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On most nights, Dazai falls asleep after Kunikida. People change, but the habit of falling asleep after a stubborn partner is something not most people can shake.
Dazai isn’t most people, so the point is that unless Kunikida is asleep, Dazai isn’t asleep.
However, tonight, Kunikida is not asleep.
It hadn’t been a bad day, per say. It was one of those days that you get wound up doing things and then when it’s all over, you really can’t get unwound. For Dazai, those days are rare (it’s not like you can get wound up about paperwork if you don’t do paperwork), but for someone like Kunikida (who actually does paperwork), they tend to happen more.
Usually Dazai combats this by draping even more dramatically across his partner (if that’s even possible) and annoyingly tries to get Kunikida to relax.
But even now, tucked in bed after hours and hours of flopping on him, Dazai can feel the muscles of Kunikida’s chest pulled tight against is back. In most cases, Dazai appreciates the strong and sturdy, yet wonderfully soft skin pressed against his own. Today however, it’s taunt and tense. He wishes it was warm and full with the soft lull of sleep.
Dazai briefly leans his head back over Kunikida’s shoulder to plant a kiss his cheek.
“I can hear you thinking from over here, you know.” He whispers playfully.
“What gave it away?” Kunikida grumbles lowly, his voice running through Dazai’s back that definitely does not send shivers down it.
Dazai hums and the arms around his waist tighten. He laughs quietly so he doesn’t ruin the moment.
“That’s why.” He explains. “I love, love, love your muscles, but they’re no good if they’re all tight.”
Kunikida sighs against the soft curls on the back of Dazai’s neck.
“Ideally, I’d like to relax.”
“One of those days?”
Another tired sigh. “Yeah.”
“We could have-“
“We are not having sex, Osamu.”
Dazai's quiet laugh meets the air again. “Alright, alright.”
He turns over so he can face Kunikida. The light haired man blinks in confusion at the sudden change in positions and reflexively lets go of Dazai's body.
“Come here, you big baby.” Dazai teases as he opens his arms and scoots a little higher up the bed. Kunikida frowns but complies, shuffling across the sheets and knocking their blanket a little off.
“I am not a baby.” He huffs, check pressed into Dazai’s warm shoulder. Kunikida feels when his chest shakes with a laugh as Dazai pulls him and the blanket back into place.
“Sure,” Dazai says fondly. “Whatever you say, baby.”
Dazai doesn’t hate being the cuddler when they sleep; Kunikida just does it more often. Where Dazai hangs and whines on Kunikida’s shoulders in the day, Kunikida practically smothers him like a teddy bear at night.
“You’ve really got to relax more.” Dazai scolds, but there's no heat behind it. He presses his hands firmly into the broad expanse of Kunikida's upper back.
“I don’t think dragging you around all day makes it any better.” He retorts, but it comes out halfway as a relieved whine when his partner works out a particularly stubborn knot that rests right below the junction of his neck and shoulder.
“But this makes it better, doesn't it?” Dazai hums.
Kunikida makes another annoyed noise, only to be cut off again as one of Dazai’s hands combs into his long hair. His eyelids droop and his forehead presses heavier into Dazai’s chest.
The last of the cold, taunt, tension in Kunikida’s body dissipates when his partner showers his head in gentle kisses.
“Goodnight, Kunikida.” Dazai says softly, just enough for it to carry the short space between their bodies. Kunikida responds with another satisfied sound as another tangle is tugged out. Dazai has long abandoned his efforts of getting the knots out of Kunikida’s back and directs them all to the ones in his hair.
Kunikida’s now-infectious relaxation bleeds into Dazai’s own tired body. Maybe it’s how Dazai’s arms are holding the perfect weight of his ideal man, or the ever-growing warmth that blooms from both of their chests.
“Goodnight, Osamu.” Kunikida whispers when the hands in his hair stop moving. He tucks his own head a little more snugly under Dazai’s chin and listens to his steady breathing.
On most nights, Dazai falls asleep after Kunikida.
(but on some nights, Kunikida fights to stay awake just a little longer)