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Baji wakes up with a grunt, a weight in his stomach making noise and scratching his chest. He knows the meaning of it too well, and he wonders why Peke J never bothers Chifuyu for breakfast, only ever him. Maybe spoiling him back in his teen years was a bad decision—not that he’ll ever admit it out loud.
His eyes open slowly, heavily, sleep clinging to him. The warmth of the bed entices him, but the sight that greets him does it more, does it better. Makes his heart burst in the most tender love he’s capable of.
Chifuyu lays by his side, peaceful, almost inaudible snores—those that are cute, shy of being a purr—coming out in steady breaths. His short, black hair falls gracefully, leaving his undercut in plain view. His hand reaches out, gently caressing those black strands, soft to the touch, meticulously cared for.
He wonders, for many moments, what marvellous deeds he committed in other lives in order to have Chifuyu in this one, like this, leaning into his touch, never afraid of the violence those hands have laid upon others.
Years ago, he used to have so many doubts. Do I deserve you? Do I make you happy? Do you love me the same way I do you; do you burn for me, too? He used to break his brain about them, at night, wishing and yearning for more, more than just friendship, more than just this. He used to dream about kissing Chifuyu, about holding his hand, about confessing all that bloomed in his heart the more they spent time together.
He loves him. Ever since they met, ever since Chifuyu helped him out in that lone classroom, Baji’s been falling.
He’s never stopped.
Even now, with a ring on his finger, not a day goes by that Baji doesn’t fall deeper into him.
Peke J claims for his breakfast once more, an almost punch to the stomach. Baji chuckles, stifling the sound, not wanting to wake up his husband. He leans away from the man he’s in love with, sitting up, and grabs the black cat by the ribs, careful not to hurt him. He brings him closer, until both their noses touch, and giggles when Peke J licks him.
“Okay, you little demon,” he murmurs, kissing the cat’s head. “Let’s go make breakfast.”
Baji’s never been much of a morning person. At least, that was before. But, seeing Chifuyu first thing in the morning, there’s no way he can be grumpy about it. He kisses his husband’s head, too, before stretching out and leaving their bed.
With a yawn, scratching his rumbling stomach, he makes his way towards the kitchen. Peke J meows from the floor, rubbing against his legs, almost making Baji stumble. He snorts, running a hand through his tangled up hair, not bothering to speed up when the tiny menace does, eager for his food.
Enough sunlight filters through the windows, so Baji doesn’t bother opening the kitchen lights. He grabs Peke J’s feed, fills one of his bowls with it, another with water, and pets him a bit, unable to resist it.
“Always worrying Fuyu so damn much,” he mutters, stroking Peke J’s back, a soft smile settled on his face. “You’re lucky, I love you, too.”
Leaving their cat to his own devices, Baji ties up his hair in a bun, mindful of his long hair when he cooks. He starts the rice cooker and heats up the stove, and gets the eggs out of the freezer.
Usually, it’s Chifuyu who cooks. Ever since he learnt how—he’s not going down the memory lane, but damn, those first dishes were atrocious—his husband takes pride in his cooking, always trying out new recipes, talking animatedly with Hinata and Emma about it whenever they meet up.
Baji doesn’t know how many times Emma has scolded him for leaving all the cooking to Chifuyu, but it’s not like that. He makes a mean peyoung yakisoba, and he enjoys cooking it for Chifuyu (if it can be called cooking, heating up water and let the yakisoba package work its magic), but he enjoys a traditional breakfast, and he knows Chifuyu does, too.
That’s why he asked Chifuyu’s mother to teach him how to cook it. Why, on days like these, when Peke J Land is closed, he likes to take his time and prepare for them both the full menu of a typical Japanese breakfast.
He’s seen it multiple times, but Baji wants to watch as his husband lights up at the sight, thanks him for it, showers him with kisses and praises and rewards him with eyes brimming with love, adoration shining through.
He wants to see Chifuyu happy. His heart races with just the thought, even if he finds it a bit ridiculous for it to keep happening after years of being together.
But that’s the beauty of it. If it’s Chifuyu, because of Chifuyu, then Baji will keep falling, his heart will keep racing, his love will continue growing; even when it seems like it can't anymore.
When all the dishes are done, and Peke J’s gone back to his other father to take his morning nap—that lazy cat, he doesn’t let one opportunity to sleep pass by—he washes the kitchen counter and dries his hands, and makes way towards their bedroom.
He finds Chifuyu curled up around the blankets, Peke J resting near his head, snuggled in his neck, leaning against the pillow. The sunlight that filters through the curtains rests on their shiny black hair, and they both nestle into it, content.
Baji loves them. His heart fills, fills, fills with the love he feels, to the point it aches, in the most beautiful way.
He’s happy. He’s the happiest he’s ever been. The happiest he could ever be.
Sitting up on the bed, hand resting on the mattress, leaving Chifuyu’s body in between it and his own, he stares, just for the sake of it. He’s aware he can’t keep at it forever, that the breakfast will run cold, but he cannot help himself.
He leans down, his other hand cradling Chifuyu’s face, watching as those eyebrows furrow, reticent to leave unconsciousness. Baji smiles, pecking one softly, before kissing his cheek, his nose, his temple, every part of his face that he can reach. He stops when gentle giggles hit his ears, leaning back a few centimetres, entranced by the way Chifuyu’s eyes flutter open, the way Chifuyu smiles at him once they fully do.
“Good morning,” his husband says, voice a little husky, adoration seeping through.
Baji’s thumb strokes his cheek, besotted copper against beautiful aquamarine. “Good morning, love.”
“Have you been awake for long?” Chifuyu asks, putting his hand above Baji’s, nuzzling into it. Baji melts into the caress, barely blinking, wanting to engrave the scene in his brain and for it to never leave his mind.
He shakes his head. “I made breakfast,” he announces, leaning to trap those soft, inviting lips in a kiss. Baji takes his time with it, all tender words faltering in place of the feelings he pours into it. Closing his eyes when he feels Chifuyu smiling. Kissing his forehead once more, before grinning, mischievous. “Come on.”
Without warning, he lifts Chifuyu up, princess-style, almost in an ambush. He laughs at the blush his husband sports, and ignores the protests that follow—Chifuyu’s, because the yelp was too cute and he likes having him in his arms, and Peke J’s, because Baji knows he will go back to his nap in less than a minute—and adjusts his grip on Chifuyu so that he won’t fall. His grin widens as Chifuyu’s arms loop through his neck, holding onto him.
“Keisuke-san!” Chifuyu tries to scold him, failing as giggles fall from his lips.
“Hm? Are you protesting, Fuyu?” He challenges, amusement echoing in every word. “Should I drop you?”
Chifuyu pouts, avoiding his eyes, red all over his face, snuggling up to him. “Don’t you dare.”
His husband is too adorable.
“I won’t,” he assures, and it’s inevitable, really, the way he leans down and kisses him again.
Chifuyu answers with enthusiasm, and Baji would return it full force if he wasn’t acutely aware of the breakfast getting cold. Maybe afterwards, when midday finds them lazing around on the sofa, watching one of those romance movies Chifuyu likes so much, Baji will come back to the slight arousal swirling idly in his guts. For now, he takes control of the kiss, slowing down the pace, before leaning back and pecking those lips once more.
“Not yet,” he teases. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Chifuyu is still a faint red, but he nods, hiding his face in his neck. Baji rubs his cheek against his head, enjoying the humming coming out of that mouth from it.
Carrying his husband out of the bedroom, as Peke J goes back to dreamland—or wherever cats go when they fall asleep—Baji cannot contain his happiness inside his body. He laughs, bright and colourful, and rejoices in the feeling of having Chifuyu in his arms, sighing fondly at his whims.
He looks at those sea-green eyes, bewitched as he’s always been with them, and kisses Chifuyu on the lips again.
He swallows Chifuyu’s giggles, and knows he would give everything to hear it again, everything in every reality, if it meant to have Chifuyu happy in his arms like he does now.
When Baji finally puts his husband down, he makes sure Chifuyu lands without trouble. After staring at the breakfast on the table, cooked just the way he likes, the younger turns around and hugs him tight, squeezing his torso with all his strength—which isn’t little.
“I love you,” he muffles against his chest. “Thank you for this.”
Baji hugs him back, patting his head tenderly, and gets caught a bit off guard when Chifuyu stands on his tiptoes and surprises him with another kiss. It’s a short one, sweet, before he leans away, smiling at him with the might of a thousand suns.
“I love you, too,” Baji answers, almost breathless. “With everything I am.”
Chifuyu stares at him, enamoured, happiness brimming out of his every cell. Drinks Baji’s devotion, admires it, before leaving a soft, chaste peck on his lips and turning around, striding eagerly towards their meal. Baji watches him look back in askance once he realizes the lack of steps behind him, but Baji’s mind is too full, and so is his heart.
Him, their love, the life they’ve built together. Mornings like these, and the rushed ones, too.
Precious.
All of it, it’s Baji’s greatest treasure.