the sakura tree - soukoku

chapter 2 ~ the bar

(a/n - again, most of this is based off a couple of roleplays. credits to chuuya and toko <3)

c/w  //  alcohol usage, suicide, swearing, gay people /j

Dazai hummed as he walked toward the bar, Chuuya struggling to keep up with him. The taller man was purposely walking faster, just to get a rise out of Chuuya.

"Hey, quit walking so fast, would ya?" Chuuya huffed. He was getting tired of speedwalking.

"Someone needs to eat some more spinach, then." Dazai laughed to himself and continued to walk, trampling the tiny flowers that were trying to survive the frost layers on the ground.

Chuuya bristled. His height had always been a sensitive subject. "Shut up, you asshat!" He glared at Dazai, before shifting his gaze to the foggy scene before him. Thank God, they were close to the bar. He wasn't sure how much more sober time he could spend with this shithead.

As the two arrived at the bar, Dazai yanked the door open and held it for the shorter man, ushering him through. "After you."

Chuuya gritted his teeth and smacked Dazai's hand, bending his head. He pulled his hat further onto his head, averting his eyes. He didn't want to bump into anyone he knew. "Oh, shut up."

Both of the men sank down at bar stools directly in front of the bar, grabbing drinks menus as they did. Chuuya grabbed the hat off the top of his head and slammed it on the table, seemingly exhausted.

"Is everything alright, Chuu-ya?" Dazai made a habit of stretching out Chuuya's name. He found it funny. "Are they pushing you too hard back home, hm?"

The redhead was too tired to even argue. He leaned his head on top of his hand and shut his eyes. He really just needed some good wine. "There was a difficult mission a few days ago. I'll be fine."

Dazai hummed and nodded. If Chuuya said he was fine, he almost certainly wasn't, but that was none of his business. "Do you know what you want yet?"

Chuuya's response was instantaneous. "Wine. Red wine. I don't care what kind, just get me some wine. Please."

-

When their drinks had arrived, Dazai's being a plain whiskey, Chuuya had an almost relieved expression on his face. He looked at Dazai, wordlessly thanking him, before pouring himself what would be his first glass of the day.

Dazai sipped from his glass, observing the other customers, and occasionally watching Chuuya drinking his heart out. "Slow down, Chuuya. You don't want to hurt yourself, now do you?"

Dazai's voice had an almost taunting edge to it, which annoyed Chuuya. A lot. He downed the rest of his glass and glared at Dazai, the alcohol already beginning to take effect. It was truly a skill how much of a lightweight Chuuya was.

Chuuya was still going strong, downing that wine almost desperately. He'd nearly finished his second glass and it had only been 10 minutes. But he was starting to feel different. Freer. "Hey Dazai, want some? This wine is really good."

"Hm? I don't see why not. Unless you poisoned it.. then I might just have to propose." The taller man chuckled and took Chuuya's glass, filling it a little more than halfway.

The redhead grabbed Dazai's hands and poured the wine until the glass was full to the brim. "Come on! Don't drink so sparingly, Dazai!"

-

After a little while, both men were at least a little drunk. Chuuya was pretty much off his face, while Dazai was.. not. Yes, he was drunk, but not drunk enough to somehow be crashing into tables while sitting down.

Dazai had folded one leg over the other, tapping his foot to the beat of the muffled music played throughout the bar. He let out a small noise of surprise when he felt arms snaking around his shoulders, and a head resting on top of his own.

"Dazai! Hi." A lock of red hair fell into Dazai's line of vision as the voice spoke behind him.

"Hi, Chuu-ya." Dazai placed his hands over the other man's, squeezing them gently.

(a/n - eli and chuuya, i KNOW you guys are gonna start with the cig emojis. don't you dare)

Chuuya hummed gently and plopped himself down into Dazai's lap, wrapping his arms around the other's shoulders.

A gloved hand traced around Dazai's jaw, cupping his cheek. The man in question simply smirked and gazed at the owner of said hand, who was chuckling to himself.

"So, what's this then?"

"Oh.. you just look so nice right now. How have I never noticed this before?" Chuuya gently caressed Dazai's face with his thumb, tilting his head as he fixed his gaze on the other.

"Oh, do I now? How very charming." Dazai, too, was starting to lose sobriety. He had a warm smile on his face, which was somewhat unnatural for him. He placed his hands on the redhead's waist, looking up at him for the first time. How ironic.

"Yes.. hm. I could totally kiss you right now, you know." Chuuya's words were somewhat slurred, and his warm breath was ridden with alcohol.

The brunette's voice lowered to just above a whisper as he brought the other's face closer to his own. "Why don't you prove it then?"

Chuuya smirked down at Dazai, holding his face. He wrapped his free hand around the back of the other's neck as he brought their lips together.. almost.

"Oh, don't be such a tease." Dazai chuckled and raised his head slightly, closing his eyes before pressing his lips against Chuuya's, to the surprise of the other.

-

Was this really happening, was Dazai Osamu really kissing Chuuya Nakahara? This was only the sort of stuff that would happen in dreams.. nightmares, in Chuuya's case. Oh well, no time to dwell on such things.

-

After a few more seconds, Dazai finally pulled away from the kiss. He chuckled at seeing Chuuya's shocked expression, which quickly turned to a look of joy, and what looked like awe.

"Oh, no need to pull that face at me. I gave you what you wanted, did I not?" Dazai chuckled at his words, watching Chuuya stuttering. Both their faces were tinted red, though from the alcohol or their current situation, neither could tell.

"You just-.. kissed me-?" Chuuya sat there for a few more seconds, beaming. "Hell yes!"

* ~ *

(a/n - i finally made a longish chapter omg shocked face. anyway, i hope you enjoyed the gays 🤭)