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The first time Chuuya received flowers, they were some ericas.
That morning, he was introduced to someone he'd never spoken to face-to-face, but rather, only heard of.
Dazai Osamu, the infamous demon prodigy of the Mafia.
Chuuya should've been afraid- after all, this was a man who knew nothing but cruelty, guile and trickery.
Yet the brunette before him was nothing like he expected. There was laid-back expression on his attractive face, and if not for the lack of emotion in his eyes and jet-black coat he was clothed in, Chuuya would have mistaken him for a regular, carefree teenager, which made him feel somewhat annoyed.
Dazai Osamu sauntered towards him, making a few complicated hand gestures along the way. He offered him his hand without a single word of introduction.
Oh... he was mute.
Who would have thought?
"Nakahara Chuuya, but please call me Chuuya, " he tried to keep his voice firm and polite, and reached out to shake his outstretched hand.
There was a glint of amusement in those dark eyes, and the smile on his face widened. Chuuya was sure, if he could, he'd be laughing at him. Thankfully, Mori spoke before he could do something that would have possibly jeopardized the two's impressions of him.
"Dazai-kun, Chuuya-kun, from today onwards, you'll be partners," he stated simply.
Then, something in Dazai’s expression changed.
Interest.
“Yes, boss.”
Dazai merely shrugged and headed for the door, but not before shooting Chuuya a mocking grin, which fuelled his irritation.
“Oh and, Chuuya-kun?” Mori spoke up once Dazai was out of hearing range. “You might want to pick up some sign language. After all, you're going to be working with a mute person. If I'm not mistaken, what Dazai-kun signed to you just a few minutes was something rather… unflattering.”
Chuuya knew then, life with Dazai as a partner wouldn't be made easy for him. But there was something about the man he met that he was, against his will, oddly attracted to. Like he was a mystery waiting for Chuuya to solve; a secret for him to uncover.
Chuuya accepted his fate- challenge- gladly.
He wasn't disappointed.
In the evening when Chuuya returned home, he was surprised to see some ericas delivered to him. He thought was an odd choice, until he read the note that was delivered along with them.
‘I've known solitude all my life- far too long for me to even remember the comfort of company. But perhaps with yours, I could enjoy companionship once more.
Looking forward to working with you.
Dazai Osamu.’
~
The second time Chuuya received flowers, they were a clump of daisies.
They were losing. Bodies littered the ground, bodies of his fallen comrades. He turned around and saw Dazai taking down opponents one by one effortlessly, as much of the skilled fighter he was even before they met three years ago.
Enemy ability users joined the battle in seemingly never-ending waves. Screams filled the air. Chuuya didn't want to think about who those agonizing screams might have belonged to.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and tensed up instinctively, prepared to attack whatever came his way. If he was going to go down, he'd take as many opponents as he could with him. But he wasn't confronted with an enemy soldier. No, that hand belonged to Dazai. His heartbeat quickened as he realized what Dazai was asking of him.
To awaken the uncontrollable beast inside of him.
Corruption.
Chuuya took a long look into Dazai’s eyes. They reassured him- told him something Dazai would never be able to do so out loud.
Trust me.
Maybe he had fought harder, he wouldn't have had to do this. But now, he would gladly put his life on the line if it meant putting an end to this mindless slaughter.
“O’ grantors of dark disgrace…”
Besides, he knew without a doubt that Dazai wouldn't let him down.
“Do not wake me again.”
When he awoke two days later, he found daisies neatly placed in a vase by his bedside. Using the infinitesimal amount of strength he felt in his arms, he reached for the note that came along with the flowers.
‘ Everything has been resolved. Thank you for trusting me once more.
Dazai Osamu.’
~
The third time Chuuya received flowers, they were a bunch of Shepherd’s Purse.
He can still remember the exact moment he fell in love with Dazai Osamu. They had taken care of all the missions they were assigned to that day. Dazai was behaving out-of-sorts. Chuuya decided they’d be better off making use of the little free time they received to take a walk.
The city as they knew it greeted them with a cool breeze. The shining lights of Yokohama City were neither too bright nor too dull. It was a sight for sore eyes, watching the reflections of skyscrapers in the river. Taking a deep breath, Chuuya took in his surroundings to the fullest, unintentionally missing out the one thing dearest to him- though he hadn’t known it yet, at that point in time.
“Sometimes, I wish we could have more moments like this,” Chuuya sighed.
Silence fell upon them once again.
Why so sentimental? Dazai asked, a cheeky expression flitted across his face.
Chuuya blushed a deep red, and hoped it was dark enough for it not to have been too obvious.
Of course, Dazai noticed it anyway.
“Don’t ruin the moment-”
Chuuya felt a tug at his sleeve and he tore his gaze away from the scenery. Hazel met azure, and so did their lips.
They started off as soft grazes, as if they were slowly getting used to each other being so close, so intimate. It wasn't long before sensation mounted, and suddenly they couldn't get enough of each other, wanted to engulf the other whole. Seconds ticked by and all there was were fireworks and tingles, fueled by desire and ecstasy. In each other’s arms they found comfort and protection from reality they both so longed for. And when he finally looked up again, he saw Dazai’s façade falling away, revealing what he’d hidden for the past twenty-two years.
He locked eyes not with the Demon Prodigy of the Port Mafia, but Dazai Osamu, a human through and through. They kissed again.
That night he was presented with Shepherd’s Purse.
‘I’ll stop hiding, break out of the act I’ve been performing for far too long. And then, I’ll give my everything to you and love you again and again.
Dazai Osamu.’
~
The fourth time Chuuya was given flowers, they were a bouquet of white camellias.
Ever since that day, Dazai had been staying over at Chuuya’s apartment. Day by day, his partner grew to be less the monster he was just a few years ago. The mock cheeriness that didn't quite manage to hide the darkness in his eyes at work disappeared and presented itself as genuine happiness whenever they were together. Chuuya thought it to be heartwarming.
That is, whenever Dazai wasn't getting on his nerves, whether on purpose or not.
He woke up to the smell of burning food.
‘Dazai Osamu, you’d better not be ruining my kitchen,” he mumbled, not that the brunette could hear him, nor care less. He prayed desperately for his kitchen not to have been mutilated by the hands of that demon.
Too late.
Scorch marks stretched across the walls; the floor was cluttered with crockery of all sorts- Chuuya could only blame himself to have kept all those in sight with Dazai at home. The counters were stained with the product of what seemed to be an attempt at making tea; Chuuya even spotted bits of porcelain from a chipped mug.
The mastermind behind the chaos stood before him, shrugging.
At least I tried, he signed.
Chuuya wasted no time aiming a punch at his face.
The next few hours were invested in bring the kitchen back to its original flawless state. Chuuya juggled cleaning up and keeping Dazai as far away from the kitchen as possible, though the latter managed to get close enough to sneak a kiss or two on his cheek a couple times.
Chuuya didn’t mind.
~
Ne, Chuuya…
“Hm?”
Snuggled in the couch, Chuuya lifted his head, from nimble fingers he’d been subconsciously staring at, to their owner. Dazai started at the redhead intently, before dropping his gaze, as if he were unsure.
I hate that I can’t speak to you. I hate that I was born with this disability. Don’t you do too, Chuuya?
Ah, so that was the problem.
“Listen,” Chuuya cupped Dazai’s face in his gloved palms, forcing the latter to face him. “I don’t care. We’ve been through the past seven years together, and we will continue like this for the next, with or without that disability of yours.
“Besides, it’s too late— I’ve already fallen in love with you.”
And they lay there for hours, kissing and cuddling, until they fell asleep in the comfort of the other’s warm, loving arms.
~
Dazai woke up first, claiming he had unfinished work to attend to. Chuuya had to force back a pout. Of course he knew, in their line of profession, work always came first, but Chuuya didn’t want him to leave.
I’ll be back soon, alright? Wait for me...
~
Half-past midnight and Dazai had yet to return.
Chuuya resisted the urge to lie down and fall asleep. He promised he’d wait for him to come home, and that’s exactly what he planned to do.
The doorbell rang.
At the doorstep lay a bouquet of camellias- white camellias. He reached for the note that always came with the flowers he were sent, and his eyes widened.
‘ And I’ll be waiting by the riverside we found love, waiting until you come to me- and say yes, you’ll marry me…’
The note wasn't signed this time, but Chuuya knew regardless. Rushing out the door, he’d almost forgotten to lock it. Running towards Yokohama Bay where he knew Dazai Osamu would be waiting patiently for his arrival filled him with a sort of exhilaration he'd never thought he would experience, and when he saw him, the words the brunette so wanted to hear flowed from his mouth.
“You idiot… of course I’ll marry you.”
And the fifth time Chuuya received flowers, they were a bushel of two dozen red roses, coupled with an engagement ring...