A/N: I wrote this as a thought for Chuuya's birthday and I know it isn't even April yet, but I had to share this, I like how it came out. I promise I'll write a real fic on his actual birthday.

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It's Chuuya's sixteenth birthday. Dazai has a small box in his hands.

"What's that?"

Dazai smirks and puts the box in his pocket. "My my, why the rush, Chuuya? There's something I need to do first, before I can show you."

Chuuya scoffs as Dazai grabs his wrist and rolls up his sleeve and glove, revealing a blue wristband.

"Still wearing this, hm? Chuuya's really struggling cutting his ties, it seems."

"Sh-shut up." Chuuya's bottom lip quivers. "Asshole."

"Chuuya." Dazai's voice is gentle now. He caresses the skin around the wristband with the tip of his finger, slowly. "They used you. They never really cared about you. What they cared about was your power. You should cut off your ties and memories of them."

Chuuya's unoccupied fist clenches and he bites his lip. "But...they took me in...I...I still loved them for accepting me..."

"They accepted you because they knew they could use you to their advantage. You weren't their king. You were their doormat."

Chuuya chokes down tears. "I told you...to shut up!"

He swings a fist at Dazai, who catches it in his own hand before it collides with his face.

"Chuuya." Dazai twines their fingers together and brushes a kiss against the redhead's knuckles. "This is your home now. You're appreciated here. Mori might've just brought you in because of your strength..."

Dazai opens his eyes and meets Chuuya's gaze, smiling at him. A genuine smile. A smile nobody had ever seen on Dazai's face.

"...but here, we love you for more than your capabilities. We love you for you. I love you for you. More importantly, I trust you. I would willingly put my life in your hands...because I know you'd keep it safe."

Chuuya squeezes his eyes shut and bites his lip harder, to the point where he draws a little blood.

"So, let me take off your wristband. You aren't a Sheep anymore. You're part of the mafia now. And this will be a better home for you than they ever were."

Chuuya sighs, and loosens the tension in his hand, letting Dazai slip the blue band off his wrist once and for all, finally letting go his first home.

Maybe Dazai was right.

Maybe this will be a better home.

"And...what's in the box?"

Dazai slips the band into his pocket, taking a mental note to put it in a molotov later. "Your gift."

Dazai smirks again, opening the box, and taking out what looks like a small belt.

"What the hell is that?"

"It's a choker necklace! How could you not tell? Silly Chuuya thinks he's such a fashionista, but then he brainfarts like that. How cute~"

Chuuya growls. Dazai holds up the necklace.

"Allow me?"

Chuuya releases the tension in his shoulders and sighs again. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

Dazai them steps behind the redhead, slowly looping the leather around his neck, letting his fingers coarse against the soft skin, humored in the way Chuuya's shoulders clench as he does so. He attaches the buckle with a click, and unhands Chuuya at last.

"There we go~"

Chuuya reaches up at touches the choker.

"How does it feel?"

"I...I like it. Thanks. Or something."

Dazai gives Chuuya another genuine smile. A smile so tender, Chuuya couldn't believe it was from the demon prodigy himself.

But maybe it's okay. Maybe his new home was full of surprises.

"Happy birthday, partner."

Chuuya thinks he'll fit in quite comfortably here.

He is happy.