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"What's this?"
Chuuya blinks confusedly at the thick, baby pink book in his hands. He's certain it's a photo album of some sorts, but why?
"Just open it," Dazai presses, expression unusually soft .
At that moment, the doorbell rings. Dazai excuses himself to go get it, leaving Chuuya to stare at the front of the album that's been left blank.
Curiously, he flips to the first page and is surprised to see Kouyou's signature elegance in her handwriting, reading, ‘To our dearest Chuuya.’
He doesn't really know what he expected. It's a photo album, so naturally, when he flips through it, each page is filled with colorful pictures, each accompanied by dates and short quips about each scene.
It's what's captured in those photos that has him caressing the plastic protected images with a delicacy akin to handling fine glass.
There's one of the first day he wandered into the Agency, sipping on apple juice and swinging his legs back and forth without a care in the world.
Can you believe he doesn't like grape juice? Wait till adult Chibi hears about this.
The familiar chicken scratch scrawl brings a small smile to his face.
"At least you tried to write neater, mackerel. I'll give you that."
There's another with him riding Atsushi like a horse and Akutagawa snickering in the back.
One with him joyfully playing amongst fake human body parts in Yosano's office.
Riding on Kunikida's shoulders.
Reading with Fukuzawa and Mori.
Eating crepes with Kyouka.
Drinking tea with Kouyou.
Wearing cool glasses with Hirotsu.
Switching hats with Kenji.
Gorging on sweets with Ranpo.
A few pages dedicated to him wearing different outfits, including dresses and cat ears.
Napping with a calico cat.
Fukuzawa, Mori, and Dazai getting scolded by said cat.
Their day at the park.
Everything is captured within these pages, frozen forever in time to remember for years to come.
It's a given that he's in every single one of those photos, but there's someone else that never fails to make an appearance, whether it be photobombing or as an actual subject of interest.
Nap #22 with Chuuya. I'm starting to think he likes me.
Chuuya stifles a chuckle at the next photo.
Dazai's got him secured under one arm, and he's running away from Kunikida, whose face is riddled with marker doodles, most of which were the brunet's doing. Chuuya remembers being used as a scapegoat, though Kunikida saw through that bullshit pretty quickly, carefully snatching him away to scold Dazai.
Kunikida-kun didn't like my masterpiece o3o
The next page has two near identical photos of him sleeping, except one is obviously of his older self. He doesn't remember either of them.
Spot the difference: Chuuya-san edition!!
A fond, "Stupid," is whispered, when he sees the caption of the next picture of himself in his new hat, the one Dazai keeps calling an 'abomination.' Whatever that means.
I made my baby cry. I'm sorryyyyy TT^TT
Chuuya spends what feels like an hour but is actually only a few minutes browsing through the endless photos, smile growing at each new photo of memories he was afraid of forgetting.
Not knowing what his actual childhood was like made him want to latch onto the one made for him, and now he can. All he has to do is pull out this beautifully made album of memories he made with the people he loves, crafted by those same people who clearly love him as much as he does them.
"Do you like it?"
Chuuya doesn't say anything. He can't.
If he tries to say something, he knows he'll start crying. The burning in his eyes tells him he's one word away from bawling.
It's times like these, that he's glad Dazai can read him like a book.
He puts down the package in his hands to scoop Chuuya up into a hug, cradling him as close as humanly possible and whispering the sweetest words that render the redhead's efforts to not cry, useless.
"Even as an adult, you're a big crybaby."
"I'm not crying," Chuuya half-heartedly denies, voice shaky. If that isn't enough of an indication, his muffled sniffles give way to the truth.
"Thank you."
Dazai smiles into fiery hair, lips pursing to kiss the top of Chuuya's head.
"Don't thank me," he plays with the ends of his hair, twirling it around his fingers, "You're lucky you weren't ugly. If you were, I don't think we would've taken any pictures at all."
Rolling his eyes, Chuuya lightly punches the other in the shoulder. "Lucky me."
"Yup!" Dazai cups the smaller's face, squishing his cheeks, simultaneously wiping away his stray tears. "Chuuya would make cute babies, so long as they don’t inherit your horrible personality.”
In retaliation, Chuuya pinches Dazai's nose, squeezing until it's red and sore.
“Really?"
"Ow! Chuuya~ It hurts!"
He relents after hearing a few more pitiful whines.
"It’s a shame that I plan on adopting then. I can’t exactly make babies with the person I have in mind.”
Dazai narrows his eyes at him, disgruntled about his stinging nose. "Who's the unlucky guy?"
Chuuya tiptoes to peck the bright red nose, an action meant to soothe the other's wounded pride.
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Temporarily consoled, Dazai wraps his arms around Chuuya, hands dancing down to rest on his hips. Dazai pulls him in, nice and slow, dark eyes flitting to tempting lips and back up to eyes swimming with mirth.
"If you need a daddy, all you have to do is ask."
The distance closes, their breaths beginning to mingle.
"You think you're up for the job?"
Their lips are a hair's breadth away, skin brushing ever so deliciously against each other.
Desperate to touch Chuuya, craving the feeling of lips on lips, Dazai whispers a breathless, "Yes."
All at once, the warm body on his disappears, lips meeting air.
Dazai whips his head around, gaze locking on Chuuya, who's leaning over the coffee table to grab the discarded package. The fire in his belly isn't snuffed out just yet, interest flaring, anticipation through the roof as he watches him cut through the paper wrappings.
Chuuya's eyes light up at the item in the package and so do Dazai's when he sees him pull out a standard red collar.
While he's thanking whatever higher power that's listening, he gets the collar thrown at him, trained reflexes easily catching it in one hand.
Upon closer inspection, he realizes that the name engraved on the gold plate is his, or more specifically, one of Chuuya's signature insults for him.
Mackerel , it reads, and although Dazai would prefer his partner to be the one collared, he isn't entirely opposed to it being the other way around.
"I'll be right back. I have a surprise for you."
Shivers crawl up Dazai's spine at the implications of that kind of promise.
There are a hundred ways this could go down, and by God, he's ready for each and every one of them.
What he isn't prepared for is the chocolate puppy that seemingly appears out of nowhere, sitting snugly in Chuuya's arms, tail wagging at mach speed.
"Congrats, daddy . Meet the new addition to our family." The sly fox rubs the little devil behind the ears, eliciting high-pitched barks and faster tail wagging.
The scandalized expression on Dazai's face is priceless .
"I'm kidding, idiot." Chuuya reclaims his spot on the couch, leaving the brunet a gaping fish by himself. "Mackerel is my responsibility. No need to worry about child support or anything like that."
Chuuya's cooing over Mackerel comes to an abrupt stop when the puppy is suddenly plucked out of his hands, both owner and pet tilting their heads in confusion at the newcomer.
Dazai keeps the animal at an arm's length away, hands cupping its tiny body as he regards it with unveiled scrutiny.
"As disgusting a creature as you are--"
"Don't call my baby disgusting , shitty Dazai!"
"--my love for Chuuya trumps any... distaste I have for your kind."
Chuuya quirks an eyebrow at him, arms crossed over his chest, interested to see how this all unravels. His dubiety soon melts into something softer, something tender when Dazai spirals into a whole spiel about the puppy having to accept the fact that his cuteness will forever be inferior to his.
"As long as you understand your place as number two, then we can co-exist in Chuuya's life."
"What? You think you're number one?" the redhead teases, laughing when Dazai gives him a look for interrupting.
"Hush, Chibi. I know you're madly in love with me."
Chuuya doesn't deny it, instead muttering a “Cheeky bastard," under his breath.
He motions for the puppy, and Dazai readily deposits it back in his partner's hold.
Wiggling his fingers in front of the hyperactive pet, Chuuya reverts to his baby talk voice, standing up at the same time Dazai sits down.
"C'mon, Mackerel. Let's feed your little tummy, yeah?"
An adorable bark has Chuuya smiling from ear to ear.
Halfway to the kitchen, he glances back at the couch, where another abandoned puppy sits, sulking for being left behind.
"I guess you can come, too."
For someone that despises dogs, Dazai sure acts like one, perking up immediately and trailing behind him, nonexistent tail wagging faster than Mackerel's.
Chuuya didn't sign up to take care of two puppies, though considering he lucked out with two irresistibly cute ones, he'd say he's pretty damn happy to have them.
Although, it'd be better if Dazai would stop trying to assert dominance by eating Mackerel's treats.
"These are my special biscuits. Chuuya bought these for me ." The shameless man waves another one in the air before popping it into his mouth. "How does it feel to lose?"
The pup is as confused as he is.
Oh well, you can't have it all.
(Although, Chuuya's pretty damn close.)