Chapter Text
“Dazai-san?”
Akutagawa peered into the dark hallways of the mafia base, taking ginger steps out of his room. His mentor had told him he was going out to do something , but the younger was growing rather bored of just sitting around with nothing to do.
“Dazai-san…?”
Slowly, steadily, he started to wander, calling for Dazai every few moments.
Dazai had taken him into the mafia world as his subordinate just recently, perhaps a week or two ago, and Akutagawa wasn’t too familiar with the base’s map, instead hoping his instincts would be able to guide him around for now.
“Dazai-san…!”
He stopped and cupped his hands around his mouth, hoping to at least have gathered someone ’s attention, but it seemed Dazai wasn’t the only one out at the moment. The hallway was dead silent save for the gentle echo of his footsteps, causing Akutagawa to sigh in dismay.
He continued to shuffle about the Port Mafia headquarters, looking up only to check to see if anyone was behind the doors he passed, though he wasn’t really expecting any indicators.
“Dazai-san…”
He murmured the name, his tone hollow and ghostlike, coming to a stop in a dim hallway he didn’t recognise. It was off-putting and strange, but perhaps Dazai would be around here…?
Only slightly hesitant, Akutagawa continued to drag himself forward, following the hallways that branched out, until he found himself at a dead end.
“... Dazai-san isn’t here,” he muttered to himself, turning to head back, but he realised with growing alarm that he had no idea where he was. Either he had done one too many wrong turns, or all the hallways looked the same…
“Dazai… -san…?”
He heard his voice waver weakly in the large hallways, and Akutagawa felt something in his chest drop, allowing his shoulders to sag with a heavy sigh.
“... I’m lost.”
“Yeah, no fuckin’ duh.”
Someone scoffed behind him, and Akutagawa whirled around, finding himself face to face with a redhead with sharp blue eyes. An instant fighting instinct snapped in his mind, and he lunged for the stranger, but found himself curiously suspended in the air as soon as his feet left the ground.
“...?!”
“Tch. So quick to attack, huh?” Despite his tone, he seemed amused at Akutagawa’s attempt at an attack. Akutagawa stayed silent, staring emptily at his capturer.
“So… you’re Dazai’s new subordinate, hm?”
“...”
“Silent treatment? Fair enough. I’m not planning to hurt you or anythin’... though I’m sure it’d annoy the fuck outta Dazai if I did.” He grinned slyly, letting go of whatever strange gravitational pull he’d had on Akutagawa, and Akutagawa felt himself tense up once he landed, unsure whether or not to feel threatened by the stranger.
“...”
“...”
“...”
They stood in awkward silence, staring at each other with serious eyes and tense posture, before the redhead spoke again, scratching his head uncomfortably.
“Ah, jeez. Just ask for help already, stupid.” He bent forward at the waist, as if getting a closer look at Akutagawa. Akutagawa barely suppressed the urge to punch him, instead taking a step back, more than mildly annoyed. “You’re lost, right?”
Akutagawa paused for a moment, scoffing. “No.”
“Fuck it. Just follow me, ‘kay? Dazai’s not gonna be happy if he sees you walking around here, y’know.” It’s said jokingly, but Akutagawa tenses up at the thought.
They walked through the maze that was the Port Mafia base, with the redhead droning on about something for background noise, and soon Akutagawa sees a familiar room in one of the halls, door left open like he’d left it.
“So Dazai, he was like…—hm? Oh, that’s your room, isn’t it?”
Akutagawa didn’t respond, leaving his temporary tour guide to enter his room. He turned before he entered, however, just in time to see him start to round the corner of the hall.
“Wait!”
“Hm?” He paused with a cocky grin, only looking over his shoulder to talk to Akutagawa. “What is it? Plan on getting lost again?”
“...” Akutagawa already knew he’d regret asking, but it’s too late to go back at that point. “What’s your name?”
There’s a surprised pause. “Nakahara Chuuya.”
“... Thank you.” He swallowed. “For… today.”
“... Heh.” Chuuya grinned wider, causing Akutagawa to tense up nervously, then turned to continue walking. He was almost out of sight before he finally responded, his voice singsong with his words. “Get lost, Akutagawa.”