Chapter Text
It was 4 am when Baiken was finally woken up by the consistent, growing amount of noise. Groggily, she rolled out of bed. The grumpy expression on her face was letting the world know she was ready to give the interruption to her sleep hell.
When she opened her room door, she flinched at the invasive light.
The ronin leaned against her door frame, allowing her eyes to adjust to the light before she confronts the cause of her irritation.
“Romeo.” Baiken’s voice was stern, even through her exhaustion. In reaction, the young boy flinch.
“Ah, Miss Baiken. How can I help you?” She looked him up and down, he was much too dressed, and much too awake for what time it was.
“Cut the shit, manners might have worked if you didn’t disturb the only activity in a day worth looking for.” That didn’t include sake, she tempted to add, but knew she didn’t need to.
“I apologize. This hour of time is considered rather ‘ungodly’”
It was always weird when he attempted modern slang. As annoying as his usual manner of speech was, this was far too uncanny. Maybe she needed to limit Delilah’s play dates with Sin, or get Bedman a new hobby. (That doesn’t involve his sister)
Baiken rubbed her one good eye “Look kid, I’m not in the mood for this.” Her voice was getting impatient “What the hell are you doing?”
Bedman’s eyebrows raised slightly. He adjusted his glasses, as if he had previously forgotten what he had been doing. (Which of course he didn’t, he was the Bedman) “Preparing for a preplanned outing with an acquaintance I feel close enough to bother keeping up theatrics with.”
Baiken gave him an unimpressed look “So, a date?”
Bedman weighed his options. He could idiotically stammer and fumble -An option the had an almost perfect 100% chance of giving the opposite result to what’s desired- or he could simply not respond, maybe even change the subject. -the chances were also not preferable, and was paired with a 80% chance of being teased if Baiken was awake enough for it, but lower was better then nothing-
He said nothing.
Baiken smirked “Not denying it, ehh?”
Bedman scowled to himself, that 20% be damned. “What I do is not your business.”
The ronin’s amused expression faded “When you’re living and making a ruckus in my damn house it is.”
Bedman cringed. Right, a moment of weakness resulted in self embarrassment. He made a small mistake, an error in his memory, but small was not nothing -unless it was small as in 20%, apparently that counts as nothing as well- he turned his body away “Right…sorry.”
The silence was deafening as Bedman resumed getting ready.
“What time is your little meetup, anyways?” Baiken asked with a small yawn.
“2 pm sharp.”
Baiken blinked “2…PM?!” She glanced at the clock “You are up at 4 am to prepare for something in the afternoon??” She stared at him like he was crazy.
“Well, I can’t have anything going side ways, now can I.”
Baiken threw her arms in the air. Mumbling about how insane he was as she walked rather heavily down the darkened hallway. A loud slam moments later let Bedman know she had retreated to her room.
Shrugging of the strange interaction he continued his precise preparations… perhaps a little quieter this time.
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It was 12 pm when Kum Haehyun exited Jam’s restaurant. Sometimes she visits to help the young woman serve customers when she needs a bit of extra cash or the restaurant is understaffed. Haehyun glanced at her watch, she smiled to herself. 2 hours, just enough time to shower, get changed, and come back to meet up with Bedman.
“Ah, Haehyun, superb timing.”
At the call of her name she looked up, “Oh, Romeo.”
Romeo?
ROMEO?!
She stepped back slightly in surprise “Romeo?! What are you doing here?”
Bedman’s expression remained neutral, “I fail to comprehend your surprise. We agreed to meet up here, did we not?”
Kum looked at him like he was crazy -not the first person that day- “Uh, yeah. In like, 2 hours?”
Bedman shrugged “It’s best to be early then late, how else would I catch the worm.”
Worm? She shook her head, not the weirdest thing to come out of his mouth. “Look, I need to shower, and get changed. I’m not ready yet”
Bedman looked her up and down, “You look fine, I’m sure you smell fine as well. We are both here so why burn daylight with useless criteria.”
“Thanks?” She wasn’t going to win this, even if he was in the wrong -which he is often not- his stubbornness beat her patience.
Haehyun slightly hung her head in defeat, “Alright, fine. Lead the way.”
Bedman smirked, adjusting his glasses in a sad attempt to conceal some of the pride he was feeling.
Their destination was a park. Somewhere relatively quiet and secluded enough to suit both their taste. The white noise of the great outdoors was perfect ambience for them to exist in comfortable silence. So that’s what they did.
After looping around the parks lake a couple of times, they decided to stop at a bench that overlooked the better looking parts of the area. Both teens appreciated being able to sit in company without having to entertain one another. It was strange, to others at least. The two didn’t talk, nor were they hypnotized by screens.
They were entertained by their unending thoughts, enjoying their mental trip knowing someone else was doing the same.
“Romeo” the break in the quiet was light. Bedman almost didn’t notice it “hm?”
“Why can I call you that” Haehyun asked. It was thought that had passed her many times during their walk.
Bedman shrugged “Where is Jonryoku“
Haehyun studied him curiously “I don’t bring him to work, obviously” Bedman turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers.
“But you wouldn’t have brought him regardless”
Haehyun took a moment to consider her response, “Well, yeah, but I don’t need him to conceal myself.”
Bedman smiled, as if he hit a jackpot. His glasses reflected the light, making it hard to see his eyes. “So you feel safe around me.”
Haehyun’s own eye widened as she turned away from him to lean back against the cold metal bench. She didn’t know what was harder to grasp, Bedman’s short answers, or the fact that he was right. Besides their initial meetings, Haehyun never felt the looming presence of danger present itself when she was with him. “That’s why I can call you Romeo…” she realized aloud “You feel the same” Bedman did not respond, his eyes glued to the lake. She couldn’t tell if he was falling asleep or not.
Haehyun relaxed. Her head resting on the curve on the backrest of the bench. “What are we.” She asked to the sky. A hand pet hers awkwardly, an action if reassurance maybe?
“I had arrived at the rivaling conclusion that not everything needs a glaring solution. Maybe some equations -questions- are best left unanswered. Or waiting. There is hardly a thing I struggle to understand, yet this may be one of about four. Four yet a small yet large number. Not quite 5, but close enough to be condescending. Troublesome to me really, I would have hoped that number to not even go past the negatives, but it seems it’s much too late for that. What even is hope?” Bedman continued to drawn on and on. Just like all their other outings, their silence had come to an end.
Haehyun chuckled, a sound that went unnoticed in her friends sea of knowledge. She didn’t know what they were or what they had, but she wasn’t willing to let it go anytime soon. Smiling, she squeezed his hand.