Dazai drove Chuuya mad.

It was by far what he did best.

He drove Chuuya mad to the point where, on multiple occasions, Chuuya has threatened to kill him.

And he swore that one day, he would.

And he thought that today would be that day.

"If you want to kill me so bad, just do it."

Dazai and Chuuya were teamed up on a mission once again, and like usual, Dazai was putting on his everyday shtick for Chuuya, and Chuuya was having none of it.

"I swear, one day, you'll die by my hand," Chuuya had said.

And then Dazai had said that taunting message.

Never before had he acknowledged Chuuya's threats like that. Chuuya was stunned.

Dazai put his hands in his pockets and smirked. "What's with that dumb face? Did you not hear me?"

Chuuya's hand twitched.

"If you want me to die so badly, just kill me. You seem to love telling me you'll do so someday."

Chuuya still did not budge.

So Dazai did what he did best: annoy Chuuya.

"Oi, Chuu~ya~! If you want me to die~just kill me~!"

He spoke in the most sickeningly sing-song tone he could.

Which was what pushed Chuuya over the edge.

He clenched his fist and hit Dazai as hard as he could. Dazai could easily have blocked it, and under normal circumstances he would have.

But for some reason, he decided not to.

Chuuya watched Dazai stumble onto his feet, then he kicked him with just as much might as his punch.

His eyes could not unfocus on the blood trickling from the corner of Dazai's everlasting grin.

Dazai could not stand. He was in too much pain to do so.

"Go on, do it. Finish what you started. Kill me."

Chuuya reached for his knife, but his hand quivered and he could not wrap his fingers around it. He clenched his fist to punch Dazai, but could not get it to move more than a few centimeters.

"Ne, Chuuya, what are you waiting for?"

Dazai's words were in almost a whisper. He barely had any energy to speak.

"Kill me already. I'm right out in the open."

Chuuya clenched his fist tighter. He raised his knee as if preparing to kick Dazai. But he still could not get himself to inflict anything else upon his ex-partner.

"I can't."

"You can't what?"

"I can't kill you."

"Sure you can."

"No. I can't fucking get myself to."

Dazai stared at Chuuya with glassy eyes for a moment, as if he was going to cry (although Dazai never cried, it was the closest it could come to be so), and then he passed out from the pain.

~

Dazai woke up in an infirmary. He had more bandages on, now wrapped around his head, and some fresh ones on his torso.

He gently rolled his head on the pillow and saw Chuuya sitting in a chair beside him. He was staring at the floor.

He spoke without looking up.

"You're awake."

Dazai let his arm dangle towards the floor.

"Yes I am. Why are you here?"

"Because I realized something."

Chuuya pulled his hat lower just to make sure Dazai was not in his field of vision.

"It's why I couldn't kill you."

Dazai rolled the rest of his body to face Chuuya, until Chuuya stood from the chair and forcefully rolled him back onto his back to avoid any more pain. He stayed standing, and looked at the space on the pillow beside Dazai's head so he wouldn't have to look him directly in the eyes, despite Dazai looking up at him.

"Oh yeah, I was wondering that. Why didn't you kill me?"

Chuuya placed a hand on top of Dazai's.

"Because I still have feelings for you, you dimwit."

Dazai stared up at him blankly and echoed Chuuya.

"'Still?'"

"Back when we were partners, I...sort of had feelings for you. But then you fucked off for four years before I could confess, not like it would've mattered since you didn't like me back. I spent those four years trying to get over you. But I never did. Look what you've done to me, you asshole. You've gone and made me feel things. Unrequited things."

Dazai reached up and put his hand on the side of Chuuya's face, cupping his cheek in his palm.

"What gave you the feeling that they were unrequited, Chuuya?"

This was when Chuuya could no longer avoid eye contact. He looked directly at Dazai, losing himself in his chocolate-brown eyes.

"...because of how you treated me? You were nice to everyone in Port Mafia, but you were a huge asshole to me. You made your opinion of me quite obvious."

Dazai chuckled.

"I don't think I did."

Chuuya blinked quickly a few times.

"And what do you mean by that?"

Dazai lightly caressed the side of Chuuya's face with his thumb.

"I acted that way because I liked you and didn't know how else to do it. I didn't even know what it was that I felt. My heart would pound when I'd look at you and when I'd touch you, and every time I heard your name, my urge to die subsided a little. I never knew what those feelings were until it was too late. Until I couldn't do anything about it."

Chuuya stared in awe for a moment, then broke his silence.

"Don't fuck with me, Dazai."

Dazai put his other hand on Chuuya's face.

"I'm not. I did like you then. And I still do. More than I used to. I know back when we first reunited I said being kicked to death by you would be miserable, but I've reconsidered. Dying by your hand--er, foot--would be the best way to go."

Chuuya continued staring at Dazai in silence.

"Heh, not much for words today, huh, aibou?"

"Oi, you--"

"What I'm trying to say is, I love you, Chuuya. I do."

Chuuya slowly put his hand over Dazai's and closed his eyes, a look of happiness and calm on his face.

An expression Dazai had never seen from Chuuya before.

"Chuuya?"

"What?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Chuuya opened his eyes and smirked crookedly.

"You'd better, fucker."

Dazai laughed, then pulled Chuuya down for a kiss. Since Dazai was in a hospital bed, he accidentally knocked Chuuya to his knees, tearing the fabric his pants in the knee area slightly at the sudden movement and impact.

After the two of them broke apart, Chuuya looked Dazai directly in the eyes and said, "You're buying me new pants, you moron."

Dazai laughed once again and pressed his forehead to Chuuya's.

"I love you too, you bastard," Chuuya said, "and I promise to not let you die unless by my own hands."