Scrambling around the flat, Chuuya hastily searches for a certain brunette, who, despite being so tall, is excellent at staying out of the redhead’s vision.

Today is Dazai’s birthday.

Dazai never liked celebrating his birthday. It was merely a reminder to him that another year has passed with him being on this dreaded planet, feeling stuck, and miserable. The years have slowly been getting better for Dazai, but nothing could ever truly patch up the holes inside him. He even refrained telling his coworkers his birth date, the only one who knows at the Agency being the boss, given the brunette had no choice but to say when his date of birth was. His coworkers were still adamant, celebrating his birthday a different day each year—and never even coming close to his actual birthday. He appreciated the sentiment behind it, but the smile on his face he wore each year was about as real as his significant other’s possibilities to grow taller.

His only companion who knows his birthday is Chuuya.

Dazai and Chuuya having been partners, the two developed a special bond—a bond the brunette would never, could never reformulate with his current partner; they simply aren’t as close. Chuuya understands Dazai in a way nobody else is capable of. So, Dazai felt most comfortable sharing his birthday with the redhead. He knows that redhead would never force him to do something he wasn’t comfortable with (unless it would save his life, of course).

Chuuya orchestrated a lovely day for his beloved on account of his birthday: letting the brunette sleep in, gifting him with breakfast in bed, and now, he requested Dazai dress decently, as he wants to take him out to spoil him in any matter the birthday boy pleases.

However, the brunette was now nowhere to be found.

Chuuya opens the door to their bedroom. “Oi, Dazai, this isn’t funny. Come out of hiding, you idiot.”

The shorter man stays perfectly quiet to listen for any quiet chuckles coming from under the bed or inside the closet (sometimes, Dazai behaved like he was a third of his age), but Chuuya’s silence was met with more silence.

He decides to take his phone out of his pocket, and text a message to his lover.

{Slug:}
{Where the fuck are you}
{I can’t spoil you rotten if you’re in hiding}

He gets a response, much to his surprise.

{Mackerel:}
{I’m not that well hidden}
{Has that stupid hat of yours finally sucked your brain dry? ♡}

Chuuya scowls.

{Slug:}
{Very fucking funny}

{Mackerel:}
{If you want me, come and get me, Chuuya~}

That’s what I’ve been trying to do for the last twenty minutes, you asshole.

Chuuya decides to give up, seating himself on the couch and turning on the television. If toying with him incessantly was what Dazai wanted to do for his birthday, well, this was the one day Chuuya would let him. He pondered getting himself a glass of wine, but given it was noon, he chose to not do so, as that would be...problematic.

Besides, eventually, Dazai would get upset that Chuuya wasn’t playing along, and come out of hiding.

But why was he so insistent on having Chuuya find him?

Most years where the two have celebrated Dazai’s birthday as a couple, Dazai chose to mess with Chuuya, as he knew this was the one day he had a get-out-of-jail free card to do so. But never had he done anything like this.

And soon enough, Chuuya will learn why.

A finger pokes hard at the top of Chuuya’s head unsuspectingly. Normally, when someone unbeknownst to the redhead did something like this, his sixth sense kicked in, and that unsuspecting person often ended up with a broken hand—and wrist, and most likely spine, too. However, Chuuya did not act up in the slightest, as he knew full well who the finger belonged to.

He tilts his head up to exasperatedly acknowledge his lover’s presence. “Da—”

But when he looks up, nobody is there.

“Over here, Chuuya~”

Chuuya’s head moves to the familiar voice which he loves so much, and his eyes lay on something most unexpected.

He sees Dazai, who has at last come out of hiding. However, his clothing choice is a lot more bold than usual. The brunette donned star-shaped hair pins, holding his hair back in a way that always made Chuuya melt, along with a long, soft, dark aqua sweater that gifted Dazai with the most adorable case of sweater paws, one of Chuuya’s chokers, a frilled, pink skirt, and thigh-high white socks.

Chuuya’s jaw drops.

It is no question that Dazai is androgynous. Referring to himself with more effeminate-oriented pronouns, along with his soft, delicate hands, long eyelashes that went well with his gorgeous eyes, and body shape; he is still very clearly a man, but undoubtedly a unique one. This is also not the first time he has dressed in effeminate clothing, but Chuuya cannot recall a time Dazai’s outfit was so drastically feminine.

Not to say he was against it.

Despite Chuuya always being the one between them who had to crossdress on undercover missions, Dazai was the one who thrived on doing such a thing much more.

Dazai tilts his head and leans forward a little, letting his hair flow downward a small bit, a smirk etching up his lips. “Ufu, you’re staring~” the brunette cooes as he sways his hips tauntingly to let the skirt flow nimbly.

Chuuya stays silent, eventually forcing himself to direct his eyes off of his lover and instead back on the television.

Dazai pouts. "Ehh, Chuuyaaaaa! Why are you ignoring me?"

Chuuya bites his lip to keep from laughing.

"I set up a lovely game of hide-and-seek to surprise you with my lovely look, and you don't even see it through! Now, you see my stunning outfit, and say nothing! And on my birthday, no less! If I didn't know better, I'd say Chuuya doesn't love me anymore."

Eventually, this quiet game morphs Dazai's joke-whining into actual disappointment. Taking matters into his own hands, he approaches Chuuya, pushing his back against the couch, and climbing into his lap. He puts his hands on the redhead's shoulders, long sleeves unrelenting and still covering half of both hands.

"Chuuya, please pay attention to me."

Chuuya does his best to keep his composure as he soaks in the fact that his incredibly cute boyfriend has now taken a seat in his lap. Daringly, his eyes dart down and notices the way Dazai's skirt rides up his legs and shows off a teasing bit of his thigh—

Chuuya swallows deeply as he puts his arms around the brunette's waist, meeting his eyes. They look back at him with a blend of annoyance and desperation.

Perhaps Chuuya took it a bit too far with giving Dazai a taste of his own medicine. It is his birthday, after all.

So Chuuya decides to toy with the brunette in a different way.

A sinister grin forms on Chuuya's lips and he pulls Dazai closer to him. "Ah, I'm so sorry for ignoring you for so long. I should never treat you that way on your birthday like this. Especially when you look so pretty."

Heat forms in Dazai's cheeks and Chuuya feels triumphant as he watches red bloom in them. It's as if Dazai breaks almost instantaneously. "Y-you think I look pretty?"

Chuuya feels as if he may melt. Watching Dazai blush so genuinely like that, hearing him say words like that, makes his heart soar. Dazai never shows that side of himself to anyone. Even when someone gives him praise or affection, he never blushes or stutters.

That Chuuya can get under that exterior of his and see him in a state like this, it makes him feel complete.

Chuuya's fingers dance along Dazai's side; he drinks in the way Dazai tightens his grip on his shoulders and shivers slightly. "Most certainly. Fuck, Osamu, I don't know what I'd ever done to deserve getting to see you like this."

Dazai's thighs tremble, and Chuuya moves his hands down to hold them secure, Dazai whining slightly at being restricted like that. Chuuya takes the opportunity to admire the brunette's choice in socks.

"You look so good in these stockings. Ah, you've forgone your bandages for me? How sweet."

Chuuya lifts up one of Dazai's legs and kisses his lower inner thigh.

Dazai's face reddens deeper and he leans against the redhead. "Goodness, is Chuuya trying to kill me on my birthday? How cruel."

Chuuya internally groans. The amount of times Dazai makes a comment like that is irritating. Chuuya loves Dazai with all his heart, and he wouldn't change a thing about him—except his comments on death and suicidal tendencies.

Chuuya keeps it inside, however. Today is a day for spoiling his ex-partner current-lover rotten.

"Most certainly not. But, I do love the way you curl up against me and the way you turn so red when you think I might be."

Unannounced, Chuuya stands up, keeping a firm grip on Dazai's thighs as he holds him against him. Dazai lets out a quiet yelp and holds onto him tighter as Chuuya begins to walk. Despite the height difference, Dazai isn't all that heavy. He's gained more pounds since the two started living together, but it's a good thing. Chuuya was appalled at how malnourished Dazai had allowed himself to be, and immediately made the decision to cook him plenty of homemade meals so as to turn him into a tree rather than a twig, as he has said once. Now, Dazai has a more pink complexion and is closer to a healthy body weight than he ever has. Even so, Chuuya is still quite strong, so carrying Dazai like this is no trouble. In fact, it is quite the pleasure.

Arriving in their shared bedroom, Chuuya gently places the brunette down on his back against the mattress, climbing over him, as he presses a kiss against his lips. Still flustered, Dazai's fingertips slowly reach up and begin to slowly massage Chuuya's scalp as he kisses him lovingly.

The redhead pulls back, looking down at his lover. The way his face is so red, and his hair splays out against the sheet…

God, he's so fucking cute.

Chuuya's hand moves to Dazai's neck and he pokes at the necklace. "Hm hm, I see you stole one of my chokers, yeah?"

Dazai squirms at Chuuya's touches against his neck. "Mhm, I did...is Chuuya mad at me?"

"Not at all, it looks five times better on you than it does on me."

Dazai pushes strands of hair out of his eyes. "F-five times might be an exaggeration…"

"I disagree."

Chuuya leans down and kisses Dazai's neck right above the choker, Dazai's body writhing at the contact with a sensitive spot of his. He hugs Chuuya tightly as the redhead's kisses creep up his chin and back to his mouth.

"Mm, Chuuya…"

Dazai mumbles against Chuuya's mouth.

"I don't think I want to go out today...can we just stay here, please?"

Chuuya was looking forward to spoiling Dazai, buying him whatever he wanted. But if the birthday boy wants to stay home, that's what they'll do. Besides, Chuuya can still spoil him rotten like this: praising him so lovingly, kissing him all over, and then he could cook him up a lovely crab delicacy.

"I know Chuuya probably had a whole day planned for me."

Chuuya strokes Dazai's hair as he kisses him on the tip of his nose. "Of course we can. Whatever you want, mon cheri."

"Thank you, Chuuya…"

Dazai leans up and initiates a kiss.

"I love you so much."

It's not as if this is Dazai's first time saying "I love you" to Chuuya before. In fact, he first said it long before Chuuya did. But this was his first time adding the "so much" at the end. Chuuya's heart wrenches as he feels a wave of affection for the man beneath him wash over him.

Chuuya kisses him back, slowly.

"I love you too, Osamu."

He gives him a warm smile. A smile he rarely gives to anyone. A smile that makes Dazai feel so genuinely happy every time he sees it. A smile that reminds him he made the right choice trusting and falling in love with this redhead.

"Happy birthday."