Work Text:
There was an unspoken promise between Dazai and Chuuya formed after years together. The origin of which was a secret in pages of memories for all, but dear reader for you the tale can be told again.
During a particular mission after 2 years of their partnership, all hope seemed to have lost, Chuuya was seconds from using corruption. Feeling the change in his demeanor Dazai held his hand and said "don't do it Chuuya!". In his head a million thoughts ran around for there had to be another way of doing this, there was no need to endanger his partner but Chuuya on the other hand was losing patience and seeing his men dying, he became an move impatient and reckless." There is no other way Dazai, we have lost the whole team. It's this or end of Double Black!"
Dazai stared into his eyes with the implication Chuuya was ready to use corruption for them, for his partner. Dazai has always been a lone wolf but in these few months he had noticed feeling less lonely. He hadn't even realised he felt a void for the void had become a part of him a long time ago. There was a sort of protectiveness he had towards this ginger he did not know what to call. He couldn't call it affection because he had very reliably been told the Demon Prodigy was incapable of love.
Yet here he was with a death grip on his partner's arm to prevent him from using corruption. Chuuya looked frantic as steps approached them. He looked at Dazai ready to yank his hand back but the look in his eyes, oh those deep chocolate eyes held a tinge of fear. He gulped as he said "let me do this dazai, please what more do i have to lose?".
Indeed he believed that he had lost his family when he lost The Sheep. His current position in the Port Mafia was influential but the bond of found family created with years of survival he had was still missing. He had a lot but nothing to fill the spot of what he lost. But it seemed then he had made a mistake because the fear in those eyes now accompanied hurt. Dazai replied "you have me...".
There were a few seconds where it seemed they had forgotten the world and the world had forgotten them. Like this was a fake reality. Like this was a hallucination or a dream. But he could feel so it must be real. A loud boom brought them back into their reality and Dazai frantically looked around to find something, just anything.
He notices they were away from city or civilization. The building was tall with nothing below, it was situated at the end of a cliff with a raging river towards it's back where they were cornered at this moment. The idea hit him like a bullet and he asked Chuuya "how much energy have to got right now?" , Chuuya replied "i am tired but i can manage like ten people".
The fact was while Chuuya could deflect the bullets back towards the enemy or create a shield around him and his people, he was worn out from taking out the whole organization because the information about it being a small organization was fake as fuck and his men had all died within the first 20 minutes.
Dazai says "Ok I know I am going to sound make as fuck but listen to me, blow the back wall and jump in the river, below the river you can make us an air bubble sort of thing and the current will get us out". Chuuya looked at him like Dazai had just asked for his kidney but he realized it was actually a good plan in the given circumstance, if they are below the river surface it would look like they drowned. Even bullets won't be able to penetrate water and hit them full force.
He looked back at the little distance between them and their enemies and and removed Dazai's hands to grab him over his sleeve. When he blew the wall the force made a few of the enemies tumble back and lose balance thus giving them a chance. Chuuya ran holding onto Dazai screaming "FUCK IT" on the top of his voice unaware of the amused look of his partner.
Just above the surface of the water he created the bubble and went below the surface. The current was fast enough that they weren't able to hear anything from above the surface. After they were sure they are safe Chuuya made them go above the water and they landed amongst the woods. Already exhausted he sat beneath a tree while Dazai called for reenforcement. Dazai went to sit near Chuuya heaving a sigh.
They sat in comfortable silence till Chuuya broke it, "so uh 'you have me' huh", he said with a smirk as he moved sideways to he Dazai's face only to be shocked a second time seeing pink dusted on the pale cheeks. He would never admit it but Dazai looked adorable. Dazai upin noticing the eyes shyly ducked his head down. SHYLY! The Demon Prodigy was actually acting bashful. Chuuya looked at him savouring the look probably nobody has seen and he wonders if he will see it again. He hopes so.
"You have me too, ok..." he says after a few minutes to not make the brunette uneasy with his staring. Dazai jolts to look at Chuuya. He looked surprised. He was totally thinking he had messed up the partnership and now everything is going to be awkward as hell. But this was as unexpected to him as seeing pigs fly. He tried to school his expression but failed as his happiness betrayed him in the form of a small genuine smile. Chuuya really wished he could click a picture of this moment or sear it into his head and heart.
They fell into their comfortable silence again. But now something felt lighter. And they felt warmer. Dazai rested his head on Chuuya's shoulder and Chuuya let him resting his own check on top of Dazai's head. In a daze of exhaustion they started to fall asleep. A small thank you was whispered by the brunette and Chuuya could've almost missed it, but he was glad he didn't as he draped his arms around Dazai's lean figure as a 'no need for it'
Years went by and 'You have me' became 'I am yours' and 'you are mine' depending upon the situation or argument. The words were only spoken amongst the two in privacy, and always ended with them in bed. Content and calm in each other's arms. These words had become their version of 'I love you' because neither were willing to associate with love. All their life, love had been a dangerous game. It was as though the mere mention will make them lose their loved ones. That it's acknowledgement will cause them only loss.
So years went by in the blink of an eye and Soukoku became a unit equivalent to a God. Consisting of both a dangerous brain and brawn, it was a fortune to never be against it. Whenever one of them acted recklessly, the other reminded then they have something to lose, someone to lose. This was their ruthless reminder that they possessed a weakness that made them stronger in order to protect it.
The loss of Odasaku weighed heavily on Dazai, because when he lost his friend he had also seen his friend lose his everything with a burning van. The screams still echoed in his ears. He had come back that night, numb to the core. The warmth he had collected and kept hidden in him that warmed his lonely nights was suddenly lost like it was not his hard work of years to collect little fragments of fire in all the years. Mori had seen the eyes lifeless and dull, he wanted to ask why his eye was un-bandaged but didn't.
That night he snuck into Chuuya's room to find the man sleeping. He had started getting his individual high rank missions now and was literally driven on sheer will sometimes. He was tired yet so full of energy these days. He sat near his bed on the floor scared to wake him up but guiltily wishing he does. He had already made plans as to how he will survive his defection from the Mafia. He had very less time to sneak out but yet it seems like he had lived these few hours for years now.
He stood up to leave but his wrist was caught by the sleeping figure. "You know I am not really a deep sleeper, i survived on the street you know", Chuuya said still laid down. He had been made somewhat aware of what had happened and where his partner was upon his return from the mission outside Yokohama. He was tired to the bone and was positive Dazai will come here so he had slept. "I am leaving" is all Dazai said still not doing anything to pry the hand off of his wrist.
Chuuya sat up in the bed slowly and asked Dazai to look him in the eyes. Dazai didn't budge and so he coaxed him a little more. Dazai turned around his eyes so dead he looked lifeless all over. They didn't belong to living man. Chuuya knew he will leave. There was no stopping but a little anger within him at this blatant display of betrayal made him ask "What more are you going to sacrifice", Dazai was the youngest Executive of the Port Mafia, the Demon Prodigy, the most feared torturer, a man straight from hell. He held power in his hand, maybe it could persuade him to stay.
"What more am i left with?" Dazai replied in a dead tone. There was uncomfortable silence between them and Chuuya didn't know what to say, his head muddled with exhaustion and foggy with anger he simply thought to say something dazai will never say yes to, he asked" So you lost?" for the first time that night those dead eyes widen and glaze over with tears, a singular tear slides down his face as he choked out" Yeah i did.. ", Chuuya looked taken aback, Dazai will never admit he lost, that man was competitive to the bone.
Chuuya whispers into the night "with hollow hope knowing he has lost Dazai,"Not gonna say no today?"
"Not gonna call yourself mine today?"
Came the reply before Dazai left with tears running down his face.
The next day Chuuya's car blew up.