Work Text:
“Nii-San… I think you spilled something on your reports.” Atsushi’s voice interrupts Dazai’s invasive ‘what should I do to Kunikida today?’ thoughts, bringing them to a complete halt.
Eh…?!
Dazai must have misheard that. Surely. He…
Dazai’s eyes trail over to Ranpo, completely avoiding Atsushi as he meets Ranpo’s smug grin.
You.
Ranpo’s grin widens at Dazai’s accusatory look, the man popping a gummy bear into his mouth right then as if to reward himself.
He hadn’t misheard it.
Dear god. Atsushi actually called him Nii-San.
He a thousand percent didn’t deserve that, but alas…
Dazai catches Atsushi’s confused, wide-eyed look to him as he holds a Sake-stained paper towards him.
Oh no… That was adorable.
Him calling him Nii-san was adorable.
Dazai puts his head in his hands.
“Um.. Dazai-San?” Atsushi pokes his arm lightly,
Dazai immediately falls over onto the floor.
Atsushi lets out a confused yelp, quickly crouching by him and poking hesitantly at his stomach. When Dazai doesn’t move, only laying there faking his death- though obviously still breathing- he places the papers he had been holding onto the floor then raises his hands up to under his own chin.
“What is it this time..?” Atsushi whispers under his breath with a sigh, completely oblivious to Dazai’s internal struggle.
Ranpo decides in that moment he can’t keep watching Atsushi stare at his mentor being dramatic on the floor any more. He stands up and strolls over to the two, then crouches right by Atsushi. Atsushi meets his stare at him, tilting his head in confusion-
Ranpo leans over to whisper into his ear, “He thinks you’re adorable for calling him Nii-San.”
Atsushi blinks, “...Eh?” He gives Ranpo an odd look. “I’m… Adorable? For calling him Nii-San?”
Ranpo nods once, unwrapping a pop and sticking it in his mouth with a smile. “Yup.” He says, words now coming out muffled due to the candy in his mouth.
“But.. Is it so bad that I think of him like a brother? I think of you like a brother too..” Atsushi mumbles innocently, eyebrows furrowing as he looks back down to Dazai.
“Eh. It’s not bad- no.” Ranpo moves his hand away from the stick on his pop and places it on top of Atsushi’s head, ruffling his hair. “Your tiger ears and tail pop out when you’re flustered, by the way.” He mentions nonchalantly, scratching behind the eighteen-year old’s fluffy ears-
Atsushi immediately yelps, snapping out of the daze Ranpo had started to put him in from the petting and bringing up his hands to get Ranpo’s hand off his head as his face beams red. “I know that!” He whines, “You didn’t have to point it out… It’s embarrassing enough as is…”
“Atsushi called me Nii-San…” Dazai says suddenly, gaining both Atsushi and Ranpo’s attention whom glance down towards him.
Dazai looks to Atsushi cryptidly.
“..Ahuh..?” Atsushi huffs, poking his stomach in abrupt annoyance again the longer Dazai stares him down.
Dazai promptly pulls Atsushi down into a tight hug, ruffling his hair rapidly. Atsushi whines in complaint, unable to break free from the man’s grasp.
“Atsushi called me Nii-San! Atsushi called me Nii-San!” Dazai chants, sitting up in order to sway with Atsushi dramatically as the younger just deals with it in defeat.
Yeah, Ranpo thinks as he stands, sauntering over to his desk. They’ll be in that position for at least another thirty minutes.
....
Hehe.
//art by me! :3
