Work Text:
He was back in that lab again.
Needle after needle,
Shot after shot,
Chuuya felt as if he was 7 years old again, taking in the sterile air around him. His fingers curled in the cold, eyes burning.
He can't scream, nor move. Strapped with the freezing, familiar chains.
It was never-ending.
It was hell.
" No! "
Chuuya wakes up, scrambling in his bed and sitting up.
"Go away, go away, go away!"
He repeated over and over again, thought it ended up as a mutter. His chest was heaving in panic. He froze, he yelled, sobbed, and shook everything to prove that he is human.
His head shook, as if bed bugs roamed and crawled.
With shaky hands, he grabbed his phone that was previously on his nightstand.
3.41 AM
[You] 3.44 : Come over.
[Blue Mackerel] 3.44 : oh? did chuuya ffinakly fix his deep hatrwed ofr veyerone? 〜(￣▽￣〜)
Typical Dazai. When does this guy ever sleep?
[You] 3.46 : Quit it.
[You] 3.46 : Come over. I mean,
[You] 3.47 : If you want to.
[Blue Mackerel] 3.47 : another nightmare?
[Blue Mackerel] 3.51 : ill be there at 4 -_-
Chuuya let out a sigh, his body shaking along with it. He felt quite irritated that he texted Dazai out of all people.
Well, that is his partner after all.
One that he is constantly annoyed with.
One that knew too well.
It didn't take long for Dazai to repeatedly ring his apartment. So annoying.
The ringing was just a warm-up; Chuuya knew that he would just pick the door lock open or break it down. And as expected, he entered without a key!
"Chuuya...? Where are you? Are you okay?"
Dazai called out.
...
Once he opened the door to Chuuya's, he plopped on his bed, the plush of the mattress dipping at his weight. He spread out his limbs like he owned the place.
Then he rolled,
and rolled,
next to Chuuya, close enough to wrap his arms completely around the ginger-headed boy's abdomen.
He didn't have to talk,
With Dazai's arms wrapped around him, he feels a bit calmer.
"Can I stay here..? In your bed? A shipping container is freezing, ya know... "
Dazai asked, his voice muffled when he buried his face in Chuuya's waist.
"... Yeah."
"Please do."
Chuuya answered, still rattled from his dream- no- Nightmare. Every unintentional disturbing imagery in his head causing goosebumps.
He wished he had cried; his eyes were burning, glassy. His heart was beating through his ribcage, but not a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"I didn't expect you to actually come over."
Chuuya broke the comfortable silence between them.
"Of course I'll be there..? We're partners- well, work partners!"
Dazai replied.
"Yeah.. I guess so."
Chuuya finally let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Pulling Dazai closer to him, inhaling the scent of the other man's hair.
He smelled like cheap shampoo and the cologne Chuuya gifted him.
Chuuya's legs wrapped around Dazai's waist, his fingers then ran through and toyed with the brunette's hair. He had a habit of fidgeting when anxious, but he doesn't even realize it.
"Your heartbeat is through the roof, slug! Calm down!"
Dazai whined.
"Shut up, you ass! I'm clearly struggling right now-"
Dazai, with his arms already wrapped around Chuuya, grips much tighter, as if snuggling close to him.
Dazai kept his breathing slow and calm, as the skin-on-skin contact was prolonged, Chuuya's breathing soon synchronized with his.
He stayed for hours.
They both ended up sleeping. It's been a while since Dazai had a good sleep, and Chuuya wasn't alone for once.
The night was slow, the air was warm.
Nothing like the lab where Chuuya was taken in when he was younger.
The stars were shining outside, and the moon was bright. The light was peeking in from his blinds.
The only sound in the room is their continuous, stable breathing.
Chuuya woke up as soon as the sun rose; he was a light sleeper. Dazai soon stirred.
They stayed there, embracing each other for a while, when Chuuya finally spoke.
".. Thanks, Osamu."
...
Dazai hummed in response,
"Anytime, Chuuya."