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Obito leans against the doorframe and Zetsu appears beside him.

"Am I to take that this means things are back to normal?" White Zetsu asks.

Obito glances at Zetsu and then looks back at Deidara, watching as his partner runs his fingers over the desk, clicking his tongue at the dust that sticks to his skin. He closes his eyes, scoffs, and says, "Things are hardly normal."

"It looks normal," White Zetsu replies.

"Looks can be deceiving," says Obito.

"Hey, you still have that," Deidara says, gesturing to the dragon sculpture standing on the shelf.

Obito nods at Deidara.

"He forgave you pretty quickly," says Black Zetsu.

"I doubt he truly forgives me," Obito says, looking down at his toes. "I left him when he needed me."

"I heard it is very common in human fathers to do so," White Zetsu says and then he ducks his head when Obito aims to swat at him. "Sorry, sorry," White Zetsu says. "I meant to say, 'I think he will forgive you completely with time.'"

"Hm," Obito says.

Deidara picks up the new pig lantern that Obito had purchased earlier. He turns it this way and that, fishing out the tiny handle he had tucked in it. Deidara unfolds the pig and admires it.

"I still have the old one," says Deidara.

"It's just something that reminded me of you," says Obito. "I didn't mean to buy it."

Deidara throws Obito a look. Obito shrugs.

Deidara puts the lantern back and he continues to roam the room. He finds his old sketchbook but he doesn't flip through it. Instead, he places it on the desk and says, "I still want to fight Itachi, hm."

"Why?" Obito asks.

"To show him the strength of my art."

"I thought you wanted to fight him because you thought he knew where I was."

"I did think that," Deidara says. "But you're here now, so now I just need to show him the beauty of true art, hm."

"You're a million years too young to face someone like him."

"But you're not, right, yeah?"

Obito blinks and says, "I don't want to fight him."

"You don't have to," Deidara says. "If you didn't lie about him asking you for a favor, then that means you're capable to some degree, yeah?"

"Is that a jab toward me, kid?" Obito asks.

Deidara laughs and then he clears his throat, waving his hand. "No, no," he says. "You're an Uchiha," he says. "That means you know his weaknesses, hm."

Obito barks out a laugh. "Is that what you really think?"

"Am I wrong?"

"I'm not impervious to his attacks, Deidara," says Obito. "His genjutsu would still incapacitate me."

"I'm not asking you to fight him," Deidara says. He lifts a hand and grabs a thumb toward his left eye. "I trained this eye to see through genjutsu, yeah," says Deidara.

"Interesting," says Obito.

"Don't interrupt me," Deidara says.

Obito makes a face and looks at Zetsu. Zetsu shrugs in return.

"I'm asking you to tell me the weaknesses of the Sharingan, hm," says Deidara.

Obito looks at Deidara. He crosses his arms and leans more of his weight into the doorframe. Deidara looks at him, visible eye wide like he's thirteen and curious and eager again. Obito smiles softly and shakes his head.

"Come here," Obito says. He moves to the middle of the room and pulls out a chair. Zetsu takes his leave. Obito sits down.

Deidara watches his every move but he doesn't follow Obito. Obito waves him over again. "Come," says Obito. "Sit."

Deidara purses his lips and Obito can hear him say, "I'm not a kid anymore. I won't be ordered around by you."

Obito dips his head and Deidara sighs. When he walks over, his footsteps sound suspiciously like stomping. Obito smiles to himself again.

Deidara grabs the other chair, pulls it out, and sits down. He folds his hands on his lap and waits for Obito to speak.

"A long time ago," Obito says, "I promised you answers."

Deidara nods.

Obito nods too and says, "It's long overdue for you to know the truth."

"I grew up in Konohagakure," Obito says, "and I was sort of a black sheep of the Uchiha clan. I wasn't that great at anything and I was always lagging behind my teammate.

"He excelled in every test and became a Jonin — youngest ever, supposedly," he says and then he trails off into silence, eyes cloudy with the memories of him refusing to give Kakashi anything. "Then the war happened and we had to work together.

"I got my Sharingan then," Obito says, "but the next thing I knew, I was crushed by a boulder. Couldn't feel my right side at all — I thought I was a goner for sure when those Iwagakure ninjas caused a deeper cave-in. But I was saved by my ancestor.

"It took a while for me to recover," Obito says and gestures to his right side. Deidara makes a noise and reaches out to gently touch his skin. He realizes that his boy has never had the chance and Obito doesn't mind at all. "During most of that time, I trained myself to become stronger and White Zetsu watched over me. When I recovered enough, I got news from White Zetsu that my friends were in trouble."

Obito takes a deep breath and White Zetsu's face appears on the ground beside them. "Hello," he says in a funny voice before disappearing.

Deidara looks at the floor weirdly and Obito rolls his eyes. "I rushed out to save my friends but I was too late," Obito tells Deidara. "I saw her die."

"The girl you liked?" Deidara asks even though he knows.

"Yes," Obito says with a pained voice, eyebrows scrunching together. "Rin," he says. "That was her name."

"Rin," Deidara repeats.

Obito lets out a humorless laugh at Deidara's voice. "I watched my friend stab her in the abdomen," he says. "He killed the one I told him to protect."

"So as long as he saves her, everything will be alright," Deidara asks, "right?"

"I guess so," Obito says. "But he didn't and she's dead."

"And then you found out, years later, that the circumstances of her death were a misunderstanding," Deidara tries to finish.

"More or less," Obito says. "It's been so many years," he says, "that I thought he had murdered her. Instead, he let her die."

"Isn't that the same thing, yeah?" Deidara asks.

"In the end, she's still dead," Obito says. "I was mad — I still am — so I vowed revenge and took on my ancestor's plan."

"Which is?"

"The goal of the Akatsuki."

"World peace?"

"More or less," Obito says again. He leans into Deidara's hand and Deidara flattens his hand against his scarred cheek, stroking his thumb across the skin. "We're going to create a world where there is no war, where there is no hatred, where no one will ever die again."

"A world where she's still alive," Deidara says.

"Yes," Obito replies.

"Obito…" Deidara says. "I don't know what to say, hm, other than that's a stupid fucking plan."

Obito frowns and he reaches up to touch Deidara's hand. "Language," he says instead of asking why.

Deidara giggles and says, "What does this have to do with Itachi?"

"Itachi was ordered to kill his entire clan to prevent a revolt," Obito replies. "He was tasked to it and the rest of the village mustn't know about it. He needed help with that, of course, because not even a prodigy like him could eliminate an entire clan of capable ninjas like the Uchiha.

"I was snooping around then, just a few years before I met you. I heard about the unrest and the potential of Konoha becoming weak. Itachi caught wind of me and asked me to help him in exchange that I leave Konoha alone," he says. "I agreed."

"That's why he owes you?" Deidara asks.

"Konoha must fall either way," Obito shrugs, "and he wanted help."

"I guess," Deidara says.

"But that's why he's wary of me," Obito says.

"Because you didn't do much to change your appearance when you pretended to be another person?"

Obito pouts and Deidara laughs. "Am I that bad?" he asks.

"I was fooled for a while, hm," Deidara admits. "It was the whole personality flip that really got me. But you weren't careful," he says. "You wanted me to find out, didn't you?"

"A little," Obito says.

"A little," Deidara scoffs. "You wanted it so bad," he says. "You could have changed your mask's appearance, or not hang out where your base is, or pick a name that's not similar to your original one, hm."

"I raised a smart boy," Obito says instead.

A gentle blush creeps across Deidara's cheeks but he remains firm. "You just weren't subtle," he says, looking away. He tries to put down his hand but Obito's grip on him prevents it. "You wanted to see how I was doing, didn't you, yeah?"

"Sort of," Obito says. "Maybe I did," he says again. "Okay," he says when Deidara's fingers poke his cheek, "I, uh, I missed you."

Deidara's eyes widen in surprise at the confession.

"It's weird not having you around but I didn't want to risk it," Obito says. "I didn't want you falling in love with me, or what have you."

Deidara's eyes narrow once more.

Obito twists his head slowly. "I wanted to go back," he says, "but I stopped myself." His head keeps turning. "All of this stuff," says Obito. "I wanted to destroy it all."

He nuzzles his face into Deidara's palm and says into the hand-mouth, "But I stopped myself. Because I was foolish to believe that one day, you might make your way back."

"I am back," Deidara says with a conflicted expression. "I never left. You did, hm."

"I know," Obito says. "I'm sorry."

"I know," Deidara replies. "I'm sorry too."

"I like you, you know," Obito says and he ignores Deidara's quiet "what" as he continues to speak, "You reminded me of me when I was a kid, wanting to better myself constantly because I was chasing after a better target. I wanted you to prevail in this ugly world. I saw what I was missing all these years.

"I feel like now, maybe, my ancestor's plan isn't the only answer," Obito says.

Deidara looks at him funny.

"That doesn't matter," Obito says, waving the thought away. He sits up and takes Deidara's hand away from his face and ignores Deidara's pout. He grips his hand and holds it tight. "You want to fight Itachi?"

"Yes," Deidara replies.

"Then make something big," Obito says.

"I already have the dragon, hm," Deidara says. "Oh!" Deidara says, "I made a few adjustments to it while you were away, you should see it now."

Obito gives him a smile and promises that he will. "But first," he says, "make something so big that it surrounds Itachi instantly."

"What does that mean?"

"Itachi can dodge and defend himself against almost anything," says Obito. "You can't expect to shower him with bombs in one location. Surround him and make sure he can't dodge or defend himself against it. Make it instant."

"I want his death to last," Deidara says. "He will see the beauty of my art, yeah."

"And that he will," replies Obito. "But if you want to defeat him, you cannot let someone like him gain the upper hand."

"Teach me," Deidara says and Obito, looking into Deidara's deep blue eyes, nods.

-55

Obito watches as the creature disintegrates into dust, tiny bombs tearing the once-rabbit into nothingness.

"Fascinating," Obito comments.

"Thank you," Deidara replies. He stands up and dusts himself off, gesturing to the empty patch of land. "He won't be able to escape this, hm."

Obito nods.

Deidara huffs and digs into the pockets of his cloak. He fishes out a piece of paper and hands it to Obito. Obito takes it and unfolds it, looking at the drawings that he has drawn. "What is this?" he asks.

"My design," Deidara replies. "This is what it's going to look like, hm."

"That's huge," he says. He squints at the words written in the margins and he could not hold back his surprise. "C4 Karura?"

"Isn't it a cool name?" Deidara asks, beaming with joy.

Obito snorts and turns the page, reading the other notes that Deidara has written. He feels Deidara move and he snatches the page from him. "Okay, that's enough," he says and shoves it back into his pockets.

Obito fights the urge to roll his eyes. "You're going to use your own mouth to make that?" he asks.

"Yeah," Deidara replies. "That's the only way to make sure it'll be big enough," he says, "and to infuse it with enough chakra, hm."

"Microscopic bombs," Obito says aloud in wonder. "You never cease to amaze me."

"I am a valuable member of the team," Deidara says, puffing out his chest.

"Alright, boy," Obito says, jabbing his fingers into his shoulder. "I heard you put up quite a struggle when you were being recruited."

"I don't like being told what to do," says Deidara, swatting at Obito's hand. "You know that, hm."

"Oh, I know," Obito says. "I wouldn't have allowed your recruitment if you weren't so talented."

Deidara blushes and crosses his arms, looking away. "Shut up," Deidara says.

Obito watches him, admiring Deidara as he stands before him again. He's changed so much from the little boy that he met years ago. There is a strange feeling that is eating him and he doesn't know if he misses the child or relishes in the presence of the adult.

"Hey," Obito says.

"Hm?" Deidara replies but he doesn't stop his little tantrum. Oh, how he missed those tantrums.

Obito grins at the mere sight and reaches out. He catches Deidara blink in surprise as he wraps his arms around Deidara's shoulders, pulling him into a hug. Deidara stands still for a long time.

And then he returns the hug.

Obito smiles to himself, a soft, gentle thing. He buries his masked face into Deidara's neck as he tries his best to hold back his tears.

In that moment, a quiet moment, he feels his own heart beating once more.

Leaves rustle and someone clears their throat. Deidara tenses at the sound but neither of them are ready to let go.

"Am I interrupting something?" Pain asks.

"Yes," Obito says.

"No," Deidara says.

Tobi whines and lets go of his senpai. Deidara pats himself down again, clearing his throat and turning to look at their leader.

"I'm here regarding the ordeal with Orochimaru," says Pain. "You don't need to hunt him down anymore."

"It's still my mission," Deidara says.

"It was Sasori's," Pain says. "I know that effectively means it's yours as well, but since the one who asked for it is dead, you don't need to be pressured to finish the mission."

"Come on, senpai," Tobi says. "I don't want to face the scary snake man."

"Master Sasori was furious at his betrayal," Deidara says. "He was a fellow artist. I owe him that much, yeah."

"Senpai is so loyal," Tobi says in wonder.

Deidara glances at Tobi and shrugs.

"Suit yourself," Pain replies. He glances at the horizon and says, "Tobi, can you come with me for a second?"

"What's so stupid that you can't say it when I'm around, yeah?" Deidara asks.

"It's okay, senpai," Tobi says, patting Deidara's arm. "I think Mr. Leader is mad that I ate his leftovers."

Pain remains unimpressed and gestures to the side. Tobi happily follows along.

Glancing over his shoulder and making sure that Deidara is out of earshot, he watches as Pain takes out a wad of blood-stained napkins. "I have troubling news regarding Itachi's health," Pain says.

Obito looks down at the napkins, eyebrows furrowed. "His situation isn't improving," Pain says.

Obito sighs and says, "Leave the man be. He's only here because of a deal."

"I know," says Pain, "but he is a good member and it would be best if we deal with Sasuke to at least ensure Itachi's survival for a few more years."

Obito scoffs. "He will never agree," he says. "No harm is to come to Sasuke."

"Deidara would not have a goal anymore," Pain says.

"Don't be ridiculous, Nagato," says Obito. "Deidara has plenty of goals."

"May I ask you something, Madara?"

Obito waves his hand.

"Is Deidara the kid you took under your wing years ago?"

Obito remains still for a time but then he nods.

Pain is quiet too and the two men stand without saying a word. After a time, Pain says, "I can assign you two easier missions."

"He won't like that," replies Obito.

"He is rather determined," says Pain.

"Do not go soft on me, Nagato," Obito warns. "Deidara can handle himself."

"You effectively raised him," Pain agrees. "Alright, then," he says. "Good luck."

Pain dips his head and he leaves. Tobi heads back to Deidara.

"Was he talking about me, yeah?" Deidara asks.

"He was talking about how nice you looked," Tobi says.

"Oh, are you jealous?" Deidara asks, digging his hands into his clay pouches.

"Yeah, I told him to leave you alone," Obito says, "'cause only I get to look at you."

"How sweet, hm," Deidara says and he tosses a wad of clay on the ground.

"What are you making?" Obito asks.

"The C2 Dragon," Deidara says.

"I heard it is your favorite," says Obito.

"You know why," replies Deidara. The dragon appears and it peers at the two of them curiously.

"It's a bit bigger," says Obito.

"All the better to carry bombs with," Deidara says. He climbs on top of the dragon and it pukes up a ridiculous amount of bombs. "Put these underground, hm."

"Huh?" Obito asks.

"I said," Deidara says, "put these underground. They're landmines, yeah."

"Are you ordering me around?" Obito asks but he does what Deidara asked of him.

"Do you like the role reversal?" Deidara asks when Obito finishes his job.

"Not really," Obito says. "I miss when you worshipped me mindlessly because I took care of you for half a day."

Obito climbs onto the back of the dragon as well and he grips Deidara's hips to steady himself when it takes off. Deidara shivers and says, "You never gave up on me."

Obito scoffs and he holds his tongue.

"Watch," Deidara says.

Obito peers over the dragon and watches as Deidara tosses a bunch of kunai down onto the ground. With his Sharingan, he sees the kunai stab the lumps of chakra and in a split second, they explode.

The sound is deafening and the balls of fire roll higher and wider as more bombs trigger.

Watching from a distance, from a height, Obito can begin to see why Deidara is so enamored by the sight. When the fire dies down, the ground is littered with grooves and craters.

"Cool," Obito says dumbly.

"Cool?" Deidara asks, turning to face Obito. "It's more than just cool, you numbskull. It's fine art, hm."

"Okay," Obito says. "Bore me again with your profound insight of art."

"Why, you," Deidara says, raising a hand to pound a fist on top of Tobi's head. "You know how important art is to me, hm!"

Obito laughs and shakes his head. "Of course, I know," he says. He leans forward before he could catch himself, pressing the top of his mask against Deidara's forehead protector. "I'm just teasing you."

He pretends he doesn't see Deidara blushing and laughs again.

"I'm so proud of you," he says. "I'm so glad I met you."

"Shut up," Deidara says.

"Why are you so mean now?" Obito asks. "You were such an angel before."

"Because you left me," Deidara says. "I'm putting you through the grief you put me through, yeah."

"Oh," Obito says. "Did you know you were a little horror when you were thirteen? You nearly bit my ear off."

"Did I?" Deidara asks. He reaches up and touches Obito's ears. "They seem fine to me, hm."

"Not literally," Obito says. "You were always shouting."

"I love shouting," Deidara says. "I am loud, hm."

"You are so loud," Obito replies.

Deidara gives him a look and then he leans forward. Obito can't see it nor could he feel it, but he knows that Deidara pressed a kiss on his mask.

"Thank you," Deidara says and Obito feels like he has traveled back in time.

"What for?" Obito asks dumbly.

Deidara just looks at him and smiles.

-55

Obito glances up at the sky and ushers Deidara back into the cave. A few moments later, a rumble sounds in the distance and the world breaks into a constant hiss, rain splattering on whatever surface it can reach.

"Guess we're stuck in here for the time being," Tobi says.

"No, we're not," Deidara replies but he says nothing else. He sits back down on the cave floor, sighing loudly as he lies back. "That sealing was a pain in the ass, hm."

"I suppose it was," Obito says and he moves to sit down next to Deidara. He reaches out and gently touches Deidara's right arm. Deidara doesn't flinch away from him but he feels him glance over.

"Don't worry about it, hm," says Deidara as Obito hikes the sleeve of his cloak up to check on the more serious wound. Blood and exudate stain the bandages but he can tell that it's healing a lot better than before.

"Hm," Obito replies and begins to undo the bandages.

"Ouch," Deidara says and then he turns to look at what Obito is doing. "I remember when you freaked me out over that arm of yours, hm," Deidara says as Obito discards the ruined bandages.

"My entire right side is not my own flesh," Obito says. "You know this."

"I didn't know back then," Deidara replies. "I was worried."

"Now, I am worried for you," Obito replies. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Deidara grins to himself and then lays his head back.

Obito scoffs and smiles as well. He reaches into his cloak and takes out a small cotton wad, dabbing the wound to soak up the excess fluids before he puts on another layer of padding.

Deidara is quiet as he dresses up the wound, making sure everything is wrapped up before he moves on to the next one. Deidara complains a little, probably saying something along the lines of he doesn't need any help, but Obito shushes him and continues to care for the left arm.

He quickly finishes his job and settles down, looking out of the cave entrance from time to time to watch the rain fall. He stops moving when Deidara reaches out with his right arm, blunt nails scraping against his mask.

"Stop it," says Deidara.

"Stop what?" Obito asks.

"Stop what you're doing," Deidara says. "It's making me sad, hm."

"What am I doing?" Obito asks.

"Thinking," Deidara replies. He grips the mask and slides it off of Obito's face. Obito resists at first but he eventually lets Deidara do what he wants. "You don't want me to fight Sasuke, hm."

Obito scoffs once more. "Hardly what I'm thinking about," Obito lies. "You're not always on my mind."

"Hm," Deidara says in acknowledgment and places the mask on his face, peering out of the eyehole. "How do you breathe in this thing? It's very stifling, hm."

Obito doesn't answer him. He watches as Deidara sniffs the interior of the mask. "Oh, gross! It smells like you, yuck," Deidara says to himself and makes a gagging noise. He places the mask beside him.

"Somehow, I find it hard to believe you're revolted by my smell," Obito says absentmindedly.

Deidara looks at him and says, "You're gross, man."

Obito rolls his shoulders and Deidara smacks him weakly on the thighs.

"Why do you still insist on fighting Orochimaru?" Obito asks as he brushes Deidara's hands away.

Deidara doesn't answer him immediately. He hums and looks up at the ceiling until Obito gets bored.

"You don't need to avenge him or Sasori," Obito says. "We don't necessarily punish deserters if they aren't worth it."

"It's for Master Sasori," Deidara says.

"Why?" Obito asks. "He hasn't even been nice to you, not even once. Why do this for him?"

"He was an artist," Deidara says. "You wouldn't understand, hm."

"Obviously," Obito says and then he sighs through his nose. "He's dead anyway," Obito says. "There's no reason to fight Sasuke after that."

"He killed Orochimaru, which should have been mine — our — job, so I do have a reason to fight him," Deidara says. He narrows his eyes. "Are you trying to talk me out of it, yeah?"

"No," Obito says.

"You are," Deidara says. "Why?"

"I'm not," Obito says again.

"You are," Deidara sits up now but he struggles a bit. He turns to Obito. "Is it because he's an Uchiha? Family ties or whatever?"

Obito looks at Deidara for a long time before he reaches out and takes one of his hands into his own, squeezing it tight. "Ages ago," he says, "I would have let you stumble into this fight blindly, but things have changed beyond my expectations and I can't let you go."

Deidara looks away and he can see that he's blushing.

"I need Sasuke to be part of my plan," Obito admits, "only for a little while. He needs to kill Itachi and then I will turn him into a puppet for my use."

Deidara turns back to face Obito with a strange look on his face. "Am I part of your plan, hm?"

"You were an unexpected delight," Obito says.

"Hm," Deidara huffs and then he says, "You know what I mean, hm."

Obito looks at Deidara for a long time. "No," he says, "you were never part of my plan."

"So I was disposable," Deidara says.

"Don't say it like that," Obito says. "If you didn't join the Akatsuki, it wouldn't have been the same."

"But everyone else in the Akatsuki is disposable," Deidara says. "And here I am now, another plaything of yours, hm."

"No," Obito says. "Not anymore."

Deidara doesn't say anything more when Obito pulls him into a hug. "You are too important now," he says. "That's why I need you to join me."

"I would never," Deidara says. "Your ludicrous plan is not meant for me."

"I would make space for you," replies Obito. "Just like how I made space for you in my heart."

"Don't be so gross," Deidara says.

"This is what you wanted," says Obito.

"Not like this," says Deidara.

"I don't think I can take being away from you again, Deidara," Obito says.

Deidara is quiet for a few heartbeats before he says, "Okay." He returns the hug, fingernails digging into Obito's cloak. "Then promise me you will try," Deidara says. "At least just a little."

"Okay," Obito replies. "I will."

-55

He doesn't need to try really hard.

The strange feeling always comes back to him from time to time. When he feels as though it was just a phase, it would come back again and haunt him. He is obsessed with the warm wash of emotion and Obito wonders why it is so familiar.

He places another of Deidara's sculptures down on the table.

"Not good enough," Deidara says and he makes another one.

Obito watches him, leaning his head on his hand.

He watches as Deidara's hands dance swiftly over the clay, molding it this way and that. It takes shape in mere moments, turning from one shapeless form to a figure that resembles Deidara.

"Is this okay?" Deidara asks but Obito knows this game enough to not foolishly answer. "No," Deidara says afterward and then hands it to Obito.

Obito takes the sculpture and places it with the other dozen that Deidara has deemed unworthy. He toys with them, lifting their arms and linking them, or placing them on another's shoulders. He chuckles to himself, immensely self-satisfied with his little village of Deidaras.

Deidara looks over to him and he clicks his tongue loudly.

Obito continues to toy with the sculptures until Deidara puts down another one. He reaches for it and then he notices that it's not a Deidara sculpture.

"I look good," says Obito when he realizes whom it's supposed to resemble and puts it right in the middle of the village. "He shall be the mayor of Deidara-town."

"I will not be ruled by someone else, hm," Deidara says and takes the sculpture away.

"Hey!" Obito says. He reaches for it but Deidara holds it further. He rolls his eyes and sits back down. "Fine," he says. "He'll be a peasant but everyone in the village is hopelessly in love with him."

Deidara scoffs.

"And he lives in heaven because everyone just plain adores him and fights to win his affection," he says.

Deidara scoffs again.

"And he gets laid a lot," he says.

"Gross," Deidara says. He places the sculpture down. "He might not be happy to know that one Obito is not enough to satisfy twenty-one Deidaras."

"Come on, you're the one to talk. That's just plain gross," Obito says, waving the conversation away. "How's your progress?" he asks.

"It's okay," Deidara says. "I think I'll just have it wear the Akatsuki cloak. I'm too lazy to design anything else, hm."

"It's just going to look like you, right?" Obito asks, picking up a Deidara with short hair. "Why do you fuss so much?"

"Image is important, yeah," Deidara says. "It's important for them to see the perfect face of their demise."

"Okay," Obito scoffs and puts down the sculpture. He places the sculpture of him in the middle once more. "They are parading."

"Alright, alright," Deidara says, beginning to pack up his sculptures.

"Wait," Obito says and he takes the latest design and himself away from the pile before Deidara can reach it. "Can I keep these?" he asks.

Deidara raises an eyebrow. "Why?" he asks.

"Because I want to," he says and the strange feeling bubbles up in his throat again.

Deidara gives him a look and then he sighs. "Alright," he says.

Obito gives him a goofy smile and leans forward, he stops himself mid-way and then leans back. "Thanks," he says awkwardly. Obito moves to stand and places the two sculptures on the shelf, grabbing their arms and placing them so that they look like they're holding hands.

"Hey," Deidara says when they are packing up the rest of Deidara's clay, mushing them back into the pile.

"Hm?" Obito hums.

Deidara doesn't answer or follow up with a question. He just sits there as he watches Obito push the clay back into the bags and zip them up. He places the pouches neatly and then sits at the table once more, wondering what Deidara is going to say.

After a few moments pass, Obito decides to say, "What?"

"Nothing," Deidara says and smiles. Obito isn't convinced at all but he lets the whole thing slide.

He nods and says, "Do you want to go out and eat?"

"I know you don't need food, hm," Deidara says and he sighs.

"What is it?" Obito asks when Deidara doesn't speak up again.

"What was that?" Deidara asks.

"What was what?"

"The thing you did earlier when I told you that you could have the sculptures, hm."

Obito pauses. "Nothing," he says.

"It was something," Deidara replies.

"I like it when your hair is down," Obito says dumbly instead.

Deidara scoffs and smiles.

"It doesn't mean that I don't like it as it is now," Obito says again, equally as dumb.

Deidara doesn't respond. Instead, he reaches up and undoes his tie, letting his hair rain down. He looks at Obito expectantly.

"That's nice," Obito says, stupefied.

Deidara lets out a laugh at that and runs his fingers through his hair. "It's okay," he says.

"It's more than okay," Obito says quickly. "I think it looks great."

"I wasn't talking about the hair, yeah," Deidara says.

Obito sits back on his knees and huffs out a breath. He lets out another breath when he realizes what this is. He leans forward, pressing his elbows against the table, and buries his face into his palms.

"Hey," Deidara says. "It's okay."

He feels a gentle hand rest on the crook of his elbow but he doesn't move. He stays there even as Deidara rubs warm circles into his arm, the heat of his hand seeping through the fabric of his shirt and into his skin.

He eventually raises his head and rests it on one hand only. He watches Deidara and Deidara returns the gaze as heatedly. Obito waits for a few moments before he reaches with his other hand to hold Deidara's.

They sit for a while like that before Deidara decides to say, "You like me."

He scoffs and lets go of Deidara's hand, leaning away. "I've always liked you," he says. "You know that."

"Yeah," Deidara says, "but that's the normal kind of like. Somewhere along the way, it changed to a different kind, just like me, yeah."

Obito huffs and reaches out. Deidara takes the hint and he leans forward until Obito's hand cups Deidara's cheek. Obito holds Deidara's gaze for a while and a few words flutter to his tongue before he lets them die. "You still haven't promised me that you won't fight Sasuke," he says instead.

Deidara sighs and looks away. "I'll think about it," he says after a few heartbeats.

Obito pinches Deidara's cheek.

"Ouch," Deidara complains and he sighs. "Fine," he says. "And I suppose I'll leave Itachi alone too, then."

"You would?"

"No, I wouldn't," Deidara says. "He needs to see the beauty of my art."

Obito scoffs once more. "There are other ways to do that."

"Name one that involves him being enveloped by my art, hm."

"That's not the only way for him to see its beauty."

"It is to me."

"Deidara," Obito says. "Don't do this."

Deidara's eyebrows furrow. "What's the point of telling me to develop Karura then?"

"To give you something else to focus on," Obito tries.

"That's not it, is it?" Deidara asks.

"I see myself in you," Obito says, ignoring Deidara's sarcastic "oh, you do, don't you?" as he continues, "And I know you're better than this. This is more than just to show him your art is better, this is revenge. I've been down this path and I will not let you make the same mistakes I did."

There is always more than one answer to a problem.

Deidara huffs and he looks ready to retort, but Obito leans forward and presses a gentle kiss on his lips, which effectively shuts him up.

"Never again," Obito whispers and holds everything there.

Deidara lets out a shaky breath and he gives a feeble nod. He rubs his fingers through Obito's shorn hair, mumbling something about how he kind of likes his short hair more.

They fall quiet and stay like that until one of them says quietly, into the air they share, "I love you."

"I know," the other replies.

Hey guys, Red here!

Since I wrote this chapter and the previous one simultaneously, it feels a bit rambly to me. I haven't had a chance to read it over after I've finished it (on around the 6th of September but I rarely read through stuff that I've freshly written) so I'm not sure if it is as nonsense as I feel like it is, but nonetheless, the conclusion of this almost impromptu story is here.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was certainly a fun journey to start and make. Thank you for being a part of the ride.

EIGHTH YEAR:
Deidara is aged EIGHTEEN (18).
Obito is aged TWENTY-NINE (29).

I will take a break from posting multi-chaptered stories for the entirety of October and updates of individual one-shots/stories may be sparse for the rest of September. Something is brewing...

If you haven't already, you should follow me on Tumblr (redskiez dot net). I post updates, drawings, and cats on there. I will also answer any and all asks, so if you have any questions or requests, you can send them to me through Tumblr! My inbox is always open.

Thanks for reading and if you liked (or didn't like) this final chapter, please leave a review telling me why (or why not)! Your support is much appreciated.

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