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The usual scenery of Lupin was as comfortable as always. Dim lights, little to no decorations, and the smell of whiskey and cocktails filling the ambient. The underground bar was perhaps a bit dreary to others but, to Dazai and Oda, there was no other place they'd rather be. The pair shared a comfortable silence before Dazai broke it suddenly and with a strange question.
"Odasaku... what are your plans for Christmas?"
Oda hesitated just as he was about to have a sip of his whiskey, setting the glass down as he thought of it. The morning of, he had planned to spend with the kids of course but beyond that, nothing really.
"Why do you ask?" Oda replied, slightly confused where the conversation was going.
"Well... hmm..." Dazai paused, holding a hand to his chin in thought. "I was wondering if you wanted to spend Christmas eve at my apartment?"
Oda quirked a brow, before grabbing his drink again. "Oh? Sure, why not."
His response was so simple and nonchalant Dazai was frozen for a moment waiting for more to follow. But as usual with Oda, his responses were short and genuine. It was such a refreshing break from the long-winded talks he had with Mori, that Dazai couldn't help but chuckle at the jarring comparison. He had expected to have to be more convincing, considering this would be the first time Oda went to his apartment, but as usual, Dazai was surprised.
After that, the rest of the night was spent calmly discussing recent happenings, and also speculating why Ango hadn't joined them, something which Dazai was oddly grateful for. Theories ranged from “He's just busy with work,” from Oda to “He married a woman from an enemy faction and defected for Christmas,” from Dazai. Eventually, the day was coming to a close, with the duo reluctantly realizing that the bar was closing soon. Granted, as long as Dazai remained, the bar would never say a word about it. Despite that, something in Dazai always prompted him to respect the rule and the time was never debated. Considering this was the one place the trio could meet as equals; it would be completely against Dazai's will to throw his weight as a Port Mafia executive around.
And then, as much as Dazai didn't want the night to end, it was time for them to go. The two left, going their separate ways into the long cold night. Dazai marked on his phone the Christmas date with a smile, a rare sight for anyone who knew the man. The creeping enthusiasm of the upcoming day warming his cheeks despite the chilly air as he disappeared into the darkness of Yokohama.
Days turned to weeks as the holiday inched closer, and Dazai's excitement was like a metronome: High in the morning, due to a rare event to look forward to, only being squashed during the night as he partook in the Port Mafia's usual dull affairs. This affair repeated for a short while before, thankfully, Dazai noted that tonight was the fateful night. Sending a short message to Mori that he was busy that night before throwing his phone to the side, Dazai for what felt like the first time, took in his large apartment. This would be the only time anyone besides Chuuya had seen the inside, and for some reason Dazai was strangely suddenly aware of the lack of personal effects. The whole place felt rather sterile and empty. Dazai was sure if he spoke loud enough there would be an echo.
Just as he was about to consider how fast an interior decorator could possibly be, there was a buzz from the intercom. Getting to his feet and reaching the intercom, Dazai answered but kept silent a moment, just in case. After a beat, a familiar voice questioned the silence "Dazai?"
"Oh! Odasaku! You should've spoken up sooner!" Dazai replied with excitement, before immediately hitting the button to unlock the apartment's main doors. Turning away as he waited, Dazai made his way to the kitchen and retrieved the small cake adorned with exotic fruits he had bought earlier, placing it on the table in the living room. Then, considering around a minute had passed, Dazai made his way to his front door before throwing it open and greeting a bewildered looking Oda, his hand up and just about to knock.
Excited, Dazai gave just enough time for Oda to take his shoes and coat off before he grabbed him by the arm and pulled him inside the empty apartment. Taking him to the living room, Dazai only let go when Oda was finally inside, and had put on the table the bag that he was carrying with him. The executive flopped down on one side of the couch, gesturing across for Oda to join him. Taking his seat on the other side of Dazai's L shaped couch, Oda looked to the cake in front of them as he opened the bag he had brought. "Looks good, where'd you get this?"
At that Dazai mocked offense, raising a hand to his chest "Are you assuming I didn't bake it?" Oda barely looked up, but he now wore a small smile at Dazai's usual antics as he retrieved the first item from his bag: a bottle of sake. Glancing up a moment, Oda humored Dazai "Oh, so you did make this then? Impressive."
Just about to make a long-winded speech about how tough it was to bake the delicacy before them, Dazai stopped short at Oda's smile. "...No, I didn't." At that a short silence fell over them as Oda continued to empty the bag he had brought, first bringing a small pack of mandarin oranges, and second a rectangular box wrapped in a glossy silver with white ribbons. The last item left Dazai confused, and he stared at it a bit too long. Had Oda brought him a gift? Surely not, that was a rather odd thing to do. But then, inviting Odasaku over had been odd in the first place…
Having laid out the contents of his bag, Oda reached back to the sake and picked it up. "Have any glasses?" Nearly jolting as he was brought out of his thoughts Dazai answered "Oh, of course" and made his way quickly to the kitchen. Once there he realized something: he hadn't been the one to stock his kitchen and actually had no clue if there were sake glasses around. Taking a moment to search all the likely spots, Dazai came up empty, only finding some wine glasses and drinking glasses. Mentally noting to grab some for next time (if there was one) Dazai gave up and grabbed two wine glasses from his cupboard and made his way back to the living room.
He placed the crystal glasses on the table, earning a quizzical look from Oda, who took a glass nonetheless and began filling it about a third full before sliding it and the bottle over to Dazai. Dazai took the bottle and thought how very like Oda it was to be so formal, before beginning to pour Oda's glass... And continuing to pour Oda's glass... And continuing until it was threatening to spill over. "Here you are Odasaku!" Dazai said with a flourish before very carefully handing the glass to Oda. The older man took the glass with a small shake of his head and a chuckle.
For a moment the pair sipped their drinks, and a slight silence began to stretch out. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence but Dazai still found himself wanting to fill the air. Considering this was not the usual scenery of Bar Lupin, the hesitation was not surprising really.
“We managed to set up a Christmas tree back home.” Oda spoke, breaking the silence.
“Oh! You and the orphans?” Dazai asked, taking a sip of his crystal glass.
Oda spoke in his normal nonchalant manner as he took a drink from his own glass. “Yeah. It takes up a small corner, but it’s filled with lights and different balls. Sakura managed to make a cardboard star too, so we put it at the time. It looks pretty at night.”
Dazai thought about the Christmas tree, though he had gotten a cake there was no tree lighting up the room. In fact, it was empty and sterile, walls painted in grey, the floor an almost equally grey color, and with only dim lights as company to the two men. It was a strange feeling that bubbled inside of Dazai, but he would guess that it was self-consciousness. An odd revelation, as he had never cared for this apartment anyways. But yet he still wondered, did Oda really feel himself at home? Considering that he brought up the Christmas tree with the orphans, when Dazai's own home, while luxurious, was bare.
“You never put up a Christmas tree, right?”
The executive looked up at Oda, who wore his usually stoic pensive gaze. Dazai nodded. "I don't see the point really, it's not like I'm ever here." He shrugged. When Dazai looked to Oda he could make out some sort of faint expression, Oda's eyebrows knitted together slightly, and he wore a small frown. This took Dazai aback for a second. What was this? Pity? Concern? Either option left Dazai feeling uncomfortable and with little else to do he looked down into his glass and ran his finger along the rim, if only to avoid thinking what Oda's stare meant any further.
A silence settled over them a moment again before Dazai felt Oda shuffling closer to him. Stopping his idle movements on the glass in front of him, Dazai still couldn't bring himself to look over, preferring to hide behind the bandages over his eye and effectively blocking Oda from his view. What he couldn’t ignore however, was the silver box placed in front of him.
"What's this?" Dazai said on impulse, even though the implications were rather obvious.
"Open it" Oda replied, moving even closer still. Dazai stiffened a little at the proximity and took a sip of his drink before reaching out for the box. Oda was close enough that the chuckle he let out at Dazai's response nearly made him jump.
Picking up the box, Dazai removed the ribbons before tearing off the meticulous wrappings, revealing a small jewelry box. Hesitating, Dazai opened it before cocking his head at the contents and finally looking over to Oda, who now wore a warm smile. Inside the box was some sort of gemstone inlaid on a metal frame, with bands leading away from it and hidden behind a layer of velvet.
Not a hundred percent sure what he was looking at, Dazai paused.
"It’s a... necklace?"
Oda laughed at his comment, causing Dazai to pout slightly. "It's called a bolo tie." Oda offered. "Take off your tie, I'll show you." Reaching out for the box, Dazai turned it over without comment and watched as Oda removed it from its casing, meanwhile loosening the plain black tie from his neck.
Taking his tie off and throwing it to the side, Dazai also popped his collar in preparation to put on the new and strange tie before reaching out to take the band from Oda.
Oda glanced at his hand before moving close, ignoring Dazai's outstretched hand entirely, looping the band around the back of Dazai's collar and attaching the clasp in the front, smoothing down his collar and tightening the tie slightly.
At this point Dazai's face was beginning to turn red from the proximity. Oda was only inches away, dutifully showing Dazai how to attach the tie. How he could be so close and yet so composed was beyond Dazai. Did he have an amazing poker face? Or did he just not feel the tension in the air? The second option would definitely be worse, with Odasaku not even considering him in that light.
Looking up, Oda caught Dazai's stare and lightly affected expression. And Dazai - at the sudden eye contact - jolted, freezing on the spot. Thankfully, Oda did always seem to be the one person to read Dazai, as with that he tightened his grip on the tie and pulled him closer before putting a hand on his waist.
For a moment they did nothing but stare before finally, Dazai was the one to close the gap, and their lips met in a soft kiss. Only at the contact did Dazai realize how much he had wanted this, and how happy he was that the one person he trusted wanted this too. The pair shared a moment, free from status, responsibility, and the Port Mafia. Wrapping his arms around Odasaku, Dazai was about to deepen the kiss before the other man pulled back, leaving Dazai to lean forward chasing for more. Petulant, Dazai was just about to complain before Oda put up a hand to silence him.
"Later. We still have to cut the cake.” Was all he said.
Silent for only a moment, Dazai then burst into a fit of laughter at Oda's utilitarian response. This time Oda got up, heading to Dazai's kitchen for a knife and plates. Maybe Dazai could ask where he found them after. This thought renewed Dazai's laughter, and it took him a moment to gather himself as he wiped his eyes of tears.
Finally composed, Dazai looked to the tie Oda had got him: Simply, it was beautiful. A polished turquoise and gold, it really out shined his dull and overpriced mafia attire. Perhaps their future ahead was the same, a little light outshining the dreary mafia life that surrounded the two. After all, a sentimental gift as this was more than a friendship, but a tie that bound the two together into something sweeter than Dazai could ever name.
Though this night would eventually come to an end and Oda would leave, Dazai was left wondering about the future. Maybe the next Christmas the pair would wake up the morning of, together.