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The soft melody of the radio floated around the room, matching the subtlety of the flurries of snowflakes coming down endlessly out the window. A layer of white peppered the bare branches and cityscape outside, it would be salted away come morning.
A heavenly aroma filled the quaint apartment as your oven mitt hand slid the fresh batch of treats out of their heated hearth. A brunette head of hair, fluffy from being dried after a shower, watched you from the doorway of your bedroom with a certain look in his eyes that could only be described as enamoration.
You turned around in search of a spatula, only to be caged against the oven by a freshly bandaged pair of arms. Your breath stifled for a moment before your lips fell into a smile, admiring the rosiness of the detective’s cheeks and the way his hair curled to frame his face, messily but somehow still utterly perfect.
“Hey ‘Samu,” your voice was low and gentle as you reached to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. The snowy white shirt that hung from his shoulders highlighted his features; he really should consider wearing the color more often.
“Bella,” he sighed, delicately resting his chin on the crook of your neck. You hooked your arms around his waist, inhaling the vanilla scent of your shampoo. It smells good on him, you think.
A subtle munching sound came from the back of your head, and you turned quickly to find Dazai with a half-eaten cookie in hand.
“Osamu!” you gave a playful scoff, “Those are for the agency members, remember? I said you could have the extras after I packaged them all up.” The man only grinned at the cute pout that graced your lips.
“Oh, really? Sorry my Love, I must have forgotten,” he stated simply, shamelessly continuing to nibble at the warm treat. He took a half step back and leaned against the countertop. You lowered your eyebrows before coming over and attempting to swipe the cookie out of his hand. Dazai only raised it out of your reach, chuckling lightly at your attempts to pull his arm down.
“Osamuuu,” you whined, and he popped what was left of the cookie halfway into his mouth. Dazai gave you a look, and you paused for a moment before feeling heat creep up into your face. Leaning closer, you took the other half of the cookie into your mouth. Goosebumps rose on the back of his neck when he felt your breath on his lips.
After finishing the cookie, he chuckled again. “But my Love, now we don’t have any of the cookie left.”
A light blush came to dust your cheeks.
“It was worth it,” you replied with a shy smile. His heart thumped just a little bit harder.
“Still, allow me to make it up to you,” Dazai caught your hand as you tried to turn back to the oven.
You tilted your head and he took it as an opportunity to lead you to the living room and turn the radio up.
Your hands always felt so delicate and perfect in his, as if he were meant to hold them. He would place kisses on your knuckles and palms for hours if you’d let him.
♫ Last Christmas, I gave you my heart ♫
You raised an eyebrow and Dazai’s smile widened. He led you to the center of the room, taking your hand in his and resting his other on your hip.
♫ But the very next day, you gave it away ♫
Your pulse quickened as you slid a hand up to his shoulder, and soon he was taking the lead.
♫ This year, to save me from tears, ♫
Never had you imagined one singular person being able to make you so happy. It was in the little things, the lazy morning kisses and remembering each other’s usual coffee orders. Teaching him how to cook and him helping you learn how to pick locks. The arm casually draped over your shoulders out in public, the brief moments of eye contact in the office that never failed to send your heart aflutter. The way his name fell from your lips was like a gift; he uttered yours like a promise.
Dazai didn’t know whether to believe you or not when you told him he was deserving of your affection. He didn’t think he’d ever be sure. The first day you waltzed into his life, he knew there was something special about you. When you first cupped his cheeks and told him how you felt, he knew he was a goner. That night, the first time you ran your hands over his scars and gazed into his eyes with a look he’d never seen before, that was when he knew for sure. The one thing he could say without any doubt was that he would do absolutely anything for you. He had no intention of letting you go anytime soon.
♫ I’ll give it to someone special. ♫
Dazai’s throat hummed softly along to the music, you felt a certain warmth bubbling from your chest as you twirled within the boughs of evergreen and paper snowflakes that adorned your home. Dazai’s eyes gleamed as he admired the way you were lit up by the lights of the tree. The corners of his eyes crinkled and his lips curved upwards into a smile. It made you feel light, breathless. It was a smile reserved for you and you alone.
Dazai stepped one foot behind the other, shifting his hand around your waist familiarly. You slid one foot backwards, just the way he taught you, and fell easily into a dip.
As he tilted you back, you caught sight of a little green cluster of leaves hanging from the ceiling, red berries scattered within. Mistletoe. You didn't put that there.
Dazai’s grin widened when your gaze shifted back to lock eyes with him again. You let out a warm sigh, not being able to help the smile that played on your lips. As soon as you allowed yourself to surrender to the moment, he sunk his lips into yours.
Your fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt to prolong the moment for as long as possible.
When Dazai pulled you up to stand again and held you close to his chest, when you hooked your arms behind his back to return his embrace, he knew it was hopeless.
“Y/n…” he started, the emotion in his voice would have been unreadable to anyone else, “you have no idea how much you mean to me.”
It was easy for you to take note of the way he held you just a little bit tighter. Dazai’s silence begged you for a response, his breathing light. You searched and found the slightest hint of vulnerability in his eyes, your heart doing a backflip knowing that you were the only person he dared to trust with a look so raw.
“I love you too Osamu,” you gave a small smile in understanding. He again questioned what he ever did to deserve someone like you, someone who spoke to him with such a gentleness embedded in their tone. He allowed himself to drown in it nonetheless.
That night, you fell asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. Curled up under the covers, Dazai draped his arms over you protectively. He cradled you like you would evaporate at any moment, as if begging the universe for just a moment longer of the light he’d been granted. Dazai gave you his heart completely, utterly, hopelessly, and he knew he wouldn't ever regret it. Not in a million years.