SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

sixteen

"Oh? Yeah, we already took care of them," Mikey answered, unbothered by the two people looming over him.

"What the fuck do you mean you took care of them?" Baji grips both of his arms, shaking him, "Do you know how reckless that is?"

They stood in front of each other, unfazed by their surrounding, carrying gazes with rancid heat. The air between them was electrifying, suffocating to whoever dares to interfere with their conflict. Mikey's demeanor resembles a panther, patiently waiting for Baji to unch, while Baji's burst anger put his rational thoughts to his clenched fist, itching to hit the small male.

"Are you belittling me, Baji?" Mikey grabs Baji's hand holding his collar.

Baji ruffled his hair, taking a deep breath, "No, I am not."

"You got nothing to worry about me, and you know that best,"

Chifuyu stood behind them, frozen in place despite the heat radiating from his commanders. Something pounds in him, the same thing that made Baji's skin flush and clenched his jaw, though he couldn't bring his feet to move forward regardless of the lightness of his shoes. Unlike Baji, who is already head-to-head with their leader. Before the storm rains of blood and bruises, Mikey walks past the taller boy, clearly dictating his disinterest in their interrogation.

"I've got this under control. Trust me as your leader,"

The two spent their walks indulging in Baji's grunts and complaints. Chifuyu's mind ride through trains of thoughts, each having their different point of argument, but there's one thing he can sense in the latter's words: tilted. He was never one to accuse someone, especially someone as genuine as Mikey, but his guts churn to believe his intuition.

"I will continue investigating," matching pace with Chifuyu's slowing feet, Baji sigh into the air.

He turns his head to his friend, raising eyebrows, "Are you a fucking mind reader?"

"Dumbfuck, I don't believe in that," Baji smacks the blond's nape, earning curses.

"I trust Mikey. But, we have to carry our objective and be careful around him," Baji said, increasing his pace, leaving Chifuyu behind.

He watches the lad walk forward, noticing how his shoulders slump almost similar to a salaryman's worn-out shoulder, carrying the world's responsibilities.

"Hey, Baji-san," Chifuyu stops in his tracks, mouth forms ghosts of unspoken words through the air.

"Yeah?" Baji asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Would you like to eat some Peyoung on the rooftop?"

It might be childish—Chifuyu agreed that it is—to offer yakisoba to Baji, but a simpleton like him is easy to please. With money in hand and near a local convenience store, there's nothing better to offer.

"We're going to share it, are we not?" Baji asked, ecstatic on his spot.

"For now, it's fine to have each serving of Peyoung,"

It was at sunset when they reached the rooftop with yakisoba in hand, sitting beside each other, gaping at the view below them. The greenery was dull, like the gray buildings hovering the busy people under, but the vibrant colors of yellow and orange compensate for the lack of colors. The whirls of complementing hues of pink, red, and orange painted the sky.

A deep chuckle reached Chifuyu's ears, turning to gaze upon the man beside him. Baji reflected the soft orange rays of the sunset, shining together with the view atop the building.

For this moment alone, in Cifuyu's eyes, he is the embodiment of youth.

Is this even real, Chifuyu thought to himself, mentally pinching himself to check if he's dreaming.

 "Man, this made me feel better," Baji took a bit of his yakisoba, humming in delight. 

"Let's forget everything for now," the blond said, drinking his hot cocoa.

There was a pregnant pause between them, though it isn't dense with discomfort and worries. The heavy aftermath of earlier events disappears into the fading daylight, replacing with lightness, one they haven't felt for a while.

"Hey, Chifuyu," Baji called, taking another bite of his food.

Chifuyu turns to him, blinking, "Yes?" 

"This brings me back to the time I asked if I can sit beside you,"