Osamu Dazai was not so good at being smooth. He could try, but he would not succeed.

Flirting was really all he was good at.

And it's not like he had been practicing on being affectionate beyond flirting. He never suspected being in a serious, committed relationship.

He thought that when that happened, it was time for his double suicide.

But that was not the case.

He had no clue as to how he managed to score Chuuya Nakahara, but he did. And he did not want to let him go this time.

Of course, being in a relationship meant romance and intimacy.

Something Dazai was not the best at.

But he was trying his best.

~

"Hey, aibou~"

"What are you doing?"

"Why not come closer and--fuck!"

Dazai had been practicing the art of seduction, and thought he finally found the perfect key for Chuuya.

It did not help that the table he was laying on broke beneath him.

Chuuya started to laugh. Harder than he had ever laughed at Dazai before.

"Did you just swear?"

"I was not expecting the table to break below me, alright? And it's not like you're so clean-mouthed yourself."

Chuuya wiped his tears of laughter as he helped his partner up.

"You're lucky that wasn't an expensive table."

Dazai sighed as he got back to his feet.

"I was trying to court you."

"By laying on our table?"

"I was attempting to give a 'Come hither' message."

"What you gave was an 'I'm a fucking romantic dork who can't function' message."

"Oh, shush."

Dazai needed some new bandages that day after his fall. Not that that was the part that bothered him.

~

"Ne, Chuuya, do you think you could get me a glass of water?"

"You've got legs, get it yourself."

"Pleeeease?"

"Fine, but only so I don't have to hear your damn whining."

Chuuya stood from the couch, walked away, and then returned with a cup of water, like Dazai had requested.

"Thank you."

Before Chuuya could sit back down or even get out a response, Dazai had grabbed him by the wrists and pulled him into his lap. Dazai held Chuuya close, running his hands up his back and peppering kisses on his clavicle.

"Nngah, Dazai~"

"It's good, right?"

"Your knee is right on my crotch."

The moment was over.

Dazai stopped kissing Chuuya and pushed him off of him, since it was the quickest way to stop the pain. He put his face in his hands.

"Sorry…"

That was a word that didn't come from him much.

Chuuya leaned forward slightly, smirking. "Say that again?"

Dazai spoke a bit louder this time.

"Sorry."

Chuuya leaned farther forward. "Again?"

"Stop messing with me. I already apologized."

Chuuya laughed. "You have your fun, I have mine."

Dazai feigned a laugh to play along.

He was incapable of looking Chuuya in the eye the rest of the night.

~

"Are you seriously still doing this, you idiot?"

Chuuya entered the room to see it lit only by candles. Dazai had out two glasses of wine on the table and he sat on the couch, stripped of his trenchcoat and vest, leaving only the bandages and light blue shirt underneath (and of course his signature--although now it hung loosely around his neck--bolo tie). He normally did not wear so few layers, but it helped set the mood.

"Doing what? After a long day at work, I always dim the lights and pour us fresh glasses of wine."

Chuuya stepped closer, still not taking his seat beside his partner.

"You don't even like wine."

"But you do. Therefore, I will drink it."

After that comment, Chuuya could not help but take his seat beside Dazai.

Chuuya watched Dazai's lips contort as he sipped the wine. It was amusing to see him force himself through it.

On the bright side, Dazai not liking Chuuya's wine meant more for Chuuya.

"You're so hot," Chuuya teased as Dazai choked down the wine.

Dazai sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. Then he opened them and looked at Chuuya.

He spoke in a hush, gentle tone.

"Chuuya, have you heard of the story of Altair and Vega?"

"Oh, come on, don't you pull some romantic astronomy shit on me."

"Please, Chuuya."

Dazai never begged for anything. Well, without a whiny tone, of course. So hearing the word "Please" spill from his lips so gently was irresistible.

"Fine."

Dazai squirmed a little on his cushion, then took Chuuya's hands in his.

"There is a famous story about two stars from the Aquila and Lyra constellations: Altair and Vega. The two fell hopelessly in love, but they were blocked by a river made up of a galaxy. But on the seventh day of the seventh month, Vega cries so hard that the Cygnus constellation forms itself into a bridge, so the two lovers can be together, for a single night."

Chuuya could do nothing but stare at Dazai.

Dazai continued talking after a momentary pause.

"It makes me think of me and you."

"God damn it, Dazai--"

"Let me finish. We were kept apart due to being on opposing sides. And we had been separated for four years, until we finally met again. But, unlike Altair and Vega, we get to be together for more than a single night. We've gotten past the galaxy. We have come together, as one. At last."

Chuuya had not realized that in the midst of holding hands Dazai had entwined their fingers. He also did not notice Dazai practically over him, putting his forehead against his.

The two stared into each other's eyes for a while, until Chuuya broke the silence.

"You know, you can kiss me if you want, dumbass."

On that note, Dazai closed off the proximity between them and pressed their lips together. Chuuya rested himself on the armrest of the couch and Dazai on Chuuya's chest, his knees ridiculously bent since he could not fit his entire body on the couch longways.

The kiss ended unexpectedly when Dazai's lips gently slipped off of Chuuya's.

Dazai fell asleep.

Chuuya didn't let himself laugh this time. He held it behind his teeth.

Third night in a row, Dazai's plans to seduce Chuuya thwarted.

But this was even better.

It was gentle. Intimate. Sweet.

And it showed that Dazai trusted Chuuya enough to not just fall asleep near him, but on him as well.

Chuuya lightly stroked Dazai's hair and closed his eyes. He, soon enough, fell asleep too.

Dazai still had a long way to go to master the art of seduction. But perhaps the stage he was at now was perfect enough.