Work Text:
Late December always felt cold. Of course it was snowing out more but the days were shorter. Everything was cold, people were at home spending the holidays with family enjoying the weather. Osamu spent the time indoors as usual, he did want to go outside and touch the snow but everything in his body drew him to the bar. He needed a drink….. Or 7
Winter got him down, seasonal depression just really… kicked him in the ball sack. Real hard, like a cyber truck! Yeah that's a good comparison. Osamu joked with the bar keep about drinking bleach like he used to with Oda and Ango. He did get his basic whiskey , there was no one at the bar though, which was nice but it was really quiet. Too quiet.
Early afternoon turned into late in the night. It was bearing near 1 in the morning. Osamu was still sitting at the bar. He didn't really know what else to do with his night, he had nowhere to go. No one to return home too.
Osamu ended up falling asleep at the bar, head peacefully set on the table a half drunken Whisky half drunken next to him, ice slowly melting as it clicked towards 2:25.
Doppo had never been one for drinking but he arrived near 2:30. It had been a long long night; the blonde had been working on paperwork for the agency no one else wanted to do because of the season. It did have to be done though.
Doppo Kunikida was a man of many ideas and he had a very certain way of living and working. Get this done by this time and so on. Even having his ideal partner, a woman.
Though within the last 2 years; Within working with a certain annoying brunette who constantly disrupts his day to day schedule.
Maybe he liked it?. Maybe he enjoyed the change in his life for once. Maybe this change wasn't a disturbance.
Maybe it was a welcoming change.
He walked into the bar, with dark circles and saw his sleeping co-worker. He fidgeted and froze looking at him. His gaze went over his broad shoulders and watered down whiskey. Doppo slowly walked over and picked up his whiskey returning the glass to the bar keep.
“Osamu?” he said lightly, pulling a chair next to the man, crossing a leg over the other. He was tired, he did not particularly want to be there but…
Osamu groaned and hid his face into his arms. It took a few minutes but he registered who was speaking to him and shot up. “Doppo??!” He looked at him with wide sleepy eyes.
“Yes..-” he laughed and smiled softly. “I didn’t know you would be here so late, let alone here at all.”
“Well yeah! I have nothing else to do Doppo!” Osamu said cheerfully, wiping his eyes to wake them up and see properly. He looked at Doppo, how tired he must be. He knew of the blonde's strict schedule of course; he would always ruin it. Work was not always good for Doppo though nor was it okay to work all the time. “You look tired, you should head home!”
“Ahh.. possibly.. I am only coming here from the agency.” Doppo sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose where his glasses hit.
The wind blew outside as the snow fell harder. The holiday season was beautiful and loud… the sounds of bells died at night so it was realistically just cold and full of bright lights from stores and homes alike. The joy and color of the holiday season melted into the streets of Yokohama making it feel so warm even though it was well below 20 degrees.
The windows were icy and with condensation from the frost. The weather made anyone just want to read a book with a warm drink. Osamu knew this, he figured his book loving, work obsessed ‘friend’ may feel the same.
“Then let me take you home!” He smiled and got up, slipping a thicker coat over his usual one, placing the hood on his head and walking out the door with doppo.
“You really don’t need to! Did you even pay??!” The blonde fought back
“He knows me it is okay, lets get some rest Doppo.” Dazai continued to walk with Doppo, his apartment was not far, he had been several times. Book shelves stuffed with literature and oddly enough legos. It made sense. Doppo liked routine and structure, him being into building things step by step made sense.
Once they had gotten to his home Doppo stomped the snow off his boots and walked in taking them off at the entrance, slipping on a pair of slippers. Osamu stood in the cold just watching, wondering if he should come insid- “welcome in, Osamu. I can’t let you stay in the cold.” Doppo said warmly, giving him a pair of slippers that were osamu’s.
He walked inside and slipped out of the boots placing on the warm slippers. He shut the door leaving all of the cold outside, welcoming Doppo’s warm and neat home.
“Thank you for taking me home, I appreciate it…” Doppo smiled at him walking to his kitchen to make some hot tea to combat the cold outside the thick walls.
“Anytime! You’re a workaholic, you need a break.” Osamu replied and watched as he made tea.
“Well you are free to join me, I was going to watch a film, build a puzzle with some tea. …. If you are interested.” Doppo poured 2 cups, giving one to the brunette.
“Sounds good…” He took the tea and drank some, he did not partially like tea but… it was the thought that mattered. He needed the warmth at the moment, winter really did not do him well.
Doppo set up the sofa in his living room, turning on some holiday films and pouring a 1000 piece puzzle on the table. Surely he was extremely aware Osamu could finish it within the hour but he knew he wouldn't for the sake of the night.
Osamu sat with Doppo, laughing and drinking the now turned room temperature tea. The night was perfect. It was extremely late and they were both tired but they enjoyed every minute. The jokes and the missing piece of the puzzle that neither of them could seem to place.
It was later found in Osamu’s pocket of course.
A late night with his beloved co-worker was exactly what they both needed. A warm night wrapped in thick blankets as they built a puzzle made for children.
It was the best holiday yet, and had to be continued as they grew together. Becoming closer and closer throughout their time together. Too close as some may say. They shared everything. Including spit a few times.