A bucket of fruits! Who doesn't love fruit? Careful! Reading this story with an empty stomach will only make you hungrier... for more TobiDei!

Though this fic is experimental, I hope any readers find it pleasurable to some degree. I'm still trying to understand the characters. This fic may be very messy, with possible plot holes, incorrect manga/anime references, out of character-ness, bad writing, etc. Anyways, please be fair, I haven't watched Naruto in five years. I've only just seen a few episodes recently and decided to get back into my first Naruto ship. May Tobi/Dei live on!

Also. Extreme SPOILERS. Starting NOW. Yee have been warned.

Tobi/Obito x Deidara

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. (Valid for the entire fanfiction.)

Blackberries

"To Protect."
.

"We sleep here for the night."

"Here? But there are no beds here!" a tall man in a swirly, orange mask shouted, lifting his arms up and gesturing all around him. It was to provide emphasis and further prove his point. They were in a very tiny clearing, surrounded by heavy forest shrubbery, seedlings, and roots. The canopies of the massive trees completely hid the darkening sky. That didn't mean a few beams of orange and pink lights couldn't peek through the coverage, escaping from the sunset empyreans. Despite the man's dark nature and cruel habits, a little part of him secretly enjoyed the beautiful picture.

Back turned from his associate, Tobi waited for a verbal response, but never got one. Only silence. That didn't sound good. Glancing at his younger partner, the rather childish man saw a very peeved expression being sent his way.

More so to uphold his act than in actual freight, Tobi squeaked, taking a few steps backwards, "Please don't look at me like that, senpai. You're scary."

The blond huffed, squaring his shoulders. It was a habit the man behind the mask noticed after spending so much time with the criminal. Every time Deidara felt complimented or very proud of himself, he would tense to achieve perfect posture. Tobi could only imagine the man's spine straightening under the heavy layer of flesh and muscle, back flexing as new emotions overwhelmed him.

There was a certain trait that bound the Uchiha to his companion. It was his ability to feel. Deidara's spirit was raw, undeterred by any obstacle, firm and passionate. Every explosion was done with intent to experience a high, to satisfy his urges. Deidara did not kill out of hatred; he stole lives for enjoyment and for self-improvement.

There was no other man or woman who could express their feelings as intently as Deidara did his. Explosions, icy stares, furrowed brows, sweaty fingers, rosy cheeks, a twitch of the lips, maniacal laughs, quickened breaths, skin brightening an angry red, yells of fury, hisses, groans, and...

Deidara left without a word.

...silence.

Tobi knew the bomber's leave was for a hunt: to go catch fish at any nearby river. That's what Deidara always did when they needed to camp. Even so, Tobi was forced to scream in faux horror, "Oh, no! Senpai, where are you going? Don't leave me here all alone!"

His shouts wouldn't be heard, Tobi knew. Deidara had a set tradition of ignoring the man wearing the swirly, orange mask. Despite this, Tobi could not find himself to resent the temperamental boy. Tobi, as the man with the swirly, orange mask, and as Tobi, the man behind the swirly, orange mask. Both Tobis could never hate the fiery artist.

Knowing Deidara would want him to find tinder – before the sun fully set – for a quick fire, Tobi had to contemplate. Should he fetch the firewood and dried leaves or anger Deidara once again? He leaned towards the latter, despite everything. Tobi truly yearned for Deidara's approving gaze, yet knew that as long as he was Tobi, he could not.

His stare fell on a unique bush inside the mess of green leaves and vines. Little chunks of red and black covered the leafy plant, and Tobi immediately knew what he was looking at. Blackberries. A gloved hand reached to touch a single one of the ripened fruits. These were the edible manifestations of protection, blanketed – hidden away, by a black sheet of sorrow and evil.

Tobi crouched down to his knees, staring closely at the little berry between his fingers. A cluster of baby, black bubbles bunched tightly together to form a delectable, juicy source of energy. There was, however, a tiny red spot. The one dainty portion of the blackberry was still unripe. It would be sour. The red, it reflected love. Hate could not, after all, exist without love. Soon, the red baby-berry would lose its vibrant hue. It was to be expected, as love only encouraged hate. They were one in the same.

Obito had loved Rin, he truly did. Before all of this. Now she was gone, forgotten. He could not bear the pain of her loss, so he got rid of that too. His youthful feelings for Rin had been pushed aside, and the Uchiha's hatred still continued to grow. After facing the truth, he saw what he needed to see. No longer was he the naive boy living in Konoha. No longer would he love, because having such happiness ripped away made one ache and bleed inside.

Gloved fingers trembled as Tobi ripped the berry from the stem.

Obito made the mistake of loving Rin, so then... why was he feeling so strongly for Deidara?

He picked another.

Why was he even feeling?

An image of sky eyes and a barbarous grin flashed through his mind.

Tobi was not supposed to have a heart. Another was plucked off the stem. He was not supposed to feel happy. And another. He was not supposed to feel angry. Then another. He was not supposed to feel pain. One more fell into his palm. He was supposed to have an empty hole in his chest; one so large, it was impossible to even imagine him ever possessing a heart.

But he was not a foolish man. Tobi knew what was happening. He understood that he was losing control of his sensible mind. Deidara was a light, shining down into his darkness and saving him. His partner in battle, the one who believed him to be a weak simpleton, was the man he was falling for. Oh, no, Tobi took that back.

He had already fallen.

Blackberries were protection. He stared at the fruit in his palms. Blackberries were abandonment.

And the plan he had spent years and years building and perfecting, it was tumbling down too.

Deidara's beautiful voice was suddenly shouting at him, but not breaking his string of thoughts, only igniting more flames. Nothing pleasant was ever directed towards him, but that voice still tickled his insides.

"Tobi, you idiot!"

He clenched his fist, crushing the blackberries in his palm.