5th May.

It was Deidara's birthday.

Sasori had been at this for a while now and a glance at the sun told him that the morning was almost over. It surely took up a lot of time and effort, and it was something Sasori had never envisioned himself ever doing, but in the end, he just felt that it was worth it.

With one last look at his work, he let a smile of satisfaction grace his lips and headed home.

By the time Sasori had finished all the extra assignments Chiyo had set him for the week and some extra research to fuel his own knowledge it was already well into the afternoon. He was kind of annoyed that Chiyo had set him so much work despite the fact that she had assured that she wouldn't, taking his internship into account and all, but he should have known that she wouldn't actually adhere to her promise.

He did not mind the extra work so much as he minded how she always pretended to be this loving grandmother when in fact her innermost desire was just for him to succeed as a surgeon. Sometimes he wanted to just leave and let her down. The worst thing was that he knew that he couldn't and he supposed that she knew it too. What other reason could account for her lack of moderation?

Whatever the case, he didn't want to dwell on that day. There was something more important to do after all.

Sasori didn't know if Deidara had already made plans with Hidan or whoever, but he didn't really care. He just instinctively went to the blonde's house. It was a Sunday after all, so Deidara would definitely not be at the hospital. They tended to avoid that place as much as possible.

Deidara had spent the entire day at home. He had finished everything he was tasked with on Friday night as usual, leaving his weekends free and with nothing to do, not that he was complaining. He was definitely not going to touch or see anything related to medicine today. It was his birthday after all; he had every right to reward himself.

Honestly, he had wanted to go to the art store to pick up some supplies and maybe create some art but that wouldn't do. He would definitely get so absorbed in it that he wouldn't want to go back to the hospital the next day which his mother would immediately find out about because she had miraculously made friends with all the nurses assigned to her.

Actually, it wasn't all that miraculous because his mother was really nice to people who weren't her son. Really, what were the chances? He would probably have loved her a lot if he had just been a son of a friend's.

Though, she didn't seem to like Sasori either which was a small comfort to him. He felt just a tad bit guilty for feeling that way but there wasn't any reason why he shouldn't. He could only be concerned about Sasori when he was in the condition to care right?

That was a really selfish thought and Deidara instantly felt guilty for thinking that way. Sasori was the only other person besides Hidan who really treated him nicely. True that kindness was always buried beneath a thick layer of sarcasm and a whole lot of bantering between the two of them, but he knew that Sasori would always have his back, and that was something which was rare to come by.

More than that, he was the one who truly understood Deidara without the blonde needing to explain anything. Okay, he didn't have to explain the more serious stuff; Sasori didn't appreciate his weird antics as much as Hidan did.

It was queer that they were so close now. Deidara had never in his life thought that he would allow someone to get so close to him again. Hidan was his best friend and he would tell Hidan everything but he just knew that there were things that Hidan wouldn't understand that Sasori would immediately get. Maybe it was unfair to Hidan, but honestly there was nothing he could do. That was the usual upsetting reality.

Deidara's heart almost stopped beating when the bell rang. There was no reason for anyone to come visit him that day. The only person he could think of was Chiyo and while he would have been very happy in the past if she were to celebrate his birthday with him, recent events have led him to change his opinions about her. It really didn't matter that he was sounding ungrateful; he didn't care.

Resigning himself to fate (sitting with her through one meal wasn't so bad he supposed), he opened the door and was about to greet her really cheerfully when he saw her grandson instead. He frowned immediately; he did not remember being assigned with Sasori for any project or anything recently.

"Danna, what the fuck, un?" Deidara asked incredulously. The redhead was standing in front of the door with his usual impassive face on.

"Good evening to you too, Brat," Sasori greeted back and stared pointedly at the blonde.

"Right…" Deidara said and moved to let the older man in. "What are you doing here, un?"

"It's your birthday," Sasori said as a matter-of-factly, looking at the blonde as if he was retarded which, in his opinion, wasn't really that far off from the truth, and Deidara probably knew that, judging from the way he was glaring at Sasori.

"Why, pray tell, do you know that, un? You stalker," he added for good measures.

"I'm not a stalker, I just read if off your profile which Chiyo gave me when she first informed us of you joining me for the internship, and it is no fault of mine that I have a good memory as it is no fault of yours that the opposite holds," Sasori replied simply.

Deidara looked as if he was about to retort but in the end didn't. He settled for rolling his eyes before sitting on the couch next to Sasori. Damn, he was really becoming more tolerant to Sasori. Usually he would letting loose a whole range of insults by now, and they would engage in some senseless verbal war which would take forever to finish, usually only stopped by Kakuzu, Hidan, or Konan, or all three of them combined. He was quite glad though; those silly fights took up way too much time.

Letting out a long sigh, he leaned back against the couch and let himself sink into it, all the while staring at Sasori in suspicion. There was really no reason for Sasori to be there. Celebrate his birthday? No way.

"I can feel joy emanating off you," Sasori said, ignoring the look the blonde was giving him.

"Since it's my birthday, shouldn't you treat me nicer, un?"

"Where are your friends anyway?"

"Birthdays are more trouble than it's worth, un," Deidara groaned. "It's just a normal day."

"Hence justifying my normal treatment of you," Sasori replied, unable to keep the smirk off his face.

"Fine, Danna, you win, un."

"Doesn't Hidan know though?" Sasori asked. He knew that Deidara really meant it when he said that birthdays were troublesome, but he also knew for a fact how important Hidan was to the blonde. It just seemed uncanny that Hidan wasn't told.

"Hidan knows but he has some project that's going to take up his whole day. He says he's making up for it tomorrow, un."

"Have you eaten yet?" Sasori asked.

"I'm not hungry un."

"Brat, let's go somewhere. I have something to show you."

The suspicion that was slowly leaving Deidara came back immediately. Sasori was really going to celebrate his birthday, and no offense to the redhead, but he couldn't think of anything that would make him happy instead of annoyed.

Sasori noticed the apprehension the blonde felt (it showed on his face clearly enough) and he rolled his eyes. Really, was him being nice so otherworldly? Okay, so he knew a few, fine, a lot of people who might think so but Deidara was… different. And Deidara should know that, because it was obvious that Sasori wasn't the type to run around telling everyone in sight his life story.

"Are you going to show me some awesome heart surgery, un?" Deidara asked eventually as he walked over to get a jacket to throw over himself.

"It's so much better than that, Brat."

Deidara knew that he should still feel suspicious that Sasori was actually doing something for him on his birthday willingly and without expecting anything in return, and he knew that he should probably feel even a tad bit vexed that Sasori was actually there on his birthday when he knew that he hated birthday celebrations, but he couldn't deny the excitement that was bubbling in his heart and the imminent prospect of happiness that he knew that he would be feeling.

It was weird that he was feeling so interested, but his feelings were still paradoxical because he couldn't imagine this night turning out as good as he wanted it to be and that it was probably end in weird disappointment, so maybe he was still alright after all. Damn, why were his emotions always so mixed up?

He stole a glance at Sasori as they were waiting for the elevator and felt a little envy at the clam demeanour he displayed. He was certain that Sasori always knew what he was feeling and even if it was human nature to have contradictory feelings, he just somehow knew that Sasori would have a way of figuring them out properly.

Deidara didn't know where Sasori was taking him so he just followed the older man blindly and mentally prepared himself to be surprised and happy. He wasn't leaving any room for disappointment this time. There were too many tragic things in his life already and he would be damned if Sasori failed to live up to his expectations.

Maybe he was expecting too much from him but he couldn't help it. There must be some strange force in the universe which ensured that they met because they were just so similar to each other and yet so different. And of course there was the fact that they were in practically the same situation. No matter how many times Deidara repeated this to himself, it still felt so surreal. After all, it just felt good to know that he wasn't alone.

"Danna, where are we going, un?" he had to ask, just to annoy Sasori.

"Somewhere," Sasori replied in that calm tone of his.

Damn, Deidara was hoping to get some clue out of his answer as well but Sasori was not letting anything up. He wondered if it would be something related to art. To tell the truth, that would be the only thing that would make him happy, beyond all joys actually, but he knew that that was too unrealistic.

They had an unspoken pact not to touch art after all.

It was pathetic how they had to restrain themselves from doing the things they loved because of two people who probably did not even care about them and who certainly loved them less than they loved art. Still, Sasori and Deidara just couldn't let go of them. They just mattered.

This was comfortable, Deidara decided. Walking in the streets with Sasori without feeling the need to say anything and just moving around with no destination in mind (at least on his part) was comfortable. It was a nice feeling; he felt that he didn't have anything to worry about.

For a moment, he felt like a normal person just living his life in an all too ordinary manner with a typical loving family. That was definitely something that he had never had in his entire life, but the funny thing was that despite how perfect it was, Deidara knew that he wouldn't want that kind of life.

It was too normal after all, and he didn't settle for anything less than exceptional. Anyway, with his temperament, he supposed that a fleeting bliss would make him infinitely happier than a lifelong promise of joy.

Deidara was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realise that they were already well away from the city area and were quite alone on a path up a hill. Deidara recognised the place. It was one of his favourite locations for taking a quiet stroll and having some time for himself. He wondered why more people did not frequent it though; it was truly a lovely place. But it was the serenity that first drew him to it anyway.

"We're here," Sasori announced and there was something in his voice that was akin to pride that made Deidara grow even more curious and excited as to what his present was. Sasori was definitely confident. But then again, when was he not?

"I don't see anything, un," Deidara said plainly, and it was true. There was nothing in sight for miles.

"Patience, Brat," Sasori replied, sounding much too calm. Usually he would have snapped by then.

"Danna, you're one to talk about patience, un."

"Hmm."

Deidara was seriously getting worried. Sasori does not react so coolly to such a remark. He just doesn't.

"Danna, I really appreciate the fact that you've actually done something for my birthday but I think this unnatural kind act of yours has probably burnt your brain, or maybe it's the first sign that your brain is seriously damaged and in need of immediate medical attention, un. Gosh, I think you might have an aneurysm, un."

"Shut up, Brat," Sasori replied and there was the familiar edge in his voice. Deidara was immensely relived, more than immensely relived.

"Glad you're alright, un."

Sasori rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Wait here."

Deidara was about to protest because like hell he was going to be stranded alone but Sasori was already gone because he even got the first word out of his mouth. Talk about fast. He was started to think that this was some big joke and that it was Sasori's way of getting back at him for being so annoying all the time… not that he agreed with that.

It was actually kind of humourous actually if that was really the case. Sure, it might seem cruel to play such an evil prank on him on his birthday but that was what made it all the more interesting.

He was so amused and convinced that that was the plan that he almost jumped up in shock when a loud sound blasted through the silent night. He was about to let out a stream of curses when a flurry of colours exploded before his eyes in the night sky.

He gaped at it in shock for a moment before his lips slowly curled into a smirk. So this was his birthday present.

Fireworks.

It was beautiful. They were way better than any Deidara had ever seen in his life and even better than some he had originally created himself (though he admitted that begrudgingly), and Deidara was further amused that the fireworks were particularly loud, almost like explosions.

But they only sounded that loud from where he was standing so he was sure that the people in the streets below were just enjoying themselves with the array of widespread colours and sparkles in the sky, decorating the blanket of darkness with an eruption of life.

"Like it?"

Sasori's smug voice was really grating but Deidara found that the happiness that he was feeling was more than enough to override that.

"Love it, un. Love it."

After that, they took a stroll in the town again, enjoying the wild excitement that was bubbling everywhere. Everyone was talking about the fireworks that they saw and they were exclaiming about how beautiful they were and what not. Of course there were also weird speculations about its purpose, like whether it was a marriage proposal. That one made them laugh and in effect caused the couple to glare at them, but they couldn't help it.

The most apparent thing that came out of their little walk was Sasori's ego was stroked to its maximum and there was no ripping that self-satisfied smirk off his face. Deidara swore that he had never seen Sasori with an expression on his face for such a long time. He mostly wore a blank face which Deidara was too used to, so much so that he was finding the smirk a bit too creepy.

"So tell me, Danna, was that my birthday present or you showing off, un?"

"Both," Sasori replied a bit too cheerfully for Deidara's liking.

He was starting to think that Sasori had really gone mad, and he really wanted him to stop smirking, mostly because it was annoying him but also because it was really creepy. He knew that he shouldn't say it but he did anyway.

"You only chose fireworks because that's the only form of art you know that's fleeting, right, un?" Deidara asked with a raised eyebrow and almost burst out laughing at how fast the smirk was wiped off Sasori's face.

"No," he said, giving Deidara a sideway glance. "I chose it because it's the most expression and is the noisiest. You know how much you like noise. Brat."

"I like the quiet too, un," Deidara said instead of picking on Sasori like he initially wanted to. The fireworks were really beautiful and the best birthday present he had ever received so he wasn't going to dampen Sasori's mood in return. That would be too ungrateful and horrible of him.

"But your love for noises is unrivalled," Sasori replied swiftly.

"It's just that your love for the quiet is unparalleled, un. I think you should work in a morgue."

Sasori gave Deidara a look which showed just how amused he was at that idea though he did agree that a morgue was one of the most silent places he knew. Other places were just crawling with humans… who talked too much. Konan was really a prime example.

"You know Danna…" and there was something in Deidara's voice that made Sasori stop walking to turn to look at him.

The previous smile that he had been wearing the whole night was gone, replaced by a more solemn look. But a look into his eyes revealed a sense of anticipation beneath a thin layer of fear and anxiety. For some reason, Sasori already had inkling what this was going to lead to.

He urged him to continue, knowing fully well what he was agreeing to.

"Actually, Danna, there are more forms of fleeting arts besides fireworks, un."

"I know that," Sasori replied stubbornly even though they both knew that he really didn't. He was too absorbed in his own art to actually research thoroughly about other forms of art, especially one that was so different from his own. The opposite in fact.

"I'm sure you do, un," Deidara said, the sarcasm slipping out though he hadn't planned it.

"I really do, Brat."

"It's not like I'm underestimating you or anything, un."

"I'm sure you're not."

"Now you're being sarcastic, un, Danna!"

"So?"

They were running out of things to say, especially since their minds were so preoccupied with what they were planning to do. The question was, should they?

It would definitely be a risk. A gamble. Maybe even more than they could handle.

"That's a stupid comeback, Danna, un. What does 'so' mean anyway?"

"It doesn't mean anything. I hate it too actually."

"My mother loves to use it on me."

"Chiyo-baasan too."

"Right," Deidara started, because he could no longer stand it and the mention of those very two people was just what he needed to push him over the edge. "About the other art forms I was talking about…"

He wanted to say it and he needed to say it. But it was almost too much. He had, after all, spent so much time resisting that it almost became normal… but that was a lie. Every day was torture. But he knew that mostly it was Sasori that was stopping him. He didn't want to be the one to drag Sasori into this.

"Would you care to show it to me?"

Deidara looked up at Sasori in astonishment. He certainly wasn't expecting Sasori to say that, but he must have known what he was offering from the way he held Deidara's eyes so steadily. He was about to ask him whether he really knew what he was saying when Sasori interrupted him.

"Don't ask."

An understanding passed between them. Right, they would both take responsibility for it and not blame the other for anything. Damn it, if there was anyone to blame, it would be his mother and Chiyo, not either of them. They had to start living for themselves while they were living for them.

"Actually I do want to show it to you, un. Would you care to show me yours too, un?"

"Sure, Brat."

They couldn't stop the smile that started making its way onto their lips.

It felt good to be losing themselves that night.

I'm so sorry for it being so late! D: I realise that this has been happening often... and that it's definitely not the 5th of May anymore, and that we're way into June but just ignore that. XD I wanted to get this up by Deidara's birthday but obviously that failed. OTL

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter though! I certainly enjoyed writing it and it has a different feel from the rest of the chapters, so I hope that doesn't throw anyone off!

Tell me what you think about it and thanks so much for reading! 3