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Ever since the truce between the port mafia and the agency combined missions like this weren't unlikely. Everyone was pretty much used to it even if many in the agency were begrudging.
So it didn't come as a surprise when the president announced another joint mission with the mafia, choosing kunikida and atsushi as the offense and dazai as the strategiest. Yosano was coming along as well, she usually did in the joint missions as they tended to be dangerous and there was threat of injury. The mission itself wasn't special as well, a simple drug base bust of a gang that was getting too bold and was causing problems for the citizens.
Not surprisingly, dazai was whining loudly in the office, going about not wanting to dirty his clothes and being comfortable on the agency couch and something about jumping off of a bridge.
Dazai never much liked the mafia missions. He had to be more so cautious whenever he was assigned those, to not revert back to his old habits when surrounded by mafia squads. It was harder to hold himself back to have some fun when he had the control of those efficient men, some whom he had trained. It wasn't even that he thought his agency members would think of him differently if he showed that side — which they would but that didn't bother him, at this point he was comfortable to say they wouldn't shun him even if they knew his past — it was more like he didn't want to appear efficient or capable or god forbid they would give him even more missions and paperwork. He rather liked his lazy persona.
But well, it didn't matter anymore because the mission shattered that image for them anyways.
The mission piqued dazai's interest when the president gave them the details and it turned out they would only be working with hirotsu-san and his squad, which was the black lizard.
Now that was fun, hirotsu-san was one of the few people in the mafia he actually respected, the other was Ane-san of course. He always had fun trying to mess with him because hirotsu-san knew his intentions and indulged him anyways. He always respected him, even when he was sixteen as the executive. Not much could phase the old guy. He also used to treat him like a child back then, but not in a patronising way which he appreciated. Now that he's thinking back on it, he missed having a cigarette after a mission with him. He rarely smokes these days, but he's craving it again.
They arrived at the site of the drug base at the agreed time and met up with the mafia squad. The tension was still thick even after tens of missions. The both sides were stuck in a staring match, dazai ignored it and walked up to the leader warmly and said.
“Hey Hirotsu-san, long time no see.”
The leader in return bowed politely, and replied, “Dazai-san it has been a while. I hope you've been well.”
The old man still cared about his health. They met up sometimes, either looking at paintings in museums or playing chess. On the rare occasion, the older man would take him to dinner and talk about everything but nothing of real importance.
“You know me, still looking for a beautiful maiden to commit double suicide with.” Dazai said with exaggerated theatrics.
Around their conversation, people on both sides looked at eachother with confusion. Tachihara turned to gin and gave a silent ‘what the fuck’ expression. The girl simply shrugged in return. Kunikida yelled from behind dazai,
“Oi you waste of bandages! What are you doing bothering the mafia with your stupidity. Focus on the mission.” And continued to drag dazai by the collar, who looked like a cat being dragged.
“Now let's start the mission. No messing up.” The leader of the black lizard said addressing his subordinates.
The mission went swimmingly as dazai predicted it would. He just had to give a few hints of strategy here and there and only had to fight two men at most. After all why would he do the elbow work when both kunikida and atsushi were there. The leader of the drug dealing gang was caught, there were barely any casualties. But both of his members were panting as they all gathered outside warehouse they just raided so that yosano could look at the injuries of both the mafia and the agency members.
Dazai was standing shamelessly against the wall, looking untouched while kunikida was covered in grime and dirt, from rolling around, his hair a mess and his knuckles scratched. Atsushi was also in a similar state. There were more men than originally predicted so they had to put in good effort. Dazai was technically a non-combatant member so he just stood there in the aftermath singing his suicide song.
While yosano was wrapping up tending to the injuries of the mafia, moving on form the agency, hirotsu-san approached dazai and leaned beside him against the wall.
“The mission went smooth.”
Dazai simply nodded in his direction.
Hirotsu didn't say anything more, just pulled out a rectangular box from his coat and took out a cigarette. He put it in between his lips but before lighting in he offered the box to dazai. They picked up the simple routine of theirs as if dazai hadn't disappeared for four years. A cigarette after a mission well done. He had missed it. So he accepted the offering and put in between his lips as well.
As he took out the lupin lighter from his pocket, he felt the weight of multiple stares on him. He paused and looked up to see all his members gazes at him, looking at him with confusion and bewilderment. The black lizard squad was also looking at him with the same look, no doubt confused why their leader was treating a detective of the opposite side with such respect. Except for gin, she had seen it all before so she wasn't surprised in the least.
Dazai pinned them with a stare of his own and asked, “What?” With slight confusion himself.
Yosano was first to speak up, “Since when did you spoke.” Her voice sounded incredulous.
Ah so that's what it was about. He just shrugged and lit his cigarette. He took it out for a second to answer, “Since always, I just don't smoke as often now.” And brought the cigarette back to his lips to have a deep inhale and took a long drag before releasing the smoke. The bitter taste felt good on his tongue. Hirotsu-san carried the high quality cigarettes of course.
They were still looking at him stupidly. Then kunikida spoke, “How we didn't know that as well is beyond me. Besides you shouldn't smoke its bad for your health. Before you know it you will get addicted.”
That really wasn't a concern for him, he wanted to laugh. His body had been pumped with multiple different drugs to the point he developed immunity to many of them, both for his ‘training’ and from the multiple suicide attempts. He had never developed an addiction to any of them. Simple nicotine addiction seemed laughable to him. It would be the least harmful thing in his body. But how would he explain that to kunikida. He didn't like to explain himself. Before he could speak to deflect that or say something to rile him up even further, hirotsu-san spoke up for him.
“I've never seen Dazai-san get addicted to anything. I doubt that nicotine would be the first”
A statement that left the others in confusion but dazai understood. He appreciated his input. He smiled and said, “What he said.” and continued to smoke. That's why he liked hirotsu-san. Next time he'll treat him to nice restaurant.
They continued in silence as they both finished their cigarettes and both mafia and agency updated their leaders on the completion of the mission. It was peaceful for dazai, he closed his eyes and for a second he could almost feel that he was still 17 and an executive, when he still had his friend and his partner by his side, and he was just finishing up another mission Mori stuck onto him to piss him off.
The mirage shattered when a face appeared Infront of them. One of the man from the black lizard squad, a foot soldier. He was clearly new according to his mannerisms, and the fact that he had the audacity of coming up to his leader in the middle of a mission — a mission in the mafia wasn't over until they reached back to the building and reported back to count the numbers for keeping track of any deaths — he stood Infront of the squad leader and bowed rather flippantly, he was holding his arm in a sling. Dazai noticed he was one of the few casualties, he had gotten shot in the arm.
Dazai narrowed his eyes at his flippant behaviour but didn't say anything, he reminded himself he isn't a superior anymore, and doesn't need to bother himself with the behaviour of the team. That was until the man spoke in a gruff voice,
“Hirotsu-san, I had asked for a day off and was denied. Now that I'm injured can I at least get tomorrow off.”
He spoke with zero respect in his voice as if the hierarchy was all but a joke for him. And the fact that he felt entitled to a holiday just because a bullet grazed him arm. In the mafia, if you got shot it a you problem. A skill issue, meaning you let your guard off for someone to attack you, the only exception was if you got shot protecting your superior. Although you got compensation for none. It was the mafia, not a local workplace. An injury that small didn't guarantee any sympathy, let alone compensation. Dazai himself had been in much worse conditions when he would pick himself up to complete the mission, and he had been an executive. He had trained all his subordinates to be the same as well. They were the most competent and efficient squad in the mafia, their loyalty reached reverence levels.
After his squad, the black lizard was supposed to be the most formidable squad in the mafia and too see such incompetent fool in the squad, flipped a switch in dazai. His unbothered face disappeared in stead the mask he wore in the mafia came back — mask or true face, he wasn't sure anymore — the foolish detective was gone, the demon prodigy's stare bore into the side of the incompetent mafioso, who didn't know what he had done.
They guy felt the stare and met his eyes to the source. The sight sent chills to his very spine. The night felt colder, an effect everyone could feel. Suddenly everyone was uncomfortable even if they didn't know why, a veil of silence draped itself on the party. Even the agency members went quiet to look at the scene Infront of them.
Dazai's eyes glinted red in the light of the moon. This change was also invited by the fact the idiot dared to disrespect hirotsu-san. One of the oldest and most loyal man in the mafia who had served almost three generation of mafia bosses. Anyone who dared disrespect him, didn't have much regard to their life.
Dazai's voice was cold and cutting as he spoke,
“Ne, hirotsu-san you are too kind with your subordinates if they dare to speak with you like this.
His stare still stuck on the idiot, and he addressed the older man. Even the squad leader felt a little fear, not for himself but for the poor man who would be subjected to dazai's fury. He had to put out out the fire before it consumes someone.
“Dazai-san there's no need–”
But before he could do damage control, the idiot man once again proved his idiocy and decided to open his mouth to seal his fate.
“Oi who are you to speak! You bandaged freak. I will speak however I like.’
If it was possible the atmosphere sunk even more. Dazai's eyes turned into bottomless pits. If he was a person with the least but of intelligence or survival instincts he would've shut up, bowed his head, backed up, but unfortunately he was an idiot.
The scene that was unfolding in front of them had captured everybody's attention. Everyone was standing watching in morbid curiosity as to what will happen, no one dared to interrupt, even the ones who knew dazai had enough survival instincts to not interfere. Atsushi was shivering, not sure if it was the wind or did the temperature really did go down. Kunikida couldnt believe the man standing was his partner, the one who goofed around at every second, yosano knew dazai was capable of being scary, she had recognized it in his eyes the day she found out he had been in the mafia but seeing it was different, she was getting flashbacks but she couldn't afford that right now. Tachihara was just disturbed, who the hell was this man and why was he striking this much fear in mafiosos. And why was it working on him too!!!
Now dazai's attention was zeroed in on the idiot of a man, “Didn't your training include manners?” His voice had a playful lilt too it but it lacked all the warmth of usual. It sounded more like a threat, “Let me teach you then, when your superior is talking, You. Shut. Up.”
The last words were said with impact that everyone felt. It was already quiet but it somehow got quieter. A current of fear passed through everyone, nobody knew what was happening anymore or what will happen if the man didn't keep his mouth shut. Only two people were mostly unphased. The two who had seen dazai in his prime demon prodigy years. Hirotsu and gin. Both knew the destruction the bandaged man was capable of. They were more worried than scared.
The man was quite visibly shaking now. He was questioning all his decisions in life but still didn't quite understand who he was standing in front of. No doubt if he knew it was the infamous demon prodigy, whose fear still circulated in the lower ranks of the mafia, who had become more rumor than truth, whose ghost stories still kept them in check, he would've pissed himself on the spot. Or maybe shot himself, it wouldn't be the first that hapoened.
But the man didn't know, and wasn't intelligent enough to piece it together so in an attempt to regain his pride he once again started, though now shaking and stumbling over his words.
“You- you- why is it- your probl-”
Dazai was getting livid now, an anger he hadn't felt since he used to train people when he was fifteen and nobody took him seriously. He was losing his grip on the facade, he wasn't sure what he would do if killing is out of the option. But they didn't call him the demon for no reason. He knew of much worse things than death, that made many arrogant men beg for death. He tilted his head, almost reached for the blade hidden beneath his coat, when a figure broke from the crowd and rushed forward where they were standing.
“Da- Dazai-san! Forgive his insolence.” She came rushing, bowed and grabbed the man by his neck forcing him to bow a full ninety degrees too.
“He doesn't know, he's new and still in training. I myself take responsibility to train him in manners. He will apologise immediately and never talk to a superior like that.”
The bowing man made an indignant sound, but quieted once the woman leveled him with a glare that said “there will be consequences for this”
Everybody took in the scene wondering what the fuck was happening, the agency members not recognising their co-worker and baffled by the way the mafia troops respected him. The rest of the mafia who joined in the past four years or who didn't know the demon prodigy by face were also baffled thinking why one of their martial arts trainer who was well respected among them was bowing to this agency man. Tachihara had lost all sense ten minutes ago and now was just looking at gin begging with his eyes to explain what the fuck was going on. She didn't budge.
Dazai's anger did dissipate somwhat, if not fully, seeing one of the trainers he knew come forward. He liked sasaki, and if she did take responsibility then the guy probably wouldn't even be able to properly stand after the hell in training she will be putting him through.
“Sasaki-san I see you vouched for him. Just because it's you I will let him off the hook.” They both sighed out of relief.
“But don't think I won't be keeping my eyes on you.” His eyes flashed red once again, they didn't question how he still had eyes in the mafia but believed him nonetheless. The gulped and nodded, and backed away as if running away from the predator.
Dazai turned to hirotsu and said, “You know I can always train your squad hirotsu-san. I wouldn't mind shaping them for you.”
A shiver ran through the squad at the words, especially those who knew of his reputation. He doubted all of them would come out alive after his training.
“I appreciate the offer Dazai-san but i wouldn't like to bother you. I will deal with disrespect though, rest assured.”
He shrugged in response, “Alright, feel free to change your mind though. I would have fun with them.” He shot a look at the team. They all unconsciously took a step backwards.
As the conversation between the two men was happening, the idiot asked his sasaki in a hushed tone, “why did you drag me from there, we are the mafia. He was disrespecting us if anything. We should've taught him a lesson.”
She replied in an equally hushed tone, “Shut your trap you idiot. Do you have any idea who that is. You will get both of us in trouble if you don't watch your mouth from now on.”
“No I don't, just who the fuck is that guy. He can't be anyone important look at his bandages hands.”
The woman sighed out of frustration and anger, “You really are an idiot, have you never heard the ghost stories and rumors in the mafia of the demon prodigy.”
“What, where did that come from. Of course I have.” It was a rite of passage for the newer trainees to scare them, he called bullshit at first but after a week he started watching his back to confirm now shadow of a demon was following him.
“Then the bandages wrapped all around him, the respect from hirotsu-san, the red glinting eyes, the shivers or fear, did none of that ring a bell to you?!?”
He was utterly confused now….. was she implying that the man he faced right now, the man he insult and called a banged freak was…. the demon prodigy!!
His hand flew to his mouths and he gasped. His other subordinates looked at him due to the commotion. Half of them were confused as well, until he said a little loudly
“That was the demon prodigy?!?!” hs legs gave out from fear as he replayed the scene in his mind and all the things he said and did. And suddenly, his life became extremely dear to him. He even started crying already mourning his life as no doubt the demon will hunt him down and show him a fate worse than death. Even if the shadow never arrives he will spend the rest of his life in fear always looking at his back.
The others had similar reactions as they reached the same conclusion from his exclamation. They pitied the man, but they were also terrified for their own lives as they saw the bandaged man in a different light now. Now calmly talking with their leader. Whispers broke out, all felt the same panic now that it was confirmed that the demon prodigy wasn't dead but well alive and ready to instill fear at the slight mistake. Sasaki looked at the great mafia troops now reduced to a fearing mess, she was that far behind but had the decency to hide it. She sighed, the training for the next few months will be tough, she had to bring the troop back to the demon prodigy's standard. She doubted she'll achieve that but she can try.
As the panicked whispers spread among the mafia, the agency members also felt unsettled. Kunikida's mind was reeling. He couldn't put the image of dazai to the man that was standing some distance away from him. He looked to see atsushi was also in a similar state while yosano was…. thinking. She didn't look scared but she also didn't look pleased, she looked as if she was remembering unsavoury memories.
They all shared a look and decided to approach dazai who was chatting with hirotsu.
Kunikida inhaled deeply. He wasn't proud to admit but he had also gotten a bit scared during the scene. It was a face none of the had seen on dazai or even expected it from him. He was aware his partner used a façade most of the time, but he could say he knew him enough to know his attitude around them wasn't completely fake. But after witnessing the menacing persona he had put on he couldn’t be sure. Even after working with the man for two years, he still barely knew anything about him.
“Dazai, what was all that about.”
Dazai blinked at him, “What was what about.”
The gall of this man. This was the reason he got so easily ruled up by him.
“That entire scene.” He gestured wildly with his hands, “You punishing that mafia man for being disrespectful. Why did you even do that, we don't concern ourselves with what they do or don't do.”
That was also something that irked him. He knew dazai used to work for the mafia, though he didn't know exactly what he used to do. The bastard was extremely slippery when it came to answering questions straightforward. Ranpo would know but would never tell. He assumed he used to work at a low ranking post, probably strategist. He couldn't get much higher because of his hatred for actually working.
“Oh that. You don't need to worry about that kunikida-kun~” his playful demeanor was back as if nothing had happened.
Atsushi finally came out from behind kunikida, as he saw his mentor come back. “Da- Dazai-san that was really scary. Why would you punish someone like that. He was literally shaking with fear.”
At that dazai paused a bit, he hadn't meant to scare atsushi or his coworkers. Although he should've thought of that since they never saw him as the demon prodigy, or even knew about it.
He fluffed atsushi’s hair and said, “You don't need to be scared atsushi-kun. I just got a bit carried away when I saw him being disrespectful to hirotsu-san here.”
“Oh.. that makes sense, but I don't understand why were the others so scared.”
Ah dazai would have to explain that too.
“Yeah, they looked like you were going to gun them down right here.” Yosano sensei as always blunt without hesitation, “Were you that girl's superior or something in the mafia.”
She put up a strong front, but dazai could see him acting like that had shaken her up a bit. He couldn't even blame her. That repulsing man had compared himself to dazai once as well.
“Yes you could say that.”
“Dazai-san I have a question.” Atsushi said. Dazai nodded to signal to ask him, “Back there, I heard them say something like…. demon prodigy. Were they calling you that?”
Dazai sighed internally. He probably picked that up from his enhanced tiger senses. At the mention of the moniker, yosano and kunikida tensed immediately. Atsushi was new to this world, he wouldn't know of the time when the port mafia was at its peak, called the golden era marked by the terror of the demon prodigy and sokouku. But kunikida and yosano would. This night was turning even messier. He thanked hirotsu-san in his head for the cigarette, he looked like he'll need more.
“Yes atsushi-kun, that used to be my moniker in the mafia.”
Kunikida looked horrified at the admission. It would be funny, if dazai wasn't nervous. He had found friends within his coworkers, had even accepted the agency as his new home, even if some days he missed how chuuya’s soft bed felt or the taste of Ane-san’s immaculate tea, the agency was a close second. He didn't want to be shunned once again even if he braced himself for it. It didn't mean it would hurt any less.
“So.. you mean to say that….. you're the demon prodigy?!?!?” Kunikida all but exclaimed. He was probably close to bursting the vein in his forehead.
Dazai nodded
“But that's impossible!” dazai arched a brow. “The demon prodigy is supposed to be efficient, cunning, brilliantly cruel and even charming from the rumors I've gathered. All the things you're not.”
Dazai genuinely laughed at that, “That's mean ku-ni-ki-da~” he sang, “I'm pretty charming and I can be efficient when I want to.”
He left the cruel part out on purpose, he was grateful they couldn't see him as cruel but they didn't exactly know his past.
“Efficient my ass!
“But the demon prodigy supposedly has an infinitely long list of crimes so heinous that even the mafia shudders at.” Yosano spoke after some time, sobering the mood.
Atsushi looked scared at that, he struggled to come to terms with that image of his mentor; cruel and unforgiving. He couldn't picture that for the tall figure standing in front of him. He knew dazai used to be in the mafia but he always thought that his situation had been really bad for him to join the mafia, why would anyone go there else. He believed in his mentor that he joined the agency to do good, he saved him after all so he wanted to change right. Isn't that what makes you a good person, that you're willing to change for the better?
“That's correct.” Dazai simply admitted without giving any justification, and he even admired that about him.
Seeing the tense situation that was created among the four agency members and the way dazai became on guard again, Hirotsu decided to help if he can.
“Dazai-san striked fear in his enemies heart. There used to be a saying in the mafia, the biggest misfortune of dazai's enemies is that they are dazai's enemies. But the same fear also protected the ones he wanted to protect. I can recall many instances when the enemy ran away in fear just from the knowledge that they were going to harm somebody under the protection of the demon prodigy. He's only the demon for the enemy.” He hoped he hadn't stepped out of the line with his input.
Dazai's face reflected gratefulness. “Ne, hirotsu-san I didn't know you thought that highly of me. When we meet again, let me take care of the bill.”
Hirotsu saw that as his sign to leave, “Sure Dazai-san, I'll take my leave now” and with that he gathered his troops and left.
When dazai turned back to his friends, the tense atmosphere hadn't dispelled, they were still looking at him like he was a stranger. He wasn't certain that hirotsu-san’s words would affect the same way to the agency members as they would to a port mafia member. Yeh mafia valued loyalty and protection, the agency valued morals. He readied himself for everything, every harsh word but yosano’s next words took him off guard.
“How old were you when you joined the mafia.”
He was at a loss. He hadn't expected that. He had expected asking for justification of his crimes or that if he was sorry, did he feel guilty, he had feared he wouldn't be able to answer any of them in the way they wanted. But not what yosano asked. So, caught off guard he replied honestly without trying to deflect.
“Fifteen.”
Kunikida's brows furrowed, atsushi's expression was of poorly hidden surprise and yosano let out a long string of expletives. He caught a “fucking bastard doctor” in there.
Dazai usually so apt at reading people, read their earlier expression wrong, they hadn't looked at him like he was a stranger, but more like a mystery, with a twinge of concern between the brows. They had been with him for two years, they called themselves a family yet they failed to garner enough information about their resident suicide freak. Actually the suicide jokes made much more sense now, she doubted any of them were jokes though. She would keep an extra close eye on him. For now though she heaved a long sigh and said
“Well that was a shit-show, who wants to go get drinks. It's on me.”
Dazai looked a little conflicted at that. As if he was still waiting for the yelling. She was a healer not a therapist, but she also was a good friend so she could only offer him the sweet oblivion of alcohol, and a little trauma dumping session.
“Come on you can tell us all about your mafia days and how you you got that nickname. I want to know about sokouku as well.”
She dragged him along as she threw kunikida a look to not mess this up. He also looked grim, but managed to agree to her offer. Atsushi ran after them as well but they decided to drop him off at the dorms. They weren't going to subject the kid to the horrors so early on.
Dazai was still very much confused but let it go, he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to drink himself to death after the day he had.
“Well, if you're asking….”
END