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Atsushi learned early on that as much as Dazai-san could hold his own in a fight, the man was surprisingly clumsy in his day to day life. He watched as the lanky man constantly managed to trip over his own feet or knock something over that existed within his reach. Everyone just sighed at his antics as he whined picking himself up from where he had face planted or when he had to clean up yet another glass of something.
He had mostly written it off as a daily occurrence. That is until the truce between the Port Mafia and the Agency, and he started spending more time in the presence of the gravity manipulator Nakahara Chuuya, more specifically when he and Dazai-san existed in the same space. It was like any other day except Dazai-san took a break from pestering Kunkikida-san to outright harassing the Executive. To Kunikida-san’s relief and everyone else’s amusement because if Dazai had been bad with the former he was certifiably insane with the latter. There didn’t seem to be a line that he wouldn’t cross that didn’t have the other always on the edge of blatant homicide. The truce, Atsushi mused, might be the only thing keeping Dazai-san from pushing up daisies. This time though they had made their way to the café and in the bandaged man’s haste to presumably proposition a waitress for a double suicide, had promptly tripped, the toe of his shoe catching on a leg of a barstool. Atsushi, Kyouka-chan and Kunikida-san had watched in anticipation, only for a gloved hand to shoot out and hook into the collar of Dazai-san's clothes, righting him before he could even begin to truly fall. They all stared on in shock as Nakahara-san swiftly deposited the taller man onto the seat.
“Chuuuuuyaaa, that huuuurt you brutish chibi” the detective whined as if said man hadn’t just saved him from bashing his head in. Presumably in a much more painful manner.
“Shut the fuck up, why are you still so goddamn clumsy?!” the redhead snapped sitting in the stool to Dazai-san’s right without missing a beat. He seamlessly integrated himself into the setting as if this was something that happened regularly and not because Kyouka-chan had asked the other (read: manipulated, albeit sweetly) if the mafioso had wanted to get lunch with them.
“Has Dazai-san always been like this?” Atsushi asked unable to help himself. Here was Dazai-san’s old partner, someone who had known the man before any of them. He wanted to see what kind of information he could get out of Nakahara-san. Even Kunikida-san and Kyouka-chan seemed interested.
“No-ACK!” Dazai-san was promptly cut off with a gloved hand to his face.
Nakahara-san ignored the muffled protests as he went on to answer, a mischievous smirk gracing his face.
“Yeah he has,” he chuckled. “He’s always been like this, even when I first met him when we were 15. It got so much worse though, when he had his growth spurt and shot up like the beanpole he is” Nakahara-san snickered “He was like a baby giraffe all lanky limbs and no idea how to use them, though one would think he would have figured it out by n..OWW!” Nakahara-san yelped and ripped his hand away from Dazai-san’s face, who for all intents and purposes had maliciously bit at the other’s gloved fingers.
“That’s rich coming for a chibi hat wearing dog, whose barely grown an in inch since we…!!” Chuuya snarled, Dazai-san’s rant cut off by the fact that the other was currently strangling him with the other’s bolo tie.
“Who the fuck are you calling a dog asshole! Especially when you’re the one biting like one!” the group watched as they traded petty insults and blows in rapid succession. Atsushi jolted in realization that Dazai-san was giving as good as he got, a bright gleam in his eyes, despite the fact that Nakahara-san had just jabbed him hard in the side. Usually when Dazai-san tormed Kunikida-kun he usually just passively accepts getting throttled by Kunikida-san. But here he was, childishly snatching Nakahara-san’s hat and raising it out of his reach. That of course was remedied by a sharp kick to Dazai-san’s shin and the hat was yanked back when his hand dipped from the pain. Eventually they calmed down enough for Nakahara-san to pick up a menu, though the staff knew the agency members' orders by heart at this point. Dazai-san immediately leaned into the other’s space, and if his ability wasn’t to nullify abilities, Atsushi would have thought that Nakahara-san’s ability was being used on the other with how Dazai-san orbited the man whenever he was in the vicinity. Atsushi watched out of the corner of his eye as Dazai-san pointed at something on the menu while simultaneously reaching for….Atsushi hoped to whatever god was out there that the man was not stupid enough to…*
“If you value that hand you’ll keep it away from my wallet” Atsushi’s and everyone else’s jaws dropped. No one had ever managed to catch Dazai’san when he pickpocketed them! They watched as said man pouted at getting caught but nonetheless removed his hand. Still Nakahara-san asked for the very thing that Dazai-san had pointed out and turned back to the group, where Dazai-san had recovered and engaged Kunikida-san in some bizarre story. Almost immediately Dazai-san, with all his dramatic gestures, managed to knock off the cup of coffee the owner had set to his right. Everyone groaned at the thought of another broken item at the hands of the man but in the same breath, Nakahara-san in an incredibly graceful move caught and slid the cup to the left of Dazai-san, all without spilling a drop. He let out a long suffering sigh when the cup with safely out of danger.
“I fucking told you that you were gonna fuck up your depth perception wearing those goddamn bandages Mackerel” he complained, jabbing around Dazai-san’s right eye but at the same time rubbing in a manner that one could generously call soothing. As it was it mostly looked like the man was trying to gouge out Dazai-san eye while the other man squawked in indignation and attempted to bat the offending hand away.
“There is nothing wrong with my eye” he huffed irritated “unlike your itty bitty brain which can’t seem to understand the fact that everything about me is perfect” Nakahara-san proceeded to laugh in his face.
“Sure, if by that you mean that you’ve perfected the ability of being a total fucking brat” he offered generously, and everyone laughed as Dazai-san’s face twisted into a scowl.
Chuuya-san knows a lot about Dazai-san” Atsushi’s mouth dropped at Kyouka’s blunt statement. Nakahara-san’s gaze flickered to her and by association, Atsushi which made him unconsciously sit straighter under that intense gaze. Said man sighed, briefly closing his eyes.
“Not by fucking choice. We were partner’s in the Port Mafia and I was unofficially this social misfit’s bodyguard, dumbass got hurt all the fucking time because he did something stupid like trip into enemy gunfire” Dazai protested but Nakahara-san continued on like he hadn’t heard.
“Once he stumbled over fucking NOTHING right into a goddamn fountain. I had to fish him out because he managed to knock himself out and then had the fucking audacity to catch a cold right after” he laughed and while Dazai-san sulked into his coffee, Atsushi almost missed the brief emotion that flashed in his eyes. It was gone as quickly as it was there. Something like nostalgia, but something sad that seemed a little like regret.
Chuuya was an ugly and terrible nurse” Dazai-san sniffed imperiously “ Besides he ruined a perfect suicide”.
“Fuck you” Nakahara-san offered magnanimously.
Any more questions were put on hold when the food arrived. But it seemed like Kunkida’s interest had been piqued and had been emboldened by the fact that Nakahara-san was answering honestly much unlike Dazai-san.
“Why were you taking care of him? Shouldn’t the more responsible thing have been to have him properly treated? Isn’t the Port Mafia boss a doctor, surely you have a proper clinic for such things” Instantly Atsushi could tell that had been the wrong question to ask. Dazai-san’s smile suddenly seemed to sit wrong on his face and Nakahara-san’s posture stiffened minutely. Even Kyouka-chan’s grip on her utensils tightened.
“You don’t go to Mori-san with something as trivial as a cold Kunikida-kun” Dazai-sans tone was terrifiying in a way that sent shivers down Atsushi spine. He wanted them to drop the subject. But still it explained why Dazai-san seemed to slip off when everyone was getting treated by Yasano-sensei. Quickly Atsushi tried to think of a way to change the subject as he saw that Kunikida-san was in fact not going to drop it and that he was probably going to dig his heels in.
“Umm Nakahara-san! Do you have any other stories about you and Dazai-san?” Blue eyes cut towards him, sweeping over him in an appraisaing once over before smirking.
“It’s just Chuuya, kid. And I have 3 years worth” Dazai shot a betrayed look over at Atsushi who could only shrug helplessly.
“Ah look its time for tiny slugs to go home!” Chuuya-san only rolled his eyes, kicking a leg out to block Dazai-san from trying to drag them out of the café. Said man struggled pointlessly before giving up with only a few slaps to the other’s thigh in retaliation.
“We’re still eating dipshit. Consider it payback for all the bullshit I had to put up with” Chuuya-san glanced at Dazai’s untouched plate and huffed before scraping half of it onto his own plate. Atsushi winced, expecting Dazai-san to kick up a fuss at the theft, and even Kunikida-san opened his mouth to tell off the executive. Especially because he believes that one should eat a full, balanced meal at every meal time. But Dazai-san only sighed, loud and overexaggerated.
“Chibikko still eats so much, I guesssss as your master it’s my responsibility to feed you”. Chuuya-san looked incredibly unimpressed by that statement.
“Oh so that means you’re paying for it?” a savage grin overtook his face as Dazai-san’s jaw snapped shut at the threat.
“Dazai-san should consider paying off his tab before paying for others,” the waitress smiled as she refilled the coffee. Chuuya-san didn't seem surprised but did arch a neat eyebrow at Dazai-san. He shrugged in return. A quirk of Chuuya-san’s mouth and Dazai-san rolled his eyes. **
“You’re fucking ridiculous” Chuuya-san snorted as he turned back to his food along with Dazai-san. Two things occurred to Atsushi at once. The first, that they’d just had a whole conversation in body language which was as impressive as it was utterly terrifying. Especially if that’s what Dazai-san expected of him and Aktugawa. But mostly two, now that he was really taking stock of of what he knew about Dazai-san, he realized he’s never seen the man eat so much at once. He usually chose, Atsushi recalled, to pack up most of what was on his plate. Now he watched as the two bartered and exchanged food like children, bickering non-stop. All the while, Chuuya-san regaled them with hilarious stories of their teenage years much to the dismay of Dazai-san and delight to the others.
Atsushi exchanged a look with Kyouka-chan as Chuuya-san prevented Dazai-san from shoving all his vegetables onto the redhead’s plate by threatening to stab him with a fork. The Agency members were learning more about Dazai-san in one lunch break than in the entire time they’d known him. All 3 watched as Dazai-san crowed in victory, mocking yet so bright as he got what he wanted from Chuuya-san’s plate.
“He’s different with Chuuya-san” Kyouka-chan noted quiet so as not to be overheard. Atsushi nodded, it's not as if Dazai-san wasn’t friendly with the rest of them, but here he seemed open in a way he hadn’t been before.
“He shouldn’t be so friendly with a Port Mafia Executive, truce withstanding or not” Kunikida-san adjusted his glasses as he said this “old partners they might be but one should never allow an enemy to get so close” he harrumphed.
“Or what? There’s nothing about Shitty Dazai I don’t already know. And even he’s not stupid enough to slip up with Agency secrets considering he’s kept his mouth shut about Port Mafia business” the 3 jumped at the irritate tone of Chuuya-san as he cut into the conversation.
“Chibi! You can’t word it like that you muscle brained slug!” Dazai-san smacked the other’s shoulder “they’re going to think something gross and untrue!” he whined. With how hard and often Chuuya-san rolled his eyes, Atsushi was surprised that they hadn’t detached from the sockets.
“They probably weren’t until you said that moron” he scoffed as he finished off his food and waited until Dazai-san finished picking at the bits left on his plate. Despite his threats, Chuuya-san pays for all their meals before standing up to make his way back to the Port Mafia Headquarters. He politely said his goodbye’s to the 3 in the booth but flicked Dazai-san in the forehead saying.
“There won’t be a second chance you mackerel bastard” Atsushi can’t quite parse the emotions that flutter around the edges of Dazai-san’s mask but whatever Chuuya-san sees has him smiling, soft and fleeting. Atsushi doubts that it had even been there in the first place.
Later they find out that the tab had been paid for, in full, something that makes Dazai smile to the shock of everyone who witnesses it. It’s small and private, but so utterly and helplessly fond.
This is the moment that sticks out to Atsushi, down the line. How easy the two fit back together. How Chuuya-san hadn’t questioned his place at Dazai-san’s side. How the other had allowed it without complaint. He remembers.
Atsushi remembers Nakahara Chuuya, not as the most powerful ability user in Yokohama, nor as the second youngest Executive in Port Mafia history. He remembers his bright eyes squinted in mirth at the antics of his old partner, a warm hand on his head praising Atsushi and Akutagawa for a job well done in their role as successors to Soukoku. For spoiling Kyouka-chan with sweets, her face done up with delight every time. But mostly he remembered, as he watched Dazai-san, a man renowned for his poker face and iron clad control over his emotions, cracked under the weight of his grief. Atsushi remembered him as the man who had loved Dazai-san quiet and unwavering for years.
Atsushi remembered him as the man who took Dazai Osamu’s heart with him when he died.