"Hey, Chuuya, your boyfriend is here."

He doesn't have to look, but he does so anyway. And just as his coworker had said, the lanky brunette had entered the coffee shop once again.

Not surprising, since he came in every day.

It was lost to Chuuya how the man was able to calculate exactly when his shift was, and be there every time.

"He's not my boyfriend."

Tachihara continues to lackadaisically clean the mug. "If you insist."

Chuuya blushes and puffs his cheeks in annoyance.

Boy, his friends never give him a break.

So what, the same man came into the Port Coffee Shop every day?

So what if he flirted with Chuuya every time?

So what if Chuuya secretly liked it?

Apparently his friends found it quite amusing. Even Akutagawa gave him a light bash every now and then for his obvious crush on the man.

"Why, hello, mon petit barista."

The sweet voice blends magnificently with the sweet aroma of coffee. Chuuya wishes Dazai would keep talking.

"Mhm."

"I would like a cup of coffee, please."

Chuuya nonchalantly grabs a mug and approaches the coffee pot, choking down the urge to meet the other man's eyes that he knew were boring their way into his chest. Dazai follows along his trail, much to the redhead's p̶l̶e̶a̶s̶u̶r̶e̶ dismay.

"How do you want it?"

Dazai leans against the pastry display in a manner that if any other employee was handling his coffee would scold him for doing so. He smiles as he reaches out a long arm until his fingers graze a fiery tendril upon Chuuya's head. A feather-light touch, he barely senses it. He wishes he would touch him more.

"You know exactly how I want it, Chuuya."

The husky tone Dazai speaks in is enough to send a shiver down the other's spine; the way Chuuya's name rolls off the brunette's tongue is like honey, as if he is cooing it right into his ear as he holds him flush against him.

He cannot hold it back.

The redhead hears Dazai snicker at witnessing his effect on him.

"Do you think…"

Chuuya regretfully looks up at the taller man upon hearing his voice.

"...tonight I could…"

He watches Dazai's hand run slowly across the wooden counter. He feels heat localize itself all over his face at the very intentional motion.

"...take you out for dinner again?"

The reddish-brown eyes are surprisingly gentle as he gazes at the barista behind the counter. Chuuya expected a more prurient gaze upon him than what he was given, and frankly, he was a little disappointed.

At this moment the shorter man realizes his hand was shaking. In a rush, he puts down the mug to avoid breaking it and having a chunk of his upcoming paycheck reduced for being d̶i̶s̶t̶r̶a̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶D̶a̶z̶a̶i̶ careless.

He can feel Tachihara's smug eyes upon him as he answers the man.

"Okay."

Dazai smiles.

"Good. My treat, then. I'll take you someplace nice."

He looks down at the unfinished coffee, then back up at the barista, a taunting sparkle in his eye.

"Black? Oh, Chuuya. You know I like it sweeter."

Dazai seemed to know exactly how to piece together his words, blended with a perfectly chosen tone in a way that makes Chuuya shudder. The only reason he holds this one back is so he doesn't have to deal with being teased more than he already was going to be upon the brunette's departure.

"Sh-shut up, I'm not finished yet."

As Chuuya mixes in the cream and sugar, it is awfully silent. He desires to break it, but how?

He decides to do nothing.

After what was probably thirty seconds but what felt like thirty minutes, he finishes the regular's coffee. He gently but rushedly pushes the mug towards him.

"Here's your coffee."

Before taking the mug, Dazai smirks.

"Don't forget to ask me to pay~"

Chuuya scowls at the reminiscence of the day he forgot to charge Dazai for his coffee on account of how smitten he was.

"Yeah, yeah. 550 yen, asshole."

Dazai reaches into his wallet and pulls out the designated amount in exchange for the lovely hot drink prepared by an equally hot man behind a counter, that he shall savor on the couch as he makes eyes at said man, watching the crimson bloom in his cheeks in entertainment.

And as planned, he lifts the mug and carefully seats himself on the couch, sipping the sweet beverage slowly as his peripheral vision picks up the piercing azure eyes longingly staring at him. He "fufu"s to himself as he guzzles from the mug in his hand.

"You're staring."

Chuuya's friend announces, causing a small jump to spawn from the redhead. He had lost himself so much in watching the tall man sitting on the couch that he forgot Tachihara was there.

"Shush."

Chuuya replies to his fellow barista without breaking his gaze on the regular.

"Enjoy your date tonight."

"Uh-huh."

Dazai carefully sips up the last drop of coffee, closes his eyes briefly, and then stands up, approaches the counter, and gently places the empty mug upon it.

"Thank you for the coffee, mon cherie rouge. It was most pleasant."

He reaches into his wallet and places down an uncalled 500 yen, gently pushing it towards the redhead.

"I look forward to seeing you later tonight. I'll be sure to text you the details."

After the bell above the door dinged as the brunette exited to head back to work, the rest of Chuuya's shift was being playfully berated by Tachihara until Akutagawa came over and told him to be professional.

Chuuya silently thanks Akutagawa for saving his ass.

~

Changed out of his apron and into more casual clothing, Chuuya enters the ambient-lit restaurant, wandering until he finds the person he was looking for, comfortably seated at the table.

The two exchange casual banter during reading the menus and dining upon their dinners.

It was after those two plates were cleaned that things started to get more...interesting.

"What do you say we order dessert? I hear their chocolate mousse is to die for."

Chuuya rolls his eyes. "That's not as high praise coming from you."

Dazai feigns a look of offense. "Chuuya! You wound me! And on a date, nonetheless! I didn't know you were so cruel~"

"Shut up."

A few minutes later, their waitress returns, asking if they wanted the bill or dessert. "A dessert menu would be perfection," were Dazai's words. Chuuya gave him another eye roll for that, and Dazai pretended to be confused as to what exasperated him.

And a few more minutes later, the waitress returns once again, with dessert menus.

"Do you want to share a chocolate mousse, Chuuya?"

Chuuya carefully eyes each sweet on the menu, not finding any that appeals to him more.

"Sure."

Dazai happily closes the dessert menu. "Then it's settled!"

As if she heard him, the waitress approaches the table right then and asks what they want. "One chocolate mousse, please!" Dazai tells her.

With a smile, she says alright, and shortly comes back with the sweet treat and two spoons.

Chuuya's eyes instantly snap onto the mousse. It looks heavenly. He wants to dig in, but chooses to be polite and wait for Dazai.

A poor choice.

He watches Dazai lift the spoon and scoop up some of the mousse. He puts the spoon into his mouth, moaning at the deliciously sweet taste of the treat. He pulls the spoon out of his mouth with a pop, and pretends he does not notice Chuuya's reddened face as he goes in for more.

Shaking his head, Chuuya lifts his own spoon and takes himself a glob of the chocolate, instantly melting at the decadent flavor. It was so delicious he felt Dazai may now have competition for his heart.

Or, he would if Chuuya couldn't stop staring at him, thus not getting to indulge himself on the sweet treat as much as he wanted to.

Watching the spoon meet Dazai's lips, hearing the beckoning noises spill from them as he savored each bit of the sweet chocolate, seeing the spoon pop out from his mouth, and Dazai lean his head back in pleasure at the wonderful taste, it was worth more than some costly painting.

Chuuya w̶i̶s̶h̶e̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶p̶o̶o̶n̶ suppresses his thoughts.

"Chuuya, you've hardly touched the mousse, are you alright?"

Chuuya knows Dazai saw his eyes on him and was taking that opportunity to toy with him.

But he will not have that again.

He smirks.

"Oh, I'm alright. Actually, I'm more than alright."

He slowly slides a foot up Dazai's pant leg, watching the surprise form in the brunette's normally composed face. It was quite amusing.

"I've just been so caught up in watching you enjoy the dessert that I've been forgetting to. Perhaps I'll take another spoonful."

Chuuya twirls his spoon in between his fingers and scoops up more mousse, gently slipping the utensil between his lips as he savors the taste once again, not holding back a moan at how sweet it was.

Totally accidentally getting some mousse on his finger, he sticks it into his mouth, carefully sucking it clean. The amount on his finger was so miniscule he could easily wipe it off on his napkin without it being a tragedy, but he prefers choosing the option that'll make Dazai red in the face like Dazai had done to him so many times earlier in the day.

Removing his finger from his mouth, he opens his eyes and looks into Dazai's, that longing stare he'd desired to see back in the coffee shop now upon his face. He gently cups Chuuya's face, cradling his cheek in his hand.

"My my, Chuuya, you certainly know how to make my heart palpitate, yeah?"

Chuuya smirks again and gently plucks Dazai's hand from his face, planting kisses on each of his fingers. Dazai's hands are cold, but soft. A lovely contrast that feels oh so pleasant against his lips.

"I learned from the best, mon cherie marron. Looks like I win today."