A few days go by with Kakashi staying at the old apartment. He's making himself dinner when the phone rings. He mentally growls in frustration. His time without Deidara has been filled with different people calling to take his mind off of things and if he has to hear Kiba tell him about Sasuke and Naruto's relationship problems again he'll lose it.

Kakashi picks up the phone, practically snarling. "Kiba, I swear to god, I don't want to know what position they were fucking in on Tuesday or what color tulips Sasuke got Naruto or how long-"

"They were yellow, un." Deidara interjects with a soft chuckle. He's aware that people have been pestering Kashi. Kakashi shuts up when he hears Deidara's voice, much more tentative when he speaks up again.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I- I thought you were someone else. Um- how- how are you?"

"I'm okay, un. How are you, un?"

"I-" He swallows back the 'i miss you. please come home. i'm so so sorry.' "I'm okay. Besides fucking Kiba and Anko…"

"They're idiots, but they're your idiots, yeah?" Deidara chuckles softly, remembering when Kiba used to do all of Kakashi's bidding.

"Basically. They're trying to cheer me up but it-" won't really work without you. "It's Kiba and Anko."

"Yeah. Hey, are you-" free this weekend? "working friday, un? Minato's gone and one of us has to cover, un. I can if you have plans, yeah."

Kakashi gives a dry chuckle. "I think I'll miss our couch more than it'll miss me. I can sub- fill in for him as bartender."

"I, um, I gave everyone sunday off, yeah. Do- will you go on a date with me, un?" Deidara sounds extremely nervous, like this would be their first date instead of one after a fight.

Kakashi's words all come out in a rush. "Oh god, I'd love to."

"Um, I'll pick you up at six, yeah?"

"Yeah! Um- to do what?"

"Dinner if that's okay, un?" Kakashi resists the urge to squeal, leaning against the counter and cradling the phone with both hands.

"Course! I- I can make it here if you want o- or at the club. Or did you want to go out?"

"I actually have a place picked out if that's alright?" He tries to sound cool, but his nervousness shows through in his speech impediment fading. He bites his lip, hoping Kakashi will say yes.

"I'd love that. Um- Can I ask where?"

"The little Italian place by the park, un?" It's an out of the way restaurant that isn't too fancy but still has an air of class. It is not too far from a beautiful lake and a grassy field is just down where the children of the area play football and rugby. It's pretty well known by locals, because it's right outside the bad part of town but still in Pein's (now Deidara's) territory.

Kakashi bites his lip to hold in another embarrassing squeak, not wanting to sound like a teenage girl. "That sounds fantastic."

"So, six?" Deidara asks, pulling nervously at his collar.

"Six." Deidara resists the urge to squeal, giving a happy little hop instead.

"I'll see you then, yeah." Kakashi grins, sure Deidara can hear it despite his best efforts.

"Um- bye!" They both hang up.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Sunday night, Deidara drives to pick up Kakashi in his black chevy impala. It's the most low-key car Pein had in his garage, and one of the few that he hasn't done anyone in the back of. Deidara goes up to the door, but hesitates on the front porch. He checks his watch and knocks at 6:05.

Kakashi calls out from in the apartment, "Just one sec!" and there's various thumping as he scurries around. He answers the door, gorgeous as always. The out of place bit is the flowers in his hands. They're a veritable rainbow of color and shape, with not too much rhyme or reason to them. Deidara fidgets a little nervously. He's dressed in all black; slacks, dress shirt, and tie.

"Hello, un. You look nice, yeah." He says with a small smile. Kakashi himself is in nice black slacks and a blue shirt, the one that Dei said brought out his eyes. The mask is gone today.

Kakashi blushes softly and holds the flowers out for him. "Thank you. You look really good." Deidara gently takes them, glad he put on makeup to hide any blush he might have.

"Thank you, un. Are you ready to go, un? I, um, I have a car now so we don't have to walk, yeah."

"Oh. Oh, wow. Um- yeah. I'm good." Kakashi shuts and locks the door behind him, following Deidara to the car. Deidara opens the passenger side for him, helping him in before running around to the driver's side. Kakashi gives him a shy smile.

"I could never figure out how to help someone in the car then gracefully but quickly make it around the other side."

"I gave up on the graceful part, yeah." Deidara says, pulling out of the driveway. Kakashi chuckles softly, holding the flowers so they don't rattle around in the back seat. Deidara drives them to the restaurant.

"You know, I've never been given flowers before, yeah." Deidara says while they wait at a long red light. Kakashi glances down at the eyesore of a bouquet, wincing.

"I was looking up flower meanings online… And it kinda ended up like this. Oh god. I'm so sorry this is the first time someone's given you flowers and it looks like this."

"Naw, I like it, yeah. They have character, yeah." Deidara flashes him a smile before looking back to the road. He decides to look up the flower meanings later. They get to the restaurant rather quickly and at seated at a little table with candle light and a private atmosphere. The nice wait staff replace the flowers on the table with Kakashi's flowers. Deidara grins at him like he's the happiest guy in the world once they've given the waiter their drink order.

"Thank you for agreeing to this, un." Kakashi ignores the explosion of butterflies in his stomach at the expression, smiling back.

"Thank you for asking me. I thought- I thought you didn't want to have anything to do with me." Deidara is shaking his head before Kakashi even finishes speaking.

"I love you, yeah. That will never change, un. I just- I needed some time to sort my own stuff out, yeah. But we're okay now, yeah?" He attempts a smile, nervously watching Kakashi's reaction. Kakashi makes that expression that Deidara saw the day Kashi was talking to Kisame; all love and affection and happiness wrapped up in a little smile.

"We're okay. I love you. We can still- We can still talk about it later?" Deidara tries to ignore the butterflies in his stomach at that expression. However, he can't help but think 'He loves me. He really loves me'.

"Yeah. We can do whatever you want, yeah." Deidara smiles softly back. The waiter comes back with their drinks and there's an awkward moment where they both scramble to figure out their orders before they get sorted out and the waiter leaves. Deidara chuckles softly and offers up a sheepish grin, in spite of himself.

"I feel like a teenager again, yeah." He says, awkwardly glancing away with a blush that is deep enough to penetrate the makeup. Kakashi grins right back at him, smile a little teasing.

"I dunno… I'm not cumming in my shorts and guys of your caliber never payed attention to me when I was a teenager." Deidara rolls his eyes.

"Guys my caliber fawned over you, yeah. It's guys like you who never gave me the time of day, yeah." Kakashi laughs, loud and bright.

"Guys like me? Oh god, Dei. I was thin and gawky and I worked at a strip club! I nearly was always gross and covered in drinks and it. Was not. Pretty. You- guys like you- are handsome. You don't go for the too tall, too thin, too pale little thing figuring out which end of the pole is up and unable to string a sentence together unless he's blowing you." Deidara laughs softly.

"We would've been quite a pair, yeah. I was a stick thin guy who was shorter than everyone and always had weird bruises, un. The only guys who'd talk to me were three times my age, yeah." Deidara laughs, an honest to god laugh, in spite of the situation. "Got lots of R-rated movies and skin mags out of it though, yeah."

Kakashi giggles softly. "Oh god, you should've seen some of the skin we saw in the club. Let's just say, I'll never have a thing for old people after that. They-" He pauses to crack up, talking amongst the giggles. "They tried to have a Senior Night! I have never- ever- been so scarred in all my life!" Deidara laughs at the imagery.

"Oh my god, un! I'm glad I wasn't working there then, yeah." Kakashi grins at the weird looks they get from the waiter as he drops off their food.

"It was so bad. Probably- second to worst was a call I got. Someone heard of me, hired me 'cause I fit their kink. They had me go to their house, right? I just sat there and made them probably four pots of ramen noodles, a tray of chocolate covered strawberries, two dozen cookies, and an entire pie. Then I had to feed it to them! Then they wanted sex! All full like that!"

"Eww… That reminds me of one guy I had, yeah. He made me clean his house, un. Like- clean it, to where everything shined, yeah. And he did me while I was all sweaty and gross, yeah."

"Oh my god. Why're people so weird?" They dig in, swapping more stories. They talk about strange customers (She made you do what on her food, un?! I know! It was so gross. I'll never look at cinnamon rolls the same way again.), classic first date topics (What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Cumpuffs, un. They're like cream puffs but- not, yeah.), and all sorts of random topics (I've been thinking about going brunet, yeah. No! You look better blonde.) before Deidara steals the check. He pays in cash, leaving a decent tip.

"So, do you want to go walk around the lake, un?" Deidara asks while he does math for the cost. Kakashi nods. They walk out, the staff getting slipped a tip by Kashi to put the flowers in the car with water. They walk across the street and Deidara shyly brushes Kakashi's hand with his own as they slowly start on the path around the lake, the full moon reflecting off of the calm water. There is no one else at the park or the lake. Kakashi quietly takes his hand in his own, lightly touching his nose to Deidara's head before continuing their walk. They walk hand in hand, neither really feeling the need to fill the silence. It's rather peaceful and they walk all the way around the lake by the time it's fully dark. Deidara leads him to the car, the restaurant having just closed.

They find the flowers waiting dutifully in the car for them, wilted a tad bit from the heat. Deidara helps Kakashi in and goes around the car again. He gets in and starts her up, leaving the parking lot. They drive the long way back to Kakashi's house, Deidara not really wanting to drop him back off during the still early time for them. He hesitates when he finally pulls up to the apartment. Kakashi smiles at him, a little shy and a touch wicked.

"Don't dates normally get walked to the door? Wanna make sure I don't get mugged and all that." Deidara awkwardly glances away and nods. He gets out of the car and hurries around to help Kakashi out. Kashi takes his hand when he gets out, standing next to Deidara for a moment. Deidara looks as though he is going to lean closer, but hesitates and walks him up to the door instead. Kakashi hopefully stops at the door, stealing Deidara's hands.

"Thank you. I had a really nice time."

"I'm glad, un. It- It was nice to see you again, yeah." Deidara blushes, fidgeting for a moment before leaning close and giving him a very quick peck on the lips. His blush deepens as he pulls back. Kakashi flushes softly, not wanting to demand anymore than he has the right to.

"Do- Um, do you wanna come in? It is your place too…" Deidara smiles at him warmly.

"I would love to, yeah." Kakashi grins back and they head in. Deidara runs out a moment later when he remembers the flowers. He brings them inside, gently putting them on the counter. Kakashi is pouring them drinks, a little nervous. Deidara notices, helping him to the couch so they can talk. The drinks are nice. Strong, but good tasting.

"So… I- um, I-" don't know what to say. Can I move back in with you? Please? "-have this really good recipe for cookies, if you want me to bring some on Monday."

"I would love that, yeah. Um- Do you-" Deidara looks down into his drink to avoid seeing Kakashi's reaction. "Can- Can we try being an us again?"

"Please?" Kakashi's biting his lip hard and fiddling with the drink. Deidara downs his drink in a quick swig. Years of being around the club's bar has given him a very good alcohol tolerance.

"Thank you." Deidara says, finally looking up at him and offering a small smile. Kakashi smiles back, sipping at his drink.

"Do you wanna start properly? Living apart and dates 'n' shit?" Deidara shrugs.

"I dunno, un. The penthouse is lonely without you underfoot all the time, yeah." He says jokingly, all intent behind it serious. Kakashi's smile widens.

"Yeah? Good thing. It's boring doing my job when I can't come back home to someone who'll punish me for it." Deidara grins at him a little tipsily.

"I was thinking the same, yeah." Kakashi steals his hand, putting the drink down and playing with his fingers.

"Will you snuggle with me tonight?"

"Of course, un." Deidara says, watching him with a small smile. Kakashi grins back at him, kissing over every one of his fingertips. Deidara gently moves his hand to cup Kakashi's face, looking him over. Kakashi leans into his touch, practically purring. He hasn't dropped weight like before, but doesn't seem to be quite lacking in the bruises Deidara can see. The hickies from their sex still litter his throat and he has a few dotted along his arms. Deidara kisses each and every bruise that he finds. Kakashi shivers under the gentle attention, biting his lip. Deidara eventually releases him.

Kakashi's trembling just a little bit and pulls away from Deidara when he's done, hiding himself. "Um- Do you want me to make you more to drink? Your drink's empty…"

"Please, un. Thank you, un." Deidara watches him leave to the kitchen. Kakashi comes back with one that's a little better suited to Deidara's palate. Deidara thanks him again, sipping it appreciatively.

"You're the best bartender, yeah." Kakashi thanks him, blushing a little at the praise. He settles back on the couch, chatting easily with Deidara. They talk for a long while, the conversation eventually getting heavier.

Kakashi pretends it's the alcohol which makes his eyes tear up, when his drink is only about half gone. "I- I hate myself for hurting you like that. I- I hate it."

"I'm okay now, yeah? It's Kisame who's to blame, yeah." Deidara practically growls out the other man's name. Kakashi just shakes his head, hiding in his hands.

"D- Dei- I encouraged it. I- I positioned him first and I said it was okay."

"He could have said no. I blame my bastard of a father, and I blame Kisame. Not you." Kakashi chuckles weakly.

"If I'd raped Kisame, you'd probably still blame him."

"That isn't true, un. I blame Kisame because he's pulled this shit before, yeah." Kakashi scrubs at his eyes.

"What do you me- mean?"

"Remember when I thought he was fucking you the first time, un? He tried to take you from me for him, not to help you." Kakashi looks up at him, a little 'oh' escaping. Deidara continues. "He's a bitch who will pay for this tomorrow. But I love you and I don't blame you, okay?"

Kakashi nods a little, biting his lip. "Why aren't you mad?"

"Because I forgot how you tick. That's a me problem. It wasn't your fault." Kakashi shakes his head again.

"But I cheated. Why aren't you mad?"

"Because I'm a whore. Now we're even."

"That's different. I sleep with people for the job too."

"Not like how I slept with Pein." Kakashi shrugs a little, chewing on his lip.

"You loved him before me."

"I love you a lot more." Kakashi looks up at him, all hesitant and shocked.

"Wh- What?"

"Pein was a dick to me, pun intended. You're my love." Kakashi blinks, absorbing that information.

"B- But-"

"You mean everything to me." Kakashi bites his lip, little eyebrow furrow of confusion coming back.

"But I'm dirty. And wrong. And you shouldn't love me. I'm- tainted."

"You aren't. You're perfect. And even if you weren't, I'm not either."

"You're about as close as you could get to perfect. Deidara, I cheated. How are you just moving past that?"

"Because. I. Love. You." Kakashi actually growls this time, clearly upset.

"And I love you! But it doesn't mean a damn to most people with what I did!"

"It means a damn to me." Deidara stays quiet, trying to keep him calm. Kakashi shakes his head again, hiding from Deidara in his hands. Deidara continues, "I love you and I want to make us work."

"Why? I'm me."

"Because you're you, damn it!" Deidara sips at his drink, fuming a little bit.

"How could you ever love someone like me?" Kakashi's the one who's calm now, having long since accepted that he was worthy of no one.

"Because you're amazing. You put up with me and don't care about my past. Why won't you accept that I love you?!"

"Because love doesn't work! Not- Not with people like me."

"Why not?" Deidara looks at him steadily. Kakashi drops his gaze, not wanting to face Deidara.

"I cheat and I'm bad with emotions and love and that sort of thing. I- I don't- do well with people outside of the job."

"We'll make it work, yeah."

"A- And if we don't? What if I'm too bad at this for you?"

"I want to stay with you." Kakashi looks up at him, eyebrows coming together again.

"You're positive. You want to be stuck with me?"

"Yes. Look- come down to the penthouse after work tomorrow and I'll prove it, yeah." Kakashi nods slowly, the best 'deal' he can give. "Thank you, un." Deidara downs the rest of his drink. Kakashi pushes his drink over to Deidara, quietly flicking on some music. Deidara tries to lighten the mood.

"You're gunna turn me into a drunk, yeah." Deidara says with a soft chuckle. Kakashi gives him a little smile back.

"Good. Maybe then you'll lighten up a bit." Deidara lightly rolls his eyes, downing the last of Kakashi's as well.

"I haveta drive, ya know, yeah." Kakashi shakes his head.

"Stay here tonight. You're too drunk to go anywhere."

"'m not drunk, yeah." Deidara sticks his tongue out at Kakashi. Kakashi catches his tongue, holding it.

"What was that?"

"Nn..." Deidara tries to pull away. Kakashi smiles a little wider, pulling him closer.

"Mm?" Deidara whines softly, effectively captured. Kakashi lets go of his tongue, gently bumping their noses together. Deidara grins at him. Kakashi chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to Deidara's lips before pulling away. Deidara blushes softly, pulling him a little closer and kissing him again. Kakashi's eyes slip closed, kissing him back gently. Deidara is content to let him lead things, keeping it soft. Kakashi eventually pulls back, lightly resting his forehead on Deidara's.

"Mm…" Deidara looks up when Kakashi speaks, blue eyes intense as they search his partner's gaze. Kakashi looks right back, staring back into his eyes. Deidara gently pulls him in for another kiss, this one a little deeper and a little more desperate. Kakashi makes little noises against his lips, kissing him back hungrily. Deidara pulls him down on the couch so Kakashi is on top of the smaller man. Kakashi slides a leg inbetween Deidara's, settling happily on top of him and continuing to kiss Deidara.

"Mm... Kashi..." Deidara pulls him closer, legs around Kakashi's hips. Kakashi breaks the kiss gently at this, unable to help pressing soft kisses to his face.

"No sex. Just- kiss me?" Deidara nods, a little breathless.

"F-Force of habit, yeah. Sorry, un." Deidara kisses him again. Kakashi cups his face, slowing Deidara down and having him just kiss and enjoy it. Deidara sighs softly in contentment, relaxing and kissing him again. They spend a lot of the night like that, just enjoying the time together and quietly reacquainting themselves. They eventually break apart. Kakashi pulls Deidara to the bed sometime around fourish, pulling them into cuddles and falling asleep.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

That afternoon, Kakashi wakes up to the smell of bacon. Kashi stumbles out of bed, following it.

"Mm…" Deidara chuckles, smiling at his sleepy partner.

"Good morning, un. Breakfast is almost ready, yeah." Kakashi kisses his cheek, nipping at Deidara's ear.

"Thank you!" Deidara lightly rolls his eyes, shooing Kakashi out of the kitchen. Kakashi sets up the table instead and makes a shopping list for the week. He doodles at the bottom. Deidara sets a plate full of eggs, bacon, potatoes and the works in front of him. He blushes softly when Kakashi looks up.

"I, um, I didn't know if you've been eating well this week so..." Kakashi smiles thankfully at him, pulling Deidara down into his lap and feeding him with a soft 'thank you'. Deidara makes sure Kakashi eats most of it, nuzzling him when they've finished it all.

"Mm... I've missed this, yeah." Kakashi kisses his cheek, resting his head on Deidara's shoulder.

"I've missed you." Deidara kisses whatever part of him he can reach.

"I've missed you too, yeah." Kakashi giggles softly as his eye gets kissed, pulling Deidara down for a kiss.

"C'mere. I wanna show you the stuff I wanna do to this place."

"Alright, un." Deidara hops off of his lap. Kakashi goes around, steering him to look at the kitchen to start.

"We'll need steps, for when either of us is a pet for cooking or just getting things. And I figure we could put in a treat dispenser and a permanent place for the bowls. Otherwise, the kitchen could probably stay the same. Maybe a few rubber corners for safety if we're blindfolded." They head into what is now the living room, Deidara asking what he wants to do here.

"Oh! So, I figure we could set up a permanent cage in the corner and maybe a few pet beds? Then hanging things from the ceiling, you know, like ropes and bondage stuff? And we could press the couch up on the other side of the cage and put all the movies there with the tv. And I was thinking about getting one of the entertainment stands with all the compartments so we could fit toys and stuffies and bones and stuff in there." Kakashi gestures to the various corners as he tells Deidara stuff, clearly excited. Deidara smiles softly as he watches him.

"What about putting bars under the couch, un? I don't know about you, but it's pretty high and I can fit under it to be punished, yeah." Deidara asks, not wanting to infringe upon Kakashi's vision. Kakashi nods vigorously, running to get what looks like a blueprint. He marks on it, tongue sticking out a little as he makes notes to himself. Deidara waits, watching him, then asks about the little alcove off of the living room. It's barely big enough to be a den, more a glorified closet with a desk squeezed in. Kakashi blushes softly, having been laying on that part of the blueprint.

"Um- Well, I still had to ask you about that one. I had plans for it but…"

"But?" Deidara asks, curiousity piqued. Kakashi blushes a little deeper, mumbling something along the lines of 'it's done if you wanna see it'. "Please, un."

Kakashi leads him to the little alcove, where there's a curtain there instead of a door. It's rather thick and heavy. Deidara looks at him questioningly and when Kakashi gives a little nod Dei moves the curtain and turns on the light.

It appears that Kakashi has been collecting pillows because there's a mess of them everywhere. Pushed up against the wall, completely covering the floor. They're in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. Their softest blankets, from the couch, the bedroom, and the club, are all hanging around there too. The room is painted a nice blue color, one that none of the club rooms look like. It's rather cheery. Deidara can just see the edge of the closet and it's open just a tad like someone's been in there recently. Deidara curiously opens the closet. There's the little bear Deidara got Kakashi all safely tucked up in there, with water, some non-perishable food, and a some coloring stuff. Kakashi walks in a little, biting his lip.

"I need to get more stuff for the closet but it's almost done."

"It's amazing, yeah." Deidara pulls him closer for a hug and a kiss. "Are there any other done rooms, Love?"

Kakashi gives him a sweet kiss back. "Not really. This one's for you so I wanted to get it done."

"For me, un?" Deidara sounds a little confused. Kakashi nods.

"You know- sometimes you hide under the bed or in the closet and it's just nicer for you to be in a small space. So- I figured it should be comfy. Like- yeah. You know." Kakashi awkwardly averts his gaze. Deidara tries and fails not to tear up, hugging him tightly with a soft 'thank you, un'. Kakashi hugs him back, holding Deidara close. Deidara eventually pulls away, kissing him once more before leading him out and replacing the curtain.

"So, what about the best room in the house, un?" Deidara asks, giving him a suggestive look and pulling him to the bedroom. Kakashi smiles, stealing another kiss.

"We're gunna get a bed. A big one. For cuddles and stuffies and bones and fucking all over it. And that wall's gunna get a big window. So everyone can watch while I fuck you. And I was thinking that we should hang stuff over the bed so we can be chained up to it… And the closet will be remodeled. I was thinking we could do alone time or dark space punishments in there. And replace the doors with a one-way mirror. The toys will get stored under the bed. And- And maybe we could do pet beds? And have a basket for yarn 'n shit if that's alright…" Kashi's always a little more tentative when it comes to what he wants for the condo. Deidara nods, nuzzling him.

"Whatever you want, yeah." Deidara says, trying to hide his blush from the window that was mentioned. "You know, we could always get a bigger apartment. Or even look for a little house with a backyard, yeah. I am rich now, yeah…" Deidara nibbles Kakashi's neck. Kakashi makes a content noise, humming.

"I dunno 'bout a house. Like the idea of'a backyard…"

"With a doghouse, un?" Deidara asks, looking up at him. Kakashi nods and smiles widely.

"And we could fuck on the grass and scare the shit out of all the neighbors when we answer the door ass naked but for a tail and ears." Deidara smiles hugely at him.

"This is happening, un. We should go look at houses today, yeah. No need to get the banks involved when you can pay in cash, yeah." Deidara winks at him. Kakashi grins back at him and Deidara ignores the little voice that whispers 'too fast! you've just made up!'.

"Can I move the blueprints to fit the new house? We could sell this one." Deidara smiles hugely back at him. Seeing how excited his usually quiet partner is stomps out any flame of life in his inner voice that would dare question this man.

"Of course, yeah."

"Could- Could we go now? Drive around in your fancy car? It's not too late yet… Only- four o'clock!"

"Sure, Love. I'll just call Kiba to open up the club tonight and we'll go, okay, un?" Kakashi heads to get the phone quickly. They call to get someone (aka Sasori) to run things and get dressed. Deidara drives them around, slowly branching out from where the club is. They don't find their little dream house in time, because Kakashi has to head to the club to get ready for the show.