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It was no secret that there were those amongst the akatsuki who managed to keep their hair rather nice and clean.
Not that they lacked the resources for hygienic care but that there were those amongst them who prefer something a little more just to add that little extra love to their locks. Even if they end up getting it sliced by kunai, singed by explosives or fire jutsu, or even ripped out by enemy hands so long as they could come back to clean and fix it up then there was nothing else to worry about.
However, when one is partnered with or even dating one of these members well it can lead to rather interesting scenarios.
Soft humming is heard from the shower as Deidara stepped into his current partner's bathroom, holding a caddy with his preferred hair products in hand; a campfire s'mores scent shampoo, coconut conditioner, charcoal spearmint bodywash and a burnt cardamom sugar scrub that he only ever used on himself. He takes a slow deep breath as he made his way towards the curtain.
A silent snort leaves him when he recognized the song his partner was humming. He found it rather cute before he opened the curtain.
"AAAAAH SENPAI!" Tobi shrieked as he raised his hands up to cover up his face save for the one eye that he looks at Deidara in surprise with, "Don't sneak up on me like thaaaaat! You almost gave me a damned heart attack!"
"Oh be quiet un," Deidara snorted as he places the caddy down on the edge of the tub. He side eyes the product currently adorning the bath tub and well...he almost recoiled when all he saw was a bar of soap and a simple bodle of soak that looked like it had seen much better days with how much it looked squeezed to near death. He removed his bath robe and stepped in, "I'm just here to take care of that rat's nest you call hair, un."
Tobi sputtered as he kept his face covered still, "Rat's nest?! Tobi doesn't have a rat's nest!"
"Tell that to how it was crunching under my hands the other day, un," he huffed as he playfully reached up to ruffle his fingers through the short spikey hair, "Just relax idiot, I'm doing you a favor. When I'm done, you'll be thanking me for tending to this disaster. Also cool the water down a bit, hot water isn't good for your hair, un!"
Tobi narrowed his showing eye before he grumbled and turned his back to him, "Senpai doesn't have to be so mean about it," he huffed as he reached down to turn one of the nozzles to fix the water to a cooler heat.
"..You know you don't have to keep hiding your face like that, un," Deidara picked up the smokey and sweet smelling shampoo first to gently squeeze it into his hand, "I've seen what's under Kakuzu's mask, I'm sure your face can't be any worse, un."
He hummed as he lathered the soap in his fingers and gently began working on washing the short spikey hair. He noted that Tobi had become unusually quiet as he began rubbing along his scalp gently while gently pulled his fingers through the dark locks. He smiled slowly as he watched Tobi's shoulders begin to relax as he gently cleaned off the sweat and dirt from their fights out there.
When his fingers move to the nape, he noted how the hair their gave a light curl when he pulls lightly on it. He notices how his partner jumps slightly.
"..Tobi just doesn't like to show his face, Senpai," he spoke gently, "Please don't ask to see it, it makes me uncomfortable."
"Okay, okay..." Deidara's voice grew softer, surprising himself as he then pulled his hands back, "Rinse, then we'll put in the conditioner, I won't look, un."
Perhaps it's because they were in such a vulnerable position right now, it could be that it was a rare moment where he wasn't immediately annoyed by Tobi, but right now the artist whose used explosions as his medium felt so soft right now for the man who wore a mask. It's different from his time with Sasori; the red haired killer never really needed much maintenance and so Deidara was normally alone in the shower stewing under the water while trying to keep up some of the care to his own hair.
This felt...personal. Different with Tobi. Not a bad different jut something he wasn't used to.
"..It's nice, senpai. The shampoo," Tobi hummed from under the shower's spray, "It smells good."
A blush comes over Deidara's cheeks before he cleared his throat, "At least someone else does! I once offered some of it to red eyes and he told me it smelled gross, un! The nerve of that fuck, un!"
Tobi began to relax more, keeping his back turned as he finished rinsing; letting Deidara use the nice condition that would help make his hair soft. Slowly he let his hands down. He trusts Deidara not to sneak a look at him as he felt...strangely safe. The wild blonde could be unpredictable, sometimes he even put Tobi on edge despite trying to hide it and sometimes he had a sense he was trying to kill him at times. Yet he also strangely trusted him. Trusted him to respect his privacy and trusted him not to pry too much.
He also liked Deidara's voice as he began to go on about Itachi as he worked the conditioner into his hair. It just continued to put him at ease and remind him of much simpler times.
As he's asked to rinse again, Tobi takes in the sweet smell of coconut mixing surprisingly well with the shampoo's scent.
"..Senpai?"
"Yes?"
Tobi Turned his head slightly; covering the lower half of his face to make sure he doesn't see, "..Thank you for taking care of me today."
Deidara rolled his lips before clearing his throat and then pulled out the charcoal-mint body wash. Silently he's thankful for the hot water that made his skin tinted a slight pink to hide his blush. He's never had anyone thank him before. It made him feel nice...feel like he was being seen for once as more than a shinobi or some insane artist.
"It's...it's no problem, un."