For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[There are a lot of reasons why a person would want to humor an up-and-coming mafioso, likely to be one of the youngest executives if not the youngest executive in Port Mafia history.

But Odasaku doesn't really think of what he's doing right now, sitting down and playing video games with Dazai, as 'humoring' him. Even if he's not all that great at fighting games compared to Dazai, and even if it might be considered a little weird, a 20-year-old playing games with a 15-year-old...]

Oh, I lost again.

[...it's fun even when he loses, so he's playing.]

Good game. Want another round?

Comments

[tenimuho]

[That gets his eyes to widen, and he's not entirely sure what to say, so he settles on:]

...I'd come back any time you called on me.

[It's always been Dazai's decision as the wounded party.]

[ninjou]

[And Dazai still hurts, he still feels used and wronged, but he was younger and stupid. He's sure he should ignore all of that in favor of the overwhelming shame.]

I tried to pretend like it never happened, but it did. I'm a different person than I was then, but you really hurt me. I was ashamed.

[tenimuho]

I'm sorry. I should never have taken things that far.

[He hangs his head in contrition, not quite able to look directly at Dazai.

Is it even possible to make up for something like that?]

[ninjou]

You're right. You shouldn't have.

[He sighs, though, and extends a hand.]

I shouldn't have asked you to.

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku hesitates a moment before taking Dazai's hand.]

If there's anything I can do, or say, that would help...

[ninjou]

[A little smile, and Dazai moves in to embrace him with his other arm.]

I'll forgive you. That'll help. But I had to do it to your face.

[tenimuho]

[-Oh. That embrace gets returned.]

I understand. - Thank you.

[It was a little lonely, this past year.]

[ninjou]

Can we try again?

[He turns his head toward Odasaku.]

[tenimuho]

I'd like that.

[Odasaku offers him a small smile.]

[ninjou]

[Quite formally, he kisses Odasaku on the cheek.]

Alright. Do you want to get drinks after this? I found a bar that lets me get away with whatever I want.

[tenimuho]

As long as you're not too worn out from being the guest of honor - I'd love to.

[ninjou]

It's boring.

[He smiles a bit.]

Let me go make random excuses.

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku lets go of him.]

I'll slip out first. No one will notice.

[ninjou]

Sounds good.

[It hurts to be physically close to him, but time helped. Distance helped.

He waves a little and gestures toward the main area.]

I'll see you outside.

[tenimuho]

[He nods, and goes to slip out of the party.

This is nice. Not quite comfortable yet, but - nice.]

[ninjou]

[Dazai joins him a while later, immediately fishing a small metal case from his inner coat pocket and drawing out a cigarette. A new habit. A bad habit. He finds his lighter and doesn't even ask if he'll bother Odasaku by lighting it up.]

You look good.

[And he sounds a thousand times more adult than he did the last time they spoke.]

[tenimuho]

Thanks. So do you.

[Wouldn't do to show up to your own party under-dressed, of course.

Odasaku was a smoker for long enough that he doesn't have a leg to stand on, cigarette-wise, even if he were bothered.]

[ninjou]

Thanks.

[This is awkward. He knew it would be. It's a matter of pushing past it.

He keeps a safe distance between them.]

I've been keeping up with your work. Mori lets me in on things.

[tenimuho]

So you know about the kids already.

[That's the only thing he'd consider even remotely noteworthy that he's done in the past year.]

[ninjou]

Yes. You're an idiot.

[He knows. He thinks it's absurd. But he also can imagine Odasaku having something to look forward to every day, knows the softness of joy on his face, at least what it used to look like. It probably wasn't ever real with Dazai, but he'll pretend he knows.]

[tenimuho]

I thought you'd say something like that.

[But Dazai's right - the children give him something worth working for when his dream seems so far away. They make him happy, and he can only hope he makes them happy as well.]

[ninjou]

You know I'm right, too.

[He's jealous. Just a little. But they have to bury all that and be civil. Maybe even be friends again. There's silence as he takes a drag from his cigarette.]

I'm happy for you.

[tenimuho]

You're usually right.

[He's a genius mafia executive, so of course.]

They're good kids.

[ninjou]

[The most terrifying one of them all.]

They'd have to be, if they're basically yours.

[tenimuho]

I don't know about that. I've never taken care of kids before.

[He's still concerned about messing up horribly.]