Work Text:
The sound of a foot frantically tapping against wood was the only sound that filled Lupin bar. Since Akutagawa had left, no one else had entered.
The bartender too had temporarily disappeared into the backroom, leaving Chuuya alone with his thoughts.
He gulped down another mouth full of wine, setting his near empty glass on the wooden counter.
Chuuya didn't want to sit alone in silence. His talk with Akutagawa had led his mind to spiral, thinking about his ex partner, and the alcohol didn't deliver the bliss Chuuya had hoped for.
He wanted to throw the glass across the room, shatter it on the wall and paint it red with wine on impact. He wanted to imagine it were Dazai's head, that would leave the dark red stain. He wanted to cry and scream and break something.
Chuuya almost wished Akutagawa hadn't left. They could have stayed here all night, drinking away their pain together and shit talking Dazai and Nakajima.
But in reality Chuuya was glad he had left. The kid didn't deserve to suffer here with him, trapped in the ruinous despair that came with trusting Dazai. It would be infinitely better if he got home safe and got a good night's rest.
The Bartender returned, refilling Chuuya's glass of wine.
He reached for it, sipping at the dark liquid.
The wine wasn't anything fancy, but the motion was familiar to Chuuya, grounding even.
He remembered sitting like this and drinking wine the night Dazai had left the Port Mafia, he too remembered the way his hand shook and the way his heart had clenched.
Chuuya, of course, knew that he hadn't been important to Dazai.
Not then and not now.
Nothing was important to Dazai, he played with whomever he felt like and tossed them out like a broken toy afterwards.
But knowing this didn't ease the ache in Chuuya's chest or the fury that burned through his innards.
Cursed be his foolish heart and his useless emotions. Why of all people was Dazai the person Chuuya had to fall for? Why couldn't he stop yearning for him, for his cocky grin and his firm grip on his wrist, for the nights they had spent together after each mission?
Sitting in silence, or talking, or holding each other until the adrenaline ran out and they both felt real again.
Maybe it was a game for Dazai, a simple thing of convenience.
But that didn't undo the way they had been forced to trust each other. It didn't erase all the little details they had learned about each other from his mind, his heart beat and breathing patterns, all the minor things no one else noticed.
It wouldn't change Chuuya's feelings.
He finished the wine, the glass clanking as he sat it down on the counter.
Chuuya threw some money on the counter and left the bar without looking back.
The storm outside had worsened, greeting the executive with a cold load of rainwater.
Heavy clouds coiled over the sky, blocking what little light the moon had to spend and tinting the city in a dark gray.
Chuuya just stood there for a moment, taking in the scenery and letting the rain drench his coat.
Compared to the warm, stuffy air within the bar, it felt very refreshing.
Puddles splashed around his feet when he moved. Chuuya didn't know where he was going, had no goal in mind, but the movement felt good. Better than sitting alone on a bar stool, at least.
He walked past Alleyways and warehouses, stepping through the narrow streets towards the port. He was as familiar with these structures as he was with the shadows that lurked within them, so neither the alcohol clouding his brain, nor the rain obscuring his vision did anything to slow him down.
It wasn't long until he reached the coast.
The Port Mafia territory stretched along the shoreline and its trading routes, wrapping around the ocean like a snake coiled around its prey.
Chuuya knew this place well. An abandoned industrial area, with a few weathered docks. It had been a long time since any ship had docked here though.
Any production in this area had shut down after a rather nasty explosion in one of the larger factories and all the structures surrounding it were promptly left to rot.
Chuuya settled down against the railing of one of the docks, letting his eyes wander across the black water and watching as the stormwind bunched it up into waves.
The water spilled around his feet, soaking his shoes and seafoam clung to his ankles.
Chuuya didn't make any effort to move, he took in the scent of the sea, salty and musty from the algae that clung to the stones. He could smell the wind and the rust of the withering building around him and the lingering scene of cheap wine on himself.
A bright light tore through the darkness, flashing in the distance and colliding with the horizon, the thunder followed not long after.
Chuuya reviled in the view, it quelled his thirst for destruction and made the urge to destroy worse simultaneously.
He felt dangerous, the alcohol made him irrational, but Chuuya didn't care one bit.
The next time the water was pushed against him by the storm, Chuuya activated his ability.
*For the tainted sorrow.*
The water rose around him, tearing through the air, standing against the gusts of wind before violent crashing into the shore. Chuuya watched the water gush over the overgrown street, crashing against the walls of nearby buildings before flooding back into the ocean.
He felt powerful, controlling the waves, the tide. Raising waves like tsunamis and sending a flood upon the abandoned industrial area.
Chuuya's action had no sense.
He wanted to follow his irrational need to fight and destroy. It wasn't a show of strength or a way to play god, all he wanted was to vent the violent fury trapped in his soul.
He wanted his muscles to burn and his bones to ache. Maybe then his mind would finally ease up.
Chuuya's arms dropped. He grabbed at the railing, knuckles turning white as he panted.
His heart was beating hard and fast, pumping adrenaline and alcohol through his body. And yet, still, Dazai's face wouldn't leave his thoughts.
Chuuya cursed, gritting his teeth.
"Get out of my head, you bastard!"
The wind swallowed his words and the water whipping around him washed away his tears.
Chuuya wanted to howl into the night until his throat was raw. He wanted to find Dazai and punch him in the face, beat him to a pulp for abandoning him, for leaving the Port Mafia, for tossing Akutagawa to the side and trampling on everyone's feelings.
His vision was read with fury.
Maybe it was this fury, or the sorrow, or the alcohol that made his control slip.
Chuuya didn't notice it at first, the red markings that burned their way across his skins. Not until the railing broke in his grip and a thin trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth..
_____________________________
Dazai was laying on his futon, tangled up in the sheets as he tossed from side to side. He sat up, groaning and reached out his hand to sift through the bottles littered around him.
To Dazai's dismay, he found them all empty.
He flopped out of bed, pushing himself off the ground and walking towards his window. It was storming outside, rain beating against the glass and thunder roaring in the distance.
It wasn't what was keeping him up, Dazai knew that much.
His eyes scanned over the outside of the ADA dormitory building. There was still light in a few of the windows, including Atsushi's, although Dazai was fairly certain that Atsushi was not home at this time.
Something felt off. Not about the building or the storm, no that wasn't it. But the brunette wasn't able to shake the deep sense of unease.
He felt a stab in his chest, a pang of something dreadful. And this time, Dazai knew what it was.
*Two bodies, one soul.*
Chuuya.
Dazai abruptly spun around, hastily grabbing his coat and stumbling over empty bottles as he rushed for the door and out into the storm.
Something was wrong with Chuuya, he knew that, he always knew. Back when Chuuya and him had fought together, the stab in his chest had been a frequent feeling, his indicator when his partner needed help.
He hadn't felt it in a while. Chuuya was powerful and didn't often end up in danger. What could have possibly happened for Dazai to feel like this now?
Maybe Dazai was delusional for putting so much faith behind, what was essentially, nothing more than a gut feeling. But the thought didn't stop Dazai.
He would gladly embarrass himself and drench himself in the storm for nothing, if it meant being sure...
He dashed through the streets, his mind was racing but his body moved independent of any thoughts.
His whole body felt like it was on fire, muscles tense and burning and lung heaving heavy pants of air, as the street lamps passed him by and disappeared into the darkness.
He left the busier streets and living areas behind him, mindlessly stumbling through the outskirts of the city.
He could hear the ocean roar in the distance, the wind whistling and thunder striking.
And he could hear something else, a dull echo, a foreign sound and Dazai couldn't make out its source.
It was the only warning he got, before the warehouse in front of him was blown apart with unfathomable force, debris scattering everywhere, smashing into windows, bouncing off walls and shattering into dust.
Dazai narrowly dodged a piece of brick that got flung into his direction, as he finally laid eyes on the one he had been searching for.
Among the destruction, atop the broken building, stood his partner, drenched in water and with red markings etched into his skin.
Chuuya didn't notice him, lashing out around himself uncontrollably.
Cold hard terror washed over Dazai. He didn't hesitate as he jumped over the piles of stone and mental, making his way up to where Chuuya stood.
When their eyes met there was no recognition in Chuuya's dark gaze, his eyes were unfocused and tinted red, and blood was dripping down his chin.
The executive lunged, but Dazai was way too familiar with the other man, his attack patterns and movement, so he dodged the attack with ease and caught him in his arms from behind.
*No longer Human.*
Chuuya slumped in Dazai's grip, the markings disappeared and the pieces of debris that were floating in the air crashed down into the dust of destruction.
Dazai held his breath. For a moment everything was silent. Chuuya didn't move, the wind seemed to slow and the roaring storm was drowned out by the terror rushing through Dazai's very being.
Until Chuuya's chest heaved underneath Dazai's grip, he choked and coughed, spitting out a mouth full of blood and writhing against Dazai's hold.
Then he stilled, but now he was breathing and cracking open his eyes again, and the sounds return to Dazai as a breath of relief was forced from his lungs.
They were both silent, Dazai waited for Chuuya to speak, to move, to do anything, but he didn't.
"Chibi..?"
The question sounded light-hearted, Dazai's tone didn't reveal the pure, primal fear he had felt for the other man.
Chuuya scoffed weakly, lashing out at him and pushing out of Dazai's hold.
He abruptly stumbled and sank to the floor at the loss of support.
"Chibi?..", Dazai asked again, taking a step towards Chuuya.
"Fuck off, Jackass!"
Dazai's face didn't fall, it never did, but his chest tightened painfully.
"What the hell are you doing here?!", Chuuya snapped at him.
"I should be the one asking you that."
Dazai was quick to fall back into his usual tone of mocking accusations, it was easier than revealing his worry.
"None of your damn business!"
Chuuya pushed off of the ground and turned his back on Dazai.
"Chibi used Corruption without supervision, don't you think I deserve to know why? After all, I'm oh-so worried about my dear partner~", his voice was dripping with sarcasm but his words were entirely honest.
"The hell do you care? Besides, we aren't partners anymore!"
Dazai tilts his head.
"Chuuya could have died. You should be a little more grateful I came to your rescue~"
Dazai meant to provoke. It was comfortable ground for him. Chuuya's anger created the necessary barrier to the vulnerability Dazai feared so much.
Naturally he expected anger from Chuuya, but he wasn't prepared for the way the other man's expression changed.
Hard and cold, a blend of Disappointment and hatred.
Chuuya didn't raise his voice when he spoke.
"Grateful? You have got to be kidding me. I'm not grateful. I have no fucking clue why you're here, but i never asked you to come, so drop the savior act."
"Come now, Chuuya. Don't be like that~"
This time, Dazai gets the anger he was pushing for.
"I told you to fuck off! Why the hell won't you just leave me alone! Like this isn't all your fault in the first place! Won't you just go die already?! It's what you so desperately want anyway, isn't it?!!"
"My fault..?"
The two of them noticed simultaneously, that Dazai dropped his mask. They both heard the confused hurt in his words and Datai curses himself.
The tone made Chuuya sober up a little, from both his rage and the alcohol still in his system.
...
"Whatever.."
"Chuuya.. why did you use corruption?"
Chuuya scoffed, looking to the side with a complicated emotion plastered onto his face.
"It wasn't on purpose, alright? Will that shut you up already? I'm not trying to die like you are.."
Dazai can't decide, if Chuuya losing control over corruption should make him feel less or more worried, than the possibility of Chuuya useing it as an extravagant suicide method.
"Chuuya still hasn't told me why he's here.."
Dazai pried gently.
"What does it matter if i tell you," Chuuya snapped again, and suddenly Dazai longs for the vulnerability he had been trying to avoid, "It's impossible to have conversation with a lying bastard like you anyway!"
"I'm not lying to chibi-"
"But you're not honest either!! You never are! Do you think I'm too dumb to notice?! It doesn't matter if your words are true, you're never honest to anyone!! Ruining everything in the process!"
Dazai's eyes widen slightly at the outburst.
"I-"
"If you won't be fucking honest for once, then fucking beat it, got it?! I won't let you reek your havoc anymore! Not over Akutagawa and not over me! Go back to your godforsaken agency and cause trouble there, but stay out of the Mafia's business!! And i fucking dare you to come talk to the kid again! Leave him be, you understand that?!"
Dazai lowered his head.
"..Chuuya"
"What?! What the hell do you want now?!"
Chuuya spun around angrily, ready to lash out against Dazai again, but Datai caught his wrists.
The expression in his deep brown eyes is too much to handle for Chuuya. It's too close to honestly, too close to real endearment.
He pushed him off, throwing a half hearted punch his way but he stumbled , slipping on the wet concrete.
His muscles burned with pain and exhaustion from using corruption. No matter how much stronger than Dazai Chuuya was, he was in no position to fight him.
When Dazai caught him this time he didn't struggle, sinking to the ground along with the other man.
Dazai's touch burned hot against Chuuya's cold, rain soaked skin, almost painfully so.
He embraced him, engulfing him in his arm and shielding him against the rain.
"I'm sorry Chuuya."
Dazai's voice was somber.
Chuuya pushed his head into the soaked fabric of Dazai's coat, choking down a sob that threatened to escape him.
He wasn't sure what to respond. Dazai didn't apologize, it was not something he did, he was never wrong, so why would he?
He wanted to burst out into tears again and push against the other man's body until they merged as one, or yell at him, accusing him of lying..
He punched Dazai's shoulder weakly.
"You bastard.. don't lie to me"
Dazai pulled him closer cradling his head and pressing his face into Chuuya's red hair.
"I won't, I promise.."
"Why the hell are you here?"
"I was worried about Chibi. Had a bad feeling and knew something must be wrong."
Chuuya scoffed.
"Yeah right.."
They stayed in this position, cradling together on top of the destroyed building as the storm eased up.
After a while Chuuya raised his head, locking eyes with Dazai again.
"Tsk, you really are a pain in the ass, look at the shit you make me do."
Dazai smiled in response, not in his usual cocky or mocking way, not even flirtatiously. It was far too gentle, so very unlikely Dazai.
The life in the light truely had changed the ex executive.
The thought made Chuuya's heart burn. He felt far too much tonight. He missed the old Dazai and loved the new Dazai all the same, he didn't want to go back to the way they were back, when they both killed for the Mafia, but he wanted to go back to Dazai, to his Partner, his soulmate.
Chuuya leaned forward, firmly grabbing the back of Dazai's neck and pressing their lips together.
His partner let it happen, joining him, lips moving together slowly but firmly.
Time slowed again,but not like it had in the moment of terror. Suddenly it was like all the pain and sorrow didn't matter, maybe it was worth it.
Chuuya pulled back, looking into those deep brown eyes again.
"Seriously though, Osamu. Quit tormenting Ryuunosuke or I'll make you regret it."
Dazai huffed in amusement.
"It's a promise."
And Chuuya dove into him again, tangeliung their limbs, pushing their lips together and holding the other man close on top of the ruined building, as the rising sun finally broke through the storm clouds.