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“All this arguing is making you seem more obsessed with Heil-ly,” Phinks said as they walked away from the tier stairs and back towards the common areas of the ship. Nobu couldn’t help the pleased smirk on his face.
“I’m not denying it,” he said, one hand resting on his sword hilt and the other inside of his yukata, “I found someone interesting.”
“Nobunaga, you like enemy too much,” Feitan said from Nobu’s elbow.
The other men stood on either side of Nobu, watching him with neutral expressions. After Uvo died, Phinks and Feitan determined they would act as ‘widower watch’ indefinitely. At first, they had focused on Shalnark. He was harder to read, and therefore more likely to act unpredictably. In hindsight, Shalnark’s focus on Greed Island was almost manic, and having the others beside him probably kept his head on straight. Now that Shalnark had died, it was Nobunaga’s turn to be babysat.
“Whatever,” Phinks said, “I think Franklin is still in the food court. Let’s grab something to eat before we get him. I’m starving.”
Feitan and Nobunaga silently agreed as they walked together in unison.
“Honestly, it’s not even the Heil-ly I’m interested in,” Nobunaga said, thinking back on the last few minutes fondly.
“Guy with crazy eyes?” Feitan asked, looking up at Nobunaga. He huffed a laugh, but nodded, eliciting a thoughtful hum from his companion.
“You…like him?” Feitan asked. Nobunaga could sense Phink’s eyes on him, suddenly, curious but on edge. He turned the question over in his mind. He enjoyed Hinrigh’s company, sure, but Feitan wasn’t asking if Hinrigh was fun to talk to.
“I dunno,” he said finally, “It’s been a long time.”
“Only two years,” Phinks interjected, almost defensive. Nobunaga didn’t know why the topic seemed to bother him so much, but if he was honest with himself, it was hard to broach himself.
“I mean, since I felt this way about anyone but Uvo,” Nobunaga clarified, bristling. Once he recognized his own feelings for the other man, it was as if every other person had fallen away from the face of the planet. The feelings he had for Hinrigh weren’t even close, but it was nice to flirt a little with someone handsome and charming.
“So…you want to fuck him,” Feitan said. It wasn’t a question. Nobu flushed.
“Well, I didn’t say that! Don’t we have other things to think about,” Nobu said, muscles tense as he avoided their eyes.
“Yeah, Feitan, we’re looking for Hisoka. Can we focus on that?” Phinks said, mirroring Nobunaga’s posture. Feitan narrowed his eyes at the two of them.
“Why you so sensitive?” Feitan asked, looking up at Phinks.
“God, it just seems in bad taste,” Phinks said. Now it was his turn to avoid eye contact. “We’re doing this for Shalnark and Kortopi, aren’t we? And we’re talking about Nobu getting his dick wet.”
“I just said it’s not like that!” Nobu snapped, stopping in his tracks. His hands were fists now. “God, I just think he’s pretty! It’s not that damn deep!”
He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his feelings. He had only spent about ten minutes with the guy, but he hadn’t felt that alive in years. Approximately two, if Nobu had to guess. Feitan must have read something on his face, because he looked forward. He was about to say something earnest, and heaven forbid anyone witness his blank expression.
“Uvo would be happy,” he said finally, “He hate to watch you mope.”
“Oh shut up,” Nobu replied, face red and shoulders kissing his ears.
“You’re right, Fei,” Phinks said. He smiled softly as he reminisced. “Uvo would have moved mountains to make you and Shalnark happy.”
“Not hard for Uvo,” Feitan said, the teasing tone returning to his voice. Nobunaga rolled his eyes.
“What you like about him? Besides ‘pretty’?” Feitan asked, looking up at Nobunaga. He was digging for more material, Nobunaga realized with a sneer. He resisted answering for all of a second before taking a deep breath, and letting it out as a resigned sigh. Ultimately, the question was harmless, and there was a small part of him that was eager to talk about the man that sparked his interest.
“I like that he’s no bullshit. He doesn’t dance around things. He’s funny, and he seems dependable so far. It’s nice. Kind of familiar,” Nobunaga responded fondly, “He’s different from Uvogin though. You don’t have to guess whether or not he knows what he’s doing?”
Phinks’s hackles rose. “You’re not calling Uvo stupid.”
“No! Are you kidding?” Nobu asked, turning his nose up at the insinuation, “You know I’d never underestimate Uvo like that.”
He shifted uncomfortable before continuing, “No, it’s just the way this guy carries himself. He’s got…”
“Dignity?” Feitan piped up from below.
“I was gonna say poise ,” Nobu said, sniffing. It was only quiet for a second before the three of them all began to laugh at Uvo’s expense. There was so much fondness for the big man with the thunderous laugh. Phinks steadied himself first, shaking his head to clear himself of laughter.
“Yeah, no, I get that,” he said, looking at Nobunaga with the slightest of approval, “Cool ability too.”
“He’s got a keen sense,” Nobunaga agreed, “I want to see more of him for sure.”
Feitan snickered, reading another meaning to Nobunaga’s words.
“Fuck, Feitan, I just said it wasn’t like that,” Nobu said, rolling his eyes. Together, they were silent as they moved into the food court and began to scope out somewhere to grab something. Eventually, Phinks spoke again.
“Do you still think about him?” he asked, voice soft. Nobunaga could barely sense the vulnerability carefully hidden by Phinks’s avoided gaze.
“What? The Xi-Yu guy?” Nobu asked.
“No, stupid,” he replied with a loud huff. “Uvo.”
“How can you call me stupid when you ask me stupid shit like that?” Nobunaga asked, voice louder than intended. Phinks didn’t back down.
“Well, do you?” he asked. He didn’t look away now. Instead he stared Nobunaga down.
“Of course I still think about Uvo, you idiot,” Nobunaga responded, trying to keep his voice neutral, “He was the love of my goddamn life.”
Phinks sneered. “What does that mean for this guy?”
“What?” Nobu was disarmed by the non sequitur.
“The fucking Xi-Yu guy,” Phinks said gesturing out to nowhere, “What does that mean for him?”
“What does he have to do with anything?” Nobunaga said, voice rising again.
Phinks’s tone rose to match him, “If Uvo was the love of your life, what do you have to offer the Xi Yu guy?”
“Sex,” Feitan answered, matter of factly, having moved to stand at Phinks’s elbow.
Nobunaga’s responding sigh could not have been more exasperated, “ Feitan. ”
“Is he just gonna get the leftovers?” Phinks asked, pushing through, “Is there anything left over?”
“God dammit, Phinks,” Nobunaga said, hiding his face in his hands, “It’s not like there’s a fucking limit on love.”
“Wait, wait,” Phinks said, holding his hands up, “Time out. You fucking love this guy?”
“No!” He struggled to put together the words. Ten minutes weren’t enough to fall headfirst into love, but his heart was beating faster and faster in his chest as Phinks needled him. It was easy to mistake adrenaline for attraction, he told himself. “Fuck. It’s just- We just met today, and there’s a lot going on.”
“Well, are you going to love him?” Phinks asked, as if that was a decision one just made.
Feitan shook his head adamantly, “Nobu going to fuck him.”
Nobunaga turned away from them, stomping his foot and trying not to feel childish for doing so.
“Both of you just stop fucking talking,” he snapped. He could feel their eyes on his back.
“If one day, I meet someone, it’s not going to mean shit about the way I feel about Uvo. I love Uvo so much it touched every moment of my fucking life, from before I met him to the day I fucking die,” Nobunaga began, voice tight in his throat. He struggled not to let the tears prick through; These bastards had enough ammo against him to bully him for the rest of his life already. “If I fuck or date or heaven fucking forbid fall in love with Hinrigh, it’s not gonna change anything.”
He took a deep, steadying breath, “And if I fall in love with Hinrigh, I’m not gonna half-ass it. Uvo wouldn’t want me to. I’m gonna give him everything I got. If either of you have something to say about it, you better say it now.”
He looked over his shoulder with a cutting look and was disappointed to see them looking at him with smug expressions. Nobunaga knew how hypocritical he sounded after struggling so hard to share Uvogin with Shalnark, but it was too late now for second chances. He narrowed his eyes at the other two men, and they only shrugged at him. He brushed them off and started moving to the front of the line.
“Great. Let’s get some damn food.”