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]

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?

[tenimuho]

[Now there's a question he doesn't want to go into.]

It felt like a while to me. I can't speak for you. Was it worth the wait?

[ninjou]

More than worth it.

[Humming quietly, Dazai considers...]

When you think something is never going to happen, it's weird.

[tenimuho]

It sounds like it.

[Odasaku's not sure if he has something like that.]

But you're not imagining any of this.

[ninjou]

I know.

[Turning slightly, Dazai touches Odasaku's cheek and turns his head so he can look directly at him. Nothing is fake about this, even if it never feels real.]

I know.

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku leans into Dazai's hand for a moment or two, enjoying the warmth. He could stay like this for a while if there weren't other things he enjoyed just as much.

He leans in for a soft, chaste kiss.]

[ninjou]

[Dazai returns it, just for a moment, then pulls away to rest their foreheads together.]

The whole world can fight me for you. That's how I feel when we're together. Like everyone in the world can go to hell.

[tenimuho]

It wouldn't be much of a fight. You'd win for sure.

[ninjou]

I'd hope so.

[A smile, and another kiss.]

I'll kill them all.

[tenimuho]

[That's not all that romantic.]

You wouldn't have to. I wouldn't let anybody else get near me but you.

[ninjou]

[It's super romantic what are you talking about.]

I... meant if someone tried to hurt you. If anyone tries to get between us, less killing, more talking. You know that if you're ever unhappy, you should just tell me, right?

[tenimuho]

I know. I'll be honest with you.

[...he still doesn't like the idea of killing for his sake, but it happens.]

[ninjou]

Good.

[A pause.]

Wait. Did that sound creepy?

[tenimuho]

Yes.

[See? Honesty, right there.]

Please don't talk about killing people while we're kissing.

[ninjou]

Sorry....

[Looking down, Dazai pulls away.]

I killed the mood entirely.

[tenimuho]

[Well, yes, but-]

I'm sure we can get the mood back.

[ninjou]

[Hands to himself, body facing forward into the room, Dazai tips his head back and rests it on the back of the couch. How could he be this stupid? His face burns with embarrassment.]

[tenimuho]

Dazai, it's fine. [Please don't die of embarrassment.] ...Darling?

[ninjou]

......[.....]

[tenimuho]

...Does that mean 'never say that again'?

[ninjou]

I'm trying... to decide if it's weird...

[tenimuho]

I thought it was better than a lot of other things.

[Which no one wants to hear him say.]

[ninjou]

There's nothing that really fits, is there? For two guys like us. If you want to call me that, though, I'm not going to mind. It's just... kind of sweet.

[tenimuho]

Mm. Maybe occasionally.

[It really doesn't fit that well.]

...Osamu.

[ninjou]

[COUGH. Dazai sits up straight and his head whips over to look at him like he's grown a second head. Nobody calls him that. He's not used to hearing it.]

Really?