Strings of Detonation

Breaking Points

After the hassle that happened last night, Deidara and Sasori where called in for a meeting. Once arrived, the cave opened into shadow, torches flickering against damp stone walls. The air was colder here, thick with a stillness that pressed down heavier than any storm.

The Akatsuki stood assembled, each cloaked figure a blot of black against the firelight. Their eyes—some sharp, some bored, some amused—turned as Sasori and Deidara stepped into the circle.

Pain’s voice cut the silence like a blade. “You were ambushed. Twice.”

Deidara smirked, raising his uninjured arm. “Yeah, but we’re here, aren’t we? Mission accomplished, explosions included.”

Kisame’s laugh was low and sharp. “Barely. You look half-dead, kid.”

“Half-dead is better than fully fish-faced,” Deidara snapped back, his grin widening despite the ache in his ribs.

Itachi’s eyes flicked toward Sasori, unreadable. “Your efficiency dropped. That isn’t like you.”

Sasori’s face didn’t move. “The enemy was prepared. They were eliminated.”

Konan’s gaze softened only slightly. “Prepared enemies will continue to test us. Efficiency matters.”

The tension grew, every eye turning back to Pain. His piercings gleamed in the torchlight as he spoke, calm yet final:

“Partnerships are meant to strengthen us, not weaken us. If a pairing compromises efficiency, it will be dissolved.”

The words hit harder than any explosion.

Deidara blinked, his grin faltering for the first time. “Heh. Guess that makes sense, yeah. Maybe I’d—”

“Unacceptable.”

Sasori’s voice cut sharp across the circle, flat but carrying an edge that silenced even Kisame’s chuckle.

Every eye shifted to him. Sasori didn’t flinch.

“This partnership is efficient,” he said, his tone like steel. “His methods differ from mine, but they serve their purpose. The mission was completed, and it will be again.”

Deidara stared at him, mouth half-open, words caught in his throat.

Pain studied them both, gaze unreadable. At length, he said: “We’ll see.” His tone suggested the matter wasn’t closed, only postponed.

The meeting dispersed slowly after, members fading into shadows.

Deidara lingered, still smirking but with less conviction than usual. “Didn’t know you cared, Danna.”

Sasori adjusted his cloak, turning away. “Don’t mistake necessity for sentiment.”

But his steps were sharper than usual, faster, as if trying to walk off what he’d just said.

Deidara watched him go, something twisting in his chest that had nothing to do with his injury.

“Che,” he muttered to himself, clay pressing warm in his palm, using it as a distraction from his unfamiliar feelings. “You’re full of surprises, yeah.”

The torches hissed and guttered behind him, leaving the cave dark.