Work Text:
1.
Kunikida Doppo is a man who has rules, who lives by his ideals. And yet, he's just a man.
"How can you be so cruel?" Kunikida tries to ignore the whining voice as he walks up to his desk.
"I'm not cruel, you're just unprofessional" he says. In response he hears even more whining.
"What happened?" Atsushi asks, not able to avoid his older colleagues quarrel, sitting at the desk close to them.
"Kunikida interrupted me, just when I was going to ask a beautiful lady to commit double suicide with me, can you believe it?" Dazai starts complaining. As soon as Atsushi realizes this is about Dazai's love conquests, he visibly loses the interest.
"Why do you have to be so mean, Kunikida? Are you against true love?" Dazai turns his attention back to the blond man. A small, teasing smile appears on his lips, the one that always preludes trouble. "Or are you jealous?"
Kunikida huffs with annoyance, rolling his eyes "I'm not jealous, I just don't think flirting during a case is appropiate."
Dazai isn't convinced though, having already chosen to tease Kunikida as much as he can. "Oooh, you are jealous. You shouldn't be, you're handsome, you could probably charm any woman if you wanted to" Dazai starts talking, getting closer and closer to Kunikida's desk. He stops in his tracks and looks at the blond man, who supresses a shiver when he sees the mischievous glint in the brown eyes. "Maybe you just don't know how."
Kunikida crosses his arms on his chest defensively. "I know how, Dazai, it's just that I choose not to during work."
Dazai acts like he doesn't hear a single word. "Don't worry, Kunikida, I'll teach you."
"I'd rather you didn't." But it's pointless, Dazai is already sitting opposite Kunikida.
"First, you have to get close" And so, Dazai gets closer, their knees touching under the desk. "Then, the most important thing is eye contact. After all, they say eyes are a window to one's soul."
Kunikida knows this saying and thinks about it every time he catches himself looking in Dazai's eyes. And he catches himself doing this way too often to his own liking.
But he doesn't really have any choice now, so he stares back at Dazai, who's observing him carefully. The brown eyes are watching him with intense attention. It's terribly easy to get lost in them.
Dazai's eyes – just like Dazai in general – are hauntingly fascinating and hauntingly beautiful. Their brown color is warm but they can turn cold and emotionless in mere seconds. It makes Kunikida cherish the moments when they're sincere, inviting, shining. Right now there's a hint of mischief in his gaze, yet Kunikida also finds something else which is hard to name. Dazai's eyes are hiding many secrets, some of them will probably never get revealed. It doesn't stop Kunikida from wanting to know them, from searching for answers.
He doesn't know how long they stare at each other like that, but he thinks there's something more in Dazai's gaze now, more than just teasing.
"You need to get closer–" he repeats, leaning in Kunikida's direction. His voice is more quiet now, husky. His elbow is propped on the desk, his head on his hand. "–and initiate the contact."
Kunikida has only a second to wonder what that means, before Dazai's other hand is on his neck. Two of his fingers trace a line there, then move to his jaw, tentalizingly slow. Kunikida hopes his expression is neutral, but he feels his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He has a suspicion Dazai can see through him.
Dazai's moves are confident, sure, experienced. He knows what he's doing. The teasing smirk is gone from his face, something unreadable appears instead. His eyes pierce through Kunikida, making him feel like an open book.
His fingers make their way to Kunikida's chin, propping it. He leans closer, once again, eyes never leaving Kunikida's. These eyes are going to be his doom. Full of secrets, full of tricks, shining with a promise of making Kunikida feel in a certain way and he knows he would let it happen.
"And then..." Dazai is close, so close Kunikida can feel his breath on his lips when he whispers "you ask her if she's interested in commiting double suicide with you."
The playful smile is back on Dazai's face as he leans back in his chair, laughing. Kunikida stays frozen in his seat, not able to move, feeling his face heating.
"Are you alright, Kunikida?" Shit. The kid is still here. He forgot about him. To be honest, he forgot about everything.
Atsushi's nervous gaze is on him. Dazai raises a brow, something in his eyes not letting Kunikida calm down.
Kunikida clears his throat, ignoring the fact that his cheeks are probably red. "Don't you two have work? Then get back to it."
Dazai sighs, getting up from his seat. "Always the work, always so responsible" he mutters. Then he looks over his shoulder and winks, shameless and proud of himself. "If you need any more advice, just let me know."
Kunikida watches him leave trying to get his breath back. He can't stop thinking that he saw something more in Dazai's eyes, not just the usual foolery. Maybe one of his secrets.
He shakes his head slightly trying to focus on anything else. Kunikida needs to stop. He can't let it become a problem.
2.
Kunikida is checking his schedule when he notices Dazai appearing beside him. They are standing in front of an abandoned warehouse, the criminal they've just caught still inside, tied and waiting for the arrival of the police.
Dazai is whistling quietly, carefree. "Are we on time with everything?" he asks, breaking the silence. His tone is playful, his intention for sure being annoying Kunikida, not real interest.
"We're not, solely because of you" Kunikida answers, closing his notebook and turning to face Dazai. "If you didn't–"
He wants to give him a lecture about how they almost got to the place too late just because Dazai got lost, but he abruptly stops.
All this time, Dazai has been twirling a pair of handcuffs on his fingers, seemingly mindlessly. And yet, the motion causes Kunikida to stop in his tracks, mind fixating on the sight.
Dazai's hands are slim, fingers long and thin. Kunikida knows how cruel they can be, how much damage they can cause. It doesn't make him turn away his gaze though, it never does.
He briefly wonders how these hands would feel in a different, softer scenario – like how they would feel in his hair or on his face, how it would feel to interwine his fingers with Dazai's, how it would feel to hold his hand.
But there is something exciting about how clever, how skilled Dazai's hands probably are. Kunikida wouldn't be the first to admit that, yet it makes him wonder what kind of tricks Dazai knows, what would these hands do to him if he just let them. And there is a small part, deep inside, that would let them gladly.
Would they be teasing, would they be greedy, or would they slowly take care of him, comforting until suddenly striking, depriving Kunikida of any control he had left?
The clatter of handcuffs causes Kunikida's mind to once again wander in another direction. He imagines those pale hands handcuffed, writhing. He also sees brown eyes looking up at him compliantly, then a smirk, teasing, changing the scenario into the one where Kunikida is wearing the handcuffs and–
"What were you going to say?"
Kunikida can only hope his face isn't bright red as there's no way to hide from Dazai's gaze. Brown eyes are staring at him with curiosity, making Kunikida turn away.
"That you should be more responsible" he says finally, clearing his throat. He knows Dazai is raising his brow doubtfully, but the police car is approaching and thank god, because Kunikida needs to get himself busy with something else than Dazai.
Why would he ever think about such things? Most of them aren't even written in his notebook. But that's the thing with Dazai – he never makes anything obvious or simple.
3.
"You seem very tense, Kunikida."
"Maybe because we're on a mission and need to stay focused."
He hears a snort in response. Kunikida looks beside him to see Dazai, visibly relaxed, looking like he's just where he should be.
They are supposed to gain information and catch a rich criminal bastard. That's why they're at some fancy party for other rich bastards. Kunikida isn't very happy about it but it's work. Dazai, on the other hand, blends in the place amazingly well. He is wearing a black, elegant suit which fits him just right and covers the bandages. There's a polite smile on his lips when he nods to the guests and only Kunikida notices the playful edge to it.
"Yes, but we need to act like we belong here. Relax or you're going to look suspicious."
Kunikida tries to relax his shoulders, taking a deep breath. He keeps his gaze focused on the middle aged man on the other side of the room. They are here to catch their target, that's all. They don't have time to lose focus or have fun or–
"We should dance" Dazai says. Kunikida turns his eyes to look at the man who is apparently going crazy.
"What?"
"You know, to blend in." Dazai shrugs, like it's obvious.
"We're on a mission, Dazai. And our target–"
"Our target is on the dancefloor. It will be easier to keep an eye on him like that." Well. This is a rational explanation, but Kunikida doesn't move, still reluctant about the idea. "Come on, let's have some fun at least."
"It's work, Dazai, it's not supposed to be fun" Kunikida tries arguing but there's a hand gripping his arm suddenly and pulling him between other dancing pairs. Then, one of Kunikida's hands is arranged on Dazai's shoulder blade, the other interwines with Dazai's. He doesn't really have any other choice than to move as the music starts playing.
The teasing and triumphant smile never leaves Dazai's face as they dance. Dazai moves smoothly, gracefully, definitely more confident in what he's doing, but letting Kunikida lead at the same time.
"I didn't know you could waltz" Kunikida says genuinely.
"Impressed?" Dazai raises his brow, shining with pride.
"Can't say I'm not" Kunikida admits. Dazai's expression softens into something different than the playful one, maybe even a bit coy.
Kunikida knows he's staring at Dazai when he should be staring at their target, but they are so close and he feels physically impossible to turn away.
And so, he stares.
The man is slim, bony even, yet strong. His waist is narrow. He's a bit shorter than Kunikida. Kunikida wonders sometimes how would it feel to hold Dazai in a tight embrace. Would he lean into his touch, wrap his own hands around Kunikida? Would he rest his head on Kunikida's shoulder and sigh, happy and relaxed? Would he let him just hold him like that, because sometimes it's all Kunikida can think about?
They move to the tune together and somehow it gets easier now, they work as well as always. Kunikida looks up to find out the smirk is gone from Dazai's face, instead there's this unreadable expression and eyes looking at him with curiosity. Kunikida looks back, studying his face.
Dazai is built with sharp edges, sharp enough that it's easy to cut and hurt yourself if you get too close. Kunikida realizes he wouldn't really mind. If he could just trace that sharp line of Dazai's jaw with his fingers, he would do it, even if there was blood shed.
He lowers his gaze, just a bit, and it lands on Dazai's neck, his visible skin above the bandage. Dazai streches his neck, perhaps to look over Kunikida's shoulder, and Kunikida's mind focuses on the fact how pale the skin there is. Would he shiver if Kunikida stroked his fingers over his pulse? Would he gasp if he brushed his lips there? Would he want him to leave marks? They would probably show up easily and stay there for days, as a proof, as evidence–
Kunikida feels like he's going to trip. However, he knows he's dancing with Dazai and Dazai won't let him trip. At least not until he wants him to.
The blond man looks back at Dazai and can't help but notice that his eyes drift to his lips from time to time. It's not like Kunikida's any better, not when these pink parted lips are distracting him.
He clears his throat at the same time Dazai opens his mouth to speak. "Kunikida–"
The song ends.
They stay close to each other and just for a second the only thing Kunikida can hear is his own heartbeat. However, nothing lasts forever.
"–the target" he hears.
"What?"
"He left this way" Dazai says and finally steps away from Kunikida, already moving in the direction he pointed. Kunikida tries to quickly recover, snap out of this weird trance and reminds himself what they're actually here for.
He goes after Dazai, feeling something missing. Like a big part of his thoughts, of his feelings broke off and left, leaving a hole after itself.
Kunikida has some idea what, or rather who, could fill it. But now, he has work to do.
+1
"My, my, the world must be ending."
That's the first thing that Kunikida hears that isn't just buzzing or muffled. Then, he feels a finger prob at his arm, so he tries to shrug it off. When it doesn't stop, he moves his hand to smack it away and that's the moment he realizes he's laying on his desk. Kunikida sits back up immediately, which causes his head to dizzy. He blinks a few times, fixes his glasses. He rubs at his neck, sore from the position and tries to figure out what's going on. Kunikida's gaze lands on Dazai, who's leaning on his desk.
"I never thought I would ever see you asleep in work."
"I fell asleep?"
"About fifteen minutes ago. Everyone else has left already."
"And you didn't wake me up?" Kunikida furrows his brows. Dazai just shrugs indifferently.
"Well, I needed to be sure if what I'm seeing is real. But now that you're awake we can call it a day and go home."
"You go, I need to finish these reports. I'd rather just do them here."
"Can't that wait?"
"I was supposed to finish them two days ago, but... I don't know, I couldn't fit it in the schedule" Kunikida sighs looking back at the files on his desk. He rubs his eyes. He hates unfinished work just as much as he hates to break his schedule. So he needs to have it done finally, despite how tired he is.
"How long is it going to take?"
"An hour, maybe."
"And how long would it take if two people did them?" Kunikida looks at Dazai, visibly confused. Dazai rolls his eyes and explains "Just give me half of the reports. I will do them and then we'll be out sooner."
Kunikida must still be dreaming. There's no other explanation why Dazai would voluntarily do more work than he's supposed to. "It's not your job, Dazai" Kunikida says after a moment of astonishment.
"I'm very aware of that. Now, just give me the files and stop complaining before I change my mind." The bandaged man reaches out to take the documents and Kunikida is too schocked to do anything else than giving him them.
Dazai sits at the opposite desk and immediately gets to work, none of his usual procrastination or complaining noticeable. Kunikida stares at him for a moment, not believing what he's seeing, then he gets to his own work.
They finish the reports quicker like that and they're done in thirty minutes.
"Thank you for your help" Kunikida says taking the files back from Dazai. "I owe you a favor"
"I guess you do" Dazai says light-heartedly, then turns his gaze away. Kunikida notices him lick his lips, like with hesitation, before asking "Do you wanna go for a walk? We can go through the park and then back to the dorms."
Kunikida is so surprised, he agrees immediately. Yes, it is weird but this whole day is unusual. And honestly Kunikida doesn't want it to end yet.
When they leave the Agency's building it's dark outside. That's not exactly surprising however, Kunikida starts suspecting that maybe Dazai let him sleep longer than he told him. But why would he do it? To make fun of him? This would be the most reasonable answer but something Kunikida saw earlier in Dazai's eyes – or at least something he thinks he saw – makes him believe it's not the right one. Or maybe he's just paranoid.
They get to the park chattering lightly about the reports and event of the past week. In the park it's mostly quiet apart from Dazai's quiet whistling.
They walk slowly, side by side, no other person around. Kunikida looks at Dazai's profile in the dark broken only by the moon. His jawline seems even sharper now, along with his small smile. He looks good in the moonlight, like he belongs to the night. Dazai notices him staring and raises a brow.
"Why did you help me with my work today? And also, why didn't you just wake me up as soon as I fell asleep?" Kunikida lets out all of his doubts.
Dazai shrugs, turning his gaze back to the trees lined up by the alley. "Because you've been acting like a zombie this week. I'm starting to doubt that your schedule allows you any time to relax" he says. The next words sound unusually gentle and genuine. "And you need to rest. You deserve to rest, Kunikida."
Kunikida feels dizzy. But again, that's just the effect Dazai has on him. "Still, you didn't have to do anything like that" he tries getting any words out of his mouth, despite the fog in his brain.
Dazai's eyes are back on his face, his gaze piercing, this all-knowing look. "We're partners, aren't we? I need to help you out and apparently to take care of you when you're not able. Remember, it affects the work, so maybe start thinking about yourself too." His eyes shine in the moonlight with something hidden. "I mean, who's going to keep lecturing me if you overwork yourself to death?" he says flashing him the usual version of the playful smirk.
Kunikida feels something warm in his chest. He knows he must be staring at Dazai in awe, but he can't get himself to care, instead relishes in this weird feeling spreading inside him.
That's the thing with Dazai – he's full of contradictions. He is a dangerous man who causes Kunikida to worry, however, at the same time he can't think of a person he trusts more. Just as often as he makes Kunikida anxious, he makes him feel safe. Dazai is full of chaos, knocking over everything in his way and yet he is the one who keeps Kunikida stable on the ground.
"Thank you. Really. I'm sorry you had to stay longer at work because of me" Kunikida manages to say at last.
Dazai waves his hand dismissively. "I don't really have many things to do at home. It's not like anybody is waiting there either" Dazai says, sounding indifferent. "Though it doesn't mean I'm going to start doing overtime because of that. I was just being nice, I'm not going crazy" he clarifies, looking at Kunikida. There's this glint in his eyes, pulling Kunikida even deeper.
"I could guess it doesn't change anything" he says. He smiles, the warm feeling in his chest manifesting on his face.
"No, it doesn't." Dazai's unusually fond smile reflects Kunikida's.
They get back to their normal banter after a moment, walking back to the dorms. Kunikida expects Dazai to part ways with him then, but he walks him to his door. He stands there, hands in the pockets of his coat, smirk on his lips.
Kunikida clears his throat. "Thank you again. It was really nice."
Dazai's expression turns into something strangely soft. His smile is small but so meaningful that Kunikida is not able to turn his gaze away.
"Get some rest, Kunikida. Goodnight" he says quietly and turns to walk to his own dorm.
"Goodnight." As Kunikida watches Dazai leave, he feels something tightening in his chest. He knows it's another issue which is not in his notebook.
But, walking through the door, he smiles to himself, deciding to ignore this problem just for a while longer.