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Ain't no way in hell he was expected to live like this. One too many school fights and he was expelled, sent to live with his grandmother in the countryside for the summer as punishment. Chuuya has never even met this woman! It was horribly peaceful compared to the city, and horribly awkward in the farm house. The ginger never liked old women in the first place, and somehow being related to her made it worse. He finally found a window of opportunity, excusing himself to go outside. His grandmother offered two large carrots as well for the pair of horses in the barn. He took them and made his escape, shutting the screen door behind him and heading down the hill.
The barn was dusty but not unused, just wasn't in perfect condition. He almost stepped in horse dung on the way to the stalls, which explained the stink of the place. Horses were massive, like two times his size. Their square teeth crushed the vegetables sloppily. Who could ever enjoy such nasty creatures?
“I ain't never seen you around here,” a country accent said from behind him, making Chuuya almost jump out of his skin as he turned to the entrance of the barn. A dark brown horse with a white stripe down its face flicked its tail. The real source of the voice sat on top of it, reins in his hands. A tall boy with brunette hair was mounted on the animal, looking about the same age as Chuuya. He wore jeans, a muddied up shirt, and a classic cowboy hat that wasn't very intimidating.
“How the hell was a beast that big so quiet!? And who the hell are you!?” Chuuya exclaimed, pointing the half eaten carrot at the other boy.
“Stella here can be sneaky when she wants to,” he said as he stroked the horse's face, “pardon my rude introduction. I help the lady that owns this lot, lawn care and stall cleaning. I've been doing it for a few years now. I'd reckon that's your grandmother? She had the same red hair before it grayed out.”
The ginger still had the carrot directed at the supposed threat, “that still doesn't explain who you are!”
“Oh right, my apologies. Just came to muck the stalls real fast and toss in some hay. I'm Osamu Dazai.” As he said his name, the horse he was on leaned forward in a bow at the tap of his foot. The shorter boy reached out, giving the carrot which Stella gladly chomped down on.
“I'm Chuuya,” he grumbled, not interested I'm making connections. The cowboy frowned, displeased with that answer.
“Well go on, at least entertain my suspicion. Are you a city boy?”
“Is it obvious?” Chuuya scoffed, crossing his arms.
“By how you dress, indeed. There ain't no starch in those pants.”
“What?”
“Nevermind,” Dazai chuckled as he unmounted his horse, tying her to a nearby post, “are you gonna help clean the stalls or sit there and look pretty?”
“I've never done that before, so I wouldn't know how… and don't call me pretty!” He barked. The cowboy stopped half way from grabbing the shovel, turning to face the other with a hand on his hip.
“Well I dunno how your peers are in the city, but here we got no reason to not be honest. Take it like a grain of wheat from me, but you're the definition of a pretty boy. Now get over here and grab a shovel.” Reluctantly, Chuuya followed the instruction and grabbed a shovel. Dazai led him into the first stall.
“The dung gets piled up there,” he points to the place he was discussing, “to get turned into fertilizer. Now don't try to throw any at me, it won't do none. That, and the fact I got no problem shovin’ you're face in it,” he added with a smile. The boy's attitude was inferiorating while at the same time endearing. Despite this, Chuuya followed along, assisting the cowboy in clearing the stalls. Dazai dusted off his hands when they finished, petting Stella's flank.
“I'm taking it you never rode a horse either. I mean if there's more pretty boys like you, I may need to visit the city myself-”
“I hate to burst your bubble but-” before he could say there weren't many, if any, like him back home, his grandma was calling from the porch up the hill.
“Sweetheart? Come make yourself useful and help me with supper!” Chuuya groaned at the request. He felt as if he'd just gotten time alone, now was being dragged back in.
“Say, meet me behind the barn at midnight. I'll get you on a horse, pretty boy~” Dazai curled, inciting yet another groan from the shorter one.
“Sure, whatever,” he grumbled, before jogging out the barn as soon as his grandmother yelled again. Dazai put some hay in the stalls before untethering his own horse to head back to his own lot.
***
“I met your errand boy,” Chuuya said at the table, taking a bite of his food. He had to engage in conversation, for he had at least two months more with this woman.
“Oh, Dazai? He's a good young man. I believe he's around your age, am I right?”
“I didn't ask but it seems like it.”
“You should learn a thing or two from him, he's practical. Been helping me out for a good few years now. Don't know too much about his family, only that he lives on a lot nearby and gets his own horse.” She expressed admiration for the other kid like he was one of her own. Chuuya could be Dazai, better even. He just didn't care, because what did he have to prove to a woman who'll die before the next time he comes out here? Since he knew he'd be asked, he took the dishes once they were finished and cleaned them up in the sink.
“When you're done, botcha. You smell like horse shit.” Well she could have just told him to bathe. Chuuya followed her order anyway, setting the dishes to dry before heading to his room upstairs. After the shower, he was left to wait until midnight. In that time he did the work given to allow him to graduate properly. He beat too many people's asses to walk the stage, but was a good student to get a diploma.
When the time came, Chuuya snuck down stairs and got his shoes on. He went out the front door, since it wasn't like the old woman was going to hear him. When he got around the barn, he saw Dazai leaned against the wood with his horse at his side. He was in clean clothes, making Chuuya feel a bit embarrassed for coming out in pajamas. He swatted the bugs from his face as the taller boy stood up straight.
“I thought you'd flake on me, pretty boy,” he chuckled, nudging his horse to take a few steps forward, “do ya’ even know how to get on?”
“I'm not riding that thing!” Chuuya immediately retorted.
“Stella is not a thing, and don't worry you ain't riding her. I just want to help you get on before I do,” Dazai explained. Chuuya rolled his eyes but came up to the side of the horse anyway. The cowboy clicked his tongue, and the horse lifted its hoof up and back like some sort of step. The ginger hesitated, reaching up to grab the saddle, holding his foot over the hoof.
“Think of it like a rock in a river. You can't stand on it because you'll fall, but you can push off it quickly to get where your goin’.” The city boy let out a shaky breath before going for it. He hoisted himself up with his arms and pushed off the offered leg. He was doing completely fine, but Dazai gently pushed his hips up anyway.
“See? She ain't a beast if she hasn't kicked you off!”
“Not yet at least,” Chuuya muttered as Dazai mounted in front of him. He reached back with one hand, looking over his shoulder as he guided Chuuya's arm around his waist.
“Don't be shy or else you will fall off. I know a few places, we'll see where the sky's take us.” Chuuya was praying the boy couldn't feel his racing heartbeat through his back, having his arms around his waist forcing them to press together. Dazai whistled and dug his heels into the horse's ribs. She shook her head before starting up a trot into the field. It wasn't the most comfortable, right at best. Chuuya had his chin on the brunette's shoulder in order to see ahead. Bright yellow dots blinked and flashed among the grass. Far up ahead, it seemed they were heading toward the woods. What a perfect place to kill someone.
“Ready to go faster sweetheart?” Dazai asked, tossing the words over his shoulder.
“Just call me by my name, would ya?” Chuuya growled, not answering the question but holding on tighter. He could feel the vibrations of the brunettes chuckle as he whipped the reins, digging his heels once more. Stella went to a canter then a full gallop, making distance in a matter of minutes. Chuuya seriously thought he was going to fall off this obnoxious creature, resulting in pulling himself closer to Dazai than he would have wished. The horse slowed down as she neared the trees.
“Ight, no more running, you're alright handsome. Chuuya, pardon,” he quietly corrected. Either this was normal conversation for him, or really flirting. The ginger couldn't tell. They entered a path in the woods, crickets chirping around them. Chuuya was able to get space from Dazai, still holding his waist with one hand. The other swatted in the air, the forest having a lot more mosquitoes than the farm.
“Oi! Why the hell are they eating me and not you?” Chuuya hissed, hitting a bug out the air. The cowboy was about to make another flirtatious remark, but decided against it.
“Right, probably because of my bug dope. Here,” Dazai turned slightly, taking the hat off his head and putting it onto Chuuya's, “it's got the stuff on it, normal bug repellent, homemade mixture. There's enough on my boots and Stella to keep me clear.” The city boy had grabbed the cowboy hat as soon as it hit his head, planning to toss it right back to the dirty bastard. He realized it would cause unnecessary tension to act so impolite, resulting in allowing it to stay on. The trail turned up into a small hill, horse hooves clacking as they made their way up.
“I don't get much better to do than ride around in my free time. Leads me and Stella to finding places like this one.” As the two boys reached the top, the view came to Chuuya's eyes. Where they stood was like a small cliff, overlooking a meadow of wild flowers and grass. Mountains were visible far back and stars were sprinkled in the black sky above. More of the lantern flies blinked in and out of the weeds.
“That's kinda sad,” Chuuya whispered and Dazai slid off the horse, standing to the side to help him get off, “don't you go to school? Like, do you have any friends?” He continued the questions as he got off the horse, letting Dazai's hands support his waist on the way down. The brunette shrugged as he tethered Stella to a small tree beside the look out point.
“I ain't never had much interest in such connections. I was mostly homeschooled by a tutor, rarely in public. Just me and the woods, unless I got a night with a family friend's sister if you know what I mean,” he explained, poking Chuuya in the side with his elbow, who was giving him a nasty look.
“What?” He asked as he sat down in the grass facing the view, the ginger following suit, “You got a girl or two don't ya’?” He asked like it was obvious. Chuuya furrowed his brow and shook his head, causing a surprised look on the other's face.
“Really? Ain't that somethin’,” he commented as he pulled a metallic flask from his back pocket, opening it and offering it to the boy beside him, “do you drink, pretty boy?”
Chuuya hesitated before saying, “I'm a bit picky with the stuff, I don't like much liquor.”
“Sucks for you, it's straight whiskey,” he chimed before taking a swig of it, “but seriously, no girl? I'd expect a line out the door for you.”
“Well no there was, before I got expelled. Dunno what happened there after that.” The confession made the cowboy look taken aback.
“You? Never cleared a stall but got expelled from school? Whatcha do?”
“Fought too many kids. I knew I was on my last strike and did it anyway. That's why I'm out here in the first place, as a punishment.”
“Got a fighting spirit,” Dazai said while adding a cat-call whistle, ”Makes you mighty fine. What'd they do? Look at ya’ the wrong way?”
“A handful of things. Overall they got on my nerves and were just pieces of shit,” he sneered through his teeth, obviously still bothered by the people, “So then I'll ask you. Why don't you have a girlfriend? Didn't you say you've been with some?”
“That was just an entertainment thing. Country girls may look hot, but their intelligence is not. They aren't better than anything else but the farm.” He took another sip from his flask before twisting the cap back on and setting it aside.
“But that all means you ain't never kissed nobody? Or been kissed?” Dazai suddenly asked, making Chuuya break away to look at the stars.
“No, it was never something I needed to do,” Chuuya mumbled. He felt it was obvious without saying that he wasn't into girls. He didn't look in the direction the grass was shifting. Before he knew it a hand cupped his face and a kiss was pressed against his cheek. He had to look over now, Dazai pulling away with a smile.
“Well I wasn't calling you pretty boy for nothin’, unless you want me to get lost,” the cowboy admitted, pulling his hand back in case he was crossing a boundary.
“I never said that,” Chuuya whispered, emphasizing the last word. The brunette's smile returned as he moved the hat on Chuuya's head to sit further back.
“May I get the honors of givin’ you a real one, city boy?” Dazai asked with a light grip on the other's chin. The red head sighed, not seeming to hesitate.
“Fuck it, do whatever you want.” Permission granted. Dazai leaned in and kissed him softly, Chiuya gently giving the same force back. He could taste the whiskey on the other's lips. His own felt as if they were vibrating when the cowboy pulled away.
“I must keep it there, or else I won't be able to hold myself back,” he laughed. Chuuya almost wanted to say “don't” before realizing how improper that would be. He was not going to have his first time in the grass like some runaway. Dazai stood up, offering his hand to Chuuya.
“I best be getting you back, don't want to take too much sleep away.” Like a dog, Chuuya followed the cowboy back to his horse as he untethered it, letting him help him mount before he got on himself. It was more comfortable to hold his waist as they went back through the woods and up the field. Stella was pulled to a stop behind the barn, Dazai getting off first to offer a hand as Chuuya descended. Once his feet hit the ground, the ginger reached up to take the hat off and give it back, only for his wrist to be caught mid action.
“You keep it, pretty boy. I got like three others.” Chuuya sighed in defeat, unable to fight this boy's charm. Dazai gently took the wrist he had to switch to holding the hand, using his free hand to tilt up the shorter boy's chin. He leaned down to pass another short and sweet kiss between them.
“Night city boy,” he hummed as he was met with a glare, which was an empty threat at this point. Their hands slowly trailed apart before Chuuya got around the barn and had his way up to the farm house. The cowboy watched for an extra moment to make sure he got in, before departing on Stella's back.