Chapter Text
Nakajima Atsushi was one of the members of The Decay of Angels. Nikolai told him it was because he fit the aesthetic: white hair, mismatched eyes and a “monstrous” past. It was odd at first for him, because everyone had the file of his time at the Orphanage while he didn’t know anything about other members.
However, Sigma stole it as Fyodor ordered him. So, he barely existed outside of those wrenched walls. Fake ID and a fake past were the first principles to keep working in the organisation.
He was living in an apartment, far away from Yokohama, but at the same time, he had the connections and the tunnels at his disposal if he encountered problems. Nikolai and Sigma lived with him. They had different bedrooms, and Sigma was more in the Casino than in their house in general. Atsushi was used to being alone and the loneliness didn’t hurt him anymore. Especially because teaching Sigma how to do everything, even cooking, made him feel like he was useful. Nikolai was a nerd in the most concerning way (which was endearing), and he was quite a poet sometimes.
Between Fyodor and Nikolai, they usually recited literature quotes or books they had read. However, he was the same as Sigma. It was new for him. He didn’t even finish his school, so he was trying to complete his education online. Nikolai had enrolled him somewhere, but he didn’t know how.
He barely knew how to use a phone, less a computer. But he was doing fine. Primary and secondary school were overlapping in the subjects. Atsushi wasn’t that stupid, he was a member of the Angels because of his ability. Byakko was a supernatural deity, (almost like a god, almost immortal; they were still studying it or that was what Fedya said at the start of the year.)
The man was in prison, alone, and Atsushi had the urge to visit him, but he couldn’t do it. Especially because he was a wanted man too. He didn’t have friends at all, Nikolai and Sigma were busy, they had different missions and his partner had the casino. He offered to work there once, but Fedya didn’t let him. He was a recluse. No one knew about him. That was why he spent his time studying the profile of the Agency and Port Mafia; there were interesting people with great abilities whom he had to be careful around.
“My dear Atsushi-kun, where are you?” Nikolai’s voice boomed in the living room while Atsushi was having his classes. He didn’t need to turn on the camera, the professor said it was fine for her. It was suspicious, but every person he encountered was suspicious. Eating his chipped nails, he corrected the theories of natural science the woman was teaching him.
The man found him, opened a portal in his room, and perched on the door inspected him with a silly smile on his face. Atsushi groaned and waved his hand at him. “Can you bring me something to eat?”
“Everything for you, my dear!” Nikolai answered quickly and disappeared from the place. He chuckled from the endearments.
The professor was still correcting his documents when in a fluid movement a white-gloved hand dropped a bag of cookies on his desk and he shook the hand with gratitude. Nikolai was such a character. Lately, he was saying that he wished to kill Fedya, but Atsushi didn’t believe it one bit.
There was a photograph near his bed with the four of them. Sigma and Fedya were sporting a serious pose, while Nikolai and he were making silly faces to the camera. It was the only reminder that he existed and the people around him were living and breathing. Fedya’s room was empty, but he often found himself sitting on the bed or playing absentmindedly with a Nintendo the man bought for him.
When the class ended, he trotted with his keen sense of smell to the kitchen because Nikolai was cooking or eating something or doing both. He was the only one who used casual clothes, white linen, white cotton shirts or darker colours. They were neutral and he wished for colourful clothes, but seeing it online without wearing them was just downright awful.
His cat slippers were the most endearing stuff about him, probably, if he didn’t count the killings he had over his shoulders. “I have an idea! Could we go shopping?” Atsushi questioned with a glee in his eyes, and Nikolai hummed a tune without glancing at him. He was making bland noodles, but had a special sauce that he liked to joke was blood.
Placing a finger on his chin, Nikolai's smirk wasn’t lost on him. “Fedya will get mad, and he will know, because he knows everything. But we can! We can do it! Also, bring Sigma with us.” He wasn't sure about the Sigma bit because the man was working, so he winced a little but nodded after his co-worker plated the pasta with the most utter gentleness he could muster.
He never went to a shopping centre. He had only seen them on the TV and in magazines, but it seemed that Nikolai had plenty of knowledge. The man moved with a fluidity and confidence in him he would never have. Atsushi was calm, no one outside the organisation knew his real face. His name was the only thing on that orphanage file.
As he was so excited, he put on his best clothes which weren’t the best aesthetically, but at least they were clean and Sigma bought him (one day) out of nowhere sunglasses and a dark beret. He was going to use it.
Nikolai was wearing a formal suit (he usually did things like that) in grey patterns. At least, he didn’t attract much attention with the darker colours. He was bouncing on his feet when the man used his coat to cover their bodies and his ability made them appear in a shopping centre.
The shimmering lights and the thousands of shops inside made him clap instantly. He pointed his fingers over some clothes, and Nikolai giggled impatiently, moving his body side-to-side. “It’s huge!” Atsushi exclaimed, while the different smells and flavours mixed in his nose. There were beautiful people too, walking down the aisles, hanging with friends. The space was full of good mood and happiness. It felt nice.
He inspected every single person in the mall and decided to buy ice-creams for Mykola and him when he saw children doing it. Fedya gave him a good salary, but in turn, he had to dedicate his life to the organisation which wasn’t the most savage thing someone requested for him.
Nothing was lost on his partner's radar, but he seemed at ease with too many people. His height added to the elegance which flowed through him, and some girls watched him with rapid attention. Atsushi snickered to himself and started slurping the strawberry ice cream. It was glorious.
He had eaten ice cream with his co-workers, but doing it freely, in an unguarded place, while having Mykola as company was the first time. “We should buy for Sigma too, right?” Atsushi questioned the man with a raised eyebrow and Nikolai nodded with hurried gestures of his hands.
“Nako-kun, is that you?” A quiet voice snapped him and he turned around quickly. Nikolai wasn’t there anymore, he was alone and he felt a rising panic when he heard his fake name uttered by someone.
It was Poe. His literature teacher. The man was dressed formally and was even taller in person, with the racoon at his shoulders like when he explained his lessons. “Oh, hello! I am sorry. I didn’t notice you.” His tiger was always alert, but he supposed being with a lot of people was a glitch in his ability.
Behind him, there was another man with casual clothes that looked too much like a detective, brownish pants and a beret too. He thought he was playing with costumes, but it seemed he was wrong.
His eyes glanced from one man to another, but Poe chatted with him amicably. The other stranger didn’t even introduce himself. However, his inquisitive green eyes were on him and Atsushi felt embarrassed by that.
“If you have any doubt, you can email me. But I think you are brilliant, Nako-kun.” Poe stated kindly and his little pet jumped on his arms. Atsushi had to hang on the clothes again and cooed gently to the animal. It was really cute and he always wanted to touch him.
One thing was hearing compliments over a computer and with distance, but another thing was hearing compliments in real life with a shortened distance between them. Atsushi blinked a few times and thanked him for everything. Poe was a strict, but caring professor. His eyes flickered to the other side of the mall where Nikolai was waving at him, but instantly he smiled at his teacher.
“Come on, Poe! They sell the latest sweets there and you owe me!” The stranger interrupted them with pouted lips and folded arms over his chest. His tone was childish, but Atsushi knew the man was older than him.
“—... I don’t owe you anything, Ranpo-kun! I bought you a lot of candy this weekend!” Poe yelled and made an awkward bow to him after grabbing the man’s arm and guiding him to the store.
Ranpo scanned him briefly before walking again, and he put on his glasses. Atsushi never betrayed any expression on his face, he just waved at him with consideration and he decided to keep checking the clothes. They were casual: t-shirts, shorts, kawaii pastel colours everywhere. Some minutes later, he decided to join Nikolai who was still waiting for him with a grin on his face and his gaze seemed maniacal. His gloved hands were in his pockets.
“Edogawa Ranpo. The Detective from the Agency. Edgar Allan Poe, my professor, but he was from another organisation.” Atsushi spoke bluntly and Mykola's smile was filtered with a layer of murderous intentions.
“I told Fedya you studied all of their profiles!” Nikolai petted his head like he was a little child. (He was, to them, probably. Having sixteen years old inside of one of the most dangerous organisations wasn't a goal on his bucket list, but he had to start somewhere.)
“We should get going. We don’t need cautious glances our way.” The man said firmly and took his hand to make him walk to a more isolated place of the mall which they couldn’t find, but an alley would suffice for a little moment. More like a few seconds with Mykola’s ability.
He didn’t want to leave, because he was enjoying his time, but they had rules. They were terrorists, as Sigma said, and those words made his mood sour. He couldn’t (didn’t) want another life for him. No one showed him more kindness and honesty than his three friends. Fortunately, when they arrived at their home, their apartment was quiet but lively. Sigma was listening to a song on the radio, even though Atsushi explained to him that music platforms existed and they have a diversity of music.
However, he showed him the clothes he bought and also the ice cream. Sigma was enthusiastic, even if he usually said he was the only normal person between them. (Which was false. Atsushi was a teenager with aspirations, thank you very much.)
“I met their youngest member today.” Ranpo chirped flippantly in the meeting. Dazai was also there, enjoying the latest gossip Naomi was telling him. The man smirked and snorted after hearing him.
“How young are we talking about?” Kunikida asked him. Fukuzawa was organising the papers on his desk, but he was cautious with the sounds.
“About fifteen-sixteen years old.” Ranpo continued, relaxing on the chair and Dazai got closer to him with both hands framing his face. His eyes were gleaming.
“Oh my god! He is probably so lovely.” Dazai dreamily said with fluttering eyelashes.
The other took a photo out of his pocket and threw it on the table for everyone to see. Nakajima Atsushi was in the photograph, with short white uneven hai which framed his face adorably like Dazai described, mismatched yellowish, golden eyes and a pearl earring hanging in one of his ears.
Kyoka inspected it for a few moments and her cheeks flushed red, especially after the teasing from Dazai. “We will investigate this young man in depth. We don’t have communication with Dostoevsky, but now we know his organisation is still active.”