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Osamu Dazai. 27 years old. A member of the Armed Detective Agency who’d spent years tackling his depression and dark past, was standing outside his ex-partners door. He’d been thinking for a while now about trying to talk to a certain someone. The redhead might hate him now but he owed it to his former companion to have a conversation.
He’d been shoved out the door when his co-worker noticed him being more distracted than usual. Of course Atsushi knew. The man knew everything and had yelled at his former mentor to go deal with his shit. So here he was.
The brunet was slightly frozen at first, he needed a plan. Set up some pranks to make the angry hatrack come yelling to him. They’d talk at the ADA on Dazai’s terms. With the plot decided, he picked the lock and headed to where he knew the chibis wine was. It wasn’t there.
Placed on a small wine rack atop the fridge was just a few bottles. The spot was very odd since chibis shouldn’t be placing things up so high where even Dazai had to climb. But he wouldn’t be deterred. The brunet stood on the counter and jumped down with a small thunk. The resident wasn’t home, a little noise was fine, he thought as he nearly broke a bottle getting the cork out.
Pouring the second bottle down the drain, soft footsteps were heard. The steps were too slow and soft to be an angry hatrack. He hadn’t heard the front door open.. had he not gone to work? He paused and turned to see a surprise. Wrapped up in a thick plaid blanket was a small redhead. Too small to be Chuuya. But the hair was the perfect shade.
Dazai faintly recalled seeing that blanket as a lump on the couch. He had been too focused to think much of it, realizing too late that he should’ve. Said previous lump leaned against the doorway in a manner that looked more like falling. Taking a closer look, the being looked ill. There was only one answer and he hated it.
Ignoring the person who clearly wasn’t a mafioso, the older finished emptying the bottle. Luckily he had already replaced the first with vinegar. He noticed his hands shook as the task was finished. Finally turning to the blanket covered person, Dazai had to face the music.
“Why are you here alone?” He asked. The being lifted their head. Their eyes were slightly clouded.
“Papa went to get medicine and check work.. Who are you? I’ve never met you before.” There was his answer, this was Chuuya’s spawn. A mafia kid should be more cautious than to answer honestly; a stranger had broken in and they didn’t seem scared. Was the sickness that bad or did they genuinely not mind him being here?
“I’m an old friend~.” The brunet answered. Friend wasn’t right, although how else would he explain things to a child that looked no more than seven. They couldn’t be any older than that, there was no way Chuuya moved on that fast. Unless the kid was the product of a one-night stand. Knowing him, that was scarily likely if he’d gone out drinking. The kid didn’t seem super convinced at his answer anyway.
“You didn’t say your name.. Okay.” They spoke. They stumbled pushing off the door and Dazai rushed to catch them. He couldn’t leave a sick kid alone in the house he’d broken into. Chuuya would be mad about that but he’d probably be more annoyed knowing he left after meeting this kid. Dazai wouldn’t hurt someone so young, even more so one he was sure the hatrack was running around town for.
The kid seemed shocked to be caught. A small smile formed on their face as they nuzzled into the adult. “Mirai! My name.” She sounded a bit excited now. A girl who looked gender neutral, that made sense. She was pretty affectionate towards a stranger.
The child was wobbly on her feet. “I’m Osamu Dazai”. He picked her up as he spoke, letting out a wheeze at her weight. Mirai shoved closer in response, letting out a laugh followed by a cough, clearly deeming him no threat at all. He didn’t let his shock show as lugged her to the couch.
Setting her down gently, the child curled onto her side and reached for his sleeve. Dazai pulled away in slight fear. This from a strange child which.. he didn’t like the the look of rejection on her face. “I’ll get some water.” She needed some. He ran away to think as he got a glass.
Affection from a child. He placed the bottles back while he was in the kitchen to give himself more time to think. She didn’t know him at all but seemed to like him. And she was sick.. Dazai realized the sweetness from her was making him actually like her. Fuck, Chuuya’s pull was genetic. He grabbed the glass, deciding to let her give him affection.
She sat up at his return, saving him the trouble of making her do so to set the water into her hands. Mirai took it hesitantly. She took slow sips with Dazai watching to make sure she was okay. It was set on the side table and the child curled back up.
This time Dazai stayed on the couch with her, letting her slowly reach and grab on to his sleeve. She uncurled only to curl herself around him instead, grip tightening on his sleeve. He could leave if he wanted to but where the hell was Chuuya: he would stay until he got back to watch his own spawn.
It gave him more time to think. There was no way Mirai was this friendly to everyone. She had been cautious at first. Unsubtle but cautious. It was her own house and her papa would probably be back soon. The affection had to be just towards him, otherwise that caution wouldn’t have existed which meant he would have heard about her existence before.
Did she know of him? Had the chibi talked about him to her? That was the only thing that might explain why Mirai was so friendly.. It didn’t make too much sense though. Maybe she was just sick and lonely. He knew how that felt and found himself studying her sleeping face with that thought. Nakaharas were truly adorable, he had to admit.
He stared a little harder to try and find who might be her other parent.. she looked painfully like his ex, wrapped around him. There was no traces of anyone else he had seen yet in her face. And the way she clung he knew she had definitely been lonely. Chuuya was a single parent.
Maybe Dazai could try to be around to help.. He knew her dad wouldn’t leave her alone if he didn’t absolutely have to. He had to have been away for a couple hours at this point. The brunet sighed, deciding to read his book. He’d try to keep her comfy until the chibi returned. He’d stay if Chuuya let him.
The new duo sat for a while with Mirai fading in and out of sleep a couple times. As he brushed her hair back from her forehead at one point, she mentioned her papa having left an hour ago. Dazai knew her cold was bad then, they’d been sitting for a couple hours. More time passed as the sun began to set.
The door opened with a loud thud. “Mirai! Im so sor-“. Chuuya stopped mid sentence upon noticing the brunet sitting with his daughter. “Dazai. Is she okay?” Even the chibi was more worried about her than him being in the house.
“She’s alright.” He made the younger move, gently coaxing Mirai to wake up.
“Mirai.. hey. I’m sorry I took so long.” The child just snuggled herself into her dads shoulder as he readied the medicine. “Take this then rest more.” She nuzzled further but obeyed, being held so gently for a while as Chuuya rubbed her back. Her face buried in his neck, a curtain of oranges mixed. The sight made Dazais breath catch. He felt like he shouldn’t be watching.
Chuuya stopped him with a look and mouthed ‘we’ll talk in a moment’. The detective had no choice but to stay. Especially when a sleepy Mirai noticed her dad’s attention wavering off her, reaching out to poke Dazai again. The chibi had a soft look on his face upon noticing.
After several moments, the redhead laid his daughter back down.
Grabbing the detective by his collar to drag him to a different room, he threw the elder into a wall. “Why are you here?” It was spoken in a hushed yell. Dazai wasn’t surprised. He didn’t want to be but if he wanted to be in either redhead life, honestly was needed.
“I wanted to talk to you. She caught me while I was snooping.”
“She stood up?! Did she fall?”
“I caught her.. she’s really friendly.”
Chuuya laughed. “She’s not. Mirai is cautious, you’re not stupid enough to not see that.”
Dazai paused. He had a question that he didn’t know how to ask. Even now, Chuuya knew.
“I’ve talked about you.” His eyes closed in pain. “You don’t know her but she knows you. And now she likes you too.”
Dazai was shocked again. “You raised her well. How did such a brutish chibi have such a sweet girl?” His honesty spilled out. Chuuya was surprised now.
“You like her too. You wouldn’t have stayed otherwise.” He knew. Dazai liked her. It wasn’t just that it would annoy the chibi, he could have snooped instead of sitting with the kid. But that’s exactly what he did.
“What can I say? You Nakaharas always pull me in~.” His mischievous smile didn’t take away from the seriousness. The gasp that was let out didn’t either. Chuuya looked towards the ground, trying to hide a faint blush. Despite that, a spark of anger showed.
“You left. All those years ago, your dumbass walked away and broke my heart. I shouldn’t let you fucking walk right back in like this.”
“I know.. Im sorry, chibi. Make me go if that’s what you want. I just wanted to sa-“
A fiery glare turned directly to him. “Stop. I managed to pick up the goddamn pieces of what happened. That idiot died and made you leave. I can’t stay mad seeing you happy.”
Dazai paused. Slowly, he moved to hug him. Chuuya didn’t return it as it changed to holding his shoulders. But he didn’t move away. There was more to say but for a moment they just stood. “Can.. can I stay?” A weakly hopeful voice. The shorters anger faded. “Yeah.”
He couldn’t help letting a few tears fall. A gloved hand reached up to wipe some tears away. “Dumb bastard.” Dazai took a deep breath.
He was under no impression that yes meant forever. Even if it was just for a while, he’d take it and enjoy this warmth. And maybe earn that forever. Right now.. he was too curious not to ask.
“Chuuya?”
“What, fuckhead?”
“Who’s Mirai-“ A slap interrupted his sentence. “She’s eight years old.”
“Was it a one-night stand? I’m sor-“ Another slap. “You don’t get to apologize again.”
The taller pulled him closer. “Why?” The shorter glared and pulled him down. He braced for a punch only to be met with soft lips on the edge of his mouth.
“Did you think that yes wasn’t forever? Dumbass genius, I can’t let you break our daughters heart like that.” He froze.
“She’s yours.”
Dazai’s grip loosened. “Don’t go into fucking shock, dumbass.” He pulled him forwards.
“You broke my heart. And she saved me. This tiny little thing that had a right to know, she knows what you are to her. Make it up to both of us. Stay and get to know her.”
The elder started bawling again, wrapping his arms around Chuuya. “I will. I’ll stay and help you with her. I wanted to. Forever more now.” The shorter returned the hug, some of his own tears dripping into brunet hair as he held the taller. “Then do it. You’ll fuck up but don’t be a shit and we’ll talk.”
A cry interrupted them. Instantly pushing away, Chuuya rushed back to the living room. Dazai couldn’t help a teary smile as he followed. To his surprise, the child didn’t calm for her papa. She calmed to sniffles upon seeing the taller adult. “I told you she likes you.” A smirk from the mafioso.
Observant despite being sick, Mirai looked between them. “Papa?”
“What, baby?”
“Do I get to have a Dad now?” A gasp from them. Dazai watched the sadness as both adults were hit with how overall lonely she must have been. Chuuya didn’t know what to say, clearly unsure if he’d accept that title already.
“I’d love to be your Dad.” An tinier redhead was suddenly in his arms. He opened his other side for the older one to hug. With a sleepy child in one arm and a gorgeous man being wrapped around his other, this definitely wasn’t how he planned the day to go.
But the trust in the child and the love shining in Chuuya eyes as he pet Mirai with one hand, the other arm wrapping around the detectives middle made him know it would all be okay.
“Cmon.” Chuuya spoke. “It’s been a long day, let’s get some sleep.” Mirai grumbled her agreement, the brunet laughing as a gloved hand grabbed his to guide them to his room.
Holding his new daughter in one arm and a hatrack in the other, Dazai was terrified for a moment. There was so much to do. As if sensing it, Chuuya smacked him.
Yeah.. all they had to do was talk it out. They’d both grown and he wasn’t willing to let either redhead down. Maybe someday the Nakaharas would let him join their unique charm. It didn’t seem so far away. He fell asleep with a small smile on his face.