Work Text:
"Say, Chuuya."
"I'm busy ."
"I'm your Boss."
"Exactly, so you should know I'm up to my neck in work. You assigned it to me!"
"..."
"..."
"...so, riddle me this."
"Ugh, what ?!"
"On a scale from one to ten, how bad would you say Ryuu-chan is at sharing?"
"Um, it depends, I guess. Food? He literally couldn't care less. Clothes? He'd bitchslap anyone who touched anything on his wardrobe on sight, barring Gin."
"Sharing me, specifically."
"Oh, he'd go batshit for sure. Daddy's boy through and through. He allows it from Gin cause they're siblings, and he doesn't really have a choice with me, but he'd merc anyone else you gave your attention to while he's in the room. Why?"
"Mmm. Interesting."
"Dazai. Dazai, why did you ask?"
"Oh, look at the time, I have a meeting. Bye slug!"
"DAZAI DON'T YOU DARE HANG UP! WHAT ARE YOU PLOTTING? WE AGREED NO STUPID DECISIONS WHILE I'M IN FRANCE!!"
_____________________
When he'd saved the strange man from drowning, Atsushi hadn't imagined the cloud of clusterfuck he was dancing under. Sure, it was nice to have a roof over his head, dry clothes on his back and delicious food filling his too thin body, but life apparently had a way to get even, and had seen it fit to give him stress in another form.
It started, deceptively like most good decisions do, with a few bowls of chazuke and a good Samaritan willing to buy them for him.
"Fmunk 'ou!"
The man (he still hasn't said his name, and after the possibility of food had been put on the table, Atsushi hadn't cared enough to ask) smiled, chin resting over his interlocked fingers. There was no food on his side of the table, just an expensive looking glass containing an even more expensive looking liquid. It was pretty, like gold, but smelt awful to Atsushi's sensitive nose.
On the other hand, plates were piling on Atsushi's end. It was his first real meal in God knows how long (even before he left the orphanage, quality hadn't been a word he could use to describe the menus), and chazuke has always been his favorite.
"You're welcome… Atsushi-kun, was it?"
He nods between bites. A very tense waitress brings another plate over, despite them not ordering it.
That was another thing, a red flag about this stranger he might have heed had he not been on the verge of starvation. The second they entered the restaurant, the hostess had taken one look at his benefactor, went white and sat them down at the best table, stammering a welcome and offering free drinks, before excusing herself and running for what seemed to be the Manager's office. Then both came out, greeted his companion with a "it's an honor, Sir" and started bending over, backwards and in every possible direction to please them. Like this beanpole of a man, dressed impeccably in a visibly expensive suit, but with suspicious bandages peeking from under his sleeves, looking frail and helpless, was someone important -and scary.
It should have made warning alarms blare in his brain, true, but- listen. He was hungry. And whatever this dude was that scared the staff (maybe he was a politician's son or something?), he was using it to feed Atsushi. Beggars can't be choosers. This beat stealing from a passer-by, in any case.
He doesn't have the time to mourn over his newly empty plate before another one appears to replace it. Definitely worth it to have dinner with a sketchy man.
He digs right in.
"You eat more than my son", he hears his companion mutter.
He chokes on the food. The same haggard waitress appears out of thin air, glass of water at the ready.
He accepts with a grateful half bow, desperately drinking and clearing his airways to scream. "Your what?! I thought you were, like, twenty or something!"
The other hums.
"Twenty two, actually. I took him and another child in, a few years ago."
Adoption, then. Huh. Atsushi had dreamt about that multiple times. Despite the brief flash of bitter jealousy, he couldn't help but smile, thinking about a pair of happy, lucky toddlers finding their forever home.
"That's… good. I'm glad you have each other. Where are your kids now, if I can ask? Do they go to school around here?"
The man's fond smile turns a little sad. Oh god, please don't say he just put his foot on his mouth and the son is dead or something. He'd hate to make his generous benefactor relieve trauma like that.
Also, dead kids are bad. Right.
"Ah, no… they don't live with me anymore. My work is kind of… dangerous. Not appropriate for children, you see. A friend gave me an idea a few years ago, and I found them a new home, where they are cared for very well. They are thriving, and we still visit each other, it's just…"
He misses them, Atsushi can see it on his face. That sucks- for the kids and the dad. To get a family, and then have to let it go…
He still has some questions (mainly, what job would make it hard to have children? Policeman comes to mind, but there's no way an officer arriving at the restaurant would put the fear of god on the staff like this), but the waitress comes with a selection of seafood bites for them, and the subject is dropped.
It's after he lets his chopsticks down, feeling full for the first time in his life, that the brunet speaks again.
"Say, Atsushi-kun, what are your plans?"
"Plans?"
"You said you were kicked out, and that you were starving- so, no money. No papers either, probably. Judging by your… everything, you were homeschooled, and not in the correct, government approved way; so I'm guessing you don't have a high school diploma either. There's very few businesses in Yokohama that would hire someone with that kind of sketchy background. And leaving the city would be very dangerous, for you and others, considering your ability. So, how are you going to support yourself?"
It's all a very crude yet accurate recount of his precarious situation, but the bit that catches his attention -
"Ability?"
"...Oh dear."
_____________________
Twenty minutes and three different desserts later (apparently, being full doesn't include sweet chocolate cake, lemon bars and ice cream), he's very begrudgingly accepting the man's description of what abilities are, and the role they play in the world.
The part he has trouble believing is that he, somehow, is one of the very few blessed with something special like that.
"I wouldn't call it a blessing", the brunet musses, spoon distorting the words coming out of his mouth a little. The small pot of caramel mousse is the first thing he's seen the man eat since they sat down, over an hour ago now, so despite how tempting it looked, he made sure to not even hint at wanting it.
"Isn't it?"
"From what you told me about your past and how you got kicked out, I think the orphanage was aware of your ability. Their actions towards you were probably a byproduct of that. For what seems to be a highly dangerous and hardly controllable ability, I'd say you were ripped off."
It… does make sense, in hindsight.
"A tiger, huh? It's hard to believe… I never saw myself transformed or anything…"
"Well, it's early afternoon. If I'm right, and I usually am, you'll transform soon. I could record it for you."
At that, he stops.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
As far as he's thought, his lunch with the strange Samaritan was almost over. Atsushi enjoyed his presence (it was strange for him, to spend time with someone who treated him with such kindness), but he'd never want to impose himself on someone so visibly important and, probably, busy. Specially now that he had confirmed his deeply buried fear; that there's something wrong with him, that makes him dangerous to be around.
He doesn't want to hurt the first person who offered a hand and a warm meal.
As if reading his mind, the kind stranger chuckled, raising to his feet and motioning for him to follow.
"Don't worry so much, kid. I have an ability of my own- I can nullify other people's powers. You won't hurt me. But we can't say the same about the city, and it's civilians; not to mention the police department and the detective agency are probably looking for you."
Atsushi wanted to cry a little. He'd never wanted to hurt people, or cause any trouble, and now he's being hunted down because he might do so. Or had done so- he's not sure.
"I…"
"It's not your fault, though, and I'd hate for my savior to be sequestered into some government facility for experimenting or whatever nefarious plan they have for you."
He follows after the man, glancing at the way the waitress and manager bow to them as they pass, not even a squeak about paying for their food. Maybe the brunet has some sort of open tab here?
"What should I do?" He doesn't mean to whine, or sound so… childlike. But-
He's never been treated like a kid in need of protection, before. And something about this man- the way he spoke about his children, his warm smile directed at Atsushi, how he hadn't kicked him away the second the food was eaten and his 'debt' repaid- makes him want to act a little bit like that. He wonders if he'd be indulged.
"Come with me. With my ability, I'll make sure you aren't out causing mayhem, and now that you are aware of the tiger it's only a matter of time until you control it. In the meantime, you think about the future, and what you'd like to do, without worrying about food or a place to stay."
"You'll… you'll let me stay with you ?"
That… that went a little above and beyond what one might do for a perfect stranger. He'd suspect some sort of deranged intention, but the man hadn't so much as looked once below Atsushi's chin, and he has good enough instincts to tell when someone wishes him harm. He thinks.
And, well… it was either the kind stranger and food, or the streets and eventually the police (or worse).
It's not like his life could get any worse.
( He also feels a little warm inside, because his childish, foolish hope for guidance and comfort had been indulged.
It's… nice.)
"Not for free, obviously- I'm in dire need of a personal assistant at work, and you look like you could be good with paperwork. I live with someone though, even if they are away on business right now. And they are very… particular about me taking someone home, so you'll be staying one floor down."
"On another apartment? You… own more than one?"
The brunet looks at him over his shoulder. His smile isn't entirely… kind, like before, but he isn't particularly menacing either. If anything, he looks kinda smug.
"Kid. I own the entire building. In fact, I own multiple buildings."
Before he has a chance to process that morsel of information (his benefactor isn't just well off, he's disgustingly rich), the restaurant doors open for them from the outside.
A small army of men and women in black suits are standing at attention on either side of them, stopping the foot traffic of the sidewalk and making a small human hallway between them and… a very suspicious, sleek black car.
And a monocled man standing in front of the backseat door, bowed at the hip, hand over his heart, like a butler from the worst victorian movie. Because this wasn't alarming or cliched enough.
"Boss. I hope your lunch break was satisfactory. We are here to escort you back to Headquarters, if it pleases you."
Atsushi is frozen solid, one hand on the outer facade of the restaurant to support himself at the way alarm bells started blasting full volume on his head. This is how people get kidnapped, right? But- the man wouldn't - he's not-
"Mah, mah, Hirotsu-san…" he complained, strutting ahead, not a care in the world. The butler (Hirotsu?) opened the car door for him, still bowing. "I was enjoying a subordinate- free evening. Who talked?"
Without many options, Atsushi followed, keenly aware of how every suit he walked past was following him with their eyes, under the dark sunglasses.
"Tachihara-san was quiet ruffled, when you disappeared on him", the older gentleman answered, sounding the most politely admonishing he'd ever heard anyone be. "We had to ask the Intelligence department to use their access to street cameras to locate you post haste."
"Hmm… it still took you over two hours. That's unacceptable- what if I was in real trouble? Intelligence is slipping", then to Atsushi, smiling at him over his shoulder;" remind me to talk to them about it sometime tomorrow, would you?"
Not expecting to be addressed, he flinches a little. Things are sounding shadier and shadier by the second.
He still gets in the car after the man, sitting opposite of him on the limousine-like interior. No one ever taught him about stranger danger.
No one ever taught him any manners, either, but he had kinda developed those on his own, so he asked (incredibly belatedly, considering, but better late than never)-
"Just who are you, really?"
The brunet smiles. It's sharper than before, but not cruel. He'd learn, with time, that this was his standard one.
"I'm Dazai Osamu. I'll be in your care, Atsushi-kun."
_____________________
The ride was uneventful for the most part. Hirotsu-san and… Dazai-san, apparently, discussed something about some… flags? And a Piano man?, while their driver went in circles around the city. Dazai-san had said he wasn't returning to 'headquarters' today, wherever that was, but hadn't yet given specific directions, so… aimless driving it was for now.
"He insists you take Iceman into your protection detail. And since he's one of your Executives, his word…"
"-Isn't heavier than mine. I know he's only asking for one of his Flags on my entourage so he can give the Slug daily reports."
"And is that… bad?"
"It won't help the dog with his separation anxiety if we indulge him on it, Hirotsu-san."
They were talking about… animals now? Does their… organization (?) have more than one were-person?
"He only worries because you often disappear on us, Dazai-sama. Last time…"
Dazai huffs, throwing himself back against the leather seat, arms crossed, looking more like a moody teenager than the important Boss he apparently was.
He still wasn't sure what he was the Boss of , but something told him he was better off not asking. Not for now, at least. Even if the suits, obviously bullet proof car and terrified restaurant staff were starting to paint a pretty clear picture.
"It won't happen again. That's what Atsushi-kun is here for!"
His name being dropped like that catches his attention. For the last couple of minutes, he'd been steadily ignored by Hirotsu-san (not that he minds, lost as he is in thought), and the man's stare is heavy when it lays on him for the first time.
"And who might this lad be, if I'm allowed to ask, Boss?"
"You are always allowed, Hirotsu-san! This kind young man saved little old me from the cold clutches of the river-"
"River? Again, Dazai-sama? I should-"
"If you snitch to the Slug, your pay for the next five months gets cut in half."
"-mind my business."
"Exactly. As I was saying, Atsushi-kun kindly saved me, so I decided to help him with his ability issues. Can't control it, you see, so it's a matter of time until the government gets to him. Can't leave poor Atsushi to their tender mercies, right?"
"...And this has nothing to do with giving Ango-san stomach ulcers?"
"The best laid plans are always the ones with more than one payoff. So, while he learns to use it, he'll be my protege, and double as my bodyguard and assistant. You're always telling me I need to keep better track of my schedule, and I have experience training rouge Gifted."
"...of course. And where will he be staying, while you… teach him the ways?"
"Why, with me, of course! The apartment below mine should be completely furnished, and it's so close he can even help by cooking for me while my short, moody personal chef is away! Everyone wins!"
At that, the apparently unflappable man looks distinctly uncomfortable. Atsushi kinda wants to apologize, but he's also afraid of dragging attention back to himself if he opens his mouth.
"Dazai-sama, with all due respect, Nakahara-sama was very insistent that no one should be allowed in your private dwellings without proper authorization."
Dazai's smile gets a little colder, more cutting. Atsushi tilts his head, thinking this is what a skilled blacksmith sharpening a blade in real time would look like.
"Then good thing I'm authorizing it, right?"
And just like that, Nakajima Atsushi found himself suddenly employed by the most mysterious man he'd ever met.
Well. At least now he knew his name.
_____________________
He finds out about the true nature of Dazai's work three weeks after meeting the man.
It had been going- okay? Kinda? The bodyguard part is easy enough. Not a lot of people seem dumb enough to try anything on a man who's always being followed by an entourage of heavily armed subordinates, and smart enough to run circles around anyone who dared try. The two attempts he's been there to see had been easily thwarted way before reaching him and his… Charge? Boss? Mentor? So Atsushi had never been in any real danger.
Training had also been okay-ish… after a while. Dazai would sit him down and touch his arm for a few seconds so he could feel the absence of his ability, and thus be more aware of it when it came back. Then, he'd start to ask Atsushi to manifest certain tiger parts, one at a time; a claw, a leg, a tail, ears… and when he failed (because of course he did) Dazai would smile, pat him in the shoulder and said "you'll get it next time". Then, he'd take a hundred dollar bill and burn it to ashes . Right in front of Atsushi's chazuke. And then throw the ashes in the bowl and mix until the food is no longer safe to eat.
Its been, certainly, the worst torture he's ever gone through. And he had a nail hammered through his foot once. But after two thousand plus dollars had been lost, Atsushi had manifested the requested paw, in between tears. He could complain about Dazai's methods, but not his results.
So training was hell, but at least it bore results.
Trying to make that man keep a schedule? Not so much.
In the mornings, a woman named Higuchi would text him Dazai's schedule for the day (until he could get a better grasp on it himself, at least). Then, he'd prepare some breakfast (YouTube tutorials were a luxury he'd never believed was even possible before getting his first phone) and climb to the upper floor, the penthouse, to share his creations with his Boss. Dazai was always either sleepy or looking like he'd just snorted a line, there was no in between, but it was nice to get the chance to share a warm meal with someone for once, so. Whatever.
The pain came after- when he told Dazai he had a meeting with Karma (whoever Karma was), or needed to check in with a man referred to as 'Doc' (making his profession pretty obvious and his identity a disregarded detail, apparently). Or when the morning schedule was packed full of "PAPERWORK" blocks. Then, his Boss would try to throw himself out of the window or into incoming traffic.
It was scary the first six times. Now it was just exhausting.
Atsushi had learned that it was best to let Dazai know where they were going and to do what only after getting him in the car, where his range of movement was restrained and he could wrestle him into putting the seatbelt on. Also, if a man named Albatross was the one driving, his behavior improved almost magically- something about unloyal, snitching subordinates. And he would always quiet down if they drove past a red building near the port- which was weird considering there was only a small cafe, a law firm and a detective agency in there. All places Dazai shouldn't have a vested interest in.
Ah, whatever. It was useful.
So, schedule keeping? An uphill battle. Sometimes, his Boss would try to flat-out disappear- and never had he been more grateful for his cruel training than the moment where his auspiciously sprouted tiger tail appeared just in time to wrap around Dazai's middle, when he was about to disappear into a crowd.
He almost quit on the spot, but Hirotsu-san had kindly explained the system they had in their… organization (?). For every thwarted Dazai-escape, the reward was a bonus on their monthly paycheck. Atsushi hadn't even known he'd be getting paid , had considered the food, roof and ability training payment enough. And now he finds out he's gonna be getting over four digits? Yeah, no. He's gonna die on this job.
Sadly, he'll come to find out just how likely that really is.
_____________________
Attempt number three on Dazai's life was where he drew the line. The fact that it happened while the man was in a meeting, one of the few moments of the day where he wasn't standing on Dazai's left but out of the room entirely, got Atsushi's nerves in a proper twist.
Everyone he had met recently had been so… nice. Not just polite, but going out of their way to offer help, advice and kind smiles. Higuchi helped him keep track of Dazai's schedule. Hirotsu was an always calming, reliable resource to rely on when he felt lost. Tachihara had dragged him to a shooting ring (in the basement of their main office, what the…?) and showed him correct posture until his arms felt like they were about to fall off. Albatross, who he now knew was the one in charge of all of their organization's (??) vehicles kidnapped him on his one day off and taught him how to drive. Iceman, the strange, quiet man who took over whenever Atsushi's clearance level wouldn't allow him to follow the Boss somewhere, had dropped a bulletproof vest on his arms after the second attempt on Dazai's life, with a grunt of 'let me know if you need another one'.
And Dazai himself, of course. The first person to ever offer a helping hand. The one who saw Atsushi's struggles and didn't cross him off as weak and useless, but gave him a job instead. The one who stood in front of him when one of his subordinates eyed him with suspicion, and claimed Atsushi as a protegee. The one that he had breakfast and lunch with every day, who very visibly didn't seem to want to eat all that much but still powered through a few bites for Atsushi's sake.
The one who saw the sad, pathetic orphan boy, with no skills to his name and an out of control ability and said 'we can make something out of this'.
He'd received so much lately, and gave nothing in exchange. Sure, he fished Dazai out of rivers, but he was, like, thirty percent sure those weren't serious attempts. He helped keep the man's schedule, but with how smoothly everything run all the time, his presence couldn't possibly be making that much of a difference. And yeah, he was supposed to be a bodyguard too, but… what had he done all three times Dazai's life had been threatened?
Useless. He was so useless . And this people, sketchy as they were, had been so nice to him; the fact that he's been taking advantage of their hospitality for so long without properly pulling his weight kept him awake at night.
So, a full month after finding Dazai in the riverbank, on the eve of his first paycheck, he stood by the bandaged man's desk and demanded to be allowed during meetings. Because even though those were the times where he had the least security on him (on account of the room being too small to contain his usual battalion of guards), Dazai had still sent him away every time. To save Atsushi from having to face the reality of what the organization really was, afford him the bliss of ignorance.
Allowing him to be dumb and happy had been, perhaps Dazai's biggest show of kindness.
And two days ago, he paid for it with a bullet to the shoulder- a bullet Atsushi might not have been able to stop entirely, but maybe catch, what with the tiger's accelerated healing factor.
The bandaged Boss hears him as he puts all these facts on the table, chin resting over his interlocked fingers, reminding him of that evening at the restaurant. Dazai was always listening, whether or not people were talking. It wasn't always a comforting, polite thing for him to do, but it put Atsushi at ease all the same.
"Are you sure, Atsushi-kun?" He finally asks, once he stops talking. He sounds dead serious, nothing like the happy-go-lucky man he'd present himself as. "Once you know, you won't be able to go back. You'll either have to consciously remain with us, or leave. Are you ready for that kind of decision?"
He… okay. He-
"I know this… organization isn't exactly on the straight and narrow end of the law. And that you do… sticky business."
Dazai looks at him with kind condescendence. Not like he thinks he's dumb, but as if he were a child asking their parents permission to see a scary movie and was thinking how best to say 'you can't handle that'.
It's both comforting and a little humiliating. He's stuck in a limbo where he enjoys being treated as Dazai's favored protege, like a child under his care, but despises not being put to proper work because of it.
"Kid- This is far, far worse than 'sticky business'. Just the fact that you'd call it that -"
"It's because I don't know better!" He protests immediately, hearing a 'you're not ready' in Dazai's tone. "I can learn. I will learn. And even if… even if you're criminals - everyone here has treated me way better than those supposedly 'good people'."
The other man sighs, leaning back on his giant leather seat. It looks kinda like a gamer chair, and like it'd be the most comfortable thing in existence, probably to tempt its owner to use it and remain inside the office like he loathed to do.
"You've been treated like you did because you entered this place under my arm, Atsushi-kun. You didn't climb up the ranks, you skipped them entirely. Everyone you've interacted with knows better than to mess with you because of that, but make no mistakes - those in lower positions envy yours, and probably hate you for getting it with apparently no effort. And if you learn more about all- this, you will have to meet those people, work with them… I can't protect you all the time, and even if I could, I'm way too busy to. You'd need a tougher skin to deal with that."
"Then let me get callouses", he insists, swallowing down his nerves. "How can I be stronger, if you don't let me? I want to know everything that's going on, so I can be ready to protect you, and everyone here, just like you all helped me."
"Atsushi…"
"I… want to be strong, like Tachihara-kun is. Like Hirotsu-san is. Like Higuchi-san, Albatross-kun… like you. So I can stay by your shoulder at meetings, to protect you during them, and no one could question my right to be there. I want… I want to save you, like you saved me."
Dazai stays silent for a while. He's eyeing him strangely, like he's both laser-focused and far away into his own mind at the same time.
"You are just like Ryuu, huh", he mutters, a bitter smile on his pale lips.
Finally, he sighs again, and stands up. Motions for Atsushi to follow him.
And just like he did during the evening at the restaurant, he does.
_____________________
Dazai tells him the tale of a tired teacher and his plan to keep Yokohama safe. Of a three way system, formed by the government, the detectives and the Mafia, functioning as the city's will, shield and sword.
Of a shrewd man, smart but cruel, loyally working for that system and using whichever means he could to achieve it. A doctor, using his scalpel to kill instead of save.
Of a young orphan kid, taken into the fold as a witness and kept around for his brilliance. That same boy, doing whatever abhorrent task that was asked of him with no hesitance and even less remorse. Working and committing crimes when he should have been doing calculus homework and learning semantic compositions.
Of that boy, bringing another one. Dragging others into the dark hole he found himself in, thinking 'misery loves company' as an excuse. Discarding subordinates like wet paper, uncaring about the future of the Mafia beyond what it could do for him and his desire to end it all.
Of that same boy, making friends. Getting closer to the one he brought in. Wondering if these warm feelings were what normal humans felt.
Of meeting his kids.
That's where the story ends, but Atsushi can fill in the rest himself. The boy, realizing something had to change, if he wanted to keep those warm bonds alive. The kids, sent away for protection, because their dad was in a too-high position, one he couldn't leave without making the Three Way system crumble like a Jenga tower, putting the city (and everyone in it) in danger.
A new Boss. A new way of doing things.
A protege he tried to keep in the dark- or, rather, in the light.
While Dazai talked, their steps took them to the lowest levels. They had to take three different lifts and a hidden set of stairs, to an underground room even further from the top than the training space Tachihara had dragged him to. Screams echoed through the stone walls, filtering through the cells' bars, and splatters of blood stained every surface around them.
Torture dungeons, a little like the one he occupied in the orphanage, except this one was meant for multiple people.
"I'm not a good man, Atsushi-kun. I'm good to you, because I like you and I think you have a lot of potential, but that doesn't erase everything I've done. A judge would have to spend an entire working day just going through the list of all the crimes I've committed, and not all of those were in the name of the good of the Mafia. I've stolen, blackmailed, tortured, killed- just to name a few. Old people, young people, really young people. Men, women, children. I've done things I'm not proud of, and a lot that I am. Everyone you've met is the same, though to a lesser degree. We are all fucked up people, doing what we can to keep our fucked up loved ones safe."
Atsushi kinda wants to puke, the scent of blood almost overwhelming all around him. He gathers himself and breathes.
Dazai isn't looking at him, going back to the lift. They go to another room, on a different side or the building altogether- he hasn't realized just how big headquarters is. Holy shit.
"This is the armory - I've usen every type of weapon here at least once. I've hurted a lot of people, and not every time was it justified. I'm trying to do better, to make the Mafia a place where occasional specks of light can live, but it'll always be dark and cruel, even if I succeed."
For the first time since this little trip started, the Boss turns to look at Atsushi. He looks frail under the white lights of the room, dark circles under his eyes, thin and covered in bandages, and yet- despite all his instincts screaming to protect this man, he knows he's probably the most dangerous creature to haunt the night.
If Atsushi is a beast under the moonlight, Dazai is the horror that prowls away from it, in the darkest corners of every room.
He's-
"My predecessor fancied himself the Mafia's servant, its knife" he says, as he raises a black dagger from a nearby rack. "I'm not like that. I'm not the blade, I'm the one wielding it- and I'll use every resource available to me. I'll cheat, torture, kill- whatever it takes. To protect the city and the ones I care about residing in it."
He swallows, thick and a little scared despite himself. Still, Dazai's eyes aren't cruel or filled with bloodlust. He just looks tired but determined. He's still the man who offered Atsushi a place to live, no strings attached.
"You can leave", he says, as if reading Atsushi's mind. "I planned for it. The Armed Detective Agency has an open spot, if you want to take it. The President has an ability that could help you control yours, and the government can't touch you if you're there. You could be on the side of the light. But if you choose to stay…"
He stills for a while, studying Atsushi, probably reading into his eyes even more than he himself is aware of.
Spinning the dagger in his hand, he holds it out for Atsushi, hilt first, careless fingers nicking as he holds the blade, pointed towards himself. Trust and duty bending together in a simple gesture.
"... If you stay, then you become another weapon in my arsenal. I'll use you as I see fit, for the good of the organization and Yokohama. I won't push you too far, as Mori would have done -there's little use to chipped blades- but you will be doing things you are far too kind to feel comfortable doing. I'll send you out to intimidate people, to hurt them. You'll be mostly acting as my bodyguard, protecting me, but sometimes you'll have to kill to do it."
Leave, Dazai's eyes scream under his stern facade. Don't fall into this pit, he warns.
Don't follow me into the darkness, he begs.
To give him a little credit, Atsushi does think on it. Wonders about the future, ponders his options.
For a little over ten seconds.
He grabs the knife, and bends down on one knee in the same smooth motion.
"Please, let me stay, Dazai-san. No, Boss."
Because Atsushi is, at heart, still a lost, lonely orphan. After spending countless nights wishing for a family, he won't just leave behind the first one who welcomed him into their fold. Even if it's not yet his, he'll earn his place.
"Well, if that's what you want… Welcome to the Port Mafia, Nakajima Atsushi."
He's not joining them for the glory, the danger, or the money. He's doing it to protect his family.
.
.
.
(Well, maybe a little bit for the money, too)
_____________________
Somewhere far away, a young detective stops on the sidewalk on the way to his next assignment. His coat flutters around his shins, restless.
A dark haired girl, mask covering half her face, stops a few steps ahead and looks over her shoulder, head tilted to the side.
"...?"
"Something just happened."
"...?"
"Something about Father."
"...?"
"Let's stop by the zoo on the way back."
"...?"
"I have this strange urge to curse at a tiger."
"...!?"
_____________________
"Chuuu~ya!"
"Fucking finally! What the fuck is going on over there? Piano man said you refused to let him appoint a bodyguard for you- fuck you very much for that, by the way."
"I can't condone Chuuya's toxic helicopter partner behavior."
"I'M YOUR FUCKING SECOND IN COMMAND, FUCKWARD, I NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"Well! You'll be happy to know I took care of that!"
"...By now I should know better than to ask, but what the fuck do you mean by that?"
"I hired a bodyguard! All on my own! Aren't you so proud of me Chuuya?"
"Say what?"
"Now your workload will be reduced, just like you asked! Atsushi-kun will be with me at all hours, and even when you're out on overnight assignments he'll be close by, considering he lives in our building and-"
"You fucking- hired someone without me screening them? And you have them living on the same fucking place?! Did you at least do a background check?!"
"One floor under our apartment, to be precise, yes. And no, that's not my job, silly! I think Higuchi said something about Intelligence warning her of a sketchy orphanage, so I figured I'd let you do some deeper digging when you got back. I know all I need to know about him."
"And you did all this… While I'm off the country?!"
"Chuuya needs to be a less controlling partner. Being my right hand man slash friend doesn't mean you can make decisions for me, you know. Or that you get to choose who I hire."
"IT DOES WHEN ITS LITERALLY MY JOB TO KEEP YOU SAFE!"
"Well, it's perfectly safe! Atsushi's been there and ready to help for two of the last three assassination attempts -"
"Ex-fucking-cuse me?!"
"-and he's been very quick to drag me out of rivers-"
"Again? Dazai I swear to God -"
"-so, there's nothing for Chuuya to worry about! Tachihara is even teaching him how to shoot!"
"You mean he didn't know how to before?! And he's been in charge of your safety?! While I'm not there?!?"
"Yes, isn't it great? He's learning so fast."
"... Fucking- let me see if I'm understanding this correctly."
"Good idea to check, considering your tiny brain probably has trouble keeping up with all this new information."
"Fuck off. So… you found this kid… somewhere-"
"He very cruelly kept me from death, but he looked really pitiful, so I took him to lunch. 'sides, he has that ability we've heard about, the tiger? I knew as soon as he grabbed my arm. It was a matter of time until Ango got to him."
"...right. So this kid saw you trying to kill yourself and saved your sorry ass. You figured 'I can ruin Ango's day with this' and decided to keep him. And despite not knowing shit about him, and that he has no formal training to speak of, you made him your bodyguard and let him live one fucking floor under. Without any other security, since you don't let the guards I left behind do their fucking jobs."
"It's such an invasion of privacy, I never have guards at my door when you're here."
"BECAUSE - Because I'm your guard when I'm there. Fucker."
"Chuuya thinks very highly of himself for someone so close to the ground."
"I'll put you on the ground! Idiot! This is beyond stupid, this is plain suicidal!"
"...you do remember who you're talking to, right?"
"I- you- damn-!"
" Relax , will you? Atsushi-kun is literally harmless. I swearsies."
"...Why wasn't I fucking informed of this?!?!"
"Cause I figured you'd fly yourself back here without completing your assignment if you found out about this before I swore Atsushi in, so I made sure no one snitched to you or the most loose lipped Flags. Also, remind me to give Albatross his own plane as a reward for being such a good sport about some light betrayal to you."
"Albatross is a fucking trai/ wait. What do you mean, before you swore him in? How long was this kid working for you without even being part of the Mafia? When did this virtual stranger pledge himself to you?"
"Like… an hour and a half ago."
"..."
"..."
"... OSAMU DAZAI-"
"Bye Slug!"