Dazai slammed his head against the desk the tenth time that hour
"I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm never going to see the light of day again, I'm going to brutally and painfully and unflatteringly killed-"
"Congratulations." Kunikida muttered as he scowled at Dazai.
"Dazai-San I really don't think you need to stress so much." Atsushi added trying to be supportive of his best friend
"But Atsushi-kun I didn't know what to get him! It needs to be gorgeous and grand but unique, that's too hard!" The brunet looked like was going to break down into tears, he really could be dramatic sometimes.
Dazai placed his head onto the desk on the verge of tears, ignoring the sound of the door opening and footsteps coming up to Atsushi or the ones following
"What wrong with Dazai-san?" It was Akutagawa.
"He can't think of anything to give or Chuuya-San for his birthday." Atsushi's replied smiling when the other male pressed a kiss to his head before ruffling his hair.
"Honestly I think it should be obvious at this point." Akutagawa muttered
"Dazai-sama! Head up! You're not gonna get anywhere if you mope." Dazai's head shot up, seeing seven standing with her hand on her hip
"Seven-kun?"
"Yup! The one and only!"
"But I thought you were looking for your parents?" Dazai asked
"Yeah, the only information I got was that they were last spotted in Kyoto two years ago so I'm going over there with Five and his little sister, still, I decided to drop by and see how you were doing, it's been four months after all...Anyway Akutagawa-san can you tell us what Chuuya-sama wants?" She spoke turning to Akutagawa, he looked at her hesitantly, his face flushed in embarrassment, he waddled closely to Seven and whispered something in her ear, all Dazai could do was watch as the young girl choked and then flashed him the smuggest look on the planet
"I see...I see, well to put it simply he wants sweet, hot, passionate lovemaking!" Seven said bluntly with thick grin on her face, not redding in the slightest. Instead, she began to laugh when Kunikida choked on his coffee, Atsushi looked away to keep himself from snorting with laughter, Yosano leaned on the printer with the smuggest and most amused expression possible, looking at Dazai who for once in his life looked very flustered, Kenji not understanding any of it decided to go and give Kunikida a handkerchief, Noami peeked her head from over her laptop with mischievous eyes.
"Did you have to word it like that?" Dazai asked as he placed his hand over his face and sighed deeply
"I'm just saying, ~ and anyway Akutagawa-san seemed very done with it."
"I am, if I have to here Chuuya-San go on about the lack of...that, in your relationship... while drunk, I'm going to dig myself an early grave."
Dazia let his head fall to his desk in defeat
"He's been going on and on about communication and yet he didn't tell me about that." Dazai mumbled, Atsushi shuffled closer to Dazai and pat him on the back in an attempt to console him
"We said we'd take it slow." Dazai cried exasperated, it was a bit of an exaggeration but it didn't stop it from being funny.
"And it doesn't help me figure out what I should get him."
"I can help with that." Seven smiled, before checking her watch
"I'll have to leave but I think the person you should talk to is a woman named Emiko Okamoto, who works at the hospital you and Chuuya were in." the girl spoke as she opened the door and gave one final grin
"I think she'd have some useful information for you."
"How do you know?"
"Spoke to Chuuya-sama on the phone~" Seven sing-sang as she walked out of the office
"See you later Seven-kun!!" Atsushi called out
"Yeah! I'll be back in two months hopefully!"
Dazai sat and pondered to himself for while, he knew Okamoto, she was the nurse that tended to Chuuya, they had quite a decent relationship but Dazai had no clue that they carried on that friendship beyond the three weeks they had spent in the hospital. Dazai shrugged and decided that it was his best option, he got up and shut off his laptop
"Dazai, it's not your break yet." Kunikida called out, turning towards him whilst pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"I know~ I'll just not take my lunch break later, or of course Atsushi-kun could be the best and do my work for m-
"Not happening Dazai-san."
"Meanie."
Dazai decided to take a taxi to the hospital, knowing it was too far away and no one would let him borrow their car, seeing as he was horrible at driving, people seemed to forget he wasn't rich, one Taxi ride cost enough for fifty-five rolls of bandages. 'What a waste' Dazai thought bitterly as he sat in the back seat, eyes scanning the buildings and people that sped by.
Dazai paid and thanked the driver before getting out, he stood at the very front of the hospital entrance, he remembered the way he had skipped out on Boxing Day full of joy that both he and Chuuya were walking out together, both of them finally done with sitting aimlessly in a bed day after day.
With a deep breath, Dazai walked in over to the reception, waited in line quietly for his turn and then finally after two agonisingly long minutes Dazai finally made it over to the desk
"Hi, how can I help?"
"I'd like to speak to the nurse Okamoto-san? I have an important question about one of her past patients."
"Which patient?"
"Chuuya Nakahara." She nodded and typed, god, knows what, on her computer, she looked at him sympathetically
"Ahh I hate asking this but what's your relationship with him?"
"Boyfriend."
"Ahh, so you're Dazai Osamu. No worries. Luckily for you, she's on her break so I'll call her down."
"Thank you."
Dazai moved from the front of the line to the side and waited patiently, still stressing over the fact he had no gift for Chuuya and it was his birthday in two days. Thankfully he wouldn't have to stress for much longer when he heard a familiar voice
"Hello, Dazai-san."
"Ahhh Okamoto-san! I uhh need to ask you something about a certain hat-wrack of mine." She laughed at the nickname and then nodded
"Ask away."
"A friend of mine said I should come to you because I'm stuck about what to get Chuuya for his birthday. So uhm, do you know anything?"
"I see, well yes I do know something but I'm not sure if it's something you'd be interested in or willing to give." Dazai blinked stupidly at her, he'd be willing to give Chuuya the stars if he asked, Okamoto could tell that she had him complete stumped so she took his wrist and led him to a quiet room away from any prying eyes or ears.
Once alone in the room, she turned to him and sighed
"When he was here, I told him I was in a similar situation to him, that I had gotten into an accident with my boyfriend and he was in a coma for six months, he then had asked me what happened after and I said that we'd gotten married. When I said that Chuuya-San fiddled with his ring finger and turned adorably red-"
"Wait so you're saying-"
"That he probably wants to marry you." She finished.
Dazai didn't understand any of it, Chuuya had been so adamant and about taking things slow, about not rushing into things and yet the idea of getting married before they were even together was something he'd be open to.
"That doesn't make any sense though, he said he wanted to take things slow- well actually we agreed on it. But he brought it up." Okamoto smiled at him, almost sadly
"I think Chuuya-San is a very selfless person, I think he pushes away the things he wants to make sure those around him are happy and I think that's exactly what he's doing here. The expression on his face when he thought about marrying you was that of indescribable happiness but because you both went through a lot and he knows your relationship is somewhat of a rollercoaster and that you probably feel nervous about it, he decided it would be better to take your time and figure things out, that approach is still very much valid and I do agree with it somehow, but I think deep down if he could rush in and marry you, he would." There was a pause of silence, Dazai's confusion and uncertainty visible on his face,
"Of course this is an agreement between the two of you and you need to be okay with marrying him."
Dazai had never actually thought about marriage. When he was a teenager he had no interest in it, then when he was older (both in the Agency and Mafia) all he did was sleep around and he was obviously not going to imagine himself marrying a woman he'd never see again. Then once the whole Dostoevsky incident happened Dazai had decided to keep his distance from late-night rendezvous and focus more on the people he cared for platonically. Not long after that, his nightmares began to make themselves known and his feelings for Chuuya grew but even then he didn't even think Chuuya would love him back, let alone want to marry hims
But now that he thought about marrying Chuuya, when he thought about a big beautiful ceremony and Chuuya standing next to him at the alter, it sent a wave of butterflies through him, whether it was because he was nervous or he was excited, he couldn't tell, but it felt amazing nonetheless.
"I think...it would be nice." Dazai finally spoke scratching his head nervously
"But could you do me a favour?" he asked to which Okamoto nodded enthusiastically
"Of course."
"You're friends with him, right? Do you think you could meet with him and subtly question him about it? Just in case he's not up to it anymore."
"Sure! I don't mind, we were planning to meet tomorrow anyway."
"Really?!! Thank you so much." He cheered clasping her hands in his own with twinkling eyes
"Of course, It's no problem at all." She laughed.
The two of them talked and exchanged numbers so Okamoto could text or call Dazai after her meeting with Chuuya. Dazai found it odd exchanging numbers with a woman, he hadn't done that in a while and some small part of him felt guilty about it even if he wasn't doing anything wrong then again he shouldn't be surprised considering every time he had given his number to women in the past it had led to sex, but this was different, and he was undoubtedly loyal to Chuuya.
Finally, Okamoto's break was over and just as she was just about to leave she made one final comment
"Oh and please for the love of God get frisky with him, I don't think I can stand his complaints any longer." Dazai stared at her completely dumbfounded, how many people had to deal with Chuuya's drunk complaining?
"You too?!"
"Ahh, so I'm not the only one? Well anyway, birthday sex sounds great, I'll call you after I'm done meeting with him!"
"Gods sake chibi... and yeah..thanks.."
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When Dazai returned to the Agency he sat down quietly and did his work, ignoring the curious eyes that lay glued to him, until Noami couldn't keep her lips sealed any longer
"Sooo~ how did it go? What did she say~?" She asked as she sat on his desk ignoring Tanizaki's whisper pleads to give the brunet some space
"Well...I found out what he might want..."
"And..."
"And Okamoto-san said that-...that an engagement would be something he'd want." Dazai whispered as his cheeks coated in a small blush
"Woah! Really?!!" Oh my gosh, that's so cute!" Noami smiled shaking Dazai's shoulders, while everyone crowded around Dazai's desk, even Kunikida couldn't help but peek his head over Ranpo's shoulder
"So are you going to do it? Are you going to ask him to marry you?" Atsushi asked not noticing the excited wiggling of his hips
"If he's still up to it then yeah probably."
"He is." Ranpo spoke as he swallowed his crisp
"What?"
"He still wants to marry you." Ranpo said as he walked back to his desk, propping his feet onto his desk. Dazai knew that Ranpo's word was final but there was no harm in checking.
"He's meeting with the Okamoto tomorrow so she's going to ask him, just to be sure."
"She's the nurse right?"
"Yeah."
As everyone talked excitedly amongst themselves about Dazai's good news, Kunikida got up and placed his hands on Dazai's shoulder.
"Don't rush into things Dazai."He spoke, looking down at Dazai, the brunet smiled at him reassuringly
"I won't."
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When Dazai went home he was inadvertently acting different and Chuuya was beginning to notice.
"Are you okay?" There's nothing going on is there?" Chuuya asked as he hugged Dazai, who was sitting on the couch, from behind
"I'm fine chibi, just tired." Chuuya nodded, digging his nose into Dazai's brown locks
"Yeah me too." He muttered kissing the top of Dazai's head, the brunet looked up at his and pursed his lips, silently asking for a kiss which Chuuya very happily complied to, when they parted Chuuya gave him a cute closed eye smile which made Dazai's heart flutter happily in his chest.
Though as Chuuya walked away he really couldn't help but think about how Chuuya wasn't telling him about how he wanted to go a step further into their relationship.
"Oh yeah, I'm going out tomorrow, you don't mind right?"
"No why would I? You can do what you want." Dazai replied airily
'I'd cry if you weren't going anywhere tomorrow.' He thought.
Thankfully tomorrow came very quickly, Dazai went out to eat with Atsushi and Kyouka, he then had to meet with Kunikida and patrol an area with high crime rates for an hour to two, which as always was incredibly amusing. Dazai then went home and ate and watched tv as he waited for Okamoto to call him with an update. And finally, after a good two hours, that long-awaited call finally did come.
"So?"
"It was actually quite funny."
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"Hey Chuuya-San, I was wondering, remember when we were talking about marriage?"
"in the hospital?"
"Mhm, do you still want to? I mean every time I've seen you, you've complained, and I'm wondering if would still make you happy." Chuuya looked down at the table a sad smile on his face
"Yeah, I still want to, but I don't think Dazai wants to and I think if I even mentioned it I'd scare him off." Chuuya chuckled
"That's also why I'm scared to ask him about sex, last time we did that, I treated him horribly afterwards and I feel like I somewhat traumatised him." Okamoto pondered about it quietly
"Chuuya-san, you're telling him to communicate with you and to talk with you and yet you're not doing that for him."
"It's hard."
" I know but he's trying his best, isn't he? You should be as well." Chuuya looked at her guiltily
"How am I supposed to go to him and say 'hey let's have sex, even though last time I traumatised you?'"
"Didn't you agree that you'd bottom unless he feels up to it?"
"Yeah"
"So what's the issue, it would be different for him." Chuuya groaned and muttered a small 'I don't know' under his breath, Okamoto sighed
"I... also I said I want to take things slowly but I also want to marry him... I'm such a hypocrite."
"No. You're selfless and you're putting what you think he wants before what you actually want, sometimes that's a good thing but I have a feeling you've been putting others before yourself for a long time, maybe it's time to be a little selfish."
"Maybe I'll try bringing it up with him next month or something, I'll see how he's doing first."
"Alright just take your time and think carefully."
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"So he still wants to marry me?"
"Seems like it."
"You were right, he's putting what he's assuming I want before himself, as always."
"That might end up being a habit you need to help him fix." Okamoto replied to which Dazai nodded. If only Chuuya had told him what he wanted, even though Dazai had been doing exactly as he had said he would, saying when he felt horrible when he felt happy, or a mixture of the two, he told Chuuya and Chuuya would respond to it accordingly but it seemed like that was harder for Chuuya, surprisingly."
Nonetheless, this helped Dazai make up his mind, he was going to propose. And he was going to make it a birthday Chuuya would never forget, he would make sure of it.
The next day Dazai determinedly trotted into the Agency and sat down on his chair with a much fresher aura around him than yesterday; it seemed like people had noticed.
"You're up to something." Kunikida spoke looking at him with raised eyebrows, not thinking that Dazai was already certain he was going to propose.
"I am."
"Should we be concerned?" Atsushi asked, already mentally pressing himself.
"Nope...actually Atsushi-kun I'll need your help and Akutagawa-Kun's aswelly." The boy eyed his superior suspiciously, Dazai pursed his lips at the doubt in Atsushi's face
"Please~? It's only a small thing, you just need to go to a store with me."
"Just a store? No life-threatening mission?"
"Nope."
"Fine then."
Atsushi wasn't opposed to not helping Dazai even if it was a life-threatening situation but he preferred for Dazai to tell him that he may or may not be walking into a suicide; not keep that information for himself.
So just as Dazai had said, Atsushi called Akutagawa to find out when his break was so they could go and assist Dazai with something, Atsushi could sense the subtle excitement that Dazai wanted his help, through his boyfriend's voice, even though he had been so adamant about saying he didn't care as much about it, Atsushi found it cute.
Akutagawa came only two hours later, he had planned to make time from his mission to visit the Agency and give them some food to eat anyway, he did that often. He'd just stride into the room lay peoples respective foods on their laps or desks, kiss Atsushi on the head and leave without a word, it was odd but endearing and everyone appreciated the food.
The victorian-esk male didn't even manage to walk in until Dazai grabbed his hand and turned him back around out the door, Akutagawa's face coated in a thick a blush as he looked at Atsushi's with an expression akin to bewilderment, all Atsushi could do was laugh as he too was being dragged.
Dazai stopped abruptly and then swivelled around on his heel to look at them both
"I need help." He announced, waving his hand in front of Akutagawa who was so dazed he thought he might faint again at those simple three words, especially considering they were told straight to his face.
"Okay...elaborate." Atsushi replied
"I've decided on Chuuya's present but I'll need help picking it out."
"Wait so why am I here then?" Akutagawa asked
"You see Chuuya every day and you saw him every day for those four years when I was gone, you also have a keen eye on finding something he would like, unless...you can't?"
"No, no, no, no, no I can!" Akutagawa insisted shaking his aggressively, Dazai clapped his hands together with a smile
"Good, good, then let's go!"
Atsushi and Akutagawa trailed behind Dazai, sliding their hands secretly together as they walked, Dazai wasn't sure why they were acting like it was top secret they were dating, after all, he had been the one to pair them when they would I have rather jumped off of that van than work together, but despite that he didn't say anything.
"Do you know what Dazai-san might want to get Chuuya-san?" Akutagawa whispered leaning into Atsushi's ear, Atsushi shrugged
"I mean if he hasn't changed his mind it might be a wedding ring but I don't know."
"A wedding ring?!!"
"Yeah." Atsushi looked at his boyfriend as he looked like he was having trouble comprehending this information, Atsushi squeezed his hand softly with a smile causing the latter to look at him, he gave a weak smile back and then they walked in silence.
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They made it to the jewellery store and walked in. Akutagawa had never been in a jewellery store, he mostly got expensive stuff from the Mafia when things they had been smuggled were no longer needed, jewellery included. But oddly enough he liked it, it was warm and comfortable, everything was carefully and beautifully laid out so you had a good view of each piece, maybe while he was here he could buy Gin something.
"You both need to help me find a ring for Chuuya."
"For proposing right?" Atsushi asked, it was an obvious question and yet Dazai couldn't help but grin widely, pink tinting his cheeks.
"Yup."
Akutagawa's squeezed Atsushi's hand, he was seriously thinking he might collapse any second now.
Dazai then left them both there, putting his focus on searching for a ring. It had to be tasteful and sophisticated but it also had to have a feeling of power to it, it couldn't be your typical band with a diamond on it and make him look super feminine but it couldn't be just a simple gold band, that was too boring for someone as lively as Chuuya. It had to be a perfect balance of the two.
Both Akutagawa and Atsushi seemed to understand that as they parted and then went on their own little explorations. Akutagawa, though blessed with terrible lungs, actually had very keen eyes, he was good at spotting things and details others would take longer too and apparently that applied to jewellery too. He was looking at the unisex section for a ring or necklace for Gin, she presented androgynously at work and Akutagawa thought it would better suit her to have something unisex. He hadn't considered that because it was the unisex section he would find a ring for Chuuya, but he might have just done so.
"Dazai-san, I think I found one." Dazai's headshot in that direction and then walked quickly next to him, his eyes fell to Akutagawa's finger and then on the ring he was pointing at, it had a small red sign above it
This ring can be specifically designed for its future wearer, words and phrases can be written on the outside or inside and the design on the outside can be made specifically for you.
The ring on display had a simple blue gem pattern embedded in it, the band itself was silver and a comfortable thickness. Dazai thought it was perfect, heaps of ideas flooded through his mind about what he could write on it or what pattern he could put on it on the front.
"Akutagawa! You absolute genius, it's amazing! Atsushi come and take a look." Dazai called, prompting Akutagawa to look in the younger's direction, Atsushi was peering curiously at something in a window, he looked mesmerised like he had seen something he really wanted, Akutagawa made sure to mentally note to himself that he would have to sneak a look when the younger wasn't paying attention.
Atsushi reluctantly peeled his eyes away from whatever he was looking at and trotted over towards Dazai and Akutagawa, he peered over to where Dazai was pointing, his mouth formed a little 'o' shape when he saw it
"Woah! You picked that out Ryuu? It's so pretty." Akutagawa blushed furiously at the comment, looking away as he covered the bottom half of his face with the back of his hand.
"Thank you Jinko." He muttered before coughing slightly.
The three of them walked over to the counter and asked one of the workers to let them inspector the ring closer. As they walked Dazai noticed Atsushi's eyes occasionally glancing to where he stood previously
"Did something catch your eye Atsushi-kun?"
"Ahhh, no, nothing." Atsushi smiled unconvincingly, Dazai glanced over at Akutagawa, nudging him slightly, they then looked at each other and silently agreed on a plan.
When the worker opened the case with the ring and beckoned them over, Dazai took Atsushi's wrist pulling his attention from anything else, allowing Akutagawa to slide over to where Atsushi was previously standing.
Akutagawa thought it fitted him well, a pretty silver necklace with an aquamarine tiger pendant, It wasn't very pricey for him either though for Atsushi that would be a week of food.
"What do you think Atsushi-kun would it suit me?" Dazai said as he held out his hand with the ring on his finger, close to fawning.
"Yeah, it looks really nice on you Dazai-san." Atsushi smiled taking the brunet hands so he could look at the ring closer,
"Hold it up next to your head." Atsushi spoke, Dazai did as he was told and held up his hand so that the ring came in line with his eyes, Atsushi inspected it and thought about how the red of ring made him think of Chuuya's ability.
"I think it looks really good on you actually, and I think the blue one would look really good on Chuuya-san. Oo! And with the new suit!"
"Oh yeah! I haven't seen him wear it yet, he'd look really good." Dazai hummed at the thought, maybe Chuuya would wear it on his birthday, he sure hoped so.
Akutagawa walked back to where Atsushi and Dazai were, stepping back when Dazai turned around enthusiastically to show him the ring
"Akutagawa-Kun what do you think?"
"It's suits you well Dazai-san."
Akutagawa replied, causing Dazai to grin and pose dramatically showing off his hands and wiggling his ring finger.
"If I get them and add designs on them, can I get them by tomorrow...say before eight o'clock in the evening?" The talker asked as he turned to the worker who was waiting patiently by the counter.
"Hmm...yeah I think we can do that, other orders aren't priorities and we already have your size and your...?"
"Partners."
"Parters, sorry. But yes we can. What would you like to design or write then ?" Dazai opened his mouth as if to explain but then realised it would be difficult so instead, he asked for a piece of paper, the worker gave him a piece of paper and then a pen, prompting Dazai to scribble furiously on the paper, his tongue sticking cutely at the side of his mouth in concentration.
Atsushi looked at Akutagawa with a curious expression, Akutagawa tilted his head a few times in Dazai's direction signalling at the younger to peer over the taller's shoulder, Atsushi nodded shimmying to the side slightly, standing on his tiptoes, he just nearly managed to see even a glimpse when Dazai caught him in the reflection of the glass underneath them.
"Adadadadadadah, no peeking!" He cried, moving over so Atsushi's field of vision was completely blocked
"Go and find something for Gin-chan! Both of you shoo you sneaky boys."
"You sound like a dad ." Atsushi commented
"I am with two of you."
Nevertheless, the younger men sauntered away and focused on finding something for Gin, when they did however Akutagawa said he'd come back later to buy it (because he wanted to get Atsushi that necklace too).
Eventually, they were all done; Akutagawa went back to work as did Atsushi and Dazai and the day continued as normal.