Work Text:
"Man this fucking blows. I don't see why Boss wants to drive all the way out to bumfuck nowhere just to bury a huge fucking bear that Agata got trigger-happy on. Shouldn't the kid be the one doing this?" Free angrily said to Ibuki, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Free made sure to drive fast. The sooner they got done, the sooner they could get back to lazing around.
When Ibuki failed to respond, Free looked over to see Ibuki looking out the window, completely spaced out. He turned off the radio. "Jeez, I know you don't like my music, but you don't gotta ignore me cause of it."
That caught Ibuki's attention. He turned to face Free. "I wasn't intending to. I got distracted."
"Yeah, well, you've been getting distracted all the time lately. Is this distraction why you've been gone a lot more too? You seeing someone, or did Boss get you a side gig as a male escort?" Free laughed at his own joke. Ibuki looked annoyed. Free was too focused on the road to notice.
"I've just been caught up in something." Ibuki looked back out his window, hoping this drive or conversation would end soon.
"Come on, dude. You can tell me. Scout's honor, I won't tell." Free tapped Ibuki's shoulder to get him to look back at him. He was making the scout sign with his hand.
Ibuki sighed. "That only works if you were a boy scout. Which you weren't."
"Dude, I don't care about that. Can't you tell me why you've been gone? We used to hit up whatever club we wanted to and get laid. Don't you wanna do that again?" Free knew Ibuki was trying to deflect. It was at times like these when Ibuki wished Free didn't know him as well as he did.
"I never got laid." Ibuki quietly responded. He was still trying to deflect in any way he could.
Free decided to let the conversation side track a little. "That's cause you're a prude. But dude, you helped me with my game. Hell, most of the time those girls wanted to sleep with you. If I had the patience, I'd of done what you did. Play the long game. Build up a mysterious persona around me. I swear those lionesses get wet the moment they see you."
Ibuki cringed. "Do you really have to put it that way?"
"Is that really important? I don't see why you gotta be all secretive. Don't I get any perks for being your best friend?" Free was running out of ideas that would get Ibuki to talk. He wished Ibuki would be more open towards him.
They sat in silence for a minute, only the car's engine could be heard. Ibuki contemplated if it would be worth telling Free anything. He had been wanting to let someone know. He wasn't entirely sure of Free's views on the matter. If he told anybody, it would be either Free or Louis.
Free sighed, accepting defeat. "Fine, fine. If you don't wanna spill, then I'll drop it."
"Do you promise you won't tell anyone and that you won't view me differently?" Ibuki looked at Free. He could feel his heart racing. This had to have been the most nervous he had been in a while.
Free glanced at Ibuki and grinned. "I promise. Why would I look at you differently?"
Ibuki tugged on his collar. He had to look away from Free to gain more confidence. "I might be seeing someone."
Free slammed on the brakes, coming to a complete stop. This startled Ibuki. He whipped his head over to Ibuki. "I fucking knew it. Who is it? What's she like?"
Ibuki stared wide-eyed at Free. Now his heart really was racing. He felt like he needed fresh air. "Free, that was unnecessary. You don't need to be so reckless."
"It was very necessary. Jinma keeps yelling at me about how it's not normal to go through rotors every year. I just wanna rile him up. He gives me a good laugh. Besides, it's 3 a.m. nobody else is out on these back roads." Free checked his mirrors for headlights to make sure his statement was correct.
Ibuki got out of the car. Breathing in the cool summer air was just what he needed. It was a nice night out. A slight breeze blew past him. There was nothing but wheat fields and the night sky surrounding him.
Free got out and stood beside Ibuki. He looked at the wheat fields before he looked at Ibuki. Ibuki looked at Free as if Free had lost his mind.
"You scared me half to death," Ibuki said.
Free leaned his back against the car. He started laughing. "You scared me."
Ibuki copied Free by also leaning against the car. "I'm not the one driving like a dumbass. Besides didn't you say you knew?"
"Boss is influencing me with his theatrics. Remember how he caused a scene just to tell that wolf girl he wanted a kiss? I really thought he was gonna ask her to marry him. He's more of a prude than you. Hey, don't get me off track. Tell me who. Please, please, pleaseeeeee." Free tried giving Ibuki puppy dog eyes but he just looked plain creepy.
Ibuki turned his head to face away from Free. "Okay, quit looking at me like that. His name is Oguma."
Free took on a serious tone. "Wait, his? Dude if you're gay you need to tell me right now. We'll have to make a few changes since I'm your best friend."
Ibuki could feel his heart drop. He looked back at Free. "What changes?"
Free realized he shouldn't have been so vague. He didn't want to come off as unsupportive. "If you're gay, then we need to start selling you as my gay best friend. Just make sure to redirect all the lionesses coming your way towards me."Free smirked and nudged Ibuki with his elbow.
"I'd rather keep this between us. I haven't told anyone."
"Right, you're trying to keep that mysterious persona thing going on. That way I can still fuck whoever comes your way." Free chuckled. Ibuki only shook his head in response.
Free looked and sounded slightly sad when he asked, "Hey, why didn't you say anything sooner? Did you just figure out you were into men?"
"No, I've known since I was 12. I wasn't sure how you would take it." Ibuki looked off into the distance. Hoping it would provide some relief to his growing discomfort. He hadn't thought much about that time. Free knew of Ibuki's past. Learning the full truth made a few pieces click.
Free felt the gloominess in the air. He wanted to change the direction this was going. "You think I can meet your boyfriend? He is your boyfriend?"
"He is," A smile grew on Ibuki's face. "He is quite reserved. I'd like for the two of you to meet, but that may not happen anytime soon."
Free started giggling. "You're in love! Your face says it all. I've never seen you smile like that before."
Ibuki felt himself becoming flushed. "Shut up or you'll never meet him."
Free stopped laughing. "It's not bad. I just never thought I'd see the day where you got yourself a girl— boyfriend. Boyfriend. I'm happy for you." Free turned to hug Ibuki. They both stayed hugging each other for a little while.
Free parted from the hug. He placed a hand on Ibuki's shoulder. "Just no butt stuff with me," he said with a wink.
"Trust me, you aren't my type." Ibuki did not want to think about Free in any type of way that was more than a friend.
"Liar. Everybody who is into men is into me," Free said in an accusatory tone.
Ibuki rolled his eyes. "Then why you need my help to get you laid?"
"Ah shit, we still gotta deal with what's in the trunk." They both got back into the car. Free continued the drive again. The mood felt lighter in the car.
"I almost forgot about that fucking bear. I know you almost forgot too. Aren't you supposed to be the responsible one?" Free said in a teasing tone.
"Boss knows you and I make a poor team. He only chose for us to do this because you wrapped his antlers in bacon when he was sleeping. He was going to make Dolph ride with you, but I wanted some fresh air."
"And I'll do it again. Next time I'll encase his antlers in Jell-O." Free said with glee.
Ibuki glared at him. In a stern tone he said, "Free."
"Don't worry, I won't. Maybe. Can't you tell me about your boyfriend?" Free said with a grin. He was curious as to who was finally able to catch Ibuki's attention.
The rest of the night went by quietly. Ibuki told what he could of his boyfriend without giving away anything important. Free may have slammed on the brakes another time after finding out Ibuki's boyfriend was a deer. But he was thrilled to know he could now make butt jokes and horny antler jokes at Ibuki.
After the positive interaction he had with Free, Ibuki considered telling Louis. He decided to wait for another day. He thought it would go better if he had only one nervous experience a day.