The sound of light rain hitting the windows filled the comfortable silence of the apartment. Dazai was sprawled on the sofa, flipping through an old magazine that clearly didn't interest him. His distracted gaze occasionally strayed to Oda, who was talking on his cell phone in the kitchen, his tone calm but firm.

"If they don't want to eat the vegetables, tell them they'll have to deal with Port Mafia-style torture."

A brief pause was followed by a soft sigh.

"No, it's nothing serious. Just say that, trust me."

Dazai immediately raised an eyebrow curiously, leaning forward to peer around the door frame. "Oda, did you just threaten innocent children with... Port Mafia torture?" He asked with a mischievous smile. "Have you been feeling nostalgic, or is this just a new pedagogical tactic?"

Oda calmly hung up his cell phone, returning to the living room with his hands in his pockets. "It was just the nanny. The kids were fussing about dinner"

"And you thought it was a good idea to evoke the psychological terror of your time in the Mafia?" Dazai laughed, tossing the magazine aside. "So? What secret method is this? I'm curious now"

Oda crossed his arms, a half-smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Oh, please, I worked with you for years in the Mafia, nothing surprises me anymore" Dazai said, closing his eyes and spreading his arms in a theatrical surrender, as if ready to receive a fatal attack. "Do your worst, is this something that will kill me, by any chance?" He smiled at the possibility.

That was his cue. In a second, Oda approached with steps too calm and silent for Dazai to notice and then, with surprising precision, dug his fingers into the sides of his waist.

"Hey! What are you—ahhhahahaha, Oda!" He nearly jumped off the couch, trying to push away Oda's nimble hands, which were now attacking him with meticulously calculated tickles, first on his waist, then sliding down his ribs. "Is this the dreaded torture method?" He managed between laughs.

"It's working, isn't it?" Oda said with the most absurd calm in the world, even as he continued the attack, now aiming for his armpits, just to see the reaction intensify.

"Hahahahahaha! Stop, stahahahahahahap! That's not fair! Hahahahahaha! You're too serious to use that kind of tactic!"

"That's exactly why it works" Oda retorted, finally stopping and leaving Dazai slumped on the couch, his face flushed, panting, and his eyes watering from laughter.

For a moment, they were silent, but Dazai, catching his breath, turned to face him with an amused smile. "You're a very well-disguised demon, you know that?"

Oda settled in beside him. "And you should think twice before asking to 'see for yourself' next time" He smiled.

"Okay, fair enough, but I think I deserve some kind of compensation for this attack on my physical and moral integrity" Dazai said dramatically, lying down on the sofa.

Oda stared at him with his head slightly tilted. "Would you like me to cook something?"

"Hmm... no. My life energy was drained by cruel fingers, so I need something more therapeutic" He said, then stretched his feet out toward him with the most begging and dramatic expression possible. "A foot massage, please"

Oda arched an eyebrow. "You sound like I've beaten you"

"Almost, you attacked my soul"

Letting out a sigh with a hint of amusement, Oda took one of his feet and began to press gently, his thumbs moving along the entire length of the sole. For a few moments, everything went smoothly, until a small shiver ran through Dazai's body.

"Nnh!" He exclaimed.

Oda stopped, watching, and did it again, tracing his thumb lightly over the arch of his foot. Dazai immediately flinched and stifled a giggle.

"You're kidding" He said, and for the first time that day, he smiled with a little more than just the corner of his mouth. "Your feet are ticklish too?"

"N-No! I just... it's a very delicate area, you know? Full of nerve endings..." Dazai tried to argue, slowly pulling his foot away.

But Oda held firm. "Interesting. Very interesting."

"Don't you dare..."

But it was too late. As calm as ever, Oda slid his fingers across the sole of Dazai's foot with cruel precision.

The effect was instantaneous, he choked on laughter, kicked the air, and grabbed a cushion as a shield. "S-Stohohohohohop! Hahahahahaha! This is a double betrayal!"

"I'm just exploring alternative relaxation therapy methods" Oda countered, impassive, alternating between light touches on the arch and toes, where Dazai's most vulnerable points seemed to be, judging by the half-laughing cries and desperate moans escaping him.

"S-Stahahahahahahap! I don't trust you anymore! Hahahahahahaha!" He shook himself, trying to free his leg.

"Wise decision" Oda replied with a slight smile, continuing for just a few more seconds, long enough to see Dazai squirm and almost slip off the couch like a fish out of water.

Finally, he stopped, gently releasing his foot. Dazai lay there, panting, his hair disheveled, staring at the ceiling as if he'd been through a battle.

"You're ridiculously calm for someone who just committed crimes against another citizen's human rights" He murmured.

Oda just watched him with that calm, almost tender gaze. "I told you it was an effective method. The children behave much better after that"

"I'll behave too, if it means you'll never come near my feet again"

"Well, you were the one who offered them to me" Oda smiled mischievously, making him recoil in fear of another attack. "No promises"

Dazai muttered something inaudible, but still, he reached out his arm, pulling him closer. "Okay, but if you're going to torture me like this, then stay here until I fall asleep"

Dazai was rather content on a lazy night at the bar.

The familiar atmosphere held a comfort only Lupin could provide, its dim lights and peaceful nights were to die for, truly. For Dazai, it felt much more relieving in the presence of two people.

He wrapped his arms around Odasaku’s torso, sat contently on his lap, who was busy talking on the phone with the restaurant owner about who-knows-what, nursing a Whiskey on the Rocks with his free hand.

Ango was making idle chat with the bartender two seats down, sipping his own tomato juice, as he stated that he wasn’t in the mood for alcohol that night. And Dazai found himself here, simply relaxing against his friend, feeling confident that this would simply be a slow night at the bar.

He snuggled in closer to Odasaku’s side, absentmindedly letting his forehead press against the man’s cheek, who in turn abandoned his drink to give Dazai a quick pat on the head, letting his hand rest there after a moment. Dazai let out a little sigh, tuning in to catch the tail end of Odasaku’s phone conversation.

“-If Katsumi does it again, let him know I’ll be coming home to dish out some Port Mafia Style Torture, okay? Bye then.”

…Hoh?

“Hmm?” Dazai tilted his head up to look at Odasaku, who looked down at him with a raised brow. “What is it?” he asked, pocketing his phone as Dazai sat up. “Port Mafia Styled Torture? I haven’t heard anything like that before. What do you mean by it?”

Distantly, he noticed the scrapping of Ango’s bar stool and his footsteps, and Odasaku glanced at the other, before letting out a hum. “Just a term I came up with for the kids.” he plainly explained, causing Dazai to huff. “Yeah, but what is it?” He pouted, clearly displaying curiosity.

“Ah, well,” Odasaku contemplated, tilting his head to the side for a moment before ultimately shrugging. “It’s better to show more than tell, I suppose.” Now it was Dazai’s turn to cock his head to the side, confusion flickering on his face. The sound of Ango aggressively sipping his drink behind them certainly wasn’t helping, though.

Then Odasaku held up wiggling fingers.

Dazai was beyond confused.

“What…are you doing? Why are you moving your hands like tHAT-”

He had no time to react, zero seconds to collect himself before those wiggling fingers descended on his sides like quick lightning, startling a shriek out of the teenager. It was a foreign feeling that shot through his body, causing him to sputter and teeter into frantic laughter.

“Whahahahahat the-Odahahaha!!!” Dazai squealed when Odasaku dug dexterous fingers into his ribs, causing the poor boy to buck and squirm in Odasaku’s lap, who wasn’t at all deterred by the sudden rowdiness of the younger. That didn’t stop him from commenting though.

“Huh, I didn’t expect you to be this ticklish.” He hummed, giving an experimental tweak higher up his ribs, and leaning forward a bit to accommodate Dazai’s jerk backwards. “I can work with this.”

“This is terrible.” Ango said from behind, and Dazai could barely twist around to start reaching for help, a smile tugging his lips in a way he never thought were possible. “Ahahahango!! Hehelp mehehehe- AHhhahAhahAhh!!” He practically spasmed with screechy laughter when Odasaku took the opportunity to scribble along his back, having not expected his own back to be as ticklish as his front.

“Nope, I’m fine right here. I do not trust that man.” Ango hummed from the complete other side of the bar, Dazai kicking wildly and yelping with laughter as Odasaku considered his options, as if this were some delicate procedure and not him just tickling his crazily squirming friend to utter pieces. “Ow Ango, I feel hurt.” He nonchalantly muttered.

And then he poked around his lower back.

It was almost as if Dazai turned into a track runner, it was just that funny.

The boy let out a straight up scream, aggressively kicking his legs as he started slapping Odasaku’s hands, which were tweaking at the dimples that he must have remembered were there. The other leaned back a bit as Ango raised a brow. “Ah, that must feel terrible. Rest in peace, Dazai, I’ll be sure to write your eulogy.” It’s not like it was terrible… he was just unprepared, dangit!

“I thought that was my job?” Odasaku questioned, digging a knuckle into the middle of his back, only to jolt at the loud snort Dazai let out. “Jesus, that startled me.” Ango scoffed in amusement, watching as Dazai’s feet would bang against the bar table.

He’s pretty sure he kicked something else, from the clattering noise that startled a flinch out of both Ango and Odasaku, causing the man’s merciless fingers to falter and dig into a bundle of nerves, and Dazai couldn’t help the full body spasm that overtook him. Seriously, how was he supposed to know what he kicked if he was laughing too much to even care!?

“Oooh…apologies for that, bartender-” Dazai’s hand came cracking down against the counter, his finger catching on something solid before that went crashing down too. “....And that.”

Dazai could hardly hear what the bartender was saying when Odasaku started experimentally wiggling fingers into his hips, his laughter taking on a whole new pitch as he struggled, laughter sputtering without filter from his mouth, slapping his hand repeatedly around the bar table.

“BAHAhahaHahAHar!! PleEhEhehase!!!” He pleaded senselessly, unsure just what it was he was pleading for. “Were you trying to call the bartender? God, you’re just calling for anyone now, huh?” Ango hummed with a casual raise of the eyebrow, which shouldn’t be so damn funny in the situation, but Dazai found himself laughing more anyways.

He’s certain he almost slid off of Odasaku’s lap if the man hadn’t been there to hold him up, tears of mirth pricking his eyes as he squirmed and squealed, trying everything he could to worm himself out of the man’s dangerously deft hands. A fruitless endeavor in the end, but the attempt was appreciated.

“You okay there, Dazai?” Odasaku apparently found it in himself to be worried by the tears he was deliberately causing to stream down Dazai’s face, who finally was able to turn onto his back again, head and torso dangling off from the stool with a beet-red face. He couldn’t help but think how terribly mean that was, and how giggly he felt just from the aspect that Odasaku cared enough to ask for a raincheck.

Somehow, he gave a half-assed nod, wheezing all the same.

“Now he just sounds like a pterodactyl.” Came the comments of his other, equally mean friend, who pre-ordered some water and was just sitting there waiting now, waiting for Dazai to give up and beg for it to stop. “Hmm, I think that adds onto the charm.” Odasaku casually commented, further embarrassing their precious friend, who was frantically shaking his head and whining, wheezing, laughing his heart out. God, he didn’t want to think it, but-

This was so, so fun.

“He sounds like he’s being murdered though, and I do not know how to feel about that.” Obviously that was a lie, from the way he was hiding a small smile behind his tomato juice glass, but Dazai could hardly muster the strength to call him out on it. Dazai, being tickled to shambles, took way longer than he thought to get enough breath in him to finally, finally plead mercy.

“AIHIHIHIR!! I NEHEHEED AIHIHIR-ODAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Odasaku took him seriously then, and the boy gasped in relief (and hidden disappointment) when he removed his hands, instead helping Dazai sit up properly. He adjusted him in his lap, asking again if the other was okay as Dazai greedily sucked in bucket-fulls of air, hardly noticing Ango approach with the glass of water.

Maybe it took Dazai an embarrassing few tries to actually grab the glass of water, Ango supporting it as he drank from it in relief. He let out a sigh, leaning back against Odasaku’s chest as Ango sat down, the bartender watching fondly from afar.

“Dazai?” Odasaku called again, making him realize how he had yet to answer the man’s question, frantically nodding his head in earnest. “‘M fine, ‘m fine.” He managed to mumble, letting his eyes slide shut as he took in all of what just happened.

It was unexpected, he was so unprepared. Those foreign tingles fried his brain in a way he couldn’t explain, but for some strange, strange reason…

He wanted Odasaku to do it again.

It was so fun, so unpredictable, so…not boring. It lit a fire in Dazai’s heart and the uncontrollable laughter left him feeling so light. He was practically boneless, the blush on his face felt so hot, yet he didn’t mind. He only found himself snuggling further into Oda’s gentle embrace, wishing to himself for the other to do it again. But at the same time, he was exhausted, he wanted a nap right about now, no more of that for him then.

“Well, now I’m just glad the Port Mafia’s enemies never thought of tickle torture to get the answers they wanted; we all would have been so screwed.” Dazai huffed at that, cheeks flushing for a whole other embarrassing reason now at Ango’s smartass comment.

“Oh fuck you, Ango.” He growled lightly only to quietly yelp and giggle feverishly at the tweak to his sides from Odasaku, practically melting on the spot. “Oi, no cussing at Ango. I’m not afraid to dish out some more of this for the next hour.”

Dazai hiccupped, mumbling ‘mercy mercy mercy’ and vigorously shaking his head. Thankfully Odasaku didn’t go through with his playful threat, instead letting his arms wrap around Dazai and settle comfortably.

“Finally, a knight and shining armor to save me from your insanity.” Ango rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh as he leaned his head against his palm. “Although, I suggest you get to cleaning up your mess as soon as possible. That would be appreciated.”

…Mess?

“Eh?” Dazai tilted his head, blinking his eyes open to look to the opposite side of them, almost shooting up in surprise at what he saw. Multiple bar stools had fallen to the ground, and Odasaku’s drink was miserably spilt over the bar counter, sitting there sadly.

An even brighter flush of embarrassment took over him, something he for once couldn’t seem to hide as he sulked heavily. “How did I do that..?” He muttered to himself briefly. “Don’t ask how; just get to cleaning already.” Ango pressed, downing the rest of his tomato juice.

“But Angooo!” Dazai complained, leaning heavily back against Odasaku, who bonked him lightly on the head. “Your mess, you clean it up.” He said, which caused Dazai to gap at him. “But you’re the one responsible for making me make this mess, Odasaku!” Odasaku hummed with a shrug. “You still did it, take responsibility. You're a mafioso for God’s sake, Dazai.” Ango huffed.

“Uuuugh, fine!” Dazai whined, sulking off Odasaku’s lap and begrudgingly setting to work on picking up the bar stools. He almost hissed at Odasaku chuckling behind him, but thought better of it, knowing that would lead him nowhere.

He didn’t complain as much as he usually did though, as for once, he wasn’t as opposed as he thought he’d be to cleaning up his mess. All he could really think about was when and how he could get that to happen again. You can’t really blame him.

"Mmm.." Ango hummed quietly. His eyes drifted to the clock next to him lazily. 4:57am is what it read. His fingers slipped under his round glasses to try to rub the sleepiness from his eyes. 

This would be his second all nighter in a row. The things being a mafioso does to you, he thought, his eyes beginning to drift closed unknowingly. He only became aware of this as he felt a hand lovingly push his hair back from his forehead, followed by a kiss, which he recognized by the distinct feeling of stubble that accompanied it. 

"Odasaku, what are you doing here so late?"

"Late?" The redhead in front of Ango raised an eyebrow, his lips in their usual neutral place. "I just got here. Have you been here all night?"

"Mmm.." Ango gazed down at the papers in front of him. Oda could tell by his tired eyes that the man had been overworking again. He felt pity for him. 

"You really shouldn't do that to yourself." Oda moved a little closer, slipping his hands around Ango's waist. His lips pressed gently against Ango's neck. It made the brunettes breath hitch. "Exhausting yourself like this is really bad for you." 

Ango squirmed softly under the tender touch of the other man, his lips starting to turn up a little. Don't let his numb expression fool you, Sakunosuke Oda knew exactly what he was doing. 

"It's not like I have much of a cho-oice—" Ango's breath staggered a little as he felt Oda's lips press ever so tenderly against his ear. His stubble tickled. 

"You know you'll just end up redoing it after you've rested." Oda was right, it always happened. Ango would work and work till he burnt out and slept and when he'd return he'd find the work chicken scratch from his delirious state. "Sorry, does this tickle?" 

Ango flushed a little. Anyone who didn't know the gruff man would've thought he was being genuine. He sure sounded it. However, Ango was not just anyone to Oda. "St-stop it." 

"Sorry." Oda hummed gently. His lips withdrew from Ango's ear. But in replacement, his hands came up a little from where they were rested on his waist. His fingers began massaging into Ango's ribs. The glasses wearing man gave a yelp. "Is this better?"

"N-no that's not- b-behe– a-ah–!" Both Ango's arms clung down to his sides defensively. If he didn't know better, Ango would say Oda gave a soft, fond chuckle at the way he reacted. Just quietly behind his neutral expression.

"Youre so tense." The redhead commented as his fingers pressed into Ango's ribs. Ango wanted to tell him that that was idiotic to say, considering he was pressing into his ribs and ribs don't GET tense. But he decided against it as Oda's prodding fingers found his waist. "You should really get some rest."

"I h-ahave to fihinish my wohork–!" The brunette protested as Oda's fingers explored around his waist. This was far from this first time something like this had taken place. In fact, it happened almost weekly. Ango never won. "StOhop!" 

"It won't hurt to take a couple of hours to rest." Oda tried to reason, but he could see by the way Ango looked that he was dead set on keeping on. So he opted for a… more persuasive method. Both hands slipped down to the shorter man's thighs, squeezing quite rapidly. His lips found the crook of Ango's neck, his stubble tickling the skin as well. Ango couldn't hide the undignified squeal if he tried. 

"D-dAha— a-aH—! F-fiHine!" Ango's hands swiftly moved to shove Oda's off of his thighs. Oda obliged. The redheads hands withdrew, leaving a ruffle to Ango's hair and a final kiss to his cheek. A ghost of a fond smile grazed Oda's lips as he saw the mess of a man in the chair. Ango's face was flushed red and there was a smile across his mouth that wouldn't subside. Oda chuckled softly behind his numb expression. 

"Put away whatever you need to, I'll be in the car." 

It was a Sunday afternoon when it happened. The day wasn't particularly sunny, though it wasn't storming. Dazai found it pleasant, as far as weather went. Barely a sound erupted as the executive entered the curry shop Oda was meant to be in. Though, the redhead was nowhere to be seen.

"Looking for sakunosuke?" Piped the owner from behind the counter. Dazais gaze wandered to him.

"Yes. Urgent business. Any clue where he might be?" The owner smiled, pointing his finger upstairs. A couple of loud crashes could be heard.

"Careful. They're a rowdy bunch." Dazai nodded to the man, beginning to head out the door up the stairs. His fist knocked against the door.

"Odasaku? It's Da–" The teenager was briskly cut off by a shriek. He raised both eyebrows, pressing his ear against the door.

"STAHAHAP! NO MOHORE—!!!" Dazai blinked once. Then twice. Then a third and fourth time. Was he.. doing what Dazai thought he was? No. Couldn't be. "AAAHHH IT TIHICKLES!"

Nope. He definitely was. Dazai felt his face pinken as he listened. Maybe it was seconds maybe it was an hour that Dazai stood there frozen, Dazai wouldn't have been able to tell you either way.

In reality, it was about three minutes before the shrieks and laughter ceased and Dazai heard footsteps coming towards the door. He was quick to back away from it, standing up straight and awkward as the door swung open.

"Dazai?" Odasaku's eyebrow raised at the sight before him. The executive looked.. almost flustered. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Ah n-not long at all!" Dazai cursed himself for stammering. What was he getting so wound up for??? He needed to get a hold of himself. Fast. "I was just here to- to- to-"

Dazai mentally kicked himself as his eyes wandered to Odasaku's hands. This was Not happening right now. "You okay?"

"YES yes I'm– what- what was going on in there—?" Dazai peered behind him at the kids, who had now gone back to whatever it was they were doing before Oda had come.

"Oh, them? Yeah, they love to try to attack, so i had to teach them a lesson but they're just kids, so..." Oda hummed softly. "Why do you ask? Are you sure youre alright? You look a little red."

"N-no! No i just its- uh- ah–" Dazai stammered out, trying to find a way out of this situation, which was quite litterally the only thing he hadnt prepared for happening. Ever. "I- i actually just received word from the boss that- that he needs me so i should—"

"Uh uh." Odasaku hooked his hand around the back of the brunettes suit collar, stopping him right in his tracks. "Whats going on?"

Dazai fought against the hold Oda had on his collar, trying to get away. "Nothing! I'm fine! Odasaku—!" Dazai whined as the grip remained firmly on his collar. "Let me go!"

Now, anyone who knew Oda would know he's not the absolute best at picking up on things. But Oda could see what was happening here. He used the scruff of Dazai's suit to pick him up, setting him down but still not letting him go.

"Not until you tell me what it is that's bothering you." Oda kneeled down in front of Dazai, using his free hand to wiggle his fingers right in front of Dazai's stomach. Said boy began to squirm and fight as hard as he could, wide eyes looking at the wiggling fingers.

"No! Odasaku, c'mon! This is cruel!"

"Cruel? C'mon, you're a mafia executive, you can certainly handle something as trivial as this, can't you?" Dazai gave a squeamish sound as his hands came to try to fight off Odasakus hand, but Oda seemed to expertly avoid Dazai's hands. Maybe his ability, maybe just his training. Either way, Dazai was not having any luck fighting him off. The brunette shook his head rapidly. "No? Well, maybe I'm doing you a favor then. It wouldn't be good for you if someone outside the mafia found out about this."

"Wait wait, Odasaku, c'mon! We can talk this out, please!" Dazai begged. Later, he'd think back on it and be embarrassed about how quickly he was reduced to begging for something so trivial. But for now, all he could think about is how to get Out Of Here. Oda raised his eyebrow, moving his hand forward a little. Causing Dazai to immediately shuffle as far back as he could.

"You're this wound up by it? Are you really that ticklish?" Dazai whined, face reddening a bit more as he pressed it into his hands, a sight Odasaku would say was quite cute in a way he hadn't known was possible from the executive. It was charming, seeing his usually smug friend so childishly flustered.

"Odasaku!" Dazai whined, breaking the man out of the daze he hadn't realized he was in, only now realizing his fingers were right against Dazai's side, very slightly twitching. Oda smirked a tad, without further warning jumping right in. His fingers latched onto his friends side, squeezing up and down with Dazai's side between his thumb and forefinger. He almost flinched at the loud honest to God squeal his friend gave in response. "NoHOhO wahAIT OHodA—!!"

The giggles that escaped Dazai after the squeal were what really surprised Odasaku. They were.. sweet. Not the usual laugh, like he would do after making a particularly disturbing comment that would make ango squeamishly flinch. No, these sounded almost just plain happy. Without thinking, Odas hands moved up to Dazai's ribs, thumb circling and prodding between the bones. Dazais squirming increased tenfold, and it was as if he couldn't decide between bringing his arms down and covering his mouth to hide the giggles.

"So you really are that ticklish then?" Oda spoke, tone only half teasing. The brunette almost protested, but was quickly cut off by a shriek as the tormenting fingers found his topmost rib. His arms quickly decided on crashing down defensively.

"OdAHAsAHaKu NohOt thEHERe!" He shook his head rapidly in protest as Odas thumb prodded against that topmost rib.

"Here?" The redheaded man asked, prodding even further into the ticklish spot that seemed to send his younger friend into a flurry of rambunctious giggles and thrashes.

"STOhoP sthOhoP! NoHOhO mOHORE!" He pleaded. It reminded Oda of how the children behaved when he did the same to them.

"You're certainly squirmy." Odasaku hummed, grabbing Dazai's wrists and pulling them up, a ghost of a grin across his face. It made Dazai squirm and fight even harder. Oda went back to prodding Dazai's topmost rib. "Here?"

"Noho noho noHOhO!" Dazai squirmed even harder, moving practically in circles, full weight on Oda's arm supporting him. Dazai didn't understand how Oda hadnt dropped him yet. "I'll doHo ahaAnythIHing!"

"Anything? Really?" Oda spoke in teasingly fake surprise, two fingers walking up under Dazai's arm, pausing there. Dazai huffed breaths. "Over two minutes of tickling? Even the kids last longer than that."

"Two minutes!?" His exclaimed, exasperated. He would've sworn it had been at least thirty. He flinched hard as the fingers under his arm twitched ever so slightly, babbling out. "Nono c'mon no more please i told you I'll do anything!"

"Hmm.." Oda pondered, fingers drifting away from Dazai's underarm, towards his neck instead. Dazais wide eyes stared at the traveling hand, immediately hunching his shoulders and thrashing side to side. He even tried to kick away the hand, though it only landed him with a squeeze to the thigh. Which caused a shriek. Oda repeated the motion once. Then twice. Then a third and fourth time. "Oh?"

"WAHaIT GOhO BAHaCk!" The victim yelled out in protest, to no avail. His attacker wasn't going to show him mercy now. Dazai through his head back in ticklish ecstasy. After each squeeze erupted a shriek, followed by a string of vibrant giggles, so bouncy odasaku had never heard such a thing from anyone, let alone Dazai.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity (it was actually another few seconds), Odasaku let up, seeing tears fall down Dazai's cheeks. The hands on his wrists finally let go, causing Dazai to collapse right into Odasaku, who caught him quite effortlessly. Little giggles still escaped the brunette as he fell into the redheads embrace. "You alright?"

"Ehehe— ehevil–" Dazai managed before burying his face in Odas shoulder. Oda chuckled quietly, supporting dazais weight as he stood back up.

“Dazai.”

There are times where Dazai likes to sneak into Oda’s house. Not that he minds.

It’s a frequent occurrence, the busted lock of the backdoor and the most silent padding of feet at the very crack of dawn. Many times Oda would awake in his room to find Dazai rummaging through his closet, pawing at his different shirts of varying colors, before he’d make his wise pick and great get-away into the living room.

He’s as silent as still water, fluid and agile in his movements when he doesn’t wish to be noticed, and so that is a choice Oda respects. He won’t acknowledge his presence when his feet hardly hit the ground.

But there are some days, early enough in the morning that cicadas have yet to end their nightly song, that there’s a couple of thumps and banging that goes on in his living room, or his kitchen, maybe bathroom or guest bedroom.

When Dazai wasn’t trying to be silent, he sure made a lot of noise.

And that’s how Oda knows he wants company, which led to now.

Dazai perked up from where he was face deep in Oda’s pantry, caught red-handed with that family-size pack of Reese's Cups that Oda specifically bought for him to eat on occasion, not downing the bag in one night, as he seems to plan on doing.

He was swaddled in Oda’s biggest blue shirt, a singular rope of bandages tied around his waist to symbolize the closest thing he could get to a dress. He really liked to do that, weirdly enough. Almost as weird as his new craving for Reese’s Cups, actually.

“I fear I’ve made a mistake, introducing you to that.” Dazai gave a heavy pout and whine, clutching the bag close as if it were his very own newborn.

“But Odasakuuuuuu!” Dazai whined, stomping his foot against the counter like the child he was. “I know you have another in there! Just show me where it is and I’ll be on my merry way!” As much as Oda usually decided to let Dazai do whatever he wanted, imagining the kid on a sugar high (possibly while in the presence of that partner he constantly gushed about, which Dazai would deny and say he was complaining), would probably be the mistake of a century.

“But Dazai,” He monotonously mimicked, “You’re gonna have a sugar rush and then you’ll crash midday if you do that. I do not need my ability to make that prediction.” Sure, he may have bought like, five more packs of Reese’s Cups, but Dazai didn’t have to know there were that many more.

He couldn’t really help it either, it’s probably the first candy addiction Dazai’s ever had, and he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t adorable.

Dazai continued to pout, puffy cheeks and all with the big shirt and flared pants he probably stole from a twenty-four hour store on the way here. If only Dazai knew just how well he could pull off the ‘cute look’, he’d be weaponizing it left right and center.

Oda gave a long sigh, but he’d yet to give up. If there’s at least one thing Oda could try and get him to do healthily, it would be to manage his candy intake. “Dazai, come down from there. If you do, I'll let you eat a third of that bag.”

Dazai narrowed his gaze, suspicion in his visible wine-brown eye that Oda could read as something playful. “But the whole bag……Odasaku…”

“Dazai. No.” Oda refused, taking a step closer to the other, who glared and glared and glared as Oda stepped closer. “Oda, these are my babies.”

“I have actual children, so I would know that those are not, in fact, your babies.”

Dazai let out the loudest gasp of offense Oda’s heard to date, clutching the bag even closer as Oda raised a single eyebrow. “Oda Sakunosuke!!” He spat, offended and clearly in disbelief. “You are the disrespect of mankind! Foul! Absolutely foul-OH SHIT–”

Oda just nearly caught him before Dazai leapt off the counter, making a mad dash for the living room. Oda sighed affectionately, knowing it was far too early for Dazai’s shenanigans, but went chasing after him anyways.

“Dazai–”

A pillow collides with his face, sending him stumbling back as Dazai makes a dash for his bedroom–

Oda lets it happen.

Dazai made these little, hasty giggles as the pillow made its contact, Oda letting him slip by like the slithering snake he was. He let the pillow fall, making note to take it up later as he turned on his heel and darted after the little fiend, who stumbled into his bedroom, quick to shut the door before Oda could get in himself.

Oda didn’t question the playful mood Dazai was in this early morning, but if he had to be honest, it was rather rare that he was ever this playful. Did he want something, then?

Oda opened the door to an empty bedroom, and for a second he actually thought Dazai made an escape through the window. He quickly dismisses the idea once catching sight of the locked window, unpicked.

So he was hiding now. Fun.

Oda’s first thought was to check under his bed, crouching down and pulling up the blanket to test his luck. There was none to be found.

He let out a small hum, because he knew Dazai was somewhere in his room, and there weren’t many places to hide anyways. He checked behind the bed, thinking that perhaps his friend had hid himself there. He had not.

The only other plausible choice would be the closet then, so many clothes of all different lengths hung up with drawers full of other clothes that wouldn’t fit on the rack too. Dazai had to be there, if not, then he must have done a miraculous disappearing act.

Oda stalked quietly over to the closet, observing its plain doors for any oddities before he went to grab its handles.

The moment he opened the closet door, two hands shot out from the darkness they blended into with a manic giggle, latching onto his sides and–

Ah.

So that’s what he wanted.

Oda moved back, a hand to his stubbled chin as he contemplated his next move.

Dealing with Dazai in that sort of mood is like dealing with a kid his actual age, and maybe Oda learned to work with kids under the age of ten, but those methods could still apply to Dazai either way, so how does he go about this, you ask?

Oda walked out of his bedroom.

He made sure to close the door enough at Dazai’s angle of sight to appear nearly closed, with only an inch ajar for Oda to look into. He crouched down, peering through the crack as he waited patiently.

Oda waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And–

The closet door creaked open slowly, and he watched Dazai crawl out of it, holding his prized possession close. He was clearly suspicious, not wanting to take chances but also not wanting to stay in that cramped closet for long. Perfect.

He peeked under the bed, perhaps decided that that would be a good place to hide next. So he slid the bag of chocolates under the bed first, getting ready to squeeze himself underneath next.

And there was his chance.

Oda burst through the door, grabbing Dazai by the leg as the other let out the loudest squeal he’s ever heard in his life–wow, there goes his eardrums–dragging him from halfway under the bed before tossing him on top of the mattress.

“Found you.” Oda proudly announced as Dazai attempted to scramble away, but the other held him down by the upper back, undeterred by Dazai’s feeble wiggling.

“Odasaku! Wait, can’t we talk this out!?” Dazai whined and complained, yelping when Oda flipped him on his back. “Nope. I told you not to eat them off in one day, Dazai.” Oda refused.

Dazai tried to bite back with another one of his remarks, but promptly burst into a fit of surprised giggles as Oda aggressively (yet harmlessly) shook him by the palm on his tummy, causing the sly teen to rock side to side rapidly, curling in on himself.

“Ohohohdasakuhuhu! Stahahap!” Oda however, did no such thing, practically vibrating Dazai on the bed, who giggled away endlessly.

Because that’s what he wanted. So Oda might as well do it. He never minds.

“You’re not doing anything to really stop me, Dazai. Why’s that?” Oda hummed absentmindedly, clawing his fingers and making Dazai squeak. That seemed to put his body into action, raising his hands to push at Oda’s face, a palm to his cheek and a palm to his forehead.

“Nohohoho! Plehehease, Odasaku!!” He couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s snickers and squeaks, even if the other was trying very hard to push him away, Oda knew he didn’t really mean it.

Whiiiich is probably why he went for the armpits.

Dazai let out a short scream, erupting in roaring laughter as his arms collided with his sides, only really trapping Oda’s hands instead. “How could you do this to me, Dazai? I’m trapped, I can’t believe you.” Oda smirked, tapping his fingers unfazed.

Dazai continued to laugh and giggle as Oda played him like an instrument, shimmying his fingers down Dazai’s sides and riling up the other’s wiggles even more than before. Dazai tried with all his might–which admittedly wasn’t much–to get the upper hand and get away, but Oda was far too strong for him, and he could only really sit there and take it.

“Are you going to give up the candies now?” Oda hummed, letting out a puff of laughter at Dazai’s head shaking in a vehement ‘no’. Of course he wouldn’t, he wouldn’t be Dazai if he was anything but stubborn.

Thankfully, Oda knew how to make the other give up quick.

The moment his hands even made the suggestion to switch to his neck, Dazai was pleading.

“WAIT!!! Waitwaitwait, Odahahasakuuhuhu!! Plehehehease, not that–not thahahat!!” Oda wasn’t even doing anything except tickling his side with one hand, the other wandering up to his neck. “If you don’t want this, then give up the candy.”

“Buhuhuhut my candyhihihi!” Dazai whined, only to let out a near deafening shriek as Oda feigned a sharp motion to his neck, the other practically jumping with the giggly jitters.

He does it again and again at random intervals, just to hear Dazai shriek before he can even properly think about it. He only had to slide a finger down his neck for a second before the other gave up.

“AAAAH!! OKAY OKAY OKAY!!! Tahahake the candy, dahahamihihihit!! Just stahahahahap!!!” Triumphant, Oda gave him one last tummy-shake, lifting himself up and letting the teen mafioso catch his breath as he quickly retrieved the family-sized bag.

He was swift to grab it and get up from the floor, smiling to himself when he gazed upon his friend, tired and giggly and very, very limp, a bright blush coloring his otherwise pale cheeks.

“Want to watch a movie?” Dazai hummed a little, raising a brow at him. “We can watch Princess Mononoke.” That got him to perk up, lifting himself onto his elbows with a wide, intrigued eye.

Princess Mononoke was always his favorite Movie, after all.

Oda held his hand out to him, but Dazai pouted at that. “We’re watching Princess Mononoke, Odasaku!!” He huffed, only causing his friend to fondly roll his eyes, knowing what Dazai wanted from him.

Dazai slid to the edge of the bed, allowing Oda to scoop him up with his other arm and carry him out of the room. They ventured down to the living room as Dazai buried his head in the crook of Oda’s neck, clearly content to let the other do all the heavy lifting. As always, Oda wasn’t one to mind that behavior from him.

Soon enough he had the little prodigy settled down on the couch, wrapped in one of the weighted blankets Oda had bought for him, a star-shaped pillow squished in his arms. He allowed Dazai to handle the TV as he himself went to prepare some movie snacks, lightly monitoring Dazai from the kitchen.

Why was he doing that, one may ask?

Well, he doesn’t pull out that weighted blanket for no reason.

Oda’s bought him multiple over the months, mostly because of Dazai’s obsession with their comfort. However, the one draped over Dazai right now was the heaviest one they owned, with a bright ocean blue that he knew reminded Dazai of a certain someone.

It was his comfort blanket when he was in distress.

So his friend wasn’t just in that mood for no reason. He wanted comfort right about now.

At least that was something Oda could give him.

He soon returned with the movie snacks as Dazai brought up Princess Mononoke, excited stars in his eyes as Oda sat right next to him.

“Can I start now? Can I??” Dazai asked impatiently. Oda gave an approving nod, and Dazai happily turned to the tv and started the movie, relaxing back on the couch and hugging his star pillow even tighter than before.

It was at times like these that Oda could really see what he was meant to be. A happy little kid enjoying a movie of fantasies, with his own childish delights and all. He didn’t have to be the terrifying Demon Prodigy, nor the teenager with ‘no soul’ or someone who ‘wasn’t human’.

He was just Dazai Osamu, the little kid with a big brain, and even bigger imagination.

…

It took until Ashitaka met the Forest Spirit for Oda to ask.

“Is something bothering you lately, Dazai?” Dazai perked up, yet refused to take his eyes off the television as he hummed in faux thought.

“Whatever do you mean, Odasaku?” Dazai asked right back. Oda shrugged, poking the weighted blanket that covered Dazai in warmth. “Comfort blanket.” was all he needed to say.

Dazai remained silent for a while longer, intently focused on the movie, yet not truly processing it anymore, if the glaze of his eyes was any indication.

“Chibi’s away on an overseas mission.” Ah, that makes sense. “He told me he’d go find himself a better partner in the UK.” Dazai then gave an overdramatic scoff and muttered, “Like he’d ever find a better owner than me…”

So he was worried for him, and also scared that Chuuya’s words might be true, huh?

Oda couldn’t help but smile.

“You know how he is when it comes to you two,” Oda muttered. “From what you’ve told me, I don’t think he’s actually looking for another partner, Dazai.”

“Well of course he’s not!” Dazai boasted. “Chibi’s just a brainless dog who can’t be tamed, so as his owner I’m the only one who has the right to be with him!!” Oda raised a brow at that, waiting for a couple of seconds for Dazai to catch on.

That didn’t take long, Dazai’s brain finally processing what he said as his face turned a beet red, and he clamped his jaw shut.

“You’re the ‘only one who has the right to be with him’, huh?” Dazai made an embarrassed noise, hiding his face under the pillow as he rapidly shook his head. “No! Y-You don’t get it, Odasaku! I’m saying that I’m the only one who can put up with his stupid recklessness! It’s dangerous to send that dog away on his own without me!!” He really tried to justify himself, but he wasn’t making it very easy.

“Don’t you hate him, though? I thought you’d be thrilled to have some alone time to yourself.” Oda was joking, of course. As precious as the other’s alone time was to him, Dazai’s concept of space seemed to practically vanish when it came to Chuuya. He was all up in his time, space, and business because of his cute little crush on the other.

It was pretty adorable, if you just accepted the violence and pranks mixed in, too.

“Odasakuuuu! Lemme finish watching the movie, dangit! I wanna see Ashitaka on the wolf’s back!” Dazai complained as he always did, his eyes peeking out from behind the pillow to attempt to refocus on the movie.

And Oda let him.

For a couple minutes of course.

“Have you two kissed yet?” Dazai shrieked at that question, impulsively slamming the pillow into the back of Oda’s head.

“ARE YOU CRAZY, ODASAKU!? I’D RATHER KISS AN UGLY OLD MAN THAN KISS HIM!!!” Oda let out a little chuckle, but there was no way he was just going to let the other get away with pillow slamming him for such a little comment. Besides, the other needed a distraction from the negative thoughts anyways.

“How could you do that, Dazai? I thought I was your friend.” Dazai let out a gasp and giggle as Oda drew closer, raising his wiggling fingers up. “No! Noho–not again!”

“You know what that’ll cost you, right?” His deadpanned voice only caused the other to giggle more, and Oda couldn’t help but smile at him. An evil smile, yes, but one full of fondness that turned his friend’s face pink.

“No tihihickle monster! You can’t doho this to mehehe!!” Dazai shuffled back into the arm of the couch, yet didn’t really make any serious attempt to get away.

“Yes tickle monster. This is all on you.” Oda opposed him, and Dazai wiggled further into the blanket to hide his giggly smile, before just pulling the blanket over himself completely.

Bad move.

Oda was quick to tuck the ends of the blanket under Dazai’s body, the other yelling out and struggling as he realized his mistake. But it was too late, the blanket was tangled and Oda was scribbling everywhere he could reach.

Dazai exploded into laughter, thrashing viciously against the blanket as he cackled at the fingers that found the dimples in his back. However, of course because it was a weighted blanket, Dazai couldn’t really do much to escape.

“ODAHAHAHAHAHASAKUHUHU!!! PLEAHAHAHAHASE NOHOHO MOHOHOHORE!!” Dazai hollered out, But Oda simply let out a hum and continued his onslaught of wiggling fingers.

“I’m not Odasaku, don’t you remember? I’m the tickle monster!” He even tried making his voice sound more cheerful, and Dazai’s laughter only increased in height at that. “WHAHAHAT KINDA VOHOICE IS THAHAHAHAT!?!? BAHAHAHAHAHAHA–”

Wow, that worked better than he thought it would. Wonderful.

“This is the tickle monster’s voice! How dare you insult him like that?” Oda let himself smile more as Dazai’s laughter got even more frantic, trying and failing to throw out his arms when they couldn’t really go many places.

The other let out a shriek as Oda squished the top of his thigh.

“OHOHOHO MY GAHAHAHAHAHAHAD!?!?!?!” That was a new one he hadn’t known of, and from the clearly confused cackling of the boy below him, he didn’t seem to know either. “Hmmm, looks like the tickle monster has found more ways to strengthen his power. How do you feel about that, little feast?”

“NONONONONOHOHOHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Dazai cried out as Oda experimented with that new spot, spider legs, squeezing, light scratching, nothing seemed to not be ticklish. New death spot, perhaps?

“IEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!” Oda startled at the girlish scream that erupted from him as he tickled around the back of his thigh, which seemed even more ticklish than the front.

Yup, definitely a new death spot. That scream rivaled the one he got from tickling Dazai’s neck.

“Wow, you’re loud.” Oda cataloged aloud as Dazai screamed and cackled and absolutely lost his mind over this new spot he never knew about. At this point, Oda was only going for the one thigh, because going for both would most certainly kill the boy.

At some point though, he’s gonna have to give him a break, Dazai was pretty much dying already, he wouldn’t be surprised if the other started hiccuping in the next minute or two.

“Have you learned your lesson now, Dazai?” Oda teased lightly, giving his thigh a few more good tickles as Dazai cackled out, “MY WHAHAHAHAT!?” Oda decided to give him mercy anyways, finally easing off his thigh and chuckling at the earth-shaking gasp of relief he let out.

Oda carefully pulled the blanket edges out from underneath Dazai, pulling the fabric back to be met face to face with a blushing, giggling, teary-eyed and clearly spacey Dazai.

“You look like you flew to another astral plane. Was that too much, Dazai?” Oda asked as Dazai heaved for air, coiling into himself like the last time, an iconic little thing Oda noticed he did every time. It took far too long for Dazai to even realize he was being spoken to, which was pretty funny.

Dazai’s only response was hiding half his face in the blanket.

Oda let out a fond sigh, collecting the juice box he’d placed along with the snacks to let Dazai drink from it. The other emerged from the blanket and gulped it down all rather swiftly as Oda picked up the star pillow from where it had landed on the floor.

They missed quite a big chunk of the movie, but at this point Dazai couldn’t seem to focus on the movie anymore, with how out of it he seemed to be, a floaty little smile on his face. Oda swore he probably might have forgotten his name for a minute, too.

That was fine though, Dazai was spacey sure, but at least he wasn’t thinking of anything negative at the moment. So he’ll take it as a win.

The other was lonely without his crush, Oda didn’t mind filling the space for him.

…

It was about ten in the morning when Dazai woke up.

He’d fallen asleep on the couch, hence Oda giving up his bed for the other, since his guest bed certainly wasn’t the one Dazai preferred. Oda himself was in the kitchen making brunch for the two of them as well, since it must have been a while since Dazai ate anything without Nakahara to keep him in check.

He heard the footsteps before he saw the figure, and smiled a greeting to Dazai before continuing to make their food. Dazai stumbled over with a mind still riddled with sleep, leaning against Oda’s left bicep and letting out a small, pathetic groan.

“Od’sakuuuuu…wha’ time’s it?” Dazai drawled as Oda pressed a gentle hand to rub against his back, sparing a glance at his wall clock. “10:30, Dazai. How are you feeling?”

“‘M tired…” It’s not often he heard that phrase, and even rarer to see the effects of sleep still clinging to Dazai so heavily, but he wouldn’t complain. The other certainly needed more sleep than he had today.

“You can go back to sleep once you’ve eaten, alright? I won’t put much on your plate.” Oda had to be mindful of the other’s thinness and aversion for food, his pickiness also through the roof to go with it. So a simple dish of waffles and syrup will have to do, and just one waffle to work with Dazai’s appetite.

“Can I have the…the orange juice?” Oda nodded, stretching over a bit to the fridge for the orange juice carton, because he’s very sure that if he lets go of Dazai right now, the boy would topple straight to the ground with his wobbly legs.

He also made sure to grab a cup from the rack, filling that up with the juice before he carefully balanced it on the plate with his waffle. “Let me carry you for a second.” Dazai gave a small nod, letting Oda pick him up once more and bring him to the dining room’s table.

He sat him in one of the chairs, placing the plate down and putting the glass on the table before going back for his own plate and cup of ginger sorrel. He returned shortly after to see Dazai tentatively nibbling at his waffles, slow but eating nonetheless. Thank God.

The two of them ended up eating in silence as Dazai slowly began to wake up more, finishing his plate quicker than Oda. The older man let him know to just put it in the sink for him to take care of, and Dazai obliged easily.

Maybe he was indulging a bit in Dazai's laziness, but you couldn’t really blame him, now could you?

Once Oda was done with his share of breakfast and was cleaning up the dishes, Dazai found himself a spot on the counter to sit and watch Oda work, kicking his feet a little too. Oda let him do it, seeing as the other wasn’t doing anything but watching right now, he had no reason to come down just yet.

“Chibi-Chuuya’s coming back tomorrow.” the ginger perked up at the mumbled admission, giving a hum and nod. “Are you happy he’ll be back?” He asked, smiling a little at Dazai’s huff and rosy cheeks.

“I mean, it’s fine if he does get back by tomorrow. But I don’t feel happy about it! That slug’s just gonna keep spreading his disgusting disease and making people delusional in the face of his smiles! Can you believe it? Disgusting.” Dazai sold the act more by scrunching up his face in disgust, even sticking out his tongue childishly.

Yup. Oda totally believes it.

Do you hear the sarcasm?

Oda sighed, finishing up the dishes and sitting them on the rack to dry the rest of the way, cleaning his own hands on a fresh towel.

Dazai poked his cheek.

“Ne, Odasaku,” Dazai spoke with an indifferent tone of voice, “I’m gonna stay here until slug comes back, since a dog always comes running back to his master.” Oda looks up at him from where he sat on the counter, the sleeves of Oda’s newly bought collar shirt completely enveloping his hands. Guess he won’t be getting that back.

“Alright.” Dazai smiled at the easy acceptance, leaning over to pat Oda’s head happily. “I knew you’d agree, Odasaku! That stupid little doggy deserves to come running back after leaving his master here all alone!” Not really Oda’s intention, but alright.

He simply wishes to keep Dazai company. The boy was painfully lonely, afterall.

The day went by pretty smoothly after that. Oda used one of his vacation days to take the day off at home, just to keep Dazai company. They ended up watching some more movies, played a few board and card games (Dazai made sure he couldn’t use his ability, too), and generally let themselves relax for the day, if anything.

Well, Dazai’s relaxation was still a work in progress, but it's an improvement.

He was actively moving around the house, even after Oda himself resigned to his bedroom to rest and read a book. He could most certainly hear the young boy’s footsteps from here, given how his house is small and not at all soundproof.

He half-listened to the few things being moved about by Dazai, who was probably attempting to cure his boredom by snooping around. The rest of his attention was on the book he sat with, a really good one in fact.

He sat in content silence, even when Dazai came by to go snooping through his room as well, poking and prodding everything within sight, as someone like him would obviously do. At some point, he became fixated on the bedside lamp, clicking it on and off and on and off…

And on and off and on and off and–

Oda glanced over at him.

It was a little distracting to read his book with lights flickering right beside him, afterall.

Dazai caught his gaze, stopping when the lamp was clicked off. Oda raised an eyebrow, but the other just smiled at him ever so innocently, as if he’d done nothing wrong in his entire life.

Which was a straight up lie, but the sentiment was there.

Of course, because Oda caught Dazai’s attention and Dazai is rather fond of him, the man is unsurprised to have Dazai sprawled across his lap within the next minute, like a cat begging for attention.

“Hello.” Oda greeted.

“Hi hi~!” Dazai responded.

“Are you going to stay here, then?” Dazai responded to that question by leaning his back up against Oda like the headrest of the bed, and Oda simply accepted it, sweeping his non-dominant hand through Dazai’s hair as he held up his book with the other.

A peaceful atmosphere settled on them after that, with Oda reading his book and Dazai melting into the affection he received. Really, it was quite nice, relaxing like this. He was even on a good part of the book-

“Hehehe…!”

Oda paused, glancing down at the teen who’d sat so comfortably before, now slightly stiff with a hand over his mouth.

Again? Wow, this is breaking a new record.

Oda’s fingers had run along the baby hairs of his nape, which is most definitely where he got that reaction, and as much as Dazai tried to hide it, when he wiggled his fingers with a little more intention, he could see the dimple on his cheek as he muffled his little giggles.

“Hm.” Oda simply hummed, turning his attention back to his book as he continued to gently tap against the nape of Dazai’s neck, the little boy letting out the tiniest squeal he could muffle up, kicking his feet in the air, too.

Adorable, Oda fails to see how Nakahara hasn’t made a move on his friend yet.

Probably because he hasn’t yet discovered this softer side to Dazai. Oh well.

Dazai melted even further into the light scribbles now, seeming to struggle between leaning away and leaning closer. All giggles and smiles, it softened Oda’s heart to see the other like this; a child receiving his well-overdue love and affection.

Oda gently closed the book once he’d read to the next chapter, setting it aside and cataloging his stopping point to himself. Dazai’s face was a bright red, fingers trembling as he snickered and giggled himself silly.

So naturally, Oda rounded up one ankle with his elbow, and started scribbling on a sole.

Dazai yelped and his giggles increased, and instead of jolting away, he tried his very best to stay still, shaking his head lightly as he laughed so sweetly into the bed. Oda wasn’t out to make him go crazy anyways, the smaller mafioso always had a fondness for tickles like this, the ones that made him melt and feel loved and appreciated. So Oda would gladly give him what he deserved.

One hand scribbling his neck ever so lightly, another one tickling a squirming foot, and it concocted the perfect recipe for a giggly, squeaky Dazai, his embarrassed blush running all the way down to his shoulders.

Dazai deserved to feel this safe more often, if Oda had to be honest.

He was quite alright with being one of the few to give him that safety too.

“Ohohohodasahahakuhuhu…!” Dazai’s voice was just above a whisper, and Oda hummed in response. “Ihihihihi-I-Hic-hehehehehehe!” Huh, he was wondering when Dazai would start hiccuping.

“Yes?” Oda nonchalantly inquired, smiling the smallest bit to himself as Dazai struggled to speak through his laughter and hiccups. Instead the other reached back, trying uselessly to bat his hand away from his foot.

Oda let his hands fall away, Dazai letting out a sigh of bone-deep content as his foot finally dropped back down to join the other, with his neck no longer assaulted.

“Hmhmhmhehehmhm…I-hic-I love you, Odasaku.”

Oda’s smile was probably the fondest he’d ever smiled in a while.

He maneuvered his arms to wrap the small teen in a comforting hug, to which the other returned it in full. “I love you too, Osamu.” Oda muttered. Dazai simply hummed with another little hiccup, content and appreciated. That was, after all, Oda’s job as his friend.