1:00 AM.

That was what time it was when Chuuya was awoken by two bandaged arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace.

He knew what that meant.

"Oi, Dazai," Chuuya muttered, as he did not have the energy to speak any louder. "What the hell? I was sleeping."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Dazai replied sarcastically. "It must be real painful to be woken up in the dead of night by snuggles."

"Shut up and let me sleep," Chuuya retorted, disregarding Dazai's comment.

Dazai stopped talking after that, and kept his arms to himself. Normally he wouldn't. But it was so late, and he just had yet another nightmare. He had little energy to talk about anything at all.

Chuuya could not fall asleep after that. So instead he rolled over and looked at Dazai.

"What happened this time?" Chuuya asked. He did his best to make it sound as if he didn't care.

Dazai knew better, though.

"Nightmare," Dazai answered.

"Yeah, I figured that, asshole," Chuuya said. "What was the nightmare?"

"You used Corruption. I didn't save you."

Chuuya was stunned.

"You were shouting my name. Screaming so loud; there was blood everywhere. And I didn't do anything."

"Dazai--"

"You died right in front of me."

Chuuya did not dream as often as Dazai. However, he had a similar nightmare once. He had woken up the next morning angry at Dazai (even though the real Dazai hadn't done anything), and didn't want anything to do with him for awhile, until he "forgave" him.

But for Dazai to have this nightmare--that much be a different kind of pain. Not the pain of betrayal. The pain of loss. Of foolishness.

Not that Chuuya was comparing the two of them.

"...I'd never actually do that, you know," Dazai said to fill the silence.

"Yeah, I know," Chuuya acknowledged.

"I could never let you go."

"I know."

"I could never be responsible for your death."

"I know."

"I love you."

Those three words.

Dazai had never said them before.

Chuuya did not know that Dazai loved him. He knew he loved Dazai (although God knows why he made that life decision), but he did not know it was reciprocated.

"Don't fuck with me, Dazai," Chuuya warned.

"I'm not," Dazai replied. "I do love you."

He put his arms around Chuuya again and nuzzled him. Chuuya felt himself putting his arms around Dazai as well.

"I love you too, idiot."