Chuuya did not expect to hear a loud bang come from the bathroom at 7:00 in the morning.

Odd, he thinks, Dazai is never up this early. It's easy for him to eliminate someone breaking in, he's already been up for an hour. A decade spent as a mafioso—and especially an executive—has sharpened his senses, he knows he would have heard it.

The only possibility was Dazai.

Chuuya groans as he gets up from his chair to investigate. Usually when he hears a loud noise in his home, it's Dazai uselessly attempting to commit suicide. He has gotten better with his fruitless acts as in he does them less now that Chuuya has taken him in and shows him the love and adoration he's needed, Chuuya knows nothing will ever truly fix the brunette.

Chuuya is never pleased to find the brunette in a tough situation, finding him soaked in water or with a frayed rope around his neck, and the familiar, "Ah, there you are, Chuuya! Would you be a dear and help me please?"

Of course, Chuuya can never say no to his lover.

Chuuya storms into the bathroom, opening the unlocked door.

"Dammit, Dazai, what hole did you dig yourself this time—"

Chuuya cuts off his words at the sight that meets his eyes.

Dazai is on the floor. There are no traces of weaponry or tools or anything the taller man would use to kill himself. His body is laying there awkwardly, limbs ragdolled, but he's shaking slightly. He's still in his sleepwear, and his hair is even more unkempt than usual. Chuuya notices Dazai's pants are around his ankles, indicating that whatever rendered him like this was unexpected.

"Chuuya…?"

Never has Dazai's voice sounded so weak. Chuuya feels as if a large needle just hit him in the shoulder blade.

Keeping his panic internal, he crouches down. "What happened to you?"

Dazai lays there, silent for a moment. When the light seems to come back into his eyes, he speaks.

"I had a bad dream last night that woke me up early. I tossed and turned, trying to fall back asleep, but you weren't there, so I couldn't. Eventually I decided to get up. I'd use the facilities and then come downstairs and pester you until you'd brush my hair for me. But...suddenly I felt entirely numb. I couldn't even get myself to stand up. I fell off of the toilet and onto the floor. My ears were ringing so bad and I thought I was gonna throw up."

Chuuya's heart sinks.

"So I stayed laying here to wait for a feeling to come back into my body. But then you came up and found me. I was hoping you wouldn't come up here and find me in such a humiliating position."

Chuuya sighs and caresses the top of Dazai's head. "I'd never ignore a loud thud that I knew came from you. I was prepared to see you on your ass with a broken ankle and frayed noose around your neck. Not...this."

Dazai makes himself laugh. "That sounds like me."

Chuuya ignores the man and grabs him by the wrists, his body limp and uncooperative with the redhead. Not that Dazai would cooperate with being manhandled unless he was being carried bridal style.

Chuuya lowers his voice to a more gentle one. "Poor baby. Come on, let's go downstairs and freshen you up."

Chuuya can hear the smile on Dazai's lips when he says, "Oooh! Is Attentive Housewife slash Nurse Chuuya back today~?"

Chuuya chokes down his reflex to tell him to shut up. "I suppose. Now, let's pull up your pants."

If Dazai was in too much pain to even sit upright, the redhead suspects that he's in too much pain to bend over and hitch up his pants. So Chuuya, being the saint that he is, squats down and does it for him.

It shouldn't be endearing. It shouldn't. Dazai is in pain. They both know that. But it's also a known fact that Chuuya would go through hell and back for that man. Chuuya would do the most menial to the most absurd tasks for Dazai. They both know that, too.

Dazai smiles a small, genuine smile as the shorter man fixes his pajamas. "Will Chuuya carry me down the stairs~?"

Chuuya contemplates throwing Dazai over his shoulder and carrying him like a sack of potatoes. But perhaps an immense blood flow to his head would not be good for him right now. So instead, he picks Dazai up in his arms and carries him in the one way about which Dazai would never complain.

The brunette curls up in Chuuya's arms and beams. "Yay! Looks like Chuuya's a gentleman today~"

How Dazai can still manage to behave this way after nearly fainting, Chuuya isn't entirely sure. But he wouldn't have it any other way.

~

Chuuya lays Dazai down longways on their couch. "Do you want to tell me what you think caused this, Osamu?"

Dazai stares off into space and thinks about it.

"When was the last time you ate?"

Dazai says nothing.

"You always come home before me, and by the time I get home, you're in our bed. I know you're not sleeping until I'm in bed though. When was the last time you ate?"

Dazai stares at his old partner and gives him his best hurt puppy look.

Chuuya stares back, refusing to be affected. "Don't lie to me."

Dazai sticks out his bottom lip and speaks quietly. "I ate some canned crab at the office a few days ago."

Chuuya sighs. "Why don't you ever take care of yourself while I'm away?"

Dazai opens his mouth, and Chuuya knows his words will be met with a sarcastic remark.

Chuuya sticks out his finger. "Don't answer, that was rhetorical."

Dazai pouts. "Is Chuuya going to force a bunch of food down my throat?"

Chuuya walks into the kitchen. "Yes. Because apparently, my boyfriend is a genius, but is too stupid to know how to feed himself."

"I remember Attentive Housewife slash Nurse Chuuya being nicer than this."

"Don't starve yourself and maybe he will be."

Chuuya takes out a pan and begins working on food for the brunette. Despite Dazai's whining, he knows how much that man enjoys his cooking. Or getting spoiled by him in any way. From years of being with and knowing the wonder that is Dazai Osamu, the bandaged man feels more pleasures to life than unhealthy things. He just does not enjoy working for it. Chuuya wishes that he would change in that regard, but he never has a problem with tending to his lover.

After several minutes, Chuuya serves Dazai his food. His eyelids flutter and a soft smile graces his lips as he gives Dazai the plate. "Here you go, Osamu. I added a special ingredient to make it even better."

Dazai gives him a tired look. "What, some kind of stomach medicine?"

Chuuya rolls his eyes playfully. "Love, you silly man."

Dazai's cheeks turn pink suddenly at that comment, and Chuuya knows he'll deny it till the day he dies. Regardless, Chuuya finds it adorable.

Dazai gives Chuuya a pathetic look. "Would...would Chuuya feed me please?"

Ordinarily, that would be easy to say no to. However, Dazai feeling as bad as he is now is one of the only two scenarios in which Chuuya would be willing to say yes to that request, the other being if it's Valentine's Day and Chuuya wants to sweep Dazai off his heels.

"Yes, I will, Osamu."

Chuuya fills the spoon with rice, and Dazai's mouth automatically opens to let him push the spoon in his mouth. Dazai's eyes close as he swallows the rice.

"Mm...Chuuya's a good cook."

Chuuya chuckles softly and continues to spoon-feed the meal to his lover. "Thank you."

~

Dazai stares at the cup in front of him. "What is this?"

Chuuya rolls his eyes. "It's chamomile tea."

Dazai sticks out his bottom lip. "Chuuya...you know I'd prefer hot cocoa over tea."

"Hot cocoa doesn't help you with nausea." Chuuya pinches the bridge of his nose and puts on his reading glasses to file some mafia paperwork. "You need it. I made sure it was nice and sweet, and it'll help you feel less sick. Drink up."

Dazai groans and holds the mug with both hands, taking a sip of the tea. He immediately winces. "Aaah, it's hot!!"

Chuuya groans. "It's fresh. Of course it's hot. Drink it slowly."

Dazai pouts again.

"Now, I'm going to head to my office and file some paperwork. You'd better drink that tea while I'm gone."

Dazai squeezes his blanket and nods once Chuuya turns away.

…

Chuuya puts his reading glasses away in their protective case and slips the paperwork into a folder for Monday. He gets up from his office chair and walks out. Dazai probably dozed off in the hour he was away. Part of him hoped so; Dazai could use as much sleep as he can get.

The redhead finds Dazai sitting there, staring at his tea. Chuuya internally groans at the prospect of Dazai refusing to drink it.

But upon closer inspection, the cup is bone-dry. Chuuya's eyes widen. "Did you...drink it all?"

Dazai looks away, ashamed. "Chuuya makes good tea."

Chuuya smiles at those words. Dazai is so cute.

~

"Osamu."

Chuuya meets Dazai's eyes from across the room.

"How are you feeling? Do you think you can walk now?"

Dazai stands up, still in his pajamas, his blanket falling to the floor. "Yeah. Is there something Chuuya wants?"

Chuuya spreads his legs and pats the space in between them. "Come and sit here."

Confused but obedient, Dazai walks over to the redhead, sitting on the carpet in between his legs. "What do you want, Chuuya?"

Chuuya smiles. "I couldn't stop thinking about how you said you wanted me to brush your hair earlier. So, I thought I'd reward you for handling your pain so well, and do just that."

Chuuya takes out his hair brush.

"And you know that I love brushing your hair."

Dazai makes a little humming sound that almost sounds like a purr, and Chuuya almost melts right there. But he holds himself together to give Dazai what he wants.

Gently, he puts the brush on Dazai's head and weaves it through messy chocolate-tinted hair, using his free hand to cup Dazai's cheek. The taller man leans into Chuuya's palm and closes his eyes.

Chuuya smiles at him. "You have such nice hair, Osamu. It's so soft and shiny when you remember to wash it."

Dazai whines a little at that comment, but doesn't argue. Chuuya continues to gently brush his lover's hair, carefully removing the knots. It's moments like these the redhead really appreciates. They're full of nothing but peace, quietude, and love, the polar opposite of their mafia days.

While for the longest time, Chuuya missed being able to see his annoying yet charming partner every day, he's glad he left the mafia. Now, Dazai is closer to happiness than he's ever had. Now, he's doing what he's always been meant to do. Even if he did it just to keep a promise to his dead friend, Dazai has changed.

Dazai no longer thinks about Oda on a daily basis. As much as that man meant to the brunette, when it comes to his journey to the light, Oda was merely the match to the bonfire. Chuuya was the gasoline and firewood. Since they were fifteen, Chuuya had been introducing him to more light, until he was finally given a push to make a change. Despite this change for the better, there was one thing he missed: Chuuya. He missed the days he would fall ill and Chuuya would take care of him—even if it was in a less loving way than now. For four years, Dazai had to battle sickness alone.

But no longer.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

"That feels good, Chuuya…"

Chuuya closes his eyes. "I'm glad, Osamu."

"Thank you for taking care of me."

Chuuya puts the brush down and leans forward to plant a kiss on his head. "It's what I love doing. Now, let's get you to bed, shall we?"

"Mkay…"

Holding Dazai's hand, Chuuya drags Dazai up the stairs and into their bedroom. Peeling back the blanket, the redhead gives plenty of room for his lover to climb into his side and bury his face in the pillow. Chuuya smiles at how cute the brunette is as he climbs into bed beside him.

Dazai squirms a little on the pillow and cracks his eyes open. "I think I've changed my mind about what I said this morning."

Chuuya pushes the bangs out of Dazai's eyes. "What do you mean?"

Dazai smiles. "I'm glad you found me in the bathroom this morning. Because I got to spend the whole day getting spoiled by you~"

Chuuya playfully rolls his eyes.

"I love you, Chuuya," Dazai mumbles as he leans forward and buries his face into Chuuya's chest.

Chuuya closes his eyes.

"Does Chuuya love me, too?"

Chuuya knows Dazai knows the answer. He knows Dazai is just fishing for praise. But he doesn't care, he'll give it to him anyway.

"Yes, I do."

Because Dazai is a brat. But Chuuya loves him anyway. And has never regret loving him a day, and never will.