Chapter Text
Mori decides Chuuya and the baby will need to stay at the clinic for the two following days after giving birth.
The couch in the private room is comfortable enough to sleep on, so Dazai camps there through the night while driving the Omega's mom back and forth from the house.
Masaki is spending most of the time in the incubator, down in the nursery, and so are Chuuya and Dazai during the day: they sit there with him, sometimes holding the baby, others just talking to him, taking pictures, shamelessly tearing up every time their son openly reacts to their presence.
He's less and less lethargic, and Chuuya can swear he grows visibly every passing hour.
"It's because his limbs are stretching now that the compression from the womb is lifted off his flesh. Newborns grow up incredibly fast," says Mori when he goes to visit Chuuya around dinner time.
The Omega's mom has already been driven home. The following afternoon Kouyou and Chuuya's dad arrive, and Dazai will be finally able to bring his mate and son home: the woman has gently offered to wait for them there so she can cook and clean to make sure everything is ready to have Masaki over.
Naomi also stops by once a day, and she offered to take care of the house too, but Chuuya's mom declined, so they agreed to meet again the following week and text if needed.
"You're healing splendidly, and we can expect full sensibility to be back in your intimate parts in less than two months. I won't be here to discharge you tomorrow, but we'll meet in three weeks for an ultrasound to ensure everything is fine. Then, six months from now, we'll make an intern exam to check the condition of your uterus lining post-partum."
Even Fukuzawa stopped by the evening before, and although both his doctors seem to fuss a little too much over him, it makes Chuuya feel incredibly protected: he's taken good care of, and there's not a single worry in his head.
All Chuuya wants it's to go home with his baby.
After dinner, a nurse enters the room to pump Chuuya's milk for the baby. The Omega had decided not to breastfeed: the day Chuuya witnessed being pumped while not passed out, they realized that although the Omega has milk, production is definitely scarce, and it wouldn't be enough to shift their son's diet to maternal dairy for good. So he's being taught how to do it on his own, to mix it with the bottle formula.
Tonight it's Dazai's turn to hold and feed the baby when they reach the incubator, and Chuuya sits close to him as the nurse places Masaki on Dazai's chest.
"He doesn't look comfortable," Chuuya frowns, hearing the small hiccups from their son sound distressed.
"Maybe I should take my shirt off," Dazai mutters, leaning forward to pass Masaki to his mate's arms.
"Oh, my love," Chuuya purrs, holding him while Dazai strips, and he strokes his cheek against Masaki's with tenderness, whispering sweet nothings to him.
When the Alpha finally manages to push the bottle nipple into his son's mouth, the laments finally stop, and he quickly starts suckling.
"Someone was really hungry, huh?"
Chuuya grins, loving to hear the absolute affection in his mate's voice.
"Looks like that," he reaches to grab one of Masaki's hands because not touching his son seems to be the hardest thing ever. They're gloveless because when his parents are holding him, the nurses don't need to worry that he's going to scratch himself, so Chuuya drags it to his mouth, pressing kisses on his tiny chubby fingers.
"Ngh~"
Masaki squeezes the Omega's finger in his, and his big blue eyes open wide to look in Chuuya's direction even if he's not yet able to properly see his mom. His cheeks fill slowly with each tiny suck, and some milk pools at the corner of his bright pink mouth.
"God, you're so cute," Dazai croons, biting his lower lip. "We made a masterpiece, Chuuya."
"I couldn't agree more," the Omega chuckles softly, reaching up to peck his mate's lips.
But then Masaki starts whimpering again, and he turns his head to the side, abandoning the bottle with a small cry.
"Hey," Dazai tries to follow him with the nipple, but the baby starts wiggling, and he presses a hand to his head, like dragging the cap off his ear, which is covered by it.
"Maybe he's not so hungry," Chuuya frowns, quickly taking his hand back so he doesn't end up scratching his face, but Masaki's lament morphs into choked sobs.
"Oh no," the Omega gasps, stroking his hand tenderly. "No baby, what's wrong?"
"Am I holding him wrong?" Dazai places the milk bottle on the side table and cups Masaki's face, trying to soothe him as he looks at Chuuya in confusion.
"No, I don't think so," the Omega shakes his head, but then Dazai makes a subtle noise of understanding and swiftly takes off the hat from Masaki's head.
"I think he feels too hot," the Alpha comments, holding the cap in his lap with the baby as he gently brushes a hand on his small head.
"He's a little red," Chuuya agrees, wiggling two fingers under Masaki's neck and reaching into the blanket. "His skin is a little clammy."
"What's wrong with this sweetheart?"
The nurse returns to the room attracted by the baby's cries, and both Dazai and Chuuya look comically panicked.
"Oh, he's definitely hot," she says with a smile after they inform her of how things evolved. "The more he eats in portions, the more digestion will boost his metabolism, which is already incredibly fast right now."
"But he's still distressed," Chuuya frowns, fingers skimming through the little red locks on his son's head.
"He might still be hungry but too irked to eat," the nurse checks the little bottle on the tray, which is still half full, even if the dosage was small to begin with. "Try to distract him, maybe taking a few steps?"
"Okay," Dazai nods, and he's about to move, but Chuuya is already bending over to take Masaki from his arms, so the Alpha lets him, holding their son's head until the Omega has him secured against his chest, protectively. The Omega stands, trying to soothe his son, rocking on his feet, and it seems effective.
Sobs turn into hiccups while the nurse opens the blanket around the newborn neck to help him refresh.
Chuuya smiles when finally the sounds stop pulling at his heart, and he searches Dazai's eyes.
"It's gonna be a wild ride..." he mutters, seeing how his mate's features also relax with relief.
"I will have a heart attack before he turns one month old," Dazai passes a hand through his hair nervously, but the nurse's chuckle grabs their attention.
"You two will do amazing," she reassures. "Your bond is already deep. You caught the problem immediately, so you will learn how to deal with stuff like this easily. Worry not; Masaki looks like a very calm baby."
---
Masaki is brought to Chuuya's room pretty early in the morning.
It's finally releasing day, and the baby is cleared for tests and exams. His weight is proper, over two and a half kilograms, which is more than expected, considering he was born early but is smaller in length.
Dazai jokes he took really everything after his mother, which made him win a punch, but it was worth it.
"Snack time for this baby boy," a nurse comes in at some point in the morning, bringing a small, filled sterilized bottle and the milk pumps, so the next minutes are spent with Dazai fooling around the crib where his son is wailing from, and Chuuya getting his chest squeezed.
"Does it hurt as much, when a baby latches?"
The question escapes Chuuya's mouth while he's obviously overthinking. He didn't want to ask it out loud.
"It depends," the nurse stops pumping, alerted. "Am I hurting you a lot?"
"Oh, no, no," the Omega shakes his head, cheeks reddened. "I'm actually hurting myself more over here," he adds, pulling away from the manual pump he's using – they work together to get it done faster since the feeling is not really the best one.
"I got worried," she chuckles, embarrassed as she pumps some more, but with a gentler touch.
Dazai is listening silently, interested but definitely feeling out of place.
He's not sure what his mate is thinking, but he's pretty sure Chuuya still has to make up his mind about feeding their child, although they made a rational decision. There's a weird longing in his eyes whenever he looks at Masaki suck from the bottle that makes Dazai's guts twist unpleasantly.
"Baby, are… are you sure you don't want to give it a try feeding Masaki yourself?"
Chuuya looks up at his mate with an uncertain expression, biting his lower lip. "We agreed I can't support him for long…."
"You know," the nurse stands, gently taking the other pump from Chuuya's hand to prepare the bottle. "Some moms who do not want to breastfeed still let their babies latch. So if you're curious, it's understandable. Unless there's a specific reason you don't want to, you could try."
Chuuya's eyes widen a little, and Dazai lifts his head to look at them, now – one hand still playing with Masaki's cheeks.
"But I won't produce enough milk to feed him, and... what if he refuses me?"
The nurse blinks in confusion.
"I fed him after delivery," she admits. "And where most newborns are difficult at the very first ingestion, Masaki drank it all right away, and it was your milk only."
"...really? We thought it was mixed."
"No one told us," Dazai chirps in, both impressed and slightly upset. The head nurse forgot to tell them this little detail.
"I'm sorry about that," the nurse sags a little. "I didn't realize... but... I mean, when I had my first daughter, I didn't want to breastfeed for a silly reason," she avoids looking at them while she mixes Chuuya's milk with the formula in the bottle. "And I regretted it."
"I'm oversharing; I apologize!" She adds right away, shaking one hand. "It's your decision, and I shouldn't impose."
"No, I..." Chuuya seeks Dazai's eyes. "...when I was asked at first, I wasn't sure. And I still don't think creating a breastfeeding habit is the right thing to do with Masaki, especially if I won't have milk in the long run. But... he'd latch anyway? What did you mean?"
"Well..." the nurse shakes the small bottle, once ready, and settles the remaining milk pumped from Chuuya's chest into a different one to store it for the day. "You could bottle feed him and give him your breast when he's almost satiated. That way, he won't really eat much but simply relax."
"Wouldn't that become a bad habit, though?"
"Unless you do it to make him stop crying when he's distressed or throwing a tantrum, I don't think it will."
"I think we should discuss this with Naomi," Dazai says, reaching into the crib to lift Masaki, who's cooing louder now. His eyes wander lazily, taking in the room's new surroundings' forms and colors, and he calms down instantly.
"Yes, it's a good idea," Chuuya agrees but sighs deeply, pouting a little.
"But love, if you feel like trying, you should," Dazai approaches, leaning against the side of the bed as he rocks Masaki a little.
"We can definitely try here," the nurse nods, handing the milk bottle to the Alpha.
"Yeah...?"
Chuuya looks unsure and excited at the same time – even hopeful, at this point – and Dazai would give anything to be able to understand what's going on in his head.
The inner turmoil Chuuya is going through because of this issue it's something the Alpha will never be able to relate to: he's not an Omega, he's not a mom. So he has no idea what it means to have such an intimate, physical bond and connection with their child. Still, instead of making him jealous... all Dazai feels is tenderness.
"Of course," the nurse smiles. "We feed him, then try to make him latch, so if it works and you're okay with how it makes you feel, you can do it on your own once at home."
Chuuya looks up at Dazai with wide, clear eyes, and for a second, the Alpha is unsure what he's expecting.
"Are you asking me?" He says softly but is easily distracted when Masaki whines, frustrated. So he hurries, putting the bottle nipple to his mouth. "Sorry, little one. Here we go..."
Chuuya bites his lips at the scene, still barely believing the sight to be real and not a weird dream.
"Chuuya?"
When Dazai goes back to focus on his mate, the other flushes.
"I... I don't know," he grumbles, then his voice lowers so much that Dazai barely hears him. "Maybe you won't like my nipples after....?"
"What?!"
The nurse coughs a little, excusing herself as he whispers a hurried "I'll be back right away."
There is a second of embarrassed silence until the room's door closes.
"I know it's stupid," Chuuya groans, rolling his eyes. "But I've been told nipples can change or get bigger, and they might not be nice once it's over! I'm not sure it's worth the risk if I'm not even able to breastfeed properly, so I'm also considering your opinion!"
"Well, I..." Dazai blinks, dumbfounded. "I appreciate your concern, Chibi, but... I really don't care, and you should know this already."
"I'm overthinking too much, am I not?"
Chuuya snuggles under the blanket of the hospital bed, red in the face and embarrassed, but Dazai shakes his head slowly.
"I don't blame you for that."
"I don't know what's wrong with me," Chuuya huffs, sniffling. He's quickly growing frustrated, and it's not a nice feeling. "I keep wanting to do it while my brain produces all sorts of excuses!"
"You don't have to feel guilty for being afraid of what you're going through, Chuuya," Dazai's hands itch to touch him even if he can't.
"It's so stupid..."
"It's not, baby," the Alpha insists with more determination, glancing down at Masaki, who keeps suckling undisturbed. "I promise, it's not stupid. I would probably be freaking out if I were you. But if you want to try... you should, love. Go for it."
And Chuuya decides to follow his mate's advice: he goes for it.
When the nurse returns, they ask for her to assist them.
The moment Masaki is between his arms, the baby immediately tucks himself against his naked chest, nuzzling blindly in the softness, and Chuuya's throat gets dry.
"Newborns can't recognize people or objects, but they have a very strong sense of smell. He recognizes the two of you already, as he gets fuzzy if we hold him instead, and he's naturally recognizing his mom now. He can also make out the scent of milk," the nurse smiles as Masaki coos happily. His stomach is full, and he's relaxed – surrounded by already familiar scents that make him feel instinctively protected.
On top of that, Dazai is humming softly, sitting next to his mate, squeezed on his side to stay close: he's crooning for them both because Chuuya is too nervous, and his baby just likes it.
Masaki brushes his face blindly into the Omega's chest, and his mouth opens and closes in such a cute way that makes them chuckle as if he's suckling already.
"You can guide him," the nurse suggests, and considering the pretty small swell of Chuuya's breast, it's the only way for Masaki to reach his nipple.
The Omega obliges, supporting his son's head, and Dazai reaches out to adjust the blanket so his mate can hold him more easily, propped up like that.
"Oh!"
Chuuya gasps, and his whole body shivers at the sudden contact.
Masaki took only half a second to fit his mother's nipple in his tiny mouth, and he's wasting no time suckling.
"Look at that," the nurse claps her hands. "You can help him drink by massaging your breast. He'll slow down soon. Your taste is probably sparking eagerness into his little body."
"He sure looks eager," Dazai's smile is blinding as he observes his son, the cutest thing on Earth, latched to his mom's chest like that. The soft wet sounds mix with the little vocalizations he's letting out. He even reaches for Chuuya's breast with a tiny hand, leaving it on the soft swell, wide open, and warm.
"..." Chuuya whimpers lowly, his scent morphing quickly with fruity hints, and the Alpha bends to kiss his head, crooning a little louder.
"Are you happy?" He asks in a whisper, still smiling.
Chuuya nods, unable to speak. He's completely drawn in the sight, barely breathing: his eyes sting, for the lack of blinks but also because he's getting over-emotional again. Liquid, hot happiness spreads through his whole body as he feels his baby suck softly.
"I'll leave the three of you alone now," the nurse smiles. "Just make sure, if you want to change side or he gets away, that he latches like this again, so he doesn't risk choking or hurting you."
Chuuya's answer is barely there, automatically humming as he doesn't even move a muscle to look at the girl. But Dazai just nods, smiling gratefully at her before she leaves. Then he gets a little more comfortable on the bed, hugging Chuuya at his side.
It's such an intimate moment, this one.
Dazai wasn't sure what his opinion was on breastfeeding before having a son, but witnessing it... it moves something inside of him. May it be because of how sweet and ripened Chuuya's scent is or how satisfied his son's hums sound, but... the Alpha doesn't feel left out.
He feels connected to them just the same. When he cups Masaki's head with his palm, the soft red hair curling under his fingers, Chuuya relaxes against him with a long exhale: his head falls into the Alpha's shoulder, his eyes close, and he purrs contently, inhaling his mate's scent.
"...he's not even really sucking anymore,"
Chuuya murmurs softly after a moment. And when Dazai focuses, he can see how Masaki's lips are simply twitching, producing wet sounds, but he's not putting any effort into suckling.
Instead, he looks like he is slowly falling asleep.
"..." Dazai doesn't know how to express the emotions invading his chest. He's overwhelmed, full of love and affection, and he's so grateful... "Is this even real?"
His voice it's just a whisper, and he barely recognizes himself. But Chuuya moves slowly, lifting his head to look up at him – a soft smile on his face.
"...I'm not sure," he chuckles wetly, and Dazai imitates him without realizing it.
They share a soft kiss, more a tender press of lips and noses than a real kiss, and move to stroke their cheeks together, rubbing them heavily, sighing in bliss and pure joy.
"I love you, Osamu…."
Dazai smiles, hugging the Omega a little tighter.
"…love you too," the Alpha mutters, pressing their foreheads together. "And our son. I love our little family, Chuuya. The one you gave me..."
"Hey..." the Omega pecks his lips again, ready to say something, but Masaki makes a sudden noise and turns his head away from the Omega's chest, flapping his arm around.
"Oh~ okay, little one," Dazai grins, shifting to grab the baby. "Burping time!"
And Chuuya laughs softly, looking as Dazai gets up and settles a towel on his shoulder, carefully tucking Masaki in his arms.
"Try not to throw up all over me again, huh," the Alpha jokes, sharing a look with his mate: his eyes bright, sparkling with so much life, a will Chuuya has never seen this strong.
Chuuya covers himself up back lazily, eyes never leaving the sight of his mate and son: Dazai walks back and forth in the room, surprisingly muttering some random song while patting Masaki's back.
And the Omega could spend hours just looking at them bonding like that.
---
"This baby is adorable," Yosano chirps loudly, hunched over the crib, right after lunchtime.
Chuuya is already dressed, their bags packed, and they're waiting for their appointed nurse to finalize his discharge documents.
The Alpha just arrived, unhappy that work kept her busy and couldn't go visit before. Odasaku is there as well; he came just a little before her, and although the man stopped by every day, even if never for too long, this is their first real encounter with Masaki.
Dazai is grimacing, looking at the woman, but his cheeks are warm, and his posture is relaxed.
Knowing that Chuuya's family would be around for a few days, the Alpha made sure to inform their friends so they could meet Masaki at the hospital, conscious that too many people at once could distress both his mate and the baby.
But the Omega isn't distressed.
If anything, he's happy to have them around – mostly for Dazai's sake.
They're his family and good friends to Chuuya: of course, he welcomes them. He even let Odasaku hold Masaki earlier as they were lulling him to sleep after a crying fit.
To their astonishment, the second Masaki was held in the older Alpha's gentle arms, he fell asleep like a rock.
"He's always been good with kids," Dazai had grumbled, rolling his eyes, but he was obviously a little warmed up by seeing his kid bonding with his best friend so quickly. This is why Yosano is now pouting: she wanted to meet him awake.
"He's my son," Dazai says to her, scoffing playfully. "Of course, he's adorable."
"As if he took anything from you," she rolls her eyes, soothing a grin to her friend.
"It's too early to say!"
Chuuya chuckles, reaching into the crib to brush Masaki's soft cheek. "He's got Osamu's lips," he mutters, unable to play along. Looking for his mate's traces on his son's face has been his favorite activity so far.
"See? He has my lips," Dazai preens, shoulders squaring, and even Odasaku laughs at the comical reaction.
"You wish," Yosano mocks him but winks at Chuuya instead. Masaki lets out a soft noise, making the Alpha forget her teasing, eyes sparkling with excitement. "So cute~."
When the nurse comes into the room, everyone gets ready to leave.
Dazai makes sure the bags are closed, and they're not forgetting anything before pecking his mate's lips and carrying them out and to the car. They'll meet at the hospital entrance in a few minutes, and Odasaku and Yosano will keep Chuuya company on the way.
Since Masaki was born a little early, they didn't manage to purchase the baby seat for the car yet, so Chuuya will have to carry him in the backseat while Dazai drives home.
Securing the blankets around Masaki's little body, Chuuya pulls his cap further down his ears before lifting him out of the crib. He settles him in his arms securely and takes a deep breath as reality finally starts to hit: he's going home with his son.
"I'm really happy for you," Yosano says, escorting him out while Odasaku keeps the door open. "The both of you."
Chuuya grins, sharing a knowing look with her.
"Thank you," he murmurs, walking to the elevator with the two Alphas. "I mean it. Thank you too, Oda."
"For what?" The man quirks an eyebrow, but Chuuya just smiles down at his son when he coos in his sleep.
"For always being there for Osamu," he says softly, aware that in the past, there were never real chances to speak his gratitude toward those two important people in his life. "For keeping him safe, every time I couldn't. You two made it possible for us to be here today, too. For Masaki to be with us."
"The two of you were meant to be," Odasaku shakes his head, and Yosano instead keeps silent. Still, her cheeks redden – she's never been the emotional type.
"Even if we are, there were times your help kept us together, so for that, I will never be able to thank you enough, guys," Chuuya smiles at them just right when the elevator reaches the first floor. "But hormones are making me incredibly emotional, so just pretend I'm not about to cry—"
Chuuya sprints forward, feeling his eyes sting and not wishing to make himself a fool in front of his mate's family.
Yosano wraps an arm around his shoulders when they reach the front door, waiting for Dazai to pull up to the entrance with the car.
"You're gonna make me cry, so shut up, shortie."
"Hah?!"
"Ngh~" Masaki wiggles in his arms, and Chuuya holds him a little tighter, sending a look to the girl. "Don't make fun of me in front of my son; he's gonna bite you!"
Odasaku chuckles, amused by the exchange, and as soon as they see Dazai's car approach, he guides Chuuya out of the door, holding on to his elbow for precaution as they walk down the stairs ramp.
"We'll call as soon as we're ready to have friends over," Chuuya says as a goodbye, sharing small hugs with the two of them. When he parts from Yosano, Masaki is awake with all that fuss.
"Oh Lord, he really stole your eyes, Chuuya!" She looks so excited, it makes the Omega's heart jump a little.
"Okay, okay," Dazai quickly runs out of the car, playfully pushing his friends off Chuuya. "We gotta go, it's chill out here, so I'll—"
Dazai gets cut off when Yosano throws her arms around him, hugging him incredibly tight.
"A-Akiko...?"
"Congratulations," she whispers, stepping back already and avoiding his friend's eyes – Dazai can swear they're wet.
"Thank you," he says softly, reaching out to squeeze her arm shortly.
"Go now," Odasaku steps forward to open the door for Chuuya, sharing one last goodbye with the Omega while helping him in. "Take care, okay?"
"I'll call you," Dazai reassures him, and the older Alpha pats him on the back, smiling.
"If you need anything—"
"We'll be there for you," Yosano wraps for Oda, but with a grumble, arms crossed on her chest.
Everyone chuckles, but then it's really time to leave. Dazai thanks them again with a smile, closes Chuuya's door, and gets back in the car to head home – and to a new chapter of their life.
---
Days pass with so much to do and care for; Dazai and Chuuya barely register the time flying by.
Sleep schedules are forgotten, and they survive only thanks to Chuuya's mother making sure to cook meals for them and aiding Masaki in the middle of the night if they're both passed out. The first few days are a nightmare, but thankfully Masaki seems to finally grow accustomed to the environment and the scents, and the attempt to give him a scratch of meals schedule is starting to pay off.
Before anyone can realize it, a week is over since they brought Masaki home.
Kouyou spent the weekend with them, but then she had to drive Chuuya's father back to Osaka: she promised to visit every two weeks, and so will their mother. The woman is now preparing her bags, ready to go back home as well. Naomi has come around to settle into the new routine, and somehow things are going well.
In such a short time, they already managed to store so many memories; it's impressive.
One of the most intense was Baki's first meeting with Masaki: the cat was overwhelmed by the presence of so many people in the house during the first couple of days and stayed mostly hidden or at a safe distance. On top of that were also the new smells the cat could sniff: Masaki's faint scent, milk, baby creams, and antiseptic. The unique cocktail filled the house, keeping the cat by itself for the first few days.
But as soon as Chuuya and Dazai were left alone only with the Omega's mom, Baki slowly started to take back his spaces, meaning he also began to cry outside the couple's bedroom door when he was confined out of the room. That door had never been closed for him before, so it stressed the cat and also made Chuuya feel incredibly guilty.
But it was important for everyone that the meeting was not delayed too long.
The Omega sat on their nest with Masaki in his arms, when finally they decided to make it happen: to see Baki so weirdly lost as he approached – under the alert stare of the Alpha, ready to grab him in case of a violent reaction – it melted Chuuya's heart.
But not as much as when Baki's eyes fixed on the newborn after jumping on the bed: ears pointed, eyes wide, and pupils dilated. His whiskers quivered as he sniffed the new scent and hissed when Masaki cooed loudly.
Dazai was about to take Baki down from the bed for prevention, but instead, the cat timidly stepped further and purred – loud, clear, and out of nowhere. Then, slowly, Chuuya reached out to scratch his head. Baki purred even louder and pushed over to headbutt Masaki's lil exposed arm.
(Dazai almost cried at the tenderness, but he will never admit it.)
Now, Chuuya is helping his mother pack. The Alpha is keeping an eye on their son, who's napping in his little rocking chair... with Baki: Dazai swears the cat has become so protective over the baby that he even hissed at him one time he had to take Masaki from him. And whenever Masaki cries, Baki is always the first to run to his crib, meowing softly, almost like he's aware that being too loud could make him cry harder.
It's heartwarming, and they're blessed. The relationship between their son and cat is already hard as concrete.
"Be safe, mom," Chuuya hugs the woman when she's ready, and they share hushed words of affection. Then, the Alpha leaves them their privacy while collecting the car's keys and his jacket, so he can also get ready to drive the woman to the station.
"Are you gonna be okay alone for a while?" Dazai cups Chuuya's cheek before getting out of the door, seeking for any sight of doubt or distress in his mate, but the Omega shakes his head and smiles before pecking his lips.
"Drive mom safely and come back to me," he grins, a hand massaging his still swollen belly without thinking, as a habit.
After birth, Chuuya recovered quickly, and the extra days in the hospital helped more than they expected. But he still gets tired easily, his back and legs are always sore, and his belly makes him uncomfortable, even if he is tucked in restrictive garments.
With Chuuya's mom around, Dazai has had enough time to pamper him as much as he wanted. However, he noticed that the Omega tends to unconsciously seek contact with him all the time, even just a brush of hands. So the Alpha is rightfully concerned at the idea of leaving his mate alone after over a week of real symbiosis, even if for less than an hour.
After dropping the woman at the station – a long hug, loving words, and lots of encouragement from her – Dazai hurries home. The fact that Chuuya hasn't answered his update text isn't great.
But when he gets home, Dazai's heart stops being frantic: it misses a heartbeat when he sees his mate, but for a completely different reason.
As soon as he steps into the bedroom, the Alpha finds his mate napping on his side, curled in between pillows with Masaki and Baki.
Masaki is awake but lazily suckling on one of his mom's fingers, tightly wrapped in his tiny hand, while Baki is curled just beside him, like a barrier to make sure the baby won't roll anywhere.
(He can't, Chuuya has built a pillow barricade on that side just in case, but the view is precious.)
Before anyone notices him – even if Baki has opened an eye and closed it again after registering it's just Dazai coming in the room – the Alpha pulls out his phone to take a photo. The nth of the day, like every other day.
Because it doesn't matter how tired or stressed, sleep-deprived, and on edge he gets through the day, Dazai has made it his personal task to collect every single possible memory. He already has so many photos and videos... and he knows, just as well as Chuuya does, that it's his way to cope with anxiety.
Because it's there, it's still at the back of his mind and will probably never leave, but he manages. Happiness is too strong to make space for anything else. And as he sits on the edge of the nest, making Chuuya stir, his cheeks hurt with how wide his smile is.
"You're back...?"
"Mh-hm," Dazai leans down to press a kiss on the Omega's temple, nose nuzzling into his hair, before doing the same with Masaki.
"Sleep some more, if you want," he murmurs, brushing his lips on Chuuya's when his mate hums contently. "I'll look after you."
---
"He's asleep, finally."
Chuuya pads in the kitchen in his vomit-stained pajama and messy hair, looking exhausted – his feet drag on the floor, and it's not even four in the afternoon.
"I made you some herbal tea," the Alpha smiles from his seat at the table where he's drinking his daily dose of functioning caffeine, holding out a hand for his mate to grab.
"Thank you," the Omega nuzzles into his neck once he's closer, sitting next to him. "Even if what I'd need is some booze, honestly. I'd kill for that coffee of yours."
"I bet," chuckling, Dazai drags a cup closer to the Omega before filling it with hot tea from the infusion pot.
"And I really need to go shower. I smell," Chuuya grumbles but accepts the drink, grateful for his mate's pampering – his stomach is a little upset, and his head pounds.
"I can't pretend you don't," Dazai grins, passing him a bag of cookies. "But I was smelling much worse yesterday."
They laugh softly at the memory of Dazai ending up with a poopy diaper smeared all over his front because Baki decided to jump on the changing table without warning, scaring the over-concentrated Alpha.
Chuuya found out Dazai has a much quicker hand with changing diapers than him, so he's pretty happy with the discovery.
"Wait until he pees in our face at some point," the Omega giggles, leaning his head on Dazai's shoulder tiredly.
"Why don't you go shower and take a nap?"
"I was planning just that," Chuuya purrs when his mate starts massaging his nape thoughtfully. "I just wanted to make sure dinner is out for later."
"Your mom left us food for weeks; I'll put something out to defrost while you take a break, love. You slept nothing last night."
"You didn't sleep much either."
"I'm more used to sleep deprivation, Chuuya," Dazai presses a kiss to his temple, forcing his mate's hand around a cookie. "Now, eat this and go shower. I'll clean Baki's litter 'cause someone just had a smelly trip there."
Grinning, Chuuya nods. He turns his head in time to steal a small kiss from the Alpha, breathing slowly into his musky scent.
Masaki is starting to smell a little more like his dad those days. Newborns aren't supposed to have definite scents, appearing around six to ten months of life before morphing during puberty until their second gender presents. Still, their son holds a pleasant mix of both their scents on his skin, so Chuuya is keener in recognizing Dazai's, while the Alpha smells his sweeter one.
And yet, his mate's scent has the power to cloud Chuuya's mind and relax his nerves, making everything easier – more bearable.
While he's under the shower, a few minutes later, Chuuya's mind wanders: Masaki turns three weeks old today. It's crazy how fast everything is going. But every day is so full, so busy...
Even if Masaki is mostly quiet and sleeps well now, it takes a long time for him to fall asleep after feeding because his bowel movements are still very irregular, and he's uncomfortable with gas. That's why usually it's Dazai's duty to lull him to sleep after feeding in the night since it takes too long for him to burp when he's in his mother's arms.
If Dazai tries to hold him right after feeding during the day, for about a week now, Masaki will cry like crazy until Chuuya's scent is all around him – which is also why it's the Omega covered in vomit most of the time.
But once that step is taken, Masaki gets fussy until Dazai puts him to sleep, and for Chuuya is a good sign that the baby can differentiate between them based on how he feels more comfortable with. It's an instinctive behavior that helps them understand when Masaki wakes up, and he's only distressed and not hungry, for example.
Also, Chuuya isn't supposed to shower fully because of the stitches, but he's taken the habit of being very fast under the shower, covering those with a generous cream portion to avoid getting detergent on them.
So, as he towels his hair, already missing the hot spray of the shower over his back, the Omega isn't surprised when hearing Masaki's cries muffled from behind the door and Dazai's light knocks on it right after.
"I'll get him, babe! Take your time."
"Alright, but I'm almost done!"
Chuuya sighs, slipping out of the bathrobe to proceed with his usual body oil. He can't help but stare at himself in the mirror as he massages his middle.
He's... weird. It's not really something annoying him, but seeing the loose belly and the stretch marks now that he's definitely not pregnant anymore, it's still a sight he's not used to. Of course, it will take a few months and regular exercise for him to get back to something similar to what his usual body was, but Chuuya isn't really concerned about it as long as he knows he will make it.
Dazai has repeated to him plenty of times how sexy his rolls are, playfully and to relieve him from unnecessary stress. Still, the Omega doesn't have many doubts his mate is not quite joking: Dazai always appreciated Chuuya when he gained some more weight. Not to mention how the Omega's hips slightly enlarged through childbirth, and that... he's not sure they'll ever narrow back as they were.
It makes him wonder how things will change when they get their libido back: lately, the second they get intimate, even if it's simple and gentle make-out sessions, it's also the moment they pass out in bed. So it's once again a whole new process of self-discovery and mutual understanding they'll have to work through with each other.
Now, as Chuuya is pulling up his change of clothes, warm baggy ones to feel comfortable, he can't help but notice that all he hears from behind the door is silence.
Quietly, he steps into his fluffy slippers and walks to the bedroom, only to find it empty. Masaki isn't in his crib, and Baki is nowhere to be found either, so he pads to the living room and...
Chuuya stops, heart squeezed in his chest at the view: he's seen Dazai hold Masaki every day since he was born, but every time the Alpha is alone with their son, he seems to be completely trapped in another universe.
It's cloudy outside, and yet the light his mate and son seem to radiate is blinding. Dazai is rocking slowly on his feet, taking small steps in front of their living room floor-to-ceiling window that gives on the bay, and it's like looking at a movie scene.
In the background, Dazai is humming a sweet song, whispering its tune in Masaki's ear as the newborn is falling asleep suckling on his Stitch-like pacifier – he's still too small for the onesie, so of course, they had to purchase a whole set of Stitch-themed baby accessories instead.
Chuuya stills, silent by the corner and leaning on the wall, watching them with his heart warm and filled with tenderness: Dazai even wrapped Masaki in a hoodied blanket with cute, fluffy ears on its top. He notices it because the Alpha is pushing the hood back to comb Masaki's hair affectionately. When he bends to place the sweetest kiss on his son's forehead, Chuuya's eyes burn and fill unwillingly.
Dazai loves Masaki so much it's palpable. The way he croons softly, nuzzling his cheeks on top of the thin layer of red hair, squeezing him a little closer...
And then Chuuya's eyes fall on that tiny detail, one silly thing he forgets they share, at times: a little heart tattoo on their index finger.
That evening, they were dizzy with alcohol and euphoria, but Chuuya remembers every detail.
The narrow streets of London, their first vacation together on the other side of the globe. How they stumbled in front of a tattoo studio, joking about matching tattoos and marriage, and somehow – they ended up sitting in front of the tattoo artist asking for wedding rings.
How idiotic. But the girl taking care of them set a good deal for their little wild adventure: couple hearts.
Chuuya remembers clearly how she was about to start when he complained about wanting a real ring on his ring finger, and that's how they ended up doing them on their index instead.
No profound meaning, just... a silly, happy adventure.
And they're still there.
Together, with a house, a cat, a son... and those stupid little hearts on their fingers will forever remind them of what they were and will always be.
It will forever remind Chuuya of how far they've come – how far Dazai has come.
From the broken boy who hid behind masks to the strong, vibrant man that built himself step after step through hardship. From the lost Alpha who thought himself unable to love – and that no one could ever love – to his mate, the love of his life, the father of his child.
His forever person, no matter what life will put them through.
"Chuuya?"
"Huh?"
The Omega blinks stupidly, coming back to reality. Dazai is frowning, stepping forward to meet him.
"Babe, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"I'm— what?" Chuuya strokes his cheeks with a hand, finding them wet. "Oh... I... I didn't realize," he chuckles, embarrassed.
"Are you okay, Chibi?" Dazai cups his face with concern, seeking his eyes but finding no shadows in them, only sparkling glee.
"I am," the Omega nods, smiling. He grabs Dazai's hand to press a kiss on his palm. "Hormones still make me pretty emotional, it seems."
"Emotional over what...?" The Alpha fights a grin this time, stroking a thumb over Chuuya's cheek scent gland.
"Looking at the two of you," the Omega shrugs, stepping closer to them until he's leaning on his mate's side to kiss Masaki's head first and then get up on his toes to reach Dazai's mouth for a peck. "What a beautiful family you gave me, Osamu."
Dazai snorts softly, and God, Chuuya swears the Alpha speaks with his eyes at times: so much love, so much care.
"You gave it all to me, Chuuya."
"We made it together," Chuuya rests his head on his mate's shoulder with a deep, relaxed exhale, eyes lowering to Masaki. He pokes at the baby's nose with a gentle finger, smiling at how he resumes suckling almost angrily at the pacifier.
"Right, we did."
"Nap with me?"
Dazai hums in agreement, kissing his head before their part to walk to their room.
And when they're finally snuggled in their nest, Masaki lying on his tummy between them, they feel a sudden movement at the feet of the bed. There's no need to check to know it's just Baki joining them for nap time.
It's silent and relaxed, and Chuuya melts against Dazai's mouth when his mate kisses him in between whispered I love you's.
Their senses are at peace, their minds silent, and all they will ever need is right there: each other, the wet sound of their baby's sucks, and the soft purr of their cat.
It's perfect, and Chuuya is about to fall asleep when Dazai pokes their noses together, keeping him awake just a little longer.
"...wanna marry me one day, Chibi?"
Chuuya gasps softly, blinking his eyes open again to look at his mate, and he sees so much genuine love in his expression, it makes him quiver.
After stealing one last kiss from his mate, the Omega purrs happily as his nose nuzzles under Dazai's jaw and a grin stretches his lips.
"And the ring?" Chuuya jokes with a tiny voice, pressing his mouth on the Alpha's neck. He gently sucks on his glands to will his mate's scent to wrap around him even more tightly, always ever so needy to drown in it.
"I'll get you one," Dazai smiles fondly, nose hidden in red, soft locks of hair. "You just wait."
"Then yes, Osamu," Chuuya whispers, his whole body relaxing with his mate's scent running through his veins. "Any day."
---
THE END