Warm
“It’s getting late,” Sasori sighed. “We’ll stop here for today.”
Deidara rested against a strong, aging tree as he caught his breath. A cool gust blew away the heat trapped in his body and the sweat on his skin. The forest thrummed with crickets in the evening as if to sync with his racing heartbeat. He closed his eyes and wished he could just sleep.
“Hurry up,” Sasori said.
Deidara glared at him wearily. “Not everyone’s got an untiring body like you, yeah?” He complained as he got up on his feet anyway and began shuffling out of the forest. “Let’s get something to eat first, hm.”
“If I made you a body like mine, you wouldn’t need to worry about hunger anymore.”
Deidara pouted. “That’s just an excuse so you don’t have to pay for my food.”
“It’s not cheap to keep feeding you, brat.”
“Well, I can’t help my bodily needs, can I?” Deidara shot back. “And no, I don’t want a puppet body. I’d rather leech off of your money so I can keep eating good food, hm.”
Deidara clumsily vaulted over Hiruko’s tail strike. “I thought training was over, Master!” he complained.
“Training never ends,” Sasori retorted. “Weren’t you listening when they told you that in the Academy?”
“Well, you clearly weren’t listening either when they said to value your comrades!” Deidara winced at his weak reply.
“Oh? You don’t feel ‘valued’ even with all the special treatment I give you?” Sasori teased. “You’re my favorite kouhai.”
Deidara’s cheeks burned at that. He’d let Sasori have the last word for now—only because he was too exhausted for good banter. He was usually the one goading reactions out of Sasori. But that was fine—once he got his energy back, he was going to get his revenge!
They reached a small town’s street filled with food stalls. Deidara rushed for the stall selling boiled eggs, with Sasori trailing behind him. “Slow down, brat,” Hiruko’s gravelly voice traveled from across the street, scaring a couple of passersby.
“I’ll have five,” Deidara told the vendor brightly. He watched at the eggs boiling in the large pot intently and envied the customers who got theirs earlier than his.
His patience finally paid off and the vendor gave him his dinner. Deidara wolfed down the eggs in a matter of minutes, enjoying every last bite.
“Let’s get out of this crowd,” Sasori told him.
“Not before I get another serving,” Deidara winked. He could feel Sasori’s eyes rolling from inside of Hiruko.
When Deidara finally got his second helping, they went to the quieter side of the town—a small riverbank with some benches and flowers. The moon glowed above them, reflecting off the water and cocooning the place in an ethereal light. Deidara sat on a bench as Hiruko settled beside him.
For the first time that day, Deidara finally had a chance to think. Ever since Sasori had begun helping him train, he didn’t get many windows for his thoughts. As soon as training finished, Deidara would return to the hideout and fall asleep right away. He’d wake up the next morning, and the process would begin anew.
He didn’t mind Sasori’s fast-paced style at all, but he did appreciate little moments like these. While Sasori waited for Deidara to finish his food, the latter would fill the air with chatter. Deidara liked it for the small opportunities to get to know Sasori better outside of training and missions.
They could banter endlessly about art, and Deidara honestly wouldn’t grow tired of it—but sometimes he’d feel soft, and remember that after so many years under Onoki’s strict tutelage, he had always secretly longed for guidance with a gentler touch. Something in between a friend and a teacher.
There was only one boiled egg left. Deidara looked at it for a moment, then at Sasori, and smiled.
“Hey, Master Sasori?”
“Hm?”
“I know I can’t win this argument with you, but…” A warm feeling spread across Deidara’s chest. “Sometimes it’s nice to be a human.”
Sasori scoffed. “Don’t go soft on me and start rambling about the past.”
Deidara puffed his cheeks. “I’m not,” he said softly. “I’m just saying. There’s only one egg left and I’d give it to you, but you aren’t—”
“Keep your voice down.”
Deidara rolled his eyes. “But you’re not… you know what,” he muttered.
“So? Now what?” Hiruko’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “If this is your attempt at proving a point, then you’re a fool.”
Deidara sighed. “I knew you wouldn’t understand. But,” he bit into the egg and chewed with gusto, “maybe someday you will.”