Work Text:
The night was one but clear, foggy and misty. Brisk air surrounding the local bar where on a few occasions, tonight being one of them, one could find Chuuya Nakahara sitting on a bar stool.
It had been a rough day for Chuuya, as the boss had bombarded him with reports for missions. In addition, he had just gotten back from a rough mission, lasting him two weeks to complete. He needed this, a break, a getaway from the drastic and heavy life he leads. Though he prefers his hobby in the comfort of his home, he decided to bring himself to a bar he likes to indulge in on occasion, which had recently become more frequent.
The bar had nothing fancy, dim lights and maroon walls. Yet, it was a place that provided some peace and tranquility for Chuuya. For the friend that was alcohol gave him a new sense of mind, one that wasn’t filled with nothing but anger and stress. Though he wishes he could say that the alcohol took his mind off a certain brunette, Chuuya is reluctant to say that the thoughts only increase when he is met with the taste of wine.
Chuuya wishes the thoughts of Dazai would vanish. He begs for nothing more than to erase the image of the bandaged freak from his head. For someone he finds irritating and annoying, on days where he sits on this barstool and alcohol touches his tongue, Dazai is more vivid than ever in Chuuya’s mind. Chuuya isn’t dumb, he knows what these feelings are that he feels towards that Mackerel, However, he may not be dumb, but he is prideful. He’ll never admit to feeling these things towards Dazai. That would ruin everything, or so Chuuya was prone to believe. As Chuuya proceeded to attempt to avoid thinking of Dazai, sipping on his second glass, a bell dinged in the distance.
Chuuya was too busy indulging with his wine to glance over to see who had just walked in. He had no interest, until the stranger spoke.
“Chuuya?”
The stranger had turned into one that was no stranger at all, but the opposite. Chuuya placed his glass down, turning his head to the side to see the person who had just entered.
“Dazai.”
Worn out bandages, tie loose, Chuuya could tell Dazai had just finished work for the day. Dazai then proceeded to walk over to Chuuya and pull out a barstool, sitting next to him.
“Chuuya! What may your slug self be doing here on this fine night?”
Chuuya rolled his eyes and took a sip of his wine before answering Dazai.
“Long day, needed a nice refreshment.” Chuuya smiled, yet his eyes frowned.
Dazai hummed at Chuuya’s response. He didn’t want to further interfere with Chuuya’s fragile state of mind. He was aware of the stress that was building up in Chuuya these past few weeks. Though he would never admit it, he does deeply care for Chuuya. Behind his teasing lies care for his partner. Work partner, nothing more. This is what Dazai told himself, even when sometimes he secretly desires for there to be more. His train of thought is suddenly cut off when Chuuya speaks once more.
“Wait, “fine night”? Dazai, it's shit out there.”
Dazai chucked, “Oh, but it’s the type of night I find to be the most beautiful. They say the worst nights are the best to end it all.” Dazai’s one uncovered eye was currently twinkling.
Chuuya glanced over at Dazai. “Yeah, okay. Anyways, what are you doing here Mackerel? Did you come here just to be a nuisance.”
“Well Chuuya, for your information, I had the interest of having a nice and relaxing night with the fine taste of alcohol! However, that idea has crumbled, now that a certain slug is in the presence, ruining my chance for a lovely evening” Dazai answers.
Chuuya rolled his eyes at Dazai’s comment. “Well then, I guess you can go back to your “beautiful night” out there.”
Dazai shook his head. “Who said I was leaving my dog alone on this kind of night. You might lose your way, not being able to see so high up.”
Chuuya gave an angered response, “What the hell?! I am not a dog you asshole. You and your lunatic-ass self can get the fuck out. Leave me to my peace.”
“Oh, but Chuuya, what is peace without me present?” Dazai grins.
“Not peace,” Chuuya responded sternly.
“Then my work here is accomplished,” hummed Dazai. He then proceeded to signal the bartender to bring him a drink.
Chuuya rolled his eyes once more, as he proceeded to take in his glass, whilst Dazai indulged in his newly arrived glass.
The night continued with insults and drinks. Though as time progressed, the insults turned into words of deeper meaning, as the alcohol was taking its toll.
Dazai swished his glass around, currently half sober. “Chuuya, what’s going on with you. You’re not the type to drink all your problems away five times a week.”
Chuuya chuckled, “I’m the exact type of person who would drink away their problems five times a week.”
“Okay, you may have a point. But seriously, what’s up with you.” Dazai’s words didn’t sound so much as a question, but as a statement, like he was trying to get into Chuuya’s head with no plans on stopping.
Instead of answering Dazai, Chuuya took a turn. “Have you ever wanted to do something stupid in some random place?”
“What? Like doing it in the back of a bar or something?” Dazai laughed at his ridiculous statement.
Expecting a resounding no to his crazy sentence, Dazai lowered his head to pick up his glass.
“That works,” Chuuya answered.
Dazai was currently sitting in awe, whilst his glass was pouring down onto the table.
“Mackerel, the table isn’t looking to drink, stop pouring yours on it.”
Dazai quickly realized what he was doing and snapped out of it.
Chuuya turned his head towards Dazai. Both of their eyes were currently locked in with one another, thoughts dancing around the room. Their brief moment of a cold silence suddenly emerged, as Chuuya gripped Dazai’s collar, pulling him onto his barstool.
A barstool for two.
With no hesitation, Chuuya locked their lips together. Time had stood still in that moment of bliss, barstool feeling as if it were a cloud. Dazai almost immediately returned the favor, giving in to the ecstasy.
Not wanting to lose the moment, Dazai spotted an empty room in the back. Luckily, the bar was fairly unoccupied, so they were not driving too much attention towards their embrace. However, this did not stop Dazai from picking up Chuuya and leading him into the private room. Focusing heavily on their intimacy, Dazai barely managed to get into the room without bumping into something.
There were split seconds breakaway from their closeness. One was enough for Dazai to roughly place Chuuya on a nearby table.
A smirk was ingrained on Chuuya’s face. “Someone’s desperate.”
Dazai returned the smirk. “You wish.”
Chuuya tugged on Dazai’s collar once more, pulling him down into another kiss. Chuuya was quick to wrap his arms around Dazai’s neck, while Dazai’s hands wrapped around Chuuya’s waist.
The room continued to be filled with embraces and rough kisses shared from the two partners. Both partners were drunk enough to do this, yet not drunk enough to not know what they were doing. Though at this moment, they didn’t care, for all they lingered for was to be in each other’s arms.
A creaking sound suddenly was heard in the distance and out of reflex, Dazai shoved Chuuya off the table.
“Ow, you asshole, that hurt,” Chuuya groaned from the ground where he had landed.
“Sorry chibi, reflex,” Dazai grinned. “I hear someone coming though.”
Right as Dazai had finished his sentence, the door opened, revealing who it was.
Dazai perked up, “Odasaku?”
Chuuya rose from his spot on the ground to see that it was indeed Oda, a close friend to Dazai. Chuuya had never met Odasaku personally, but he was intrigued to see how this would play out.
Oda took a step into the room. “Dazai, what have you been doing back here? Nothing lewd I hope.”
Dazai shook his hands in front of his flustered face. “Me, do something lewd, of course not! How could you think that of me, Odasaku!”
Chuuya chuckled. He was enjoying the free show he was watching. If only he had some popcorn though, he thought.
Oda proceeds to point towards Dazai’s face. “Dazai, your lip is bleeding.”
Chuuya, now with a bucket of popcorn, was currently laughing at this whole situation.
Dazai, quickly wiping his lip with his sleeve, managed to say, “I have a perfect explanation for that. You see, me and chibi over here..” Dazai glanced over at Chuuya who was just taking in the show.
“Wait, Chuuya, where did you get that popcorn?!”
Chuuya smirked, “I ain’t revealing my secrets.”
Oda jumped in, “Dazai, you were saying?”
Dazai perked up, “Oh yes, as I was trying to say. Me and Chuuya just happened to be cleaning this room, where I happened to scratch my lip while we were cleaning.” Dazai put on a smile to cover up the embarrassment.
Oda was unphased. “Then explain the bruise on your neck.”
Chuuya was currently laughing hysterically. To see Dazai, the usual calm and collected, and jokester in this situation, flustered and embarrassed, it was amusing to him.
“Ah, well you see Oda,” Dazai nervously chuckled. “Obviously, I fell on that too.”
Chuuya stood from his seat, “Yeah, you fell on my mouth.”
Dazai jumped up, “Chuuya!”
Chuuya walked towards the door with a smirk, “Serves you right for throwing me off the table.”
Dazai stood there, as Chuuya made his way out of the room. However, just before exiting, he tapped on the wall beside him.
Dazai thought to himself, Morse code: “my house tonight, be there Mackerel.” Such a silly chibi.
Oda was still standing in the room, taking in all the information. “So you finally accepted your feelings for him.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dazai turned around, his back facing Oda.
“You’ve been in love with him for years, everyone can see it.”
“Everyone?” Dazai questioned.
“Well,” Oda responded. “Me and Ango can see how you’ve been hopelessly pining for him. That’s as good as everyone.”
Dazai turned back to face Oda. “I have not been hopelessly pining for that chibi!”
Oda chuckled, “Sure Dazai, whatever you say.”
Dazai just stood there in a comfort of silence.
Oda broke the silence, “Anyways, I should get going and so should you.”
Currently flustered, Dazai could tell Oda knew.
Putting his facade back on, Dazai made his way to the door. “Well, I’ll see you later Odasaku!
“Be safe,” Oda said, as Dazai left the bar.
As the door to the bar closed, a voice could be heard from the barstools.
“Ah, to be young and in love.”
Oda made his way out of the back room to reveal who the voice had come from. Oda had seen it was Ango, who was currently sipping on a glass of whisky, with a calm expression.
“Aren’t you 22?”
Ango chuckled, “Physically, yet I feel as though I’m 40.”
Oda pulled out a stool and sat beside Ango. “I feel that.”
A brief moment of silence occurred between the two older mafia members. That was until Oda broke it.
“You know what happens now, don’t you.”
Ango sighed, “Yeah, I do.” He proceeded to dig through his pockets, pulling out his wallet.
“Here you go, you won our bet, Odasaku.”
Ango slid the money over to Oda, who gracefully accepted it, putting it into his own wallet.
“Do you think they’ll last?”
Oda turned his head to face Ango. “Who knows what fate has in store for them. But I think wherever they end up, their bond will go unbroken.”
“How romantic,” Ango softly smiled.
“Those two go beyond romance, they’re partners, in all forms,” said Oda.
As the conversation on the barstools continued, the two partners continued their bond in the comfort of Chuuya’s apartment.