Chapter Text
Saejima’s shoes land on the floor with a thud and he hangs his coat with a deep sigh. Long day again, and these long days will be persisting for a while.
“Welcome back, Saejima-san” the voice is coming from his couch where his new roommate lays on his stomach, seeming to be reading some sort of magazine. Two grayish bunny ears pop up at the sight of him and it doesn’t surprise Saejima anymore. It feels natural and sweet. It seemed like even when Baba wasn’t saying anything those ears spoke in his stead. It’s been a few weeks now since he had been inhabiting his couch, but Saejima could remember the day clearly when he first saw Baba-chan.
*
The sound of multiple guns being cocked filled the alleyway before a loud bang, a door being kicked in. Saejima went inside first, around fifty men following behind to rush into the seemingly abandoned building.
If Saejima was right, this was the hideout for the rival family that has been causing him a lot of trouble lately. It was supposed to be a simple hit, fitting for the patriarch to use blunt force in getting ahead. He wasn’t a man of words or diplomacy, he preferred to brute force his way through the underworld and his men respected him for his pure strength.
They kicked in the doors one by one, splitting up to search all the floors, but Saejima heard nothing from the other teams and the further he infiltrated the more suspicious it all became. There was not a single soul in here and it seemed as if they left in a hurry, leaving a mess behind, dirty dishes, empty cans and weapons scattered around.
Saejima kicked down the last door of the floor he was scouting when he heard footsteps from behind, rapidly approaching.
“Boss, you gotta see this.” It was one of his guys that approached him, leading Saejima down the stairs who followed in a hurry. Any clues to what was going on here would be great because it was clear as day by now that they failed. The Ishida family had been tipped off to the fact they were coming and cleared out of here.
At first he didn’t realize why he was called over, the room seemed empty, just like all the others. Only when his men stepped aside he realized that something was in the corner. It was a cage, but it was what was inside the angered Saejima. A person curled up in the corner, looking up at all of them, terrified. Saejima rushed forward, showing his people aside. He could hardly believe that this sort of thing was still happening these days.
As he approached the cage the man slowly raised his head and that’s when Saejima noticed something unusual. A long, fuzzy ear then another popped up from the guy’s messy dark hair.
He stopped in his tracks, lowering the gun he wanted to shoot the lock with. Saejima had heard of this before, but never actually seen one. He knew that some families were trading them, about the potential money in that business, but he wanted nothing to do with it. He found it disgusting to breed something so human-like for entertainment.
His men were all murmuring and gathering around the cage, all eager to take a peek, making the man inside back up further against the bars.
“What are we going to do with it?” It was one of his captains that spoke, standing beside him and peering into the cage. “It’s strange they left it behind, these are worth a real fortune. They must have really been in a hurry. Wonder how they knew we were coming…”
Saejima furrowed his brows, not sure how to feel about addressing the guy in front of him as ‘it’. Because this was a man wasn’t it? If not for the ears there would be no other difference on the outside.
“We can’t leave him here” Saejima raised the gun again, aiming it at the lock before delivering a few shots. The man inside recoiled, the ears flattening right back against his head and as the cage opened all the people in the room at the same time moved even closer, desperate to see. Saejima raised his hand to silence them.
“Out. All of you. This isn’t the circus!”
They followed the order, but he could hear them murmuring among themselves. He ignored it, reaching a hand out instead, a bit unsure.
“Can you walk?”
The man shook his head and Saejima was relieved that he at least seemed to understand him.
“Alright, let me just..” Saejima reached inside the cage, but he somehow curled up even more into the far corner, making it impossible to pick him up. He sighed, taking a step back to think about it for a moment.
“I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to get you out of here. Please.”
He seemed to contemplate it, ears twitching as he stared at Saejima. He waited, unsure what else to do than to keep still and try not to scare him any more than he probably already did with a whole army marching into here.
Finally, he moved closer and Saejima reached out his hand again, picking him up carefully. The smaller man felt surprisingly stronger than he expected, but he paid no mind to it for now. He walked out with him in his arms like that, drawing the eyes of almost all fifty men onto them.
“We are regrouping in the office, stop staring and get moving”
The whole ride home the man with the rabbit ears was silent, but even Saejima himself couldn't help but steal a few glances. It was simply so hard to believe that those ears were real, but they moved like they were real ears of a rabbit and melted into the guy’s messy hair seamlessly.
Saejim felt tense, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Their operation just failed and now he had this bunny problem to take care of.
He felt bad for the guy but what was he supposed to do with him? For now he just carried him inside his office, sitting him down on the couch as carefully as he could.
“Do you have a name?”
“It's Baba.”
Saejima was almost surprised that he could speak but why couldn't he? He looked entirely human. Ears aside.
“Alright, Baba. If you want, I can get you some food, water and a doctor if you're hurt. Then you are free to go.”
Baba's eyes widened in surprise, he shook his head intensely before looking back up at him.
“Wait– I can't just go,” he started, looking somehow even more scared all of a sudden. Saejima didn't understand. He was letting him go, was that not the right thing to do? He would even give him some cash to set him off or something.
“What do you think happens to me out there? Look at me…”
Baba reached up to touch one of his ears, as if Saejima wasn't already painfully aware of it. His voice was quiet, near trembling and he had this somber expression on his face, wide eyes, cloudy with unshed tears.
Oh. Saejima could hardly focus because of that look, so strangely captivating, nudging at his instincts to protect. But he wasn't stupid, he knew whatever Baba was, was made for. There was probably some sort of weird science behind making him look so desirable. But Saejima wasn't that kind of man, he just wanted to do the right thing and let him go.
“Please. Don't make me go out there…”
Saejima sighed, but thinking about it a little more, he understood. Letting him run free would be the same as leaving him where they found him wouldn't it? He couldn’t do that to him.
“Alright, you can just stay here until I figure something out. Just try to relax. There's a bathroom over there and there's some beef stew in the fridge I think...”
“I can't eat meat.” Baba interrupted him and Saejima raised his brows for a moment before he realized.
“Oh right…of course, you’re a–”' He couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence. “I'll have someone bring you something else then. Are you hurt?”
Baba shook his head, the ears flopping with the movement which would be adorable to anyone watching. Saejima did his best to ignore it.
“I'll be back. Don't leave this office for now, okay? I'm not trying to lock you in, I just don't want any of my guys to act inappropriate before I have the chance to talk to them.”
He needed to step outside for a moment so he could think about this. Taking a cigarette from his pocket, only then he noticed that someone was already outside, ready to light it for him. It was one of his captains, leaning against the same wall and smoking.
“What do we do now? Someone had to have tipped them off that we were coming today. One of us probably.”
Saejima didn't answer for a moment, contemplating the options. Today's failed hit was a huge inconvenience and if there was a traitor Saejima needed to deal with it quickly.
“We’ll have to get rid of the rat before we try anything again then. I need some time to think about it.”
“What about the...thing?”
“The thing has a name, Baba apparently. I have no clue yet, but tell someone to bring him some vegetarian food. Aside from that no one goes near him until I figure out what to do.”
There was no further comment, only a polite nod before he disappeared back into the building and Saejima was finally left alone. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he dialed the only person he could think of to ask for help.
“Are you busy right now?” He asked, a familiar voice, thick with an accent similar to his own on the other end of the phone. Majima was his sworn brother and most trusted friend so he knew that this information would be safe with him.
“Yeah I'm pretty busy, Kiryu’s in town. If ya want to go out for drinks later though I'll drag him along. Your thing go well?”
“Not exactly, not at all actually. I just need to ask you something.”
“Alright, I have time for a question.”
“Do you know anything about those people that popped up a few years ago? Made in a lab or something, some families have been trading with them. You know…with the actual animals ears and shit.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end and some words exchanged, but Saejima couldn't make it out nor did he care.
“Those? I know about them but never actually seen one. That's a mess even I don't want to touch. Why are you asking? I thought you thought it was inhumane too.”
“We found one, at the hideout, left behind.”
“Shit, they must be pissed off they left it. Ya know how much one of those is worth? What are you going to do?”
“I don't know, I thought maybe you had a better idea. I wanted to let him go but he begged me not to.”
“I guess there's not much someone like that can do in actual society. They would just get captured again. Nothing you can do then if you don't want to sell it. But I would keep it a secret if I were you, that's like keeping billions in cash sitting out on your table”
“So what, I just keep him forever?”
“Some company might do you good.”
Saejima scoffed, he wasn't in a funny mood right now.
“I really don't know, but I'll look into it for ya, gotta go now.”
“I appreciate it. See you around.”
The call ended with a click and Saejima stuffed the phone back into his pocket, putting out his cigarette before heading back inside. He needed to deal with the traitor as soon as possible, but there was Baba, sitting there on his couch looking so lost and scared. There was food and water on the table in front of him already, but he hadn't even touched it.
Saejima simply couldn't ignore it, sitting on the arm of the sofa, keeping a considerable distance.
“Look, I'm not good with this sort of thing, but we’re not going to hurt you here or anything like that. I promise. If you need anything just ask. Do you have anyone to call?”
“I don't have anyone at all.”
That look struck Saejima right in his chest again. It was better if he didn't even try to imagine what he must have gone through.
He ended up not getting much work done that day. He kept looking up from his desk, a part of him wanting to make sure that he was okay. Saejima would have felt horrible to leave him in the office for the night alone, so he took him to his apartment.
That's how all of a sudden he was living with Baba, who seemed to have eased up during the time they spent together, taking up space in his apartment and even the office like it was his own.
He still seemed scared and reserved often, but slowly he warmed up to Saejima, often keeping him company and talking to him or just hanging about while he was reading.
Saejima had to admit that he didn't mind and unfortunately that Majima ended up being right. Some company did cheer him up, having someone around to greet him when he got home he couldn't help but like.
*
“You doing okay today, Baba-chan?” He smiles gently as he approaches the couch, despite the weary look in his eyes. He is eager to hear Baba talk, instead of having to deal with his own thoughts and problems any longer for today.
“Uh-huh, nothing interesting happened.” He puts down the magazine and arches his back as he stretches. Saejima has to avert his gaze or else his mind would be flooded with thoughts he doesn’t want to have right now. He would be lying if he said he hadn't realized Baba’s charm by now. He would do things like this, stretch his arms to expose his stomach, or lean in a little too close when they talked. He would also wear his pants much too low, claiming it was uncomfortable to have the hem of the pants squeeze down on his tail that peeked out, looking so soft.
Saejima felt awful about how much of an effect all of this was having on him. Baba always acts so innocent about it, but it almost feels purposeful, the way he would sometimes lean against him, even lay his head in his lap when they watch tv. He wants nothing more than to reach down and pet his head sometimes.
Saejima wouldn't take advantage of him and didn't want to cross any lines.
“I want to go to the office with you again, it's so lonely here when you are away all day…There's nothing to do.”
Saejima looks back at him when he speaks, now sitting cross-legged on the couch and his expression softens a little, any inappropriate thoughts he might have had chased away.
“You can come with me tomorrow, but is it really any better there?”
Baba nods immediately.
“Yes, I like watching you work. And the others talk to me sometimes.”
“They aren’t giving you any trouble right?”
“Well no…i can see how they look at me, but they are too scared of you to do anything about it.”
Saejima is angry at that, even if he doesn't show it in front of Baba. He has made it very clear that no one should as much as look at him funny. There’s this part of him that wants to protect so intensely, that wants to promise that nothing bad will ever happen to him again and then die fighting for that promise.
Baba hasn't opened up a lot yet, it was only a few dropped words hinting at his past and the nature of his existence that makes Saejima so furious with anyone who took advantage of him and kept him like an animal that he so clearly wasn’t.
“If anyone tries anything let me know, I’ll keep them in line I promise.”
Baba’s smile is bright and sweet and Saejima wants to squeeze his cheeks in his palms.
“Can we watch another movie?”
“Sure, I was going to order food, didn't have time to eat all day. Do you want something?”
“I ate earlier but… I would like some taiyaki if that’s okay?”
As he found out recently, Baba has an insatiable sweet tooth. He is very happy to cater to it, so he agrees easily, looking for a place that sells what he wants and picks something for himself from there. He lets Baba choose the movie, putting it on and getting himself situated on the couch as well, keeping his distance as usual. Their food arrives shortly after. Saejima devours his meal, only now realizing how hungry he had been. He didn’t have time to think about it all day, too busy with family affairs.
Since that hit everything has been going downhill. Saejima has not been able to get any leverage on that family, every time he tries something his plans are spoiled and it all smells fishy, like betrayal. He’s been scrutinizing his team, keeping everything mostly to himself and monitoring the officers closest to him, yet he found nothing. So much information has been getting out that no one but himself has access to and Saejima feels like he is grasping at nothing trying to find the source of the rot in his family.
No use in thinking about it right now, he needs to at least try to rest up so he can keep going tomorrow.
Their food is gone in just a few minutes and Baba stretches contentedly again before laying down, his head landing right in his lap. Saejima tenses, forcing himself to keep his eyes on the screen, but Baba seems unbothered. On one hand it’s flattering and so sweet to be trusted like this, but it also makes Saejima’s head spin and his whole body feel so warm to be this close. He cannot help but glance down for a moment. Baba looks so cute, ears twitching every time there's something loud in the movie and looking so content. That makes Saejima happy, he wants Baba to be comfortable, to not have to be scared.
He can’t stop thinking about tangling his fingers in his messy hair or smoothing them over the ears, they look so soft…
It’s wrong to think about touching them, isn’t it? Saejima doesn’t want anything from him, they aren't doing anything weird, just relaxing and watching a movie so would it really be so bad? He tests the waters, carefully placing his large hand just between the ears, smoothing his hair down as softly as possible. Baba practically melts, his ears perk up and he makes this sweet little sigh that strikes Saejima right in the chest.
“That feels so nice…” Saejima didn’t expect him to say that, it almost makes him recoil and pull his hand back, ready to apologize before the words actually register in his brain.
“Yeah?” He cannot help but ask, petting through his hair and Baba nods enthusiastically. It’s sweet and harmless so he doesn’t stop playing with his hair but he cannot look away from the ears.
“Can I touch them?”
Baba nods again and presses into his touch almost eagerly. Saejima carefully smooths his fingers over the fur. They are somehow even softer than he imagined. They twitch under his touch and Baba hums approvingly. It’s all so intoxicating. Saejima is content to sit like this and watch the movie, petting over the ears and combing through his hair. It feels domestic in a way, something he last experienced when his sister was still alive and her and Majima were a true family to him. Suddenly Baba turns onto his back, peering up at him with these big doe-eyes.
“Your hands are so warm...” Saejima’s movements come to a stop for a moment. The tone behind those words carry a bit more weight than he can handle. Still he smiles, trying to seem casual about this.
“They are really soft, but let me know if you want me to stop, don’t want to bother you.”
“No, don’t stop. Please.”
“You’re missing the end of the movie.”
“That’s okay.”
Saejima simply can’t deny him when he looks at him like that, scratching his head gently to which Baba just melts again, pressing even closer to him, nuzzling against his stomach. Saejima inhales sharply, his movements coming to a halt. This is no longer domestic, it lights a fire in his stomach and he doesn’t like it, doesn’t want to like it.
“You’re so warm all over…” Baba sounds breathless and pretty and almost needy as he says that. That easily snaps Saejima back to reality. He pulls his hand away, carefully pushing him off so he could stand up.
“Sorry, gotta use the restroom, you can rewind the movie to see what you missed.”
He rushes off to stand in the bathroom and stare at his reflection silently. He doesn’t actually need anything here; he just wanted to get away for a moment to calm down. It’s painfully obvious even to Baba, he saw the disappointed look on his face.
He needs to get laid or something, he was absolutely not going to take advantage of someone who was relying on him for their safety and whole living. Especially doesn’t want to make Baba feel like he needs to repay him for all of this in some way– especially not with sex.
When he returns the smaller man looks sort of starstruck. He doesn’t try to lay his head back into his lap again and he seems to be in thought, not really paying attention to the movie any longer. Saejima doesn't know what to say so he says nothing until the credits roll but even when he goes to bed for the night he is still thinking about it. How could he not?
It was going to be a long day tomorrow.