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Chuuya has the most magnificent plan.
He’s going to take Kunikida out on the best date ever. He’s going to pull out all the stops to impress him and woo him and make him fall in love. He is nothing if not determined.
He checks himself in the mirror again, patting down his black shirt. He had tried to dress simple but warm, considering it’s going to be a night date and they’ll have to walk a little bit to get to the place. Chuuya isn’t actually sure if Kunikida enjoys walks, but if he doesn’t want to, Chuuya will carry him the whole way, no issue.
Chuuya grabs a few accessories from his collection—silver star studs and a matching silver necklace. He also puts on a pair of gloves to keep his hands warm, in case Kunikida wants to hold them again. Not that he’s hoping or anything. It just doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Grabbing a muted red jacket from his closet, Chuuya leaves his apartment with his heart thudding in his chest. It only increases tenfold when he sends Kunikida a text to say he’s on his way, and doesn’t calm the whole time Chuuya drives to Kunikida’s place.
He doesn’t know why he’s feeling so nervous. They’ve already established that they like each other. They’ve kissed. There’s no reason to doubt anything.
It’s honestly because Chuuya feels a bit guilty that he had gotten so drunk the previous night. He hadn’t wanted Kunikida to find out about his feelings because he did something as stupid as try to kiss him without permission. And while Kunikida said it wasn’t a big deal, it was to Chuuya.
Chuuya sighs, turning up the music so he may distract himself from his thoughts. It doesn’t really help.
At 9.30pm sharp, Chuuya pulls up to Kunikida’s apartment, huffing a laugh when he sees him already waiting there. He’s always punctual like that.
Chuuya gets out of his car to greet him, eyes raking over his outfit and admiring the way that black turtleneck hugs his frame. He notices a small braid in Kunikida’s hair too, and his heart does a little leap when Kunikida smiles at him.
“You look wonderful,” Kunikida says, beating Chuuya to it. Chuuya tilts his head back with a groan.
“You’re not supposed to out-romance me!”
“Oh, sorry.” Kunikida visibly suppresses a laugh. Chuuya rolls his eyes, reaching into his car to pull out something he bought earlier.
A bouquet of white lilies and red tulips. Chuuya thought it would suit Kunikida’s more minimalistic taste. Kunikida barely conceals his gasp as he takes the bouquet, a cute blush appearing on his cheeks.
Yes! One point for Chuuya! he thinks, smug.
“These are beautiful,” Kunikida whispers with a beam. “Thank you, Chuuya.”
Getting Kunikida to call him Chuuya is probably the biggest achievement of his life. Forget the dragon-fighting and the jailbreaking. This is the best one.
But anyway, because Chuuya is suave and cool, he’s prepared the perfect response. “Not as beautiful as you are,” he says.
Silence ensues as the words sink in. Then, Kunikida throws his head back, shaking with laughter. Chuuya gapes at him.
“What?! Why are you laughing?”
“Sorry, sorry,” Kunikida wheezes. “You’re adorable.”
“Hah?!” Chuuya feels his cheeks turn hot and he huffs loudly to show his disdain, turning around. “Fine, be like that!”
Kunikida continues giggling as Chuuya stomps his way back to his car, making sure to not open the door for him. He can afford to lose a few gentleman points if Kunikida wants to laugh at him like that. The audacity.
Kunikida gets in the passenger seat with the bouquet still in his hands. He leans over to press a soft kiss to Chuuya’s cheeks and Chuuya’s brain falters, forgetting that he’s supposed to be upset. “Thank you for the flowers. I’ll take good care of them.”
“You better,” Chuuya sniffs, but there’s an uncontrollable smile on his face.
He hits the pedal and begins driving them to their destination. He had kept it a secret from Kunikida, only telling him to dress warm, wanting it to be a surprise.
As he drives, Kunikida makes little comments about his day. After the Agency got brunch together, he had tried to enter the office to do some work, but was stopped by Ranpo, who had apparently predicted this behaviour. Kunikida was then forced back home and told to entertain himself, which he had done dutifully.
“I watched a documentary about penguins,” Kunikida says, and Chuuya snorts.
“Was it fun?”
“It was,” Kunikida nods. “I watched it with Kenji-kun. He really liked it. He says they're his favourite animal now after cows.”
Chuuya grins, sensing the perfect opportunity. “Penguins, huh? We should visit the aquarium some time, then.”
Kunikida sends him an amused glance. “Already asking me out on a second date, Chuuya? You’re forward.”
“I am!”
He laughs, hugging the bouquet closer to his chest. “Of course, then. That’ll be exciting.”
Two points, Chuuya thinks.
They arrive at their destination at about 10pm. Chuuya opens the passenger door this time, having gotten over his earlier embarrassment. Kunikida leaves the flowers in the car and Chuuya heads to the back to pull out a basket.
“A picnic?” Kunikida asks. Chuuya shushes him.
“It’s a surprise! Just follow me.”
Kunikida does, in fact, follow Chuuya without complaints. After locking his car, he leads them to an uphill path, trying to avoid the muddier parts so that they won’t have to get their shoes dirty.
As they walk, Chuuya not-so-subtly brushes their hands together, hoping Kunikida will take the hint. He’s not going to ask to hold hands like a silly teenager—that’s way too embarrassing. And it’s not like he’s desperate for that contact or anything, even if it’s through the thin fabric of his gloves.
Kunikida does take the hint, though, because he’s attentive like that, and Chuuya internally leaps with joy. Their fingers link together as they continue walking.
He likes the feeling of Kunikida’s hand around his, like a warm embrace that makes him feel complete.
When they reach the top of the small hill, Chuuya picks a shady spot under a large oak tree and sets the basket down.
“Cover your eyes,” Chuuya instructs. Kunikida gives him a deadpan look.
“Do I have to?”
“Yes!” he insists, flushing at how his voice jumped an octave. Kunikida laughs and turns around, obediently covering his eyes, and Chuuya makes quick work of his plan.
He lays out the picnic mat he brought, cheating a little bit by using gravity to make sure it stays down and doesn’t fly off. Kunikida won’t know. He then pulls out two sets of cutlery, putting them on opposite sides of the mat.
Because it’s so late, Chuuya had gone out to buy some fairy lights before this. He puts them up using the tree bark and branches, satisfied at the romantic, golden glow it gives off when they’re turned on.
He had brought a mix of fruits and desserts he noticed Kunikida was partial to at the party. There’s mandarin oranges that he peeled at home, grapes, strawberries, chocolate éclairs, and cheesecake. He had also brought a bottle of wine, ensuring that it wasn’t too sweet so that Kunikida would enjoy it.
When he’s done setting up, he taps Kunikida’s shoulder. “Okay! You can turn around now.”
Kunikida turns around and his eyes light up when he sees everything. Chuuya preens with pride. “Wow. Holy shit, Chuuya, I don’t— this is amazing. When did you have the time?”
“I told you I’m going to impress,” he says, hands on his hips. “Well? Are you?”
Kunikida grins. He cups Chuuya’s cheeks and before he can even process it, Kunikida’s lips are on his, rewarding him with a searing kiss that makes him go dizzy.
When Kunikida pulls back, there’s a rosy blush on his cheeks. “Very impressed.”
“U-uh,” he stutters. Him! Nakahara Chuuya, who never stutters. Whatever Kunikida is doing, it’s super effective. Chuuya’s poor heart is going to give out. “Yeah, ‘cause I did it, obviously. We should eat.”
Kunikida’s amused expression lets Chuuya know that he is not being subtle. “Of course.”
They sit down on the mat and Kunikida goes straight for the cheesecake. Chuuya pulls his gloves off and starts with the grapes, hoping it’ll quell the fluttering in his stomach.
Being so nervous and unable to hide it is… not something Chuuya is used to. He’s had his fair share of dates and kisses, trying to figure out a lot of things as a teenager, but he’s never actually been in a relationship. He’s never felt the urge to impress someone and hope that they’ll like him. And this is only the first date!
He sneaks a glance at Kunikida, who is looking at the fairy lights, seemingly entranced. The golden glow is reflected in his eyes, and his expression is uncharacteristically relaxed. If Chuuya stares any longer he’s going to start blushing like a schoolgirl, so he tears his gaze away and stuffs an éclair in his mouth.
“Slow down. You’ll choke,” Kunikida says with a laugh, reaching over. Chuuya freezes in place as Kunikida’s thumb swipes at his lips, rubbing what must be chocolate off of them. The butterflies in his stomach increase tenfold.
Kunikida tilts his head to the side, peering at Chuuya. “You’ve been quieter than usual. Are you tired? Or is the hangover still there? I can take you home.”
This is so embarrassing. Chuuya is going to create a hole in the ground and sink in it forever. “I’m fine,” he manages, clearing his throat. “Just— thinking about how pretty you look.”
It’s not a lie, but it is a poorly-timed attempt to hide his discomposure. Kunikida does visibly blush, though, and it gives Chuuya a boost of confidence to get through the night.
“Actually, there’s going to be a meteor shower soon,” Chuuya says, wringing his hands together. “I thought we could catch it together.”
“Really?” Kunikida looks up at the sky, which is still relatively empty. “It’s really secluded here, though. I thought there’d be more people if something like this was happening.”
“The recommended spot is a bit further down the street, about fifteen minutes away. I discovered this hill on my own back when I was in—” Chuuya pauses, wondering if there is any need to disclose his past affiliations. It’s not like Kunikida will know about them. “—when I was younger and wandering around. But it has the same view.”
“A little secret spot, then? I’m honoured,” Kunikida laughs, and Chuuya’s heart jumps. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he can hear Dazai cackling and calling him a simp. He shoves that voice away with an irritated huff.
“Huh, you brought wine,” Kunikida notices, picking up the bottle from the basket.
“It’s actually just for you. I’m driving, so I’m not drinking,” Chuuya says, feeling the need to clarify. “You said you aren’t a fan of sweet stuff, so I thought this brand would suit you more— why are you looking at me like that?”
Kunikida’s eyes are crinkled at the corners and if Chuuya didn’t know better, he’d say Kunikida is looking at him like he hung the moon. He shies away from the stare, unsure of how to take it.
“That’s really thoughtful, Chuuya,” he whispers, and Chuuya’s heart is rattling the bones of his ribcage at this point, desperate to claw its way out.
He flinches at the sudden ringing of his phone and he scrambles to pull it out. He had set an alarm beforehand so he wouldn’t forget about the meteor shower. “Oh, it should be starting soon!”
Kunikida shifts and pats the space by his side, wordlessly asking Chuuya to come over. He does as requested, dropping himself where Kunikida gestured to and flushing when Kunikida bumps their shoulders together.
A few minutes later, the first meteor arrives. Kunikida gasps, pointing at it in excitement. A few more meteors follow, dashing through the sky at a high speed and leaving streaks of light behind. Kunikida stares in awe, but Chuuya finds that he cannot focus on the meteors. Instead, his gaze is fixated on the light in Kunikida’s eyes and the wide smile he’s sporting.
“That one’s so bright! Are you gonna make a wish?” Kunikida asks, not looking at Chuuya.
Chuuya swallows. He’s not one to believe in silly myths like that, knowing that there’s no such thing as fate or a divine entity. And even if there was, it is too cruel to grant him anything he wishes for.
Still, with the way Kunikida is right now, with that child-like wonder in his eyes and the barely concealed excitement in his voice, Chuuya’s resolve crumbles. “Yeah. You should make one too.”
Kunikida laughs, closing his eyes, and Chuuya does the same. He thinks about what he wants the most, and the answer comes easily.
Kunikida Doppo is a man known for his strict ideals and rigid schedules. He’s not unreasonable, but it’ll take quite a bit for him to bend his routine or change his mind. That is what Chuuya had heard about him before they met, from Dazai or just words on the street.
There’s not much Chuuya is insecure about, but he knows that dating isn’t easy for someone like him. It’s part of the reason he’s never done so before. He’s a high-ranking Mafia member—he works at odd times, is cold and heartless when he needs to be, and spends the majority of his time inside the Mafia building. Forget Kunikida, no regular person would want to date someone like him.
But Kunikida chose him anyway. Somehow, he had taken a look at Chuuya and decided that he was worth it. That he would look past who Chuuya is on the outside for who he is on the inside.
He treats Chuuya like he’s more important than the ideals that shaped his reputation. Chuuya can’t believe how lucky he is.
He doesn’t cry, but his eyes feel a little hot when he opens them again. When he looks at Kunikida, he’s surprised to find him already looking at him.
“I know I said it earlier,” Kunikida mumbles, like there’s a bubble around them and he’s scared to break it, “but you’re beautiful, Chuuya.”
Chuuya’s throat feels dry. “Shut up.”
Kunikida isn’t deterred—somehow, from the little time they’ve known each other, he’s already learned to read past Chuuya’s words and interpret what he really means. He chuckles, reaching out to tuck a piece of hair behind Chuuya’s left ear, and it feels reminiscent of their first kiss.
“Thank you for this date. I’ve never seen a meteor shower before. It’s amazing.”
There’s that look again. Like Chuuya’s the most extraordinary being he’s laid his eyes on.
Chuuya’s breath stutters. If Kunikida keeps looking at him like that, he’s going to combust. “You’re welcome. I, um, hope this means I wooed you.”
Kunikida giggles, and it sounds like a melody. “Consider me head over heels.”
Maybe it’s just the proximity, but Chuuya swears that Kunikida’s voice dropped an octave. With his heart hammering in his chest, Chuuya tilts his head forward and leans in.
Like before, Kunikida is attentive and knows Chuuya well enough to understand his silent request. He tangles his fingers in Chuuya’s hair and brings their lips together.
Chuuya’s hands fly up to cup Kunikida’s face, tracing his cheeks with his thumbs as Kunikida’s kisses overwhelm him. His lips are so soft, and he kisses with such gentleness that Chuuya feels worshipped.
When Kunikida pulls back, there’s a laugh bubbling up his throat. “You’re surprisingly easy to fluster, you know. Your face is all red.”
Chuuya’s already flaming face heats up even more. “So what?! That’s your fault!”
“Mm. I’m glad.” He presses a kiss to Chuuya’s forehead this time.
Chuuya crosses his arms, fighting the smile that threatens to appear on his face. “Come on, let’s finish eating. I’ll drive you home.”
They finish up the food and Kunikida even drinks a glass of wine. Chuuya’s prediction was right—he does like this kind—and he makes a mental note of it. When they’re done, they pack up and walk back down the hill to Chuuya’s car.
Kunikida holds the bouquet of flowers the whole ride back. When they arrive back at Kunikida's home, he walks him to the front door.
“Thank you,” Kunikida says once again, with that smile that Chuuya will never tire of.
Chuuya grins. “Until next time, sweetheart. Goodnight.”
He hurries back to his car before Kunikida can say anything to fluster him and make him lose his composure. That was a cool ending to their date. He can’t ruin it.
Kunikida’s laugh echoes through the air the whole time.
“You cannot be serious,” is the first thing Kunikida says when Chuuya shows up at his office a few days later, completely uninvited.
“Dazai said it’s your lunch break,” Chuuya lies, attempting to clue him in on what he's here for. He thinks it's pretty obvious.
“Dazai is on a mission,” Kunikida replies with an eye roll. Chuuya walks up towards him, hands on his hips.
“Hi, Chuuya-san!” Kenji says, with that usual delighted smile. “It’s nice to see you again! It is Kunikida-san’s lunch break, though. You should take him out!”
Kunikida’s eye twitches, but because it is physically impossible to get mad at Kenji, he fixes his glare on Chuuya instead. Unfair, but it’s attractive, and Chuuya isn’t deterred.
He turns Kunikida’s chair around so that they’re facing each other and throws himself onto his lap, wrapping his arms around Kunikida’s neck just to be extra annoying. Kunikida splutters, cheeks growing red as Chuuya pouts dramatically.
“Please? Can’t I get lunch with my boyfriend?”
“You’re so full of shit!” Kunikida snaps, his voice pitching higher. Atsushi not-so-subtly gags from his desk and Chuuya not-so-subtly shoots him the middle finger.
“I’m being so genuine right now.”
“You’re on my lap,” Kunikida grumbles. He wraps his hands around Chuuya’s waist, though, so he knows he’s won. “But fine. Give me five more minutes to finish this report, then I’ll eat lunch with you.”
With a smirk, Chuuya leans in closer. “Can’t I stay here, though? I’m so comfortable.
He pecks Kunikida’s cheek and enjoys the way he blushes uncontrollably.
“You were not this cheeky a few days ago,” Kunkida accuses in reference to their date, tightening his grip on his waist. It sends a swooping heat through his stomach. “In fact, you were much shyer.”
“Wrong!” Chuuya says, just to save his dignity. He can feel Ranpo’s scrutinising gaze on him and he does not need the Agency to know how easily Kunikida flusters him. “Finish your report. I’m hungry.”
“In more ways than one, I’m sure,” snarks Tanizaki from his desk. Chuuya pointedly ignores him.
Kunikida does manage to finish his report even with Chuuya attempting to distract him. He’s not complaining, though. With an apologetic bow to everyone in the office, Kunikida drags Chuuya out and heads down the stairs.
“You’re a menace,” Kunikida mutters while Chuuya laughs in delight.
“I know what I want.”
“Of course you do.”
Chuuya enters the Mafia building when the moon hangs high and is immediately bombarded with chaos.
Tachihara is screaming and clinging onto Gin's shoulders, who looks less than impressed. Hirotsu is distancing himself away. Akutagawa has Rashoumon out and he looks ready to fire any minute. Higuchi is shielding Elise with her body, and Kouyou is shielding them both.
Chuuya's first thought is that there's an enemy, but when he looks in the direction of what Rashoumon is pointing at, he sighs.
It's a cat.
Admittedly, it looks pretty scary. It's huge, probably about the size of Elise herself if it was stretched out, and it has a wild, predatory look in its eyes. Its tail is swishing in agitation and it hisses at Chuuya when he walks closer, holding a gun in its mouth.
Wait.
"What the fuck!" Chuuya yelps, backing away despite his relative immunity to bullets. "Why does it have a gun?!"
"It's mine!" Tachihara wails. "We're going to die!"
"You control metal, stupid!" Higuchi screams. The loud noises agitate the cat even more, and it pounces. Rashoumon shoots out to block it, but Akutagawa doesn't hurt it. He then uses Rashoumon to try and pull the gun away, but the cat refuses to let go.
This is the dumbest thing Chuuya has seen all week. With a weary sigh, he holds his hand out and uses his ability to immobilise the cat, then lifts it towards him. He doesn't really want to touch it, but he has no choice. When the cat comes over, he takes the gun away as gently as he can, tossing it to Tachihara. He then drops the cat onto the floor and it sprints out of the building immediately.
There's a collective sigh of relief. Tachihara cradles his gun to his chest and Gin whacks him. Elise wriggles out of Higuchi's arms to hug Chuuya and call him a saviour, which Chuuya must allow because everyone knows you can't say no to Elise if you want to keep your head.
"This was ridiculous. Don't you people have work to do?" Chuuya grumbles.
They scatter off and Chuuya heads to his office, mentally groaning at the thought of the amount of paperwork he has due. He needs to read through the Black Lizard's latest mission report, then approve a few monthly transactions from the Mafia's business partners, and settle some trade deals that he hasn't even looked at yet…
He enters his office, drops himself on his chair, and proceeds to do none of that. Instead, he pulls out his phone to call Kunikida and tell him about the ridiculous event he walked in on.
Kunikida picks up after the fourth ring. "Chuuya? Aren't you at work? Did something happen?"
The worry evident in his voice makes Chuuya laugh. "Nothing bad, I promise."
"Oh, good. Why are you calling me, then?"
"Get this. A cat stole Tachihara-kun's gun."
"...Sorry?"
Chuuya grins. Having someone to talk to about such minor situations is kind of fun. "Yeah. They were going to fight the cat when I walked in, I swear! But I saved the day, obviously."
Kunikida's gentle laughter filters through the speaker. "Right, of course. You're the bravest of them all."
"...Are you being sarcastic?"
"No," Kunikida replies, full of shit. If Chuuya could, he'd give him the stinkiest glare ever.
Before he can say anything else, there's a knock on his door, followed by one of his subordinates' voices. "Chuuya-san, I have the report for last week's mission."
Chuuya groans out loud, glancing at the growing stack of papers on his desk. "Sorry, sweetheart. I have to go. I'll see you another day."
"Of course," Kunikida replies, and there's no denying the fondness in his voice. Chuuya feels his cheeks heat and he hides behind the brim of his hat despite there being no one to see him.
He hangs up and pats his cheeks a few times, like that would get rid of the redness, before he calls his subordinate in.
“Kunikida-kun,” Dazai whines for the fifth time that day and Kunikida feels his patience thin.
“What?” he hisses, gripping his pen so tight that his knuckles turn white.
“Now that you and Chuuya are together, are you going to stay with him?”
Kunikida relaxes at the genuine question. “Oh. I’ve not been to his place. Probably not, though. I have Kenji staying with me.”
“Kenji-kun could live with you guys too.”
“Absolutely not,” Kunikida mutters. Kenji’s too impressionable. If Kunikida allows prolonged contact between the two, he’s not sure things will turn out well. Plus, they're both extremely strong ability users. He can already picture the shattered windows.
There’s a buzzing noise from his phone and Kunikida picks it up, eyes softening when he sees who the message is from. Dazai leans over because he's nosy and Kunikida doesn't bother pushing him away.
From: Chuuya
> [location attached]
> you’re off on monday, right?
> i did promise you an aquarium date
“Ooh. Kunikida-kun has a date. He’s gonna ditch work to text his boyfriend,” Dazai singsongs.
“Shut up. You’ve not done a sheet of paperwork the whole day.” He’s about to agree to Chuuya’s request, but then he remembers the one thing he schedules on Mondays and pauses.
From: Kunikida
> I’d love to, but I’m picking Aya up from school.
From: Chuuya
> we can bring her too
> kenji as well. you said he likes penguins
Kunikida’s smile grows wider. Chuuya is incredibly adept at working with his schedule—something Kunikida didn’t expect. He had wanted to rework his entire weekly schedule to accommodate Chuuya, but Chuuya simply memorised it and squeezed his way in with barely any effort. Just the other Wednesday, Kunikida stayed overtime at the office as usual, and Chuuya had swapped his mission with someone else so he could take him out to dinner. It was extremely thoughtful.
From Kunikida
> Then of course. I’ll see you then.
“Eh? Where’s Kunikida? He said we’re going to the aquarium today.” Aya asks the moment she lays her eyes on Chuuya, who is hiding from the sun with his hat and wondering what he did to end up with this life, picking up a child from school.
“Kenji’s still asleep and Kunikida didn't want to wake him up yet, so I’m here to pick you up instead,” Chuuya grumbles. “Don’t say a word about it.”
“Eh…” Aya pouts. Chuuya is honestly a little bit insulted. Is he not as good as Kunikida? What does she look so disappointed for? He came all this way for her and this is the thanks he gets?
“Oi, I’m great too!” he says indignantly.
“Sure,” Aya says with a side eye, implying that she does not believe him. “But Kunikida can make stuff out of thin air. You can’t do that.”
“Wh— I can fly.”
“So can Superman. You’re not special.”
Chuuya gapes. He regrets agreeing to bring her to their aquarium date. “Tsk! Fine, I don’t care. Get in the car, it’s way too hot here.”
She gets in without complaint, so Chuuya counts his blessings.
Starting up the car, he turns up the radio and drives to Kunikida’s place. As he drives, he glances at the rearview mirror, observing as Aya stares out the window, hugging her bag tightly.
He wonders what he should do to win her over. He then smacks himself internally for having such childish thoughts.
It’s not like it’s that serious that Aya likes Kunikida more. It makes sense, given their history spent together. But Chuuya knows how important Aya is to Kunikida, and that he’d take bullets for her. Now that they’re dating, he feels a sort of obligation to extend a hand out to the girl and gain her approval.
He pauses, wondering if Aya even knows that they’re dating. She wasn’t there when their relationship was revealed, after all.
“Aya-chan,” Chuuya calls, and she glances up with a questioning look. “Um. Kunikida and I are together, by the way.”
She tilts her head to the side. “Did you kiss?”
The bluntness of the question throws Chuuya off so much that he has to step on the brakes, just in case he accidentally swerves off the road. “That’s your first question?!” he chokes out. “Yes we have.”
“Oh… so you’re married. Why wasn’t I invited to the wedding?”
“Married— no! We’re not married!”
“But you kissed,” she says slowly, like she’s the one talking to a child. “So you’re married.”
“Those are not the same things!”
She frowns, looking incredibly perplexed. “You have rings on your fingers.”
Chuuya glances at his hand, the realisation clicking in. He had ditched the gloves today since they’re just going to an aquarium, and he’s not driving his bike. Instead, he had accessorised with a bunch of silver rings. He didn’t think Aya would take that as a sign of marriage.
“These are for style, Aya-chan,” he explains, holding one of his hands up to show her. “I promise if Kunikida and I get married, you’ll be invited.”
She beams. “I want to be the flower girl!”
“Sure, sure.”
He didn’t think much about it until they pulled up at Kunikida’s place. Kunikida gets in the passenger seat while Kenji gets in the back, still rubbing sleep out of his eyes but jittery with excitement.
“Hi, Chuuya-san! Hi Aya! I’m so excited!” Kenji greets, that sunshine grin on his face.
Before Chuuya can reply, Aya leans over to tap Kunikida’s shoulders. “Kunikida! Chuu-chan says I can be your flower girl at your wedding!”
“What?” Kunikida laughs as Chuuya’s body goes rigid. “Really?”
“Yes!” Aya says at the same time Chuuya groans, banging his forehead on the steering wheel.
Kunikida grins, reaching over to punch Chuuya in the shoulder playfully as Chuuya considers digging a hole for himself to lie in.
“A wedding! I’ve never been to one before,” Kenji muses.
“It has been two weeks! There is no wedding!” Chuuya says, flushing at how high his voice went. He glances at Kunikida, heart stuttering when he sees the fond grin on his face.
Hm. He was a lot easier to fluster before they started dating. Chuuya needs to up his game.
As they drive to the aquarium, Kenji and Aya start chatting about their respective days. Aya invites Kenji to pick her up from school next time, apparently already fond of him, much to Chuuya’s horror. Kenji invites Aya to come over so she may see his cow. He thinks they’ll get along swimmingly.
Kunikida has his notebook in his hands, looking through what must be the itinerary for the day. His fingers tap along to the beat of the music—some hit pop song Chuuya’s been hearing recently—and he wonders if Kunikida would be down for karaoke.
He files that thought away on his growing list of dates he wants to bring Kunikida on.
When they arrive at the aquarium, Kenji and Aya scurry out of the car, matching skips in their steps. Kunikida chuckles, placing a hand on Chuuya’s shoulder as they head to the entrance. After the person scans their tickets, they enter.
There’s a shelf with maps and fun facts about the aquarium, which is the first thing they see when they enter. Aya grabs one and opens it, and Chuuya is amused to find that the size of the map is bigger than her.
Kunikida takes a marker out from his pocket, passing it to Kenji. “Here. Circle the places you want to visit and we’ll plan the route.”
Kenji and Aya get to circling, until pretty much the whole map is filled with dark circles. Chuuya hides a laugh behind his hand. They’re ambitious.
The first exhibition they’re going to, courtesy of Aya, is the sea turtles. Kunikida takes the map and marker back from them, looking at it as they walk. Chuuya keeps his eyes on the two so they don’t run off.
They spend the whole day at the aquarium. After the sea turtles, it was a bunch of different fishes, then seahorses, then a starfish tank where they were allowed to touch the starfish, then a dolphin show. Chuuya slowly gets more relaxed as the day goes by, giving in to his excitement when Kenji bodily drags him to see some of the animals.
Kunikida spends time reading the descriptions of every tank they visit, which Chuuya finds a bit amusing, but it’s adorable all the same.
“Did you know that corals are animals?” Kunikida tells Chuuya, pointing at one of the description boards. “They can’t make their own food, so they’re not considered plants.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes. But they still reproduce both asexually and sexually.”
Eventually, they reach the final exhibition—the penguins. They had wanted to save the best for last.
The tank is rectangular-shaped and spans across the entire air-conditioned room, emitting a blue glow throughout. Aya and Kenji press their faces against the glass, gasping as one of the penguins dive into the water. Chuuya glances at Kunikida, seeing him smile as he watches the two. The blue light reflects off his face and glasses, softening his features, and Chuuya can’t help himself.
He pushes himself up on his tiptoes and pecks Kunikida’s cheek. Kunikida turns to him, eyes lighting up. “What was that for?”
“I just wanted to kiss my pretty boyfriend,” Chuuya says, his words meant to be teasing but coming out sincere. Kunikida’s face reddens as he bends down to kiss him on the lips, and Chuuya ascends to heaven for a few seconds.
“Ew! You’re being yucky!” Aya yells, pointing at them and attracting a few stares. Kenji kindly covers her eyes for her.
“I’m not! You won’t be saying that when I buy you that penguin plush toy I saw you eyeing when we walked in,” Chuuya huffs, putting his hands on his hips.
“You spoil her,” Kunikida mumbles.
“Kenji gets one too, obviously.”
“Really? Thank you, Chuuya-san!” Kenji cheers, and Kunikida sighs.
He does in fact get them each a penguin plushie, because they deserve it and Kunikida doesn’t have enough resolve to stop him. After careful consideration, where Chuuya even texted Kouyou for her opinion, he buys himself a shark keychain and a matching one for Kunikida.
“Oh, that’s cute,” Kunikida says in delight when Chuuya passes it to him. He digs through his bag to pull out his pencil case, immediately hooking the keychain onto the zipper, and Chuuya pats himself on the back internally.
It’s about time to leave, so Kunikida turns to call for Kenji and Aya, but cuts himself off when he spots them. Chuuya follows his gaze and sees Kenji carrying Aya in one arm, who is fast asleep, probably because she exhausted herself. His other arm holds onto the two plushies.
Kunikida’s eyes soften and he takes the plushies from him, then pats Kenji on the head. “Let’s bring her home first, and then we’ll get dinner.”
“Can’t Aya stay with us?” Kenji whispers, his words laced with hope.
Kunikida falters. Chuuya can see the gears turning in his head and he wonders why he looks so upset. He’ll ask next time.
“She has a home,” Kunikida finally replies. “But I’m sure she had lots of fun with you today. Thank you, Kenji.”
Kenji looks slightly unsure, but he smiles regardless. With that, they walk back to Chuuya’s car and drive back in peaceful silence, the penguin plushies sitting in the backseat.
When Kunikida visits Chuuya’s apartment for the first time, he has to pick his jaw up from the floor.
“You live by yourself? Are you sure?” he asks, gaping at the amount of space in the living room alone. Chuuya huffs, leaning against the wall as Kunikida explores the area.
“I have people over sometimes. That’s when I use the space.”
“Still!” Kunikida bends down to look at the photos Chuuya has on the TV shelf. They’re mostly people from the Mafia—Kouyou and the Akutagawa siblings being the common factor. There’s also a picture of a dog, and—
“Wait. Is this the dog you saved the other day?” Kunikida points to the picture and Chuuya grins, whistling.
In a matter of seconds, a dog appears from one of the rooms, paws pattering against the wooden tile. It leaps straight into Chuuya’s arms, barking.
“You actually kept it,” Kunikida laughs as Chuuya comes closer.
The dog has fluffy golden fur that’s soft and freshly washed, a complete transformation from the last time Kunikida saw it. Its big blue eyes blink up at him, and Kunikida is not an animal person, but it’s simply too cute to resist.
Kunikida reaches out, running his fingers through its fur and smiling when it bumps its head into his hand. “What’s its name?”
Chuuya flushes. “You can’t laugh.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“…Hanako the Third.”
Kunikida pauses, processing. Then it clicks. “You named it after Kenji’s cow?!”
“Kenji is a very convincing guy!” Chuuya defends. “You can’t say no to that face!”
“Why were you even consulting Kenji?”
“I thought he would have the best ideas. He likes animals the most. And he’s not wary of me like Tanizaki or the weretiger are.”
Kunikida still cannot believe this. “Okay… and you didn’t think to ask anybody in the Mafia?”
“Absolutely not. They can’t know I have a dog.”
“What— why not?”
“It’s embarrassing!” Chuuya whines, hugging Hanako closer to his chest. “It’ll ruin my reputation.”
Kunikida can’t help it. He slaps a hand over his mouth as he dissolves into giggles.
Chuuya looks aghast. “Stop laughing! What’s so funny?!”
“Sorry!” he wheezes. “You can’t ruin your big scary reputation, yes. Forgive me.”
Chuuya’s cheeks grow red as Kunikida laughs harder. “I am scary! I’m not kidding!”
“I’m really sorry, but it’s hard to take you seriously when you look like that.”
“Like what?!”
Kunikida gestures to Chuuya’s outfit, which consists of pyjama pants and a loose t-shirt. His red cheeks and the dog in his hands really tops it all off. “Cute.”
Chuuya glares, setting the dog down, and it’s all the warning Kunikida gets before he’s being shoved onto the couch, pinned by a pout and heavy frown.
Chuuya climbs onto his lap and Kunikida’s hands instinctively grab onto his waist, fingers curling around gently. He seems to like this position, but he won’t call Chuuya out on it.
“You think I’m cute?” he asks, cupping Kunikida’s cheeks.
Kunikida continues smiling. He thinks Chuuya is the cutest, especially after seeing him cuddle a dog named after a cow, but he has a feeling Chuuya will explode if he voices that out loud.
Before he can say anything else, Chuuya kisses him.
His fingers curl tighter around his waist as he gasps, taken aback. Chuuya has been a lot gentler since they got together, which Kunikida had immediately noticed, but this kiss is the opposite. It’s heated and aggressive, and Kunikida succumbs.
When Chuuya pulls back, his cheeks are still flushed red, but he has a satisfied grin on his face. “How’s that for cute, huh?”
Kunikida snickers. He brings a hand up to tuck a strand of Chuuya’s hair behind his ear, eyes catching on to the numerous freckles on his skin. “Alright, I give. You’re terrifying. The big bad Mafia Executive.”
Chuuya squints. “I don’t like your tone.”
Kunikida simply presses a fleeting kiss on the tip of his nose, amused when Chuuya shrieks and hits his chest weakly.
“You have a lot of complaints for someone who enjoys sitting on my lap,” Kunikida points out. Two times is just a coincidence, but he has a feeling this is going to be a regular occurrence. Chuuya crosses his arms, as if that would disprove Kunikida’s words.
“No. Maybe you like me on your lap.”
It’s a stupid excuse for an argument, but Kunikida plays along. “Hm. I think I do, pretty.”
Chuuya’s jaw drops and Kunikida can see the way he flusters as he tries to come up with a response. After a few painful seconds, Chuuya slumps in his hold, seemingly giving up. He laughs, running a hand through his hair.
“You weren’t this flirty before we got together,” Chuuya grumbles.
“Mhm, unlike you,” Kunikida teases, remembering Chuuya’s numerous flirting attempts. “You could’ve just said you liked me instead of buying me a bunch of things.”
“Oi, you complaining? I’ll take them back!"
Kunikida chuckles, kissing his forehead. Chuuya relaxes further, becoming practically deadweight, and Kunikida lets him. It feels nice. Kind of like a weighted blanket.
They lie there together for who knows how long, simply breathing and enjoying each other’s company. Kunikida has cleared his schedule just to spend time with Chuuya, so it’s nice to be able to slow down and relax without constantly worrying about time.
At one point, Hanako leaps onto the couch. Chuuya grumbles something about it not being allowed there, but Kunikida extends a hand out and it comes closer, squeezing its way in.
Their impromptu cuddle session is interrupted when the doorbell rings. Chuuya flinches, which causes the dog to leap away in shock. Blushing, Chuuya apologises to it and scrambles off Kunikida, running towards the door. Kunikida watches in amusement as he tries to pat his clothes and hair down, standing up straighter before he opens the door.
Chuuya comes back with a plastic bag in his hand and a meek smile. “I ordered takeout. And I forgot about it. I hope you don’t mind Vietnamese food.”
Kunikida raises an eyebrow. “I don’t mind. How did you know what to get me?”
“…I asked Ranpo.”
Kunikida feels a part of his soul die. “Oh God. How much did he make you pay?”
“Uh. It was worth it..?”
Kunikida groans, tilting his head back. “You could just ask me next time.”
“It’ll ruin the surprise!” Chuuya defends. Hanako barks, as if to agree with him. “I like surprising you.”
Despite everything, Kunikida smiles. “I know. Thank you.”
Chuuya preens, puffing his chest out. “You’re welcome! Let’s eat.”
And so they do. After Chuuya puts out food for Hanako, they eat takeout at his dining room together. Chuuya tells him some gossip he heard around the building recently, hands waving around as he speaks. Kunikida cannot believe some of the things people get up to in the Mafia. In return, he tells Chuuya about a new American show Kenji's been invested in, courtesy of Naomi's introduction. Kunikida didn't want to get invested, considering it's a reality dating show, but seriously, Rachel could do better.
After they finish their food, Chuuya takes out the trash and Kunikida washes the dishes despite Chuuya's insistence that the dishwasher will do the job. He complained about Kunikida choosing to do things the hard way the whole time until Kunikida shut him up with a kiss.
Kunikida isn't staying the night, but then he receives a text from Kenji that says he's staying over at Yosano's for a sleepover. And Chuuya saw it, so he began badgering Kunikida for their own sleepover, and he's a bit hard to say no to when he's so dead set on something. Kunikida has zero resolve around him.
He agrees, and Chuuya lights up.
He borrows the guest bathroom to wash up, and Chuuya lends him clothes that fit him surprisingly well. When he asks about it, Chuuya huffs and crosses his arms, looking away. "I bought them yesterday."
"You expected this?" Kunikida asks.
Chuuya doesn't answer, chewing the inside of his cheek. It takes a while for it to click. "Oh. You planned this. And you dragged Kenji and Yosano-sensei into it too!"
"No," Chuuya drawls. "It was a coincidence."
Kunikida rolls his eyes. He can't even be mad about it, seeing as Chuuya made sure to factor Kenji into this plan and make arrangements so Kunikida wouldn't have to worry. He bends over and kisses the top of Chuuya's head, snickering when Chuuya shoves him away in embarrassment. "I'll let it slide. I appreciate how thoughtful you are."
"Whatever."
"I really do!" Kunikida pokes his cheek, goading him a little bit. "But if you wanted a sleepover that badly…"
"Shut up!" Chuuya spins on his heel and stalks off, heading into his bedroom. Kunikida knows he wants him to follow, because Chuuya wouldn't ask for something like that out loud. But he's in a mood to rile him up a little, so he remains rooted to the spot, leaning against the wall.
He doesn't have to wait long. A few seconds later, Chuuya's head pops out, an irritated frown on his face. "What are you just standing there for, oi?"
"I'm not sure what you want me to do," Kunikida replies, barely concealing his grin.
Chuuya glares, but once again, Kunikida isn't intimidated. He watches Chuuya fight an internal battle before he stomps back out, grabbing him by his arm—though his grip is soft—and dragging him along. Kunikida bursts out laughing while Chuuya mutters curses at him the whole time.
"You are horrible."
"And you're beautiful," Kunikida teases, but his compliment is genuine. Chuuya seems to know it too, if his reaction is anything to go by. He shoves his face in his hands, screaming into them, and Kunikida laughs harder.
After Chuuya gets over his embarrassment, he invites Kunikida onto his bed, which has black bed sheets and a deep purple blanket. The mattress sinks when Kunikida gets on and Chuuya grabs a laptop from his bedside drawer, opening it.
"I want to watch that show you were talking about," Chuuya says, and Kunikida's heart flutters.
"I didn't think you'd be interested," he replies softly.
Chuuya glances up, a small smirk on his face, and Kunikida braces himself for the worst. "You wanna know what else I'm interested in?"
Chuuya rests a hand on his neck and Kunikida groans, tilting his head back. "Terrible. Someone needs to teach you how to flirt better."
"Oh? Maybe you could teach me, Kunikida-sensei."
Kunikida's neck is beginning to feel hot. "Do not call me that! That's what my students call me!"
Chuuya's grin sharpens. "Won't you give me a good grade, Kunikida-sensei? I'd do anything—"
Kunikida slaps a hand over Chuuya's mouth, his face burning. He shrieks when Chuuya licks his palm, shoving him away. "You! I'm going to kill you!"
Chuuya opens his mouth, clearly about to make another stupid, cocky remark, as if he wasn't blushing his ass off five minutes ago. Kunikida cups his face before he can do it and pushes their lips together instead. Just to shut him up.
He only realises that he fell for the bait when Chuuya smiles into the kiss. He should've known Chuuya would ask for one in the most roundabout way possible.
Kunikida pulls back with a glare, but it falters when he sees how satisfied Chuuya looks, preening like a cat who got the cream. "On second thought, we could just do that the whole night," Chuuya says, and Kunikida cannot believe that this is who he chose to date.
There's a bark at the door and they both jump in sync. Hanako sits at the entrance, tail wagging.
Chuuya sighs, holding his hand out as the dog leaps over, licking his face. "You're allowed on the bed only today, okay?"
Kunikida laughs as Chuuya leans into him, holding Hanako in his arms. He really is a dog person.
Since Chuuya's hands are full, Kunikida takes charge of the laptop, searching up the show. He puts the first episode on and they watch it together, Chuuya petting Hanako the whole time. By the time they reach episode five, Hanako has fallen asleep.
Chuuya yawns too, and Kunikida glances at the time. It's midnight, and though it's a Saturday the next day, Chuuya had a night mission the day before, so he's probably exhausted. Wordlessly, Kunikida closes the tab and shuts down the laptop.
Chuuya doesn't argue, sinking further into Kunikida's hold as he reaches over to turn off the lights. Like this, shrouded in darkness, Kunikida reminisces the first time they shared a bed and how he had to prevent himself from reaching out. Now, he can actively embrace Chuuya and give in to that desire.
"Goodnight, Chuuya," Kunikida whispers, kissing him softly. Chuuya hums into the kiss, arranging Hanako carefully so it may rest in between them without getting crushed.
"Tomorrow," Chuuya mumbles, "we should go on another date. I'll bring you to a nice place… and then…"
Kunikida chuckles. "I think I'll bring you out instead. I haven't gotten the chance to impress you, have I?"
Chuuya shakes his head. "You impress me every day already."
"Well, I still want a turn. You deserve to be spoiled too, you know."
Chuuya doesn't reply, but he does bury his face further into Kunikida's chest. Kunikida doesn't need to see him to know the expression he has on right now.
Right before Chuuya falls asleep, he hears him whisper into his chest, "Thank you."
Kunikida beams at the acceptance, holding him just a bit tighter.