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“It’s practically waist length now,” Dazai muses, admiring the golden locks his currently holding, “You should consider growing the front, too.”
“Absolutely not,” Kunikida rolls his eyes at the idea, “it’s already hell having to deal with it as it is now .”
His partner just giggles, adjusting his position on the couch so he can go back to the task in front of him. Kunikida initially found it suspicious when Dazai all too happily offered to help him with his hair, but was extremely surprised to see that the man actually knew what he was doing.
In fact, Dazai seemed to know a little more about proper hair care than him .
He’d take a small section of his hair, set the rest aside on Kunikida’s shoulder, apply a small bit of conditioner, before carefully working his way from bottom to top with a brush. It wasn’t one of the idealist’s own, but a brand new one Dazai bought, as though he knew Kunikida would agree to letting him brush his hair.
He barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes again at the thought, before adjusting his own position on the floor, trying to relax and not feel so awkward.
It wasn’t too hard to relax physically, though. It’s just…Dazai was so careful and so focused while doing this. And having known the man as long as he had now, getting the suicidal enthusiast to be this focused on anything was pretty rare. Kunikida was honestly surprised Dazai hadn’t brought any scissors or hair dye along to try and mess with him.
The brunet finishes up with the small section of hair he had been on— he’s halfway done by now— and moves his hands to Kunikida’s shoulders. They gingerly fix the towel that had been around them, before smoothing it over said shoulders again.
The action is normal, though Kunikida shudders at the feeling, anyway.
“Yah, did I scare you?” Dazai chuckled, moving his hands back up to his hair, “I promise I’m not a ghost, Kunikida-kun~.”
He shakes his head, “N-no, uh…I was just surprised, I guess. I hadn’t noticed the towel.”
He can feel the other’s grin widen without having to turn around and see, “The world really must be ending if the same man who notices the slightest change in temperature didn’t notice a towel slipping off of him.”
Something in his voice makes it sound like Dazai knows something he doesn’t, which isn’t anything new, but frustrating nonetheless.
Suddenly, Dazai rests a hand on the side of Kunikida’s head, and he shudders again. This time, though, the brunet doesn’t move away, instead opting to pet over the half of his hair that he’d finished detangling.
A soft sigh leaves him, and Kunikida suddenly realizes just how close Dazai’s face really is now.
Kunikida’s impressed the other man can still work on the rest of his hair just as carefully with one hand, and would have probably said so, if he weren’t subconsciously leaning into that hand on his head.
“Ne, Kunikida-kuuun. You’re not falling asleep on me, are you~?”
The aforementioned huffs, eyes shut as he tries to ignore Dazai’s teasing and fully focus on the warm, almost foreign feeling Dazai’s hand is giving him.
When was the last time…he’d been touched like this?
It’s simple and gentle, yet Kunikida finds himself so into the feeling that he almost brings his own hand up to keep Dazai’s there for a while longer.
Perhaps he should consider that previous suggestion, grow his out even more if it means his partner’s willing to do this again. He doesn’t seem bored by it, at least.
“Finally done!”
“…Eh?”
Dazai’s hand combed through all the hair to bring it all together at the back, carding his fingers through the detangled perfection. His right hand is still at his head…
“Well, that was fun. I should definitely convince you to let me do this again, hm?”
He definitely should. Kunikida kind of hated how quickly this had ended.
“So do you want to put it in your normal ponytail?” Dazai continues, already preparing to get up…and thus move his hands away, “Or should I—“
“No, Dazai!”
The other’s right hand goes back on his head again.
“Kunikida…?”
Kunikida freezes. Then, upon seeing why Dazai’s hand is there again, turns serval shades of pink.
“I’m— I don’t…s-sorry…” gods he’s so embarrassed. He’s practically holding hands with the other man now, and all because of this new desire to be touched by Dazai a little more, “…I really don’t know what came over me.”
He lowers his hand (finally), and looks over his shoulder, "Something about the way your hands felt…I can’t really say it exactly, but I didn’t want it to end…”
Dazai tilts his head, “As in, you want me to brush your hair a bit more, or…?”
Kunikida may be naive, but he can certainly tell that the innocent look in Dazai’s eyes is almost totally fake. He knows what he’s trying to say, but is waiting for Kunikida to man up and admit what he wants himself.
…
Damn him . And his nice hands, too, at that.
He takes a breath, “I-if you want to keep playing with my hair, I suppose…I don’t really mind. So long as you still h-hold me like you just were…”
Man, he sounds like an idiot, stuttering and getting so flustered over his own words and thoughts like that. And he turned away immediately after so he wouldn’t have to see Dazai laughing at him as he left his apartment. If he could sink into the floor, he’d do it immediately— it might feel just as warm as the other’s hands did.
But instead…the only laughter he’s met with is a rather coy chuckle. It’s still teasing, but not nearly as much as it could be. Kunikida then looks up when he hears the TV in front of them turns on, a random sci-fi drama coming up.
“I thought it would feel strange without a bit of white noise.” Dazai murmurs in his ear, and laughs something warm when Kunikida gasps. His hands move towards his hair, but at the last second slip over Kunikida’s shoulders, his head resting on top of the blond’s own.
“What about my hair?” Kunikida asks despite letting himself completely melt into Dazai’s hold.
“Oh, I’ve played with it enough for right now,” the brunet dismisses lazily, far too content with the way Kunikida relaxes against him.
“Besides…Kunikida-kun is even more fun to touch~.”