Chapter Text
"Thought you were living at the agency's dorms?" a voice asked when Dazai followed the harbour's path towards the various containers placed nearby.
"So what? Am I not allowed to come here just because I live somewhere else?" Dazai countered, stopping at the edge of the pier, looking over the ocean.
"Didn't say that" the voice growled, a shockwave swinging through the wooden way when the gravity manipulator jumped down from the shipping container.
"Why are you here?" the brunette simply asked, not bothering to look at the other.
"Because I wouldn't get to talk to you properly anywhere else" the redhead snorted, leaning against the wall of the container.
"Who knows? It's been four years after all" Dazai retorted, a light chuckle escaping him. He didn't think further than that actually; didn't think that Chuuya would go out of his way.
In fact, he hadn't calculated anything about this situation. Because he knew Chuuya would screw his calculations over and over again and again but still, he didn't think Chuuya would even react to his words. After all, the redhead often just ignored him and his antics.
Well, except for today. Today when Chuuya surprised even himself with how he reacted at Dazai saying what he said.
"Is that all for you? Simply four years of being away?" Chuuya shouted, gripping Dazai at his throat and holding him over the waving water in front of the pier. "Four years in which I didn't even know whether you were alive and you just go on like that's nothing!" the redhead started to yell, well aware that they were the only ones around here.
Dazai stayed silent at that, not even looking at Chuuya. Once his mouth opened he could feel the other one shiver, feeling the grip at his throat swaying before it hardened again, securing him.
"Hey" he mumbled, attracting Chuuya's attention to him, while he slowly raised his head. His bangs hid his eyes only halfway, displaying a sad and exhausted look in his eyes that Chuuya had almost never seen. "Do you know why I left?"
At this it was Chuuya's turn to stay silent, commanding Dazai to speak with just a look. "You remember Odasaku, right? Well, he died that night. In my arms. I left because of what he said; If good and bad don't matter to you either way, then become good. Be on the side that saves people. Maybe then life will be at least a little bit less boring.
And well, that's exactly why I left" Dazai explained, closing his eyes and trying to inhale as deep as possible with the hand restricting him.
"Then why didn't you at least tell me? I didn’t hear anything from you for years!" Chuyua growl-yelled, desperation staining his voice. When Dazai looked at him again, his eyes were cold and determined, making even Chuuya swallow hard.
"Because that would have put you in Mori's focus."
"What-?" Chuuya mumbled, taking a step back and dragging Dazai back onto the ground. Dazai simply stayed silent, looking at him straight.
"He would have used you in order to get me back. He was aware that this would have worked. I didn't want to drag you into this hell" he admitted, having barely whispered the second sentence, his hand snaking up and gripping Chuuyas wrist, making him release his throat gently.
"You- You are insufferable" Chuuya exhaled shakingly, taking yet another step back. "I know," Dazai replied, shrugging. "Yet you did put up with me all this time."
"Did I have a choice?" Chuuya pouted, looking at him again.
"You could have always killed me" Dazai simply reminded him, spreading out his arms sideways. "You could right now if you want to get revenge for what I did. I can't possibly hold it against you."
"If I punch you here I will have to get wet to save you again" Chuuya tsked, seeing through the brunette's action. Instead he grabbed the other one by his arms, swirling him around and sending him flying against the wall he was leaning against before.
"You sure have grown weak over the years" Dazai chuckled, standing up and rubbing his arm forcefully, making the numb feeling go away.
"Oh please. I could have crushed your skull with a punch" Chuuya growled, grabbing his throat again - definitely not caring if that caused bruises, the brunette always covered his neck anyways - and thrusting him against the wall.
"I may understand your reasons now but that doesn't mean I can forgive you" he whispered dangerously low, making Dazai smirk down on him.
"I would never ask you for forgiveness. But it's good to see that you are back to your old self, Partner."
"You planned this, didn't you?" Chuuya sighed, rubbing his temple while letting go of Dazai. "Nope" the brunette replied smiling, stretching his arms and neck in order to get the ache away.
"I simply felt like it was necessary before we work together again. After all, they need Double Black and not whatever we have been between back then and today.."
"Bastard" Chuuya sighed again, starting to leave. "Dinner’s on you tonight. That's the least you can do" he added before putting on his motorbike helmet, throwing a second one to Dazai.
"Of course. Don't let the agency know though, they won't believe me that I'm not broke if they find out." Dazai replied, climbing on the bike behind Chuuya as he did all those years ago.
"You changed" Chuuya noticed when they entered the restaurant they used to frequent years ago, taking the seat in a small corner like always.
"Shall I take that as a compliment?" Dazai asked, grinning at him in a crooked way, making Chuuya flex his knuckles in order to not punch him right there.
"Of course, idiot. I would have told you way earlier if you had become even more of a menace."
"To the agency dorms?" Chuuya asked once they got on his bike again, Dazai really having paid for them.
"Nah" the brunette slurred, placing his chin on Chuuya's shoulder. "Don't wanna," he added. "Wherever you want to go."
Chuuya looked at him through the corner of his eye, ruffling his hair -they didn't care about putting on the helmets this time- with a soft smile while Dazai tightened his grip at his waist while he was already drifting to sleep.
Only now the redhead remembered what Dazai had told him years ago when they were driving back from a finished mission. He had asked him how he could sleep on a driving bike. The answer he had gotten back then changed his understanding of Dazai to a way deeper level than he expected.
mm.. know 'm safe here..
So Chuuya simply followed the streets, avoiding any of the security traffic cameras scattered across the city. He took his sweet time following the streets out of the city, feeling Dazai's slow and relaxed breath against his neck, the grip around his waist instinctively holding the other one secured.
Usually he would wake Dazai once they were at their goal, most of the time the headquarters, but today he drove through the night, letting the other one sleep since he was aware that the man usually didn't.
Once he felt the brunette stir behind him, mumbling something and flexing his fingers, he slowed down a bit until he held on the edge of a hill, overlooking the sunrise bathing Yokohama in a peaceful light.
"Good morning, mackerel" he smiled, placing a hand on Dazai's still around his waist.
"Mm.. Morning chibi."
"Thanks for the ride" Dazai mumbled while getting off of the bike, turning away to the meeting spot the agency had agreed upon before they would go to the alliance's HQ together.
"Try not to die before training." Stay safe until I can protect you again.
Chuuya just replied, letting the engine howl out and rushed away, making sure to not be seen to avoid any unnecessary trouble for both of them.