Chapter Text
Chuuya and Dazai had gotten accustomed to sleeping with each other again, waking up in each other’s arms as the comfort of each other’s body heat sept into their souls.
This morning was different, though. Mainly because it was Christmas, but also because Dazai and Chuuya had decided to stay at a hotel in NYC.
Chuuya stirs awake as the sun goes through its usual routine of presenting itself in the sky, and he gently caresses the wavy strands of brown hair which was nuzzled in his chest.
“Morning, idiot.” Chuuya says as Dazai buries his head further into Chuuya’s chest, snuggling closer than he already was.
“Five more minutes.” He mumbled quietly, his morning voice rasping throughout their hotel room.
“It’s Christmas. We’re going to see a shitty American Christmas parade, c’mon Osamu.” Chuuya said gently, practically dragging Dazai out of bed.
“Don’t wannaaaaaa”
“I’ll get you coffee. A hot one with an espresso shot.” Chuuya offers, pinching the cheeks of the man whose head was now rested on Chuuya’s lap, staring up at him.
“You’re sexy.” Dazai says, wrapping his arms around Chuuya’s neck, pulling himself up.
“Oh, I know, thanks.” Chuuya scoffs.
“Not even a ‘you too?!’ How cruel.”
Chuuya rolls his eyes, his hands threading through Dazai’s hair as he rests his head in his neck for a moment. He’s super close to becoming sleepy again, but he didn’t want that to happen.
So, he hops out of bed, sliding a pair of sweatpants on while he’s at it.
“Where are you going?!”
“I’m making you coffee, dumb fish.”
Dazai throws the redhead an extreme look of mock offense.
“Dumb fish?!”
“Yeah. And maybe if you actually get out of bed, we can go on a date.” Chuuya says spontaneously, smirking at Dazai as he walks into the kitchen.
“What?! Okay, okay, fineeee…” Dazai says, still annoyingly whining. When he enters the kitchen, he’s fully dressed and showered. He also gets to enjoy the sound of Chuuya’s breath hitching as he snakes an arm around his waist.
Once they finally make their way out of the hotel, they end up going out to eat at an old-fashioned diner for breakfast.
They then visited the ice skating rink, where Dazai fell on his ass 7 times.
“You’re so fucking stupid! How did you manage to fall on your ass again?”
“I need Chuuya to hold me!” Dazai said, ending up slipping again and faceplanting.
“Oh for fucks sake—“ Chuuya says, placing both his arms on Dazai’s waist.
“Chuu chuu! We should dance!”
“With your terrible balance? Hell no.”
“Why? It’ll be fun!”
“It won't be fun when we both fall and break our spines. Don’t get me started on the American healthcare system—“
The pair danced anyway. Even if they ended up falling and laughing their asses off, it had to have been one of the highlights of their lives.
And when they stand in front of the Christmas tree, scarves wrapped around both of their mouths and cups of hot chocolate steaming in their mittened hands, they really tend to be grateful of the very existence of the other.
“Hey, Chuuya?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” Dazai said, the lights of the Christmas tree reflecting off those beautiful auburn orbs, cocoons of freshly hatched butterflies fluttering through each other's stomach. Chuuya really takes those words seriously. The way they rolled off of Dazai’s tongue effortlessly, without hesitation or uncertainty sent sparks all over Chuuya’s body.
And when blue eyes found brown, they lit up with joy.
“I love you too, dumbass.”
They spent Christmas night in each others’ arms, sitting by the fireplace and playing an old xbox game that they hadn’t played since they were fifteen.
“Osamu, remember when we made a bet where if you lost, I got to steal your stuffed animals for a week? And I won playing this game?”
“Yeah– wait, you still didn’t give them back!”
“Don’t care, idiot. We were like 11. Not my point, though.”
“What’s your point?”
“I still have them. Back at my apartment.”
“You– you what?”
“Yeah. It doesn’t matter, though. I just wanted to point it out.” Chuuya says, eyes averting to the screen, though suddenly being tugged back by the idiot mummy sitting in front of him.
“ Chuuya. ” Dazai says, his hands cupping Chuuya’s chin, caressing the smooth skin on his cheeks.
“ What, you idiot?”
“That’s literally the cutest thing I’ve ever heard of. You kept them even when I left?”
“I never said anything. You didn’t hear that. I was lying.” Chuuya said rapidly, causing Dazai to giggle.
“Oh my god.”
“ Don’t you fucking start–”
Knocking the X-Box controller out of his hands, Dazai jumped on top of the redhead, enveloping him into the biggest hug of all eternity.
They just sat there in silence, Dazai’s steady breath tickling the skin of Chuuya’s neck.
“I’m not living this down, am I?” Chuuya says, hands rubbing up and down Dazai’s back.
“Nope!”
Chuuya sighs, eyes fluttering shut as Dazai starts to kiss his jaw, slowly teasing the skin with his tongue.
“I hate you.” Chuuya blurts out, the both of them knowing that the statement isn’t even remotely true.
“Love you too, Slug.”
They ended up falling asleep by the fireplace that night, arms wrapping around each other as they enjoyed the season that is Christmas. And neither of them could wish for more in that very moment, as they find comfort in the other’s warmth. Neither of them would have wished for more in the future, when they were getting married despite the fact that they hated the idea of marriage. And neither of them would have wished for more when they retired together, settling in an old house in france.
They ended up spending the rest of their lives together, because that was what they were destined to do. To be happy, to be loved, and to be grateful for the other.