Chapter Text
They don’t believe they’ve ever run so fast, with such ferocity. The last time had been… History cannot repeat itself, he absolutely refuses.
Adrenaline courses through his veins, intoxicatingly mind-numbing. That’s how they felt. Only one thought runs through his mind, his legs somehow quickening in their neckbreak pace.
Please, please I can’t lose him too… Please.
⇺Two hours earlier⇻
His head laying on his desk, Dazai was easing away a migraine. He only had Chuuya to blame, of course. The Slug has been on an assignment for a month, sparsely checking in now and then.
Damn Mori-san… Maybe I should blame him, instead.
They sigh to themself. Drinking himself unconscious… Ah, they haven’t done that in months now. Somehow, he’d keep this from Chuuya.
He feels a presence near, piercing eyes cutting into his thoughts. Dazai lifts his head, only to see Atsushi looking down at him, concern painted clear as day in his sunset eyes.
Much like a cat, his footsteps are silent. Ha, funny.
The weretiger sighs, “Are you okay, Dazai-san? You’ve been like this since you got here.” Their protege rubs his own arm, as if showing his concern for his mentor is overstepping.
It’s difficult for Atsushi to ever annoy Dazai, so he easily smiles at the boy. “I’m just fine, Atsushi-kun. So sweet of you to worry!” Atsushi only smiles back.
He tilts his head, “I don’t believe you, Dazai-san. You’ve been like this the whole month.”
Ah, it seems someone’s been paying too close attention to them… Yet Atsushi wouldn’t know the true reason, only Ranpo should hold that information.
(Should…alas…)
“I’ll let it be, though. Would you at least join me and Kyouka-chan for lunch? I’ve also noticed you haven’t been…eating as much.” At this, the boy looks away. Surely, he’s overstepped this time.
Instead, Dazai only chides themself. Too obvious… When did you lose your ability to lie, to hide?
The brunet relents, “Alright, Atsushi-kun. I shall join you both.”
Kyouka walks over to them, eyeing Dazai up and down. She’s always been more perceptive than most, what with being an ex-assassin. These skills were taught to her, ingrained. So it goes without saying she was the one to notice Dazai’s change in habits.
Standing, placing his hands in his pockets, he accompanies the two young members to lunch.
⇺⇻
“I do hope Atsushi-kun’s been perfectly polite while you two live together, Kyouka-chan!”
The one in question jumps, stiff as a board. Then a more subdued, sweet voice responds, “He has. He takes care of me.”
Dazai’s smile becomes more genuine as the time passes. The two before him have solidified such a bond, practically siblings already.
The cafe’s atmosphere remains tranquil, the wafting smells of coffee and food fill the air, with the occasional sound of cups being set down on tables and casual conversation. Their mind had been so restless for the past month, the coffee shop’s space is a perfect balm.
Who knew I’d become so weak? Dependent on one person… A true fatal flaw-
A rough voice, full of affection Dazai always believes is misplaced, rings through his mind, Shut it, Shitty Dazai. More like that out of you, and I’ll take away your precious crab for a week!
Dazai fights the soft smile threatening to burst him wide open. Kyouka takes note of this as Atsushi continues eating. Having been mentored by Kouyou, she occasionally heard their name being dropped. It seemed like a touchy subject for the executive, as well as for Chuuya.
Kyouka only saw Chuuya when he’d visit their mentor for their occasional tea breaks. He always made her feel more human, with his casual hair ruffles and smiles.
So she wonders to herself whether the two have any type of connection nowadays…
Before she can bluntly ask, the door bangs against the wall with enough force to crack it. The three Agency members are immediately on their guard, only to see Akutagawa rushing towards them.
“Akutagawa?! What are you-“ A lethal glare cuts Atsushi off, begrudgingly he yields.
“I have no time for you today, Jinko.” Silver eyes focus on their previous mentor, a frantic look completely overtaking them while his face remains almost passive. “Dazai-san, it’s…”
Hanging his head, Dazai faces the two other members. “I will handle this, you two return to the agency.”
Atsushi’s eyes widen, protesting the mere idea, “But, Dazai-san-” A head tilt with an easing smile stops him.
“I’ll be fine, Atsushi-kun. Duty calls!” Dazai rushes the mafioso to the door, leaving the other two behind in simmering confusion.
Once they’re in a secluded area, Dazai fully faces the unprecedented messenger. “Please, explain.”
Akutagawa takes a breath, “Chuuya-san went undercover for a mission, as you may know.” The brunet nodded. “Well, he’s been discovered…and he sent something in morse code, or so we believed.”
Taking out his phone, the mafioso displays a text that appears much like morse code. “Being unable to decipher its meaning, I concluded you would understand, Dazai-san.”
Ripping the phone out of the other’s grasp, Dazai’s eyes appear frantic. “No… When did he send this?”
Stepping back, the Rabid Dog attempts to mask his sudden strike of fear at the quickly raising voice. “An hour ago-"
Dazai takes off running, dropping the phone, leaving the mafioso scrambling. The code both gave away the location and the plan of action the executive has been forced to take. It was a language Dazai decided to create as morse code was easily decipherable, in their mind. Normally, the detective wouldn’t worry over his partner being discovered. Chuuya was a lethal being all on his own, he could handle just about any situation alone.
But these succession of dots only meant one thing: Corruption.
⇺⇻
Perhaps hot-wiring a random civilian’s car wasn’t the most sane solution, but Dazai’s mind completely shut down.
Weakweakweak- Undeserving- You’ll lose him, as with everything else-
A desperate sob breaks free from his throat, but he pushes forward, finally reaching the building.
Slowly, their senses return as they stumble out of the vehicle. First thing they notice, the destruction already taking place. The second, the dead, mangled corpses littering the ground. The last, the torn up body launching gravitons without there being any targets left.
Jumping over soulless bodies, Dazai launches himself towards his dreadfully disintegrating partner.
How long has it been? How much time is left? Pleaseplease-
A breath is released, so sweet it stings, as Dazai completely envelops Chuuya. Tightening their arms around the battered body, “Please, Chuuya, please-”
A groan answers back, a wet cough ripping through. They both fall to their knees, Dazai assessing the damage. Arahabaki’s scars run deeper than other times, blood almost completely covering the redhead’s face. And Dazai can only tenderly hold it in his hands.
Chuuya closes his eyes, leaving the other in a sudden panic until he speaks. “Sh…Daz…ai…” The brunet sighs in relief, dropping their head as it all washes over them.
He’s alive, breathing, and warm. So, so warm…
“I’ve got you, partner. Rest now.”
⇺⇻
Coming-to feels like a mistake with the pain overloading his system, but Chuuya blinks ever so slowly into consciousness. Thankfully, he’s in his penthouse, on his own bed.
One of the mafia doctors must have come by.
An IV drip was inserted into his arm, yet it feels as if no doses of painkillers were given to him. He shuts his eyes again, groaning in pain. Almost silent footsteps approach, but he’s taught himself to recognize these in particular.
Blinking open once more, Chuuya watches as Dazai slumps down into the chair beside his bed, dropping their head onto his stomach. He holds in yet another sound of pain at the action. Usually, he’d begin to pet the touch-starved fish but he’s simply too weak.
“Da-"
“No, don’t speak. God…” The redhead can clearly hear the tenuous fear in the other’s voice, which can only mean terrible, terrible things. To hear any such emotion in the other’s voice is never good.
Dazai raises his head, a deep, furious scowl gracing Chuuya’s eyes. “What were you thinking, Chuuya?”
Unable to bear the unadulterated emotion in his partner’s voice, Chuuya looks away. He knows what he did was a huge gamble. Multiple factors that could have deterred Dazai from arriving on time were at play, and Chuuya knows those are odds Dazai would never even consider when it came to Corruption.
“Dazai…” Too hoarse to speak, Dazai hands him a glass of water. Chuuya gulps it all down, grateful for the moisture. He continues, fully facing the brunet, “Dazai, I had to. I was found out and…I compromised the entire mission, I had to-”
“You had to nothing!” Chuuya pauses as Dazai loses his composure.
“Dazai, what’s wrong? You…you sound so…affected by this-" Incredulous, and honestly upset, Dazai removes every part of themself that’s touching Chuuya. The mafioso instantly knows he made a mistake.
Looking down at their lap, Dazai breathes, “Of course I’m affected, you absolutely stupid slugs for brains.” They raise their gaze once more, Chuuya staring back in wonder, “You leave me for a month and the next time I see you? You’re one step from the grave!”
The brunet stands, cupping the other’s face with cold, clammy hands. “That’s my job, my role. You are not allowed to take it.” Distraught, honey brown eyes hold all of Chuuya’s attention as he holds his breath, taking in the pure emotion emanating from them. “Don’t ever play with those odds again, Chuuya. I won’t be held responsible for what I’d do if you died.”
Moments, preciously still moments pass in silence. Chuuya tentatively grabs hold of Dazai’s wrists, his forehead moving forward to touch theirs. “I’m…sorry, Mackerel.”
Dazai releases a trembling breath, tears burning behind his closed lids, but they don’t fall. They won’t allow themself to show such utter fragility, even at their partner’s next words. “I can’t promise it won’t happen again.”
Misty eyes answer back, a knowing look shared between the two. “I know… But-”
“But I’ll try to…avoid those situations. And I’ll always, always call you somehow, Dazai. And I know you’ll answer.” And really, Dazai has no other choice but to accept this.
Too emotional, weak. You should know better-
“Stop. I know what you’re thinking.” Chuuya raises a brow as the other snaps back to the outside world, out of his subconscious. “Just…lay here with me, yeah?”
Seconds pass, but Dazai knew he couldn’t refuse Chuuya. As much as Chuuya indulges them, Dazai can never say “no” to the redhead either, even if he doesn’t know it.
There’s much I think he doesn’t know… But Chuuya’s always read me far too well.
The brunet clambers into the bed next to Chuuya, quickly laying atop his chest, snuggling as close as possible. With slow movements, as he lacks strength at the moment, Chuuya places a hand on top of brown waves. The bandaged arms around him tighten, Dazai’s eyes shut off to the world.
“I’m right here, Osamu. I’m fine…” Chuuya slowly drifts off, the drugs now taking over his system. He thinks he sees a tear fall from the other’s closed lids, but conscious thought is quickly dissipating.
You are fine. And you’ll stay fine, as I’ve grown far too weak for you, Chuuya.