"You're not going out like that."

"But it's Christmas and it's warm."

"You look like a whore, lad. Go put on a sweater."

Chuuya groans.

He planned (was blackmailed) on going out drinking with Dazai, but it was abnormally warm for Christmas day, so he decided to dress accordingly. He discarded of his usual black jacket and red sweater and settled with just the loose pink shirt underneath.

And his Ane-san did not approve.

"Really? A whore?"

Mori-sensei suddenly gives his attention to the situation.

"Kouyou-kun is right, Chuuya-kun. You can't go out dressed like that."

Chuuya sighs.

"Fine, I'll go out on a sweater." The "and sweat my ass off" part goes unsaid.

Chuuya turns around to head back to his room and put on his maroon sweater, when he runs into Dazai. Judging from the look on his face, he had overheard Chuuya's conversation with Kouyou and Mori. He fingers Chuuya's shirt collar and lightly pulls it up since it was drooping on his shoulder low enough to where it made his heart race.

"I think you look good, Chuuya~"

Chuuya doesn't like that comment. Not at all. It certainly doesn't make his face heat up.

"Oh shut up, Dazai. Get out of my way so I can change."

Dazai plays with a tendril of Chuuya's fiery locks as he steps out of the way, smirking wider, his one uncovered eye sparkling sinisterly.

"Whatever you say, partner."

The emphasis Dazai puts on "partner" makes Chuuya's heart convulse in his ribcage as he speedwalks to his room.

~

"You're late."

"Shut up."

Dazai smiles chillingly at the redhead as he sips his whiskey, not breaking his gaze at him.

He motions at the empty seat next to him. "I saved a spot for you."

Chuuya's tone is nonchalant.

"Thanks."

He takes his seat beside his partner and orders a glass of wine.

~

"Ngh, Dazai, I didn't look like a whore, did I?"

Chuuya being a lightweight was a curse. Especially on Christmas when going out drinking with Dazai. He barely sipped his second glass and felt flushed.

But at least being drunk makes it easier to tolerate the brunette.

"Huh?"

Chuuya sighs.

"Ane-san and Mori-sensei. They told me to put on my sweater because I looked like a whore without it, apparently. How'd you forget already, you idiot?"

Dazai smirks again, which was signifying that what he was about to say would piss Chuuya off.

"Oh, I didn't. I just wanted to hear you say that again."

Chuuya scowls. "You're an asshole."

"I'm your asshole~"

Chuuya avoids eye contact after that as he takes another slug of his wine.

"And to answer your question, no. I don't think you looked like a whore."

The shorter man slowly turns to look at him. "Really?"

His tone is so soft, Dazai feels his face heat up. But he has a better poker face than Chuuya, so it was less obvious.

"Yes, really. I think you looked good, Chuuya. But not in a whorish way. I could never imagine you as a whore."

Chuuya's face softens.

"Oh, Dazai, thank y--"

"Because you only belong to me~"

Chuuya furrows his brows. Cute, Dazai thinks.

"I beg your pardon?"

Dazai grins. "Chuuya can't be a whore. He's mine and mine alone."

Chuuya glares at the brunette and takes another sip of wine.

"I'm not yours. I could get up and flirt with and go home with anyone I wanted."

His tone is cold and unforgiving.

Dazai's grin morphs into a cruel smirk.

"Prove it then. There's some girls over there, go hit on them."

Chuuya stands up from the bar, but does not move. He stares at the girls and tries to approach them, but his feet are frozen in place.

"What's the matter, partner?"

"They're in a group. I'm scared."

He lies.

He isn't scared of approaching them.

He simply did not want to.

And Dazai knows that.

Right as Chuuya takes his seat again, Dazai cups his chin in his hand, smiling warmly.

"That's okay. I knew you wouldn't anyway. You love me too much~"

Chuuya blushes and looks away, ignoring the pleasant feeling of Dazai's hand on his face.

"Shush."

Dazai's eyes sparkle.

"Oh, right! I got you a little something, Chuuya!"

Dazai reaches into his coat and pulls out a poorly wrapped gift, letting go of Chuuya's face in the process, much to the redhead's dismay.

He pushes the box towards him. "Go on, open it!"

Chuuya braces himself for something horrible. Something that'll piss him off and make Dazai deserving of a punch to the face.

But all of those expectations are subsumed by shock.

It's a hat.

It bore a similar appearance to the current hat he donned, but larger, softer, and the band was brown, rather than red.

Plus, there is a little silver star clip on it.

It is stunning.

"This is…"

"A new ugly hat to add to the hatrack's collection! It's a token to display that you're mine." Dazai's smile is so sweet, it looks fake.

Chuuya takes his hat off his head and puts on his new one. It fits perfectly, like a glass slipper.

He turns on his camera and looks at himself in it, staring in awe.

"You're awfully vain, Chuuya~"

"Shut up, I'm admiring the hat."

Chuuya stares for another minute before turning to Dazai.

"This...this is...amazing. Thank you."

Dazai smiles softly at his partner. "I'm glad you like it, fufufu."

Chuuya looks at his hands, then slugs the rest of the glass of wine.

"Fuck, I didn't get you anything in return."

Dazai leans forward until he's ever so slightly pressing against the shorter man.

"That's okay, Chuuya. I know of something you could give me right now, anyway."

"What?"

Dazai smirks and points upward. Chuuya looks up and--predictably--sees a shrub of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, right above them.

Dazai puts his hands on the sides of Chuuya's flushed, scowling face.

"'Tis the season, Chuuya. Now, kiss me."

Chuuya sighs.

"Merry Christmas, asshole."

And, oh so tenderly, he presses his lips against the brunette's, the taste so sickeningly sweet, he never wants to pull away.