"You're so cute, Chuuya."

"Shut up."

Through his fluster, Chuuya splashed red paint at the brunette, to which he laughed as it stained his protective blue jumpsuit.

One other voice spoke up, "I'd appreciate it if you two would stop."

And another replied, "It's not like they're hurting anyone."

"Mind your business, Jinko."

And black paint was flicked at Atsushi Nakajima.

Dazai rested his chin on the end of his paint roller, making eyes at his partner. "I love what you've done with your hair. You look so cute with it tied up like that, aibou."

Chuuya looked away. "Come up with a different adjective, dumbass."

"Why? 'Cute' is a perfect word to describe you right now."

"I will pour this paint down your shirt."

"I wouldn't have a problem with that, Chuuya."

"You're so fuckin' weird."

"Dazai-san."

Before Dazai could say anything in response to Chuuya, he turned his head when hearing his subordinate's voice.

"What's the matter, Atsushi-kun?"

Dazai expected the answer to be, "Akutagawa keeps wiping his paint all over me," but those were not the words Atsushi chose.

"You're resting your head on the wrong end of your paint roller, Dazai-san. You're getting paint all over your face."

Dazai stopped smiling and his face flushed when he realized he made an error in judgement. He straightened his spine and turned around his paint roller, holding it as if nothing ever happened.

"I knew that."

Chuuya started to laugh, to which Dazai turned and scowled at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you looked so fucking stupid."

Dazai sighed.

"Ew, you got your paint on me!"

"You did the same to me! Do you have any idea how hard it is to wash black out of white?"

"Well, you might as well do some work every once in awhile!"

Dazai chuckled at the two of them. "They're cute, are they not?"

Chuuya stared at his partner with an arched eyebrow. "You seem to love using that word today, Dazai."

"Can you blame me? Look at you, in your black T-shirt, with your jacket around your waist, and a blue spot on your face--"

"Drink paint."

Dazai chuckled again. "And look at them, too. Fighting like siblings. It's so endearing."

Chuuya looked over at Atsushi and Akutagawa. Atsushi had his hand on Akutagawa's face, pushing him away, and at the same time getting white paint on him. Akutagawa continuously flailed his paint brush, splattering as much paint on Atsushi as possible, shouting, "Eat paint, Jinko!"

Chuuya looked back at Dazai. "Have you already drunk paint?"

Dazai smiled at Chuuya and attempted to wipe away the blue paint on his face, but it just ended up spreading more.

Chuuya glared at Dazai. "You're making an even bigger mess, idiot."

"Hey, I'm trying, okay?"

"Not hard enough."

Dazai smirked. "Fine, you wanna play that way? Okay then."

Dazai reshaped the splotch of paint on Chuuya's face into a small blue heart.

"...what are you doing?"

"Painting a heart on your face. I think it makes you even cuter."

Chuuya sputtered until he mustered the ability to splash Dazai with more paint and shout, "DUMBASS!"

Dazai responded with laughter.

"Ne, Chuuya? Can I tell you something?"

"Make it quick."

"I love you."

Chuuya froze and his face turned as red as his paint. Before he could say anything, he was saved by the sound of coughing.

Both he and Dazai turned to see Akutagawa having another coughing fit.

"This is why you shouldn't have been so aggressive, Ryuunosuke."

Akutagawa stuttered in between coughs until he pieced together the words, "Don't call me that, Jinko."

"Then call me by my actual name."

Dazai's shoulders dropped. "Damn. Looks like the party has to be cut short."

~

Atsushi and Akutagawa were sent back, and their paint brushes were taken away. Which, they both admit, was for the best.

Chuuya smeared the blue heart on his face in an attempt to wipe it away. "Hey, Dazai."

Dazai turned back and looked at him. "What is it?"

"Are you high on paint fumes?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because of what you said."

"What did I say?"

"You told me you loved me."

Dazai smiled softly and lightly cradled Chuuya's face with his hand under his chin. "I'm not high or drunk on anything, Chuuya."

"Hah?"

"I meant it. I do love you."

Chuuya's face flushed once again. In response, he dipped his finger in his paint, stood on his toes, and painted a small heart on Dazai's cheek like Dazai did to him.

Dazai's eyes gently closed, and his hand crept up to the side of Chuuya's face. He could tell what Chuuya was doing by the movement of his pointer finger against his cheek.

Chuuya put his hand over Dazai's. "Well, then I must be high on paint fumes."

"Why?"

"Because I just painted a heart on your face."

Dazai opened his eyes. "You want to say it back, don't you?"

Chuuya looked away.

"Come on, Chuuya."

Chuuya sighed and still avoided eye contact.

"I love you too, you paint-covered bastard."