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Dazai stared at him. Then he let out an exaggerated sigh, flopping backward onto the couch like his life had just ended.
“I can’t believe this,” he groaned. “After everything we’ve been through.”
Chuuya’s eye twitched. “What are you talking about now?”
“It’s Valentine’s Day, Chuuya.”
“…Oh.”
There was a pause.
“…So?”
Dazai slowly sat up, squinting at him like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
“So,” he repeated. “Valentine’s Day.”
Chuuya crossed his arms. “Yeah. That’s a thing people care about.”
“And you don’t?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
Dazai studied him carefully. “So you didn’t get me anything.” It wasn’t accusatory. It wasn’t even teasing, really. Just… testing.
Chuuya blinked. “Why would I get you something?”
Dazai shrugged, looking away a little too casually. “Partners exchange chocolate sometimes.”
“That’s for couples.”
“Some people give it to people they’re close to.”
“We are not ‘close.’”
Dazai gave him a flat look. Chuuya faltered for half a second.
“…You’re annoying,” he corrected.
Dazai hummed, tapping his fingers against the couch. “I just thought maybe you would.” The tone was lighter now, but there was something under it. Not dramatic. Not manipulative. Just a seventeen-year-old boy pretending he didn’t care. Chuuya felt heat crawl up his neck for no reason at all.
“You’re unbelievable,” he muttered. “You break into my apartment and expect chocolate?”
“I didn’t say expect,” Dazai replied quickly. “I said maybe.”
Chuuya looked at him properly then. Dazai wasn’t smirking.
He just looked… curious. Hopeful, in a subtle, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it way.
“…You’re such a brat,” Chuuya said, turning away so Dazai wouldn’t see his expression. “You could’ve just asked.”
Dazai froze slightly.
“I just did,” he said quietly.
Chuuya’s heart did something stupid.
“Shut up,” he muttered again, grabbing a glass from the cabinet just so he had something to do with his hands.
Behind him, Dazai smiled — small and almost shy.
“Well,” he said, softer this time, “there’s still time.”
Chuuya poured himself a generous amount of wine, taking a long sip before turning back to face Dazai. He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded the other man with a mixture of exasperation and reluctant fondness. Eugh.
"You're impossible," he muttered, shaking his head. "Breaking into my place, ambushing me with this...this holiday nonsense."
Dazai merely smiled, unrepentant. He sprawled further on the couch, making himself comfortable as if he owned the place.
"It's not nonsense to me," he said simply. "I thought...maybe you might want to celebrate. With me."
His voice held a note of vulnerability, quickly masked by his usual nonchalance. But Chuuya caught it. He always did.
Chuuya took another sip of wine, considering Dazai over the rim of his glass. The alcohol burned pleasantly down his throat, helping to settle the strange flutter in his stomach. He set the glass down with a soft clink.
"Celebrate what, exactly?" he asked, voice low and measured. "Our partnership? Because last I checked, that involves more stabbing and less...whatever this is."
He gestured vaguely at Dazai lounging on his couch, looking far too at ease in Chuuya's personal space. The sight sent an odd shiver down his spine.
Dazai chuckled, the sound warm and inviting despite the cool night air drifting in from the open window.
"Stabbing is just foreplay for us, isn't it?" he quipped, winking shamelessly.
Then Dazai says "Come on Chuuya..i'ts Valentines Day!
Chuuya narrowed his eyes at Dazai's blatant reminder of the occasion. He took a step closer, looming over the other man in a way that should have been intimidating.
"And what exactly do you want me to do about it, Dazai?" he growled, voice rough with suppressed emotion. "Suddenly whip out a box of chocolates and profess my undying devotion?"
Despite his harsh words, there was a flicker of uncertainty in Chuuya's bright blue eyes. His gaze darted briefly to Dazai's lips before snapping back up to meet his stare.
"Yes, but we can also...have a nice valentines dinner...just the two of us here? You got the wine and the beef already anyway." Dazai replies.
Chuuya hesitated, conflict warring across his handsome features. The wine swirled in his glass as he considered Dazai's suggestion. After a long moment, he sighed heavily, shoulders slumping slightly.
"...Fine," he bit out, sounding pained. "We can have dinner. But don't read into it, got it? It's just...food."
Even as he said it, a faint blush colored his cheeks above the collar of his crisp shirt. Chuuya turned away abruptly, busying himself with pulling out pots and pans.
"I'm not cooking anything fancy though," he warned, not looking at Dazai. "You should be grateful I'm even agreeing to this ridiculous charade."
Yet there was no real bite to his words, the gruffness tinged with a subtle warmth that betrayed his true feelings.
A time skip brought to you by Soukoku's secret stash of candy: An hour of bantering and cooking dinner later. (Dazai almost burnt the kitchen)
As the aroma of sizzling steak and herbs filled the kitchen, Chuuya couldn't help but steal glances at Dazai. Despite his earlier protests, having the other man here felt...nice. Too nice. It scared him a little.
"Are you going to actually help cook or just stand there looking pretty?" Chuuya grumbled, trying to cover the unfamiliar warmth blooming in his chest with sarcasm. He flipped the thick cuts of meat, the perfect sear glistening under the lights.
Dazai smirked, moving to lean against the counter beside him. Close enough that their arms brushed, sending sparks through Chuuya's nerves.
"Awww, Chuuya thinks I'm pretty?" Dazai says.
Chuuya nearly dropped the spatula at Dazai's teasing words. He whirled around, fork pointed accusingly, cheeks flaming.
"I never said that!" he sputtered, mortified. "Don't put words in my mouth, you smug bastard."
But even as he denied it, Chuuya could feel the heat rising in his body, both from the stove and Dazai's proximity. He swallowed hard, Adam's apple bobbing in his tanned throat.
"You're insufferable," he muttered, but there was no real venom behind it. If anything, his deep voice held a husky undertone. Chuuya turned back to the stove, needing a moment to collect himself before facing Dazai again. The sizzle of the pan seemed deafening in the charged silence.
As they worked side by side, preparing the meal, Chuuya found himself hyperaware of every small touch - Dazai's fingers brushing his as he passed a seasoning, the heat of his breath near Chuuya's ear when he leaned close to check the food. It was maddening and thrilling all at once.
"This is...not terrible," Chuuya admitted grudgingly as they sat down to eat, the candlelight casting intimate shadows across the table. He took a sip of wine, letting the rich flavor ground him. "I suppose you're not completely useless in the kitchen after all."
It was high praise coming from him, and they both knew it. Chuuya held Dazai's gaze over the rim of his glass, something unspoken simmering between them like the perfectly cooked meat on his plate.
Dazai raises his own glass of wine "Happy Valentines Day Chuuya."
Chuuya stared at Dazai's raised glass, his own hand tightening around the stem of his wine goblet. For a long moment, he was silent, the weight of the unspoken hanging heavy in the air between them.
Then, slowly, almost hesitantly, he lifted his glass to clink against Dazai's. The crystal sang softly in the quiet of the room.
"...Happy Valentine's Day," Chuuya murmured, the words feeling foreign yet not unpleasant on his tongue. He took a long drink, letting the wine fortify him.
Setting his glass down, Chuuya reached across the table, his calloused fingertips grazing Dazai's knuckles in a fleeting caress. His blue eyes were dark and intense as they met Dazai's gaze.
"This doesn't mean anything,"
Dazai hums and eats his meal (He's nibbling little parts of it and chuuya knows its because dazai rarely has an appetite and hes trying not to feel sick eating)
Chuuya watched Dazai pick at his food, concern furrowing his brow despite his best efforts to maintain a stoic facade. He knew all too well about Dazai's struggles with appetite and the toll it took on his body.
"You know, for someone who insisted on this whole Valentine's Day charade, you're not exactly enjoying the meal," Chuuya commented dryly, cutting into his own perfectly cooked steak with precise motions.
He paused, then sighed, setting down his utensils. Reaching across the table, he plucked a piece of meat from Dazai's plate, holding it out to him like one would offer a skittish animal.
"Here. Eat this. Don't make me force-feed you like a stubborn child."
Dazai's cheeks are flushed...pink? Did it really or was it a trick of the light? Dazai eats what Chuuya feeds him anyway. (Chuuya likes this look on dazai but he's in denial)
Chuuya felt an odd tightness in his chest as he watched Dazai accept the morsel, those pink-tinged cheeks drawing his eye. He quickly looked away, focusing intently on his own plate as if it held the secrets of the universe.
"There. That wasn't so hard, was it?" he grumbled, but there was no real bite to his words. If anything, his deep voice had a slight rasp to it, as if affected by some unnamed emotion.
Under the table, Chuuya's leg brushed against Dazai's, the contact sending a jolt through him. He shifted, trying to ignore the sudden heat pooling in his belly that had nothing to do with the wine.
"This is...nice," Chuuya admitted quietly, the words barely audible over the soft clink of cutlery against china.
As the evening wore on, Chuuya found himself increasingly captivated by the simple intimacy of feeding Dazai, and being fed in return. Each brush of fingers, each shared glance over the tabletop, stoked the embers of desire smoldering low in his gut.
"This is ridiculous," Chuuya muttered, but he didn't stop, continuing to offer choice bites to Dazai with surprising gentleness for a man known for his brutality. "We're not some sappy couple in a romance novel."
Yet even as he said it, Chuuya's heart raced at Dazai's appreciative smiles, the way his tongue darted out to catch a stray drop of sauce. The candlelight played across Dazai's face, highlighting the flush on his cheeks.
As the final bites were taken and the plates cleared away, a charged silence descended upon the room. Chuuya stood abruptly, needing to put some distance between himself and the temptation Dazai represented.
"I'll...clean up," he said shortly, moving to gather the dishes with more force than necessary. His hands shook slightly as he ran water in the sink, bracing himself against the counter.
Behind him, he could hear Dazai rising from his chair, footsteps padding softly across the hardwood floor. Chuuya tensed, every nerve ending screaming at his proximity.
"What are you doing?" he asked hoarsely, not turning around.
"I'm gonna help you, is that so bad?" Dazai asks.
Chuuya's breath hitched at the sound of Dazai's voice so close behind him, the warmth of his body radiating like a furnace. He gripped the edge of the sink, knuckles white.
"No, it's not...bad," he admitted quietly, the words dragged from him. "It's just...unexpected."
Slowly, reluctantly, Chuuya turned to face Dazai. They were standing mere inches apart now, close enough that Chuuya could see the individual flecks of gold in Dazai's brown eyes. His gaze dipped briefly to Dazai's lips before snapping back up.
10 minutes later, Chuuya found himself sprawled on the couch, Dazai tucked against his side in a way that felt far too natural. The movie played on, forgotten, (they fought for 5 minutes on what tf they were going to watch, trust) as Chuuya's attention focused solely on the warm weight of Dazai pressed along his length.
"This action flick is boring," Chuuya grumbled, absently running his fingers through Dazai's silky hair. "Why did we agree to this again?"
He knew he sounded petulant, but he couldn't seem to help himself. Having Dazai so close, smelling the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the lingering aroma of their shared meal...it was doing strange things to Chuuya's head. And lower.
"I don't know, I wanted to watch rom-coms but you said no" Dazai groans.
Chuuya snorted, shaking his head in mock exasperation even as his arm tightened around Dazai's slim frame. "Rom-coms? Really? I'd rather stick needles in my eyes."
He tilted his head, studying Dazai's profile with a critical eye. "Besides, you know I hate all that sappy nonsense. Give me explosions and car chases any day."
Yet even as he said it, Chuuya couldn't deny the curl of warmth in his chest at the thought of watching sentimental drivel with Dazai. He quickly pushed the notion aside, focusing instead on the solid pressure of Dazai's body against his own.
Dazai then snatches the remote and somehow found an action rom-com (On Chuuya's Nextflix account. And yes he knows the password.)
Chuuya's eyes widened in disbelief as Dazai clicked play on a movie. "What the hell is this abomination?" he demanded, incredulity coloring his tone.
Despite his protests, however, Chuuya found himself drawn into the lighthearted antics on screen, a slow smile creeping onto his face. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all, having Dazai here, sharing a silly movie with him.
As the hero and heroine bickered their way through a series of absurd misadventures, Chuuya let out a bark of laughter, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. He glanced sidelong at Dazai, catching the other man's grin out of the corner of his eye.
"This is actually kind of fun," Chuuya admitted begrudgingly, leaning into Dazai's side.
45 minutes later, Chuuya found himself fully immersed in the film, laughing outright at the ridiculous plot twists and Dazai's occasional snarky commentary. The tension that had lingered between them all evening seemed to dissipate, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie that felt...right.
Chuuya then looked back at Dazai and found that he had actually fallen asleep. Which was quite odd for Dazai with his insomnia.
Chuuya blinked in surprise, his gaze drifting back to Dazai's peacefully sleeping form. He hadn't expected the notorious insomniac to nod off during a movie, especially not while cuddled up against him like this.
Cautiously, Chuuya shifted, trying not to disturb Dazai as he studied the other man's relaxed features. There was a softness to Dazai's expression, a vulnerability that few ever saw. Chuuya felt a pang in his chest, wondering if perhaps the evening's events had worn Dazai down more than he realized.
A minutes later, Chuuya's eyelids grew heavy, the warmth of Dazai's body and the gentle rise and fall of his chest lulling Chuuya into a peaceful slumber. His head nestled comfortably against Dazai's shoulder, the soft rustle of the blanket their only companion as they drifted off together.
In sleep, Chuuya's face smoothed into lines of contentment, his bright orange hair spilling across Dazai's arm. His breathing evened out, synchronized with Dazai's own rhythmic inhales and exhales. They lay entwined, a picture of unexpected tranquility, as the movie continued to play on in the background, forgotten in the embrace of their shared rest.
The next day, Chuuya wakes up covered in a blanket with Dazai nowhere in sight.
Chuuya stirred, blinking awake to find himself alone on the couch, the blanket pulled up to his chin. He rubbed at his bleary eyes, taking stock of his surroundings. Where was Dazai?
Confusion gave way to curiosity as he spotted the arrangement of red camellias on the coffee table, the elegant blooms offset by the sleek wrapping of dark chocolates. Beside the flowers, a folded note caught his attention.
With a sense of trepidation, Chuuya unfolded the paper, his heart thudding in his chest as he read the neat script within:
"Good morning, Chuuya,I didn't want to wake you so I left without a fuss. I wanted to leave you these as a reminder of our lovely evening together. Enjoy the chocolates and the flowers, and don't think too badly of my taste in movies.. Oh and Happy Valentines Chuuya"
- Dazai
Chuuya's gaze lingered on the note, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. Dazai's thoughtful gesture, leaving him these small tokens of appreciation, touched something deep within Chuuya's chest. It was...sweet. More than he cared to admit.
He set the note aside, reaching for one of the chocolates. Breaking it open, he popped the rich, velvety square into his mouth, savoring the decadent flavor. As he savored the treat, Chuuya allowed himself a small, secret smile. Maybe this whole Valentine's Day thing wasn't so terrible after all.
Chuuya's eyes widened as he bit into another piece of chocolate, his taste buds dancing with delight at the familiar tang of red velvet. A pleased hum escaped him, and he glanced at the assortment once more, noting the imperfections in the homemade confections with a fond smile.
"Dazai..." he murmured, a hint of wonder in his voice. "You knew these were my favorite. And you made them yourself, didn't you?"
A rush of affection surged through Chuuya, warming his chest. He couldn't remember the last time someone had gone to such lengths for him, let alone someone he...cared for deeply. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, making his head spin. Was he falling for Dazai?
Chuuya went through 5 stages of denial:
Stage 1: Denial - "I'm not falling for Dazai. It's just a phase."
Stage 2: Anger - "Stupid Dazai, tempting me with his stupid chocolates and flowers! What does he think he's doing?"
Stage 3: Bargaining - "Okay, fine. Maybe I do have feelings for him, but that doesn't mean anything has to change. We can still work together, still be friends..."
Stage 4: Depression - "Ugh, why did this have to happen? Now everything is complicated. I hate complications."
Stage 5: Acceptance - "Fine. I get it. I'm in love with Dazai. Now what?"
Chuuya took a deep breath, steeling himself for the tumultuous journey ahead. Love for Dazai, the most infuriating yet captivating person he'd ever known. It was a recipe for disaster, really. But there was no denying the ache in his chest, the way his heart skipped a beat whenever Dazai's name crossed his mind.
With a sigh, Chuuya resigned himself to the inevitable. He would have to navigate this new terrain carefully, balancing his professional obligations with the intense emotions threatening to consume him. It wouldn't be easy, but for the sake of his sanity, he needed to find a way to make it work.
And so, with a quiet determination, Chuuya picked up the note once more, his gaze lingering on Dazai's messy scrawl. "Happy Valentine's, Chuuya."