crowspace | SOULMATE AU MEME

[Dazai lights up like the sun - or like someone whose constant need for validation is momentarily appeased.]

"No Longer Human" is my masterpiece! My last and greatest novel. I put all my heart and soul into it.

And "Flawless", that's one of Odasaku's short stories.

And unless I'm mistaken, Sakaguchi Ango wrote something titled Discourse On Decadence.

[Ango's still puzzling all this out, but he notices how lovely Dazai looks all lit up like that. How could he not?]

An essay of his. A masterpiece, in my personal opinion.

[Mafia Dazai never glowed like this talking about his work.]

[Hell, he came closer to glowing like this when he talked about Odasaku's work...

Ango nods again, looking oddly pleased by the fact that his ability is named after an essay rather than a work of fiction. For the first time since he learned another version of him existed, something about the man actually makes sense.]

Those names are meaningful for us as well. Particular points of pride, even.

[Sort of. His is more... theoretical than the other two, and he's actually quite eager to talk to this other Ango now that he knows about the connection.]

We should probably hurry back to where you're staying. The nights here are colder than I would've expected.

[If his is a point of pride then why don't you tell us what it does!!]

Of course, of course. This way.

[Dazai will lead Ango right to the National Library, and inside.]

[The National Library. Dazai the ghost and all the other ghost authors are staying at...]

At some point I am going to ask you how on earth the three of you wound up here, I hope you realize that. And considering how much I've told you, I expect the entire story.

[Just maybe not yet, because now that he's back inside, he's starting to feel his exhaustion even more keenly. What is it about getting permission to rest that causes all the adrenaline to leave him at once, all the momentum to give out, and finally leaves him with no choice?]

Of course I will.

[Ango underestimates how much Dazai likes talking about himself.

Dazai leads him into a back room marked 'staff only', then down a hallway until he stops in front of a door marked 'Dazai Osamu'. Someone has doodled cherries on the name card.]

I'll talk to the librarians about getting you your own, but for now you can borrow my room.

I'm very grateful, Dazai-kun. God knows where I would've ended up tonight if my hunch about Bar Lupin hadn't proven to be right.

[Ango toes off his shoes in the doorway, then sits on the edge of Dazai's bed and loosens his tie. He's tired, yes, but... he doesn't really want to be without Dazai just yet, and "borrow" rather than "share" sounds like Dazai plans to give him the room to himself.

Well. Considering all the flirting Dazai's already done, is there really any harm in a simple clarification?]

I'm not all that restless of a sleeper, if you'd like to share the bed...

[That was the plan, he'd crash with Oda or Ango, but-]

I'd love to!

[...and then his face falls.]

But I'm an insomniac, I'll be the one keeping you awake...

[If that isn't the least surprising thing he's ever discovered about a person...

Ango works off his tie, unbuttons his blazer, all with a secretive grin on his lips. At last, once he's down to his undershirt and stands up to unbuckle his belt, he offers his solution:]

I'll be fine if you stay with me until I fall asleep.

I can manage that.

[So he'll sit down on the bed, waiting for Ango to finish undressing and join him. ...Depending on the level of undress he may check Ango out, but no one can blame him.]

[Tragically, the boxers don't come off, but they're a snug enough fit that Dazai can extrapolate good things from what he does see. Ango sits beside Dazai and takes off his glasses last of all, looking sidelong at him with big, surprisingly vulnerable green eyes.]

Well. Goodnight, then, Dazai-kun.

[He stretches out on his back, leaving Dazai ample room but hoping he'll end up with most of Dazai curled against him anyway.]

Goodnight, Ango.

[While he doesn't undress - because he does plan to speak to the librarians in something other than his underwear - he'll slip off his coat before curling up near to Ango. They aren't touching, but it's close.

All he has to do is stay still and quiet long enough for Ango to sleep. He isn't expecting to get tired, but that's just what happens when you stay still long enough - it isn't like he'll actually fall asleep.

(He will actually fall asleep.)]

[Ango's not exactly used to sharing a bed with someone, so he stirs halfway to wakefulness several times during the night, only to be lulled right back to sleep by the warmth of another body curled beneath the covers so close to his. That other body drifts closer and closer each time until Ango finally wakes up fully enough to realize that Dazai has, essentially, attached himself in every possible way - legs hooked over legs, arms clinging wherever they can, head weighing down Ango's shoulder and upper torso similarly pinning his chest.

That's not quite as comfortable as the diffuse body heat, but it is...

... well. It is hotter in more ways than one.]

I'll bet you sleep like a rock, too, don't you? [He's speaking more to himself than Dazai, since he really doesn't expect to wake the other man up with any ease, and he sounds as exasperated as he does fond.] "Insomniac," indeed.

[He brushes his free hand across Dazai's cheek, then grows bolder and slides his fingertips down the side of his neck, his touch featherlight.]

[He is an insomniac, he just doesn't usually sleep next to Ango.

As if to prove that he was speaking the truth, just that light touch gets Dazai to stir a little, tightening his grip on Ango and murmuring something indistinguishable under his breath. He'll wake up in a second or two.]

[Soulmates are magical things.

And if Dazai really does sleep that poorly most of the time, Ango should probably stop bothering him... but he doesn't, instead choosing to comb his fingers through Dazai's brilliantly red hair. Now that he's begun to feed this urge for more physical contact with Dazai, and now that Dazai seems to have done the same while fast asleep, Ango finds it very difficult to stop.

Next he shifts the position of his other arm to press a hand against Dazai's lower back, holding him closer and stroking gently up and down the line of his spine. What a strange feeling, to know and love someone so completely when you've technically just met.]

[Dazai's eyes flutter open, to the beautiful sight of Ango in his bed.]

Mm... morning. Did I fall asleep here...?

[Even when awake, he has no real desire to let go of Ango.]

[Ango is a pretty lovely sight first thing in the morning, in a way that only the most buttoned up and repressed people can be - something about the rumpled softness of his mussed hair and sleepy eyes changes all of his features for the better, much like his smile does.]

You did, and unless you managed to sneak away and back without waking me, must have slept through the night. I never would have guessed that I made such a comfortable pillow.

[He's a treasure. Dazai almost wishes he didn't ever have to leave.]

How embarrassing... I was going to talk to the librarians for you, but it seems there's no resisting your allure.

[His cuddling allure, to be more specific.]

SOULMATE AU MEME

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