Chapter Text
Destiny is inevitable, fate can be changed, and death is the final form of life.
When a mother leaves her baby at a doorstep, she only can hope it gives her child a better life than what she currently has, or to cut the string of connection she didn’t want.
The only factor she can’t control is who she had left her child to, that man was Akutagawa Ryuunosuke and his sister Gin. Port Mafia members, those who do not know compassion to those who aren’t of their blood.
Only 16 years old, Akutagawa did not know what to expect when he opened the front door of his home to see a baby in a small basket crying as it rained outside. The eyes of a man who had been through the abuse of his mentor and the gentle care of his sister looked at the baby with an expression of distaste.
The baby, its green and blue eyes crying, only trying to seek refuge helplessly cries from below.
The door slammed in front of it, Akutagawa refused to care for something like it, a symbol of innocence and weakness. His sister Gin asked, but he refused to answer.
Akutagawa knew she would become sympathetic, but she was stubborn.
She opened the door to see the baby hiccuping from its cries from the cold weather. Quickly she held it close to her and brought it inside, much to the distaste of Akutagawa who said to leave it outside.
Gin refused, the same gray eyes as her brother looking back at his
”How could you just- How could you just leave it out to die?”
”We’re not keeping it.”
”You could’ve at least kept it alive till we found another home for it!”
”It’ll become a target, if it died now we wouldn’t have to get attached or hurt.”
The sting of Gin’s slap on his cheek stayed for a moment as the rain outside filled the void of silence between the two. Akutagawa knew she was much more compassionate than he was.
”Ryuunosuke Akutagawa, I may be the younger one but don’t you dare tell me I’m wrong. We’d be the same as those who abandoned us.”
Akutagawa felt his throat dry up, after that he helped Gin set a warm bath for the baby, and eventually made a bottle for the baby and let it drink milk. It was no longer shivering, now content in the arms of Gin as it was wrapped in a blanket and a makeshift diaper.
They lowered their voices as the baby slept, discussing what they should do. Give it to an orphanage? No, from past experience it was never good. Drop it at another house? No, the Mafia would ask where they went. Take it in? …It would work, but then they would have to tell someone. They were only teens, sure Akutagawa took care of Gin but only when she could already talk and walk, before that it was their parents…
It was the best shot they had, maybe they could tell…
Who could they turn to?
Not Dazai, certainly not from past experience. The demon prodigy was never kind.
Chuuya? He was a lot more compassionate but this certainly wasn’t his problem.
Ozaki? No, she was far too busy…
Boss?…No.
They were stumped, surely someone would be able to help? That’s what Gin thought, but Akutagawa knew that this already had to be secretive.
The baby moved around in Gin’s arms, waking up to look at the two of them. Giggling as it raised its arms out towards them in a playful manner. Gin couldn’t help but aww at the baby, but Akutagawa was still reserved as he knew neither of them would have time to take care of it properly other than feeding it so why get affectionate?
Once the time hit 10pm, they fixed a small bed for the child in their shared bedroom near Gin’s bed. Once they knew for sure it was asleep they went to rest as well, although it only lasted an hour until the baby began to cry loudly. Akutagawa begrudgingly decided to care for it so Gin wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of not falling asleep tomorrow morning.
The baby settled down once Akutagawa managed to change it’s diaper by using a small towel instead.
Akutagawa couldn’t help but stare at the baby once it fell asleep again on the bathroom counter where he had changed it.
How could something be so defenseless..?
So unbothered?
So…Innocent?
He hated it, he hated that he couldn’t be like this again.
Not anymore.
Before he could think of anything else he found himself cradling the baby, it was content laying in his arms. It reminded him of Gin when she was only a baby, when life had been so much simpler.
Akutagawa felt warm, something he hasn’t felt in a while.
It was…different.
The baby’s small amount of hair was a dark shade of red now that he actually looked at it. Chubby cheeks, and it ready seemed like it would have a small stature. Considering all that they’ve done he should probably stop calling the baby an it as if it’s not human.
Akutagawa knew it was a baby boy, from the bath and changing their diaper.
Although they didn’t come with a name.
Akutagawa walked back inside of the bedroom, he sat on the floor next to the baby where they slept in their small bed again, they held one of Akutagawa’s fingers as it slept.
”Hatsue…That’ll be your name..” Akutagawa whispered, pulling his finger away and slipping back into his bedsheets and closing his eyes for the rest of the night, awaiting what the next morning had to offer.