Drowning in the swamp of memories

Midnight Roses

It was still midnight, the quietness lingering as I lay there, feeling Dazai’s arms still wrapped around me, his hold steady and a bit too warm. He tightened his embrace, whispering softly, "I’m sorry, Belladonna... for pressuring you before." The sound of that nickname irritated me as always, but I didn’t respond, keeping my gaze fixed somewhere else, anywhere but at him.

After a long pause, I finally broke the silence, “Osamu,” I murmured, testing his first name, watching his reaction. He glanced down, surprised. I continued, “Your ability can nullify others’ abilities, right? Do you think... could it stop nightmares?”

His expression softened, but he shook his head. “No,” he replied simply. I sighed, my gaze dropping down until it landed on the roses he’d brought. They were resting on the bedside table, and I couldn’t resist a little tease. “Are those for me?” I asked, knowing they probably weren’t. No one in their right mind would give roses to someone like me; most of them were terrified of my mood swings and my sharp tongue.

Dazai tilted his head, and to my surprise, he took my gloved hand and pressed a soft kiss on it. “They are for you, Belladonna.”

I blinked, taken aback, then stumbled out a reply, “Oh… like... as a friend. Yeah, just friends! Wonderful.” I forced a smile, trying to dismiss the awkwardness.

He closed his eyes, hiding a smirk. “Yes, like friends,” he murmured. But as he opened his eyes again, they flickered briefly to my lips, making me shift uncomfortably, caught between feeling annoyed and uncertain.

Sensing my discomfort, he chuckled, noticing a stray line of drool from my earlier sleep. “Belladonna, you’re even messy in your sleep.” He let go, chuckling as he made his way to the door, his footsteps echoing softly.

As he turned, he gave a slight wave. “Goodnight... friend,” he said with a mischievous glint before he disappeared into the hallway, leaving me with nothing but the roses and the midnight silence.