Dazai toying with Chuuya's emotions had become a ritual at this point.

Whether it's plucking his hat off his head, making fun of his height, or even flirting with him, Dazai always found a way to fluster his partner.

Chuuya let him do this, of course; messing with him did not bother him...too much. But the fact that Dazai always seemed to pick his words so perfectly that Chuuya's face flushed as red as his hair, he felt that could not be a coincidence.

So he decided to inquire upon that.

"Oi, Dazai."

"What is it?"

"Why do you love making me blush so goddamn much?"

Dazai smirked at the redhead. "Because, Chuuya, I enjoy your reactions."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Chuuya did not notice the brunette approaching closer until they were practically touching.

"The way you pull your hat over your eyes, the way you blush, the way you tell me to shut up, I don't know. The way you act when you're embarrassed...is quite amusing."

Chuuya puffed up his cheeks.

"Fuck you."

Dazai feigned a look of surprise. "Really? Here? Now?"

Chuuya's face heated up, along with his anger. "SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU ASSHOLE!"

And Dazai received a swift kick in the shin.

"Chuuya, wait!"

Dazai stopped the mafioso in his tracks before he could leave.

"What do you want now?"

Dazai was suddenly smiling. "That's exactly what I mean!"

"Excuse me?"

"The way you reacted! I love that! Thank you for entertaining me~"

"You're such an ass."

Dazai walked closer to his partner and tilted his chin up with two fingers, watching the anger in his eyes melt away.

"Silly Chuuya. If you really wanted me to stop pulling on that cute little heart of yours, you wouldn't entertain me so."

Dazai leaned in slightly, as if to tantalize Chuuya, and then he let go of his face and spun around.

Chuuya fumed at the detective. "I hate you!"

"Thanks for the free amusement, aibou~!

And Dazai walked away.

~

Chuuya was tired of Dazai's antics.

While he was willing to let the taller man tease him as much as he desired, tugging on his heartstrings like they were puppet strings was too far.

Chuuya was not just Dazai's emotional toy.

So revenge was in order. It was time for Dazai to be the one on his knees and red in the face.

So Chuuya strung his plan together, waiting for Dazai to start messing with him again.

The perfect time to spring his trap.

And sure enough, Dazai fell right into it.

He leaned over the couch where Chuuya sat, reading. He smiled as he watched him.

"Chuuyaaaaa, you always have those stupid gloves on! It wouldn't hurt to just bare your hands once in awhile! I've forgotten what they look like! Besides, if they get cold, you can just stick your hands in my pockets~"

Chuuya smirked. He swallowed his fluster and put the book down, standing up, and facing Dazai.

"So you want me to take my gloves off?"

Dazai blinked in surprise. He did not expect Chuuya to actually seem like he was going along with his antics.

Nevertheless, he kept his smile on his face and continued.

"Why, yes, I would, Chuuya."

"Alright, I will. But, oh dear! I can't seem to get them off with my hands! What shall I do?"

Chuuya took one quick look at Dazai, then carefully and slowly pulled off one glove with his teeth. He watched Dazai's expression change. It was working.

He carefully took the glove from his mouth and dropped it to the floor. He then bit down on the other, and oops! Did he wink at Dazai as he pulled it off? Indeed, he did.

He looked Dazai in the eyes and saw the red develop in his cheeks. He put his now bare hand on the side of his face and smirked.

"What's the matter, Osamu? Did you think I would be a pawn for every one of your games?"

He walked closer to Dazai and put a finger under his chin.

"You seem to have forgotten that when a pawn makes it to the end of a chessboard, it becomes a queen."

He stared into Dazai's eyes briefly, then let go of his chin and stepped back.

"It's been a pleasure fucking with you, Dazai."

And then Chuuya walked away.

Dazai was still too stunned to say anything.

It was at last Chuuya's turn to put the brunette in checkmate.

And by golly, he succeeded.