet and hands having long since fallen asleep and muscles tense. Deidara sighs, picking him up and moving him to the couch. He physically stretches out Kashi's limbs, gently rubbing a leg.

"You're going to get hurt doing that, yeah." Kakashi winces, unable to stop from jerking his leg as the feeling comes back to it. He hisses softly. Deidara lets go, giving the other the same treatment. Kakashi whimpers quietly, muscles spasming in his hands. Deidara gently rubs his arms as well, relaxing the tense muscle. Kakashi relaxes a little bit, eyes closing tiredly. Deidara kisses his head.

"Night, hun." Deidara murmurs softly, rubbing his shoulders too. Kakashi falls asleep against him, mouth falling out just a little bit and features smoothing out. He looks so much more innocent in his sleep and wrapped up in Deidara's coat to hide the marks littering his body. Deidara very carefully moves him and sleeps on the couch for a while before heading to work.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The next morning, Kakashi wakes up in the bed - and actual bed like Master sleeps in! - instead of a pillow on the ground. He has breakfast waiting for him courtesy of Deidara with a note that says the blonde is still working but will be home soon. Kakashi scarfs it down, feeling bad about it after but not bad enough to throw it up like he's supposed to. He gets in his club clothes and heads there, just in time to perform for the night. After work, Deidara walks him home. Kakashi automatically tries to detour to Orochimaru's house.

"Nu-uh, un. Home, remember, un?" Deidara gently steers him toward the apartment.

"No- no that's where I'm going!" Kakashi steps out of his arms, frustrated and confused about all the recent kindness and changes.

"You don't live with Orochimaru anymore, yeah." Deidara reminds him.

"I'm just going home." Kakashi brushes him away, wrapping his arms around himself and walking determinedly to Orochimaru's despite the snow. Deidara tails behind him. When Kakashi gets there, the police have taped it off and one stops him. Dei apologizes for his 'confused and mentally unwell' brother, leading him away. Kakashi pulls against him, trying to go back.

"That's Master's house! You can't do that! He'll be so upset! Get away from His house!" He yells at the police, escaping Deidara's arms by pure force of will. Deidara lets him go, sighing and following the police car to the station on foot after they take him away. Kakashi's sitting sullenly on a bench, handcuffed there. He's got a small bag of stuff next to him, possessions of his they returned. They've gotten the collar off of him. Deidara pays his bail and takes him home. Kakashi apologizes on the way home, offering Deidara the bag of stuff as recompense. Deidara takes the stuff from Orochimaru out of it to clear Kakashi's conscience, putting it in a drawer. He then calls Pein.

"Hello?" A distinctly female voice answers.

"Can, um, may I speak to Pein?" Deidara asks awkwardly, taken by surprise. Pein picks up the phone a moment later.

"Yes?"

"Who is she, un?" Deidara can't help but blurting out.

"Anko. What do you want?" Pein's voice is touched with the hint of humor at Deidara's jealousy.

"Oh. Um- I thought you should know that I just picked up Kakashi from the police station, yeah. Orochimaru messed him up bad, Sir." Deidara says, voice going from jealous to worried.

"Could you pay bail? Why was he at the station?"

"I paid bail and he's home now sleeping, un. He was yelling at the cops searching Orochimaru's house, yeah. He- He doesn't believe me that he isn't his anymore, yeah."

"Mm. Well, if he needs anymore help, take him to Kisame. I recall that the two of them are close."

"Pei- Sir. He sat in the corner for hours last night staring at the wall, un. And every time I try to talk to him he hides like I'm going to hit him, un. I'm really worried about him, yeah."

Pein considers this for a moment, tone rather blunt. It's clear he doesn't care about Kakashi. "Well, Orochimaru isn't the kindest Dom. He has a habit of breaking his toys. That's why Hatake was so good for him."

"But what if Kakashi never recovers? I'm so worried he'll get himself really hurt." Deidara sounds as scared as he feels.

"Why do you care if he hurts himself? If he dies, he dies. He's just an asset Deidara." Pein ignores the fact that the strip club has been Kakashi's whole life. He's dedicated everything to the place.

"He's all I have outside of you, Sir." Deidara slumps into a chair in defeat. He doesn't hear the soft pad of feet as Pein talks to him, Kakashi walking in. He sits right at Deidara's feet loyally, just staying in case Deidara needs him.

"Deidara, you don't need anyone outside of me. Don't you know that by now?" Pein continues talking, Deidara drowning him out for the pale man at his feet. Deidara looks down at Kakashi, noticing how red and bruised the place where his collar was is now. Dei gently pets his hair, leaning down to rub noses with him and smiling softly when Kashi blushes. There's a pause that draws him back to the call, Deidara realizing that Pein has asked a question and is awaiting an answer.

"Um- I'm sorry, Sir. What was that?" Kakashi presses into the gentle touch, leaning lightly against his legs.

"I said, why don't you let me sell Hatake? You'll have one less mouth to feed and you can spend more time with me."

"Because he means alot to me, yeah. I wouldn't give him up for the world, expenses be damned, un." Kakashi curiously looks up at this, gently rubbing his face against Deidara's knees to show how much he wants to be around Deidara.

"Fine. Tell me when you change your mind. I still want you to be at work tomorrow, that mutt in tow. He still needs to work." Pein hangs up the phone on him. Deidara sighs, gently pulling Kakashi to stand up when he gets out of the chair.

"We should head to bed, yeah? Long night tomorrow, un." Kakashi follows easily, completely docile.

"Sir? May I ask another question?"

"Of course, un. You don't have to call me 'Sir' if you don't want to, yeah."

"Oh. Um- Sir? Who were you talking about on the phone? The 'he'. Should I prepare for company? Is 'he' going to be over soon?" Kakashi drops his gaze, chewing on his lip in preparation that there's yet another guy he'll have to compete with.

"That was Pein, un. He isn't coming over, yeah." Deidara answers.

"Oh. Um- Who was the person you were talking about? You said that he means a lot to you. That- That you wouldn't give him up for the world." Kashi gets quieter and quieter as he talks, realizing how much this guy means to Deidara. Deidara gently tips his head up to look at him.

"He's you, yeah." Kakashi's breath catches, eyes widening. He blushes very lightly. Deidara kisses his cheek.

"Come on, un. We should go get some sleep before we have to go to work, yeah. You can have the bed if you don't want to sleep with m-" Kakashi hugs him tightly, hiding against his shoulder. His voice is uncertain and muffled, but still Kakashi saying it.

"Thank you. Thank you s- so much." Deidara hugs him close, nuzzling him gently.

"Of course, un. Always, yeah." Kakashi hides in his shoulder.

"C- Can I stay in bed with you?"

"Sure, un. Come on, un." Deidara leads him to bed, not bothering to change he is so exhausted. Kakashi quietly gets Deidara out of his clothes then dresses Deidara like a good sub. He strips naked for Deidara then crawls into bed like that. Deidara looks at him helplessly after thanking him for his help.

"You're gunna catch cold like that." He sounds incredibly worried. Kakashi snuggles under the covers, flipping around and spooning flush to his front. Deidara sighs softly, holding him close. "G'night, Kashi."

"Night, Sir." Kakashi falls asleep in his arms.