"Break," Deidara breathed out as he threw himself onto the couch after a gruelling day at the university.
Sasori grunted in response from where he was at his work station, tweaking the joints of a newly created puppet. He stared at it for a moment before sighing. It wasn't his best work by far but he had to hand it in tomorrow so it would be pointless to make any major adjustments now. He went back to tweaking the joints even though he heard the tell-tale noises of Deidara approaching which inevitably meant that he was going to be interrupted and forced to pay attention to the blonde.
"Danna," Deidara said sternly and Sasori rolled his eyes and placed his puppet down. It was finished already anyway.
"Yeah?" Sasori asked just for the sake of being ornery and watching the flash of annoyance in Deidara's eyes.
"Break, un!" Deidara all but exclaimed, glaring at Sasori. "I am having a break. A break. From hell. From med. Un."
Sasori really didn't want to dampen his mood or anything but, "There are probably plenty of assignments and prep work to do though. The break's only so long."
"Three months, un," Deidara replied, seemingly unaffected by Sasori's proclamation except for the slight twitch of his eyes. "More than good enough for me."
Sasori shook his head sadly. "Has being away from art for so long made you settle for less than what you deserve?"
Deidara looked for something to throw at Sasori but couldn't find anything within reach. It wasn't like he could snatch Sasori's chisel and use it as a weapon. Sasori never let anyone near his equipment. Ever. And the man had a radar that informed him whenever someone was within ten meters of his tools. Deidara settled for glaring even though he had already long learned that it wasn't effective on Akasuna Sasori who seemed to be more amused by the act rather than scared.
"Anyway, I have plans, un," Deidara said instead, eyes sparkling with life and Sasori again marvelled at the quick change in demeanour.
"What plans?" Sasori asked. He himself had some plans for Deidara and himself to do while Deidara had all this free time on his hands but he figured that what Deidara wanted to do in his own free time was more important.
"Remember that place that I wanted to show you?" Deidara questioned happily.
"Kind of…" Sasori said because while it was obvious that Deidara had been wanting to bring him someplace ever since he came home that night all of a sudden, he had never actually mentioned bringing Sasori there. Regardless, Sasori just knew that it had something to do with art. More specifically, Deidara's art. Because there was no way anything else on this earth could make Deidara smile like that.
Sasori allowed himself a small smile. Technically it wasn't him that made Deidara smile like that but he considered it a small victory that Deidara even allowed himself to be that happy over his art. Sasori wasn't being boastful but he knew that he played a large part in ensuring that happened. He looked over at his own art and immediately felt happiness blossoming in his chest. He glanced back at Deidara who was still beaming as if Christmas had come early but he knew it couldn't compare to what he was feeling. Soon, he promised himself, soon he would help Deidara experience the same happiness that he was feeling.
"So let's go!" Deidara said, looking as if he was doing all he could to not jump up and down like an over excited kid on his first trip to the zoo.
"Now?" Sasori asked in disdain. He had plans for the day. More than that, he never liked to do things spontaneously. Deidara knew that but of course Deidara loved things like "in the spur of the moment" so he didn't really care what Sasori thought. "I have plans."
"You always have plans, un," Deidara said, rolling his eyes.
Sasori paused. Well, he couldn't refute that since he certainly did plan his days well because he was organised unlike the messy person who shared the same house as him but it sounded like such an insult coming from Deidara that he felt the need to retort.
"You never do," he said, regretting those words immediately when a grin overcame Deidara's features.
"I have one now, un" he pointed out.
"I have plans," Sasori repeated, looking at his puppet mournfully. Yes, it and along with some other art pieces were due the next day but Sasori liked to be early. He had never handed an assignment in exactly on the day of its dateline before and he certainly wasn't planning to now. No matter what, he had to go to the art store today. Wait… he had to go to the art store today.
Deidara was positively pouting now and Sasori wondered why he even bothered; that had certainly never stirred Sasori before in the past. Sasori only changed his opinions when logic was even and even that was rare because his logic was flawless thank you very much.
"I have an idea," Sasori announced and Deidara brightened up again because obviously a compromise was the best he was going to get from Sasori.
"Yeah, un?"
"I have to head to the art store to drop my assignment off. Come with me and then we'll go to wherever you want to," Sasori said, watching Deidara's expression very carefully. There wasn't an obvious change in emotions but Sasori could see the smile slipping but beneath all that he could see it – the unrestrained happiness that he felt every time he was working on his art. This was a small step but what mattered was that it helped.
It took a while before Deidara responded but in the end he agreed.
"Thanks, Danna, un," Deidara said softly.
"Let's go," Sasori said instead, smirking when he heard Deidara mumbling something about "ruining the atmosphere".
"You have a car?" Sasori asked, incredulous as Deidara entered the mini yellow Volkswagen and started the engine like it was second nature.
Deidara gave him a look. Sasori got into the passenger seat and rolled his eyes.
"What's so surprising, un?" Deidara asked with a small frown as he started pulling out of the lot with ease and with one hand.
"Well, you have a tendency to crash," Sasori pointed out.
Deidara gave him a half-glare. "You've never seen me drive, un."
"It's a fact," Sasori explained with a shrug. "I didn't have to know that."
Deidara shoved Sasori playfully which earned him a stern reminder to watch the road.
"Oh Danna," Deidara said in a patronising tone, "you're so boring."
Sasori ignored him, instead choosing to look outside. He had never had the chance to admire the view of the streets from within a car before since he was always a drive; this was a nice change and he figured he could draw inspiration from it. Sure, people were always changing but there a beauty in the permanence of the habits that remained. No matter who was on the streets, there would always be someone rushing, someone peacefully strolling, someone gazing at everything in amazement, someone looking at everything with disdain… the list went on and on but they all remained the same. The scenery was always the same, with the same types of people and same type of shops and more important, the atmosphere was always the same; the streets was permanent no matter what.
"Isn't the streets so beautiful?" Deidara gushed. Sasori was torn between agreeing and telling Deidara to mind the road again when Deidara continued, "it's so fleeting."
"No," Sasori snapped immediately, almost expecting Deidara to jam break the car in response but the blonde didn't do any such thing, thank God.
"Yes," Deidara replied simply but his eyes had taken on the serious and somewhat mischievous glint as it always naturally did when their beloved argument on art came up.
"No," Sasori repeated, venom in his voice. "How is it fleeting? Everything is the same."
"The same?" Deidara asked, not very far from screeching. "Everything's changing all the time. Change. Pft. Un."
"How is anything changing?" Sasori shot back with easily twice the amount of annoyance radiating off Deidara. "Look at the scene, feel the atmosphere – what has changed?"
"You can't just look at the general things, un," Deidara pointed out matter-of-factly. "You have to look at each individual and appreciate each person for what they are. Nothing's the same because no one is the same. To be the unchanging, the same person has to be walking down the same streets at the same time every day with the same emotions, clothes and pace!"
"Wrong," Sasori countered. "No matter who walks these streets, there will always be someone who's happy, who's sad, you name it. It contains so many emotions to contribute to the place called the streets and to the atmosphere it emanates. Therein lies the permanence, the art."
"Like I said," Deidara repeated, eyes flickering over to Sasori for a brief second before settling on the road again. "You can't lump everything together."
"I believe there is no law governing art that states that," Sasori answered calmly. "And if what you said were to be true, would a painting which draws its beauty from the entire scene it creates thus not classify as art?"
"So I don't paint," Deidara said with a smirk. "But if I do, I'd burn the painting. That'd be art, un."
"We are not heading in that direction," Sasori snapped, feeling his temperature rising as it inevitably did. "No changing the subject."
"Priss," Deidara muttered under his breath, not that it went unheard within the small confines of the car. "But anyway," he continued before Sasori exploded on him, "fine, I agree with you. But the little things count to. Those things that change, those transient things that come and go, reflects art, un."
"Paintings don't change," Sasori pointed out.
"We're not talking about paintings exactly, un," Deidara reminded the older man, smirking when Sasori frowned but said nothing, as good an indication that he admitted he was wrong on that account. "Though if we were to talk about paintings, I would be happy to express my opinions on why they aren't really art, un."
"No," Sasori said. There was no way he was going to start another with Deidara when they had plenty of unresolved ones. Come to think of it, they've never exactly ended an argument properly; neither would give in nor compromise. Their arguments usually ended like how this one will inevitably – without a conclusion and with one of them too annoyed or impatient to continue.
Deidara didn't reply, marking the end of their argument. Good. Sasori wasn't altogether sure of his ability to not kill Deidara, regardless of the fact that that would inevitably endanger his own life since the blonde was steering the vehicle.
The streets gave way to major roads which eventually led them out the vast expanse of land. There was barely another car or even human being in sight. Figures that Deidara would want to bring Sasori to some secluded area, all isolated by itself somewhere.
"Are we reaching soon?" Sasori questioned, his impatience finally catching up with him. It had already been an hour and a half so he commended himself on his rare bout of patience this time.
"Tsk, Danna, always so impatient, un," Deidara tutted, earning a fierce glare which he returned with a sweet smile.
"When?" Sasori growled.
Deidara laughed, giving in to Sasori. "We're reaching, we're reaching," Deidara reassured him, all the way laughing merrily. Sasori didn't know whether it was because of the anticipation of reaching his secret hideout or whether he was laughing at Sasori. If he was to take a bet, he'd say both but he was feeling magnanimous today and thus didn't pursue it. Besides, it was so rare to see Deidara so carefree with happiness overflowing, so much so that it was contagious. Sasori smiled in spite of himself but turned away so Deidara wouldn't see; it wouldn't do for the brat to be full of himself.
"And we're here," Deidara announced with the flair of a magician ready to unveil his most intriguing trick.
Sasori stared balefully at the endless forest that laid ahead of them and then glanced at Deidara. The idiot was blissfully happy and looked out at the forest with pleased eyes. Sasori decided not to doubt that they were in the wrong place. He got out of the car and shut the car door, Deidara following suit.
"We're here," Deidara breathed out, sounding and looking everything positive as if nothing could go wrong in the world. Sasori thought that nothing should have the right to take this away from Deidara; it was practically the fibre of his being, but then he remembered the situation Deidara was in and the same plight he was in not too long ago. That just made his resolve to help Deidara stronger.
In the meantime…
"Wow, Brat, I didn't know you had the power to create a forest," Sasori deadpanned because he couldn't, for the life of him, not be even the slightest bit sardonic. "It's really gorgeous. You do know that a forest is practically the epitome of eternity right?" Of course it was too tempting to leave out his view on art.
Deidara glared at him, daggers and all but the mirth that covered it dampened the effect. Not that his glare had any effect on Sasori before.
"Danna," Deidara started talking and walking at the same time, trudging into the forest. "Has anyone ever told you you're an asshole, un?"
"You wouldn't be the first," Sasori conceded though a smirk made its way onto his face. "But you would be the first with enough courage to say it to my face."
Deidara whirled around so quickly Sasori almost bumped into him but being alert as ever, he managed to hold his arms up in time so that he steadied himself with his hands on Deidara's arms. He dropped his arms to his side and glared at Deidara in annoyance. There was a self-satisfied smile on Deidara's face and his eyes were positively starry with mischief.
"Well, Danna," Deidara said cheekily. "I didn't exactly call you an asshole and I certainly wouldn't dare to do so, un. Besides, I'm quite sure I'm the only one whose gruesome death you won't plot even if I did call you an asshole, asshole, un."
Then Deidara pecked him on the lips and ran off with the wind whipping his hair, all the while laughing to himself, the pleasant sound blending in with the music of nature that surrounded them. Sasori stared at the scene before him: a picture of tranquillity and simple, pure happiness. He smiled softly, feeling contentment spreading all over his being like a second skin and made his way after Deidara – the blonde could disappear if he didn't follow him close enough.
"Ta-da~!," Deidara exclaimed proudly as he gestured towards a tiny wooden hut with a circular window and oval-shaped door with a lock on it. It was a pert, cheerful, tiny thing and its yellow painted wall and the light orange roof accentuated the brightness of it all in the middle of the peaceful forest. Sasori found himself liking the place immediately (though it was a little too bright; he had this natural predisposition to dark and gloomy places but… a change wasn't so bad).
Deidara fiddled with his shirt for a while and Sasori was about to enquire drily if Deidara somehow managed to get himself tangled in his own clothing when Deidara let out a whoop of victory and flourished a key attached to his necklace. Sasori had noticed it before had wanted to ask about it on more than one occasion but as usual he knew that Deidara would tell him when he wanted to.
Deidara unlocked the door eagerly and all but flounced into the room. Sasori entered the room after him and found him lazily spread out eagle-styled on the floor. Sasori rolled his eyes – typical Deidara behaviour – and went to sit next to him. He left the door open, more than confident that they were the only two in this secluded place. And the breeze that was flowing in felt really nice.
Sasori took a look around (the sunlight seeping in through the window provided the light) and found – as he had expected – that he was looking at Deidara's artworks. Some looked pretty old and Sasori already had a snide comment about the transience of art but bit his tongue in time. An argument would just spoil the perfect atmosphere of the place.
As he inspected the artworks, he couldn't help but notice that they were mostly sculptures of birds. He scooted closer to a giant owl (giant for an artwork) which looked as if it had been recently uncovered; the cloth on the floor next to it seemed to have been tossed there carelessly and the owner hadn't bothered to cover the figure back.
He had to admit, as a sort of sculptor himself, that the details were fine and each stroke was craved with precision and skill. It was a brilliant for a young boy – Sasori assumed that this had been made when Deidara was young. He scrutinised it closely once more and deduced that he was right – the strokes, while fine and skilfully made – lacked the sophistication that came with the knowledge of estimating the depth to cut. Every mark seemed to be made with just the same amount of strength which made the sculpture less three-dimensional than it could be. Still, it was a job well done for an inexperience hand.
"Gorgeous, huh?" Deidara asked from his cosy spot on the floor, not even bothering to open his eyes, instead sinking in the bliss that was in the air all around them.
"Only because you haven't blown them to smithereens," Sasori replied, figuring that it was a risk well worth even if this descended into an argument.
"I plan to, un," Deidara informed him curtly. Sasori didn't say anything but he hoped that it would be soon because that was how Deidara showed off his art and no matter how much and how violently Sasori disagreed with the blonde's inane notion that art ought to be a fleeting exhibit, he respected Deidara as an artist. Besides, the day Deidara exploded his creations was the day Deidara would be free from the clutches of the chains that bound him and prevented him from achieving his happiness.
"Isn't it ironic though?" Sasori asked rather than decide to comment on the issue at hand. He gestured all around at the numerous expressive artworks. "They're mostly birds but they're all trapped inside this hut."
"It's a lovely hut, un," Deidara replied, a smile in his voice, appearing altogether unaffected at the significance in Sasori's words.
"It's a lovely hut," Sasori agreed because he thought that way too though that did not change the fact that it was still a confinement to his artworks.
"Symbolic, un?" Deidara mumbled drowsily, sounding like he was ready to fall off into sleep at any moment.
"Representative of your situation, yes," Sasori said calmly, somehow feeling that he could broach the topic openly here in the midst of nature and peace.
"When I get out of this shit, I'm gonna blow every single one of them up, un," Deidara announced, sounding more animated and excitement with an underlying tone of resentment which revealed just how fed up he was with being trapped. "This," he said, sounding much closer now and Sasori turned to find that he was now sitting up straight. Deidara gestured at everything in the room much like how Sasori had done so previously. "This is all temporary. This hut is a temporary confinement, un. When I bring those birds out and let them go with a bang, everything will disappear and that will truly be art, un."
Deidara's voice grew louder and more energetic the more he spoke about his beloved art. He was positively beaming now; the mere talk of his art revitalised him and made him more alive than Sasori had ever seen him.
"Because art is transient, huh," Sasori said drily but his scepticism was all but lost on Deidara who grinned so widely that he almost looked maniacal.
"You said it, un," Deidara said with a smirk. "Art is a blast, un."
Sasori shook his head in amusement and ducked his head a little so that Deidara wouldn't see the small smile playing on his lips. The thing was that he was almost as impatient as Deidara waiting for that day to come and it was risky but…
"Soon," Sasori said simply.
"Huh?" Deidara asked, stopping mid-rant about what he was going to do once he quit medical school goodbye. "What?"
"Soon," Sasori repeated, looking at Deidara directly in the eyes.
"Oh…" Deidara muttered and looked away, worrying his lower lip. His face had fallen but Sasori didn't feel guilty ruining his happy mood. What Deidara felt just now was not even an ounce compared to what he would inevitably feel when he let himself go and start creating his art. This temporary pain and sadness was something he had to overcome and Sasori would help him every step of the way.
"Promise me," Sasori said evenly and Deidara looked at him in shock. Sasori wasn't surprised. He knew it was uncharacteristic of him. He had never pressured Deidara on anything before but he knew that there was a chance, however small, of him waiting an eternity before Deidara took up his art again and Sasori just wasn't going to let that happen. Maybe he was overstepping some lines but from what he knew about relationships, being in a relationship with someone meant being able to take some liberties like crossing some boundaries and this boundary was one that had to be crossed, consequences be damned.
It took a while. Deidara wasn't looking at him. He was looking at his artworks and the longing was so painfully obvious on his face that Sasori wondered why he didn't just agree yet. Chiyo might have been important to him but he knew that he would have crumbled immediately in the face of his works; Deidara's resilience amazed him.
Eventually though, Deidara looked at him, a mask of determination on his face.
"I promise."
Sasori smiled at him and Deidara returned it with one of his own before bursting out into laughter. Sasori watched him in bored amusement.
"Yes?"
Deidara took a few seconds to compose himself but even then he was still giggling. "Do you remember the first time you smiled at me, Danna, un?"
"… no. Why would I remember something so insignificant?"
Deidara ignored the insult skilfully and smiled to himself as if relieving a sweet memory. Sasori frowned. Try as he might, he definitely did not remember such a minor detail. The bigger issue was he didn't understand what was so amazing about him smiling. He was human; he did that, considerably less than other people yes but he still did it.
"At the hospital," Deidara informed him.
"…"
Deidara glared at him. Sasori shook his head; he did not remember. Period.
Deidara sighed like Sasori was the single most insufferable person on earth which he probably did think was the case and Sasori contemplated walking off if only to watch the comical way which Deidara would almost fall over himself trying to catch up with him and demand what the heck his problem was.
"Do tell," Sasori said drily.
"That day when I first went to visit my mother and I was all dull and depressed," Deidara started, looking at Sasori intently. He rolled his eyes when he realised that Sasori really didn't remember a single thing. "Anyway. I was all depressed and stuff and then you smiled at me and asked me if anything was wrong!"
"Okay… what's the point of telling me that?" Deidara, as usual, was unfathomable.
"I just thought you were human," Deidara said, smiling softly. "That you could smile. I thought it was nice that there was something inside you that was still keeping you alive."
Sasori, once again, was stunned into silence by Deidara. He wasn't one to be at a loss for words ever but Deidara always seemed to have that effect on him. He guessed it was because nobody had ever talked about his feelings or art to him before and those were the two things that got to him the most. It was precisely because Deidara was the only one who dared to that Sasori didn't know how to react; he never had any experience dealing with this before. Chiyo didn't bring him up with much emotions involved after all.
"Hey," Deidara called out to him softly and there was an understanding look on his face. "It's alright."
"I know that," Sasori replied, stoic as ever but Deidara just grinned because he could already see past Sasori's tough exterior and Sasori knew that that should make him afraid – that someone knew him so well which meant that that person inevitably had the weapons needed to hurt him – but what he felt was nothing like that. What he felt was pure happiness, comparable to that when he was doing his art. Having someone who completely understood you and would be there for you… well, Sasori always knew that there was something out there that would be able to bring him as much joy as art did. He just didn't expect it to come in the form of a bumbling airhead blonde whose passion for art matched the amount of noise he created.
Sasori stood up and stretched. Deidara followed suit silently though he shot Sasori a giant beam which earned him an eye-roll which was more affectionate than anything.
"Let's go, Brat."
When Sasori awoke on the morning of the 8th of November, he didn't think particularly much about it. It was just another day. Only it was that much better simply because Chiyo wasn't around to spoil the day for him but it was best not to jinx it by thinking about it so early in the morning.
Sasori had just freshened up and was about to exit his room when his door was suddenly thrown open, the bang it made upon impact against the wall making him cringe. In sauntered in Deidara, bright smiles and all and Sasori could only guess what the blonde wanted. But Deidara didn't say anything, just looked at Sasori with a knowing gaze as if waiting for Sasori to say something. Standing there without doing anything was dumb and a waste of time so Sasori ventured to fulfil Deidara's wish despite not really knowing what Deidara wanted from him.
"Good morning," he tried and there was no way he could have gone wrong with that but Deidara pinned him with so fierce a glare that Sasori might have thought that he had said something to offend the other if he wasn't so sure that giving a such a greeting wasn't at all insulting. "What's your problem?" he said in the end, unwilling to spend another second accompanying Deidara in his insanity.
"What's my problem!" Deidara replied, close to gasping. "It's your birthday, Danna, un!"
Sasori thought that it was obvious that everyone would naturally know the day that they were born on but didn't mention that to Deidara.
"So wish me happy birthday," he said instead, rolling his eyes and pushing past Deidara into the living room.
Deidara was close behind him and followed him into the living room. Sasori went into the kitchen to have his two customary cups of coffee, leaving Deidara to his own devices in the living room. When he was done, he sat on the couch and started on the day's newspaper. He was just absorbed by a particularly interesting article when Deidara made his presence loudly known by standing in front of him with his arms crossed and showing no signs of budging.
Sasori sighed (there was no way out of this), placed his newspaper aside after taking note of the page of the news before looking up at Deidara who was glaring down at him, obviously not amused at all with the entire situation at all. Sasori didn't get it. It was his birthday so shouldn't Deidara be treating him nicer?
"What do you want, Brat?" Sasori asked, tone even.
"What's the matter with you! It's your birthday!" Deidara repeated, not at all impressed. But then neither was Sasori.
"So wish me happy birthday," Sasori repeated as well, giving Deidara a pointed look.
"Danna, you should be happy, un," Deidara said simply before relinquishing his spot before Sasori and plopping down beside the other man.
"Why am I being dictated about what to feel?" Sasori inquired, eyebrow raised and face masked in annoyance.
"I'm not dictating how you should feel," Deidara replied, rolling his eyes. "Just saying that you should be happy since it's the day you were born and all."
"Didn't peg you as the sentimental type," Sasori replied, returning to his newspaper.
Deidara wasn't quite done though. "That's hardly being sentimental. Aww, come on, don't be like that, un." Deidara plucked Sasori's newspaper out of his hands and Sasori watched in distaste as Deidara carelessly folded it up and tossed it to the single seat sofa.
Deidara turned back to him, apparently very satisfied with how things were proceeding. "We are going to celebrate."
"How?"
"Danna," Deidara said, almost piteously and almost whining. "Let me be nice to you on your birthday, un."
"That's not my fault," Sasori pointed out. Why was he being blamed on his birthday?
"You're being particularly hard today," Deidara said, sniffing a little.
"You're being particularly hard to please today," Sasori shot back, ignoring the indignant look Deidara shot him.
"Me?!"
Sasori ignored him; it would have otherwise escalated into a useless fight which Sasori could very much do without, thank you very much. Deidara seemed to be on the same page as him for once for he stopped pursuing the matter. Not that he let the entire thing drop.
"Alright, anyway, we're going to celebrate, un," he announced happily, suddenly cheerful again. Sasori shook his head.
"Let's go!" Deidara demanded.
Sasori thought about annoying the blonde but in the end decided that it was too much and that it wasn't going to work anyway because Deidara would just repay that with being twice as irritating and of course Deidara would win. Without another word, Sasori stood up and headed out of the house, chuckling softly to himself when he heard the surprised noise that Deidara let out. Deidara hurried out of the house as well and locked the door as fast as he could before running after Sasori who was already halfway down the hill.
"You're an asshole, un," Deidara told him, panting a little but otherwise messy as usual.
"So where are we going?" Sasori asked instead. It was his birthday after all so he was going to take advantage of it.
"Art store," Deidara replied happily. "And then dinner with the others, un."
"Mm," Sasori said thoughtfully and Deidara immediately turned to him, a slightly worried look on his face.
"What, you don't want to have dinner with the others?" he asked anxiously. Sasori wanted to laugh at how panicked Deidara seemed to be but he also felt contented that someone actually cared about him this much. He knew that Chiyo certainly didn't. Birthdays with her usually consisted of her buying a cake (chocolate cake and he hated chocolate but she obviously never bothered to find out) and sometimes going out to random places of attractions if she was free. When he became older, those outings simply stopped because he decided that studying on his birthday was better than going out in her company.
"I'm just surprised that you planned things in advance," Sasori said with a slight shrug.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Deidara demanded, eyes narrowed and then he frowned. "How did you know that I even planned things in advance anyway?"
"Deidara," Sasori said calmly, sounding very serious. "Do you take me for an idiot?"
"No."
But his tone made it clear that he still wanted an explanation from Sasori. Sasori decided to indulge him.
"Well, for the art store, you must have booked a room there since there are only three work rooms and you can't possibly guarantee that one will be free today without making a reservation. And for our friends… it's obvious that you had to ask them out in advance right?" Sasori explained, all the while wondering why he had to. It wasn't exactly rocket science. Deidara couldn't have thought that it was hard to figure out.
"Hmm," Deidara said. "You're right."
"Obviously."
Deidara hit his arm playfully but Sasori ignored him, though he subconsciously wondered if he was getting too used to being abused so to speak by the other.
The rest of the walk proceeded in companionable silence as was usually the case with both of them. Sasori remembered the first time when they walked together. They hadn't known each other even minutely then and Sasori had been prejudiced against Deidara but he remembered that that walk had been as comfortable and peaceful as this one was. At that time, he hadn't imagined that he would even be remotely close to Deidara and now their relationship was on a completely different level. Sasori was sure that he had never been so happy in his life though he would rather die than admit it out loud, especially to Deidara. Anyway, he was sure that Deidara knew and felt the same too.
"So what are we going to do?" Sasori asked when they were in the art room. They hadn't brought their supplies along but they had a spare set in the shop. The owner let them put them there because Sasori always came anyway.
"Art, duh, un," Deidara replied simply and starting taking out his materials.
This, Sasori decided, was why he loved Deidara. While other people, Chiyo for example, might make a big fuss out of his birthday and try to do something special for him, they didn't really think about what he wanted. Deidara, on the other hand, did. Sure, when he was still living with Chiyo, he would have been really happy if she had let him do his art on his birthday since he was never allowed too but that never happened. Others might think that though he was an artist and did art every day, he would want to do something else different and special for his birthday but that wasn't the case at all. He was still happiest doing art. And Deidara knew that. No matter what, doing art was the thing that made him happy and then some. Deidara understood that.
They spent their whole day in the art room, wrapped up in nothing but their art and each other. And this was definitely the other reason why Sasori loved Deidara. Because doing his art was one thing, but sharing his art with someone who appreciated it and who in turn shared his own art with Sasori, that was pure gold. Nothing could transcend that kind of tranquil and contented feeling.
"Sweet," Deidara commented when he saw Sasori's handiwork. It was a little bird made out of wood but it didn't look like it was made out of wood. The work was immaculate and the details were intricate. Deidara couldn't, for the life of it, figure out how to make wood bend to his will in that specific manner and was more than impressed that Sasori seemed to be able to do so so easily. "Can I blow it up, un?"
Sasori gave him The Look. It was a look that conveyed utter disdain and annoyance. When Sasori gave him The Look, it usually meant that Sasori thought that he was thoroughly insipid and too stupid to live. Deidara was more than used to it.
"Come on, Danna, un," Deidara said, pleading but still managing to smirk all the same, "it'll be a blast, un."
Sasori actually dropped The Look, much to Deidara's surprised and he looked like he was actually contemplating it. Deidara didn't know what Sasori's deal was because it certainly wasn't Deidara's birthday so he didn't have to please him.
"One condition," Sasori said finally.
This was too good to be true. Deidara said that he would agree to anything.
"When you quit med school," Sasori said simply.
Deidara was stunned silence for a moment. Sasori had been more persistent with this issue lately and while Deidara never thought it bothersome or annoying, it was most certainly surprising, what with Sasori and his policy of not prying. But he supposed this wasn't exactly prying and he knew that Sasori just wanted the best for him, wanted to share his own immense joy with him and Deidara really wanted that too. Someday, he really wanted that too.
"Alright," Deidara agreed, feeling the weight of this promise and how much it meant to both him and Sasori.
Deidara tossed his own artwork into his bag before taking a box out from a cupboard. He placed it in front of Sasori and smiled joyfully. "Happy birthday, Danna, un."
Sasori let out a soft laughter before opening up the box and taking out the gift inside. He put it down onto the table and looked at it. Simply put, it was beautiful and the most exquisite work that he had seen by Deidara so far. Funnily enough, it was almost the same as what he had just created – a bird, or rather two birds. But these birds came with a set. There was a cage as well. The peculiar thing was that the cage was locked but the birds were outside with their wings spread out and looking ready to take flight at any moment.
Sasori raised an eyebrow.
"You're free, Danna," Deidara said with a shrug. "And one day, I'll be right there next to you, un."
Sasori didn't even try to stop the smile from coming onto his face. He was pretty sure that life had never seemed brighter. In fact, everything seemed to be glowing at the edges just that tiny bit. He had always thought that 'la vie en rose' was corny and didn't quite make sense but now he could see the truth in it, just not the pink part.
"Thank you, Deidara," Sasori said and if Deidara seemed just that bit happier then, it was because he felt the same way Sasori did too – contented.
"Happy birthday, Sasori!" Konan greeted, eyes twinkling with happiness as she gave Sasori a light squeeze on his arm.
"Thanks," Sasori replied with a slight smile.
The others were already there and Konan had arrived a little late due to some project she had to deal with at the university. Everyone was engaged in one form of conversation or another. Deidara and Hidan were particularly lively and animated but Sasori could understand that; it had probably been ages since they could actually sit down and have a proper chat with each other though what they were talking about Sasori didn't want to know. He felt the same towards his friends too. Being an artist meant that he was freer but it also meant that he realised how busy his friends was. They virtually had no time to meet him other than for a cup of tea and sometimes not even then. To himself, he could admit that he missed them but there was no way he was going to say that out loud.
Conversation was easy and flowing, never once halting in its tracks. It would appear that everyone missed his company as well and maybe it was because he was really happy but Tobi didn't seem half as annoying that night. At any rate, it didn't look as if Deidara was going to murder the guy any time soon.
"YOU FUCKING WHAT."
Of course that was Hidan and that outburst effectively halted all conversation as everyone turned to look at him. The man wasn't even abashed at being the centre of attention. In fact, he was gaping at Deidara in incredulity and Deidara looked as dumbfounded as everyone else felt.
"Yes, Hidan?" Kakuzu asked calmly, more than used to dealing with the Jashinist by now. With Sasori no longer in university, Deidara being swamped with endless work and Itachi spending an increasing amount of time with Kisame, Kakuzu found himself in the company of Hidan more often than not, not that he was complaining. On the contrary, he rather enjoyed it.
"THEY'RE FUCKING COHABITATING AND FUCKING DATING THAT'S FUCKING WHAT. OH MY JASHIN."
"Who?" Kakuzu asked patiently though he sounded really curious as well which echoed the general sentiment in the room.
Sasori and Deidara exchanged glances and then nodded.
"FUCKING BLONDIE AND SASAORI."
All heads turned to them.
"Oops?" Deidara offered before he and Sasori were out of their seats and out of the room before anyone can process anything. When they did, the ensuing roar of commotion was almost hilarious.
"Don't look back," Sasori told Deidara as they hurried down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. Taking the elevator was too risky.
"Wasn't going to," Deidara assured Sasori. He must be dreaming but could almost hear footsteps behind them.
They bolted out of the restaurant and into Sasori's car in record time. Sasori started the engine just as Hidan and Kakuzu burst out of the restaurant. Deidara visibly paled.
"Oh my god, drive, un."
"No need to tell me twice," Sasori mumbled before speeding off just as Hidan and Kakuzu reached the spot beside where the car was only a second before. They hollered after the two artists but Sasori didn't make any move to stop.
After parking his car, Sasori let out a sigh of relief while Deidara visibly relaxed. There was a moment of silence in which they both stared at each other for a moment before they burst out into laughter.
"They are so going to kill us, un," Deidara said between peals of laughter.
Sasori nodded in agreement. "You're in more trouble though because I don't go to the uni anymore."
"All the more reason to quit," Deidara replied, doubling up with laughter. Sasori joined him and they didn't know how long they were in the car, just enjoying the humour and joy of the moment.
Sometime after they finally stopped laughing, Deidara turned to look at Sasori, a peaceful expression and tranquil smile on his face. He looked for the world like nothing bad could ever happen. Affection and love was also clear in his eyes.
"Happy birthday, Danna, un," Deidara said, eyes sparkling like stars just like that night in the mountains and there was nothing stopping Sasori from leaning over to place a kiss on Deidara's lips.
I wanted to get this out by Sasori's birthday no matter what so I decided to write instead of doing university stuff. XD
Sorry for the long wait again! I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be out but it definitely won't be in November. Sorry about that!
In other news, I think we're approaching the end of the story soon! I have an idea of how it will end but it might change so we'll see how it goes! XD
Reviews are loved. ^^