"Another one." Sasori mumbled, holding out an empty glass. The blue and pink lights above him streamed through the empty cup, sparkling in his already blurry vision.

"Sure…" the bartender begrudgingly took the outstretched cup from his hand. Was this his fifth gin and tonic? Maybe the sixth? Numbers made his head hurt.

"Sasori, my man!" the voice grated on his ears. Turning with hesitation, Sasori glanced the blonde who suddenly emerged next to him. Still sweaty from the dancefloor, Deidara was an unwelcome reminder of how long they had both been at this bar. If previous experience was any indication, it was almost past closing time.

Sasori eyed his roommate up and down. Sweat leaked off his lean body, hugged tightly by his form-fitting dark clothes. His hips were darting back and forth to the beat blasting above them, complete with disco balls and smoke machines surrounding them. Taking the full picture in, Sasori perceived Deidara's fish-net sleeveless shirt and black shorts that made sure to reveal enough skin to tease whoever took the outfit in. Skin that seemed to glisten in the scarce lighting…

"Are you closing your tab?" the bartender sounded annoyed as he slammed the gin and tonic next to Sasori's still outstretched hand. How long had passed? No matter. He gave a lazy "hnn." to confirm and then tried to give his full attention, or what was left of it, to Deidara.

"So…" the red-head started without wanting to finish. "…what is this?"

Deidara looked offended. "What is what? Hmm?"

"All…". It was like watching a train climb up a hill. "…of this." Sasori motioned generally toward Deidara, as if pointing out a stray dog.

"Hey! I'm not the one stranded at the bar for three hours, hmm!" Deidara's words fell on deaf ears. Sasori grabbed his glass and drained it in several gulps, feeling the sharp pierces of the gin tickle his throat while it trickled downward. Alcoholism was hardly a rarity in their circle. People started calling him Sasori 'of the Red Sand' because of how red his cheeks turned after one too many sex on the beaches. It wasn't the best reputation to have, but of all the vices he preferred the one that was legal. What with his grandmother working in the District Attorney's office, the last thing he needed was his comfort zone becoming some kind of liability.

"Are you going to sit here until the lights come on, my man?" Deidara placed a hand on Sasori's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Sasori's vision was still blurred, but he could make out Deidara's mocking face turn to one of concern. Several seconds passed between them before Sasori realized it was his turn to answer.

"I'll be…" the words struggled to emerge. Deidara's face seemed to double before fading back into focus. Finally, with a shove, he pushed Deidara's arm away. "I'll be fine." Hoping to end all follow-up, Sasori took his phone out and glanced the time.

3:33 AM.

"I'll…I'll be fine…I'll see you back at the apartment." Sasori mustered the words as clearly as he could. Deidara looked concerned, but after a minute passed of Sasori glaring at the clock on his lock screen, Deidara sighed in defeat.

"Alright, hmm. Call me if you need anything. Please." Deidara pulled Sasori close so their foreheads were touching. He tried to make eye contact, but Sasori only kept his eyes trained on his phone. "I care about you, my man. So, you know, let me know. We're just around the corner." With those parting words, the blonde turned and headed toward the exit.

The two had frequented this bar for weeks. They first moved together after college, transitioning from dorm life to city life. Those four years at Konoha University were tumultuous to say the least. Two Art Majors in a room together was hardly the place for peace and quiet. But as they progressed from Freshman to their Senior years, Deidara seemed to calm while Sasori spiraled. His grandmother Chiyo kept on pressuring Sasori to go to law school and follow in her footsteps. Meanwhile, Deidara secured a gig as a designer for an environmentalist group. He would draft up advertisements with bright-colored birds, intricate insects, and his specialty: fire and explosions. "SAVE THE AMAZON" in bold font next to depictions of wildfire were all over social media, thanks to Deidara. But meanwhile, Sasori was unemployed and stuck between his family's expectations and his yearning for a job that put his talents to good use.

If only someone could recognize his talents, Sasori pondered. If anyone could see what true art was, it was—

"Yo." a nonchalant voice stuck out between the beats blasting out of the stereo speakers. "Gin and tonic." A younger man squeezed up next to Sasori and ordered a drink. Surely the last order of the night to be sure. He had paler skin than Deidara, almost sparkling in the light. But his hair was pitch-black, reminding Sasori of his classmate Itachi from philosophy class.

Wrapping his fingers around his glass and trying to focus himself, Sasori continued observing the glowing person next to him. He wore a sleek black crop-top, revealing a lean set of abs underneath. The design of his muscles drew Sasori's vision down to the purple belt, which wrapped around his shimmering leather-covered waist.

Sasori usually wouldn't find this man his type. Maybe it was the drinks. Perhaps it was the shared order between them. But Sasori felt himself perk up at the sight of the curve beneath the black-haired boy's belt. It was after a few moments of observation that Sasori realized the belt's owner was staring back at him.

They locked eyes for a moment. Onyx eyes matching with Sasori's own. Sparks seemed to flare between them. It was like watching a jaguar sight its prey.

"Look at you." The younger man started. His black pupils took in Sasori's form. The red-head had no reason to blush. He knew he was attractive. His tight, short body often got second glances from bar patrons. But Sasori's usual aloofness was muted by the several drinks he'd consumed over the course of the night. Against his will, he flexed his sleeveless arms and gave a dimpled smirk.

"Like what you see?" Sasori whispered confidently. He drew closer to the black-haired boy and placed a hand on his waist. Their eyes never broke contact.

"Depends what you're doing after this." It was the younger one's turn to smirk. The bartender placed the gin and tonic in his hand and left them to their business. Within moments, the drink was downed and their tongues were down each others throats.

Sasori abhorred random hookups. How could you tell if the person was safe? He'd tell himself. There were always stories of murderers who'd lure unaware horny gay men to their demise. But reason didn't listen when a drink was in hand. The black-haired man had already led Sasori several blocks down the street to his cozy apartment on the fifth floor. Closing the door behind them, Sasori immediately grabbed his waist and the both of them were on the bed.

"What's your name?" the red-head suddenly inquired. A moment of sobriety interrupted their stream of horniness.

"Uchiha." The onyx-eyed boy replied. "Sasuke. You?"

He knew the name was familiar. It was Itachi's younger brother.

…hot.

"Call me Sasori." He whispered into his ear before nibbling it. A quiet moan followed.

"Like a scorpion? Sexy." The dialogue ended there as Sasuke took Sasori's chin in hand and their lips met. It was a hazy affair, with the music of the bar before somehow continuing to blare in Sasori's ears. Usually when he was this drunk, the remaining moments before sleep carried out like a dream. Feeling Sasuke take their clothes off, the fabric skidding against his skin. Feeling Sasuke's member press against the back of his throat as he sucked the twink off. The wet touch of Sasuke's tongue on his hole before tighting around him. Thrust after thrust, Sasori felt the younger man have his way with his body. Much like each stroke of a paintbrush gives a different texture, each movement brought Sasori further and further into bliss.

Finally, with a grunt and a few swift smacking sounds, their time ended together. Sasori cuddled close to the Uchiha under the covers. Their lust had dissipated like a candle snuffed. All that remained was the warmth of their bodies next to each other. Sasori savored that warmth. He coveted the feeling of another man's body embracing his own. The minutes felt like hours. And the hours felt like days.

Yet as he felt the breathing of the younger man slow, time caught back up. The warmth had dissolved into an unbearable heat, almost like a humid shower that had lasted too long. His body stiffening at the sensation. Sasori slipped from his grasp, put his clothes back on, and slid away into the dawn.

Watching the sun rise above the horizon, filling the sky with orange, Sasori's vision began to clear. The strobes of light disappeared. He began to feel the emptiness between his legs where the Uchiha had been. And like a drum, his forehead began to throb with a hangover.

Art is eternal. He'd told Deidara once. True beauty is to last forever to be appreciated for an eternity.

That was what he believed.

And one day, he would find something beautiful that would actually last.