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The Agency was quiet all day. Actually, it has been quiet for a few days now. And if it were under any other circumstances, most of the members wouldn't mind. Kunikida especially would get a lot more work done in peace. And it's not like that doesn't happen, mostly when their brunette coworker skips work for whatever reason. But no. It's unusual because he is in the office.
Dazai grumbles for the umpteenth time that day while checking his phone that got a notification just a moment before. He puts (more like drops) the device back on his desk, standing up to lay down on the couch instead. After getting into a comfortable position, he sighs once again.
Quite frankly, Atsushi had enough of watching the depressing display.
"Umm Dazai? Is something the matter?" the boy asks reluctantly. Dazai opens his eyes, looking at the boy with a slight frown. He quickly schools his expression into something less threatening.
"No, everything's peachy, you shouldn't worry about it," he answers in a monotone voice. Yeah, no. Everything's not peachy, Atsushi concludes.
"Are you sure? You know you can talk to us."
Of course Dazai knows that, it's just that he chooses not to live with the opportunity. Otherwise he's aware that his colleagues would be there for him no matter what. And he appreciates it deeply, now's just not the time for them to know.
"It's just something that's annoying me, you need not worry, Atsushi."
He lays back down. Nobody can do anything when the brunette decides to hold back information. It's better to drop the subject altogether. If he wants to share, he will.
The stomps can be heard from way beyond the door. Everyone at the agency freezes on the spot, not sure what to make of it. The only exceptions are the resident geniuses, with vastly different expressions. Ranpo is sitting in his usual position amused, while Dazai visibly cringes and makes himself as small as possible, although awkwardly with his long limbs.
Crash. The door is swung open with an aggression which would make gods cower with fear. It takes a moment for them to realize who is standing there. A redhead with piercing blue eyes, searching every spot of the room. If looks could kill that's what they'd think it looks like. Nakahara Chuuya. Port Mafia executive in person. If it weren't for the organizations' agreement at a truce, they'd be severely screwed.
"Where's that asshole Dazai?" comes the question. He looks more annoyed at not finding him than he does when he's trying to avoid him without success. Not a good sign.
"Umm…" Atsushi tries answering before the man in question cuts in.
"Go away," Dazai whines from the couch. Kunikida shoots him a what-the-fuck-did-you-do look, then redirects his attention to their guest.
That sentence alone seems to set the fire behind Chuuya's eyes even bigger. Pure anger and something they can't quite make out flashes across his face, stomping over to the lanky beanpole who is trying his hardest not to actually hide away. Chuuya grabs him by the collar, bringing their faces together.
"You-"
"What seems to be the problem?" chimes in Kunikida. Dazai never thought he'd be this grateful for the interference of the other man. Really, he could actually kiss him right now.
"This bastard," Chuuya gestures at Dazai while slightly shaking him with the hand still balled up in his shirt collar, "has been ignoring me and my every attempt at contacting him for three days."
"And you could've just waited a little longer, knowing that eventually I would answer," Dazai points out. That seemed to just rile up the mafioso even more.
Confusion took over the entire agency. Even Yosano came out from the infirmary to see what's going on. The two hated each other, right? There is no reason for them to try and reach out to the other.
"I was worried about you! You left without a fucking trace! I almost started panicking that you were dead in a ditch somewhere!"
Oh. That's new.
"Chuuya-"
"Don't interrupt me, I'm not done!" Guilt flashes across Dazai's face for a moment. "I know you have your bad days but at least have the decency to tell me when they're happening! Ignoring me won't help either of us so if you would be so kind as to communicate , y'know, like normal people do, I'd appreciate it very much." Chuuya grits his teeth, taking a long breath after the monologue, his fists visibly shaking.
"I'm sorry," Dazai whispers, putting a hand on Chuuya's wrist to ease the shorter man.
"You promised you'd do better." Disappointment is clear in his voice. It makes something in Dazai break. Makes him feel like a little kid who did something wrong and now the most important adult in their life is scolding them.
Silence.
"I'm just glad you're okay." He snakes his arms around the brunette's waist, pulling him into a hug. He rests his head on Dazai's shoulder who quickly returns it.
To say everyone in the ADA is thoroughly baffled by the sight would be an understatement. Shock, confusion, concern, anything you can think of. They hated each other. That was a well-known fact. The first to break the silence was Atsushi.
"Am I missing something here?"
Dazai can't help but let out a genuine laugh at that. Because yeah, everyone at the agency is missing something (well, except Ranpo but that's a given with any secret). In all honesty, Dazai never planned on telling them about what the true nature of their relationship is.
Chuuya leans away, looking up at his partner. Of course the bandaged mackerel didn't tell his coworkers (friends) anything. Why is he still hoping that the mummified fish is going to talk to people about important things? Well, it's busted anyway, might as well commit to the bit. He pulls down Dazai, pressing a kiss to his cheek. The brunette lets out a satisfied giggle, holding him even closer.
"Rephrasing that, I'm definitely missing something."
Seeing Atsushi's confusion, Chuuya realizes why Dazai keeps secrets like this. It's way too funny watching how people react when it gets out. From the corner of the room, Ranpo pretends to open a champagne bottle which doesn't get lost on Dazai, who decides to just say "fuck it" and completely loses it.
"I thought you hated each other?" The white-haired boy deflates, utterly lost.
"Oh no, I hate him with a burning passion," Chuuya answers easily.
"But-"
"Are you two dating?" asks Naomi instead, curiosity twinkling in her eyes.
"Not exactly," Dazai looks at her with a neural expression.
"Are you friends then?" Yosano tries, the clogs in her brain audibly turning.
"Not quite that either…" he trails off, looking to the side.
"That doesn't make any sense," Kunikida says flatly, furrowing his brows and pinching the bridge of his nose, slightly pushing up the glasses that rest on it.
"It would make perfect sense if they weren't absolute shit at explaining it to you idiots."
"Thanks, Ranpo, that really helped me figure it out."
"You're welcome, Kunikida," he says cheerfully, opening up a bag of chips and putting his legs on the table.
Kyoka enters the room amidst the chaos. She scans through everyone before her eyes ultimately land on Chuuya.
"So did you figure it out?" she asks him simply. He replies with a simple "yep". She nods in acknowledgement. Dazai looks at her suspiciously then back at the redhead still by his side.
"You used the child to track me down?"
"Well, someone was not answering my texts." He punched Dazai in the arm, making the other man yelp.
"Kyoka please help us, what is their relationship, they refuse to tell us!" Atsushi pleads. The girl shrugs. She couldn't care less about what the relationship of the infamous duo is. Probably a wise decision.
Chuuya grabs Dazai and leads him out of the office, saying he's "borrowing the lazy mackerel for the rest of the day".
"Ranpooo~" Yosano beams at him. Ranpo takes a lollipop into his mouth, sighing.
"They weren't lying, y'know. Also don't ask me, I know how it works but if you're searching for a word, I can assure you, nobody can accurately describe it."
The answer is not satisfying. Ranpo can feel all eyes on him pleading for his assistance. He stops midway through reaching for another bag of chips.
"You'll never be satisfied, will you?"
"Not until you at least tell us how it works." Tanizaki finally speaks, voicing everyone else's opinions.
Ranpo decides that he most definitely doesn't want to deal with this for the rest of the day. Telling them wouldn't hurt.
"Imagine you're in a committed relationship but it's stereotypically more platonic than romantic."
"Oh so are they in a queerplatonic partnership?" asks Atsushi. Everyone looks at him. The young boy starts getting fidgety when Ranpo snaps his fingers.
"Ah I guess there is a word for it… well, term."
"Good job, Atsushi!" Yosano gives him a thumbs up, quickly accepting the result.
The agency let's the knowledge sink in. Double Black was just as confusing as ever.