Work Text:
Sunlight spilled through the windows and into the office as you skimmed through printed news reports about a recent case that you were assigned to research about. It was a busy day at the agency due to that fact that there had been a spike in cases during these past few weeks. Everyone seemed to have something that they needed to do.
As the sound of keyboard clicking, chatting, and phone calls filled the room you tried to focus on the task at hand. As you attempted to focus, rereading lines you’ve already read, you bounce your leg repetitively under your desk.
Everything felt like too much. Becoming acutely aware of the seams in your socks and how bright the room was with both the sunlight bleeding from the windows and the harsh office lights. You shifted uncomfortably in your seat as everything overwhelmed your senses. It was all too loud and bright.
You groaned with discomfort as you crumpled up the paper in your hands, and as if it couldn’t get any worse, you startled to feel tears prickling at your eyes. You rested your head in your hands as you tried not to cry, until a familiar bandaged hand softly grabs your forearm.
“Hey,” Dazai began, speaking in a soft tone that highlighted your volatile state “I know a place that’s a bit quieter than in here.”
You nodded in response, feeling too vulnerable to make eye contact as you let him pull you up from your chair.
Once you were up he took the headphones off his neck and slid them over your ears before guiding you to a quieter room with his hand on your back.
His room of choice was a quiet, unoccupied conference room. It was dim, with the only lighting being the sunlight that seeped through the window curtains. You breathe a sigh of relief as you take a seat, taking off the headphones and handing them to Dazai who was settling into the chair next to yours.
He takes the headphones back and puts them to the side. “Feeling any better now? I could get you a water if you need.”
”Yeah..” you answered sheepishly, trying to focus on your breathing to decompress from the previous overstimulation “I’m feeling better, thanks.”
Dazai smiled, and this time it wasn’t just his usual knowing smirk, but a genuine expression of how he was glad to see you okay.
A moment of peaceful silence falls between you two, the room filled with sounds of breathing and footsteps passing by from outside the room.
After a little over a minute passes, Dazai speaks up “Something’s on your mind, I can tell.”
You let out a small huff at his correct assumption.
”Well? Out with it. What’s on your mind, belladonna?” His gaze was fixed on you in a way that made you feel observed as he rested his head on his hand.
You hesitate, taking a breath in before finally speaking “Could I… get a hug?” You mutter in a quiet voice, hoping that he didn’t hear you.
He lets out a chuckle which makes you tense up with suspense “A hug? You were nervously shifting in your seat over a hug? Come here.”
He wraps his arms around you, making you freeze up in response before melting into the hug and wrapping your arms around him.
You hold each other, taking in the scent of his cheap cologne as you hide your face in the crook of his neck.
His slender arms cradled you perfectly. Holding you close and making time slow as you relaxed into his arms, feeling protected and whole.
As long as he was there you knew you would be alright.