A/N: Well!! I've finally updated!! -jumps for joy- So sorry it took my so damn long, un!! I've been really busy trying to organize my birthday party! But yeah...this is the longest chapter, by far. Well, maybe not too far, un. It took me about 4 hours to write, though. D: I quite like how it turned out, though. Please enjoy, un.

R&R!!

Disclaimer: No. I. Do. NOT. Own. Naruto. If i did, i wouldn't be spending my time on , and deviantART, now would i, un?

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Chapter 5 - Happenings

It was still dark when Deidara awoke from his dreamless slumber

It was still dark when Deidara awoke from his dreamless slumber. Dark and quiet. Save for the sound of light breathing. Deidara then realized his face was pressed against something cold and hard. And moving. While he was sleeping, it appears he had turned over so that his face was pressed comfortably against Sasori's chest. Deidara looked up into his Danna's sleeping visage. No sooner had he done so, that the puppet's eyes snapped open to look at him. Deidara froze under the cold stare, as Sasori moved his hand up to gently stroke the boy's cheek with his thumb; causing the blonde to squeak quietly. Sasori smiled openly, no longer caring to hide all form of emotion from the boy.

"If I get up now, can I trust you to be smart and go back to sleep?" he asked quietly.

Deidara paused for a moment, and then nodded slowly. He was still quite sleepy, after all.

"Good," he replied. "I'll be in my workshop if you need me."

Deidara turned his head to watch his Danna leave the room, before he fell into yet another dreamless state.

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The next time he opened his 'eye', Deidara was momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight pouring into the room through the carved-out hole in the wall. With a small groan of disappointment, he rolled over and buried his face in the pillows. When he realized that this action severely inhibited his ability to breathe, he gave up; sitting up, and sliding his feet off the bed.

He went over to his dresser, and grabbed a set of clean clothes, and a towel. He was still covered in blood from the night before, and it was driving him mad. After he was clean, it was time to visit Sasori.

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It was quiet when Deidara entered Sasori's "workshop". He looked around for a moment - letting his eye adjust to the dim light - before his gaze fell upon a dark lump in the corner. He flicked on the overhead light - the solitary lamp wasn't enough - and noted that it was, in fact, Sasori. The red-head was asleep on his work-table; tools spread all around him, and a strange-looking contraption resting under his hand. His red eyes opened as Deidara approached.

"Sorry for waking you, un…" mumbled the blonde, looking down at his feet.

"Ah…don't worry about it," responded the red-head, sitting up in his seat. "Come here."

Deidara did as he was told, and carefully made his way to the desk. He was still quite dizzy from the significant loss of blood. He didn't know when he'd fully regain his senses, but he was hoping it wouldn't be too much longer…

"I made something for you," informed Sasori, holding up the odd contraption for Deidara to see. The boy bent forward, and tilted his head slightly, so as to better inspect it. Unsatisfied, he took the object in his hands - weighing it, and tapping the metal surface. It was semi-large, and somewhat curved; with a seemingly retractable scope near the centre. Suddenly, realization sunk in.

"Is this…for my eye, un?"

Sasori nodded.

"But…how will it be attached, un?"

"…I'll have to attach it surgically," sighed the puppeteer. "It'll be painful, but, it'll also be a big help - especially in battle. The choice is up to you, of course, whether you'll accept it or not."

Deidara stood there in silence for a moment, just thinking. It would help a lot, he concluded, and he did have quite a high level of tolerance for pain, but…it would also feel like he was losing part of his humanity. He knew Sasori was assessing his situation, as if he were another one of his puppets - though he also knew the older man sincerely wanted to help him - but something was holding him back.

"No..," he thought to himself. "I'm over-analyzing things again, un. It's not as if I'll become one of his puppets. I'll only have a…scope." He looked up at his Danna - a new determination settling in his remaining eye.

"I'll do it, un."

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Sasori had told him the process would take a relatively long time, and would be painful. But that wasn't what was making the blonde anxious.

Though Deidara would never outwardly admit it to anyone, he was afraid of change. Not minor alterations, of course. But things like this. Permanent modifications, that went along with life-changing experiences. Like losing his eye, for instance. However useful Sasori's invention may be, it would only further prove the permanence of his misfortune.

And yet his appearance remained calm and indifferent. Like they say; the show must go on.

Sasori moved to the side of the table where he laid, a large needle in hand. Deidara internally flinched at the sight of it, but nodded - indicating for his Danna to continue on. Without a moment's hesitation, Sasori carefully inserted the tip into the underside of Deidara's wrist. The blonde made a small sound of pain, but was otherwise unfazed. It was a few moments later, that he felt his body succumb to the numbness. He wasn't getting tired; it was just that he couldn't quite feel anything at the moment. He watched, entranced, as Sasori spread some sort of dark gel on the edge of the blade - probably an antiseptic, he decided. Or more pain killers. The blonde winced as he felt the cold metal puncture his face - just beneath his left eye. This was going to be a long day.

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"I'm hungry, un."

"Too bad," grumbled Sasori. Deidara had been driving him nuts for the past 10 minutes, asking for food. He just didn't understand that he wasn't allowed to move. "You have to wait!"

"But Danna-"

"Fine!" he snapped, causing his young partner to squeak in surprise. "I will go make you some miso, and I will feed it to you. If you have a problem with that, then you. Can. Wait."

"…okay."

Fifteen minutes later, Sasori returned with a steaming bowl of miso soup, and a spoon. He set them down on his desk, and moved over to Deidara.

"Careful, now," he said, tenderly taking the boy by the shoulders and lifting him up, while supporting his head with one hand. The puppeteer sat himself down, and gently pulled Deidara up against him, issuing a cute squeak from the blonde. Sasori allowed himself a small smile, as he picked up the bowl, and lifted a spoonful of miso toward the boy's mouth.

"I can feed myself, un…" grumbled the young Iwa-nin. Sasori just chuckled, and held the spoon against his lips. Sighing dramatically in defeat, Deidara opened his mouth, and allowed his danna to pour the soup in. He swallowed, and tried to look up at the older man.

"For someone who never eats, un, you're not a bad cook."

"Oh really, now?

"Really, un." He opened his mouth for another bite. The blonde looked thoughtful for a moment, before he continued to speak. "In fact, there are lots of things you're good at, un, that puppets shouldn't normally be able to do."

"Like what?" asked Sasori, now intrigued as to where this was going.

"Um…like just thinking, for one, un. You're the only puppet I've ever met that can still think, and talk, and breathe, and stuff like that."

"That's because I'm still half human, gaki," chuckled the puppeteer. Deidara mumbled something under his breathe, that even Sasori's advanced ears couldn't pick up. "What was that?"

"Mm…nothing, un."

Sasori frowned. He didn't like secrets, or mysteries. Though he was indeed full of his own. But he wouldn't pry. Not for now, at least. He fed Deidara the last of the soup and carefully moved to stand, laying the blonde back down on the work-table.

Deidara watched as Sasori soaked a large grey cloth in some sort of steaming liquid, before he waked back over to the blonde.

"This is going to sting a bit," he informed him, before beginning to lightly dab at his face. Deidara winced. Yeah, it stung. A lot. He waited it out without complaint, however. When Sasori was finished, he moved back to Deidara, and gently lifted the boy into his arms. The blonde was grateful that his face was hidden from the man, so as to hide the huge blush his checks now accommodated. Sighing happily, Deidara inhaled - taking in Sasori's earthy scent.

Sasori stopped in his tracks, momentarily. Deidara was…sniffing him? He shook his head, and opened the door to their room. He gently placed Deidara in his bed, but found that he was unable to move away. The blonde's arms were still around his neck, unyielding.

"Um…Deidara?"

"Hmm?"

"Could you let go now?"

"…nope, un."

"Why not?" he demanded, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Mm…you smell nice, un."

Sasori blinked. Then, he blinked again. Did he hear that right? Deidara was refusing to let go, because he thought he smelled nice? Sasori soon realized that his slightly twisted standing position was making his back and neck ache. He tried once again to stand up properly. No success.

"Deidara, I can't stand like this. It hurts."

"Then lay down, un," mumbled the younger shinobi. Sasori sighed - accepting that there was no other way - and lay down next to the blonde, who in turn, pulled himself closer to the puppet.

"Deidara, wha-"

"You wanna know what I said earlier, un?" Deidara interrupted. Sasori just nodded, dumbly.

"…I said you look good too, un. Really good."

Sasori was at a complete loss for words. Was Deidara suggesting what he thought he was? But whether that was the case, or not, Sasori found that he couldn't hold himself back any longer. He put his arms around the boy - knowing full well how much trouble he'd be in, if Deidara didn't feel the same - and pulled him snug against his chest. Before Deidara could register what was happening, Sasori had begun to lick and nip lightly at the boy's neck, causing him to squeak with pleasure. Taking the sound as an encouragement to go on, Sasori switched their positions, maneuvering them so he was kneeling over the boy; pinning his small wrists above his head. He moved a knee between Deidara's legs, and leant down to kiss him ferociously. When he finally pulled away, the blonde was panting for air; his cheeks tinted a deep red, and his lips swollen.

"Sasori-danna..!" he gasped. He lifted his half-lidded eyes to glance at the man hovering above him, and noted the lust harbored in his eyes. He was sure the same emotion was reflected in his own blue orb.

Sasori bent his head down, breathing heavily onto Deidara's ear. The boy's breath hitched in his throat at his Danna's next words.

"I want you."

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A/N: And WH00T!! She did it!! Tofu-Master actually finished another chapter!!

Inner-Tofu: And why are we talking in 3rd person again, un?

Tofu: Because we can, un, that's why!! -huffs-

Inner-Tofu: -to readers- Yeah...ignore her.

Tofu: Heeeeey... -bonk- Yeah!! Can you guys guess what the next scene will include!? Can you, un, huh? Huh!?

Inner-Tofu: Just get to the point, already.

Tofu: IT'S A LEMOOOOOOON, UN!! So be prepared, un!! Cuz i've got some nice juicy smut coming your way!