#three.selfships

Rolling his pencil between his thumb and forefinger, Baji stopped to push the bits of eraser around on his desk. Piling them up once more for a second. Before stabbing the nearly gone eraser end of his pencil into the pile of shavings and dispersing them all over. He was getting nowhere on his homework.

Frankly though he couldn't care any less about school or anything else right now.

Jolted by the racking of knuckles on his door. He scrambled to cover his homework out of reflex. Nothing incriminating except maybe the fact he wasn’t doing his homework. Still he awkwardly cleared his throat one more time than he needed to as he tried to let his mom know she could come in.

“Keisuke....” Familiar softness of his mother’s voice as she peaked her head around the barely opened door, “...you’ve been in here a while honey.”

“Doing homework mom.” Baji mumbled into his arm as he leaned most of his upper body into his desk. Untouched papers strewn all over his workspace. None of them had more than his name on them. No answered filled or notes revised. They were the exact same when she stopped by to check on him a few hours ago. Baji saw his mother look glance at the work on his desk. Forcing him to quickly gather it and put it under himself as he leaned into the desk, “Just homework.”

“Well...” She tried a small smile, “I’m glad you’re focusing. You have a guest though.”

“A guest?” 

His eyes lit up in a way she hadn’t seen in a while. Unsure why though but his mother had an inclination why. So it crushed her a little when she elaborated on his unknown caller, “He’s outside....Keisuke that young man is smoking, you had better not be giving him any money or hiding things from me.”

The very second she said they were smoking, Baji’s stomach fell through a thousand floors to smack at the very ground sour and unsettled. His nose crinkled up and he turned away from his mother back to his desk, “I’m not smoking mom. And I didn’t give anyone any money.”

Pensive she opened the door a little more to step into her son’s room, “Well that I’m glad to hear. But he knew your name and the name of your little girlfriend you’d been seeing so-”

“She wasn’t my girlfriend mom!” 

“Ok ok ok-” She put her hands up in a loose gesture of defeat, “Girlfriend or not- I know he’s the young man I saw with you guys a few weeks back right? He said he wanted to drop by and say hi.”

Baji still bent over his desk with his back to the door wasn’t stirred by his mother’s narrative. In fact now if possible he seemed in a worse mood than he had been in all week. Her gut saying one thing. And her son saying another. Baji’s mom finally sighed as she came up and laid a hand on her son’s back.

“Keisuke I know somethings going on.” She felt his shoulders tense under her palm as he very clearly wasn’t paying attention to the English homework he was pretending to do, “I won’t pry but- Maybe from this old lady and the little more life experience I have, you should at least go greet him. It’s the proper thing to do Keisuke.”

“It’s the proper thing to do.” Baji with his snottiest tone mimicked what his mother just said. The pit in his stomach sank though. He didn’t mean to turn it on his mom. That was something he never wanted. So when her touch disappeared from his back Baji sighed and pushed away from this desk. Knowing what he had to do at least to make his mom happy.

And to no one’s surprise the second he opened the door Baji was looking up at Shuji still looming outside the door. This time a spent cigarette bud pinched between his fingers. And no grin on his face the second their eyes met.

“Aye there’s pretty dress up boy,” Shuji’s grin returned to his face. Now it looked more like the dude Baji had the misfortune of re-meeting a few weeks ago when he went with you to be the first to greet him after his prison release. Shuji tipped his head to the side holding his arms out, “What, no hug?”

“Do you boys want something to drink? A snack?” Baji’s mom of course offered from the hallway as she peaked past her son still holding the door open and not moving a muscle.

“Actually, Ms. Baji. I was wondering if Keisuke was free for a ride this afternoon.” Shuji politely informed the woman.

“Like hell I’m going anywhere with you.” Baji scowled, shaking his head and began shutting the door in his face.

Shuji stuck his boot in the door before Baji was able to shut it entirely. Cocky grin on his thin face as the curve of his cheek showed off that one dimple he had. Gold eyes down on Baji nothing short of an arrogant predator feeling like it was toying with it’s next meal. Before he could shove him out of the doorway the taller man spoke up, “Y/n was gonna come but....I told her we’d meet her there, Keisuke.”

Hearing your name caused the very obvious rigidity to Baji’s body. His already pale face sallow and colorless as a sheet. No mistaking what Shuji said. As he did not stutter your name even in the slightest.

“Oh who sweet.” His mom popped off from behind, “Keisuke’s been cooped up in his room so much...go on son, I’ll make sure to keep dinner warm for you.”

“Mom I-” Baji felt that numbness coming up around his heart again. He didn’t understand it and he didn’t like it. And hearing your name and seeing Shuji’s grin made it all that much worse. Staying in his room was the only thing that didn’t make this feeling worse.

“C’mon now.” Shuji winked as he tucked his cigarette butt back into the pack he still had half full of, “Wouldn’t want to disappoint your girlfriend now, would you?”

Ears tipped with red. Baji felt the scrunch to his forehead and nose with the deep glare coming onto his face. But there was no leaving it alone after that. Even making it feel like his mom was pushing him out. Suddenly he felt like there was nothing to do but go with Shuji even if he just wanted to lock himself back in his room.

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If it wasn’t bad enough that it felt like his own mom was plotting against him. When Baji came down to his bike to realize the gas tank was empty. After not touching it for over a week and ignoring even texts from Chifuyu as well as you. He hadn’t thought once about how he left it empty the last time he rode it. 

And before he could use this as an excuse. Or even go up to ask him mom for some cash. Shuji was patting the back of his bike. Leopard print seat nothing short of inviting when the sly man’s grin stayed even with his offer for him to ride along.

“....not like I bite or anything,” Shuji smiled, “I owe you one, for carting around y/n the entire time I was in prison.”

Each time Shuji brought you up Baji felt icky. Thinking about you never made him feel this way. Since that day you visited him in the hospital Baji felt nothing short of excited to think of you. Now though each time you came up, he couldn’t get the ugly smirk of Shuji’s out of his head. 

If this is what all the love triangles in those mangas he borrowed from Chifuyu felt like, Baji was certain he never wanted to feel love ever again.

“Fine.” Baji finally caved. Throwing his leg over the back of Shuji’s back. Disgruntled but quiet about having to bum a ride off the one person he thought he was competing with. Honestly at this point he just wanted to skip ahead to the fight that all those stupid mangas had. Some big blow out then a happy ending. That sounded more like what he could do.

Not even aware of where he was taking him. As they whisked down a back alley at illegal speeds as well through illegal areas. Baji realized he could have been lied to. He had read a manga before where the main love interest was almost killed by a jealous love. And as Baji stared at the back of Shuji’s helmet and he held on best he could with touching him minimally. He had to wonder what role he really was playing if this was a love triangle?

Would it play out like his books? The way Chifuyu always explained that one series he’d read five hundred times. Baji would come out on top right? Then again, this was the dude Draken called a zombie. Baji was by no means intimidated by Draken but if this dude made him break a sweat. It left him wondering if maybe the writing to this story wasn’t in his favor. What if Shuji wasn’t just simply taking him to a back alley to beat the shit out of him. But really was taking him to you just so you could pick which one of them you loved...

“Awfully quiet back there for a man who’s forgotten how to text.” Shuji’s voice surprised Baji. Making him look up from his lap and realizing they were at a stand still at a light. Their eyes met as Shuji was already looking back at him with a side glance, “Cats got your tongue there Baji?”

“Where are we going” Baji ignored him completely. Kicking off the pavement as Shuji did when the light turned green.

“You’ll see.” Shuji answered nonchalantly. 

Slow as they were going, the rumble of his bike’s engine wasn’t making it impossible for them to talk. Baji didn’t like the idea but if he was going to be rejected in broad daylight in some grand way he’d like a heads up if possible, “...Why didn’t y/n come see me?”

Shuji rolled to a stop at a four way. Surprisingly cautious of road laws as Baji glared at the back of his head, “Because she doesn’t know I came and got you.”

Bingo. Baji knew this was a set up for a fight. Sure he’d been cooped up in his room a few days but that wasn’t going to stop him from knocking in this monster’s teeth if it came down to it. 

“I wanted to surprise her.” Shuji continued as the engine rumbled quietly along the edge of the park he’d been looking for a parking place. And when he finally found it Shuji kicked his stand out and pulled his helmet off before turning back around to his glaring little friend, “She misses you.”

That was the first time Baji’s heart stopped. Those words didn’t make sense. And he was certain Shuji meant them as a mockingly as possible. Before he could retaliate against such bullshit. Baji’s heart stopped again when his eyes landed on you coming down the steps of the park.

“Shuji where the hell have you been I-” Your words stopped in their tracks. Baji’s brown eyes meeting your own as he held his loaned helmet in his lap still on the back of Shuji’s bike. He couldn’t move but was glad to see you could, “Keisuke!”

While his heart stalled in his chest. Baji felt your arms wrap around him. Unsure of how you even closed the gap between you both so fast. But he didn’t care to ask. That numbness he felt since going with you to see Shuji released vanished. Almost returning to the same feeling he felt in the hospital bed when you grabbed his hand and smiled. Now you were grabbing all of him. Hugging him as tight to your body as humanly possible. All while Shuji stood off to he side picking another cigarette out of it’s carton.

“You-” You held onto both his shoulders pulling away just to see his face, “You’re here!? My texts- Were they not going through? Your mom said you were out- I stopped by a few times I- I’m so glad to see you!”

“You’re- You’re happy to see me?” Baji parroted the last part utterly struck with confusion.

For once the scowl wasn’t on his face. Instead making it’s home on your lovely familiar features that Baji couldn’t look away even if he tried. 

“Happy? Keisuke I’ve been so worried. I thought I did something wrong- Or said something- I kept telling Shuji I needed to check up on you and-”

“And he came and got me.” Baji felt foolish. Dumb in fact. Dumber than any of his homework could make him feel. He felt the weirdest flutter in his normal sour stomach. It mixed in a weird way that made his heart beat faster but at the same time he wanted to throw up. Leaving him unaware when Shuji came over and slung his arm over Baji’s shoulder like they were buds.

“Drug this nerd out from his homework for some fresh air,” Shuji winked down at Baji who was staring up at him awestruck if anything, “Thought my favorite people shouldn’t be standing each other up.”

“Shuji shut up.” You grinned, slugging him in the shoulder only to turn towards Baji and give him a sheepish grin, “I- I have stuff for snacks, are you- are you hungry by any chance? We could eat down by that tree we liked and then show Shuji the trick at the arcade. That is...if you’re alright with that?”

Baji couldn’t believe he wanted to cry. Right here in broad daylight of all things. All he could do was stiffen up with Shuji’s arm still slung over him and give a quick nod, “Y-Yes. I’m- I’m very alright with that.”

“Good!” Your face lit up like he’d seen it do a million times but never ceased to make him warm and fuzzy inside, “Let me snag my stuff it’s on the other side of the park. I’ll be right back!”

You were gone, only momentarily. And Shuji unslung his arm from Baji’s shoulder as he took a drag on his cigarette. With you out of ear shot. He couldn’t stop from blurting out his question.

“I- I thought we were going to fight-” Baji looked around feeling a little insane for saying that out loud.

Shuji’s brow arced up and he exhaled the plume of smoke in the opposite direction, “Do you wanna fight?”

Baji felt the color return to his face and looked down as he balled his fists to his side, “No- Not exactly- No I don’t want to fight you but I’ve read enough shoujo to-”

“Wait! Wait wait wait!” Shuji choked on his smoke waving it away trying to laugh  as he coughed, “Wait- You thought this- Was some shitty romance manga?”

Color creeping from his ears to his entire face now. Baji looked down at his feet wishing he could hide in his hair, “I- You and me- After you got released is all-”

“Man did you think this was some dopey love triangle?” Shuji puffed on his smoke, “You and I were going to fight and y/n would pick the winner to marry on the spot.” Baji’s silence was enough of an answer. Shuji continued to laugh even as he cleared his lungs and put out his smoke. Tucking it away next to the one he already smoked in it’s carton. Laughing the entire time before he slung his arm back over Baji just as you came over the crest of the little hill in the park, “If this was some shit shoujo manga I wouldn’t find you as interesting as I do.”

“W-What?” Baji looked up at him.

The profile of his smirk Baji suddenly felt the oddity of his beating heart in his chest. It was almost like that of when he looked at you. But it felt different. Something he didn’t know beforehand. His staring was obvious and Shuji took notice as he finally looked over at his new found friend slung under his arm, “I wanna get to know you. So no more being cooped up in your room, yeah?”

Utterly unsure if he followed Baji was still confused if they were going to fight or not in the first place but it seemed unlikely as you were coming back to them, “Y-Yeah but-”

“But nothing,” Shuji tugged him closer to his body as Baji smelled the familiarity of his cigarette on his jacket, “You have one of those dumb mangas where the love triangle gets together?”

“Together? Like...romantically....I don’t think so....”

“Good.” Shuji beamed down at him just as you came back with your things, “Then lets pretend you have see where this all goes shall we? Seems like a better book than any of the ones you’ve been reading.”

“What are you guys talking about?” You asked just as you caught the tail end of Shuji’s words.

Baji looked to you, then back up at Shuji. Realizing that numb feeling was gone. He’d fought it this entire time and getting rid of it was just, this simple. Shuji smiled as he kicked his stand up and gestured like he was ready to go to his wonderful lunch spot you’d mentioned. And you were smiling as Baji felt the release of thousands if not tens of thousands of butterflies all at once in his stomach. The butterflies for you felt so similar to the odd ones for Shuji. Baji couldn’t tell the difference and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know if they were different.

hanma x me

San/Ashiaka because I just know this man dumb and stubborn enough to let me hold a knife to his throat when he pisses me off or disagrees with me and honestly he thrives on it and refuses to leave me so it's kinda hot ig

baji x me

honestly this sounds so bad but...I can't think of one....

roland x me

Haru/Baron 🥰🥰🥰 because he's a suave dorky gentleman with ulterior motives and I would simply stay a cat with him forever

kurono x me

this is cliché but idc, Haku/Chihiro, I would through any lifetime always remember him no matter what separated us or for how long. And Kurono should remember me from a little pink slipper it would be poetic and perfect don't lie

draken x me

I'm a spring baby and both them are fall babies so our compromise would be late spring/early summer to have our wedding

They're both big babies so it can't be cold outside anyways so probably the month of May or June

Hanma and Baji bring the dark colors and I bring the light and pastel colors

Less of a traditional wedding in the sense paperwork won't be done or a person to administer vows and such but we have a hand binding ceremony with a more earthy celtic/pagan feel to it

It was this close to a shoeless wedding but compromise is Hanma wears Converses with his suit, Baji wears sneakers that are at least not annoying to look at and I wear very comfortable flats

They both really fell in love with roses as a theme and I can't complain because they're one of my favorite flowers

Baji and Hanma are so handsome in their color coordinated suits; Baji wears a blue suit with a red tie. Hanma wears a red suit with a blue tie. And they insist I have a pretty floor length white dress just because they get too excited about it all

If the boobs pop up all the better they agreed on that

We don't get rings but certainly go and have a tattoo appointment set up for after the wedding the same week to get our bands tattooed on our ring fingers

Yes Baji and Hanma smash cake in each other's face. Yes I probably made the wedding cake by hand but at least they just smashed their own slices and not the entire cake

It isn't a huge event and Baji didn't want all of Toman there which he asked them to respect

Guests would range from our closest families of course, to just the founding group of Toman + Chifuyu

Kazutora is actually Hanma's best man and Chifuyu is Baji's best man

The only thing Baji asked Mitsuya to do was embroider our last name on the suits so that they could be heirlooms for our future kids - purely on the fact Baji didn't want his friend working on his wedding day and wanted Mitsuya to enjoy it as his friend and not a client/working relationship

Both men do end up taking my name. Hanma simply didn't care, Baji thought about hyphenating it but then thought about the horror of spelling it and just opted to stick with my four letter last name because it "seemed easier" smh

Even a small wedding for three people isn't exactly small so there's a lot of enjoying everyone's company with food brought by everyone and a few things we made special (like the wedding cake); there's a lot of food, good drinks and honestly we all end up too tired and full to "consummate" the marriage the night of

Of course Baji and Hanma both agree that's what we have a honeymoon for to make up for that 🙄

We spend the night of our wedding in a big knot on the bed, laying in each other's lap in our hotel room laughing at pictures of our wedding, of past anniversaries and just silly pictures in general

Nothing is extravagant to the point it's over the top but Hanma and Baji are proud of the way it turned out. Even prouder to have finally had a party with their loved one to celebrate us all