Akatsuki Drabbles

Chemistry Lab partners (Deidara)

"Now, for this experiment, you will be working in pairs."

You heard your chemistry teacher's words, but didn't bother to look up from your notebook, merely continuing to doodle on the paper. True, you would be working in pairs, but seeing as no one was sitting next to you, considering your best friend was ill, you'd get whoever was left over. Not that it bothered you; you were friends with most in your class, so you weren't worried they'd be hard to deal with. Even if you ended up on your own, then so be it. You liked your own company, and were perfectly capable of doing things by yourself. Though you wouldn't say you were a straight A student, that was mostly because you followed your own path, focusing on what interested you, and what you felt mattered the most. If that meant being lazy in some classes, then fine. It's not like you cared if you ended up in detention. There were more important things to concentrate on. Luckily enough, however, you actually enjoyed chemistry, finding the theory engaging and the practical's fun. Who wouldn't enjoy learning about volatile chemicals that could cause damage?

"And (y/n), as you're on your own, you can work with Deidara."

Immediately you paused in your drawing, though you were a little confused as to why. Having not passed a thought as to who your partner would be, you obviously hadn't considered Deidara—not that it mattered. It's not like it changed anything—the exact reason you couldn't figure out why the information had caught you out. You had nothing against him, even if you didn't exactly hang out; or talk that much, either, come to think of it. He himself got into his fair share of trouble, after all, though he tended to be much more extroverted about it. It wasn't hard to see he had a bit of an ego, but he never seemed to be overly arrogant along with it, even if he was certainly self-assured. You had to admit he was cute, anyway—something the majority of the girls in your class understood as well—and managing to shake off your hesitation, you glanced over your shoulder to where you knew he was sitting to figure out who was sitting where, only to find he was already collecting his stuff and making his way over to your bench.

Unable to not respond as he smirked in greeting, you merely turned to face the front of the class rather than say anything, surprised at your own nerves at this sudden development. You were confident in your own way, and weren't one to care about other's opinions, so to feel a little uncertain with Deidara next to you was a bit of a shock; though when you thought about it, you hadn't worked with him before. It's not like you knew him—as much as he was extroverted, he always managed to keep a distance. To remain a little mysterious.

"You like to draw then, un?"

His abrupt comment jolted you out of your thoughts, glancing from him to your notebook, where he'd obviously taken a look. Shrugging at his words, however, you didn't try to hide them as you responded casually,

"Well, yeah. I love art. I wouldn't be taking it as a class if I didn't."

Seeing him narrow his eyes at that information, you chuckled and added teasingly,

"You probably haven't noticed me in class—your art's far more important than mine."

Immediately his expression turned into a grin, his eyes glinting mischievously as he shot back playfully,

"Of course. But that doesn't mean yours isn't worth looking at, un."

Shaking your head at his ego, you turned your gaze to the chemicals in front of you as the teacher explained what you needed to do, not truly paying attention when you already knew, instead reaching for the first to pour into the beaker. As Deidara handed you the next one, you were reminded of his situation with schoolwork. He always got good grades—at least in some subjects. But when you thought it over, chemistry had been one of them. As such, you worked quickly through the experiment, until you got the desired result. Seeing you had completed it, the teacher congratulated you both, before wandering off to another bench, leaving you and Deidara once again alone. Contemplating what to do now, kind of wanting to draw some more, but not wanting it to look like you were ignoring Deidara, and still wanting to talk to him, you twirled your pen around in your hand, unsure how to proceed. It was then that you noticed Deidara had picked up a flask, swirling the bottle and ultimately the contents inside. Narrowing your eyes at what he was thinking, seeing that mischievous look in his eye again, you couldn't help but grin as he spoke up impishly,

"Now...if only there was a way to liven up a chemistry lesson, huh, (y/n), un?"

After all, you were more than willing to join him.