Chapter Text
+ Past +
Chuuya took a sip of the wine, the red liquid intoxicating him, pumping more happiness into his veins. The emotion bubbled up in his chest and escaped as a light chuckle. He put down the Bordeaux glass and stood up, swaying a little, partly to the soft jazz music seeping through the oak doors from the party inside, partly to the wine swirling in his body.
“Chuuya.”
The soft, warm voice felt like another sip of the Pétrus ’95 and Chuuya couldn't help the laughter. He opened his eyes and looked around, frowning when he didn't see Dazai. Had he imagined that voice?
“Down here.”
The gravity manipulator flickered his eyes downwards and met sparkling, amused mocha eyes. Hah. He hadn’t even realised that he was no longer standing on the ground.
Floating downwards slowly, Chuuya lacked any of the inhibition and suspicion he usually had around his partner and took the proffered hand. He let out a soft grunt as his Ability was neutralised and gravity pulled him down. Instead of hitting the floor, he fell against Dazai’s chest as the other tugged him towards himself.
“Bastard,” Chuuya hissed out of reflex, none of the usual venom present in his voice.
The frown was smoothed away when he looked up into Dazai’s twinkling eyes. He smiled and rested his head against Dazai’s chest, letting out a sigh when he felt arms wrapping around his waist. It was unfairly comfortable.
“You thief,” Dazai chided laughingly, and there was no doubt in Chuuya’s mind that he was talking about the expensive wine bottle sitting innocently on the ground.
“Shut up. I deserve it.”
“You do know that this is my party, right?”
Chuuya pulled away, lips furling in distaste, looking like he was ready to insult the hell out of Dazai but he settled for a simple, “so?”
“So,” Dazai drawled, “that is technically my wine.”
“… Your logic sucks as much as you do.”
“My logic must be pretty astounding then ~”
“Astounding,” Chuuya agreed, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Dazai laughed. Chuuya was really out of it. But that wasn't really a surprise since the bottle was more than half empty and Chuuya had only been out here for half an hour at most.
“Hat rack,” Dazai said anyway, chuckling when Chuuya squirmed in his arms.
Looking up at Dazai through the loose strands of his hair with a half heated glare, Chuuya narrowed his eyes before he head-butted Dazai’s chest with his hat. The new executive rubbed at the sore spot before flicking Chuuya’s forehead. The gravity manipulator growled lowly and attempted to bite said finger off but Dazai just laughed and stepped away, causing Chuuya to stumble as he lost his bearings.
“Silly Chuuya ~”
“Fuck you, you… fuck you…”
Dazai stepped back into Chuuya’s personal space so that they were a mere inch apart. He looked down at Chuuya (and this should piss Chuuya off but the alcohol was making him more agreeable than usual) with a dark look in his eyes. “Now, wouldn't you like that?”
Chuuya didn't respond. Instead, he reached out, tracing his finger over Dazai’s lips. His eyes lifted slowly to Dazai and he shivered at the intensity he saw in them, knowing he would have fallen if it weren’t for his grip on the other’s arm.
Tiptoeing a little, he pressed his face against Dazai’s shoulder blade so that his mouth was aligned with Dazai’s ear as he breathed out, “Tell me you love me.”
The new Executive said nothing. It was okay. The silence was like a wine starting to turn bad. Drinkable. But not as pleasant. It had but a dull impact on his overriding happiness and inebriation. And it all but faded when Dazai captured his mouth in a sudden, searing kiss, his arms coming around Chuuya’s waist, pulling the shorter man closer.
It wasn't their first kiss, far from it, but Chuuya had never felt more drunk and ecstatic in his life, pure bliss singeing his heart, coursing through his entire being. In that state, it was easy to let Dazai trail kisses along his jaw and down his neck.
“Dazai…” Chuuya moaned softly, whining a little when Dazai abruptly pulled away.
He looked up, sky blue eyes clouded azure by the alcohol. In contrast, brown eyes so clear and sharp stared back at him.
“Chuuya.” Dazai’s voice was sharper than his stare. His tone was as intense as his gaze, and even in his insobriety he could see the pure want in Dazai’s eyes. It caused a shiver to pass through him.
“Daz – ”
His words were cut off as Dazai pulled him into a crushing hug. The taller man bent his head slightly, the slow exhale of his breath caressed Chuuya’s skin, sending a tingling sensation and inexplicable warmth down his body. He let out a shaky breath as Dazai tightened his grip on his waist.
“Chuuya,” Dazai murmured and it wasn't fair that all Dazai had to do was call his name for Chuuya’s knees to wobble. The taller man tilted his head slightly. “Give yourself to me,” he said, punctuating the statement with a light bite to Chuuya’s earlobe, and all the emotions that Chuuya had been feeling up till that point meshed together into a throbbing desire.
“I…” Chuuya started and then stopped when Dazai moved back slightly, his hold on his partner slackening into a loose hold.
“It’s up to you.” Beneath the simmering burn, there was sincerity and genuine concern. It wasn't fair. As if he had any choice.
Chuuya brought up a hand and cupped the bare side of Dazai’s face as he tiptoed a little and leaned forward, “take me,” he whispered against those luscious lips.
When Dazai grabbed the back of his head to bring him forward so that their lips and teeth clashed against each other, it was easy to forget about reason and rationality. When Dazai started pushing his tongue into his mouth, plundering it mercilessly and taking whatever he wanted, it was easy to push sense and sensibility aside. When Dazai picked him up and gazed down at him gently, it was easy to cast away his pride and let himself be carried to Dazai’s room. When Dazai was on top of him, peppering kisses down his naked body, it was easy to forget all about the other girls that Dazai had done this with before. When Dazai was sucking at his neck, it was easy to forget all the fears and apprehensions that came with the first time. And when Dazai was gripping his hips and thrusting into him, his own legs wrapped tightly around Dazai’s waist as if it was his lifeline, the only thing keeping him afloat; as their moans mingled, it was even easy to pretend that Dazai loved him.
*
The splatter of the rain hitting the windowpane echoed dully in the hollow where his heart should be. Touching his bruised lips, he recalled acutely the sweet taste of the Pétrus ’95 and a hint of grapes gone sour.
+ Present +
The light shining on his closed eyelids is too gentle to be the sun but its persistence coxed him to open his eyes anyway. He blinks once, twice, finally registering the large moon casting its light on him.
The mission. Soukoku. Lovecraft. Corruption. Fucking Dazai. His hat.
Chuuya shoots up and scans his surroundings quickly. The devastated landscape painted by Corruption is a nostalgic sight, one that brings up a whorl of emotions within him. He doesn't have time to deal with it.
He sighs in relief when he sees his hat stacked on top of his folded coat. He can’t stop the corner of his lip twitching when he notes how neatly and nicely everything is organised. He reaches up to wipe the trail of blood from the corner of his mouth only to feel the smoothness of his cheeks. The knowledge tempts the smile onto his face, but it falls away as quickly as it had come.
He looks down at his wrist, can still feel the warm fingers curling around it. He glances around at the field once more. Signs of Dazai are everywhere but the man himself is gone.
Something pulls at his heart. It isn’t supposed to hurt as much as it does.
The buzzing sound of his phone calls his attention.
“Yeah?” he answers, his voice rough from sleeping and exhaustion.
“Chuuya-san! Are you alright?”
Tachihara. Right. He is supposed to have been at the exchange point… he glances up at the moon… about three hours ago.
Yeah, he is gonna kill Dazai after all.
“I’m fine,” he replies, pushing himself up and gritting his teeth at how his muscles protest. He isn’t surprised. It has been a while since they have been pushed to this limit after all. “I’ll head back myself. You and the rest can go home. You must be exhausted.”
He could practically see the frown on Tachihara’s face as the other no doubt wanted to protest but eventually his subordinate mumbles a resigned ‘yes’ and hangs up.
*
Chuuya isn’t exactly surprised to find a note waiting on his desk when he enters his office the next day. The elegant words are easily recognisable as Kouyou’s and the message for him to look for her as soon as he sees it is what he has already suspected.
*
“Ane-san,” Chuuya greets as he enters her office. Unlike the other executives, Kouyou’s office isn’t in the headquarters but at the courtesan house, its interior conforming to the traditional theme of the place. She technically has an office at the headquarters too but she prefers doing her work here.
She has evidently been waiting for him. Gesturing for him to sit down, Kouyou goes to the adjoining main room, which sometimes acts as the meeting room for the executives and returns with a cup of matcha and a plate of sweets.
“Corruption,” she states. It’s not even a question. No doubt the news of the resurrection of Soukoku has made it to the ears of everyone who has the slightest inkling of what the fearsome duo once was. Him having used Corruption shouldn't be too predictable but this is Ane-san after all.
“It was necessary.”
“Show me your arms.”
He should have known that it would come down to this. Sighing in resignation, Chuuya tugs his gloves off, his face deceptively nonchalant even as the slight movement causes his muscles to spasm and pain to smother his body. The blood has seeped through the bandages he wrapped around his arm this morning. He doesn't need Kouyou to tell him to unwrap them.
The marks of Corruption haven't faded at all, inked into his skin like tattoos. Exactly like tattoos. His blood lines the designs of Corruption with the bruises serving as outlines. Right now, the blood shines brightly under the patterned shoji lamp. Chuuya’s eyes follow a drop of blood as it slides down his arm. Its descent towards the tatami floor is stopped by Kouyou pressing a silk handkerchief onto it harshly, causing Chuuya to flinch a little.
Without another word, Kouyou retrieves bandages and antiseptic from a drawer and returns to the table. She cleans Chuuya’s wounds up mechanically, going through the motions but not caring about whether it is hurting the other or not. Chuuya sits there without a word of complaint, knows better than to say anything when Kouyou is in such a mood.
After she finishes tying the last of the bandages, Kouyou finally looks at Chuuya in the eyes. He hates the glaze of disappointment he sees in them but it’s the sad, resigned understanding that cuts him.
“Is it worth it?”
He knows that she isn’t talking about Corruption.
“Yes,” he answers simply.
As if there is another answer.
*
Chuuya has been feeling that something is very off ever since he returned from the Lovecraft mission. He can’t place the feeling though and puts it down to not having used Corruption in a long time. Something ought to feel weird after that.
It isn’t until he meets up with the Black Lizards for a mission debrief that he discovers exactly what is wrong.
“Chuuya-san,” Tachihara starts slowly as he gazes at his superior with a frown.
“What is it, Michizou?”
“What happened to your chain?”
“Chain?” Chuuya’s hand flies to his hat and it connects with air where his chain should be. Oh, that’s why he has been feeling so off. He definitely recalls it being there when he set off to meet Dazai for th-
Oh.
Oh.
Chuuya lets out a ferocious scream as he storms towards the doors, the members of the Port Mafia falling over themselves in a quick attempt to get out of his way.
“Chuuya-san,” Hirotsu is the only one brave enough to call out. “Where are you going?”
“TO KILL THAT FUCKING WASTE OF OXYGEN.”
“Understood.”
+ Past +
The sky was so beautiful and all Chuuya wanted to do was to stare at it all day. The sun sparkled brightly, lighting up the earth in vivid colours. His blue eyes were hurting a little from the staring but he couldn't tear them away. If only he could become one of the clouds in the sky.
“What are you doing?”
He jumped at the sudden voice and looked down in shock when his feet didn't touch the ground. With horror, he realised that he was floating in mid-air.
“Wh- wh- I- ”
“Give me your hand.”
Chuuya glanced down at the boy who was looking up at him with a curious expression and with his hand held up in offering. He had forgotten about the other in his panic. He didn't recognise him but since he was wearing the trademark black coat all Mafia members sported, he trusted him.
The bigger problem was that he was still drifting upwards and he didn't know how to reach down to grab the proffered hand. His fear was short-lived as the boy grabbed his ankle. Immediately, he felt gravity pulling at him, and he let out a scream as he came crashing towards the ground.
But that didn't happen. Instead, he landed safely in the boy’s arms. The other smiled down at him gently, his eyes crinkling at the corners, brown eyes sparkling like the sun.
“I’m Dazai Osamu.”
“Na- Nakahara Chuuya.”
“Chuuya,” Dazai repeated, tasting his name on his tongue, and he seemed to like it for his smile became wider as he leaned closer.
Chuuya’s face flushed red as he noted the embarrassing bridal style way Dazai was carrying him and how close the other’s face was to his own.
“Th- Thank you,” Chuuya said as he remembered Ane-san’s teachings of being polite and grateful, of how one must always repay their debts. Twice over. Though he wasn't sure what he could possibly give to this boy who, despite looking like the same age for him, carries a countenance nonchalant confidence and a lazy air of consequence. He didn’t seem to be wanting in anything. Not anything that Chuuya could possibly give to him anyway.
“Be careful now,” Dazai said with a wide smile, one that was different from his previous smile. Somehow, this one didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Before Chuuya could think of anything to say, Dazai promptly dropped him onto the ground. Chuuya let out a groan as he hit his tailbone. The smirk on Dazai’s face said that it was a calculated move. Without saying anything more, Dazai turned and left.
“Hey!” Chuuya protested in annoyance as he pushed himself off, ignoring the stinging pain, and ran after Dazai. He grabbed the other boy by the shoulder harshly and glared when Dazai tilted his head. “What was that for?”
Shrugging his hand off with a jerk of his shoulder, Dazai turned around and smiled at Chuuya gently. “Payment.”
“Huh?”
“I saved you but then I dropped you, so consider your debt paid.”
“… Thank you?”
“You’re very welcome.”
That seemed to be the end of that and Dazai continued walking away. Instinctively, Chuuya followed him, running a little till he caught up with him and walked beside him.
“Dazai…”
“Hm?”
“Are you from Port Mafia?”
It was a stupid question. He already knew the answer from the coat that Dazai was wearing after all but he just felt the need to say something. The look on Dazai’s face probably confirmed his suspicion but the other replied anyway.
“Yeah.” He took a glance at Chuuya’s formal kimono, blue like the colour of the sky (and his eyes, Dazai noted in passing). “You’re with Kouyou-neesan?”
At the mention of Ane-san, Chuuya’s eyes widened and he frantically patted the back of his kimono. He felt strands of grass and groaned, already picturing Ane-san’s disapproving face. She was going to kill him.
“What’s wrong?” Dazai asked, concern in his eyes.
“My kimono. It’s all dirty.”
Dazai went over to inspect it and Chuuya felt the other patting the material down as he dusted the grass away.
“All done.”
“Thank you.”
“It was my fault anyway.”
“Still… thank you.”
Dazai shrugged. “Welcome.”
“Dazai.”
The two boys stopped in their tracks at the stern voice. Chuuya could see Dazai tensing as their gazes fell on a tall man wearing a dark coat with an upturned collar and an even darker expression as he eyed the two boys. Chuuya recognised him immediately. It was Mori Ougai, the Port Mafia’s official doctor. He had seen him once or twice before when he had come round Ane-san’s courtesan house.
Mori attempted to twist his lips into a small smile, presumably trying not to look too frightening in front of the children but the effort was futile given the sadistic vibe it gave off. Chuuya instinctively took a step back just as Dazai instinctively took a step forward, moving slightly to the side so that he was more or less in front of Chuuya. The kimono-clad boy blinked in surprise at the action but Dazai wasn’t paying him any mind.
“Mori-sensei,” Dazai greeted and it was a voice that was so completely different from the one he was using before that Chuuya would have believed it to belong another person had he judged from the voice alone.
Mori nodded to him once curtly before turning his gaze on Chuuya. He felt Dazai stiffen and frowned slightly.
“You must be Chuuya-kun, am I right?”
Chuuya looked back to Mori and nodded once. “Mori-sensei.”
Mori seemed pleased and he turned back to Dazai, the smile now wiped clean off his face.
“It wasn’t very nice of you to just run off like that, Dazai.”
“Sorry.”
Dazai didn’t seem or sound very apologetic. Mori didn’t seem to notice (or more like he chose not to care) as he strode over to them. He grabbed Dazai by the arm in a way reminiscent of the way Ane-san did to him when he was misbehaving but there was a roughness in his grip that was foreign to Chuuya. He would have missed Dazai flinching just that slightest bit if he hadn’t been standing right next to the boy.
“Chuuya.”
Ane-san’s voice drew him away from the pair beside him and the mounting tension between the two disappeared as all three of them looked towards Kouyou.
“Ane-san!” Chuuya called out happily as he ran over to the woman. She smiled down at him as he hugged her leg.
“I told you not to stray too far,” she said lightly as she brushed a hand across his head in a soft caress. “You made me climb that treacherous hill.”
So she said, but not a single strand of hair was out of place.
“Kouyou-kun.”
“Mori-sensei.”
The exchange was pleasantly formal and Kouyou gave Dazai an indulgent smile as she turned to the young boy who still had his arm in Mori’s tight grip. “And how are you today, Dazai-kun?”
“I’m fine,” Dazai replied politely and Chuuya frowned again when he saw the uncanny dark look in Dazai’s eyes, one that didn't belong to a child. He realised belatedly that it was directed at him when Dazai flickered his eyes over to him for a second. Unconsciously, he stepped backwards so that he could hide a little behind Ane-san’s leg. He felt her sling her haori over him protectively as she always did and felt better. For a moment, he had actually felt scared of Dazai (it was the first and last time he ever felt fear towards the other).
“We’ll be leaving now,” Mori said with a slight smile. He tilted his head at them in goodbye and walked away, dragging Dazai behind him.
“Seriously,” Mori warned once they were out of earshot. “Behave.”
“Who was that?” Dazai asked instead.
“You were with him for so long and didn't even get his name?”
“Him?”
“Chuuya-kun is a boy.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“Hn.”
“Well, who is he?”
“He’s Kouyou-kun’s new charge.”
“He has an Ability, right? So does that mean he’s going to train as well?”
Mori waved his hand dismissively. “His Ability is useless. Levitation. Good for spying maybe but not much else.”
Dazai hummed in response. Despite what Mori said and what he had seen, he knew there was more to Chuuya’s Ability. When he had nullified it, the power that had coursed through his being from that single touch had put his nerves on edge for that brief moment. If he was right, Chuuya’s Ability wasn't only powerful it was terrifying. It wasn't mere levitation.
Well, let the adults believe what they want to.
“So what’s he gonna do?”
“Well, from what I know, he’s already doing some courtesan training. He’ll probably start working soon, spying or assassin missions. At any rate, he looks promising…”
Dazai pointedly ignored the leer on Mori’s face. He was not interested in Mori’s proclivities and dubious interest in little girls. Or boys.
Besides, Chuuya was not going to end up a courtesan.
Dazai was sure of that. After all, he wasn't going to let it happen.
*
“Mori-sensei’s fierce,” Chuuya whispered as if Mori might hear him otherwise.
Kouyou didn’t reply as she absent-mindedly patted him on the head once. “We should head back.”
Chuuya nodded. Letting go of Ane-san’s leg, he turned around and starting walking back to the car which would take them back to the courtesan house. He was stopped abruptly when Ane-san clasped her hand down onto his shoulder firmly. When Chuuya glanced over his shoulder to look up at her, he shrank back at the murderous expression on her face. He would have turned tail and ran away but her grip prevented him from escape.
“Ane-san?” he ventured quietly and gulped when her glare intensified. She leaned down to him.
“What did you do?” it wasn't a shout. It was a whisper, mild like the breeze but deadlier than a typhoon.
Chuuya tilted his head in confusion. Ane-san let go of his shoulder and removed the haori from his body. Chuuya’s eyes widened. Did Dazai miss some grass? He opened his mouth to explain himself, making a mental note not to mention Dazai’s name and drag him into this mess, when he saw the gaping hole in the haori.
“I –”
Kouyou held up a hand and looked like she was preventing herself from slaughtering her protégé.
“You. You will be punished.”
“How?”
Her eyes glinted mercilessly as she eyed the young boy.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Leaving Chuuya to ponder over his fate, she swept past him and continued to the car at a fast pace. Chuuya rushed to keep up with her all the while thinking of only one thing.
Dazai Osamu, I am going to kill you.
+ Present +
“Dazai Osamu, I am going to kill you!”
Everyone in the Agency stands up immediately, stances defensive and hands ready to draw weapons. Well, everyone except that insufferable asshole.
“Chuuya ~ !” said insufferable asshole croons as he practically flies all the way over to the door, a huge grin on his face. “How nice of you to come visit me ~~! Soukoku was only revived for one night, and that just wasn't quite enough for you, huh?”
Kunikida promptly puts his notebook away and sits down. Very obviously, this is Dazai’s mess so it is personal and has nothing at all to do with the Agency, which means that it has nothing to do with him. Period.
Following Kunikida’s example, the rest return to their duties as well, except Atsushi who is looking back and forth between Dazai and Chuuya with a worried look on his face. He knows that he should be more worried about the former since Dazai is his superior and all but Chuuya is the one who looks like he is going to die from a burst blood vessel burst.
Atsushi makes to open his mouth but is stopped by Kunikida clasping his shoulder firmly once and shaking his head. He spares a glance at Dazai and pales at the narrow smile on his face. Yeah, on second thought, he really should listen to Kunikida.
“Give it back!” Chuuya snarls as he makes a swipe at Dazai who sidesteps it with a spin.
With a twist of his hand, a chain appears, dangling from his fingers. A smirk adorns his features. “You mean this?”
“You bastard!” Chuuya shouts and lunges without warning, making a grab for the chain, and twisting to the left at the last moment because he just knows that Dazai is going to move. Of course, Dazai knows that too and jumps into safety behind Atsushi.
“Dazai-san!” Atsushi shrieks when he sees Chuuya’s fist flying at him. When his face doesn't gets smashed in, he dares a peek from between his fingers. Chuuya’s fist is right in front of his face but the mafia member has managed to stop just in time. Atsushi’s face pales considerably.
“Jinko, move aside,” Chuuya says steely.
Atsushi rushes to obey. Or at least he tries to. Dazai has a vice-like grip on his shirt that makes it clear that he isn’t going anywhere without the other attached to him.
“Why are you so upset, Chuuya? Your hat looks nicer without it. It’s still ugly, of course, but small steps for small people.”
Chuuya’s face darkens as he takes a step forward. Atsushi whimpers. “Dazai-san, please let go of me.”
“No way, Atsushi-kun ~”
Right… is he really expecting anything different?
“Let him go, you bandage wasting piece of shit.”
“Why? Chuuya, are you so short that you can’t see me beyond Atsushi-kun?”
“Just fucking say that again.”
“Are you so short that – ” Dazai dodges the knife that comes flying his way and manages to save Atsushi by shoving him to the side slightly. The same can’t be said for some strands of Atushi’s hair and he lets out a yelp of terror when he sees them fall before his eyes. Before he manages to make a run for it, however, Dazai is once again utilising him as a shield. “Be nice, Chuuya. You’re scaring poor Atsushi-kun over here.”
“He wouldn't be in this predicament if it weren’t for you,” Kunikida says as if he were commenting on a movie scene instead of actually being in the scene, his eyes never leaving the computer screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
“Kunikida-san, save me,” Atsushi pleads but it falls on deaf ears.
“Exactly,” Chuuya agrees, pointing another knife in Dazai’s direction. “You’re a fucking pain in the ass. Dragging everyone around you down with you.”
Kunikida scoffs loudly. “Couldn't have phrased it better myself. Also, his level of idiocy is as high as he is tall so I don't know what he’s so proud of.”
“I know right? And all he does is whines about suicide but doesn't actually die, what the actual fuck.”
“It’d be much more peaceful if he were to eternally be quiet, yes.”
“Guys, I am right here,” Dazai cuts in, pouting and sounding put out that he’s being soundly dissed and ignored by both his ex and current partner.
“Unfortunately.”
“Yeah, I can feel myself going blind.”
Dazai sulks. Which means Atsushi suffers as Dazai starts complaining right into his ear while wringing his arm. Thankfully, Dazai’s whining gets cut short by a knife that whizzes past them, nicking just the tip of Dazai’s ear.
“Dazai-san!” Atsushi calls out in alarm but Dazai is looking at Chuuya and doesn't miss the slight flash of worry that passes over his face. Obviously Chuuya had thought that Dazai was going to dodge when he threw that knife.
“I’m fine, Atsushi-kun,” Dazai says calmly and the atmosphere is tense for all but one second until Dazai starts laughing as he says, “Chuuya’s just lousy and missed my arm.”
“I’ll show you lousy!” Chuuya shouts and he’s by Dazai’s side in the next second, causing Atsushi’s eyes to widen in surprise, especially when he feels Chuuya’s hand on his arm. Thinking that he’s about to die, Atsushi feels even more surprise when he hits the wall rather softly. Opening his eyes, he sees Chuuya holding a knife precariously close to Dazai’s abdomen but Dazai has a hand wrapped Chuuya’s wrist, preventing the weapon from piercing his skin.
Atsushi is distracted by the bandages on Chuuya’s arms, especially the part held in Dazai’s grip where blood that is staining the white material red. But he doesn't have time to ponder upon it because the two ex-partners are far from done.
Chuuya lifts his right leg and pivots himself on his other foot to deliver a kick to Dazai’s side but the other blocks it with both hands. Having his other hand free again, Chuuya pulls it back to punch Dazai who moves to the side to avoid it but Chuuya’s too fast and he doesn't manage to jump away from the second kick aimed at his stomach.
“Dazai-san!” Atsushi calls out when Dazai crashes into the wall beside the window, creating a huge dent in it. The other members of the Agency finally seem to show some concern. Well, at least the sparkle in Yosano’s eyes indicates that she is at least interested in the fight now. And Kunikida is definitely interested in Dazai’s well being and not intently calculating the amount needed to repair the wall. Well, one can hope anyway.
Chuuya advances on Dazai, cracking his knuckles as he does so, a sinister look in his eyes but then he stops short when Dazai dangles his chain out of the open window.
“And I was wondering how I was going to get here.”
“Salaud! You fucking planned for it to happen!”
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day ~”
“Drop my chain, you sick fuck.”
“You know I’ll do anything you ask of me, but do you really want me to do that, Chuuya ~?”
“Wh- No, what the fuck. Are you dumb? I didn’t mean it literally! And just drop dead!”
“Okay, I’ll give it back to you.”
“I swear I’m gon- huh?”
“I’ll give back to you, Chuuya ~” Dazai says happily as he prances over to the Port Mafia Executive who looks too shocked to shake Dazai off his arm. Chuuya reaches to take his chain before he snatches his hand back at the last moment.
“What are you playing at?”
“Nothing,” Dazai says innocently. And it really just speaks to how credible Dazai is when even Kunikida is eyeing him suspiciously.
“Ah, you’re right! I do want something ~!” Before anyone could react, Dazai is already at the door, pocketing the chain. “Come with me, Chuuya ~~”
Again, Dazai is out of the door before anyone even moves. Chuuya lets out a frustrated cry as he storms over to the door. He pauses and turns around, walking to where his knife is still embedded in the wall. He gestures at the damage and then at the crater Dazai’s body made.
“I’ll pay for those.”
He then walks out of the room with angry steps. Kunikida stares at the door, his eyes sparkling happily.
*
“Shit. Fucking Dazai. Where are you?” Chuuya grumbles to himself as he weaves through the people on the sidewalk. “I swear when I get my hands on him I am going to – ”
Chuuya has his knife out and against the neck of the assailant who pulled him into the alleyway. He stares up into mocha eyes. Of-fucking-course.
“Chuuya ~ you found me!”
“You dragged me in here!”
Dazai laughs. “I guess I did. But you did want this back, didn't you?”
Lifting his arm that isn’t pressed against the wall, Dazai shows him his chain. Chuuya lets go of Dazai, sheaths his knife, and snatches his chain back. He takes his hat off, hating the fact that he looks a lot shorter without it. As he fixes his chain back to his hat, he glares at Dazai all the while. The bastard is watching him, a serene smile on his face.
“It’s fucking expensive,” Chuuya grouches as he finishes attaching the accessory. He inspects it and smiles in satisfaction before placing it back atop his head.
“I’d buy you a new one,” Dazai replies pleasantly.
“I like this one.”
“Cartier, right? Santos de Cartier necklace.”
“It’s from Ane-san.” A pause. “You stalker.”
“Ah, I guess it’s hard to top that.” And then, “you’re lucky you found it or she would have killed you.”
Chuuya thinks back to that morning. Is that why Ane-san was so harsh with his bandages? No, that couldn't have been it. She was like that all because of – Chuuya shoots Dazai a heated glare – this asshole.
“You stole it. You fucking thief.”
“That makes both of us.”
Chuuya’s memory flashes back to that night under the stars. It was so beautiful. Painfully so. He sweeps the memory from his mind and takes a deep, shuddering breath before his heart can start constricting again. “Don’t.”
He doesn't expect it when Dazai grabs his arm. Before he can protest, Dazai has already pushed his sleeves back to reveal the bloody bandages.
“I was too rough just now.” And if anyone heard sincerity or guilt in that, they need to be sent to the nearest asylum.
Chuuya snatches his arm back.
“Just leave me the fuck alone.”
He walks away. Dazai doesn't try to stop him. He expects as much. He ignores the burn of Dazai’s touch on his wrist and the similar ache in his heart.