let’s dance

[dressing]

[Dazai loathes the idea of working with Chuuya. Hadn’t he already done his time? They’d spent years together, and he’d hated it just as much, so being told they’re partnered on a joint mission again is almost enough to make Dazai outright refuse. However, he also hates his plans going wrong, and for this one to work, he needs to be there. The one saving grace is that Dazai knows Chuuya is going to hate it just as much.

That hardly makes it easier, though.]

You step on my foot once, and I’m throwing you under the bus.

[They’re meant to be attending this gala together, and at least Chuuya more or less knows how to dress himself. Dazai had fussed and squirmed the entire time he’d been fitted for a suit, but he looks presentable, hair tucked behind his ear, no wrinkles to be found. He’s wearing some ridiculous cologne that he hates, and keeps wanting to tug his collar open.

He is not looking forward to the dancing portion of this party. It’s not that he doesn’t know how—he’s been thoroughly taught against his will, and still remembers. No, it’s the fact that Chuuya is expected to be his partner.

Disgusting.]

Comments

[indensity]

[He really wants to punch Dazai. He hates this mission already. This is why missions where they work together should only ever involve violence, and nothing else.

At least it's saving him from accidentally enjoying dancing like this, which was unfortunately a risk. It's weirdly intimate. It forces him to trust Dazai, which was always easy, at least where it matters. He can feel the heat of his body, and he wouldn't be opposed to dancing a little bit closer. Which is why it's much better to focus on arguing.]

You're not used to a partner at all. I can tell. Did you sleep through all those dance lessons you bragged about? Or did you only ever practice alone?

[When it comes to insulting each other, it doesn't actually matter if any of it makes sense or not.]

[dressing]

[They're close for a reason other than fighting or sex, which is certainly weird, but for the sake of the mission--and an opportunity to antagonize Chuuya--Dazai will suffer it. He'll go for some complex steps, to see if Chuuya will stumble.]

Do you really want to know who I practiced with?

[Dazai isn't used to a partner because 1) he hates dancing, and 2) he hasn't done this in years. Also 3) he hates dancing with Chuuya, so.]

[indensity]

[It's definitely not enjoyable. There's a reason why they hate spending time together. There's a reason why they try to avoid it as much as possible, even if... Well, they haven't actually been avoiding it lately.

They never did, but that's not the point.]

I don't need to know. It's no one you cared about.

[And it's not like he'd be jealous. And he doesn't stumble. He keeps up. He feels a bit awkward, he definitely doesn't pull off that move as smoothly as he would have liked... Why didn't he practice this more, he hates when Dazai is better at something than him.]

[dressing]

Are you sure about that?

[Well, in truth, he'd practiced - 'practiced' - with a lot of people. Not to mention the person who forced Dazai to learn in the first place. Did he care about any of them? That's up for debate. Dazai would say 'no'.]

You're too stiff. Loosen up.

[Dazai actually trying is only because he wants to prove a point, the point being that he is better at this than Chuuya.]

[indensity]

I'm sure I don't care.

[Even though he's the one who asked in the first place. But he honestly (mostly) really doesn't, whether he only danced with people for the purposes of learning, or if he danced with some of those women he tries to goad into double suicide. Why would he be jealous of any of them?

Why would anything Dazai does make him jealous? He's not.]

I'm not stiff, you're just bad at leading.

[Definitely a lie. Chuuya can always tell what Dazai wants him to do, in every situation. And he does make himself loosen up a bit, immediately dancing a bit more smoothly.]

[dressing]

[He's not bad at leading. And Chuuya isn't terrible at following, either, and this is the nature of their teamwork. They're good at nonverbal cues, good at reading what the other will do next. Dazai doesn't even think it's always conscious on Chuuya's part.

And Chuuya is loosening up. Honestly, if he weren't such a stubborn, miserable asshole, Dazai might admit he's sort of amused with this.]

I'm impeccable at leading. Everyone I've danced with has said so.

[Hardly. Mori scolded Dazai for being too lazy, too pushy. The women he's danced with... well, they had other things to complain about, like being asked to jump off a bridge.]

[indensity]

So you've only ever danced with yourself.

[Because clearly the only person who'd ever compliment Dazai is Dazai.

Even though it's true. He's good. When he's not deliberately being a dick to see if he can make Chuuya stumble, he's easy to follow, his cues easy to read. And even when he is being a dick, Chuuya can keep up now he's getting over that initial awkwardness. It could almost be fun.]

Hey. Try something fancier.

[If they're doing it, they have to show off.]

[dressing]

Tsk, you must be jealous. There there, Chuuya; I’d only ever take you as my dog.

[ Of course Chuuya wants to show off, but Dazai isn’t about to let him take over. No matter how their dance changes, Dazai stubbornly refuses to let Chuuya lead; his grip tightens — a warning — but he does allow his steps to grow slightly more complex. ]

Enjoying yourself?

[indensity]

I'm not your dog.

[His objection is instant. But the way Dazai is saying it - that he'd only take Chuuya - almost feels like a compliment. He shoves it down. It's definitely not making him feel weirdly warm. He focuses on the dance. On the warning squeeze from Dazai. He could ignore it, because he doesn't take orders from Dazai, but...

He matches his pace smoothly again, letting Dazai lead.]

With you? Never.

[A lie.]

[dressing]

[Dazai snorts.]

That sounds like something a dog would say.

[And Dazai hates dogs, so it's a fair comparison! Chuuya is even collared, how in the world can he object to being called a dog when he wears that thing around?

They turn, and Dazai purposely steps on one of Chuuya's feet.]

[indensity]

You--

[He's cut off when Dazai steps on his foot, stumbling, gripping on tight to catch himself. He stops dancing as he tries to recover.]

What the hell?!

[Did anyone notice? He glances around quickly, before stepping closer to Dazai, both to hopefully pass off their actions as normal, and so he can whisper more angrily without being overheard.]

What? Got your feelings hurt since I wasn't enjoying myself enough, so now you have to ruin it?

[dressing]

Ah, oops! How clumsy of me. I suppose I'm just a terrible dance partner, aren't I?

[ That shit-eating grin on Dazai's face says otherwise, though.

Getting his feelings hurt? Hardly. Dazai has no feelings except contempt for Chuuya. That is literally the only feeling allowed to exist in his body.

They're awfully close now, though. Dazai presses his hand firmly against Chuuya's waist to keep him there. Why the hell is your waist so small, Chuuya? ]

[indensity]

[Chuuya hadn't been planning to pull away again; Dazai doesn't need to hold him in place. But they're supposed to be dancing, so he won't complain. He wouldn't have complained anyway.

Dazai's hand seems to fit perfectly against his waist.]

No, you're just a dick. [Ugh.] But fine. You're not a bad dancer. There's worse dancers in the room.

[Probably. Chuuya isn't paying attention to the other dancers.]

[dressing]

[He should have complained. Who the hell wouldn't complain about being forced to dance with Dazai?

The hand at Chuuya's waist squeezes, perhaps a little too hard, because he can.]

Ah, so you admit it? I am an excellent dancer? Would you like to say it again, dear?

[That shit-eating grin on his face isn't going anywhere.]

[indensity]

[Of course Chuuya can tell what Dazai wants, or at least part of it. If Chuuya admits that he enjoys dancing with him, then Dazai can use it against him, tease him with it whenever he wants to shut Chuuya up... On the other hand, if Chuuya admits it, they can at least get back to dancing again.

And focusing on the mission, of course.

But on the other other hand, Dazai will be a smug bastard about it. On the other other other hand... dear?! How the hell is he supposed to react to that, even if it's just for the parts they're playing.]

Prove it first.

[He's not giving in yet. But he does want to dance some more. And he doesn't think Dazai could grip him too tightly, even though he knows he's not actually being possessive.]