As the blond stood before him, Sasori shuffled up the bed, sitting up straighter.

An unwelcome warmth spread to his face; the feeling vexed the puppeteer. Sasori despised the fact he was blushing, his body acting in its own accordance. In response to this irritation bubbling within, the redhead kicked out a leg as he spoke out to the sculptor.

"What is wrong with you, seriously." Aware that it was late and he didn't want Hidan or Kakuzu to hear them, Sasori spoke in muted hiss. "Put some damn pants on!" He lashed out at the blond.

Deidara just lolled his head to one side, looking back at the redhead through his fringe. "Sure, sure; but…are you going to keep watching me, un?" His inflection was still playful, aiming to get a rise out of the redhead.

Sasori felt a deep clang in his abdomen. Flustered, he stumbled over his words. "What—just, just get on with it! And turn the lights off!" He managed to command at least something in the end.

In a huff, the puppeteer gripped the covers and turned sharply in bed, adamantly facing away from the blond.
What a dickhead. Flapping his dick around like that. Fucking dick.
Sasori's cheeks were still a flaming scarlet as he tried to drive thoughts about Deidara's crotch from his brain, relieved when the younger man at least put some pyjama shorts on.

There was a rustle and creak as the blond joined him within the bed.
Sasori shunted even further away from the younger man in response. He cursed having to share the bed with Deidara this weekend.

Feeling tense, the puppeteer darkly considered he wouldn't be able to sleep anytime soon. Sure enough, his grey eyes got accustomed to the darkness. Soon, he could make out obtuse shapes.

Deidara was now strangely quiet next to him. All Sasori could sense with his back to the blond was the gentle breaths emanating from the other person, and the weight of him nearby. The feeling irked him considerably.

After what felt like a long pause, Sasori could stand this uncomfortable sensation no longer. He turned over, glaring back at the blond. Even in the dim visibility, the puppeteer could ascertain that Deidara's eyes were open, yet he was burrowed into the duvet. He actually looked pretty sleepy.

Still with an air of rancour, the redhead met the younger man's hazy eyes. Deidara didn't say too much, Sasori only caught a mumble of something as the younger man nestled into the duvet. Finally, his neighbour closed his eyes.

The puppeteer's brows met in a frown; yet he kept silent. Words had whipped up, like birds pecking up through his chest…And yet; as Deidara grew hushed, letting the sleep overcome his body, the thoughts and words that had bubbled within Sasori kind of…petered away.

At least, Sasori found his lips were unyielding, unable to open them.

He remain strangely statuesque, his eyelids becoming heavier as the blond's breathing became even more minute. Slowly, the puppeteer turned back away and tried to sleep. For some reason, he still found it especially difficult this night.

"So, you know someone who owns a suit rental?" The puppeteer called from the back of the car. "Of course you do; how do you always know a guy?" Sasori scoffed in mirth as Kakuzu navigated the twists in the road. They were on their way to this establishment right now.

"Right?! Shit, he has someone for everything-" Hidan craned his neck to speak to Deidara and Sasori in the backseat. "-And I mean fucking everything—"

"-My contacts-" The banker spoke louder over his lover. "-Were assembled through many means and opportunities." Kakuzu's tone was rugged, yet the way his lips twitched at the end informed them all he was enjoying the backhanded praise.

They parked up. The storefront was dirty, in need of some tender love and care. "Jashin, I hope they cleaned the bloodstains first, Kuzu." Hidan called out as he exited the car.

"That might be included in the price, yes." The taller man quipped back.

Meanwhile, Deidara was nursing his sore head, rubbing in gently. Sasori made sure to slam the car door extra hard as he vacated the vehicle; he clocked the blond wincing in pain at the sound.
Good. Serves him right.

The puppeteer had not yet forgotten last night. The blond's lewd suggestions, accusations about happiness and cocky nature…
Even more than all that, Sasori couldn't forget his staring.
Disgruntled, the redhead tugged at the crimson hair at the rear his head, facing near the ground.

Deidara looked sideways at his neighbour; Sasori was still being prickly with him.
The sculptor realised he maybe had overstepped it with the puppeteer last night.

Aiming to be a little congenial, the blond hung back from going into the shop. "Sasori, un." He called out.

The puppeteer stopped, standing ramrod straight. He felt jumpy; a hangover of a different kind from last night.
"What?" He put more vitriol into the words than perhaps was necessary.

The sculptor noted the tone, yet it did not deter him.
If anything, Deidara sniffed at it, and ploughed on. "Look, about last night. I…pushed it. With you, I mean, un."

Sasori's eyes were still fixed pointedly at his neighbour. His glacial expression had not thawed.

Deidara bit lightly against his inner cheeks, mulling over these words before he uttered them. He ranked his fatigued brain; how could he get Sasori to see he was being genuine here?

The younger sculptor inched a fraction closer to the puppeteer. He could breath in the elder man's essence; that, combined with Sasori's haughty mannerism, caught him off guard. Temporarily.

"…I'm sorry, un." Simplicity, no excuses. That is what Deidara tried.

The puppeteer's eyes were glassy. He blinked, the eyelids feeling all of a sudden heavy. Sasori noticed that Deidara held his concentration, not wavering from facing him head on.
Hmm.

The puppeteer crossed his arms; he still felt a ripple of indignation, yet even as he acknowledged that feeling, Sasori realised his shoulders felt lighter than before.
"Luckily for you, I'm feeling gracious today." He tilted his head to one side, and breathed through his nose. Time to get on with the day. Ushering the blond to follow him into the shop "Come on; I hate leaving people waiting."

...

After a while of being in the shop, the banker and Jashinist were rustling through suits in the far corner of the store.
Not one for extravagance, Kakuzu was looking for something simple for an outfit he would wear only once.
However, Hidan had admonished him just a tad.

"You look like a fucking clerk." Hidan sat back on the seat, bored with being trapped in the same shop. He hadn't found the suit for him yet, but he had found a shirt that was excellent. It's fine material had actually piqued his interest in something much more nuanced, and now the Jashinist was fidgety, eager to get to what he really wanted.

Kakuzu's expression pierced right back his fiancé. "You got any better ideas?" He threw the words over his shoulders. With a cranky "Eurgh!" Hidan got up, as if it was a heavy burden to do so, and looked over the darker suits with his partner.

The slighter man gripped against the jackets, slamming them down the rail with an aggrieved countenance. Shunting the clothes hard, he took out his frustration on the fabric. It wasn't enough.

"Do you actually want to do this?" Hidan remarked, his petulance oozing out of the tone of his words. He wasn't referring to suit shopping; he meant the whole wedding itself.

Kakuzu, who was now across the rails from his partner, stopped his movements. He frowned, his eyes and brows the most expressive part visible over his mask.

"Of course I do." The taller man stated firmly. His face was relatively calm; yet his mild worry was betrayed by the way he had one hand gripped tight against the railing. "…What brought that on?" Kakuzu lowered his voice, referring to the accusation his fiancé had just levied his way.

Hidan pushed back away from the clothes, and stood, cricking his neck to one side.
He shrugged and looked down at the floor momentarily whilst considering his answer. When he met his partner's gaze, Hidan's violet eyes were crackling with watchful regard.

"All I've heard you whinge about recently is about not wanting to this or that, bothered about how much it will cost or just…feeling closed off to certain things. Makes me think you're not even excited about it." These musings had been seeping into his semi-consciousness long before this exchange. Today, perhaps as everyone was a bit snippy and short tempered, had brought it forwards.

Kakuzu rubbed a forefinger and thumb against the fabric he was still clinging onto.
He exhaled shortly through his nostrils. After a brief pause, the banker let go of the rail and moved over to Hidan, reaching out to put his toned arms around his fiancé's shoulders.

At first, the Jashinist bristled, but when Kakuzu leaned in close, to speak right against his ear, he tensed up. His heart rate was now thumping at the sensation. "If that's how I've made you feel; I apologise. It was not my intention. This is…all new to me."

Hidan leaned into the hold. He ran the tip of his tongue against his teeth as he listened in close. He smiled a little at his partner's answer.

"Yeah, what do you think, it's old news to me? We're in this together, remember." He pulled away slightly from the embrace, raising an eyebrow at the taller man. However, now there was tempered warmth in his voice. "Otherwise, what is the point of it all?"

Kakuzu blinked slowly, taking in Hidan's words. Of course. He was right…Kakuzu had taken on a lot of the mental burden of the wedding organisation; without needing to, it had transpired. His default approach was to resolve and solve all by himself. He still had to get used to having someone who was willing to be by his side, a life partner…never had someone been able fulfil that being to Kakuzu.
Someone who would really last.

He had to remember to let go of control occasionally.

The banker pursed his lips just slightly, though it was hard to see underneath his silky mask. However, Hidan did shortly feel the presence of those lips as they brushed against the top of his head, Kakuzu moving forwards just so to give his partner a light kiss above his forehead.

"Next weekend; we'll look at some of the ideas you have had. I won't complain." He exclaimed. Now, Kakuzu's overall mannerism was calmer.

Although they could snipe at each other, there was an unscathed bond that ran between the two men. Despite frequent rebukes or downright cursing, usually they cooled down to a happy medium. Eventually.

And it was in that state the two felt later when Kakuzu happened upon a more elegant, and still rather more muted, suit. Hidan grinned as he watched his fiancé try it on.
He stood in front of the changing room door, feet strongly planted in a buoyant countenance. "Well? What the fuck did I tell you?!" He chided, eyes gleaming.

Kakuzu raised his eyebrows in response, yet fought no resistance to picking this one. Hidan had learned previously that the banker 'spoke' an awful lot more with his deeds than hollow words.
His proof enough was when the taller man picked this new style to hire rather than the frumpier, awkward ones he had tried on previously.

...

The air was stifling. Sasori felt claustrophobic as he pulled on the jacket, like he couldn't get enough air in his lungs. It was probably the effect of having to try on different clothes and moving about this much in a confined space.

He exhaled, trying to temper this feeling.
The redhead turned, reviewing how the piece looked all the way round. Hmm. Not bad.

Sasori was grateful to step out from his changing room booth, pulling the door open. At least it had a bit more air in here. As he came out, the door opposite swung forward.

His met inquisitive cerulean eyes across the room.

Deidara's eyebrows had an arch to them as they took in the sight of his neighbour in the suit. The dark maroon complimented Sasori; despite it being a hired piece, the fit actually molded to his frame well. The sculptor actually took a moment to mentally praise his neighbour; who knew the redhead was hiding such a cute body?

"Where are Hidan and Kakuzu?" The puppeteer asked, cutting across Deidara's thoughts.
"Out front, talking to the owner." The blond replied, managing to keep his thoughts to himself.

The sculptor leant on the doorframe, taking in the motions of the redhead. The puppeteer finished tying his tie, glancing towards the blond. Something about Deidara's pose reminded him about back home; the blond often leant up against his door frame or the porch beams, just the way he was doing now.

The puppeteer paused as his fingers fiddled with the knot. Huh. When had he noticed that about Deidara…?
He considered the notion for a moment, before pushing the thought to one side. He was becoming overly transfixed by thoughts not in the here and now.

The puppeteer cleared his throat. "I hope they have ones they want to get also, then." Referring back to the grooms. Sasori paused, before changing the subject. "So, what do you think? Happy with yours?"

Deidara ran fingers through his hair, which was down and voluminous today.

"I don't know, think it makes me look a bit…meh." The blond mused. He crossed his arms.
This time, Sasori looked back at him properly, having finished his tie. The paler colour did wash the already fair blond out a little.

The puppeteer's look was serious, like it was boring into him. Deidara tilted his face in surprise.

"Hmm." Was all the redhead muttered, as he began to step forwards to the blond. The sculptor stood up straighter as the elder man approached him directly.

Sasori's eyes roved over the blond's torso, and then slowly up to his face. Deidara's pupils began to dilate as he took in the sight of the redhead studying him like this.

"One moment." The redhead threw out, and suddenly stole away. The sculptor actually jumped at the abrupt change in motion. The blond uncrossed his arms, standing away from the door. He gave Sasori an affable smile as he saw the puppeteer come back with another suit on a hanger. It was a dark teal colour.
"Try this." He thrust the jacket into the blond's hand. Their fingers brushed against each for a moment.

Deidara eagerly tried it on. The sleeves and trouser legs were a little long, however the suit itself looked great; he felt more enlivened in this one.

When he pushed the door back open, wearing a broad grin, the puppeteer nudged his lips to one side. However, this time, rather than looking at his younger neighbour with an element of disdain, he actually had a warmth towards the blond.

Watching the sculptor spin on the balls of his feet, showing off the way colour sat attractively against his skin, made the puppeteer realise he actually had a positive interaction with the other man.
It was kinda…nice.

Once satisfied with Kakuzu's suit, the banker and Jashinist rejoined their friends. Upon meeting with the other two men, Hidan lurched forwards and grabbed Deidara's ass cheeks, complimenting him on the suit.

Laughing, Deidara brushed him off. "Yeah yeah; whatever, un. Where are yours?"

Kakuzu handled it with the store owner; they would come back later to pick up the suits closer to the time. Hidan still had to find his, perhaps he would try somewhere else. After getting changed, the foursome were leaving. Kakuzu went out first, discussing with Sasori where they would go next. Deidara followed along in their wake as Hidan hung back.

Taking his opportunity whilst Kakuzu was momentarily absent, Hidan rushed forwards to the store counter.
"Hey Geezer!" The Jashinist yelled out, causing the shop owner to pause and look back over his shoulder. "I need you for something. Can you do me anything-" he paused and pulled out his phone, showing a photo to the proprietor "-Like this?"

The elder man viewed Hidan's phone thoughtfully; he hashed out details with the younger man, endeavouring to meet his satisfaction.

"Legend, thank you; and hey, no word of this to my partner, got it? It's gonna be a surprise."

A few seconds later, Hidan bounced out of the shop front. Everyone else was evidently waiting for him, Kakuzu's height towering over the two artists. The silver haired man felt a pooling of warmth in his core; he was actually eager to see his lover's reaction to what he had planned. Kakuzu was hardly ever fooled; even now, the banker had a discerning eye, directed right at Hidan. Damn, he looked so casually sexy today; that high necked blast vest with the open panels to show his shoulders always suited him well. The Jashinist mused on that thought, flutterings of excitement coursing through his very blood.

"Can we please get food now, un?" The blond's suggestion came in tandem with the dull ache in his abdomen.

"So you are certain - you want to have a joint one?" Sasori was almost business-like with his tone. He cast a knowing look towards the blond, who was currently taking a deep suck on his straw, siphoning the strawberry milkshake with relish.
Hidan nodded, popping a fry in his mouth. Kakuzu elaborated the point further. "Yes of course; We've no secrets. We don't have any problem with having it together." Underneath the table, Hidan felt the banker squeeze his palm. The Jashinist had a rise of ardour at the sensation; he also noted the use of the "we" in his fiancé's responses; Kakuzu was a fast learner.

Sasori inclined his head towards his best friend, acknowledging his answer. Still, although the redhead had expected that response, it had dashed the feeble trickle of hope that he might be able to avoid doing this in conjunction with Deidara. If Hidan was to have a separate party, Sasori could have left that to the sculptor's questionable hands. Understanding he wouldn't be able to get away from it, the puppeteer accepted his fate.

By now, Deidara himself was less cranky, having devoured his meal.
He was actually quite pleasant as they discussed some ideas. Now they had the initial ground rules, the sculptor and puppeteer had free rein to organise the rest.

The date in question was looking to be in about six weeks time, just at the cusp of summer's end.
Sasori set up the WhatsApp group to plan it. He got the blond's phone number, adding him in. The redhead couldn't resist a cheeky glance at Deidara's WhatsApp photo. The blond wore sunglasses and cap, posing in front of some aircraft. Sasori's initial, and somewhat alarming, thought was how attractive the blond looked. He felt a tightening in his middle when he realised that thought had crossed his mind. He tried to shake it away, yet despite his general ill feelings toward the man, the puppeteer couldn't deny that the sculptor's lively grin in this particular photo suited him.

Attempting to think about anything else, anything - the redhead drew his attention to the rest of the photo, and proceeded to do a double take. He realised Deidara was wearing some sort of khaki green jumpsuit, like pilots of these aircrafts wear. It prompted Sasori to believe the blond had actually flown the plane in the photo.

Whilst sitting in the back of the car on their way back to the flat, Sasori gave the sculptor a subtle glance. Deidara wasn't paying attention, scrolling through his own phone with headphones on, music flooding into his ears. The puppeteer was confident that the blond was NOT someone he would trust to hold his life safely; his insides shuddered at the thought of doing barrel rolls whilst thousands of feet in the air, trapped in a cockpit with the blond.
Disgruntled, Sasori locked his phone and stopped looking at Deidara's picture.

...

Later that night, the foursome were nestled in Hidan and Kakuzu's flat. Having gone harder the night before, tonight was made for food and games.

The takeaway boxes littered the kitchen. Sasori was itching to clean it, yet he was called back into the lounge for another round of the card game they were playing. It was actually pretty fun, and by now the redhead had actually managed to unwind a tad. Things had progressed with the wedding planning, so he felt satisfied that he had at least achieved something tangible with this visit.

The wine was cracked out, and after a couple of hours the sky was inky black. The last rounds became slower, as the men talked more. It was a pleasant ambience…Sasori began to drift off.

Eventually, tiredness overcame the puppeteer. He felt his eyes get even heavier as the voices enveloped him; his friend's sofa was comfy…

A little while later, the redhead woke with a start.
There was only Deidara in the lounge with him; Sasori was leaning against the blond's shoulder.

Startled, the puppeteer reared away. He could faintly feel the warmth from the younger on him. The sculptor tilted his head backwards, directing a gaze towards his neighbour.
"Oh hey, un." Deidara's tone was placid. His legs were outstretched on the sofa. "The others have gone to bed already."

Sasori rubbed the back of his head, getting to his feet, understanding he must have fallen asleep. The puppeteer realised he would have kept Deidara from doing so, as he had crashed on the sofa that transformed into their bed, preventing it from being pulled out.

Immediately feeling abashed, the puppeteer went to sort out the bedding. Deidara just peeked back at him, bemused.

As the two men settled into the bed later, there was rather awkward silence between them. Sasori's throat felt dry. It took the complete darkness of the room to bring out more nonsensical thoughts, namely…why hadn't Deidara woken him?

He laid out flat on his bed, eyes peeled open and affixed on the ceiling. Deidara was curved into a croissant shape, facing away from the redhead this time.

Still, the thoughts swirled around the puppeteer's head. The blond loved any excuse to needle him, berate him…and yet, Deidara had let Sasori sleep soundly, even supporting his weight with his own shoulder.

The redhead couldn't grasp how he felt about it. As night meandered into morning, Sasori came the unwilling conclusion that it had prompted him to feel something.
What indeed that 'something' was, he was unsure.

Part of him did not want to find out at all.