Work Text:
Christmas, as many know and understand the concept of it, is the season of giving. The season where there’s many blinking lights that could be mistaken for a car’s headlights by a person who forgot their glasses, or the season where there’s so much singing and caroling that it’s never going to end until the second week of January. It’s the time when people prepared meals specifically for that holiday that there’s so much fried chicken, a specific strawberry shortcake that is only usually prepared during Christmastime, and expensive fruits that are really cultivated in preparation to be sold during the holidays as gifts. There’s so much lights, so much glittering ball decorations, and so much ‘all I want for Christmas’ playing faintly on the speakers of shops.
Chuuya never had the luxury of having a proper celebration. That or the Sheep doesn’t exactly have the time to do any of those. Homeless kids on the street don't get a lot of things and Chuuya knows as much. Whenever winter comes, he remembers he and the older kids trying to find a way to keep everyone warm. The best thing that could possibly happen to them during those days is if they managed to find a place enough to keep them out of the cold. They’re always bundled together to keep each other warm with body heat, keeping each other close every night once they had to take out the fire so they wouldn’t get caught for trespassing. The worst thing that could happen is if one of the kids got sick. They can’t afford it whenever that happens if it gets bad. So they would have stolen medicines when no one was looking and a couple of cup noodles from the convenience store. He could hear Shirase laughing to himself over their successful haul, Yuan would be cheering, and Chuuya would be cursing his friend underneath his breath for being reckless with a smile on his face.
The closest Chuuya had experienced what it's like to celebrate Christmas was when the kids thought of exchanging gifts. Just to bring up everyone’s spirits, Yuan would say. There would be shines in their eyes, all thinking of what kind of gifts to exchange. Chuuya admittedly participated in it too every year. The gifts were usually things that had been stolen somewhere, though, and most of the time, it’s either packets of food or small things. If anyone was lucky, they scored a blanket or some clothes. It may not be as much in comparison to anything, but it was already a lot to a bunch of kids who didn’t have much living in the slums.
And it’s unfortunate— that all of it is now in the past. Despite having a roof over his head and being able to eat meals 3 times a day since joining the Port Mafia, being betrayed by the friends he once had still hurts. He could understand why the Sheep had to fend for themselves and resort into such lengths to protect their own hides. They’re kids, afraid of being abandoned. But he’s a kid too. A kid who’s also afraid of being abandoned. What makes him so different that he can be thrown just like that?
Sometimes, even in the depths of his mind, he wants to be selfish. He wants to be mad. He wanted to scream at them for having no idea what he had to do to figure out things about himself, or how it bothered him that there’s something different with him from them. He does. He painfully really does. And he knows damn well they think so too.
But he couldn’t. Even everything he had gone through, he never would.
It was a kind effort of Kouyou to gift him something for this occasion (aside from working on his writing, but that’s besides the point) despite only knowing him for a few months. She was cold at first, strict down to the bone that Chuuya had learned tea etiquettes in a span of a week out of fear of disappointing her. Overtime, she had grown fond of this boy under her ward, overseeing his work with gentle and firm guidance. Almost like an older sister he never had, and— he won’t lie but he felt a bit spoiled.
‘What are these?’ He asked when he opened the small box when she asked for him to her office.
‘Cufflinks, Chuuya.’ She said, as she prepared incense. ‘It’s for the sleeves of your attire.’ He won’t admit to her face he does not exactly know why he has to wear it. So, he nodded and thanked her.
The Flags, specifically Albatross, had invited him the day before that there was going to be a hell of a party for the incoming holidays that would span a few days until after Christmas. This group of people are… well, they’re nice. Loud sometimes. Admittedly, he feels like they were tasked to keep an eye on him. Not that it matters to him anyway, considering how careful that Mori is. At least for a few days or so, there won’t be much noise from the flat above his residence knowing that Albatross would be out until the ass crack of dawn. Hopefully, he’d also be too tired from partying that he wouldn’t be awoken by his disruptive noises. He agreed that he would attend at one point, especially after the whole fiasco that he and Piano Man pulled just so he’d be there to celebrate the holiday. Much to his chagrin that he has to celebrate something that he feels like he doesn’t deserve.
‘C’mon, Chuuya!’ he said to him with his arm over his shoulders as he yelled at him for his action. ‘Have some Christmas spirit, will you? It’s not every time it’s Christmas, y’know!’
And in turn, he’d curse obscenities to him as he tried to tug his arm off him. ‘Let go of me, Albatross— you sack of shit!’ he exclaimed. ‘Fuckin’ hell, I’ll kick your nuts off!’ Some of them would be trying to suppress their laughs, Iceman being nice enough to tell Albatross to get off him and Doc would throw a comment or two while drinking champagne. Lippman and Piano Man wouldn’t, though. They’d even encourage him.
But at the end of the day, he’d come to enjoy being alone in the small space he took upon himself to do his work unrelated to the Port Mafia affairs, a little room in Kouyou’s office. While she had insisted previously that he should at least do his work somewhere with more space, time and time again he came back into that small stall of a room to do his homework. Probably because it’s a lot quieter in Kouyou’s office in comparison to his own apartment. She didn’t scold him when he explained once, and whenever she’d find him in his cramped room, she’d instead try to leave things that could make himself comfortable. Sometimes, she directs him to a spare room in one of the brothels that she oversees, far from the halls where business is done, of course.
And a few days before Christmas, all Nakahara Chuuya did was learn how to read and write, copying off the sentences from the worksheet that Kouyou left him to do some other time. Only a few people knew where they could find him, thankfully. While everyone is busy with the festivities, he’s stashed in a small room, alone and away from the noise.
“Chuuya.”
And then there’s this goddamn bastard.
“Shit—” He covered his paper, glaring at the bandaged boy craning his head to see what he was doing. Goddamnit. He spoke way too damn soon. He turned his side, almost elbowing the other teen if he hadn't moved away from arm’s length. “Fuckin’ hell, Dazai. What do you want?”
He blinks, a small pout on his lips. The suit he wore still looked a little baggy like he had remembered. “What are you doing there?” He takes a peek again, tilting his head slightly to get a better view of the paper.
Knowing Dazai being a nitpicky, judgmental freak that he is, he tries to push him off his space, hiding the worksheets and paper away from his sight. “None of ya fuckin’ business. Fuck off!”
But alas, all his attempts have failed as Dazai managed to snatch a sheet of paper whilst Chuuya cursed at him. His brows furrowed, reading the content before looking at him with an incredulous look. “Ane-san is giving you homework during the holidays? Shouldn’t you be— I don’t know, celebrating?”
A whole load of bull coming from him. “And you should be mindin’ ya own damn shit!” He shot back. He tried to reach for the paper that the boy had taken, before he extended his hand up in the air. He grumbled as he stood up from his seat, stumbling a little as he tries to reach out for the paper. “Dazai, you dipshit! Give ‘em back!”
“I was under the assumption my dog would be out and about celebrating with Ane-san. I never thought Chuuya would be here—” he then squinted at the paper, reading the crooked lines of his letters. “That one stroke changes the character’s meaning, by the way. Now the sentence doesn’t make sense.”
“No, it’s not!” He retorted. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
He snorted, using his other hand to try to fight off Chuuya, pushing him off. The teen could have thrown him at this point if it weren’t for his stupid nullification ability. “I do actually— I’ll even read it out loud for you.”
“No!”
Chuuya was reaching all the way up to his toes when he lost his footing, accidentally stepping onto the other boy’s foot which caused him to yelp and react. Chuuya could have kept his balance— he really could if it weren’t for the other teenager who grabbed onto his arm. And down they go as they crash into each other, followed with strings of swears and curses and arms tangled with each other. And that piece of shit Dazai only looked at him with his uncovered wide eye, his mouth slightly agape. (Was that a tinge of red at his ears?)
“And I’ll fuckin’ take that.” Chuuya grumbled as he took the opportunity to snatch his paper back and pushed himself up, clicking his tongue from the small wrinkle on the fine paper. “Fuckin’ shitty asshole. Got nothin’ better to do than piss me off?”
Dazai cleared his throat as he sat up, murmuring an ‘ow’ as he held a hand up his head. There was this pathetic look on his face, almost like a lamb who got caught in a wire. Yeah, right. Chuuya knows him enough that he is a damn devious freak. “Wow, such a lovely set of vocabulary, Chuuya.” He said in a light tone, before wincing. “I think you broke a bone somewhere.”
He scoffed and flicked a finger at his forehead that earned him a louder ‘ow!’ from the other boy before he turned back to his small desk. He might as well start gathering his papers before the other person in the room continued snooping endlessly. “Then ya damn deserve it. So get the hell outta here.”
There was a quiet mumble from him, probably an insult towards him. Whatever it was, he ignored it. There was shuffling from behind as he sat back down, gathering his worksheets and borrowed books back into its corners. “You still haven’t answered my question.” And then he talked again.
And the audacity for him to place his head on top of his own, watching him do his work. He’s so close at poking his eyes from there. But whatever. As long as he doesn’t say anything nitpicky again. “Jesus, what is it? Do ya think I even heard you?”
“Well, dogs do have good hearing and I’m surprised you didn’t catch on.” He almost reacted but decided against it anyway, huffing as he slipped some of the papers into some of the books. Entertaining his antics encourages Dazai more to poke fun at him. “But I asked you why you aren’t celebrating with the others. Festivities like this shouldn’t be missed.”
It’s not like he can’t. It’s just that he wouldn’t. His sentiments about the festivities remained the same even after joining Port Mafia. He thinks it’s pointless. All that he remembered during Christmas was trying to make sure everyone in the Sheep was warm. So, he decided to divert the question for now. “How ‘bout you, why aren’tcha?”
He could feel move from behind, as if he had just shrugged. “Eh, too many people. I think Christmas is overrated for a bunch of us who aren’t even Christians. Ironic, don’t you think? I think it’s impractical if we're celebrating some birth of a guy that we don’t even worship. That’s why it’s called ‘Christmas’, just a shorter term for ‘ Christ’s mass’. If we’re celebrating something like that, we might as well just call it ‘Yule’.”
There he goes again with his rambling. But huh. The more things you know. That makes the two of them think the occasion is useless. Now he feels like he wants to celebrate just to spite him. So, he answered next. “Well, I just don’t fuckin’ wanna. I think it’s irrelevant for me and it don’t—”
“Doesn’t.”
“Shut the fuck up, Dazai. Anyways, it doesn’t really matter. So much big deal ‘bout lights and all that garbage. It’s expensive if ya tell me.” And it’s the truth. All of these lights, trees, and a whole bunch of decorations are only really brought out once a year until never again. And again, he never had that luxury to truly understand the whole point of it.
“But don’t you want to receive gifts? Christmas is usually the time you get a lot of free stuff.” He chirped.
“So? I got nothin’ with me to exchange with anyway. Not like I have anything to give.” If he has to be honest, he wanted to find something that could equal the gift that Kouyou had given him even if he had no idea how to use it. She looks like she has everything she could ask for, and it makes it a little bit difficult. Obviously, he couldn’t straight up ask, that’d feel a little embarrassing and a little too lazy.
He doesn’t like it when Dazai goes silent after that. And the fact that he can’t exactly see the face he’s making makes it even worse as he hummed. It would have meant that he was thinking, and if he was thinking, it means he’d be brewing up a plan in that head of his. He knows him well enough that he most likely is planning something.
And then he spoke, pushing himself off Chuuya as he looked at him from the side. There was a mischievous shine in his eyes, his lips pulled up into a grin. “Let’s get out of here.”
“What?”
“Out.” Yes, he has heard him the first time. “Let’s go.”
Seriously? He could feel him tugging his jacket like a child wanting to show something to his parents. He backed away when Chuuya turned as he looked at him in disbelief. “Can’t you see I’m fuckin’ busy here?” He says, gesturing at his desk. He’ll probably work on his worksheets later if the bastard finally leaves.
He eyed his cleared desk and backed at Chuuya. “Well, you don’t look busy.” Chuuya rolled his eyes from his remark. “So before I set fire with all of your work there, I’d advise you to follow.”
Oh my God. “You wouldn’t.”
“I never back down on my words, slug.” He looked smug and he never wanted to punch someone so hard on the face. Maybe he should put that off for an idea some other time. Dazai being Dazai, he damn knew he’d take his threat seriously.
God fucking damnit. He really needs to get back to him one day for this.
He caved in, letting out an exasperated exhale. “God, you fuckin’— fuck you! Give me 5 minutes!”
“Let’s make a bet, Chuuya.”
How they ended up in a convenience store far away from HQ was beyond Chuuya. He hasn’t exactly gotten out in recent months aside from being sent to do errands here and there— and even then there’s a lot of stores they could have gotten into. Maybe because Dazai would prefer somewhere else away from the Mafia’s watchful eyes. Makes sense. Even if they’re partying up a storm, there’s still a few who don't celebrate like they do, choosing to work rather than join in the gatherings. The amount of alleyways and passages they took was almost dizzying just to avoid being found, the smell of damp air and mold making it a little worse.
“You’re cocky, yanno?” He remarked, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. He looked at him from the side as he stood in front of the chips aisle. “After draggin’ me out to freeze my ass ‘ere. What’s the fuckin’ bet?”
And that it is freezing outside. There were already small specks of snow falling as they slipped out of the passages. They found themselves in some part of Yokohama’s shopping district, some stores still open even at this hour. Chuuya watched as they passed over shops selling goods that made his stomach rumble yet Dazai doesn’t seem to pay much attention to it, even tugging at him.
‘Just what is your damn problem? I thought we were ‘ere for fuckin’ snacks, not sightseein’!’ He complained a few minutes ago.
‘Because Chibikko, I don’t have enough money to buy them!’ He shot back.
‘And you’re sayin’ I don’t?!’
‘I’m saying we can go check that out later! I want to get myself stacked with canned crab, you stupid short thing!’
And so, here they are. Much to Chuuya’s dismay.
“C’mon, Chuuya! Humor me here a little.” He grabbed onto his shoulders, tilting him slightly to the side to the direction of the counter. He looked at him with raised brow whilst the other boy had a cryptic smile on his face. “Anyways, it looks like the cashier is going to be taking a while with the customer having problems with their cash transaction.”
He squints, staring at what he was trying to point out. There were a few people waiting their turn at the singular counter as the person in charge as they scattered to try and get the transaction to work. After a few more seconds and staring, he glanced again at Dazai, still confused. “And you’re insinuating, what?”
He looked at him with a deadpan expression before shaking his head. “Do I have to spell all of it for you? Let’s grab as much things as we can get here without the cashier noticing.”
He almost whistled. And he’s offering this bet to someone who has mastered the way of pickpocketing and making a run for it. A kid who had lived in the streets for as long as he remembered. But he decided to play around for a bit, pushing him off. He discreetly looked at him from head to toe, before scoffing. “That’s fuckin’ stupid.”
He backed off, tilting his head slightly to the side as a frown formed on his lips over Chuuya’s reaction. That or he’s not as impressed over how Chuuya blatantly underestimated him. (And yes, he is absolutely underestimating him.) He hummed, opening his palm to make a gesture. “If one of us gets more things than the other, the loser will climb the big Christmas tree at the front desk at the headquarters to grab the star at the very top without anyone noticing.”
Small bargain. Chuuya has nothing to lose even if Dazai wins since the dare works to his favor. He snorted. “That’s easy.”
“I said climb, you pea brain slug. Keep up.”
He rolled his eyes. Well, he could cheat a little. Not like Dazai wouldn’t either. Dazai is not a stranger to playing dirty anyway.
He clicks his tongue and waves his hand. Fine. But he is not going to let Dazai decide the majority of this bet. “I want it with a lot of people around.” Just to raise the stakes, of course. Without anyone noticing is one thing, but stealing a star from a tree with people around is an entirely different thing. Chuuya knows that it’s hard to get anywhere near that star on the Christmas tree without his ability. At best, he could shake the tree. So, to make it a little more difficult, but not downright impossible, he decided to add that certain clause to their childish bet. Even at that point, he could still think of ways how to compromise with his own condition.
The bandaged teenager didn’t give it a second thought and nodded. “Okay, deal.”
“Deal. And ya better not back down if ya lose, you stinky blue mackerel.” He declares, pointing an accusing finger at him.
“Chuuya misunderstands me.” He mused, a small pout on his lips as he placed a hand on his chest feigning an expression of hurt. “I would not lie about such a bet! Cross my heart, swear on my life!”
The smaller teenager scoffed at his remark. “Shut up Dazai, you’re suicidal and a big liar. Swear on somethin’ else.”
And all that bastard did was hum as a reply.
There wasn’t a ready, set, go being said between them. At one point, they parted from one another to go to different aisles, looking at the packaged foods before them. If Chuuya had known that they were going out to do something this stupid, he could have at least prepared. There weren't many pockets in his jacket that he could put a lot of things in. Another was that he wasn’t exactly sure if Dazai even planned this from the get-go considering how much spur in the moment this entire thing was— on second thought, he possibly did. Though, it’s a little strange to say the least if he had planned it. But whatever. He glanced around the area first to see if there was a camera running before spotting it at the corner of the store. Alright. That puts a little bit pressure on their bet then.
The only true indicator that the bet had finally begun was when he caught the other teen’s gaze from the other side as he held onto the as he grabbed onto a packet of Oreos before stuffing it discreetly into the pocket of his coat. All he had in his hand was a bag of chips at that very moment before the other walked away.
Oh, it is on.
He decided to take it easy first, taking small packets of peanuts and putting it somewhere in the pockets of his jacket. He could pocket a bunch of candy and chocolates too considering how small it is. Dazai said it was quantity, right? But that sounds too easy to even consider. He looked over at the counter, now on its next customer before he started making his move. He grabbed a small fish cracker chips, a box of pocky, and some chocolates. So far, so good. He started moving again so that he wouldn’t be just staying around the same aisle. He made sure he was away from the counter so that he wouldn’t be as easily spotted. To make it at least convincing, he grabbed a bag of chips as his guise as he went on his way.
Okay, that’s a few already. He wasn’t sure what progress Dazai was making. He looked at the shelves where drinks are lined up neatly, eyeing the labels carefully, as if he was practicing at that moment. His eyes lit up when it landed on a certain drink and reached out to grab the can of sparkling water off the shelf. He had always been seeing that and he never quite understood the appeal of a water being carbonated. He never really needed to get one in the first place and it never really struck his former friends to try either whenever they did something like this. First time for everything, then.
“Excuse me?” He almost dropped everything he was holding if it weren’t for him instinctively activating his ability to catch it before it landed on the ground. He whipped his head to the direction of Dazai’s voice, brows furrowed when he spotted him at the counter.
Is he trying to get them both in trouble? Or maybe he’s trying to specifically get Chuuya in trouble. Just Chuuya, in particular. He moved away from the shelves and started walking over where the ice cream section is, his hands feeling a little clammy already. He could hear his partner asking for something, though his voice was hushed as if he was asking something private. The cashier, in turn, responded something like ‘check the next aisle, you’ll find some there’ for Dazai’s inquiry. And then he sounded like he left from how the cashier went back attending to the other customers after that.
Honestly, he’s a bit surprised that there was just a single guy manning the entire store. Makes it convenient somehow but talk about poor staff management.
“How’s the haul going for you, Chuuya?”
He cursed, turning his head to his side where Dazai stood with a sheepish grin. “Jesus, are you fuckin’ hoverin’ when you walk?” He snapped. “Would it kill you to even make a sound in your steps? Christ’s sake.”
He only brushed off his insults in stride before intruding to his personal space to open the door of the ice cream compartment. “Thank you. Anyways, you want any?”
“Uh,” He squinted at the assortment of flavors available before them before pointing. “That one.”
He nodded before grabbing three packets. “So we can have one each.”
He may still be working on his reading but he damn knows how to count. “What’s the third one for then?”
“For me, obviously!” He said in a matter of fact tone. “Chocolate is very bad for dogs.”
“Why you—!”
Before he could even utter another word, he raised his index finger up to his lips. Seriously with this guy and cutting him off. He seemed to enjoy it whenever he could from the way his lips would slightly curl. “I think we need to leave.” He says, tilting his head to the direction of the counter. “The line is down to two people now.
“Is that why you went up the counter a while ago?” Yet it doesn’t exactly explain why he had approached the cashier a while ago.
He looked at him with a stunned expression. “ My, Chuuya was paying attention? So you really do have a good sense of hearing!”
He lightly punched him at the arm, where the other boy shot him an unimpressed look. “Maybe ‘cause you might suddenly ditch , you asshole.” With Dazai’s track record over the few months he had known him, the chance was likely. Somehow, he also realized that he knows enough about Dazai to make such a claim. Probably because there was an underlying sense of understanding of each other, ever since the whole incident with Rimbaud. “And I’d make sure you’ll never see the light of day if you did.” But still, his feeling of loathing towards him is evident and his days will never truly end without thinking of different ways to possibly screw Dazai over.
“Well, I did consider it.” Of course, he did. He didn’t look like he was just saying it for the sake of rousing Chuuya up to a fight. He waves a dismissive gesture. He waddled to his side, invading his personal space again. “Anyways, come along now. We need to hurry.”
“A’right, a’right— don’t push me.”
With the stolen things all stuffed in his shirt, jacket, and pockets, he did, all things considered, walk as if he didn’t want to buy anything anymore. The plastic wrappers poked on his skin and in many uncomfortable ways possible. The drink that he grabbed felt heavy in his pocket. Yet it was thrilling to do something this stupid. He felt young for once, as if there wasn’t any burden that he had to carry. That Chuuya was in fact 15 years old boy that should be carefree like any kid his age.
But luck was not on their side as many things had never been on Chuuya nor Dazai’s side.
By chance, Dazai doesn’t seem to realize his mint container slipping out of his sleeves before it came cluttering down to the floor. Both boys stared at each other with wide eyes before their gazes darted to the checkout counter.
“Hey— hey!”
“Ah, shit.” Chuuya’s reaction was almost instant. Grabbing onto the other teenager’s arm, as he started dragging him along as he pushed the door open. Dazai almost stumbled all the way to the floor but he managed to react quick enough while trying to make sure the things in his pockets won’t drop any more by holding up his coat. The cold air hit their faces the moment they stepped out, and from there began their escape.
Chuuya lets his legs take reign, running towards the direction they came from. He threw apologies whenever he came across people but he tried to avoid them as much as he could. The adrenaline rushed through his system with every exhale, a breathy laugh escaping his lips as he ran. Dazai matched his pace, albeit complaining as he did. It didn’t exactly matter whether or not they lost any person after them already. They just need to get out of there fast. There was no plan, no safety net to land on and it made it even better. And that was all they did— run and run and run away until they’re certain they’re safe.
“God, I think—” Dazai wheezed, as he tried to steady himself from all the cardio they essentially did. He was taking shaky breaths, the bandages over his head a little loose. “I think my lungs are about to burst.”
Chuuya wasn’t any different either, inhaling as much oxygen into his system. His heart was beating so loudly in his ribcage. Yet there was a smile on his face, vibrating from so much energy over this. “Not much of a runner, eh— ya lanky mackerel?”
“Yes.” he admitted with a huff. “I can—” Another wheeze. “I can hold a gun better than this. No more— running for next year.”
“Yeah, ‘cause the wind’s gon’ take your stick figure ass.”
At some point, they started bursting into giggles and laughter and for once, it felt warm. It was probably the closest the two felt real, like kids over being delinquents. Probably because of how they ran across the entire area until their legs went sour that the after thrill was infectious. It would probably be one of the moments of their youth that they will never forget, of how they’ve brashly went into a convenience store and shoplifted absolutely anything their tiny hands could grab on. On the last few days before Christmas, they were just teenagers, losing their breaths to joy. Even as they found a passage entrance after a few minutes taking a short break, the bickering didn’t stop.
Dazai insisted that they were gonna see each other’s stolen goodies the moment they got back. Chuuya didn’t object.
“Ugh! This feels awful!”
Chuuya definitely agrees with that sentiment from the other boy from just a single sip from the carbonated water. It wasn’t like Sprite or the usual soft drinks that he could get his hands on, oh no. At least that was forgiving. It was simply just plain water that happened to be fizzy. No whatsoever flavor that could save his mouth from how it felt like drinking straight up acid into his system.
Angry water, to put it. Chuuya had never once thought it could be possible.
“Tell me ‘bout it.” He muttered, wincing as he stuck his tongue out. “I didn’t know what I was expectin’.”
And Dazai who was never down to a challenge looked like he even regretted taking up the offer of drinking this godforsaken thing. It almost seemed so funny that Dazai looked so distraught as he took another sip. “Imagine if we put powdered milk in it.”
The packets of snacks were shared amongst the two of them into the small room of Kouyou’s office where Chuuya usually spends his time, sitting on the floor. They slipped past any possible prying eyes as quietly as they could with their spoils in their arms. They opened some of them at this point, like that terrible sparkling water. The ice cream that Dazai took with him was crushed from their recklessness but it doesn’t exactly stop them from eating it anyway. There was a whole load of junk food to eat and the other boy was damn certain they were gonna get sick the next day. Another was that Chuuya was not sure how to react over the range of things that Dazai managed to grab. Though, it was almost funny that he even had a small bottle of soy sauce in his pockets when they took out the things they had managed to get their grabby hands on. Unlike Chuuya’s who mostly took food, Dazai had a bit of variety with his haul.
“A lighter?” He toyed with the popsicle stick of the ice cream he ate while staring at the lighter in his other hand. “Aren’t those on the counter?” He’s honestly impressed that Dazai managed to even grab something that is essentially out of their reach unless they’re so bold enough to take a gamble.
And that— Dazai was, in fact, bold enough to take a gamble on the slim chance that he won’t get caught. “Unlike you, I use my oh-so unfortunate appearance to my advantage.” He boasted as he settled himself close to the other teenager as they shared some of the snacks they’ve taken. They’ve decided to use the coat onto themselves, huddled up and sharing the same space and heat while sitting on the floor. “It was a little hard, though. I had to be quick with it or else the people behind me are going to notice.”
“So, what are we gonna do with it? Do ya even smoke?” It’s not exactly beyond Chuuya if he does. He had tried to smoke a stick once with the Sheep.
The bandaged boy wiped his nose. He didn’t seem to care as much of his slightly loosening bandages on his arms and head. “Nah, you can keep it. You can even take it as a Christmas gift. Or a consolation gift if you don’t want it like that.”
He looked surprised, raising his brows at his words. “A Christmas present? From you?”
He was still drinking his part of the water while downing some snacks with it. He was grimacing through it as he glanced over his companion. “Yes. And I think I’ve worked very hard for it therefore it’s the best gift you could possibly receive right now.” It sounded so childish that Chuuya couldn’t help but snort.
It was such a little thing, the lighter. It’s never something that Chuuya would use anytime soon anyway. But the thought and effort mattered somehow, even if Dazai wasn’t exactly the best person when it comes to being nice. He had known this boy for a few mere months and they weren’t exactly friends either. His sentiments of him still remained, despite this very comfortable moment they were sharing. But at the very minute of it, they had each other regardless of their differences. In the middle of celebrations from outside, it was just Osamu and Chuuya hiding away with the least tolerable company eating snacks while bantering.
And it’s nice. Exhausting, maybe, but it’s nice. The closest he’d felt normal for once in a while.
“Then why a consolation gift?”
He settled himself up, looking at Chuuya with a wicked glint. It got the other boy to shuffle a bit away from him as he narrowed his gaze. “Becaaaaaause Chuuya,” He says in a sing-song voice. “You looooooost.”
Ah. Ah, fuck.
“Oh.” Well, not like it really matters to him. He shrugged as he sagged back into his seat. “If I get that, could that just be my present to you instead?”
He tilted his head to the side, his eyes a little wide. “Really now?”
“Yeah, yeah— I’ll get you that stupid star as thanks for the lighter.” He closed his eyes, now heavy with sleep. He was too tired to even get all the way back to his living space. All that running had taken up some energy in him after all, along with eating so much chips and sweets that it made his stomach so full it wouldn’t want to stand. He could hear Dazai hum, along with the sound of plastic wrappers being pushed to a side. He felt him moving, the coat being propped onto the both of them properly, using it as a blanket of a sort before he settled himself comfortably by his side. So he’s useful sometimes. And thoughtful.
The other boy sighed. “Merry Christmas, Chuuya. You’ll be climbing that tree tomorrow.”
“Merry Christmas, you sack of shit.” He managed to say even in the midst of a yawn. There was no complaint from him over the prospect of Dazai staying, and instead basked into that peace after that fruitful experience.
When he finally came back to his senses by the morning, Kouyou looked at him with a funny look on her face. With a mirror passed to him, he scowled and cursed the likely culprit in his head. He could hear him laughing right now, which made sense why he had left before Chuuya had woken up.
The fact that his desk was also missing a marker says a whole lot and there was only really one particularly stinky mackerel who had been here a few hours prior. There wasn’t anyone else who would other than him. He oughta get back at him.
And on the day of Christmas Eve, the Port Mafia had witnessed another round of bantering between the two teenagers. No one noticed the star of the tree went missing until the next few weeks when they started taking the tree back into the storage. No one knows that the ornament was hidden away from sight, carefully tucked in wrappers and clear tape.