crowspace | SOULMATE AU MEME

[For just a fraction of a second, Ango looks like he's been slapped across the face.

Of course. Dazai has his own Ango here, along with his Odasaku.]

That shouldn't be the problem I first thought it might. I'm not even sure I have any purpose related to the - the three of you anymore.

Then, I'll see what I can do.

[After a moment, Dazai reaches out and gently pats Ango on the shoulder. He looks so pitiful, so lost without the only thing that had given him purpose for who knows how long, that Dazai can't not.]

Take a break while you're here.

[That's so darkly humorous that Ango actually laughs aloud.]

I've never taken a break in my life.

It's not too late to start!

[Laughing is better than what he was doing with his face before.]

[How about looking at Dazai like he hung the moon and stars? How's that for a new look on his face? Because Ango's weary smile softens into an expression just about that adoring.]

The oddest thing about all this is... you seem happier, somehow. Maybe not happy, but happier than I've ever known you.

I'm not surprised. If that Dazai and Oda lived a life where you could have gotten Oda killed from something other tuberculosis, he must set a very low standard for Dazai happiness.

Or maybe I just fake it better?

[Says someone who is without a doubt a much worse liar than Ango's Dazai.]

They're - they were -

[This is starting to make Ango's head spin. He doesn't know when to say "you" or "him," who to speak of in past tense instead of present... maybe he's too late to save himself from the effects of universe-hopping. Maybe he's trapped in this strange other world with madness's claws already dug most of the way into his brain.]

- God, I'm so tired.

You look like you need several naps. Come on, I'll lend you my shoulder.

[Dazai tosses some money at the bartender - enough to cover Ango's drinks as well as his - then stands up.]

[Even if Ango wanted to argue, he couldn't possibly work up the energy. He gives the bartender one last nod of thanks and follows Dazai out, quietly very grateful that he won't need to navigate Tokyo and find a hotel on his own.]

The Ango I'll be meeting tonight... is he anything at all like me?

The complete opposite.

[Dazai's going to make sure Ango actually takes his shoulder.]

I'm not sure he's taken anything but breaks.

[A sad, slightly bitter smile plays on Ango's lips.]

That must be part of why you seem so much happier as well. He sounds like much more entertaining company.

He's not as cute as you, though.

[While this is flirting, it's also the truth.]

Cute?!

[Silly Ango... nothing makes a cute person cuter than objecting to being called cute! He's just flustered again, not actually offended, of course.]

Very cute~

[RIP Ango.]

Did your Dazai already steal you away?

[Dazai's charm is always the same no matter how different the circumstances, and it sets Ango's heart aflutter as always. Ango can't even bring himself to destroy the pleasant little moment by revealing the truth: that Oda was probably the only person Dazai ever loved, and now Ango doubts if he even has the capacity to do so again with someone else.]

No, no - that isn't how things are with me and Dazai-kun at all.

[That time and place is too heavy. Dazai doesn't want to talk about it, even if it isn't him that's had his chance of happiness destroyed in a life he still has to live.

Flirting is easier.]

In that case, are you single?

[On the one hand, getting involved with an alternate version of his unrequited love has to be the worst decision he's ever made in his life, and he got into this whole mess by trying to repair previous bad decisions, so he doesn't need to make any more.

On the other hand... this is likely his first, last, and only chance with Dazai, and if his mission to make Dazai happy is destined to fail, maybe letting them both enjoy themselves isn't such a bad compromise.]

Always. One might say perpetually so. My work has been my only partner since I finished school. [But now he's taking a break...]

You definitely need to take a break. Luckily for you, I'm happy to assist ♥

[He's already picturing tying Ango down so he can't overwork himself. That's probably an exaggeration... probably.]

[Who knows, Ango might like it...

He shoots Dazai another sidelong glance, then pauses in his steps to turn and look at the other man properly. None of this should feel so right, so easy and natural, but it does - and Ango isn't sure if that means he's giving up on his Dazai, or if maybe he's lucked into finding an iteration that might still have some room in his heart. It's still Dazai, after all, and Dazai's interest in him hasn't come from any outside influence or even any deliberate influence from Ango himself.]

I hope I can manage to give you - something in return. Even if happiness is aiming too high, I'll still do everything I can.

[...How cute. How sweet, that even when Dazai is blatantly flirting, Ango's first thought is how to help him. Dazai's smile softens.]

Don't worry so much. You don't have to give me something as grand as happiness to be worth keeping.

[The smaller things, the less noticeable things, those are still worthwhile.]

[It's a good thing that Dazai finds it sweet, because Ango's not sure he'll ever be able to dampen his feelings about all things Dazai - not after giving so much of himself to this journey in Dazai's name. Everything he feels about Dazai is larger than life, which makes it nearly impossible to keep up lighthearted banter with him for long these days.

And honestly, telling him that he's worth it after he's spent so long trying to chase down someone else? That only strengthens the delicate new bond he's started to form with this strange, lovely new Dazai.]

Now I'll most likely end up worried about whether or not I'm worrying too much. [Said with a laugh, even though it's only half-joking.] I'm glad you like the differences in me, I don't think I was clear about that - and I do, too. Between you and the Dazai-kun I've known.

[Dazai's better than even other Dazais. He might do a fistpump if it wouldn't be rude to Ango, who definitely cares about those other Dazais too.]

I see, I see~ Then I'll be sure to show you more of those differences to see if you approve ♥

[It's his dick. He's going to show Ango his dick.]

[He's gonna brag about it to everyone he knows, too, isn't he? Or at least the other Buraiha. The funny thing is that Ango wouldn't be terribly surprised by such a reaction, but that wouldn't make it any less insensitive, so best that Dazai held off.

(Incidentally, though Ango can offer no comparisons on that front, he's more than willing to give Dazai's dick the stamp of approval.)

(Which means blowjob.)

(Anyway.)

They still haven't moved from where Ango stopped in his tracks earlier; he tells himself to stop staring at Dazai and get a move on, but instead winds up lifting a hand to trail his fingertips over the tiny braid tucked behind one of Dazai's ears. He's been aware of it since Dazai sat down beside him, given that Ango always sits on the far left, but only just now has he worked up the courage to be so forward.

The tender moment spins out between them, quiet but steadily growing in intensity - where it goes from here is all up to Dazai.]

[Dazai isn't entirely tactless... entirely.

He'll never mind being stared at, nor sharing a soft moment like this. When Ango trails his fingers over his braid, Dazai leans into his hand, cheek against palm.]

...What are you thinking?

[About his braid, about him, about anything.]

[Ango blinks in surprise when Dazai turns his touch into a caress, but it's nowhere near enough to shatter the moment completely. Smiling shyly, he curls his fingers to cup Dazai's cheek properly in his hand.]

I was thinking about those similarities and differences, and how the two of you would look together... like a tropical bird of paradise conferring with a raven. [So not together-together, at least not yet.] And then, as much as this will sound like a corny line, I was just struck by how pretty you are.

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