SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

twenty-seven

"Why didn't you tell me, Kei?"

It has been a week since the fight in the abandoned factory. Not once did Baji utter a word about that issue after and acts as if nothing happened between Toman's top two. He was back to his mischievous, playful self, which irritates Chifuyu. It was unlikely of him to dismiss that kind of situation, especially when Toman is at stake.

"What? I told you that we had no sausages-"

"About Toman," putting down his chopsticks, "Why didn't you tell me? About Pah's girlfriend and Mikey's plan on infiltrating Moebius, everything about them."

He waits patiently for Baji to answer him, tapping his fingers on the table while doing so. Within a week, other than Baji dismissing the situation, Toman split into groups taking sides on which they deem correct, causing another conflict within its members. Captains and vice-captains were the only ones standing neutral in the discussion, wanting more to reach a compromise than adding fuel to the fire.

It scares Chifuyu, but more for Baji. It seems like the suspicions they bud last year blooms right in front of them and now tearing apart their beloved gang, burning fast any bridges they had with each other.

"Hey, Baji-"

"I don't want you to know, Chifuyu."

He gapes at Baji's word, who turns back into eating his dinner, dismissing yet again the topic about Toman. Baji's reaction churns an unwanted emotion inside him, but he pushes it as far as he can reach in the depth of his chest. Chifuyu could no longer watch from the sidelines like a shadow of everyone, silent and observing their decisions.

"As your vice-captain, I think I have the right to know, Kei." Chifuyu impassively goes back to his dinner, upset lacing in his tone.

Baji exhaled a sigh, "I don't want to give you another burden, Fuyu. Everything has been well, and I don't want to ruin that."

"Helping a friend is your thing," Chifuyu said, intense eyes directed at his captain's face.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, let's finish this, okay?" Baji said, finishing the last bits of food on his plate.

"You act like you're talking to a child. I'm offended."

As if his partner has turned deaf, Baji dismissed him again, standing up to bring his empty dishes to the sink. Chifuyu observes him wash his plate, a scowl decorating his face, unimpressed at his boyfriend's rude demeanor. Chifuyu could only sigh with that lame way of excuse; even a grade-schooler will not take it. Disregarding the budding anxiety in his stomach, he finished his meal silently and alone.

After a couple of minutes of silence, Baji returns to his seat with a pout, furrowed eyebrows, and evident distress on the creases of his forehead, finally giving in to him after a couple of minutes. Chifuyu decided to ignore the latter and finish his food, disliking how his boyfriend tried handling things his way.

"I don't want to trigger you," he exhaled, "You've been doing so well for the past months, especially with your night terrors. It scares me what will happen to you if they-"

Flicking Baji's forehead, "You're a real dumbo, Keisuke."

"What the fuck? I-"

"You're saying that to me like you're the only one who can solve this mess," he points his finger, "You're not some superhero, Baji."

Baji pouts, eyes darted on the floor, "Yes, I know that-"

"If you knew that, then why are being an asshole?" Chifuyu spat, crossed arms in front of Baji.

Baji was silent, listening to his rambles, guilty of how he handled the situation: inconsiderate and dismissive. Chifuyu found himself similar to his mother, lecturing a child after misbehaving, running his mouth again and again until he is satisfied. He might have to apologize to his mom later because, now, he understood what she felt during this kind of situation.

"I'm not some damsel in distress, for fuck sake. I can handle such things, Keisuke. You're my boyfriend, not some bodyguard who keeps me safe." Chifuyu huffs a sigh.

"This is a serious matter, and as the first-division vice-captain, I should know it. What's the point of being in the higher-ups when I can't act like one?"

After stating his pent-up thoughts for the past week, Chifuyu's shoulder deflates, finally letting go of the tension pulling back on his muscles. It was gratifying for him to say everything on his mind without hesitation and much hostility that he held back. He doesn't care if he upset Baji; he's simply returning what the latter had sowed in him—for treating him like a child.

"You worry me, Kei." Chifuyu mumbles, "You can never solve everything by yourself."

Baji bit his lips, "I'm sorry, Chifuyu. I'm just overwhelmed with everything—scared of what will happen."

"You have us, Kei. We can solve this."

Chifuyu smiles an assurance to Baji's worries—perhaps self-loathing. It was a small gesture that he hopes reached his partner, at least for a little bit. For now, it's the only thing that he can do. A little hope went lit inside him when Baji returns his smile, a gloss of sincerity in his eyes.

"So, you've been together with Draken and Mikey," he exhaled, "How did you guys manage to solve your fights?"

A nervous chuckle erupted Baji's lips, lifting their mood, "About that..."

"About what?"

"We don't do such things as making up," Baji beams with a toothy grin and proud face.