Chapter Text
Like any other day Atsushi was in the agency, specifically the area with sofas. In front of there was a coffee table which he used to draw and do his silly craft projects. Currently he was making a drawing of a cat, a black cat with bandages all over it. Why you may ask? Because Dazai reminded the kid of a black cat. He kept glancing at Dazai who was sitting at his desk for once doing his work. He has gotten pretty close to the man after their many interactions.
He would often draw in the agency as it was filled with papers and pens, sometimes he would find some paper nobody needed and he would just draw on it. His drawings were good for his age but still just really silly and simple. Kunikida kept saying that it was good for him to draw since it would improve motoric skills and creativity too, keeping him busy was a bonus.
Kenji was next to Atsushi eating some food as he was done with his missions for the day so he could finally stop starving.
"What are ya drawing Atsushi?" Kenji said as he looked over to the toddler, chewing his food while he spoke "it looks nice!"
"Kitty Osamu" he responded while still focusing on the drawing.
"That is cool! Ya think he will like it?" The older blond boy spoke in a cheerful voice as he got slightly closer to Atsushi and the drawing
"I dunno" he said while putting his pen down and shrugging his shoulders. He didn't really think about that.
"Do you wanna show it to him?" Kenji asked with a smile on his face, well at least he liked it that was for sure.
Atsushi looked at him and nodded. He took the piece of paper, getting off the sofa he walked over to Dazai. Once he walked over he tried to get his attention by poking him
Dazai let out a groan and spoke in an annoyed voice "What is it i am working for once-" he immediately regretted it when he saw the kid, he thought it was someone else messing with him but now that he thought about it nobody is THAT short
The kid frowned and was about to go back to the sofa but Dazai picked him up and stopped it "Ah my dear sushi! I am deeply sorry I didn't notice it was you, anyways what do you have there hm?" He said as he was hugging the kid who was now in his lap. He reluctantly handed over the drawing he made.
"Ooo really nice! Why does it have bandages?" Dazai curiously asked the kid who's frown turned upside down hearing his response "You! As kitty" he said it in a really cute voice which made Dazai laugh "Ah that is really sweet! But one problem. If i was a cat i wouldn't be a kitty see i am big! You on the other hand are small" he finished off by poking the kids nose only making him laugh.
The returning Kunikida was ready to scold Dazai for not working but seeing that he was with Atsushi he stopped himself. It was a sight he was trying to get used to with recent times. It was weird seeing his son cling on to other people but it was cute for sure, and he was glad he wasn't that dependant on him anymore, he wouldn't admit it but he liked the kid being near him all the time.
"Oh well look who is here, look Atsu it is your amazing dad!" He said with a smirk as he looked at Kunikida. Atsushi turned around and smiled seeing his father, waving at him. The blond smiled and waved back before going to his desk to continue work.
Dazai though it was slightly strange that Atsushi didn't want to immediately go towards Kunikida since that was his usual reaction to seeing his father.
Looking over at Kunikida he could see that the man looked slightly upset. He could try talking with him later.
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For the majority of the work day Atsushi kept being around different people at the agency, his favorites of today were Dazai and Junichiro, even if the poor teen was still exhausted from that one time he had to take him outside...
Kunikida was happy but at the same time he missed his kid, not even a week ago he would still only really cling to him unless he was gone and then he had to find a new victim. He didn't even realize how much this was bothering him until
"Kunikida-kun! What's up with that frown, you want to talk?" Dazai said as he came to stand next to the blonds desk. "Why are you of all people asking. No wait. This must be one of your ways to torture me! Go off before you do anything!"
Dazai put his hands up as if he was getting arrested "Hey hey- I am not doing anything right now! Can't i be worried for my partner?" He was trying to show that he actually cared but in reality he didn't know if it worked
"Dazai get out of my face, I am fine!" Kunikida yelled as he slammed his fist on his desk. Dazai still didn't want to give up, he grabbed his shoulder "I am not messing with you! I am worried for you, I've seen the way you have been looking at me and Atsushi earlier and i could tell that something that was going on was bothering you. So talk to me!" God was he glad that there was nobody in the current room. He told Ranpo what he wanted to do and so he took Junichiro, Kenji and Atsushi down to the cafe.
"You are the LAST person i would want to talk to about my feelings! Do you KNOW how many stupid pranks you have pulled on me just over the past MONTH?" Kunikida was getting angry at the other man.
"I know and I am an idiot! But for once i want to help as i can see this truly is bothering you! I could have asked Ranpo but I want the answer from you"
"Did you have to do it in the office?" The blond asked the man as he slightly calmed down. "Well I got everyone out the room no? Gotta give me some credit for that" he sighed before continuing "Is it about Atsushi? I mean it must be"
The blond couldn't even get mad at him if he was genuinely asking which seemed to be the case right now "I guess it is weird that he often prefers other people now..." He said looking as far away as he could from Dazai. The brown haired man's face turned into a slight frown "Hey, you are still his dad. He loves you the most, he is just really used to you since he is always around you at home and so he is trying to hang out with others to see how it is, you know how curious he is"
The man sitting down put his pen down and looked at Dazai "Please just go now, i need to finish my work and some extra work the president gave me" Dazai didn't want to argue anymore so he left the office. Heading down to the cafe
Down at the cafe he found Ranpo with Junichiro, Kenji and Atsushi. Atsushi was sitting in Junichiro's lap as he refused to sit alone. He kept chewing on his own hand because of an old habit and the ginger kept trying to stop him from doing so. Kenji wasn't paying much attention to them or anything really as he was already half asleep on the table.
Ranpo stopped Dazai before he left the cafe "He told you off?" He asked like it was a question but he already knew the answer. Dazai wanted to say something but just nodded in short and left.
Atsushi wanted to yell after Dazai but he liked chewing on his hand more "Atsushi stop that! You are going to get your saliva everywhere!" Junichiro lightly scolded him as he removed his hand from his mouth yet again.
Ranpo laughed "I am surprised Kunikida hasn't gone crazy with him, especially with how much he appreciates his ideals." The ginger chuckled "Yeah, but hey Atsushi is a pretty good kid, when he wants to be..." He looked down at the kid again just to see him looking back at him with his big yellow and purple eyes. Meanwhile Kenji was snoozing away "You are the one carrying him to the dorms" Ranpo told Junichiro "W-wait me? Can't we ask someone else... Or wait for Kunikida..."
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The next day in the office it was oddly quieter than usual. Mostly due to the fact that Dazai was missing. Atsushi was hiding under Kunikida's desk and nobody was aware of that
"Where is Dazai?" The ginger teen asked the room full of detectives "Probably out drinking" the doctor Yosano said "Nah I'd say he is getting arrested again" Ranpo put in his own comment. Kunikida bluntly said "He is probably somewhere out to kill himself yet again. Anything but working. That jerk" the blond was cursing his very existence. Suddenly he felt a pair of small hands grabbing his leg. He just froze realizing that his kid had been there the entire time.
He bent down and picked him up, placing him on his lap. "Hey there kiddo... What were you doing down there?" He was hoping he wasn't actually paying attention to the conversation. Atsushi poked his dad's face before speaking "Killing? Like dead?" He asked ever so innocently in his childish curiosity. Kunikida had no idea what to say. This was his 3 year old child what was he supposed to say? "Uhm. Sweetie, how about we don't talk about that hm? Anyways what were you doing under my desk?" He tried changing the topic which shouldnt be too hard as toddlers always did so "hide and seek!" He said giggling. "Ah with Kenji i assume? Well that is nice but you gave me a scare you know?" Atsushi gasped and hugged his dad "Sorry papa!" Burying his face into his fathers warm chest. Kunikida could only laugh, pat his head and return the hug. Ranpo and Yosano were dying from laughter that was for sure. Even taking some pictures as a memory.
Junichiro suddenly spoke up again "So... About Dazai..."
"He will come back, he always does." The blond responded to the teen while still cuddling Atsushi and giving him the attention he wanted right now. And the attention he wanted to give him But in the back of his mind he did feel bad for treating the man badly the previous day. He was just frustrated from everything.
Soon enough Atsushi had fallen asleep in Kunikida's lap. He continued working as usual while enjoying the company his son was giving him. He has been growing up so fast. It was like he just took him in after Dazai had found him yesterday. Kunikida almost shed a tear in that moment before remembering that he was currently in the agency and in the middle if working.
Atsushi kept only clinging more and more onto his father, so much so that it was like he was trying to become one with the man. Ranpo and Yosano talked about them while Junichiro tried finding the other teen who managed to get lost while playing hide and seek with a toddler of all people