Deidara x Reader: The Redux

Chapter One

Welcome to Iwagakure, a small town of roughly 2,000, nestled in the northeast corner of Arizona.  Everything is hot, dry, and thirsting for something to happen- anything.  It's always uneventful in a town where everyone knows everyone, aside from the occasional bullshit drama the teenage girls like to stir up.  You, being a girl in her late teens, didn't necessarily care for the drama, but always got roped in somehow.  You often wondered what it would be like to cause drama of your own; to be at the center of all the rumours.  These kinds of thoughts were typical for you, and flew around your mind quite often.

You were formulating yet another way to get people talking (though you would never actually go through with it) instead of cleaning the elaborate clay sculptures placed aesthetically around the art studio when the bell above the door jingled.  You looked up to the door, then to the clock.  4:00pm- one hour to closing.  It was unusual for someone to come into the studio this late, so you decided that was a good excuse to stop 'cleaning'.   You had only glanced at the customer briefly before, so you didn't get a very good look at them, but now that they had your full attention, you found your eyes working their way down the man's body.

He couldn't be much older than you, maybe 23 at the oldest (thank god you were 19 because you definitely wanted to smash).  He had long blond hair, conveniently pulled into a girly 'half-up half-down' style.  It was like there were literal waves of sunlight traveling down his toned shoulders- quite a surprising look for a guy.  That wasn't the thing that caught you though; it was the eyes.  There was something about the look in his bright, sky-blue eyes that had your own eyes locked on his.  Maybe it was the jet black kohl eyeliner that circled over his upper lashline and swam along his waterline, or maybe it was the curious glint of the afternoon sun reflecting in his pupil.  Either way, you were left thirsting to know more about him- Who is he?  Where did he come from? Why is he here? In the studio of all places?

You must have been staring for a while because the next thing you knew, one of your slutty coworkers was standing in front of him, one hand on his arm, and the other twirling a lock of dyed black hair flirtatiously around her finger.  A wave of bitter jealousy washed over you, and you couldn't help but walk over to them.  Your coworker jumped a little when you spoke.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Cierra, apparently you used the bathroom instead of cleaning it- and quite messily too.  You should really see a doctor, I don't think it's healthy to have such....explosive... bowel movements.  Anyway, would you mind re-mopping the entire bathroom for me?  I don't want a customer to slip and fall in someone else's fecal matter."  Cierra was clearly annoyed that you had come over in the first place, but it was very clear that she was ready to quit on the spot after your little roast.  As she hurriedly ran off, you turned back to the blond stranger.  To your delight, it looked like he was about to burst out laughing.  You cracked a little smile of your own.

"It's ok, you can laugh.  I won't tell her," you said, letting your little smirk gradually bigger.  As soon as you finished your sentence, the stranger lost all control and started laughing so hard, no sound came out.  You chuckled a bit yourself, and when he was finally capable of speaking again, you got right down to business.

"Is there something I can help you with?"  you said, trying your best to look genuinely concerned for his troubles (and definitely not the size of a certain friend tucked away in his jeans).  He ran a hand through his ponytail, unconsciously flexing his toned bicep.

"Well actually... Yeah.  I just moved here, into Iwagakure I mean, yeah.  I'm trying to find my way to Stone Crest Apartments, but my GPS is shittier than the bathroom that girl had to clean, yeah," he said, smiling a bit.  Was he.. joking with you..?  This was off to a better start than you expected.  You might even be able to get his number if things kept going so well.