For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[Tonight, Dazai is really drunk.

This is not different from most other nights in their favorite bar, save for a few things.

1. Ango isn't here.

2. Dazai is really drunk. The kind of drunk that has Odasaku concerned that he might be trying to die through liver failure. That drunk.

And so, it's with hesitation that he speaks up.]

Maybe you should stop drinking for tonight.

Comments

[ninjou]

No, it's fine. I think I was in longer.

[Now they get to be awkward for a while, right? He feels a little bad that he's decided to go for it as a little bit of an outlet, rather than as some big romantic gesture. Still, it's what feels right, and if nothing happens, nothing happens.]

[tenimuho]

[Awkward works. Odasaku settles down next to Dazai.]

How was your day?

[ninjou]

Long. I was thinking about taking a nap, but I wanted to see you instead. It's been almost a week since I got to see you.

[His hair is suitably dried, still a little damp but not dripping, so he sets the towel aside.]

[tenimuho]

Mm. Too long for me, too.

[Does he mind if Odasaku starts to play with his hair?]

[ninjou]

[Not at all. In fact, he smiles and tips his head very slightly into the touch.]

We've been properly dating for... what, four months? Already...

[tenimuho]

Mm. It feels like less.

[He hasn't had enough time with Dazai yet. He might never.]

[ninjou]

It'll never feel like enough.

[Awfully romantic, he knows, but he means it. He pined for long enough that he was in teenage angsty agony, and now that he has him, it's beautiful.]

My birthday's in a few weeks, too. Are you getting me something fancy?

[tenimuho]

I can't tell you. It's a surprise.

[He has something in mind, but like he'd spill the beans this early.]

[ninjou]

Ah, good. I'm looking forward to it.

[He means it. He settles a hand on Odasaku's leg, near the knee, but it's casual and not all that forward.]

How was your day?

[tenimuho]

Normal. I did some grunt labor for one of our fighting rings.

[He's not put out about it - it's just the sort of job he's always had.]

[ninjou]

I'm still jealous... I'm fine with fighting people. I did paperwork. Can you believe that?

[Seriously... every once in a great while he has to do horrible things like clerical tasks.]

[tenimuho]

That's terrible.

[You poor thing, Dazai. Doing paperwork.

No, actually he can see how that would be really boring.]

[ninjou]

I wanted to crawl under the desk.

[This is nice. This is normal, and he's feeling less awkward, he just... Is also a little nervous.]

I also got shot at. [Grin.] They missed! How disappointing, right?

[tenimuho]

It must have been.

[Even if he's not very upset about Dazai not getting hurt, Dazai probably is.]

[ninjou]

[It's more fun getting hit because then he can kill them.]

I get to interrogate them tomorrow, though... I'll need to make sure I'm in a good mood.

[tenimuho]

Can I help with that?

[Putting him in a good mood. Not the other part.]

[ninjou]

You're terrible at interrogation~

[He's kidding, obviously.]

No, Odasaku... you always make me happier. That's why I decided to come.

[tenimuho]

It's the same way for me. I always like having you visit.

[Dazai gets a kiss to his temple.]

[ninjou]

I know it can't be much more than what I do now, but I don't want you to feel neglected or anything. We're both busy, right?

[He leans into the kiss a little.]

[tenimuho]

Right. These things happen, and I know it's not personal.

[ninjou]

Yeah. I mean... I do love you.

[Sigh.]

It's so weird to say that now.

[tenimuho]

Is it? I don't mind saying it. I love you.

[ninjou]

It just took me a while...

[He leans in to kiss Odasaku on the cheek.]

[tenimuho]

[He feels unreasonably warm where Dazai's lips just touched.]

It was worth the wait.

[ninjou]

Was it?

[He laughs quietly, and there's a pause.]

Was it a while for you? I feel like I keep asking if it's real or if I was imagining things all along. I was a kid, after all. Sort of. Ahh, who's a kid in the Mafia?