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It was always easy to figure out if Happy had sent Baozi out to meet him, when it was Baozi’s turn Luo Ji would be able to hear him from the halfway across the station, one arm frantically waving in the air, even as his voice rang out through the air.
“LUO JI!” Luo Ji was abruptly reminded of large, over enthusiastic dogs who spent their time rubbing their fur all over people who would rather be left in peace. In fact, going by the fact that he often found strands of Baozi’s hair scattered around, the comparison wasn’t unwarranted. He accepted the arm settling around his shoulders without much complaint, knowing that it wouldn’t help him to protest.
He blinked in surprise when a box of pocky was shoved in his face, sticks rattling as Baozi shook it with excessive force. Luo Ji stared at him, blinking in confusion at the motion and his teammate rolled his eyes, bright grin still stretched across his lips.
“Everyone says you’re so smart, shouldn’t you recognise when someone’s offering you something to eat?” Luo Ji shook his head, pushing against the box away from him slightly.
“No thank you, I’m not hungry-“ Luo Ji wondered why he thought refusal would actually work against Baozi, as his teammate somehow began shaking the box more violently, pink stick rattling around as if Luo Ji would be tempted by them.
“You’ve been travelling, everyone knows you’re supposed to eat after travelling, I have lots, come on!” Baozi seemed insistent and Luo Ji decided the hassle of refusing wasn’t worth it and he accepted one of the pale pink sticks. He wondered why Baozi was watching him so intently and he wrinkled his nose slightly at the sweetness of the flavour, remembering why he rarely ate pocky.
He didn’t refuse the box when proffered for a second time however and by the time they made it back to Happy, the box was finished.
It became habit for Baozi to be the one to meet him at the station and every single time he had a box of pocky in his hand, ready to be shared. He no longer shook the box violently but it was still presented with a great deal of enthusiasm, Baozi watching Luo Ji intently as he took the first bite.
Luo Ji wasn’t sure what Baozi was waiting for, nor what expression flickered across his face but he caught a quick dash of disappointment in Baozi’s eyes before he looked away. Luo Ji frowned to himself, running over his interactions with Baozi, tyring to recall what his teammate could be disappointed about but he couldn’t think of anything that might have affected Baozi’s mood.
It weighed on him, the slight disappointment that flickered across Baozi’s face after he tasted the proffered snacks. Luo Ji was certain that he was missing something, a piece of the puzzle that would clear everything up but he didn’t know what it could be, or what to ask, so he simply reached into the box for another stick, offering Baozi a small smile and a thank you.
It all became clear when Baozi came running up, slinging one arm around Luo Ji’s shoulder, as he always did, a different flavour of pocky being offered and Luo Ji didn’t get a chance to see what it was. He took a bite and his eyes widened slightly and he hummed, realising this wasn’t as sweet as the other flavours he’d tried and his lips curved into a slight smile.
He wasn’t prepared for Baozi to shove the box into his hand to punch his fist in the air as if in victory. Luo Ji watched for a moment, confusion furrowing his brow before he realised how much attention they were attracting and he tugged at Baozi’s wrist urgently, face flushed red.
“Baozi!” The taller man took a few moments and several repeats of his name before he stopped jumping around in delight and glanced over at Luo Ji. “What are you doing?!” Baozi blinked in surprise, as if he hadn’t realised what he’d been doing and he tilted his head to the side.
“You liked the pocky.” When Luo Ji continued to stare at him in shock Baozi continued, “you never liked any of the pocky I gave you.”
“I never said that.” Luo Ji felt his cheeks flush hotter under the accusation but Baozi didn’t seem to be upset.
“You didn’t have to, I saw the way you made a little face, it was very cute, but I wanted you to like the pocky so I went looking for flavours you might like and you never liked any of them until today.” Luo Ji thought back on all the different boxes that Baozi had brought, he’d assumed the other simply liked to mix up the flavours, grabbing them at random.
He hadn’t expected his teammate to be so dedicated in finding a flavour he liked and he felt something warm settle in his chest as he proffered the pocky to Baozi once more. The other man grabbed one with a bright smile, slinging his arm around Luo Ji’s shoulders and for once, he didn’t feel the urge to shrug him off, enjoying the comfort.
“Thank you,” Baozi tilted his head to the side, curiosity written across his features and Luo Ji went on, “for picking me up, for the pocky-“ he trailed off, unsure of what else to say. “Thank you.”
Baozi’s grin was easy and laid back as he reached for another pocky, waving one hand dismissively as he curled his arm more securely around his teammate’s shoulders.
“Why thank me? We’re friends, the pocky is the dark chocolate, I was going to write it down, but you always seem to be able to remember anything I tell you so I thought it would be better to just say what it is,” Baozi continued to ramble, occasionally waving one hand around dramatically, using the pocky to emphasise a point from time to time and Luo Ji found himself smiling.
Friends, the word was a warm ember in his chest, as he watched Baozi’s dramatics with a smile and Luo Ji took another bite of the pocky, savouring the flavour and enjoying the comfort of Baozi’s arm around his shoulders. It was familiar and made Luo Ji hum softly under his breath, noise content, just as he was.