Chapter Text
"Tell me about the bomb again,” Dazai repeats, leaning forward with the eagerness of a child awaiting a bedtime story. His youthful energy is a sharp contrast to the heavy weight of Oda’s thoughts.
Zoning back into reality, Oda turns towards the childish glee radiating off the practically vibrating Dazai. In his years of knowing the 18-year-old, he would never cease to be amazed by the dramatic shift in his behaviour.
“Oda!” A whining Dazai leans back, almost falling off the bar stool. “Stop ignoring me!”
“Sorry, Dazai, what did you ask me?” Oda places his glass down, the amber liquid barely touched.
“What’s wrong? You’re not usually this in your head.” Dazai gestures around his own head, mimicking a dizzying spiral. “Did something happen to the kids?”
The genuine concern on Dazai’s face surprises Oda, a rare moment of sincerity peeking through the usual veil of mischief.
“No… the kids are fine. It’s – uh... it’s nothing.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll tell me when you're ready.” The tone of voice isn’t what makes Oda do a double-take, but the all-knowing look in Dazai's eyes and the smirk he isn’t even trying to hide from the older man.
“If I tell you, will you stop looking at me like that?”
“Looking at you like what?” His smirk widens.
Sighing, Oda pinches the bridge of his nose before looking at the empty space behind the bar. The soft murmur of conversations around them fades as he gathers his chaotic thoughts.
“It’s stupid and never going to happen.”
Taking a breather, Oda organizes his swirling emotions. A heavy sigh passes between the two of them, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.
“I may have realized that my feelings for someone have… changed…” Heat slowly engulfs Oda’s ears. God, this shouldn’t be so hard. I’m acting like a nervous schoolgirl.
“So, you've finally realized why you stare longingly at Ango.”
“Yes,” Oda starts, then silence... “Wait! What do you mean you realize why I stare longingly—” Oda’s surprised face comes face to face with a much too-knowing Dazai, “I don’t stare longingly at him…”
“You really do.”
“I don’t… Do I?”
Footfalls sound on the steps descending into the bar, and Ango appears in the space with a slight flush on his cheeks. He hesitates for a moment, eyes scanning the room before landing on Oda and Dazai.
Dazai leans into Oda’s ear, “You’re staring again.”
Oda quickly averts his gaze, his heart pounding in his chest. Ango approaches with a small, awkward smile playing on his lips.
“Good evening, Oda, Dazai. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all,” Dazai chimes in, a mischievous glint in his eye. “We were just talking about you.”
Oda shoots Dazai a glare, but the younger man just grins wider.
“Oh?” Ango’s curiosity is piqued, and he tilts his head slightly. “What about me?”
Before Oda can stammer out a reply, Dazai answers for him, “Oda was just saying how much he appreciates you.”
Ango looks between them, clearly puzzled. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” Oda finally finds his voice, albeit shakily. “I… I was just saying how much I appreciate your help with the kids.”
Ango’s expression softens, and he nods. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m happy to help.”
Dazai smirks, leaning back on his stool. “See, Oda? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Oda glares at him, but there’s no malice in it. Just the familiar exasperation that comes with dealing with Dazai.
“Well, if you’re done with your cryptic conversations,” Ango says, pulling out a chair and sitting down, “We can enjoy a drink together.”