Chapter Text
The next morning, Chuuya was honestly surprised to wake up before his Partner.
Chuuya wakes up early, sure, but he could wake up at 4:00 in the morning and that stupid fish would’ve woken up only minutes before. Its like he has some sort of freaky sixth sense specifically for when Chuuya wakes up..
Chuuya realizes that he’s woken up at six quickly. A single hour of sleep certainly isn’t enough, however he has to cope. He has something to do before Dazai wakes up.
He has to call Mori, and request the day off on the grounds of suddenly falling ill and Dazai going with him. Chuuya doesn’t like lying, but really he couldn’t care less - Mori is only important to Dazai, Chuuya doesn’t care - about that old man.
He definitely had to wake up a bit more first though. His vision is still fuzzy from the light first thing in the morning, every smell a bit too much and the taste in his mouth feeling rancid.
Every morning is like this, he doesn’t even notice that it happens anymore.
Chuuya wants to lay back down, fall back into the warmth of his pillows and blankets, but he can’t. He has no doubt he’ll have to spend the entire day watching over Dazai, and going back to sleep wont help him.
After a moment, he forces himself to sit up. Using his arms to shove his body up, knowing full well that he would’ve just given up if he didn’t.
The realization that he’s not in his bed hits him first. The comfort of his bedroom down the hall, as he lays on the couch. On only the side pillow and a single blanket.
Not nearly enough to keep him warm, the “blanket” is thin enough he can practically see through it! Its an excuse of one, its a waste of fabric that Dazai brought into his house and he hasn’t thrown away yet.
His mind realizes that if that isn’t keeping him warm, something else has to be.
Someone else.
he sees Dazai next to him pretty quickly, laying down right next to him on the couch.
What Surprises Chuuya is how hes positioned.
Head nuzzled into Chuuya’s stomach, arms around him and a soft smile on his face. Not the usual smirk the man has, but a soft and delicate upturn of the ends of his lips.
It makes Chuuya’s heart beat a lot faster. He’s denying why, but he won’t admit to himself that he finds the expression cute.
…
He doesn’t. Not at all, he's just shocked is all…
He can’t look away from Dazai’s face.
He doesn’t move away, he doesn’t do anything to disturb Dazai’s rest or make even the smallest sound.
He knows that his heart is pounding against his ribs, but Dazai can't feel that asleep despite all of the insistence that Dazai knows everything he constantly makes.
Chuuya rarely sees Dazai asleep. Dazai sleeps, sure, but he’s almost never truly asleep.
Dazai uses it as an excuse to avoid work, to get out of small paperwork or commonly to make Chuuya do Everything.
Dazai does do a lot more work than Chuuya does.. But hes been slacking off a lot lately, giving all his work to Chuuya and just saying something stupid like “A dog should do whatever his master wants” before fucking off to drown in a river or something like that.
Chuuya’s thoughts barely stay focused as he looks at Dazai’s face.
The only time’s hes seen Dazai fully asleep have been after hard missions, the times where one of them gets injured bad enough they have to settle for sleeping on the streets or in dingy motels with bed bugs.
Chuuya lets out a small huff at the memory, he’s never letting Dazai live down the love hotel with bed bugs that bothered them for weeks after.
Dazai shifts and it makes Chuuya freeze up.
Dazai can’t see Chuuya like this! Completely awake and staring at him - with Malice, definitely.. But Dazai would assume that Chuuya was in love with him or something!
The thought alone of Dazai being so delusional as to think Chuuya could ever love him makes Chuuya panic a bit.
Chuuya’s heart speeds up almost concerningly, but cools down when he sees that Dazai hasn’t woken up yet.
Chuuya very carefully moves his arm, getting it out from underneath Dazai..
That certainly woke him up enough to call Mori by now.
Looking around, he finds his phone on the coffee table. Carelessly thrown on the glass next to the leftover takeout from last night, a 2 day old wineglass and Dazai’s own phone.
He reaches for it, being extremely gentle to make sure Dazai doesn’t wake up.
Putting in all that effort for a Fish seems pointless, he doesn’t see why its necessary or why the pure idea of it is crossing his mind at all, but thinking about waking Dazai up from his carelessness makes Chuuya’s heart ache. He’s so comfortable, it’d be cruel to wake him up..
Not that Chuuya wants to be anything but..
Sighing heavily, he turns his phone on. The passcode is swiftly entered and his homescreen is shining onto his face like the sun on a clear sky.
He opens up his Phone app, wanting to get this over with quickly and not have to hear that mans voice for very long.
Mori is near the top of the contacts list, and he mindlessly presses the green call button upon seeing it.
After exactly 2 rings, Mori answers.
“Hello?”
Chuuya realizes that he probably has piles of paperwork to do at work.
He should’ve realized before calling.
“Mori-san..” he coughs, trying to make it sound like he’s actually sick. He has to be a little bit believable. “I Need the day off”
“Why?”
Chuuya’s silent for a moment, trying to think about how to say it to make it seem realistic-
“Im sick. Dazai also needs the day off, he got it to. I think that guy from the mission a few days ago was ill..” Chuuya says, swiftly and easily lying directly to his boss through the phone.
Mori understands immediately. Or Chuuya thinks he does. Mori is just biased on Dazai, since they have some sort of weird Father/Son relationship… Mori usually lets Dazai get away on small things.
And clearly they didn’t have anything else to do today that was too important.
“I see. I’ll arrange for you to get the day off. However, you will come into work tomorrow.” Mori says, not even a little surprised by how Chuuya is suddenly calling off. He basically never does, and Chuuya did mean to call the night before… it just slipped from his mind.
The line beeps before Chuuya could even think of a thank you, and Chuuya pulls the quiet phone away from his ear.
Only to Notice that Dazai’s looking at him.
Dazai is awake. Despite how Careful Chuuya was.
Dazai is also clinging to Chuuya, and very much half asleep. His eye is glazed over, showing just how much he isn't truly awake.
Dazai’s expression hasn’t changed much, his lips in that stupid little smile still, his eyes are only slightly cracked open, but Dazai is staring up at Chuuya absolutely and undeniably enamored.
It shocks Chuuya a little bit, but before he thinks about all the blackmail he could get on Dazai he thinks about pointing it out.
“Dazai?” Chuuya says it softly, in a voice that Dazai wouldn’t register if he wasn’t awake enough.
“Ughh.. Whatttttt” Dazai groans, nuzzling in even closer to Chuuya. His expression turning sour at the disturbance to his sleep.
“Handsy much?? Let go!” Chuuya immediately says, Refusing how he feels his stomach flutter at getting held closer. Clearly, Dazai doesn’t realize yet how what hes doing looks from a different perspective.
“Chuuyaaaaaaaa ! its my birthday, let me restt” Dazai says, Dramatically sniffling. Chuuya No longer feels the sweet flutter, knowing just how Dazai is about to whine about how evil and cruel Chuuya is or whatever
“Oh shut up-”
“Such a bad dog! Doesn’t let his Master get a well deserved sleep, even after making that little call just for that reason” Dazai says, making sure to mention that he knows.
Chuuya should’ve entered a different room to make that call, god damnit..
“Fuck off Dazai, I just dont want you running off and killing yourself today” Chuuya mumbles, much more defensively then he would’ve liked and enough to make Dazai tease him about it… stupid fish
“Awwh, Chuuya cares? How sweet of my dog, now let me rest” Dazai says. Putting his head down after a moment of silence. Letting it rest on Chuuya’s stomach once again.
Chuuya wants to shove him off.
“Just get off! You can sleep once I’m up, I am NOT sitting in this position with you for any longer than necessary” Chuuya grumbles, making a fruitless attempt at shoving Dazai off of his lap. “Get.” Chuuya hisses.
He doesn’t really mind, but this is gay as fuck, and he’s pretty sure he’s not inlove with Dazai. Who would reasonably love that weirdo?? He still has problems from his first girlfriend and she’s in a different country for fucks sake
“Chuuyaaaaa” Dazai whines, only holding Chuuya closer. He’s finding Chuuya’s body unbelievably comfortable, he’s warm and soft and he isn’t actually trying to shove him off.
Chuuya’s trying to convince himself that he definitely doesn’t think it’s cute, nor does he think that Dazai’s face is cute and he 100% doesn’t think that Dazai’s face is pretty by any Standards.
“Oh- Fine! But let go of me at least, jesus” Chuuya mumbles, and Dazai only gets on his nerves for his graciousness.
“Finally, my dog is getting some sense!” Dazai teases, not letting go or even giving Chuuya the illusion that he might. He leans onto him more even, grinning when Chuuya just looks annoyed with him.
Chuuya.. Doesn't want to bother him too much. Even though he hates the bastard just remembering what he did last year.. He can withstand a bit of whining if it means that Dazai doesn't overdose in a Bathtub again.
He doesn’t know why he cares about the mackerel that much, hes always just chalked it up to Dazai also being a person and himself having basic Empathy.
But he’s come to realize its more than that, but he doesn’t care about Dazai more than he would an acquaintance. …
Chuuya grimaces at the reminder of last year once he remembers what he was thinking about,
“Dazai? Are you in here? We have a mission today!” Chuuya called out, growing more and more concerned.
He’s checked EVERYWHERE for the guy by now! He’s checked their Apartment, Dazai’s office, three bars that he frequents, hes checked with Mori if he knows where Dazai is, he’s checked with Kouyou if she knows, he’s even asked Paul!
It’s ridiculous that he’s gotten so desperate that he’s now checking the one place that Dazai had the nerve to promise him he wouldn't find him in again.
That small, cramped little shipping container that he only still comfortably fits in by a miracle.
Dazai doesn’t respond, only hiking Chuuya’s heartbeat with worry.
Chuuya looks to the window to rid himself of the thought, focusing instead on two people on the street. Arguing? Chuuya can’t tell. Hes not that big on observation like Dazai is when it comes down to useless things.
Dazai adjusts himself on Chuuya’s stomach, bringing Chuuya back to his full conscience. He looks down at Dazai, a little startled by the feeling. He had forgotten Dazai was there…
He checks his phone only to see that it’s now 8:54am, and the realization that he’s been zoned out for around 2 hours dawns on him.
Looking down, he sees that Dazai is peacefully resting right where he was. Chuuya knew he would be, he felt him move only a few moments ago.
But the reminder of how Dazai looked that night..
Just thinking about it makes him sick. He swiftly decides that he has to do something more productive today than just letting Dazai sleep on him, to get his mind off of it.
Firmly (but undeniably gently) he shakes Dazai awake, paying no mind to how cute his face looks when he opens his eyes a bit confusedly, and groans at the disturbance. “Chuuyaaaaaa” he whines, looking at him with a sort of playful annoyance,
“Shut up Mackerel, I have to get up. Unlike you I actually have some things to do before I can just laze around all day” Chuuya says, shoving Dazai off of him and onto the floor. Only briefly glancing down before getting up.
He stretches his arms, and swings his legs over the end of the couch to stand.
Dazai glares, sitting up on the floor and crossing his arms. “Meanie.” he sighed, snickering a bit when Chuuya groaned at the dramatics.
“What do you even have to do?” Dazai inquired, still staring at his partner. “Dog’s dont get busy, you gonna go to the park Chuuya?” Dazai teases.
“God, shut up Dazai. For your information- I am VERY busy!”
“Yeah right! Doing what? Going on walks?” anything to get under his skin, grief…
“I have a lot of things to do! I’ve been busy with work for weeks, can I not take some time for myself?!” and it works.
Dazai giggles, standing up himself - standing an aggravating bit taller than Chuuya does. Chuuya’s eyes drift slightly, looking down at his arms. The bandages are thicker than usual, however Chuuya only pays slight attention to it, sometimes Dazai is just cold. It is autumn after all.
Chuuya isn't dense though, he keeps a small hint in his head to keep an eye on those.
“Yeah yeah whateverrrrr,” Dazai hums, looking over to the kitchen. hungry probably, man doesn't eat often.
“Would you at least cook me breakfast before doing your little doggy chores?” Dazai says, of course teasing him a bit - but it's mostly an honest question.
“I'm not doing that!”
…
Chuuya sighs, now standing in front of his stove with his arms crossed as the idiot he's gonna cook for decides what he wants.
“Hurry up Mackerel, I don't have all day”
“make me pancakes?”
“Yeah, whatever, sure.”
the way Dazai's eyes light up slightly at the idea of having pancakes is adorable.. but for a Mafia executive like him it's honestly funny.
Dazai grins and sits down at the kitchen island, opening his phone after seeing Chuuya get busy with cooking.
Chuuya knows how to make pancakes, he makes them for himself often - so his hands work themselves as he thinks.
he wonders what Dazai is looking at, why he's so intently focused on the screen..
(Chuuya wishes dazai would look at HIM like that)
Chuuya just scoffs and goes back to the bowl he's currently mixing, instead focusing on not burning his apartment down.
Dazai clearly enjoyed the pancakes, and it made Chuuya feel warm. a feeling he's despised since Shirase, but it doesn't feel that bad around Dazai..
Chuuya shakes his head, looking down at his own plate. completely full while Dazai's is barren by now.
Dazai glances up at Chuuya, raising a brow to his concentration on a fork.
“Busy there, slug?” he says, putting his phone down and shoving it into his pocket a moment later.
“mind your own Business Mackerel.” Chuuya says, looking at him with the same slightly annoyed but not really look he always has at Banter.
“Yeah right, I'm sure my dog is thinking about me! that's why he can't concentrate!” Dazai says. Chuuya's getting tired of his teasing today! (he knows he isn't, he just wants to deny the feeling it gives him)
“As if! I'm thinking about the work I could be doing instead of being here with you!” Chuuya says, huffing and beginning to actually eat his pancakes, now snapped out of whatever he was briefly in.
Dazai's shoulders relax just a little bit, and it lets Chuuya know that that's what he intended to happen.
stupid fish…
Dazai goes back to his phone, and Chuuya sees that he's scrolling.. Twitter of all things.
his mind drifts again while he's eating. He's fully awake now, so he can't redirect his focus somewhere else easily. Not by himself at least, Dazai would somehow know how though.
Chuuya's mind drifts back to the reason he's not doing paperwork today to begin with.
“Okay I'm coming in Dazai!”
Silence. the type of stiff, uncomfortable silence that he hates.
he stays true to his word, kicking the metal open to reveal the inside.
the smell hits him first, Dazai's shipping container never smelt especially great..
and then he sees the silhouette on the floor.
“Dazai?..” Chuuya sighs, walking inside.
“God dammit Mackerel.” he says, unaware to what he's truly about to find.
Chuuya's fork scraping against his plate loudly gets his attention. the pancakes are gone and his dumbass was still in the motion of eating them..
Dazai let's out a laugh that for once is actually reasonable and.. warranted.
“Oh shut up!” Chuuya hisses, looking away from emberessment. and a slight irritation.
Dazai just giggles a bit more, looking away and back at his phone after a moment.
Silence falls after a moment, and it lasts longer than it should.
there's a faint sound from Dazai's headphone, but that's all.
Chuuya interrupts it by taking both of their plates to the Kitchen sink, and carefully piling them with the other dirty dishes.
Chuuya walks back over.
“You gonna do anything today aside from stare at your phone?” Chuuya hums, sitting back down and waiting for Dazai to look at him.
“Hmmm.. I might watch a movie here, or I could-” Chuuya almost regrets asking when he starts to ramble about playing some freaky game of one player chess, before he stops and suggests something else.
“Or I could find a beautiful lady to commit double suicide with!” Dazai intends it as a joke, he's only actually asked a few times to women.
it doesn't really land due to what he did last year.. but Chuuya doesn't want to make a big deal out of it on his birthday before he's even done anything.
“Yeah yeah, cuz someone would willingly commit with you” Chuuya jokes instead, and he knows he made the right choice when Dazai grins.
“Oh how rude! Bad dog!” Dazai says, dramatically throwing an arm over his forehead and falling over.
“I just made you breakfast don't “Bad dog” Me!’
Dazai giggles, not sitting back up.
it's now about.. 11:30am, Chuuya hasn't been paying attention to the time.
he's been paying attention to the shitty Movie Dazai picked to make Chuuya watch with him, apple white or something, American nonsense.
Dazai seems Happy to watch though, so he doesn't mind just shutting up and letting Dazai enjoy it.
Halfway through the movie Dazai moves a bit closer, leaning against Chuuya. he's warm. it's.. cute.
Chuuya finds himself staring at Dazai more then the movie - which makes Dazai notice.
Chuuya's not sure what he was thinking..
“Need something? you're staring at me a Lotttt” Dazai says, grinning as usual.
“Just.. wondering if you want anything to eat” Chuuya says, looking away. easy save. kind of..
Dazai looks a bit surprised. Chuuya usually never offers him shit - he likely assumes that it's a birthday privilege or something.
“Stop staring will you?!” Chuuya suddenly says, looking back at Dazai.
Dazai smiles, “Make me some tea?” Dazai says, moving off of Chuuya.
Chuuya sighs and numbers “okay”.
Dazai gets a Cinnamon apple tea with Honey, and he seems to like it decently enough.
Chuuya keeps it in mind for now.
he couldn't stop himself from laughing when the jackass spilled it on his face bandages though - Chuuya would've helped him redo them like always, but Dazai declined.
probably so he can just use whatever Chuuya has in his bathroom instead of the stuff Chuuya buys for him. (according to Dazai it's too nice or something stupid like that).
when Dazai comes back his bangs are a bit damp, but Chuuya chalks it up to the tea and getting it out of his hair.
Dazai sits back down on the couch, and lays back onto Chuuya. Chuuya looks back at the screen, letting Dazai feel victorious in bothering him or whatever he thinks he's doing.
Chuuya doesn't pay enough attention to take it off of Dazai as well though, Chuuya's keeping a close eye on him.
Before Chuuya even realizes it, they've spent the entire day basically on the couch. aside from Chuuya getting up to get food for lunch.
The daylight is nearly gone by now, and they've been watching stupid Movies Dazai likes - they finish snow White, and then Ariel, and then a movie about a girl named Jasmine.
Chuuya doesn't know why on earth Dazai watches them, but he doesn't mind it honestly.
especially not when Dazai is always so close to him.
Truly, Dazai's been laying on him the entire time they've been watching the movies.
Occasionally adjusting and only getting closer.
he's Actively laying on Chuuya, one arm around his torso.
and Chuuya doesn't know if he even notices.
it's a nice feeling, but he's trying to pay attention to the movie. and failing pretty bad, but whatever..
Dazai quizzed him on the last few, and Chuuya would rather die than admit that Dazai's right and that he doesn't pay that much attention.
He pays a LOT of attention!
it's just getting to the end of the movie with that Jasmine girl- Alladan? something like that..
and Dazai forces him to focus on the Movie, but nothing can really make him. he's not thinking about last year, but even as the entire day has basically passed them, theres still a worry that lingers.
the Movie ends swiftly, and after Dazai quizzes him (Chuuya failed miserably), Dazai looks at Chuuya as if wanting something.
“Chuuyaaa, for being so mean and not paying attention to the Movies I chose,”
Chuuya was almost expecting to hear Dazai jokingly request a double suicide or something.
“Have some drinks with me? it's been soo long since I drank” Dazai says, eyes now expectant.
“I don't trust your ass in my house drunk.”
“Come onnnn, it's only a little bit! unless my dog is scared..” Dazai hums, pointing to get under Chuuya's skin just enough to get what he wants.
“I'm not scared! I just value my Belongings!” Chuuya argues, crossing his arms.
“Sounds scared to me!” Dazai giggled, moving closer to Chuuya. not caring for how Chuuya may see him like that.
on Chuuya's lap, just to be face to face with him.
Chuuya's face gets red and a bit emberrassed, just so that Dazai doesn't realize -
letting Dazai have one drink won't be that bad as long a
s he keeps an eye on Dazai, right?
"God, Fine! but your not drinking more than one glass!"
Truly, how could Chuuya ever refuse Dazai? he may be an alcoholic but they have bigger problems then that to deal with.