Chapter Text
"I'm telling you, resting isn't negotiable." Chuuya grumbled, bringing Dazai back to the couch, after his second attempt in fleeing back to his grimy shipping container.
"Don't you want..well. A break?" He went on to question, even if he wasn't very direct with his approach, Dazai wasn't as oblivious as Chuuya may think.
"No, it's not like I do much anyway.." Dazai crossed his arms, as he sunk into the couch cushions, Chuuya leaned down for a second, snagging the earlier fallen blanket off the floor, having been discarded during mackerel's strive to escape.
"Do you want another blankie?"
"Chuuya..." He whined, throwing his head back in annoyance. Slug must be at a lost for hearing, it'd be clever if he looked into getting hearing aids.
"..Sorry, yes or no?"
"No."
"Just lemme' know if you get chilly, it should start to warm up soon."
Who was Chuuya kidding? He knew that Dazai wasn't going to inform him on such an incredulous thing.
Especially if it were something as stupid as his god damned body temperature.(It was rapidly declining whilst his collateral thoughts got around to echoing against the walls of his brain.)
Slug soon slid away into the kitchen, leaving his sticky, gross, trail behind.
Dazai could hear things being moved around, things he couldn't see from where he was situated on the couch.
The noise was comforting, well; before an avalanche of pots and pans flooded onto the floor with loud clangs, as Chuuya had resorted to stuffing them in their cabinet after each use, and stapling it closed before they could spill out again. Though, randomly, they'd like to plummet without warning.
Maybe Chuuya'd have to make time for clearing out a second cabinet.
Dazai had quickly hitched up at the repetitious clashing, the death grip on his blanket increased, turning his knuckles white.
He heard Chuuya loudly sigh, before mumbling something profane as he shoved the cooking utensils back into their slot, slamming the cabinet-door shut to keep them contained. For now at least.
As he backed into view, he found that Dazai's hair was tussled, probably knotted, and he appeared more provisional than usual.
"I'm sorry, I know it scares you." Chuuya apologized, keeping his eye until the other lied back down in attempt to readapt.
"Does not.." He muttered, facing away from the red head.
Surely, he was looked at as that needy baby full time.
Why else would Chuuya be perfectly fine with slaving away at the stove each and every time he decided that Dazai needed to be fed?
Dazai was an adult, he could cook for himself (though he always seemed to melt into a puddle of tears every time he accidentally got burnt.)
Perhaps he just didn't see the resemblance? (Or he liked to say he didn't) and it was obvious to everyone else? he was always the slow learner after all.
Aside from the incoming head convo's with oneself, He felt like he was drowning in Chuuya's couch, maybe it was the fatigue, or the lack of goodwill; but he could've sworn he'd felt a procession of hands trying to yank him down into the depths of the cushions.
Well, he'd much rather get it done and over with now.
His throat tightened as he let out a hack, his mouth remaining dry, and his stomach grumbling, while he'd longed a sense of nourishment for quite some time now.
On a further note; his legs moved around aimlessly, unable to stay still, as he was now fighting to gain back the warmth he'd recently lost.
Chuuya angled around the corner for the second time, looking like he'd just relinquished on trying to cook anything, "I'm just gonna order takeout instead. What're you feeling?"
Without an answer, Chuuya's brow rose, "Dazai?"
"God damn it.." His voice lowered with fury, fore his partner visibly was starting to shiver.
"Is the thermostat racked up again?" He instantly grouched, drawling out his words near the end, this wasn't the time for mishaps like this.
Chuuya maneuvered across the room, mangling with the regulator for a moment, "I'll have to work on it soon..maybe try and sleep? I'm gonna order something." Chuuya called out sympathetically, sliding open the storage closet, stuffing two more quilts under his arm.
"Can't." Dazai spoke through jitters.
Chuuya tilted his head with suspicion,
"Can't or won't?" He plated the warm covers overtop the brunettes small frame.
"..Both?" He groaned,
"Well, do it anyway." Chuuya shook his head as he walk back to the kitchen,
"That's not a proper way to speak to your master.." Dazai rasped out, hanging onto the ledge of the couch for dear life.
"Good thing I'm not your dog then, hm?" He asked with courtesy,
"You smell like one, that awful scent makes it even more difficult to breathe." Dazai scrunched his stuffy nose.
"That's wise, you haven't showered since you've been here, and I'm quite positive there's no water sources back at your container." Chuuya argued back, leaning against the counter as he positioned his phone in his palm.
All that followed was a congested sniffle, and movement from the other room.
"Why are you talking all fancy.." he whined,
"You actually picked up on that?" Chuuya snickered.
"How could I not? It makes you sound ridiculous." Dazai brushed his thumb against his bottom lip.
"You're unnerved way too easily when you're sick.." Chuuya mocked, "what do you want me to order?"
"I already told you, I'm not hungry."
"Even if that were true, I'm not giving you your meds on an empty stomach."
"Then I just won't take them." Dazai pouted,
"Are you serious? Just tell me what you want." Chuuya recited.
"Nothing."
"Dazai—for fucks sake.." Chuuya gritted his teeth, resolving the matter by ordering something simple that the both of them liked.
"And you call me unnerving~" the brunette sang sweetly.
"..You better not complain."
Dazai made a petty sound, kicking his feet against the arm rest of the couch while he made himself into a cocoon.
The tips of his fingers had found themselves grazing against his teeth, Chuuya had offered him a pacifier earlier, trying to get him to settle after a morning full of aggressive whines and hacking lungs.
But it'd been rejected and Instead sat on the coffee table in case it were to be appreciated in the future.
He slid his fingers into his mouth with a shock of contentment, this was better than the pacifier, easily accessible, and he wouldn't need to move much in order to get to it. He wished Chuuya would just understand that.
This was comforting for awhile, but of course his senses flew back to him, and he yanked his hand down under the covers in prevention, he'd faded away for a second or two, but he wasn't going to let it happen again.
Socked feet slacked against the wood floor, and a dip was soon created beside himself.
"Are the blankets helping?" Chuuya asked,
"I'm fine." He mumbled.
"Get some sleep, otherwise you're gonna be nodding off when you're trying to eat." Chuuya reasoned.
"I've been trying," Dazai fabricated.
"I'll sit here, if you think that'll help." He shrugged.
"Yeah, be a good doggy and keep watch over your master." Dazai embedded his head into a pillow.
"Hush." Chuuya muttered.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
"Mackerel.." Chuuya nudged him,
Dazai's eyes fluttered open, and he whined sleepily, shoving himself away from consciousness, he stuck his hand into his mouth and relocated behind his partner, to avoid further exertion.
"Sweetheart, where ya' headed?" Chuuya smiled, setting their to-go boxes on the coffee table. Taking only a short glance at the aquatic themed pacifier.
Chuuya pulled the table closer to the edge of the couch, to make matters easier.
He spied on the baby behind him, attempting to pull him out of his nook, creating a revelation of whines and cries of displeasure.
Taken aback, Chuuya let him go.
"Angel..you shouldn't be so loud when your throats already been sore." He rubbed his back.
"I think you should eat, so you can take some meds." He rationalized.
Dazai lied numb beside him, gnawing on his fingers with zero hesitation as he angled his face away from Chuuya's view.
"Wanna sit in my lap? Or if you'd like to stay right there, that's fine too." He smiled tenderly.
Picking up on the silence, Chuuya leaned forward, taking ahold of a limp wrist, and pulling it back knowingly, "No fingers, baby." He said sensibly.
Tears took place as he now longed the comfort.
"I know." Chuuya shushed, snatching the pacifier off the coffee table without a second thought, pressing it to Dazai's lips.
Momentarily, he fought it off, twisting his head around to evade the plastic, but Chuuya was able to get it settled.
"I know, I'm sorry," He glided his hand up the sulking baby's shoulder,
"Food's still a bit hot, probably better to wait anyways." He pursued, heaving the younger into his lap, despite small wails.
Adjusting him to where he sat comfortably, Chuuya bounced his leg, a simple motion that always seemed to help mackerel calm down.
Dazai held great, big, fistfuls of Chibi's shirt, suckling on the pacifier without a thought, maybe he was finally dropping down.
Chuuya snagged a blanket off the overhead of the couch, the others having fallen to the floor, or have been caught in the creases of the sofa. It was maroon in color, and in one of the corners was an embroidered design of a picnic basket, filled to the very brim with bright red strawberries.
It was usually kept here for the fish himself, as he'd become quite attached to the tattered old thing, but he'd never really allow himself to use it.
Chuuya draped the fabric over his baby, letting out a sigh of fulfillment, fore he'd succeeded in getting him to settle, probably for the first time in weeks.
Dazai made a sound of confusion as Chuuya leant away, grabbing something he couldn't capture while in his position.
He picked up the to-go boxes, setting them on his right side, Dazai shuffled, letting out a yawn as he nuzzled his head into Chuuya's shoulder.
"I know, you're so sleepy..but you can't go to bed with an empty stomach." He said, popping up the tops.
Mackerel soon flipped around, staring into the abyss as he dozed, interrupted by the nudging of Chibi's voice.
"Here, baby." Chuuya softly pulled the soother out, setting it aside for now, instead holding out a spoon of rice as a replacement.
Easily, Dazai excepted it, and chewed on the food slowly, letting out small hums as his arms flailed.
"Yummy?" Chuuya simpered, already gathering another spoonful.
He could eat later, but right now he'd like to get mackerel fed, and get some meds running through his system.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Dazai had eaten quite well, only starting to turn away once he'd gotten down to the last couple of bites.
Chuuya wasted no time.
First he prepared a bottle with efficiency, as it'd become relatively easy now.
Then he entered the bathroom, pulling open the upper cabinet, there he was greeted by a jumble of many different types of medications, fore Dazai got sick fairly often.
Cough syrup wasn't the best of all things, but he knew he wasn't gonna get a pill down his partners throat.
Chuuya brought the small bottle into the lounge, setting back down with an unsuspecting baby.
He sucked out measurements into a small syringe, cringing at the blinding red liquid, undeniably cherry.
Keeping the bottle close by as he thought up the best case scenario.
By now, mackerel had crawled behind him once again, probably catching onto what was about to go down.
"Angel, you've gotta take your medicine, then you can go back to sleep." He promised, peeking in on the swaddled up baby behind him, holding on dearly to that maroon material.
Dazai scrunched his nose in response, shooing Chuuya away with a defined glare.
"You'll get your bottle right after, probably won't even get the chance to taste it."
That was a plain out lie.
Unconvinced, he ran his finger against the charms of his pacifier, watching tentatively as Chuuya held onto the syringe.
"Please? Your throat hurts, doesn't it?" He asked, pulling the baby upright.
Dazai nodded slowly, clutching onto the fabric of Chuuya's shirt.
"This will help." He reassured, hooking his finger around the loop of his baby's pacifiier, tugging it out with a small pop.
Dazai's brows crinkled as he started to whine all over again, covering his mouth with his hands as Chuuya grew closer.
"Baby..you had the same thing last time? It's not really that bad, is it?" Chuuya now questioned himself as he reached to inspect the earlier sat down medicine bottle.
"s' gross." Dazai spat out, Slug should taste it for himself if he wanted to contradict him.
"Well, it's going to help, you'll barely even get the chance to taste it if you work with me." Chuuya held up the syringe as if it were a freshly sharpened knife, and he were getting ready to stab the life out of Dazai
The brunette glared, he was still, not convinced.
Chibi was so much more persistent when Dazai was sick, not only that, but he had been teetering between head-spaces all day, and it was rather difficult to manage someone with a frazzled brain.
But nonetheless, Chuuya took ahold of the bottle in preparation, single handily fumbling to launch down on the plunger after he finally succeeded to get the nozzle into his partners mouth.
The sticky red liquid was held in with a sickened face, and Dazai let some trickle down his chin.
"C'mon, swallow it before you start coughing." Chuuya said calmly as he held the bottle near by.
Dazai squirmed slightly, gulping down the toxic goo with disgust, immediately yanking the bottle from Chuuya's hand in order to rid the awful taste lingering on his tongue.
Chuuya used his thumb to wipe the small drizzle off Dazai's chin, next wrapping his arms around the baby's waist and pulling him in.
"Not as bad as you remembered? last time I had to hold your jaw shut." Chuuya teased, letting mackerel lie sluggishly against his chest.
"No, worse." He mumbled from around the nub.