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Low vibrations filled his head with a continuous hum as Chuuya let his head rest against the airplane window. The surface felt cool to the touch, and a late evening Tokyo glittered beneath- a vast and complex ocean of life. The land mass grew larger and clearer each second as the plane prepared for descent.
Although there were only a few other people in business class, he could hear muffled voices from further down the plane; the excited squealing of children, and scolding tones of their caretakers hushing them. He smiled softly. He'd always found kids cute although his work didn't offer opportunities to be around them.
Definitely not.
When the pilot announced their imminent landing Chuuya sat up and slipped on his shoes, tucking loose wrappers into the provided rubbish bag. Mafioso or not, he prided himself on his (recently adopted) good manners. The runway came into view, and then the blurred line of light became individual lamps guiding them to a safe arrival. A soft bump marked this, and when the plane began taxiing along the designated path, Chuuya finally allowed himself to think longingly of home.
Due to the nature of this particular job, Chuuya had been instructed to keep interaction with his organisation to the absolute minimum. And as of that, he'd pushed Yokohama to the back of his mind so that his four-month-long overseas mission wouldn't seem to drag on more than it did already.
But now it was all over. Finished. His mind drifted Kouyou, and her faint smile, and his own comfortable bed, and stupid, meaningless late night chats with-
Dazai. How was Dazai doing, he pondered. The madly suicidal, conniving bastard who loved to rile Chuuya up when given half the chance. He hadn't really missed the jibs and squabbles, but his ever-present partner being almost half the world away put him on a surprising edge for the better part of his mission.
He concluded that his feelings about Dazai were neutral, at best.
-
Haneda airport was busy as per usual, even at this hour. Chuuya let the surrounding sounds wash over him as he walked past the luggage collection area (thankful he hadn't needed anything but his hand luggage) and exited to the area where his ride would be picking him up.
Sure enough, a man dressed in a dark suit tapped his shoulder carefully, murmuring that the car was ready and waiting, and offering to take his small suitcase from him. Chuuya declined the offer and followed the guy out of the airport.
He took a deep breath of smoggy air, before sliding into the back seat of the sleek black car. Another man was already waiting behind the wheel and, after confirming the correct code word, Chuuya relaxed into the plush seat.
"Welcome home, Nakahara-san." The driver spoke as the car revved to life. "Chuuya's fine." He waved the guy off. "How've things been whilst I was gone?"
"Just as the usual, sir. A couple of troublesome organisations and such." Chuuya hummed in a polite show of interest."Only it's been a little busier for the executives, what with Dazai's kid and all."
Chuuya snapped to attention.
"Whose kid?"
The man in the driver's seat looked surprised in the reflection. "Dazai's kid, sir."
"Kid? What kid!?" Chuuya barely stopped himself from crashing through the roof with his ability. His entire being thrummed with adrenaline akin to that of being on a battlefield.
"Apologies, I was under the impression that you would have been told and—”Chuuya leant forwards, intent on learning every aspect of this topic.
Then his eyes narrowed. "This isn't another one of his pranks of whatever, right? Did he make you say this to me?" Both men looked slightly alarmed. "No no, sir, I promise you this is entirely true." The driver said hurriedly, "He went on a mission, and just came back with a kid. It's not biologically his, I've heard. The Boss, of course, wasn't so pleased but..."
"But it's Dazai, so he got his own way. Oh....I should've stayed away longer." Chuuya groaned, slumping and envisioning the chaos he was bound to be caught up in.
-
As soon as Chuuya arrived to the mafia building, before even reporting his return to Mori, he made a beeline for his and Dazai's office. Suitcase in a vice grip, Chuuya barely restrained himself from running down the corridors, more than once having to mutter apologies as he barged into people around corners. When he came face to face with the familiar oak-wood door, he hesitated a moment. Was Dazai even in? Usually he was at this time of night, Chuuya knew... Should he knock? Shaking his head slightly, Chuuya roughly pulled the door handle, marching in.
He was met with Dazai's deep brown eyes staring at him expectantly from his desk across the room. Scary. In his arms was a small bundle. Scarier.
"You're back already. Too ba-"
"What the hell, Dazai?"
Dazai blinked owlishly at Chuuya's outburst. "...what?"
"You, you can't just pick up a kid from somewhere! Where are its parents for fuck's sake ?" Chuuya demanded, not a mere note but an entire scale of accusation in tone.
"Not even a hello." Dazai clicked his tongue, pointing to the chair across the desk. Against his better judgment Chuuya fell into the chair. "Listen close. His parents are dead." Chuuya glared at him. "Not my fault. And his grandfather is the head of the organisation- one of those trying to trip up the mafia."
Chuuya could see where this was going and he hated it.
"I was sent to his family home for a nice bit of business and he wasn't there. But guess who was!" Dazai beamed at him as Chuuya's knuckles turned white.
"And so you kidnapped a child?"
Dazai huffed. "Don't interrupt me. The dude told me that little Akutagawa Ryuunosuke here was his grandson and..."
Dazai gave Chuuya a wry smile. "Oh, it was so convenient, I couldn't resist."
Chuuya slammed a hand onto the table. "Dammit, Dazai! You can't use a living child for leverage against people. It's wrong." The child in question started at the loud noise, eyes flying open accompanied by a little whimper.
"What's it to you?" Dazai deadpanned, rolling his eyes. "You're in the mafia, kidnapping is where you draw the line?" Chuuya bit his tongue. "You're a freak.
Dazai shot him a dirty look as 'Akutagawa' began to whine. "Look what you've done." The fellow executive frowned, pulling the baby closer to him. When the child quietened, Dazai began speaking again.
"Anyways, he was so cute, Chuuya! I couldn't help it." There was a slightly teasing note in Dazai's voice, and Chuuya fumed. Then he pressed a kiss to the sleeping child's forehead and Chuuya blanched. “Okay seriously though. Mori-san wanted to throw him into the sea. I thought that was a bit…wasteful.” Chuuya knew Dazai well enough to know he wasn’t joking.
"You’re serious serious? You know, you're just a kid yourself!"
Dazai snorted. "Funnily enough, Mori said the same thing."
"And?"
"It's never mattered before, has it? I practically run this shit-show." Dazai gestured vaguely around the room. "Alright, fair enough." Chuuya had to reluctantly agree.
He felt at a loss for words. "Still- are you capable of raising a child?"
"I'm going four months strong, he seems quite alright to me. Does he to you?" Dazai held out the baby for Chuuya to see. Chuuya peered at it. Its cheeks were a dusty pink, lips parted slightly and eyes peacefully closed- the very epitome of a deep rest. At first, second, even third glance the infant looked healthy. Thank goodness.
"How old's he anyways?"
"Ten months." Dazai said proudly. The child stirred and began to grizzle. "Someone's in a grumpy mood today." Dazai brushed fluffy black curls away from the baby's forehead and grinned. It wasn't his usual grin- full of malice and glee- but rather something more soft, genuine. And kind. The child settled, pulling fistfuls of Dazai's shirt close to him with a dazed little expression.
"You're staring." Dazai commented, and Chuuya immediately looked away with a click of his tongue. "No I wasn't."
He was, but out of pettiness wanted to contradict anything that left Dazai's mouth.
"You were." Dazai insisted, because he refused to let Chuuya have the last word. Cut from the same cloth.
Chuuya clicked his teeth. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
Dazai laughed- and Chuuya realised that he'd missed the sound. He cleared his throat embarrassed at his own thoughts.
"Whatever. I'm too tired to deal with your bullshit." He stood and turned tail, practically fleeing from the room. He heard Dazai scoff behind him as he carefully shut the door on the way out.