ᔣš© I BITE MY TONGUE, IT'S A BAD HABIT
FEATURING: dazai osamu
SUMMARY: dazai doesn't care about stupid holidays, but when he sees everyone but him being gifted chocolates from you, he starts to find himself severely bothered. it's the principle, he tells himselfānothing more, nothing less, just the principle.... right?
(wordcount: 6.9k; fem!reader, sfw, dazai is jealous and silly. unedited.)
AUTHOR'S NOTES: HAPPY LATE VALENTINE'S DAY, take pmreader and dazai being silly teens in love who refuse to tell each other how they feel in words. i had this posted on valentine's day but then turned into a big baby and deleted </3 i am still a big baby but i am a big baby who is going to leave the post up this time HAHAAH
Dazai doesnāt care about stupid holidays.Ā
In fact, Dazai can count the things he cares about on one handāhe cares about Odasaku and Ango because theyāre his friends, he cares about crab because he likes eating crab and he can recite every known fun fact about them off the top of his head, he cares about the arcade a few streets over because his favorite video game is there and he beats Chuuya every time and itās funny watching him get mad, and he cares about you because youāre also his friend and you gave him a room in your apartment even though he could have his own but is just stubborn about not wanting to be in Moriās building.
So, heās not sure why his feet are rooted to the ground in Moriās office as he stares down at the small round box of chocolates sitting on top of his desk. Thereās a note on top of it thatās partially blocked from his line of view, but he can very much see your signature at the bottom of it.Ā
You complain about Mori all the time, so it doesnāt take him long to put together that there must be a reason why you went out of your way to get him chocolates even though he knows youāve been busy with some conflict happening in Russia. Itās not Moriās birthday, and Dazaiās mind quickly tracks back to the stands of chocolate he saw set up on the same corner that the arcade is on.
Valentineās Day, he realizes, eyes narrowing down on the chocolate.
āSuch a dear she is. She dropped it off for me this morning,ā Mori sighs when he realizes what Dazai is looking at. āElise-chan hasnāt gotten me chocolates yet.ā
āThatās because you donāt deserve chocolates, stupid Rintarou,ā Eliseās familiar pitched voice comes from Dazaiās leftāhe hadnāt even noticed her sitting on the ground coloring because his gaze was pinned to the chocolate the moment he stepped into the room. Elise looks up at Dazai with a smile thatās just a bit too sweet, āAw, she didnāt get you any? Thatās too bad, Dazai-kun.ā
Dazaiās jaw twitches at the snide comment, and he looks away from Elise back to Mori, who looks oddly intrigued by Dazaiās reaction, which is enough to let him know that heās over-reacting, so heās quick to smooth out his expression, even if the irritation in his chest continues to swell. He doesnāt even know why heās so botheredāhe doesnāt care about stupid holidays, and he doesnāt care about chocolate. Itās really not a big deal, but he canāt seem to snuff out the growing annoyance.
āIām sure sheāll give you one later, Dazai-kun,ā Mori says with a placating smile that almost sends Dazai over the edge. āNo need to fret.ā
āIām not-ā he starts to say, but is cut off quickly by Elise.
āOr, maybe she just doesnāt like him enough to give him any,ā Elise says with gleeful giggle. āHow did she word it again? Oh, yeah, you forced your way into her life, didnāt you?ā
Dazai doesnāt take anything anyone says to him or about him to heart, but he especially knows not to take anything Elise says to heart, considering the girlās ardent distaste for him. Heās never been sure why she hates him so much, but he figures that itās because he can make her disappear with his ability, and heās half-tempted to grab her arm and do just that, but he knows itāll only make Mori even more interested in why heās so emotional over this. Thatās the last thing he wants considering he doesnāt even know why heās getting so worked up about it.
But what did Elise even mean? Why would you tell them that he forced his way into your life? If anything, youāre the one who forced yourself into his life when you showed up at his shipping compartment during that winter storm a few months ago. He just⦠capitalized on it, thatās all. You wouldāve kicked him out if you didn't want him hanging around, but you didnāt. And Elise is known for twisting the truth, but then⦠Why didnāt you give him chocolates? Thatās the whole point of the holiday, right? To show appreciation for the people in your life?
Itās not the holiday thatās bothering him, itās the principle.Ā
Dazai is suddenly ten times more antsy than he was when he first noticed the chocolates. There must be a logical explanation for thisāmaybe you really are giving him them later, or maybe youāre only giving them to Mori because you have to. Snidely, he notes that the chocolates you gave him looked like they could be bought at a convenience store, so itās not like you put much effort into it.Ā
āElise-chan,ā Mori chides, although he still sounds terribly amused, violet eyes glittering as he scrutinizes Dazai. āDonāt say such cruel things. I taught our hime to have good manners, Dazai-kun will get chocolates from her, even if theyāre just obligatory.ā
Obligatory, Dazai has to force himself not to physically blanch at the word. He thinks he would almost prefer not to get chocolates from you. How are you just going to give obligatory chocolates to someone you live with? You guys are friends, arenāt you? He doesnāt know much at all about Valentineās Day, but he does know that thereās different types of chocolate depending on your relationship with the person, and he thinks heāll jump off the roof if you give Chuuya nicer chocolates than him.
Chuuya.
āI have to go,ā Dazai says abruptly, turning to leave.
āGoodbye, Dazai-kun,ā Mori sings, much to Dazaiās surprise. He was half-expecting Mori to tell him to sit back down so they could go over whatever he was called to his office for. He still doesnāt even know why the man called him up hereāmaybe it was just to flaunt the chocolates he received, Dazai thinks bitterly. āI wouldnāt worry too much.ā
āI would!ā Elise calls after him as he lets the door slam shut behind him, but Dazai doesnāt pay her any mind.
Surely Chuuya wouldnāt have gotten chocolates if he didnāt, right?
āāā
āGive me those right now.ā
Chuuya pauses from where heās about to pop a round chocolate into his mouth, eyes cutting to the side in irritation when he realizes that Dazai is standing in the doorframe of his office. Dazai is tense and jittery all at the same timeāheās not even looking at Chuuya, heās staring at the set of chocolates sitting open on his desk and the familiar handwriting on the note next to it. Chuuyaās set is much nicer than Moriās; theyāre his favorite truffles, imported in from Belgium, and thereās a red wine on his desk to go along with it.
It makes Dazai sick.Ā
āThe fuck?ā Chuuya asks, sitting up a bit straighter and giving Dazai a weird look before pointedly eating the chocolate in his hand. Dazaiās eye twitches. āWhatās your problem this time, you freak?ā
āI said give me those right now,ā Dazai repeats, inhaling deeply as he takes a few steps closer. āGive me them.ā
Chuuya looks a bit concerned now, grabbing the chocolates you gave him and dragging them closer to him. Dazai is undeterred, stalking forward and reaching quickly for them. Chuuya reacts faster, snatching them off the table and holding them close to his chest.
āFuck off,ā Chuuya spits, sounding confused and irritated all at the same time. āWhat the hell is your problem?ā
Dazai could think of an excuseātheyāve been tampered with, poisoned, you accidentally gave him the wrong ones and you sent him here to grab them before Chuuya ate them allābut the only thing that escapes his lips is the same demand.
āGive me the chocolates.ā
āWhat?ā Chuuya demands. āNo, you fucking psycho, get out of my office.ā
Dazaiās hand instinctively twitches in the direction of his gun, and Chuuya catches it from the way his eyes shoot open.
āYo,ā Chuuya says loudly, rising to his feet. āWhat the fuck, Dazai?ā
Logically, Dazai knows that whether he gets the chocolates from Chuuya or not, it wonāt change anything. Itās the principle of it thatās the issue. Even if he manages to get his hands on the chocolates, you gave them to Chuuya and you didnāt give them to Dazai, but still, the sight of Chuuya with them is setting Dazai off in ways that he just canāt seem to get under wraps.Ā
āGive me-ā
Chuuyaās face twists in irritation and he slams the chocolates down on his desk before walking around it in Dazaiās direction. Instead of making a smart decision and running out of his office before he can get a faceful of Chuuyaās fist, he takes the opportunity to dart forward and grab the chocolates he put down, throwing them onto the ground and driving his heel right into the box.Ā
āYou bastard,ā Chuuya shouts, grabbing Dazai by the collar of his jacket hard and throwing him hard into the side of his desk. Dazai barely withholds a wince as the corner of Chuuyaās desk drives deep into his side, crumpling to the ground hard. Chuuya kneels down to see if thereās anything left to salvage of the chocolates you gave him, but finds himself sorely disappointed. āWhatās your fucking issue, Dazai?ā
Stubbornly, Dazai doesnāt respond, raising his chin and meeting Chuuyaās gaze, trying to pretend that there is no issue and like he isnāt acting deranged over chocolates.Ā
Not chocolates, he reminds himself, the principle.
āI knew you were weird about her but jeez,ā Chuuya scoffs, picking up the mess of chocolates on his floor, brows furrowed in irritation. āYou canāt even handle her giving someone else chocolates on Valentineās Day. You need some serious fucking help, man. Itās the whole point of the goddamn day. You gonna go around and take everyoneās chocolates, you possessive freak?ā
Dazai cringes and canāt stop himself as he asks quietly, āHow many people has she given them too?ā
Instantly, he knows heās made a mistakeāhis voice came out all wrong and Chuuya notices it from the way he squints and frowns. He forces his expression to clear of any possible emotions and rises back to his feet, tilting his head to the side as he dares Chuuya to point out that his voice wavered when he asked the question.
āI donāt fucking know,ā Chuuya shrugs, side-eyeing him suspiciously but choosing not to point out the weird tone he asked the question in. āShe came in with a ton this morning, figured I was the last since she didnāt have any left with her when she came up here before.ā
Oh, Dazai thinks, staring at Chuuya absently. Dazai didnāt anticipate that. At once, both of his theories to explain why you didnāt give him chocolates are disproven, and Dazai falters. If you came in with all of them at once and had none left by the time you got to Chuuya, then all signs pointed to that youāre just not giving Dazai chocolate for Valentineās Day.
But why? Dazai doesnāt think heās done anything wrong latelyāin fact, heās barely even had time to talk to you lately because youāve been busy talking with your informants in Eastern Russia. You spent most days in Tokyo, and by the time you got back to your apartment, Dazai was out on his own missions. He hasnāt had the chance to do anything wrong, unless him just being around you is wrong.
How did she word it again? Oh, yeah, you forced your way into her life, didnāt you?
Elise is known for twisting the truth, she doesnāt usually lie about thingsāwhy did you tell them that he forced himself into your life? Do you not want him staying at your apartment? Mori did mention that he taught you to have good manners and he never says anything without there being an ulterior motive behind it. Was he trying to imply that youāre just being polite in letting him stay? Dazai doesnāt know; heās always struggled to read you, but youāve always made him feel welcome and wanted more than anyone else. It disconcerted him for a while, but heās grown used to it in a way that he probably shouldnāt have.Ā
Now, heās doubting it all.
Chuuyaās eyes suddenly widen, his small brain clearly realizing something it wasnāt meant to. Dazaiās gaze hardens as he waits for Chuuya to say whatever it is he wants to say, but instead of speaking, the slug snorts. His hand flies to his mouth to smother the noise, but he just canāt stop himself from bursting into laughter. Dazai bristles.
āWhat?ā he demands.
āYouāre so fucking stupid,ā Chuuya howls, eyes tearing up as he laughs so hard that he wheezes. Dazai stiffens but otherwise doesnāt say anything, and thatās evidently an answer enough for him. āGod, shitty Dazai, youād think you of all people would know better. Get the fuck out of my office.ā
Dazai doesnāt want to admit he has no idea what Chuuyaās talking about, but he also isnāt going to let Chuuya order him around, so he stands there stubbornly until Chuuya rises to his feet to grab Dazai by the back of his jacket again. Dazai instinctively drives his elbow hard into Chuuyaās chest, but heās unbothered by it, shoving Dazai forward through the door of his office.
Chuuya gives him a mocking smile and goads, āHow about you go ask her why she didnāt give you chocolates?āĀ
Before Dazai has the chance to shoot back a snide comment, Chuuya slams the door right in his face. Itās not the principle thatās bothering him, Dazai realizes glumly, itās the implication that maybe heās been wrong about his friendship with you this whole time.
āāā
Dazai doesnāt even get out of the main building before he runs into someone else who has chocolates that are definitely gifted by you considering itās your new partner. Itou Asahi is lounging in the lobby of headquarters with Hirotsu and a few members of the Black Lizards that Dazai doesnāt recognize. Dazai has never particularly liked the manāin fact, Dazai despises him and he despises how you seem to think the world of himābut now, his jaw is tight as he glares at the man from across the lobby.
Itou seems to be able to feel the daggers being shot in his direction. He looks up as he pops a chocolate into his mouth, eyes narrow as he tries to pinpoint who exactly is staring at him so intensely and pauses when he notices Dazai. He nudges Hirotsu, and to Dazaiās horror, he realizes that Hirotsu also has a set of chocolates that he hasnāt opened on the couch next to where heās sitting with a note that Dazai canāt read from the distance but is the same pale pink parchment that Moriās and Chuuyaās were written on.
Mori. Chuuya. Itou. Hirotsu. Why not him? What did he do?
Dazai sneers in Itouās direction when the man lifts his hand and awkwardly waves, turning on his feet to leave the building. He had been planning on going to your apartment to sulk to see if you notice that heās wildly irritated over the fact that heās not received chocolates from you, but instead, heās going to go grab a cheap bottle of whiskey from the nearest liquor store and drown himself in his misery back at his shipping container.
He doesnāt know what he did to you, and he thought if he did something wrong, you wouldāve said something to him instead of icing him out. Isnāt that what you preach to him? Communication? Yes, Dazai sucks at it and has made no attempts to be better about it, but since youāre the one preaching it, you should at least have the decency to act as you preach.Ā
Youāre such a hypocrite, Dazai thinks bitterly, his throat feels clogged and his chest feels tight and his side hurts a shit tonāhe doesnāt like any of this, and with each passing second, heās becoming increasingly more bothered by this situation.Ā
Heās not irritated anymore, heās just hurt.
āāā
Dazai doesnāt end up going right to the shipping container. Itās late afternoon on a Friday, so when heās halfway to the convenience store, he decides to make a pitstop at Bar Lupin to see if Odasaku and Ango are already hanging there. Luckily, one thing can go right for him today, because the two of them are in fact already sitting in their designated stools drinking their alcohol of choice.
Neither of them have said much of anything to him since heās arrived besides greeting him. He wonders if he interrupted themāvery extremely sour, he thinks that he wouldnāt be surprised if that was the case considering he seems to be a burden on just about every single person he thinks is his friend.Ā
āI didnāt think youād be free today,ā Odasaku finally says. āWe wouldāve texted you.ā
āI didnāt have a mission scheduled for today,ā Dazai replies flatly, unable to muster the energy to put on an energetic front for the two of them. Usually, he doesnāt need to fake it around them because he does genuinely have a good time with them, but heās just in such a bad mood because of everything with you and all of the newfound doubts plaguing him that itās impossible for him to take his mind off of it. āWhy would I be busy?ā
Odasaku and Ango share a look with one another, Dazai catches the way Ango subtly shakes his head and is instantly suspicious. Odasaku either doesnāt pick up on it or doesnāt care, because he says, āItās Valentineās Day. I thought youād be spending it withā¦ā
Odasaku trails off when Angoās headshakes become more frequent, but Dazai already knows what he was about to say. Stiffly, he asks, āWhy would I spend Valentineās Day with her?ā
Angoās smile is unsure as he shares another look with Odasaku before turning his attention toward Dazai and prodding, āDid something happen?ā
āNo.ā Neither of them respond to his sharp answer, and after a few moments, Dazai blurts out, āShe doesnāt want me living at her apartment anymore.ā
āWhat-ā Ango begins before seemingly rethinking his question, letting out a sigh. āDid she tell you that?ā
āNo,ā Dazai says after a second, ābut I know.ā
āHow do you know?ā Ango presses. āDid you overhear her talking to someone?ā
āWell, no,ā Dazai responds awkwardly, ābut I know.ā
āHow do you know?ā
āBecause she didnāt get me chocolates,ā Dazai finally explodes, voicing the words that have been bothering him all day. āShe got Mori chocolates. She got the slug chocolates. She got her moron of a partner chocolates. She even got Hirotsu chocolates, but she didnāt get me chocolates. And Elise said that she told her and Mori that I forced my way into her life. Isnāt that rich? Sheās the one that forced her way into my life. I donāt need her, I never did. I just liked her stupid apartment. I could get my own if I wanted to, I just didnāt want to put in the work.ā
Dazai thought maybe getting all of his complaints out would make him feel better, but he only feels worse, because half of that isnāt even true. He likes being able to bother you at night instead of rotting alone in his shitty shipping container, and he likes when you make him coffee in the morning before heading out to a meeting. He likes Friday night movies and he likes forcing you to play video games just so he could beat you and brag about it. You told him that you were his friend, so shouldnāt you like doing all of that with him too instead of it being a burden?
āDonāt you think youāre overreacting?ā Odasaku asks bluntly, never one to mince his words. Dazai slowly turns his head to look at the older man, barely catching the way Ango briefly shuts his eyes in exasperation. āI mean, you donāt even know if sheās not getting you any yet. Youāre just assuming. The day isnāt over.ā
Odasaku is usually logical, and heās one of the few people who Dazai will take the advice of without question, but this time, Dazai shakes his head. He knows thatās not the case, you brought all of your chocolates to headquarters, and you handed them all out and didnāt give any to him. You knew he didnāt have a mission today so itās not like he was busy, and even if he was, you couldāve given them to him this morning before he left. And either way, itās not like that explains what Elise said.
āYou should head back to her apartment,ā Odasaku continues. āI think youāll be pleasantly surprised.ā
āYou know what, youāre right,ā Dazai says, becoming increasingly more incensed with each passing second. He knew befriending you was a bad ideaānobody actually wants to be Dazaiās friend once they get to know him, itās been true his whole life, heās still half-convinced that Odasaku and Ango only humor him because they think heāll just kill himself. Once people start to see how odd and fucked in the head he really is, they start to distance themselves from him; you canāt distance yourself from him since heās living with you, so this is just your way of silently telling him youāve had enough. He knew things would turn out this way, and he hates the way it still makes his chest hurt. He rises to his feet abruptly, āI am going to head back to her apartmentāso I can pack my stuff and leave.ā
āDazai,ā Ango calls after him, but Dazai doesnāt respond, storming out of Bar Lupin without another word.
He doesnāt need you, he tells himself again, willing the pain in his chest to turn into something more manageableāanger, resentment, but preferably, he just wants to be indifferent. He doesnāt need you and he knew this was going to happen, so itās time for him to just take the hint and go on his way, back to how things were before you forced yourself into his life.
āāā
Youāre not there when he gets back to your apartment and youāre not there by the time he gets his things together and leaves. He was especially frustrated when he found himself disappointed by that, because he realized he was unintentionally wasting time packing his things because he was hoping you would show up and stop him.Ā
But you didnāt, so Dazai is now back at his shipping container huddled under a blanket because itās cold. Heās almost done with his first bottle of whiskey, trying to numb the pain in his side and all of the shitty emotions he just canāt seem to rid himself of. Itās been three hours since he moved his stuff back into his shipping container; you should be back at the apartment by nowāitās thirty minutes off when the two of you watch your Friday night movies, and youāre usually back at your apartment getting snacks together with him by now.
Youāve realized heās gone by now. Dazai hasnāt checked his phone, mostly because he doesnāt want to know if you cared enough to reach out. If heās right about all of this, youāll just take it as a blessing and move on, not wanting to risk an opportunity arising where youād have to be polite and ask him to come back. As if he would. If Odasaku is right though⦠No, Dazai isnāt even going to go down that route, the last thing he needs is-
Heās startled when he hears three loud bangs on the metal wall of his shipping container. Instantly, his gaze focuses on the door. He knows it can only be one of two people, because you and Chuuya are the only ones shameless enough to come by without warning. Odasaku and Ango would text first and everyone else is too wary of him to come anywhere near the shipping yard, much less bang right on his door.
āDazai, open up! What the hell?ā He hears you shout from the other side of the thin wall. āItās cold, come on! What are you even doing out here?ā
You came looking for him, Dazai realizes, swallowing thickly. Dazai isnāt often wrong about things, so he doesnāt dare get his hopes up and he doesnāt respond to you. The roll up door rattles as you try to pull it up, but Dazai doesnāt budge to help you. Itās locked, so you wonāt be able to open it and Dazai just waits for you to leave so he can go back to sulking in peace.Ā
āDazai, come on,ā you complain. āWhatās wrong? I was waiting for you back at the apartment, why didnāt you come home?ā
Though Dazai intended on just ignoring you until you went away, he canāt help the snide comment that escapes his lips, āHome? You mean your apartment?āĀ
He immediately takes another swig of whiskey, but the burn of the alcohol does nothing to take away from the bitter taste the words leave on his tongue. From the way you pause, you seem to realize something is wrongāextra snidely, he wonders when you became as slow as Chuuya.
āYeah, my apartment, the place youāve been living at for three months?ā you say incredulously and Dazai winces. āWhatās your problem?āĀ
āMy problem?ā Dazai asks coolly. āMaybe you should be answering that instead. Youāre a hypocrite.ā
He knows that will set you offāheās always been good at getting under peopleās skināand heās noticed how you bristle whenever Mori hits you with āNow, dear, letās not be hypocritical.ā He can almost imagine the way you go stiff and the way your face goes cold, but it doesnāt bring him the malicious satisfaction he expects.
Ā Instead, he only feels heavier.
Unfair, he thinks tightly. Youāre always so unfair.
āCan you let me in?ā you ask after a few moments of silence. Dazai is even more bothered now that he didnāt get the reaction he expected, gaze lowering to the ground. āIād prefer not to freeze to death out here.ā
This time when you ask, Dazai finds himself rising to his feet. He hasnāt drank enough yet to be unsteady, but he can certainly feel the blood rush to his head as soon as he stands up.
He makes his way over to the door, only fumbling once with the lock. He doesnāt slide it open for you just to be petty, but he doesnāt need to anywayāas soon as you hear the lock click open, youāre pulling open the door and Dazai pointedly turns his back to you before you can step in.
āSeriously?ā you ask. Much to Dazaiās pleasure, you do sound a bit irritated now. āDazai, what the hell? Why are you acting so weird?ā
āMe?ā Dazai demands, voice shrill at the sheer audacity you have coming to his shipping container and insulting him after what you did. Didnāt do. Same thing. He whips around to face you, a barrage of snide comments about to fall from his lips only to hesitate when he sees a fancy box in your hands. ā... What is that?ā
Your gaze sharpens and your brows furrow. You move the box out of sight behind your back, but Dazai dances around you to try to get a better look at it. The two of you play a game of swivels and twists for a few moments, but Dazai has to call it quits when the pain in his side gets worse and the alcohol goes right to his head.Ā
You give him a concerned look, but donāt press about the way he winces. Instead, you say, āTell me what your problem is first. Why are you drinking here alone in the dark?ā
ā... No,ā Dazai says after a second. āWhatās in the box?ā
Dazai really doesnāt want to get his hopes up, so he chews the inside of his cheek and rocks back and forth from his toes to heels, hands clasped behind his back as he tries to distract himself. You roll your eyes, but your lips curl up into a fond smile that almost eases all of the stress Dazai has felt all day. Almost.
After what feels like an eternity, you pass the box over to him and Dazai immediately darts forward to grab it before you can change your mind. Though he knows what it is before he opens it, he canāt control the relief that floods him when he sees the expensive chocolates sitting inside the boxāmost of them are shaped in the typical Valentineās Day heart, but some of them are-
āTheyāre crabs,ā Dazai says gleefully, a genuine smile spreading widely across his lips as he reaches down to pluck one out of the box and pop it into his mouth. The chocolate is soft and creamy, it melts in his mouth the moment it touches his tongue and he lets out a delighted hum. He eats another, and then another after that. āHow did you get them crab shaped?ā
You donāt answer the question; you stare at the chocolates, conflicted, and Dazai isnāt sure why. You seem to be trying to decide whether or not you want to say something, but you let out a sigh, seemingly deciding against it.Ā
Instead of whatever you were debating on saying, you rest your hand on your hip and ask him, āWhy did you take all of your stuff out of your room?āĀ
Your room, Dazai swallows the chocolate in his mouth as he tries to figure out how to respond to your question. He doesnāt really want to admit that he had a meltdown triggered by the chocolate that you just handed him, and you do seem genuinely put off by the fact that he left. Maybe he was wrong, he thinks, pressing his lips together as he considers the possibility. Heās hardly ever wrong, but he supposes it wouldnāt be the first time that youāve managed to surprise him; since the day he met you, he feels like his mind is dulled when youāre around. He hates it.
So, he throws Elise under the bus.
āElise said that you told her I forced myself into your life,ā he says, voice coming out far more bitter than he intended for it to. He raises his chin stubbornly. āI wouldnāt want to keep imposing.ā
Your expression flickers momentarily and you look a bit hurt, Dazai immediately swallows another chocolate, hopeful that heāll swallow the sudden guilt he feels along with it. He doesnāt.
āMori was trying to get me to convince you to live in the apartment he has set up for you in the main building,ā you explain quietly after a few moments, crossing your arms over your chest. āI told him that he was better off trying to convince you himself because it was your decision to stay at mine. I didnāt have much of a say in it.ā
Dazai lets out a breath he didnāt realize he was holding, and because he has no self control, he starts to ask, āBut if you did have a say in itā¦ā
Your expression softens in a way that makes Dazaiās stomach turn in on itself and your eyes flicker down to the box heās holding before you quickly look back up at him. The box of chocolates in his hands suddenly feels a lot heavier, and his grip instinctively tightens around it.
āI⦠my apartment is a bit too big to live in alone,ā you answer, and then add, āI would prefer you stayed.ā
Dazai doesnāt respond, but his gaze does dart down to the three bags of clothes he brought back to the shipping container with him, all still packed. It wasnāt all of his stuff, just enough for it to be noticeable to you when you went to his room looking for him. Maybe he had been hoping you would come bring him back.
āI donāt have a movie picked out for tonight, if you want to pick,ā you offer when the silence stretches on.
Dazai glances down at the chocolates you gave him again and then he says, āThe Discovery channel has a new documentary on -ā
āNo.ā
āWhat?ā Dazai demands. āYou donāt even know what I was going to say.ā
āI am not watching another crab documentary, Dazai.ā
āThe last one was good.ā
āThe last one bored me to tears.ā
Dazai rolls his eyes, leaning down to pick up one of his bags and you grab the other two after sending a narrowed look to his left side, slinging them over your shoulder as you step outside of the shipping container. Dazai follows you, rolling the door back down before giving you a mocking look.
āSo you just want to watch one of those stupid superhero movies again? The only one actually entertained by them is bird-brained Chuuya, anyone with two brain cells knows how it ends just from the first scene,ā he says snidely, enjoying the way you immediately scowl at him.
āJust because you know how itās going to end doesnāt mean itās not entertaining,ā you argue. āYou can be entertained by something predictable.ā
āNot me,ā Dazai sings as he follows you out of the shipping container yard and to the road. Much to Dazaiās displeasure, he realizes that you did not come here aloneāyour new partner is sitting in the front seat of the car waiting on the side of the road, scrolling through his phone. Distastefully, he demands, āWhy is he here?ā
āHe drove me,ā you say like itās obvious. āWhatās your problem with him anyway?ā
āNothing,ā Dazai mutters, making sure to give the older boy a dark look as he slides into the back seat.Ā
He expects you to get into the passenger seat, but instead you move to sit in the back with him. Before you do, he stiffens as he remembers his clothes were not the only thing he stole from your apartment. Your eyes narrow in suspicion and you place your hand on your hip.
āWhat else did you take before leaving?ā
Dazai sulks at how easily you figured out what the issue is and lies when he repeats, āNothing.ā
āIf we get back home and immediately have to come back out here, Iām going to waterboard you, Dazai,ā you say flatly.
āIāve been waterboarded before,ā he says stubbornly.
āNot by me,ā you threaten.
Ā Dazai sighs dramatically, letting his head fall back against the headrest.
āI stole all of the remotes in the apartment,ā he admits, shifting to push himself up to walk back over to the shipping container, wincing again when he shifts the wrong way. He pauses when you roll your eyes and hold your hand up to stop him.
āIāll get them,ā you say. āStay here.ā
āDonāt leave me with him,ā Dazai complains, but you slam the door in his face.
Instantly, the light and playful expression drops from his face as he turns his attention to the rear view mirror, eyes locking with Itou Asahi. The blonde raises his eyebrows tauntingly, as if heās daring Dazai to say something to him, and Dazai has half a mind to reach for the gun stuffed in the pocket of his black jacket. He refrains if only because he doesnāt want to piss you off even more.
After a moment, Itou twists in his seat to look at Dazai. Dazaiās eye twitches in irritation, realizing that heās about to speak to him.
He nods to the box of chocolates. āShe spent a month at my place trying to get it right.ā
Though Dazai planned on ignoring him, he canāt stop the quiet, āWhat?ā that slips from his mouth.
āThe chocolates,ā Itou says like Dazai is stupid, which irritates him but heās still confused so heās forced to wait for him to explain. āShe tried custom ordering the crab shaped ones but had a tantrum because they looked ugly. So she spent a month learning how to make them so she could mold them on her own. She only just finished this batch todayāstill isnāt satisfied with how they came out, but ran out of time.ā
Dazaiās throat swells up as he stares down at the chocolates, an odd warmth spreading through his chest that he canāt snuff out. Scrutinizing them more carefully now, he sees all of the tiny imperfections that wouldnāt be there if youād store bought themāthe hearts arenāt all perfectly even, some of the legs on the crabs are longer than others, thereās an indent on the back of the heart shaped chocolate heās holding like youād touched it while it was too soft.
His fingers close around it carefully, lips parting to speak but he canāt find any words. When did you have the time though? Youāve had so many missions lately-
Oh.
āAll the missions in Tokyoā¦ā
āHer missions were learning how to fucking make chocolate and they were in my apartment, not Tokyo,ā Itou scoffs. āIām never going to be able to eat chocolate again in my life the amount sheās force fed me. I can hardly stand the smell of it now. I had to send her to Nakahara for him to taste test the last few batches.ā
Dazaiās gaze sharpens, obscenely bothered at the thought of Itou Ashi and Nakahara Chuuya being your taste testers and Itou is complaining about it. āYou should be grateful you got to try her chocolate,ā he snaps immediately.
Itouās jaw drops and he immediately shakes his head. āYou two are so fucking-ā he starts to say but cuts himself off when he sees you approaching the car again.Ā
Dazai squints at him, almost wanting to dare him to continue, but his expression lightens when you open the door, remotes in hand and an irritated expression still painted on your face.
He only moves over enough to give you room to sit instead of moving to sit behind the driverās seat. You squint at him, but Dazai gives you a small smile and says quietly, āMy chocolates are much nicer than Chuuyaās.ā
Your expression immediately softens and your lashes flutter as you avert your gazeāthe telltale sign of you being flustered. Dazaiās lips part to say something else, but no words come out, gaze pinned on the pretty glow the moonlight casts over your face. You look like you want to say something as you look down at the chocolates again, but again, you seem to decide against it.
āHow do you even know what Chuuya got?ā you ask suddenly, clearing your throat. Dazai freezes. āAnd what happened to your side? Every time you move youāre wincing.ā
āI⦠stopped by his office and saw them?ā he offers, his next smile is too sweet, and you catch it from the way your eyes narrow. Defensively, he says, āThe slug didnāt deserve chocolates from you.ā
āOh my god, Dazai,ā you complain, burying your face in your hands.Ā
Dazaiās face flames up, and he shoots a dirty look in Itouās direction when the older boy bursts into laughter.Ā
āSlugs canāt eat chocolate,ā Dazai insists. āI was helping him, really.āĀ
āI canāt stand you,ā you sigh, but when you shift in your seat, you shift so that youāre sitting a little closer to Dazai, shoulder pressed against his and thighs knocking together.
He glances down at the box of chocolates in his lap again, and the chocolate heart resting in his hand, and after a momentās hesitation, he passes it over to you. You give him a questioning look, but Dazai pointedly looks away as he wills his cheeks not to reflect his flustered thoughts, waiting for you to take it. His breath catches when your fingers brush his hand as you take it from him.
āThanks,ā you say softly.
Instead of directly responding, Dazai prods, āSo, about the crab documentaryā¦ā
You let out a heavy sigh as you side eye him. āFine,ā you agree, ābut youāre doing the garbage this week.ā
āWhat?!ā he demands. āItās not my turn.ā
āThe price you pay for forcing me to watch nature documentaries for movie night.ā
āItās not just nature, itās crabs.ā
āDeal or no deal?ā
āFine. Deal.ā
āGood,ā you say with a saccharine smile that Dazai doesnāt like because he knows youāre thinking something bad. āDeal.ā
After a few moments, you add, āI wouldāve put it on even if you didnāt agree.ā
āIām going back to my shipping container.ā
You laugh loudly, and Dazaiās heart skips a beat at the sound of it. He very much ignores the way Itou shoots an amused look back at them, focusing instead on the way your eyes glitter as your laughs fizzle into soft giggles.
āAs if,ā you say, knocking your shoulder into his. āIāll just drag you back again. Youāre stuck with me whether you like it or not.ā
His lips curl up into a small smile in response to your words, gaze dropping back down to the chocolates sitting in his lap, and then back to you.
āWill you?ā he asks quietly, a bit too seriously.
Your smile softens, and Dazaiās heart lodges right in his throat. āCount on it.ā


















