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"What a beautiful wedding
What a beautiful wedding", says a bridesmaid to a waiter
"And, yes, but what a shame
What a shame the poor groom's bride is a whore"
I chime in with a
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality”
“They’re not half bad,” Baji grinned, nodding his head along to the music.
Chifuyu smiled back broadly though his eyes never left the stage. One of their mutual friends, Mitsuya, had invited them to go see his band at some local bar. And the band was good.
Mitsuya was not just good at sewing and designing - he was good at singing.
The rest of the band was good too - especially the guitar player.
Chifuyu felt a little bad, being that he had Baji had been together for so long, but Chifuyu didn’t think he had ever seen a guy look like that. His hair was shittily dyed black and blond (well, more like yellow) and grown out into a wolf cut, and his face almost looked feminine with how soft it was. All rounded cheeks, a beauty mark under his big, yellow eyes, his smile small but hypnotic.
Fuck.
If he wasn’t so loyal, he might’ve thought this was love at first sight.
—
“Thanks for coming!” Mitsuya grinned, throwing his arms around the two of them after the show. He was kind of sweaty and gross but Hakkai was already making his way back to them, drinks in hand and a little towels thrown over his shoulder. “How’d you like it?”
“Fucking awesome! Fuyu couldn’t take his eyes off the stage the entire time!”
Chifuyu’s cheeks reddened and he hoped his blush was blamed on the warmth of the bar.
“Yeah? I figured it would be your scene over Mikey and Draken’s. Did yall want to meet the rest of the band?”
“I’m down.”
Chifuyu nodded in agreement, “Yes! Where’d they go?”
“C’mon,” The two of them followed Mitsuya and Hakkai as they made their way from near the stage to a half hidden hallway into a closed room. Inside was a lot more cramped than it looked.
The blue haired drummer sat on the floor, twirling his drumsticks while chatting with the red headed bass player. The really pretty guitar player was sprawled across the only couch, still lazily strumming his guitar. He had changed from the outfit he wore on stage to a matching blue and white floral set that he left unbuttoned, unzipped, and unbelted.
Chifuyu couldn’t help as his eyes flickered down to the guitar player’s defined v-line and the up to his pierced nipples and then further up to the curious amber eyes that were staring back at him. His head tilted and his single earring jingled.
“Who are you?”
“Kazutora, be nice.”
Kazutora, Chifuyu thought. Even his name is cute.
Kazutora rolled his eyes, his eyes turning to Baji “Actually, who are both of you?”
“I’m Keisuke and this is my boyfriend, Chifuyu. We grew up with Mitsuya. But he never mentioned being in a band until—“
“Until recently,” Mitsuya spoke up, shoulder pressed against Hakkai’s. “It’s ’cause
Tora just got out of juvie. Now we can actually start doing performances.”
“Juvie?”
Kazutora looked unbothered, “Assault. Don’t worry, I’m out of that gang life now. At least until probation is over.”
With that, he gave them another smile that left Chifuyu wanting to fan himself.
—
After the introduction, Chifuyu and Keisuke became regular fans of the band. Partially because Chifuyu was obsessed with their music and because Keisuke actually really got along with Kazutora and they became friends.
Like actual friends.
Like Chifuyu would come over to his boyfriend’s house after finishing homework and Kazutora would already be on the couch, still in his school uniform, strumming on an acoustic guitar he had brought over. Meanwhile Baji sat at the nearby kotatsu, struggling with his homework.
“Your boyfriend is kinda dumb.” Kazutora snorted one day, his fingers lazily strumming to a song despite the fact that golden eyes were watching him. Chifuyu was pretty sure it was a P!ATD song. Kazutora really liked American music. He always said their songs were easier to play. “But I’m not guessing it was his smarts that attracted you, anyway.”
Chifuyu felt himself hesitate before dropping next to Kazutora. He was right to hesitate because almost immediately Kazutora was adjusting himself so his legs were thrown over the other’s lap.
Since befriending the guitar player, Chifuyu had quickly learned how tactile Kazutora was. To the point where Keisuke and Chifuyu couldn’t even be jealous about each other because Kazutora had to be touching either of them at any given time.
Whether that be a thigh touching, an arm around the shoulder, legs thrown over laps. Or that one time that Kazutora had gotten into a fight with his mom and texted Chifuyu and Baji to ask if he could come over to that abandoned area in their apartment building and then he had shown up drunk and sat in Baji’s lap unprompted while playing with the strings of Chifuyu’s hoodie with those long, calloused—
“— hello? I’m starting to think you’re as empty headed as him.”
Chifuyu’s blue eyes met Kazutora’s golden ones and his cheeks flamed; guiltyguiltyguilty. “Oh sorry. …What was the question?”
Kazutora set down his guitar gently, leaning forward just enough to knock his fist against the blond’s forehead “Damn, you two are lucky you’re cute. So fucking empty up there.”
—
As life progressed, Chifuyu’s crush only grew, Baji’s friendship blossomed, and Kazutora became more of a permanent fixture in both of their lives.
To the point where sometimes Kazutora would show up to their school, driving his much too nice yellow Kawasaki KH400 motorcycle that Baji always gave him shit about. Just to skip classes and eat lunch on the rooftop with them.
Or sometimes, Chifuyu phon would ding with a shitty little selfie of Kazutora giving the peace sign while Baji was in the background, flipping off the camera. Also in the background, if he squinted hard enough, he could see a container of peyoung noodles, two sets of chopsticks.
And occasionally, he’d show up late late at night, long after they were supposed to go to bed and knock on Chifuyu’s bedroom window before crawling in and asking to spend the night.
Chifuyu particularly cherished those nights because Kazutora would press himself up against him in the small, twin sized bed and fall almost instantly into a deep sleep. Like he was exhausted and finally somewhere safe.
—
It got to a point where Chifuyu wasn’t sure whether or not his relationship with his own boyfriend was even the same now. It wasn’t bad by any means but—
“— can we watch that cartoon you and Tora were talking about? I’m trying of feeling left out.”
Keisuke sunk into the couch next to Chifuyu, bowl of popcorn bouncing in his lap. He threw his arm over Chifuyu’s shoulder, reaching for the remote.
“What? Nana?”
“Mmhm.”
“Yeah! Finally, I’ve been trying to get you into it for ages!”
“Whatever, the way you explained it always seemed boring. But you and Tora seem to like it so.”
“You can borrow my volumes too if you want!”
“Don’t push it.”
Chifuyu breathed out a laugh, taking the remote from Keisuke to flip to the familiar channel.
—
Honestly, Chifuyu figured life would stay like that indefinitely until a few months after they had all begun hanging out. It was a rare time where Baji was grounded and stuck at home so Chifuyu had met up with Hakkai to watch the boys do their thing.
Except when he got there, Kazutora wasn’t on stage either. It was just Angry, Akkun, and Mitsuya doing some covers.
“Where’s Kazutora?” He asked, squishing in the booth next to his tall friend.
“Probably holed up in the back somewhere. I think his boyfriend or whatever they were calling each other broke up with him.”
His words seemed louder than Mitsuya’s singing on stage.
“Huh? Boyfriend?”
Hakkai seems surprised - like this was information that Chifuyu should’ve already been privy to.
“Are you, him, and Baji like BFFs now or something? He’s never mentioned Hanma?”
Chifuyu could only shake his head, processing the information. Because no.
They knew about the assault that had led him to juvie. They knew about his relationship with his mom… and dad.
Hell, they knew all about his probation conditions.
But nothing about this Hanma.
Who was he? Why was he never at their gigs, supporting him? Why was Kazutora sneaking into Chifuyu’s bed? Why was he in Baji’s phone if he had a boyfriend?
“We’ve never talked about relationships like that. I didn’t know he was seeing anyone.”
“Oh, yeah, he was. Honestly it’s for the best they broke up - Hanma was kinda scary. Not like Taiju scary, but like… he’s just like a ball of chaos. Makes Kazutora spiral sometimes and have melt downs before shows.
Anyway, he dumped him because he’s obsessed with some other dude, Kisaki, or something. I think they’re done for good now though.”
“Oh.”
That was a lot to internalize.
Kazutora was… gay? Which, okay, same. Also Chifuyu shouldn’t have been that surprised considering he was in a band with Mitsuya who was with Hakkai.
And also, there was Chifuyu and Keisuke who never made their relationship a secret. They weren’t super PDA either, but there were definite signs. Kazutora had hung around them enough times to notice.
Not that any of that mattered because it wasn’t like Chifuyu was single. And it wasn’t like Kazutora was interested in him or Keisuke. And even if he was, he’d be too busy getting over Hanma.
Still, Chifuyu found himself sliding back out of the booth, “Is he in the back room?”
Hakkai shrugged, a frown tugging on his prominent scar, “I don’t know.”
“I’ll go check on him.”
He hurried towards the back, ignoring the eye of Mitsuya, Akkun, and some of the listening patrons. Straight to the back where they had all first met.
As soon as he put his hand on the door knob, he paused. He could hear Kazutora - yelling, screaming even. Hidden only because the microphones on stage were louder.
“What the fuck, Shuji?! Why are you doing this?! Why are you fucking— no, listen to me—“
It sounded like something was being thrown. Kazutora sounded hysterical in a way he hadn’t before.
“You said— why do we even have to stop? I don’t need a label! We can just be— let me fucking talk! Why are you laughing?!”
Pacing. He was pacing.
“I’m okay with being a side piece! Just don’t fucking leave. Please, Shuji. Please! Please.”
Chifuyu wasn’t sure what was being said on the other side, but he could tell when the call ended because he could hear the phone crack and be thrown at the wall. He could hear Kazutora dropping to his knees, sobbing so hard it sounded like he was retching.
That was when he finally turned the handle and entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
“Hey.. Kazutora.”
No response; just body wracking sobs.
“Tora, hey, I’m here.”
Chifuyu didn’t wait any time, dropping to his knees next to Kazutora, wrapping his arms around him “Hanma is stupid. You always say Baji and I are empty brained but anyone willing to leave you is really dumb. Like you’re super pretty— or well, that’s not manly, um, like handsome. You’re definitely handsome. And really talented. Not just with the guitar either. I’ve heard you and Baji talking shop and you know a lot about bikes. And Baji said he wanted to introduce you to Mikey because you two would be a badass attack unit. But I still call dibs on being vice because—“
“Shut up.”
“—he’s still my boyfriend even if you’re probably stronger than me. But you can totally be our third—“
“Shut. Up.”
“—not like in a weird way. Like our other boyfriend or anything. That’s weird, right? Haha. More like a third in command—“
“Matsuno, shut the fuck up!”
At his words, Chifuyu’s jaw almost ached from how fast he shut his mouth. He didn’t say anything else, just let Kazutora sit there in his arms and cry.
He probably cried for almost the entire setlist before he finally settled down, allowed his tears to dry up, and his cries turned into occasional hiccups.
“I’m sorry.”
Kazutora didn’t immediately respond, just wiped his face with his Chifuyu’s sleeve. And Chifuyu couldn’t complain much because his mouth dried at the fact that when pulled away, he realized Kazutora’s eyeliner was smudged.
Smudged as in he had been wearing makeup.
“Sorry for getting shit on your clothes. You can use baby oil or dish soap to get it off.”
“I don’t have baby oil.”
“Then use dish soap.”
“Okay.”
Chifuyu didn’t say anything more; just sat in silence. Eventually though, Kazutora cleared his throat.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to be a dick. I just… it was nice to be wanted. Especially by someone whose attention is so hard to get. And Hanma was a good fuck especially after being locked up for a year. It wasn’t like I loved him or anything.”
Fucked. Kazutora was being fucked. And he wasn’t in love.
“Was he your first?”
It was a dumb question. It literally had no merit on anything. It was just the first thing to come out of Chifuyu’s mouth. He wasn’t even sure he wanted the answer.
“No.”
“Oh.”
“What? Don’t tell me you and Baji were each others firsts?”
Chifuyu’s cheeks reddened. In order to be firsts, they had to be, ya know, intimate. And they weren’t. Not yet, at least.
The silence must’ve did the talking for him because suddenly Kazutora was blinking at him, eyes wide “Oh my God, you’re a virgin. Is Keisuke too?”
“We— I—“
“Oh my God.” Kazutora started to laugh before quieting down. “Eh, what do I know? At least you have somebody.”
“Fuck Hanma! You have Baji and I, right?”
“Not like that, I don’t. It’s fine. I think I’m gonna sneak out the back and head… somewhere. I don’t know. Thanks for comforting me. I really do appreciate it.”
The blond could only watch as Kazutora stood up, stretching from how long he had been crouched before gathering up his things to include his razor phone with all the charms that somehow didn’t break when he threw it and his guitar, still in the case. He had just barely slid the guitar casing on his back and grabbed his bike keys when Chifuyu stood up too.
“I don’t think you should be alone.”
Kazutora looked at him, blinking slowly, “What?”
“Let me come with you. I showed up to watch you play anyway.”
It was a little too close to the truth but—
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Kazutora nodded, “Well… come on, I guess. I wanna get away from here.”
—
So that’s how Chifuyu found himself at a local park with Kazutora. He wasn’t sure where exactly they were, but he trusted the boy.
The two of them sat on the swing set together, twisting around more than actually swinging.
“So…” Chifuyu cleared his throat. “I didn’t realize you were gay.”
“I’m not. I’m bi.”
“Oh. Cool. Me too, I think. I mean, I’ve never had a girlfriend but girls are cute sometimes. Boys too. Mainly Baji, but, ya know.”
“Yeah.”
More silence.
“How’d you meet, um, Hanma?”
“We ran in the same crowd. That assault I got locked up for - it was a fight he set up. For fun. Even though I got caught, I guess I caught his interest because he was waiting for me when I got out.”
“Oh. Cool. Is juvie scary?”
Kazutora laughed, spinning himself into a tight chain so that he could forcefully spin in the opposite direction, “Not really. People call me a pretty boy and underestimate me. I’m stronger than I look so usually one fight settles shit for awhile. That and I ran into my buddy Kensho there.”
“Oh that’s good. I guess you are really pretty but that doesn’t mean you’re not strong. I can tell by your hands.”
“Stare at my hands a lot?”
“I— no, it’s not like that! I just mean—“
“I’m fucking with you.”
“Oh.”
Kazutora laughed lightly, dragging his feet to slow himself down, “I probably would’ve done something reckless if you hadn’t come here with me tonight.”
“Well I’d hate to see you back in juvie so glad to be of service.”
Kazutora looked at his phone, sighing at the time “It’s getting late. I should drive you home.”
Chifuyu didn’t put up a fight, “You gonna spend the night?”
“Nah, it’s cool. C’mon.”
—
Twenty minutes later, Kazutora dropped Chifuyu off at his apartment building.
And before he left, he pressed a kiss to Chifuyu’s cheek.
“Thanks again.”
—
As insignificant as the kiss may have been, Chifuyu wasted no time running to the backside of the building and using the fire escape to climb up to Baji’s bedroom, banging on his bedroom window.
Almost immediately, Baji snatched it open, looking surprised “Fuyu?! Shhh you know I’m grounded! Mom will lose her mind if—“
“Kazutora kissed me! Or well, on the cheek but his boyfriend broke up with him tonight! Am I a rebound?”
“What?”
Chifuyu took a deep breath to calm himself before relaying everything that had happened over the night. And instead of looking jealous, Baji just looked… annoyed.
“Fuck, stupid history test! I should’ve been there with you, comforting Kazu.”
“You’re not mad?”
“At what?”
“He kissed me.”
“So? It’s just Tora.”
“So Kazutora can just kiss me and you’re okay?”
It was Keisuke’s turn to sound confused, “Yeah. I trust him. Plus he had a bad day.”
“You realize kisses are supposed to be between partners right. Like between boyfriends.”
“Do you want me to be mad?”
“Well, no, but—“
“Would you be mad if he kissed me on the cheek? It’s not like you made out.”
Chifuyu’s cheeks flamed at the involuntary image of Keisuke and Kazutora making out. He wouldn’t mind— or well, he probably would. He’d mind less if he had a front row seat, but still.
“Um.”
“Would you?”
“I guess not.”
“Yeah. Unless he like full on makes out with you without asking first, I don’t see the point in getting mad. Wasted energy.”
This conversation was quickly spiraling and Chifuyu was definitely getting close to curfew. But still he couldn’t stop himself from asking,“Asking you or me?”
“What?”
“You said unless he asks first. Asks me or you.”
“To make out with you?”
“Yeah.”
Keisuke stared at Chifuyu through the small, screen-less window. Just brown eyes staring into blue. The wind was starting to pick up but Chifuyu wasn’t sure that was reason a shiver ran through his spine as Baji’s infamous fanged smile started to come over his face.
“… Fuyu, are you into Kazutora?”
“What?! I’m loyal! To you! Because we’re dating!”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Chifuyu’s cheeks were burning and he was starting to to regret everything that led him to this point, “Keisuke…”
Keisuke leaned further into the window, getting in his tippy toes so they could be nose to nose, “Are you into Kazutora? Be honest. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
“I’m not—“
“I mean, I’ll say it - he’s hot.”
“Oh.” Chifuyu blinked in surprise, his voice catching. “Um, yeah. He… is…”
“Yeah, he’s stupid hot, and strong. And single, huh?”
“Uh, yeah. I guess he is.”
“Wait until I’m ungrounded, alright? I’ll handle everything!”
And with a quick kiss to the nose, Keisuke closed his window, effectively closing the conversation and forcing Chifuyu to head home.
Only a few minutes past curfew.
—
Keisuke was grounded for two more weeks. In that time, Chifuyu just continued acting like normal. Enjoying lunch when Kazutora showed up to the school to eat with Baji and him on the rooftop.
Hanging out with him after school and on the weekends during his gigs with the band.
As if everything was normal.
As if he didn’t send Chifuyu spiraling with a simple cheek kiss.
As if Baji hadn’t just casually mentioned that their friend was attractive and he’d be okay with Chifuyu being pinned down and kissed breathlessly. Or well, that’s not really what he said but close enough.
Chifuyu just continued acting like everything was normal until he eventually got a text from Baji with nothing more than directions to a vague location.
—
And that was exactly how Chifuyu found himself behind an abandoned brick building, watching in horror as his boyfriend had lit a car on fire. And set up milk crates in front of said fire with a 7/11 bag resting on top.
Also, Kazutora was there, staring in fascination.
“What. the. fuck.”
“Yeah, Baji, what the hell is this?! You literally just got ungrounded.”
“That’s why we’re so far away from the apartment! Ma will never find out!” Baji looked proud of himself. “And anyway, this way we have privacy!”
“Privacy?”
Baji nodded, walking up close to Kazutora, putting his hands on his shoulders and pulling him in for a tight hug “I heard you got broken up with. So you’re like super single right now.”
“Um,” Kazutora sounded a little bewildered. “Yeah. Are you… are you trying to cheer me up? With arson?”
“Yeah! Since your fuck ass boyfriend dumped you, let Chifuyu and I take you out on a date. Right now.”
“What?!”
Chifuyu was feeling faint. And he wasn’t sure if it was because of walk from their building to this… date.
“Tell him Fuyu! How we both think Tora is hot and would kiss him.”
Kazutora was still tight in embrace with Baji, but looking at him, his single earring sounding loud with how hard his neck snapped over. His mouth was partially opened in confusion.
“Are you guys proposing a threesome or something?”
“What?” Baji finally let him go, looking confused. “I mean, eventually, I guess. More like we both think you’re hot and definitely we’re way better than your ex boyfriend if you wanna just be with us instead.”
“Like date you two?”
“Yeah! I even bought us Peyoung to share to make it official. So what do you say?”
“Chifuyu?”
Chifuyu didn’t really have any words.
He really didn’t.
-
“I'm comin' out of my cage and I've been do Coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine
Gotta, gotta be down, because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head, but she's touching his”
Chifuyu tightening his fingers in Baji’s grasp, dancing to the song. While they danced in the front, Kazutora gave them a goofy smile from the stage, his fingers almost a blur from how fast they were moving across his chords.
The small crowd that had gathered, sung along with Mitsuya. The few extroverts and people drunk enough to be on the dance floor, swayed in near the stage.
It wasn’t until the end of the song when the crowd was applauding and cheering that Baji raised Chifuyu and his intertwined hands, pointing at Kazutora with his other “That’s our boyfriend!”
And even with red stained cheeks, Chifuyu couldn’t stop himself from cheering with the rest of the crowd.