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Let it be known that Yoichi loves his boyfriend very much.
They've known each other since their early teens after all, dated for the better part of eight years and lived together for over half that. There's literally nothing about Bachira Meguru that Isagi Yoichi does not understand, if not love, in some capacity, and basically nothing at this point he can throw at him that Yoichi cannot contend with.
Even this, when Bachira floated the idea a month ago, was something Yoichi was plenty equipped to handle, and more than willing to give a try. There were few things more secure in Yoichi’s life than his relationship with Bachira, and fewer still things he would ever deny him, though he was also down just because it sounded like a good time.
However-
"So, are we doing this or what?" The guy who will potentially be fucking one or both of them asks with an impatient huff.
The ice in his glass rattles as he sets it down, empty for the third time in the hour they’ve been at this bar. None of it has even melted yet, the chill in his gaze just as sharp and arresting three Midoris deep. Yoichi had assumed he’d been drinking up the courage to, you know, negotiate a threesome with a couple of strangers, but now he’s not so sure.
"You sure about this, Meguru?" Yoichi asks, speaking low into his boyfriend's ear.
Bachira leans in, the excitement practically buzzing off him. "Yeah! C'mon, don't you think he's handsome?"
Handsome. That is a word you could use to describe the guy sitting across from them. He's tall, broad shouldered, and lean, the kind of physique you only see in sports magazines– the swimsuit edition, if you were lucky. (Yoichi's only peaked his thighs from under the table but they're devastating . Staining against those dark wash jeans with the rips in the knees. Goddamn.) But pretty also works, with his dark side-swept hair and wide, dainty-lashed green eyes.
Pretty , and scowling, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else but here, a thundercloud intensity in his tense posture and frankly filthy fucking expression.
Yoichi would do a lot for his boyfriend, would honestly do that guy under different circumstances just for the pleasure of it, but in this prospective blend of his boyfriend, himself, and that walking hazard sign, he’s not entirely convinced. "Look, I know you picked him out but-"
"Only because you didn't wanna ask any of our friends!"
"Because I don't really want to know what any of our friends look like naked!"
"So, here's a perfectly able and willing guy to tap in! Yoichi ," Bachira’s voice drops, as serious as Yoichi’s ever heard him. "He's a switch!"
"I'm going to leave if you idiots just keep staring at me and whispering."
Caught, they turn as one. The guy jumps, gaze bouncing between their faces for several startled seconds before settling on the middle distance, staring flatly back.
Yoichi and Bachira exchange a look. No one says anything.
Sex With Legs huffs, getting up and shoving the chair in roughly.
"Wait.”
The word slips from Yoichi's lips before he can overthink it. Mr Hazard Sign pauses, two steps away from the table.
Bachira gets up, going over to his side and taking him by the elbow with a sweet smile. One Yoichi knows well. "C'mon Rin-chan! Let's take you home."
He tugs Rin in the direction of the bar’s exit, settling the matter in one fell swoop. Yoichi sighs, knocking back the last of his drink, then Bachira's too for good measure, and goes to follow.
A distant slam snaps Yoichi from sleep. He blinks against the early morning light, the sudden jolt into consciousness leaving him reeling for several moments, everything fuzzy and muted as his brain remembers what having eyes is like.
Heavy warmth shifts at this side, a drowsy mumble slipping from Bachira as he curls around Yoichi’s arm. A glance around him reveals an empty space, rumpled covers, and a lack of clothes on the floor. Rin is gone.
"Coulda at least got me up to lock the door..." Yoichi grumbles to the empty air, for all the good it does.
Bachira murmurs something, stirring as he lifts his head. He always looks like one of those droopy little kittens when he first wakes, downturned eyes and messy hair. This morning there is an extra hazy layer upon him, mouth mottled red, a bruise from a bite Yoichi did not give him spreading on his tan shoulder.
"Hey. Hi." Yoichi greets him, cupping his jaw.
"Hi." Bachira replies, voice half-broken from sleep and the night before. He goes easily into the kiss Yoichi gives him, lazy and sweet. When he pulls back he turns, looking around. "Mmm. Where's Rin-chan?"
Yoichi sighs, thumbing at the corner of Bachira’s left eye where tears had clumped the lashes together. "He left already. Went before I woke up, I didn't even see him go."
"Awww. Boo."
"How are you feeling?"
"Good. Really good." He grins, wicked and satisfied, bright gaze gleaming as he leans back on his elbows. "That was a lot of fun."
Yoichi pulls his hand away, settling it on the curve of his lower back. The bruises that linger there are his, that he knows. "Glad you enjoyed yourself. I was your idea after all."
When he presses down a bit, Bachira wiggles with a hum, reaching up to tangle his fingers in Yoichi's bedhead, pulling in mischievous retaliation. "What about you? Didn't you have fun? It's not fair if I'm the only one!"
"I mean-" Yoichi starts and then stops. He drums his fingers on Bachira’s spine, collecting his thoughts. "I'm still not really sure about him. He was kinda intense. And bossy."
"Oooh, didn't like someone else taking charge for a change?" Bachira snickers and Yoichi rolls his eyes. "Did he do something specific that bothered you? I'll fight him."
"Not really. I dunno, he could have just been more… open? Less uptight. I seriously thought he was gonna bite my hand off a few times."
"Chomp chomp."
"I get being nervous, but there’s being nervous and then there’s being an asshole."
"Do you not want him to come back?" Yoichi glances down, Bachira looking back up at him earnestly. "If you don't wanna, we don't have to. We both said we wanted this. If you're not having fun, I'm not having fun either."
“That’s not fair to you. I know you like him."
"Mmm. I guess I just feel like I know him a little already." Bachira shrugs, resting his head on Yoichi’s chest. "My friend, the one who introduced us, is dating Rin-chan's elder brother. He knows how Rin-chan is and wants him to get out more. Make some friends."
"So he thought setting him up with a long-term established couple looking for a third was a good way to make... friends?"
"Hehehe, Shidou's just like that! His heart's in the right place!"
"Maybe." Yoichi snorts, and strokes his boyfriend’s hair. Should’ve figured something like that happened; Bachira and his bleeding heart for all the weirdos he meets.
Yoichi was one of those weirdos once… He’s acting like this was all for Bachira’s benefit, but that’s not really true. They made this choice together. And there’s something about Rin that still has Yoichi intrigued, even if it’s only a pretty face and a nice set of thighs.
Maybe he just needs someone to be nice to him. They're still new to this arrangement after all.
He lifts Bachira’s face to his own again. “Okay. We can give Rin another go.”
"Okay!" Bachira chirps, pressing several quick kisses to Yoichi’s face, hummingbird fast and light. "I'll text him."
"I'll get started on breakfast."
Yoichi gets up and throws on some sweats, making his way to the kitchen. He’s not entirely awake but knows suddenly that something is off. He clocks it immediately.
Sitting in the sink is Yoichi’s green mug– which is not where he had left it. It’s unwashed. A cursory check of the coffee machine reveals an empty but warm pot and a basket of used grounds still in the sieve, and a tick works through Yoichi’s jaw.
Maybe he should rethink letting that asshole back in his house.
The dream in Yoichi’s head disappears about the same time as the body beneath him. Awareness trickles in and then crashes down all at once as he faceplants into the mattress, the space warm but emptier than Yoichi had remembered it last night.
"Rin?" Yoichi calls for him, rubbing his eyes. "You're leaving?"
The broad shape of Rin’s bare back comes into focus. "Uh. Yeah."
"Meguru was sad you left so early last time.” Yoichi rolls over onto his stomach with a yawn. “You could stay for breakfast, if you want. I'll cook."
A dark shirt comes down over pale skin, and Rin twists to look at Yoichi, fully dressed once more. Filthy fucking scowl included. "Hard pass. I'll grab one of your protein bars on the way out."
He’s been through their cabinets. Of course. This doesn’t surprise Yoichi so much as it just annoys him. "Seriously?" He sits up, matching Rin’s glare. "Why are you being like this? We invited you here."
"You invited me to fuck."
"Yeah, and? Is it gonna kill you to be here if your dick isn't out?"
Rin obviously wasn't expecting the backtalk, teeth snapping with an audible click in surprise. But then his jaw sets, eyes narrowing to ice chips, and it’s impressive, really, how such a hot guy can ruin everything by opening his mouth.
"Tell Bachira to text me when you want this dick again. Otherwise, I don't want you to talk to me. Lukewarm."
He turns on his heel, striding for the door, shutting it behind him. A moment later the front door slams too.
Add a third , they said. It'll be fun , they said. Yoichi flops back to the bed, covering his face with his hands. " Oh he's so toxic."
"Wow. That was pretty mean."
Yoichi jolts, glancing to see Bachira leaned back on an elbow, staring off at the door. "You were awake the whole time?!"
"Sure was. I was laying on you, and you were laying on him, so when you moved, I moved-"
Bachira reenacts the series of events with his hands, which, despite the unfortunate reminder that Yoichi had in fact fallen asleep on Rin and Rin had allowed him to stay there, is ultimately unhelpful. "Meguru..."
At Yoichi’s tone, Bachira stops, his expression falling. He drops his chin onto his fist with a sigh. "This sucks. I was really hoping you two would hit it off. Maybe. Eventually."
"He's so toxic, Meguru. He’s been here twice and you’ve seen all the shit he’s pulled. Plus, he plays favorites! He barely looked at me the first time, but last night he wouldn't leave me alone for two seconds! That's not fair to anyone. And it's really weird!"
"Weeeeelllll- I might have asked him to give you a little more attention. I didn't want you to feel left out!"
"Seriously?"
"It seemed fine at the time. It looked like you two were having fun. I liked watching~"
Yoichi pushes Bachira away as he closes in. "No. No, no. You don't get to bat your eyelashes out of this one."
"Aw~" He pouts, falling face-down into Yoichi’s lap. He wraps his arms around his waist and nuzzles into his stomach, and Yoichi wasn’t all that mad but he lets Bachira make it up to him anyway. They cuddle for a while before Bachira pulls away, tilting his head up to meet Yoichi’s gaze again. "So. Whatta we gonna do then?"
"I feel like we need to talk to him if this is gonna continue. Be more clear with what we want. And set some boundaries."
"You don't wanna kick him out of the polycule?"
"Oh, I want to. But that's going to be like admitting defeat." Yoichi grimaces, though he’s already got an idea cooking. "If that's what he thinks I want, I'm not gonna give it to him."
"Now who's the toxic one?"
“Zip it.”
"What's this?" Rin asks a week later, standing at the threshold of their kitchen.
“ This is dinner.” Yoichi says as he dissolves miso into the soup.
Bachira hops up on the island, arms wide in excitement. “We wanted you to eat dinner with us, Rin-chan!”
Rin’s expression is unreadable as he surveys the room. His gaze hovers over the stove, nose wrinkling before his eyes flick over the two of them, first at Yoichi for a long, hard moment, then to Bachira. Back and forth, an emotion for each of them, an emotion for both of them, the shift between so subtle Yoichi nearly misses it.
It comes to rest on Bachira, reverting to the usual shitty scowl. “Bobcut, I don't know what that cockroach told you, but I really don't-”
“Actually, it was my idea.” Yoichi cuts in.
Rin’s eyes find his again. Just as quickly, they find the tile more interesting.
“Tch.”
Bachira claps, grinning ear to ear. “Sit down.”
Rin sits. He doesn’t seem particularly happy about it, but Yoichi leaves Bachira to fix that while he finishes fixing dinner.
Because it was, in fact, Yoichi's idea. Rin was a younger guy, and– based on the rundown Bachira got from Shidou and in turn recited back to Yoichi to assure him they weren’t about to sleep with a serial killer– while in Uni didn’t live with his parents, so it’s probably been a while since he had a home-cooked meal. Though Rin was a direct person, Yoichi’s picked up that when it comes to handling him the indirect approach yields better results.
Yoichi plates up the dishes and Bachira serves everyone, Rin first, then Yoichi, and last himself, the way Yuu taught him. Rin doesn’t react any particular way upon eating the first bite, nor any thereafter, but he eats without comment or complaint, which is a rare combination from him. Yoichi will take the wins where he can.
The conversation needs a few tries to find its legs. Bachira asks Rin about his day, his responses monosyllabic and disinterested, doubly so when asked about his family. Inevitably his Uni classes come up and that’s where Bachira finally finds some traction, and in the time it takes Yoichi to do a quick Google search of ornithology under the table he’s gotten Rin on a rather passionate tangent regarding his opinions on playback, and they’re off running.
Yoichi just sits back and listens for most of it. Bachira, as is his way, is wholly himself no matter the situation, and Yoichi knows from firsthand experience that it tends to be rather effective in its quality of bringing out the same in others. Even Rin– stone cold, broody Rin– is not immune. It’s satisfying, seeing how he melts for Bachira, only the edges but still somehow so different, humoring his curiosities, speaking at length to him where he rarely gives anything else the time of day; and Yoichi likes how his dry, bleak sense of humor draws the wicked side out of Bachira too.
When the conversation draws to a natural lull, Yoichi speaks up.
“We actually wanted to talk to you about something.”
Rin stiffens. It's slight, but Yoichi catches it. “Okay.”
“We wanted to talk about how things have been going!” Bachira clarifies with a pat to Rin’s arm.
“Okay.” He repeats, his eyes falling to the table.
“First things first,” Bachira continues, because they decided that he would do most of the talking. “We think it’s going pretty good! But there is some stuff we wanna address.
“If you're going to leave early, wake one of us so we can lock the door! That's just common courtesy, Rin-chan. Next,”
“Don't leave a mess behind.” Is Yoichi's addition. “In the kitchen specifically.”
“And lastly-” Bachira takes a big breath for emphasis, “Just be nice! And treat us fairly. Everyone is here for a good time. You don't have to act all big and bad around us, Rin-chan.”
Rin is still as he sits there, no outward reaction. Several moments go by in silence, and just as Yoichi starts to wonder if he was wrong to trust his gut on this, Rin looks up, the invisible tether between him and the woodgrain finally severed.
“I understand.”
Bachira slumps back in his chair, sighing like the seriousness wore him all out. “Whew! Alright, that's it. Thanks for listening, Rin-chan.”
“Thank you, Rin.” Yoichi echoes, and when Rin meets his gaze across the table he gives him a smile.
Rin grumbles something, grabbing his chopsticks and pointing them at Yoichi like the rude little kid he is. “I'm going to eat more.” He says it like a threat.
Yoichi shrugs. “So eat.”
“It's there for a reason!” Bachira adds.
Rin continues to eat. Bachira fills the room with chatter. And after Rin offhandedly mentions a movie he was interested in they cram onto the couch to see if they can find it on a streaming service. In the end they don't do anything other than eating and talking but it's nice.
Really nice.
Nothing changes overnight. Not that Yoichi really expected them too.
The next time Rin comes over is different. Different, but better. The three of them fall asleep with Yoichi in the middle, and Rin is gentle in the morning, maneuvering Yoichi’s head off his shoulder and down to the pillow. Touch lingering as he replaces the blanket over the two of them. It’s almost too bad Yoichi’s already awake.
"Hey. Leaving already?"
Rin stiffens, then bristles. Caught. "What's it look like?"
Yoichi blinks up at him tiredly. "What happened to agreeing to wake one of us so we can lock the door?"
"I've got somewhere to be so I'm gonna use your shower. Get up to lock the door when you hear it close."
He pulls away, grabbing up his clothes and leaving. A door opens down the hall, the sounds of the shower starting up. And– fuck it. Yoichi did his best. Can't win them all.
He turns back over, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend and settling in.
They doze. And it's a while before Yoichi realizes he hasn't heard the front door yet. In fact, he hasn’t heard much of anything.
That’s… probably not an issue. He’s pretty sure he would have heard it if Rin slipped and died in the shower, or anywhere else in their apartment for that matter. Still, Yoichi disentangles himself from his nice cozy boyfriend and their nice cozy bed to slip on some pants. Might as well find the body while it’s still warm.
There’s a puddle of water outside the bedroom door. Yoichi discovers this at about the same time he slips in it. He manages to catch himself on the kitchen island, and naturally his gaze follows, landing on the floor on the other side–
"That's my towel."
Rin startles, badly. That in turn jostles their tabby cat, who is curled up on his lap. He makes an unhappy murp but resumes purring when Rin resumes petting him, and Rin’s head snaps in Yoichi’s direction, flinging water from his dripping hair. Which wouldn’t have even been a problem if he was using it properly instead of having it around his waist while he– "It was the closest one to the shower."
"It's mine." Yoichi informs him again, crossing his arms. He has to be annoyed, because he won't be won over by this. "I thought you had somewhere to be."
He flushes, red from the cheeks all the way down the long line of his neck. Huh. That might be a problem. "My class got canceled. I just found out. And..."
"He wanted a lap."
Rin nods, keeps petting his cat. Still blushing. Still naked. He can't keep getting away with this.
Yoichi sighs, because he's letting him get away with it. "Can't you at least get dressed? You're dripping all over the floor." He steps over him to get to the coffee machine. "Coffee?"
"Didn't care about it when you were the one dripping last night." Rin replies dully. "Cream and sugar."
He stops dead in his tracks. "Uh-uh. No way. You're making your own coffee after that."
"Rin-chan! You're still here!" Bachira’s sleepy drawl comes from the bedroom. He pads over, eyes widening gleefully upon seeing the scene on the floor. "Oh, Crayon-chan got you! You're stuck here now. Looks like you have to stay for breakfast!"
"I..." Rin’s voice wavers.
"He's on thin fucking ice." Yoichi looks back over his shoulder, finding startled green eyes. He holds them for a second, just to let him squirm. "But he can stay."
Bachira cheers and Yoichi turns back to the coffee machine. He hears a thud a moment later, followed by a groan, in what he can only assume is Bachira tackle-hugging Rin to the floor.
"Having fun?"
Yoichi leans against the doorframe to the kitchen, enjoying the show as it unfolds before him. Rin whips around, looking flushed and guilty as fuck, the hands that Yoichi assumes were in his boyfriend’s hair raised in surrender. Bachira just pops up off the ground, the very picture of unbothered, wiping his mouth before leveling an accusatory finger at Rin.
"I caught him! Rin-chan was making breakfast!"
"I was hungry-"
"Making breakfast only for himself !"
"Bobcut!"
"Wow. That's pretty fucked up."
"Right!"
"So how'd that progress to you giving him a blowjob in the middle of our kitchen?"
Rin stiffens, looking about two seconds from dropping dead on the spot. And his dick must still be out because he scrambles to fuss with his pants as Bachira’s cheeks split with a wild grin. "I just wanted him to make some eggs for us too! So I convinced him."
Yoichi clicks his tongue. "Did it work?" He directs the question at Rin.
Somehow he blushes even harder, struggling with the strings of his joggers. Yoichi does so enjoy it when he looks like that. "Maybe."
"Oh good. I wanted an omelette anyway."
"Oooh! I want cheese in mine!"
"What? No, I'm not-" Rin sputters.
"You were just gonna eat our food. So yeah, you're cooking now." Yoichi enters the kitchen, striding right up to Rin. He feels as Bachira comes around behind him to hang off his shoulder, turning to kiss him on the cheek before flicking a smirk at Rin. "It's nice to get a break from it every now and again. Meguru can't cook worth a shit so I usually do all of it."
"It's true!"
Yoichi glances at the counter, noting the fresh pot and today’s mug: the soccer ball shaped one. "At least you made a full pot of coffee."
"You two..."
"What?" Yoichi and Bachira ask at the same time. Rin’s green eyes dart between them, mouth screwed up in a nasty pout. He turns to the stove with a huff, but not before kicking Youchi in the shin. Ears still red where they peek through his bedhead.
"How do you like your omelette?"
It’s earlier than usual that Rin slips away the next morning. With Bachira in the middle this time, Yoichi doesn’t feel so much as sense it when Rin rolls over and gets up. Despite the hour, Rin’s routine is as predictable as usual: putting on his clothes, grabbing his phone, throwing the blankets he stole over the course of the night back over them in bed. Somewhere– always– in all that, a sigh Yoichi never knows how to interpret. Today's is quiet, all breath. It comes after he puts on his clothes but before he cracks his neck.
The bedroom door creaks softly when he shuts it behind him, silence settling back over the apartment as seamlessly as the covers he returned.
The quiet remains for some time. The front door doesn’t close, nor does the shower turn on, or any other noises Yoichi’s come to associate with the early morning, when Rin makes himself at home. Yoichi tries to fall back asleep but finds he can’t, tucking Bachira in tight before getting up and getting dressed. He's just gotten used to waking with Rin.
Just as his hands touches the doorknob, he hears a new sound. Light rustling, something clattering into plastic. A low murmur and a happy meow.
He opens the door. The smell of fresh coffee warms the room, coaxing his attention to it. The kitchen is dark, as is the living room beyond, not a single light turned on between them. A flickering shadow from the other side of the island catches his eye, and when he goes to investigate, Crayon-chan only gives Yoichi a chirp in greeting before returning to crunching away on his breakfast.
That’s what Yoichi heard. Rin fed the cat.
His neck prickles, and Yoichi looks up. Rin blinks back owlishly from the couch, dressed in a hoodie and layered by a blanket. The sky is still black through the window, streetlight cut to slivers by the blinds, Rin half gold and half blue where he sits on the borderline, backlit and hazy.
Their eyes meet through the darkness. "Morning." Yoichi greets him.
"Hello."
Yoichi pours himself a cup of coffee and comes to join him, sitting beside Rin on the couch. Their thighs brush and Rin makes a face, but he doesn’t move away. It’s Yoichi’s My Neighbor Totoro mug Rin has stolen this morning. In the two months he’s been coming over Yoichi hasn't seen him use the same mug twice. He wonders if he’s made his way through all of them yet.
“Thanks for feeding Crayon-chan.”
Rin wrinkles his nose. “He kept rubbing on my legs. I did it just to get him out of the way.”
Yoichi hides his smirk in a drink of coffee. "I’ve been wondering for a while, but are you just an early riser? It's okay if you are."
"Yeah. I usually get up to go for a run. Or to the gym."
"You could have just said that. Or gotten one of us up with you. Meguru likes to sleep in but I would've gone with you."
Rin drums his fingers on the side of Totoro’s belly, staring at the far wall. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
"I'm really not."
"You are. Why?"
"Because we're fucking? And you're fucking my boyfriend too? So I sort of like you?"
He’s quiet for a while. Then Rin takes a long drag off his coffee. "That's weird."
Yoichi raises an eyebrow. "That you're fucking my boyfriend or that I like you?"
His lip curls. "That part. All of it." He stares into the caffeinated depths of Totoro’s head. "I don't have any friends."
"You don't say."
"I'm not used to this."
Yoichi hums. It'd be all too easy to keep ribbing him here but– this feels important. So he cuts him some slack. "Meguru mentioned that you're trying to get out there more."
"My brother thinks I need to." His expression turns petulant, head shaking with a low snort. "I can't stand him. Or his insect ass boyfriend. They're the ones who got me into this. Making me do shit."
Well, that reaction explains a few things. Still, Yoichi can’t help the twinge it elicits in his chest. “Are you not into it? If you're not, we can call it off right now. No hard feelings."
Rin doesn’t frown. He doesn’t go still, shift his feet, look everywhere but where he’s supposed to, none of the things Yoichi has come to identify as signs of his distress. He only– shrugs. "No. I don't think I want to."
"Good." Yoichi affirms. Because he means it. "I know Meguru would've been bummed out. So would Crayon-chan."
And something incredible happens then. The tense line of Rin’s brow evens out, and his lips twist into something so fond it could almost be called a smile. "He slept on my chest all night."
"Oh, I was wondering where he went. That's how he gets ya."
Rin’s shoulders bunch, and a sound, more wheeze than laugh, escapes him. Without thinking, Yoichi turns to face him and is momentarily surprised when Rin follows, magnetized ends finding one another.
Their eyes meet. Yoichi realizes something.
“Hey… that’s my hoodie.”
“Found it on the floor.”
Yoichi huffs. “Asshole.”
Rin shrugs, draining the rest of his coffee. Not an ounce of shame in this one. Always taking things as he pleases.
Maybe it’s time to get Rin his own mug.
Yoichi's alarm wakes him at 7 on the dot, which is strange.
The vibration rattles through the room, clattering with all the random shit Bachira keeps on the bedside table and Yoichi grabs around for his phone, slapping the table several times before actually finding it. He dismisses the alarm, squinting at the clock. It’s his day off but he can’t remember the last time he slept in this late. Rin is usually up by six, and Yoichi right after.
Feeling eyes on him, the answer reveals itself in short order.
"Well. That's a rare sight." Yoichi muses with a smirk.
Green eyes blink sleepily, lit up by the glow of his screen. "What?" Rin rumbles back, voice still rough from sex and sleep.
"You're not up yet."
"Neither are you." He points out and returns to his phone, the arms around his waist tightening. That’s all that’s visible of Bachira on the other side of him, limbs wrapped around Rin like a tan octopus. Rin nods to Bachira’s full-body sprawl. "I'm kind of stuck here. What's your excuse?"
"Day off."
"Lukewarm."
Yoichi snorts. "Yeah, yeah." Without really thinking about it, he leans over, giving Rin a quick kiss on the mouth. Like it's the most normal thing to do.
It's not. He's not even sure they've done that before at all, in fact. Kissed. And as Yoichi pulls back and sees the stunned look on Rin's face, he realizes what he's done.
Well fuck . "What?" Yoichi says flatly. Because they're already here, might as well double down. "You gonna make this weird?"
Rin tips his head, looking at Yoichi with a guarded expression. But he doesn't move away. "You already made it weird."
"Tough shit." And Yoichi isn’t a coward, so he sits up and scoots closer, taking the space on Rin’s open shoulder for himself. "What are you doing?"
"Playing a game."
"Show me."
“Move back, I can't play with you on my arm like that.”
Rin is doing poorly at playing the game, it turns out. Yoichi tells him this but Rin doesn’t appreciate that, and their bickering ends up waking Bachira, who wants to watch too. They stay like that for a while, Rin in the middle with them on either shoulder, watching him play. Bachira cheers for everyone, their opponents included, and Rin snaps at Yoichi for backseat gaming, and before Yoichi realizes, it’s nearly noon and none of them have gotten up yet.
He shoves them all out of bed and into the kitchen shortly after that. Bachira wanders off to the living room to flop on a different flat surface but Yoichi remembers something just as Rin goes to follow him.
“Oh, Rin. I got you something.”
Rin looks surprised, but accompanies Yoichi wordlessly to the cabinet, opening his hands obediently when directed to. His eyes go wide at the gray ceramic owl Yoichi puts within them, an expression so bright and bewildered that once again he has to wonder the last time this guy was given– anything really.
“Your own mug. So you can stop stealing all of mine.” He teases.
“We picked it out together!” Bachira calls sleepily from the couch. A vicious flush breaks out across Rin’s cheeks, and he says nothing, avoiding Yoichi’s gaze like it has any chance of hiding how he's feeling.
It won't. Yoichi knows how to read him now. He pours him some coffee, and it’s only after Yoichi teases him about dropping it does Rin’s hands finally settle more firmly on either side of the little owl.
“Rin-chan! Come here, Crayon-chan did the thing again!”
Without missing a beat, Rin turns, heading for the living room with a sigh. “Stop shouting, I'm right here. This better be good.”
Yoichi makes lunch while Bachira and Rin play with Crayon-chan, the three of them piling together on the couch afterwards to watch the first episode of a new anime Bachira wanted to see. Rin doesn’t have anywhere to be, so Yoichi ropes him into helping with the weekly cleaning while Bachira wrangles their clothes for laundry. Through it all, Rin carries the mug everywhere with him, carefully washing and propping it up in the dish drainer to dry before he leaves.
Yoichi lets out a sigh, his lungs expanding, filling, draining, their skin sticking where it touches as they gasp against one another. His body is warm, so warm as it still clings to him, thighs and hips, arms and neck.
Bachira never went very far after sex, the type to melt into a puddle and remain there as long as you’d let him. Yoichi at least makes the effort to ease him to a more comfortable position on the bed before he lets him liquify completely.
"Good?" He asks once they’re settled back against the pillows.
"Good. Mmm." Bachira sighs in contentment, head rolling to the side, nestling on Yoichi’s shoulder. "I'm sleepy."
"So sleep. I'll wake you up in a little bit."
"Don't wanna. Wanna talk with you."
Yoichi chuckles, brushing aside his mussed bangs to press a kiss to his warm forehead. “Whatcha wanna talk about?”
“Mmmm. The beach. I wanna go.”
“Okay. When?”
“Today. I wanna run in the sand.”
“Still got energy to spare? What, was all that not good enough for you?”
Yoichi is teasing, but a melancholy look comes over his boyfriend’s face. Bachira is always full of emotion, and those emotions in turn always fill him ; happiness, disappointment, sadness, they are so blunt he weeps from them in every gesture, often through actual tears too. Not this time. It is delicate, the wistfulness in his expression, careful as he tips to the side, bright eyes meeting Yoichi’s. "It was good, but… I kinda miss Rin-chan."
Yoichi realizes he’s not surprised. Not really. He strokes Bachira’s hair again, pulling more of it out of his face. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He nods. And then nods some more with confidence as Yoichi keeps going. "It just feels kind of weird. Not having him here after everything."
"You know, me too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I've kinda gotten used to having him around. He fits."
"He fits." Bachira repeats, and then smiles to himself, a little sad but mostly sweet. "I don't think he has a lot of places where he feels like he fits in."
"Neither did we. That's why we got together to make our own place." Yoichi snorts, his hand falling still atop Bachira’s head. "Plus he basically lives here anyway."
He feels as Bachira chuckles, feels it as the breath coasts over his skin and the press of their bones makes it like Yoichi is laughing too. That’s how being with Bachira always makes him feel, like experiencing joy with the same body; he hopes it's the same for Rin when he’s with Bachira.
"I'm gonna call him right now, I think." Bachira says, an anticipation in his voice that excites Yoichi too.
"Put him on speaker then. I'm gonna start on dinner."
"I don't wanna get out of bed yetttt."
"Okay, okay." Yoichi flicks him on the forehead. "Rin's gonna yell at you though."
His lip curls devilishly, Bachira tapping the phone on his chin. “He’s not gonna be mad when he gets here and finds I’m all ready for him.”
These two. They’re gonna be the death of him. But it’s not like Yoichi can really say anything, as eager for that as Bachira is.
“Dinner first.” Yoichi still presses. Because he knows otherwise none of them will be eating.
“Let’s ask Rin what he wants.” Bachira suggests as he pulls up his number. Yoichi murmurs an agreement, and leans into frame, both of their flushed faces appearing in the icon at the bottom as the video call is picked up.
“Oooooh, busted.”
It's Rin who pulls away first, the warm breath of a sigh against Yoichi’s mouth as they turn to look at the bedroom doorway. Bachira peers around the doorframe like a gremlin from a cartoon, eyebrows sky-high as he grins, no doubt taking in the sight of Yoichi on the kitchen island with the hands that put him there (Rin’s) halfway up his t-shirt.
For what it’s worth, Rin has become less hesitant in terms of getting caught expressing affection. He grumbles but leans his cheek into Yoichi’s, and his hands stay right where they are, warm and strong, threading the curve of Yoichi's spine.
“Good morning.” Yoichi greets his boyfriend. He tips his head back to see him better and Rin uses that as an excuse to press his lips back to Yoichi’s throat, right over the bite he’d given him fifteen minutes ago that incited this whole incident. “Sleep well?”
“Mmmhmm.” Bachira shuffles over to lean against the counter. “I’m hungry. I want pancakes.”
Yoichi hums as a lingering kiss works up the line of his jaw. “Sure. I don’t know what we have to put in them, but feel free to look.”
“Okay~” Bachira rubs his eyes, gaze flicking over to Rin for a moment before falling back on Yoichi. “Don’t we have to go to that thing today?”
Rin tests his teeth against the lobe of Yoichi’s ear. “What thing?”
“The- thing. The thingy-thing. With your parents.”
“That next week.” Nails scratch over the small of his back.
“Awww, I got dressed for nothing.”
“I was wondering why you were wearing clothes.”
“One or both of you needs to shut up .” Rin demands sullenly, voice hot and harsh against Yoichi’s skin. “Why are you ignoring me?”
Yoichi tips his chin down, grinning lazily. “Sorry, were you doing something?”
Bachira snickers, waving a hand. “It’s okay, keep going! Wasn’t bothering me.”
Rin stands up so abruptly it nearly knocks Yoichi off balance and off the counter. “I have to go,” He says. “I’m never coming back.” He’s sulking.
“C’mon Rin-chan! Don’t go!”
“No. I’m being made fun of.”
“Aww, but it’s fun! You make it so easy!”
“Drop dead.”
Yoichi catches him by the arm, and thrills at how easily Rin relents under the touch. “Stay. Please. You all but live here anyways.”
“Disgusting. I do not.”
Bachira jumps in. “You've got your own toothbrush, you've got your own towel. You feed the cat. Yoichi bought you your own mug.” He ticks them all off on his fingers. “You eat our food. Steal our covers.”
“Stole my hoodie a few times.” Yoichi adds.
Rin makes a noise like a dying owl. “Ugh.”
He’s gone red again, flush all the way down his neck, and he pulls against Yoichi’s grip, like he might twist away. But Yoichi has long since figured out it's all just a show, defiance for defiance’s sake. Contrary for all the same reasons water is wet, this asshole. This handsome, pretty asshole that steals all their shit and pays more attention to their cat than Yoichi most days, who plays along with Bachira even as he pretends to hate it and slots right in with them so easily despite everything to the contrary.
Getting attached was a terrible idea, probably. Especially to a troublesome guy like this. Not that an idea's being terrible ever stopped Yoichi before.
“Stay.” Yoichi says again, squeezing Rin’s wrist, hoping it will convey everything the two of them usually struggle to get across in words.
And as Rin hesitates, Bachira comes around the other side to ambush him, locking arms around his middle and dragging him into a hug. “Come back to bed, actually. If we’ve got nowhere to be, there’s no reason not to.”
And somehow Rin only blushes harder at that, unsteady as Bachira seems to be upholding his whole weight right now. He looks between the two of them, as he often does, the emotions for each and between a blur now, no longer separate. Rin doesn’t wear them the way Bachira does but Yoichi knows how to find them, barely hidden in that bright green gaze. Bewilderment, annoyance, lust, and– it pleases Yoichi to have begun to see– fondness.
And in the end, he relents so easily to this too. “Fine. As long as we don’t have to go to any ‘thingy’ today.”