Work Text:
”Chuuyaaaa! Let’s go to the beach!” Dazai suddenly popped up in front of Chuuya’s face. “Haaaaa? Why would I want to go there with you?” He exclaimed, pushing Dazai’s face away from him while trying to still his palpitating heart. Someone should really pull a bell on that idiot! How did he keep managing to sneak around him so much? Was it because he wasn’t used to it yet? It has only been a few months since they met and partnered up.
“Why? Because Chibi loves to spend time with me, no?” Dazai tilted his head innocently, and oh, Chuuya knows that look. Sure enough, the next sentence that came out of his mouth was, “Who knows, maybe you’ll absorb more vitamins from the Sun that way and grow taller.”
“You bastard!” Chuuya tried kicking him from the side, emphasis on tried. Dazai, that shithead, immediately sidestepped it like he knew it was coming. “Ah ah ah,” Dazai grinned widely while wagging his finger, “Bad dog, you aren’t supposed to hit your master. Anyways, Boss already gave me permission to drag you along if I have to, so you should probably hurry and go pack your stuff right now cause we’re leaving in 30 minutes!” Dazai beamed, “Unless of course you want to ——” “WHAT? It’s today? 30 minutes? Boss consented?” The overload of information left Chuuya overwhelmed.
Dazai tapped his foot impatiently on the floor, staring down at Chuuya while waiting for him to comprehend what Dazai had just unloaded on him. “Hey come on now, I know Chuuya’s slow, but even a simpleton like ——“ For the second time, before Dazai finished his sentence, Chuuya whirled around and sprinted off, leaving Dazai all alone in the corridor.
30 minutes, Chuuya thought frantically, slamming open the door to his room. He grabbed open his wardrobe and started hazapahrdly throwing shirts inside his bag. He needed to hurry, otherwise Dazai was going to keep taunting him. What else did he need again? “Don’t worry your head off slug, of course I, your wonderful and brilliant master, have already prepared everything that we will need.” Chuuya bit out a curse and whipped his head around.
Dazai was leaning against the frame of the door, folding his arms and looking down at Chuuya who was scrambling around on the floor like every bit the shithead he was. “Who was worrying you waste of bandages?” Chuuya jumped up indignantly and pointed his finger at Dazai, exclaiming, “I wouldn’t be so anxious if you had just told me earlier!”
“Hey now, that wasn’t exactly my fault,” Dazai pouted, his bottom lip jutting out, “It was the spur of the moment! But look on the bright side, at least I already have all the stuff gathered! So all you have to do is to follow me to the beach and have fun~” Dazai sang, grinning widely.
”Tch.” Chuuya really didn’t want to admit it, but the thought of going to the beach stirred his enthusiasm. He could already imagine it, the clear blue skies, the glistening clear sea and the salty ocean breeze.
“If you keep up this look you’ll really become a slug now,” Dazai teased, ignoring Chuuya’s noise of outrage, “Stop daydreaming and hurry up now, Hirotsu-san is driving us there.”
“Thanks for coming to pick us up, Hirotsu-san.” Dazai called out to Hirotsu, who was standing under the morning sun’s glow next to a light gray van. “Of course Dazai-kun, I’ll just be around should you ever need my assistance,” Hirotsu said to the young mafioso. “Mmmm, don’t worry too much Hirotsu-san, this is just an outing!” Dazai chuckled.
In one swift movement, he opened the van’s door and pulled Chuuya, who was standing stiffly by the side, inside. “You motherfu——” Chuuya clamped his mouth shut, staring at Hirotsu apprehensively. However, Hirotsu was already starting up the van and ignoring the spectacle that was Dazai happening behind him. “Hmph.” Just ignore him, just ignore him, he knew Dazai was just trying to get a raise out of him.
“Oya, what’s Chibi thinking so deeply about now? If you frown so deeply, you’ll leave wrinkle marks on your face before you even reach 20.” Dazai prodded at the creases between Chuuya’s eyebrows. Ignore him, ignore him. “Your hat is going to enshroud your entire head if you continue overworking your tiny brain you know.”
Something snapped in the back of Chuuya’s head. Screw this! Dazai wants a fight? He’ll give him a fight!
”We’re here.” Hirotsu announced. He turned around just in time to see Chuuya attempting to strangle Dazai while Dazai was pressing his foot against Chuuya’s stomach to make him get off. “Kids.” Hirotsu cleared his throat, trying to get their attention. This time, it worked.
At the sight of the gleaming sand, Chuuya and Dazai both lit up. In great synchrony, they rushed out of the van towards their destination, with Chuuya leaving a quick “Thanks Hirotsu-san!” behind. Behind them, Hirotsu smiled gently, shaking his head in both exasperation and fondness at their antics.
“I’m first!” Dazai threw his hands up in the air and declared. “Huhhh? No you aren’t! I reached before you!” Chuuya retorted instinctively. His eyes were drawn to the shimmering hues of the water. Unbeknownst to him, Dazai was staring at him intently, mesmerized by how the warm afternoon light rays made Chuuya glow.
“Huhhh? What did you say? You’re so short I can’t hear you from up here!” Dazai pretended to cup his ears, even going as far as to bend down to Chuuya’s height (he wasn’t even that short!) Chuuya grumbled internally.
“As the winner, I say we go and play with the water now. Be careful of the saltwater Chibi, I heard that slugs shrink when in contact with salt. If you get even smaller, only a microscope will be able to see you!” With that, Dazai darted off, leaving Chuuya to chase after him. “Get back here you bastard!”
Privately, Chuuya wondered how Dazai was going to play in the water with all of his bandages. Was it not going to itch? Whatever, it wasn’t his problem anyways. That idiot could die for all he cared.
That was a lie. Chuuya thought as he observed Dazai running his hands through the water, who was gazing at the water with barely concealed delight. He really looks 15 now, Chuuya realised with a start, this was the first time he saw Dazai actually looking at ease. Dazai could jump into a gunfight right now and Chuuya would follow right in with him.
“Chuuyaaaa, don’t space out right now!” Chuuya suddenly found himself with a face full of saltwater.
“Cough cough —— Blergh!”
“Dazaiiii!” Chuuya wiped his face, spitting out the seawater he accidentally swallowed. “Hahahahahaha, you look like a drowned chihuahua now!” Dazai clutched his sides and cackled.
Ignoring the murderous intent seeping from Chuuya, Dazai pulled out two water guns that seemingly came out from nowhere. “Catch!” Dazai hazapahrdly threw one at Chuuya. Bastard! He purposely aimed at my head! Chuuya angrily huffed, snatching the water gun mid-way.
“I’m gonna kill you mackerel!” Chuuya shouted, startling the people nearby. “Ah ah ah,” Dazai tutted, “In broad daylight too? I never knew you were so bold Chibi!” Cupping his hands around his cheeks like a love-sick maiden, Dazai blushed.
”Y-you! You’re utterly shameless!” Chuuya yelled, clenching his fists as he felt his face heating up. He quickly glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention to them. Fortunately for him, everyone else was busy doing their own things.
“You’re going down!” Chuuya quickly loaded his water gun and aimed it at Dazai, sparing no mercy as he sprayed Dazai.
“Ha! Look who’s wet now!” Chuuya grinned triumphantly, staring down at a wet Dazai with glee. “Unfair! Chibi cheated!” Dazai accused from where he was lying on the floor, pointing his finger at Chuuya and scowling. “And stop looking so smug with yourself!”
“Oh? Are those excuses I hear from the mackerel?” While Chuuya did use his ability during the water fight to prevent water from hitting him as often, however, Dazai didn’t say he wasn’t allowed to use his ability either. Chuuya preferred to see it as utilising what he had at his disposal. Damn, Dazai was really rubbing off on him, Chuuya was starting to pick up his habit of exploiting loopholes.
And… Chuuya had always compared Dazai to a cat as a joke because Dazai kept creeping around silently. But looking at him right now with his hair drooping down and the pout on his face (“I’m not pouting, I’m frowning! Frowning!”), petulantly picking at his soaked bandages, Chuuya thinks that his previous assessment was actually quite accurate.
Cute. Unbidden, the thought popped up in Chuuya’s mind. He looks scarily innocent for —— “Ahhhh, I’m going to go change clothes! This feels so icky!” All of a sudden, Dazai sprang up from his position, startling Chuuya from his musings.
“In the meantime, go buy some crabs for me Chibi.” It was quite late in the afternoon and Chuuya’s stomach was rumbling but —— “Haaaah? Go buy it yourself you lazy ass!” Chuuya retorted.
“Oya? But if i recall correctly, the person who caused me to become like this was you Slug. Are you not going to take responsibility for this situation now~” Gasping, Dazai acted shocked, widening his eyes (or rather, eye) to show his affront.
“You ——“ Just then, a breeze blew past. Dazai shivered minutely, being wet in his dress shirt really didn’t help much against the cold. Chuuya narrowed his eyes, noting his uncomfortable shifting. “Whatever! But you owe me one!” Chuuya tsked. “Yeah yeah~” Dazai waved his words off, skipping off somewhere to change his clothes.
While waiting for Dazai, Chuuya went ahead and bought Dazai his crab and plate of onigiri to munch on.
“Boo!” Dazai came up from behind Chuuya, making Chuuya choke on the rice. “Cough cough ——” Chuuya angrily wiped his mouth with a tissue, “Stop doing that you shithead!” “Where’s my crab Chuuya?” Dazai blissfully ignored his words, happily pulling out a chair and sitting down in front of Chuuya .
Grumbling under his breath, Chuuya pushed the plate full of crab in front of Dazai. “Mmm, looks nice!” Dazai rubbed his hands together excitedly, “Chuuya is such a good dog.” “Just eat your goddamn food.” Chuuya scowled, rolling his eyes at Dazai’s behaviour.
Perhaps it was the warm atmosphere created by the setting of the evening sun, or maybe it was just the food relaxing his guard down, Chuuya stared at his half finished onigiri and blurted out, “Hey… Do you know what you would have been doing if you weren’t in the Mafia?”
Once the words were out of his mouth, Chuuya realised what he had just asked. Slightly horrified, he jerked his head up and saw Dazai’s startled expression. Realising that Dazai didn’t seem angry that he asked such a question, Chuuya relaxed slightly. It was probably the first time someone asked him such a question too, Chuuya thought bitterly.
“If I weren’t in the Mafia huh…” Realising that Dazai was actually going to answer his question, Chuuya straightened his back slightly, curious to see what his partner would answer.
“If I weren’t in the Mafia,” Dazai resumed from where he left off, a wistful look in his eyes, “I would probably be dead. Just imagine! A world without a Mori-dono stopping me from killing myself!” Dazai’s voice grew increasingly manic, and a flicker of frenzy appeared in his eyes.
“Ah, but that’s only going to happen in my dreams,” Dazai pouted, picking and poking at his food. “I’m never going to escape from Mori-dono my entire life!” Dazai whined.
As if his previous episode didn’t happen. As if Chuuya will be able to leave Dazai alone after that revelation. He always knew Dazai was suicidal to an extent, but he never realised that it ran so deep.
It’ll be fine, Chuuya clenched his fist under the table, he’ll be looking after Dazai now. He’ll make sure that Dazai is safe.
“Well, let’s return now,” Dazai stood up, “I have an arrangement later!” A flicker of light seemed to have appeared within his eyes. Probably that four-eyes and the other red head, Chuuya thought, Dazai always seemed to disappear around evening.
Chuuya glanced at Dazai’s plate, noting how he barely touched his crab in exasperation. He really doesn’t eat much huh? No wonder he’s all skin and bones. …whatever, his friends will probably urge him to eat more later. Chuuya irritably blew his fringe out of his face, lifting himself up to follow Dazai.
That was the last time he saw Dazai.
“What do you mean he disappeared?” Chuuya pushed down his panic, which proved to be a tulmountous task. Ane-san raised her hands up placatingly, seeing right through Chuuya as always. “It is just as I have said, the boy vanished. We do not know where he went. However, we believe that he has deserted the Mafia, and it would be for the best that you do not try to find him.” Ane-san glanced sharply at Chuuya while saying so. The implication that Dazai might be a traitor left a sour tang in Chuuya’s mouth,
“Thank you Ane-san,” Chuuya bowed, swiftly turning and walking away. He could feel Ane-san’s gaze on him, and he knows that Ane-san noticed that he didn’t respond to her words, but oh, his mind was racing too much, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of thoughts.
Weren’t they having a good time just yesterday? Oh gods, Chuuya startled to a stop, what did Dazai say while they were eating again?
If I weren’t in the Mafia, I would probably be dead.
Chuuya’s heart stuttered, Dazai couldn’t possibly have ——
Smack!
Before he knew it, his hand was raised, and his head snapped to one side. No, he couldn’t think like that. Dazai’s too stubborn to die so easily. As his partner, Chuuya must have trust in him.
Chuuya needs to find Dazai. And the first thing he’s going to do once he sees Dazai will be to give him a good beating.
So please, Chuuya squeezed his eyes shut, if there is a god somewhere out there that will aid him, please let him find Dazai.