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They were all over him.
Hands. Everywhere.
He heard a torn shriek ring out as boiling agony stabbed into his shoulder.
A needle, digging into the skin and tugging. Hard.
Blood dribbling down his skin, staining the floor, dripping at an unsettlingly steady beat.
He cried again, screamed, wailed, begged.
The agony didn’t stop.
The hands wouldn’t get off. White light pierced the darkness of his vision, as a shock of voltage jolted his body. He lurched.
Burning bile swam up his throat.
Someone slammed him back. His skin his a cold metal table.
“Behave, A-5158. Or you will be punished.”
A painfully ragged voice.
He tried to move.
“Chuuya!”
To run.
”Chuuya!”
To escape.
“Chuuya!”
His vision tilts to darkness as a final slam of agony cracks into his skull.
-
Chuuya jolts awake with a torn scream. A panicked voice shouts at him, but it comes through wobbled and distorted. He scrambles back immediately, sheets bunching up at the foot of his bed as he slams into the headboard. His hands come up to his arms, scratching and digging, trying to scrape out an invisible force. Within seconds, red welts cover his skin.
Someone else brushes against his arms and he shrieks. He shoves them away and feels the mattress dip under his weight, letting out a startled cry as he tumbles to the floor. He’s pressed into the corner of the room within seconds, dizziness and nausea storming through his brain from the fall.
He hears the distorted voice again, whimpering as he scrapes deeper into his arms. “G-Get it out, g-got– G-gotta get them out–” His words come out choked and between wheezes, when a gentle touch cups the side of his face. He whines.
“It’s okay, baby, it’s me.” They say softly. “You’re not there, they’re not going to hurt you.”
Tears fall from Chuuya’s eyes as his vision clears slightly, and the second he makes out who it is, he lets out a wail and launches himself forward. Strong, slender hands catch him, guiding his face into the crook of his neck. Soft words of comfort fill his ears as the red-head sobs.
Dazai sighs gently as he holds his boyfriend, trying to pretend his heart doesn’t shatter as the latter trembles in his arms. “It’s okay Chibbiko, you’re not there. You’re here, with me, in my arms. You’re safe. Nothing, is going to hurt you.”
The words don’t help. Chuuya’s breaths are choked and interrupted by wheezes. He won't be able to ground him like this.
“Breathe, Chibi. Come on slug, I know you can do it.” He says softly, bringing his fingers up to gently card through Chuuya’s hair. “Big inhale, big exhale.”
In his arms, Chuuya struggles to breathe, nails digging into Dazai’s skin as he clutches him like a lifeline. Tears soak his cheeks as he tries to take a small inhale, and is rewarded with a gentle hum from Dazai when he manages. “Just like that Sweetheart. Breathe out this time.”
Chuuya can’t tell, but a small smile graces Dazai’s lips when he does.
They sit in silence for a few moments, before Chuuya, who seems to have returned to at least a slightly less-panicked state, lets out a soft, “...m’ sorry.”
“What could you have to be sorry for Chibikko?”
Chuuya trembles, burying his face deeper into the crook of Dazai’s neck. “...w-woke you up. Being du–... being dumb.”
“Is it dumb when you come home to me having a panic attack slug?”
Chuuya gives a hurried shake of the head. “N-No!”
“Then why is this different?”
Chuuya falls silent.
“...Let's get you back in bed Chibi.”
Dazai lifts him up, placing Chuuya on the bed gently and pulling the blankets back up. He tugs the heaviest over Chuuya, knowing the weight helps. “...You wanna go back to sleep Chibi?”
Chuuya hides a whimper before letting out a quiet, “Can you keep th-the bathroom light o-on…?”<
Dazai beams. “Of course baby.”
He gets up, flicking the switch on and keeping the door cracked open. He crawls under the covers with Chuuya, pulling the red-head close and giving him a gentle hug.
“...Dazai…?”
“Hm?”
“...th-thank you.”
“Anytime Sweetheart.”
I love you.