Work Text:
Chuuya and Dazai are 16.
They began dating after the…. Incident happened. That’s what they call it, at least, it isn’t a fun subject to talk about.
Currently they’re in Chuuya’s apartment–very fancy, by the way–and are watching movies. It’s one of those nights, in celebration of another successful mission the night before.
There’s also Chuuya’s wine sitting on the kitchen counter, alongside the abandoned cup of whiskey. They’ve both forgotten about the alcohol in favor of the current game they're playing, Truth or Dare. It’s a game they play often.
“Hm, truth or dare?” Dazai asks with his hand on his chin. It looks like he’s planning something, and that doesn’t make Chuuya very happy. “Truth.” He answers, trying to figure out what Dazai is scheming.
“Are you ticklish?” He asks, grin slowly going wider when Chuuya squints his eyes. “No. Why the fuck would I be ticklish?” He responds, almost laughing at how ridiculous it sounds. Him? Ticklish?
It’s not like he’s ever been tickled, but still. It just wouldn’t make sense. It would be disgustingly embarrassing.
Dazai creeps over to his feet, and he immediately gets kicked. “Hey, bad dog! That hurt!” Dazai yells. “Are you seriously still on that! I’m not your dog, you weirdo!” Chuuya screams in response. He swats Dazai back to the couch, but he doesn’t notice the wide smile on his face.
He hopes they never part.
-~-
Chuuya and Dazai are 17.
They’re still dating, although Chuuya constantly insists he wishes he would’ve broken up with the man already. Dazai knows he doesn’t, but still plays along.
They sit in the arcade they’ve been frequenting since they were 15. It feels nostalgic to be here, knowing their history with the place.
It’s Dazai’s 17th birthday today, and that’s why they decided to come. For Chuuya’s birthday they went out and explored Yokohama, because despite living here almost all their lives they never got the chance to before. It was a change from going here, but Chuuya knew they would end up circling back.
They’re talking with the owner of the place. He rambles on about how a teenage duo comes here often and it reminds him of them. It brings a fond smile on both of their faces, the guy has always been sweet after all. He’s sure if he knew what they actually did as a job and that they weren’t school students he would still treat them with respect.
For his safety he can’t know.
Dazai and Chuuya begin to play after the man dismisses himself, Dazai giving him a small wave and smile as he leaves to go to his office. Chuuya wishes him a farewell, and immediately goes to the racing game, patting the seat next to him for Dazai.
Dazai gives him a cocky grin. “You really think you’ll win against me? It’s been years.” His smile doesn’t diminish as he sits down and starts the game up. “I guess we’ll see if I’ll win this time then, right?” Chuuya says.
Dazai rolls his eyes, putting his fingers on the controls. Chuuya hopes they never part, even when he mocks Chuuya for losing the game.
-~-
Chuuya and Dazai are 18.
Well, it’s just Chuuya now.
He sits on top of his countertop, staring out of the windows of his apartment. He’s an executive now, along with Dazai.
Speaking of Dazai, he just left. He gave Chuuya what seems to be a stuffed animal, tucked into his arms. He doesn’t know that he’s clutching the animal for his life. He doesn’t know anything at the moment.
Tonight, Dazai's friend died. The one person Dazai was actually friends with. Or, well, the one person he thought he was friends with. Chuuya thought he would be more important, but he guesses he was wrong.
He can’t even bring himself to be upset. How could he, after all? Dazai deserved a life away from the mafia, even if a life was taken for him to be able to enjoy it.
He doesn’t notice when he begins smiling. He doesn’t recount when he places the stuffed animal on Dazai’s side of his bed and passes out either. He was found smiling in his sleep, awakened by Mori himself. The man who killed Oda Sakunosuke. Chuuya thinks he might feel sick even looking into his eyes.
“Do you know where Dazai could be, Chuuya?” He asks weeks later. “No, sir.” He responds, although he knows exactly where Dazai is, where he’s hiding.
This is the last favor he owes Dazai, after all.
He may be angry and upset, but he will never tell. He couldn’t bring himself to. He knows it’s because he secretly wants for them to never part again when Dazai comes back. And, well, Chuuya knows he’ll be back.
-~-
Chuuya is 20.
No trace of Dazai has been found, and Mori stopped the questioning after Chuuya finally lashed out and told him that he didn’t know where Dazai had gone. It was supposedly believable enough.
The stuffed animal is still on Dazai’s side of the bed. He’s decided to name the little guy mackerel, it was fitting. Sometimes, when he’s really drunk, he throws it into his arms, squeezing it as hard as possible.
Today is Osamu Dazai’s 20th birthday, and he found himself back at the arcade. Because he always does. He has no idea if Osamu is alive or not, but this would be a celebration of his death as well if he wasn’t.
He plays every game he used to, and successfully beats the scores Dazai’s account beat when they were 15. Well, of course until somebody else does. He doesn’t know who it could possibly be, but he likes to pretend it’s Dazai just out of hope.
By the end of the day he sighs, picks up his bag, and goes back to his motorcycle, slinging the bag onto one of the pegs. He drives off with a huge grin.
In the back of his head, he envisions Dazai's back. He’s lying on his side of the bed, reading a new book from Chuuya’s bookshelf. He always hated Chuuya’s books. They will never part.
-~-
Chuuya and Dazai are 22.
Dazai is in Chuuya’s apartment for the first time since he left. They have a mission in the morning, but their two bosses required one of them to stay at each other's place, and of course Chuuya refused to stay at Dazai’s.
“I only have one bedroom, so you’ll need to sleep with me or on the couch.” Chuuya says, almost rolling his eyes. As if Dazai would want to sleep in the same bed as him. “I’m going to sleep. Cya.” Chuuya runs off to his bedroom, immediately falling asleep on his side.
He doesn’t see the way Dazai smiles when he spots Mackerel on the side he would always sleep on, but he swears he hears a small whisper near him until he goes back to sleep.
“I promise we’ll never part ever again, Chuuya.”