Chapter Text
Chuuya finds out about his brother on a normal day
Or as normal as possible in the mafia
A few months after the events that marked him forever, where his brother killed his friends, the existential crisis he had about his own humanity, his partnership with Adam, his frankly traumatic time in the lab, his fight where he used the monster inside him and won.
It's also his choice to make the mafia his family.
After all that, he had to find his new "normal" as an executive and, in the second half of Soukoku, he was given more tasks besides jewel smuggling, destroyed enemy mafia organizations (which made him happy) with dazai (which didn't make him happy) and also commanded a huge team of subordinates on various missions.
When he's not working, he hangs out with dazai a lot, not that he likes spending time with him or anything, it's just that dazai is the only one who can challenge him to a game, from the arcade to ridiculous challenges (in which he's sure dazai always cheats!).
Dazai also has the annoying habit of breaking into his apartment (he still hasn't figured out how) for even more annoying things, such as: stealing his food or, even worse, trying to cook it, playing very childish or very cruel games, playing video games or simply watching a movie with him.
When he's not with Dazai, he drinks tea with Kouyou and makes a point of seeing her whenever possible, even though he's no longer her "protégé", he goes out with his subordinates from time to time and trains when he's not drinking his wines.
In other words, he has a life he enjoys, it's chaotic and sometimes painful (when he visits his friends' graves, when his subordinates die under his command, when he rarely gets hurt), but he loves it.
He doesn't think about Paul Verlanie
Okay, he does, but he does his best to avoid it
When the boss asks him to stay after he and dazai confirm an attack on an organization that has been a headache for the mafia lately, he doesn't think about his brother
-Chuuya-kun, I'll be as brief as possible - says Mori with his usual smile - I want you to know that Paul Verlanie is alive and currently in the mob's basement, he's with us again - after making his statement in a low voice as if he were talking about the weather, Mori observes his reaction carefully
Chuuya's eyes widen, but less than a second later, he is expressionless.
The room falls silent as Chuuya absorbs the information
-Are you sure he's loyal? - I ask after a few seconds of silence
- Ah, yes... I'm sure, he's training the new recruits now... The results are formidable - Mori speaks calmly while observing every inch of him
-I haven't seen him... How come I haven't found him yet? - I ask, still not knowing what to make of this information
He's alive
He's alive
Do I want him to be alive?
- Verlanie doesn't want to leave the cellar... Since we found him, he hasn't left," says Mori and then finally looks away from him, "I'll be honest, Chuuya-kun, I put off telling you because I didn't know how I was going to act... Is everything all right? - Mori asks, looking at him with a little concern in her eyes
- I... I'm fine, boss - I say after another silence - Is that it? - I ask, keeping my face expressionless.
- "Yes, you can go now," Mori says with a smile.
As I leave the room, I lean against the wall and take a deep breath, my emotions conflicting with each other.
A noise catches my attention, it's Dazai leaning against the wall at the end of the corridor, looking at me with that indecipherable look, clearly waiting for me.
- So he told you? - Dazai, I ask, although I clearly already know the answer
I approach him angrily and grab his collar, pinning him against the wall, his back is pounding, but I don't care if it hurts him - you bastard! Did you know? And you didn't think to tell me? - I ask, unable to contain my anger
- I suspected - Dazai speaks coldly without seeming bothered by the brutality, but then his eyes soften, something so small that if Chuuya hadn't known him he wouldn't have noticed - but when I saw you, I was sure
I looked at him intensely and, for a few moments, we just stared at each other. When I was sure he wasn't lying, I let him go and crossed my arms.
-Anything, even if you knew, you wouldn't tell me, would you? - I asked bitterly, remembering the times he had intentionally withheld information - Dazai... Do you think he'll betray the mafia?
Dazai thinks for a moment and then shakes his head - he won't betray the mafia - Dazai speaks firmly - so slug... What are you going to do? -He asks, looking at me curiously
- Do? I'm not going to do anything," I say, looking away.
Dazai hums without further question, then puts his hands in his pockets and gives him an indifferent look —there's a new game I want to play, in case you want to miss it today
-Ah!? What do you mean, lose? I won the last one suicidal maniac! - I speak indignantly but a little confused by Dazai's abrupt invitation.
Dazai smiles sideways - well... Come on, dog.
-I'm not your dog! - As I follow him, I feel a sense of relief at not having to think about Paul for a while or what to do
Hold on
Did Dazai do that to distract you?
No
Dazai is never nice
- Why did you stop walking chibi? Did that hat eat your little brain? - Dazai asks, arching an eyebrow
-Nothing bastard! - I walk faster, trying to hide my smile
He can think about Paul Verlanie later