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He never thought he would see him again. After all, Dazai had left the Port Mafia four years ago. Chuuya had even celebrated with a vintage bottle of wine, getting absolutely wasted. Though, perhaps that was to hide the crushing weight the usually weightless mafioso felt when his partner left. Not that he missed him. Of course he didn’t. He hated Dazai, the stupid suicidal mackerel was not worth his time, his attention, or even a single thought.
Chuuya’s fist went flying, red flickered around him then snuffed out when he came into contact with Dazai’s face, though a lack of an ability did not make the punch hurt any less. Dazai spun almost comically, head snapping to the side and bloodied spittle flying from his lips. Chuuya grabs him by the collar of his shirt and yanks Dazai close, Dazai eyes are smug, like he was expecting to be hit. Chuuya almost growls and punches him again, but he sees the blood trickle from Dazai’s lip and something in his chest aches.
He tuts and lets go, fist clenched at his sides as he glares at the ground with a simmering anger. Dazai straightens and wipes the blood from his hand with the back of his wrist, staining his bandages. Dazai opens his stupid loud mouth, teeth now straight and lacking braces (something Chuuya wasn’t expecting) but Chuuya doesn’t let him speak. He lunges, Dazai’s eyes widen, then look as if they’re about to pop right from his skull when Chuuya’s familiarly muscular arms wrap around his torso.
“I have no such tastes in men, slug” Dazai’s said, voice uncharacteristically… strained.
God, Chuuya hated him.
So why… why couldn’t he let go? His hat, usually so carefully held to his head lay fallen to the ground, his coat slipping from his shoulders as he squeezed Dazai a bit tighter.
Dazai, for the first time in a long time, was shocked. He had grown accustomed to knowing the outcome of things, yet never in a million years had he never thought Chuuya , the stupid slug, would ever hug him. That’s what this was, wasn’t it? No it couldn’t be. Perhaps it was a failed tackle, or Chuuya was planning to bury a knife between Dazai’s shoulder blades. Yet…
Dazai lifted a hand.
Chuuya nearly sobbed when Dazai hugged him back, familiar lithe fingers resting on his hips then sliding up to his waist and eventually tangling into his messy rusty locks, pulling his head closer to the taller man’s chest. Chuuya could hear the steady thump thump thump of Dazai’s heart. His hands fist the rough fabric of Dazai’s trench coat. It felt too good to finally be hugged. So long without any sort of physical touch and Chuuya felt as if he had been going mad. “Stupid Mackerel.” Chuuya mutters in his best attempt at an angered tone.
“Stupid Slug.” Dazai mutters back through a busted lip, and Chuuya can hear the smirk in his voice.
“Oi! I can hear you smiling. Stop it.” He snaps, yet makes no move to pull away and Dazai doesn’t seem to want to let go any time soon. Chuuya is thankful for that. Dazai’s arms are noticeably thinner than his but still incredibly reassuring and warm. Chuuya can feel the outlines of bandages through Dazai’s clothes, smell the detergent the other man uses, and he can almost… taste the saltiness of his skin. What?
Chuuya tenses slightly and Dazai notices. He does not seem too bothered by the formers sudden clinginess, on the contrary he seems to enjoy it. Yet at Chuuya’s tensing Dazai frowns slightly. “What is it, Chibi?”
“Nothing.” Chuuya snarls in his usual grumpy tone, even as he somehow squeezes Dazai tighter causing the bandage bandit to grunt.
“You sure? Any tighter and you’re sure to bruise a rib.” Dazai jests. Chuuya growls in response.
“It’s nothing. Shut up.”
Dazai hums and starts to twirl a red pick around his finger. “You know…” he starts before leaning down slightly to whisper in Chuuya’s ear. “I missed you, slug.” This causes shivers to run down Chuuya’s face and a rose pink hue alights on his ears. Dazai smirks. “Come on, I know you missed me too Chuuya .” He practically purred his name and Chuuya’s breath hitches momentarily before he finally is able to push Dazai away, at least he tries to but Dazai holds him close, his lips brush the shell of Chuuya’s ear. “Now now slug… I know it’s been four years but don’t lie… you missed being in my arms.” Dazai’s fingers grip a bit tighter at Chuuya’s hair, pulling his head back slightly so Chuuya has to look up at him, wide blue eyes meeting brown and Chuuya feels weak in the knees, like he’s 15 and stupid all over again.
“Four years of bliss.” Chuuya manages to force out, trying to keep up the unphased mafioso persona he’s worked so hard to cultivate, yet something about Dazai made that facade crack. “I cracked an 89’ in celebration.”
Dazai smirked. “Oh I know. You were wasted.”
Chuuya’s eyes widened and he manages to push away from the bastard. “The fuck you mean I was wasted?”
“Oh come on Chibi, we both know you can’t hold your liquor. And having your best friend in the whole world leave you behind…” his voice dripped with teasing sarcasm. “It only makes sense you would crack open the most expensive wine. With the intent of finishing it of course.” If possible, Dazai’s smirk grew wider. “And then tried to drive?” Dazai was grinning now. “You’re lucky I planted that bomb. You shouldn’t drink and drive you know.”
“That was you?!” Chuuya, now out of Dazai’s hold starts to glow red. Dazai holds his hands up in a placating manner.
“You should thank me! You would’ve gotten into that car only to crash and die or something!” Dazai says with a dramatic flourish of his hand. “Then who would commit a beautiful double suicide with me? That waitress at the cafe?”
“You’re still on that, you suicidal maniac?” Chuuya mutters, controlling his temper, as he picks up his hat, dusts it off, and places it back on his head neatly. Dazai simply shrugs and steps close again.
“I missed you Chuuya… I wanted to come back, even through it all, but I wanted to be on the right side-“
“Save me your bullshit.” Chuuya pushes Dazai away by his face.
“It’s not bullshit Chibi-“
“Don’t call me that!”
“ Chuuya .”
Chuuya felt the butterflies again. Or maybe he just really needed to throw up.
“I hurt you.” Dazai reaches out and cups Chuuya’s face, tilting his face up. “I left. I’m sorry.”
Chuuya never thought he’d hear those words from Dazai. Ever. Even when Dazai broke his nose or fucked up his life or pissed him off or left him the morning after. He never said sorry.
Dazai sighs and drops his hand. “I missed you. And you missed me too.“ Chuuya opens his mouth but Dazai beats him to it. “Ah- don’t deny it.” The air is thick with unspoken feeling, words, and possibly wants. No, definitely wants. Dazai takes a breath, “Believe me Chuuya. If you can trust nothing else trust these two things. I missed you and I’m sorry.”
Chuuya looks at Dazai. At his enemy, acquaintance, friend, partner, ex, his stupid fucking mackerel. His hand, curled in a fist thumps against Dazai’s chest before Chuuya leans into him. Dazai relaxes slightly and pulls the man close once more.
“I hate you.”
“I hate you too.”