Work Text:
Its common knowledge for anyone working in the port mafia that Dazai and Chuuya cant stand each other. Most are afraid to be in the same room as both of them. Even if they won't injure each other, they cause a lot of property damage. And the mafiosos don't want to be 'property'. So when Dazai, with a sudden change of heart, stopped teasing Chuuya and actually started being nice to him, it came off as a huge shock,... as in 'The whole world will go down in flames' kinda shock. And Chuuya,... Well, he didn't take the sudden change too well.
"Dazai...", Chuuya started in a dark tone,"What the hell did you do?"
"What do you mean Chuuya? I didn't do anything!"
Suspicious, everything about Dazai's new behaviour is ringing red alarms in Chuuya's head. Why the fuck would Dazai, the persistent pain in the ass, the bandaged bastard with a sadistic talent of annoying the fuck outta everyone, suddenly act like he's some goody two shoes.
'He's definately up to something' his mind supplies as Chuuya tries to narrow down the possibilities as he stares into Dazai's wide sparkly brown eye (the other eye is covered) with distrust.
"Did you kill someone i know?"
"Huh? No! How could you, Chuuy-"
"Did ruin my wine collection?"
"Didn't know you have one-"
"Did you mess with my work?"
"Now Chuuya, this is harsh-"
"Then WHY are you like this?"
"Can't I be nice to Chuuya?"
'Unless he wants something' Chuuya thought."What do you want?" he demanded.
Dazai sighed and replied in a low tone as if he's confessing a sad secret,"I just wanted to try being less of an annoyance to you, especially on your day."
'My day... wait.' "My day?"
Dazai nodded, his one visible eye still shined with something Chuuya wouldn't say 'cause it doesn't suit Dazai's personality.
"Your Birthday, Chuuya. And even though I have the urge to see you fuming in anger, I will spare you from my taunts"
"... forever?", Chuuya asked hopefully.
"Nope", he said popping the 'p',"Just today and every birthday of yours from now onwards, I'll try my best to make it less... um, troublesome for you. Consider it my gracious gift!" ...
Well, to say Chuuya is dumbstruck is an understatement. It felt like an impossible thing was being made possible. Dazai remembered his birthday when Chuuya, himself forgot. He is touched by Dazai's words, a little bit because believing the bastard's words are worse than believing the words of a devil. So Chuuya won't leave his guard down.
"... Sure. If you pull something underneath my feet..."
"I won't let that happen, not today." Well, let's see how long he will keep his promise. According to Dazai psycology, promises are meant to be broken.
"Ah, Chuuya before you leave,... I have something for you."
"Huh? What do you ... mean?", Chuuya asked, slowly trailing off as Dazai pulled out a jewelry box covered in satin black with golden words etched on top of it of a brand that's popular for its elegant designs but Chuuya never bothered to visit. Now, Chuuya isn't a big fan of jewelry, sure he likes being decorated but not in precious metals or stones Dazai opened the box to reveal ... a choker.
Chuuya is damned if he isn't seeing red right now. His anger flaring as a fire in him brought profanities to insult Dazai, but before he began, Dazai spoke, "I thought you might like it because I found out you hate ties and... this might be a nice substitute. Matches your style as well."
... Chuuya's words die on his tongue. No one can understand Dazai's intentions or know if Dazai's words are true or false. But Chuuya is the only exception. He easily caught on to Dazai's slight quirks and barely not there movements that helps Chuuya unravel the human anomaly who calls himself Dazai. And basically its mostly instinct at this point because there is no solid logic behind Chuuya's always acurate reading of Dazai. And he finds himself knowing that Dazai meant every word and isn't lying (Like he usually would). That's what baffles Chuuya the most. When Chuuya was lost in his thoughts Dazai came close enough to Chuuya.
"This isn't to mock you or anything but if you want you can still think of as such."
He pulled up the choker and wrapped it around Chuuya's neck, slowly. Chuuya watched Dazai's change in expression up close. He was too focused on the task at hand, eye never once leaving Chuuya's neck until he finished. His cold fingers brushed at Chuuya's stray orange strands of hair as he placed the black leather choker around his neck with the clasp positioned behind his neck and Dazai left a gap of two fingers, making sure it wasn't too tight or loose as he finally and successfully clasped the clasp. His hands still remain on Chuuya's neck as he looked up at Chuuya still staring at him, expression unreadable (Which is strange because Chuuya is always readable and wears his emotions on his sleeve).
"It looks good on you", Dazai finally commented breaking the silence between them.
"Is that so?", Chuuya asked in return.
"Hmmm... if you don't like, you could always burn it"
Chuuya remained silent as he subconsciously raised his hand to feel the choker. It fit him snugly as if it was made to be worn on Chuuya's neck and Chuuya was surprised.
"Thank you", Chuuya mumbled out. Normally Chuuya never gave a fuck about birthdays. It serves as reminder that Chuuya isn't human and he hates it. But the Sheep made a huge celebration out of it, which of course Chuuya doesn't attend and find excuses to be busy on that day. In the Mafia, ... no body cares. One day they're alive and there is no guarantee that they'll be alive the next, so they won't waste much time on celebrations, busy on trying to keep themselves alive.
Except, of course the Flags. They threw a party and Chuuya, after reluctantly celebrating, went back to work and ran into Dazai. Speaking (thinking) of Dazai, he now removed his hands from its previous position on Chuuya's neck and moved a few steps backward.
"Happy 16th Birthday, Chuuya. I'm glad you're born", he said with a small smile. One of his most genuine smiles but tinged with sadness as if there are words hidden in his soul that can't be spoken out loud but can't stay within.
It's ... troublesome. But time won't stay still, it moves on. And Chuuya can't stand and stare at what-the-fuck-even-are-you Dazai trying to understand his unusual self. But he let it slide as they both part ways for today.
Deep inside Chuuya felt warmth after a long time.
.
.
.
.
.
Years passed by. Yokohama is changing. The world is changing. Yet Dazai's tradition of gifting Chuuya and not being an international annoyance didn't change. He surprised Chuuya on his every birthday from then. Even after he ran away from the Mafia.
He would somehow hack into Chuuya's car's radio (actually the Mafia's car 'cause he said idiot burned his car down), and obnoxiously sing 'Happy Birthday' in off tune because Dazai is never a good singer.
Chuuya would get angry at first, but the way Dazai sang makes him giggle uncontrollably. Gosh, he misses the Bandage wasting machine, but he's a traitor of the Mafia and Chuuya can't meet him to beat the shit outta him. So, he waits. And waits patiently for the day Dazai shows up in his life again, as constant troublemaker he is. Chuuya lets out a sigh as he gazes though the black tinted window of the Mafia car, up to see the ever blue Yokohama sky and his thoughts wander, always circling around Dazai. "Don't tell anyone about the radio", Chuuya warned the driver. The driver nodded, his expression behind his dark sunglasses.
.
.
.
.
.
"Umm... Dazai-san? You didn't tell me where we are going", Atsushi nervously asked his mentor, Dazai. Dazai gave a small smile and rather vaguely replied,"Hmm... in that case we'll find out soon enough"
Atsushi knows not to question him more, of course he could wait a while longer but the curiosity is killing him.
All because of the box in Dazai-san's hands. It's decorated as a gift and Atsushi doesn't know for whom or what the special occasion is because, from what he observed it is a very, very expensive gift. He just saw the price tag before Dazai-san threw it away and noted the astonishing number of zeroes. Atsushi isn't sure if Dazai-san could afford that high of an amount, but he did, and probably no one knows how. The receiver must be a person Dazai-san holds dear. And the very reason Atsushi can't wait to find out who it is.
Dazi-san turned a corner and Atsushi followed him to a... restaurant. A well, maintained one but not the typical high-classed fancy type, though it does give off a similar vibe. He couldn't make out anything through the window glass but he can hear faint noises of celebration emitting from the place.
Dazai opened the door, which rung a faint bell and Atsushi followed and found himself facing a huge, like really huge cake with white and orange frosting along with most of the Port Mafia. Thank goodness the Boss of the Mafia wasn't there. But on the down side there is Akutagawa, sporting a frown similar to his.
And there is, of course, Higuchi, Gin, Tachihara, Hirotsu-san, Kajji, Kyoyou and Chuuya-san, who stood frozen the moment he saw Dazai enter. There are several plates with cake floating, with the courtusy of Chuuya-san's ability. Dazai remained still for a while. He cleared his throat and said, "Hi, Chuuya. Happy Birthday!"
And that is when Chuuya-san reacted. Within a blink of an eye ran towards Dazai, leaving his Mafia friends forgotten for a moment. Atsushi didn't have the time to process or prepare against an attack, but to his major surprise, his hugged Dazai. He HUGGED Dazai! Chuuya-san HUGGED Dazai-san and with such force that Dazai-san staggered a bit backwards and Chuuya-san's hat fell off. And Atsushi was shocked beyond what he thought was possible. Because rivals don't HUG!
The moment Chuuya-san made contact with Dazai-san, his ability got cancelled off and the plates which were floating, surrendered to the force of gravity. Luckily, Akutagawa's Rashomon caught them in time.
Dazai-san chuckled as he hugged Chuuya-san back and whispered something so low that only Chuuya-san can hear.
"Miss me much?", the low tone wasn't able to carry his teasing tone, but Chuuya knows. He always knows. But, still he replied, "So much."
"Aren't you going to ask me why I left?"
"No, you'll tell me someday."
And they stayed that way for a while longer than humanly normal and broke apart looking at each other and smiling. At that moment Atsushi understood why Dazai-san always spoke about Chuuya-san with much nostalgia, he understood why many people feared and admired Soukoku. They are perfect together, an undestructable force that can't be reckoned with. The real meaning of partners in crime. And because one couldn't stay without the other, the same soul.
Atsushi doesn't know from where the words came from, but he couldn't deny it. They both look like they've spent an eternity together and aren't afraid to do it all over again. They are Perfection. The meaning of complete. And time and distance could do nothing to sever that bond.