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Chuuya groaned, a resounding thud humming against his temple.
He stared blankly at the blood on his hands. His gloves? Same thing, really. The flurry of grunts working and walking around him, cleaning up everything that could remotely suggest he even stepped foot in the area. Wiping clean any evidence that could taint his record further than it already was.
A sigh escaped his lips as he reached into his pocket to pull out a cigarette. He didn’t smoke often. Not after Kouyou had reprimanded him over and over about how it ruins his lungs and the coughing causes horribly disgusting noises. But he needs it right now. When arahabaki’s incessant presence was extra prominent today.
“Sir Nakahara-? Do you need a—“
”I have my own lighter. Thanks.” He replied quickly. Fuck knows why these idiots all seem to think he doesn’t carry his own shit around. It’s like they will jump at any chance to please him, to curry favour and get promoted.
Hah. As if Chuuya would ever trust these faceless men so easily.
”I’m leaving. I expect your initial report to be on my desk by tomorrow afternoon.” He mumbled, hoping, begging that his frustration and fatigue wasn’t edging through his tone, showing these people eager for a way up how none tired he is.
He barely noticed the small cut on his cheek. It was still bleeding.
No one points it out.
He wandered around. The mission tonight was near the port. Just a quick job of erasing some smugglers that thought they could infringe upon Port Mafia territory. It was supposed to be so easy. A waste of his time even.
Of course not. The smugglers had decided to set off weapon after weapon in a storage warehouse full of explosives. It was a real shitshow, having to overuse tainted just to try to contain the possibility of an explosion.
At least, Chuuya thought as he leaned against a railing, none of his men died. He may not be very trustful of most of them, but that didn’t mean he wanted them to just die. That’s too…inhuman? At least, as humane for someone who isn’t even human.
Let me out. Let me out. let me out. letmeout.letmeoutletmeoutletmeoutletmeoutletmeoutLETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETME—
“—you okay?”
Chuuya let out a heaving breath as a cool wave washed over him. His hand gripped the railing in front of him as he kneeled on the concrete (when did that happen-?), the other hand clutching his shirt where his chest was.
This…sensation over his body. It was...relaxing. It was quiet, he realised with a slight jolt, because Arahabaki wasn’t there. He was gone.
He whipped his head around, belatedly realised he could be in danger-
to meet a pair of eyes fixed on his face.
A pretty shade. Red? Brown? No. Something in between. It was a colour Chuuya could probably drown in. Connected to long eyelashes that flickered with worry.
Chuuya’s focused fanned out to the rest of the face the eyes were implanted in. Porcelain skin that was reflecting the sunset, pink, plush lips that were open. Moving, he thinks, although he can’t quite register the words because of the cotton in his head. The dark brown eyebrows were pinched together, but you had to look quite hard to tell because of the matching brown hair that fell over them. Not to mention the glasses that perched just on the tip of a cute nose.
Chuuya’s blinked as a hand touched his face, the cotton plugging his brain amd ears evaporating at once.
“You’re bleeding-! Are you hurt anywhere else-? Uh- I think I might have a bandaid on me somewhere-?”
”I- uh-“
Chuuya mourned the hand as it left his face, watching as the soft hand, unmarred by blistered and scars like his were from battle, moved to rifle through the boy’s backpack. Before returning to apply a plaster on his cheek.
”That should uh- stop the bit of bleeding for now. My…place isn’t far from here, you wanna swing by so I can help you clean your wound…?”
Chuuya nodded dumbly. Maybe he should be offended by how this person seemed to be babying him. But…this guy was so pretty. Like. Crafted by Aphrodite kind of pretty. The kind of pretty you would see on billboards and screens. The kind of pretty that…was making him feel pliant and mouldable, as the soft hands helped pull him up and along to god knows where.
”I’m Dazai by the way. What’s you name?”
”…I’m Chuuya. Nakahara Chuuya, but just Chuuya is fine.”
Dazai chuckles “first name basis already? Well, if you insist”
Chuuya wondered if he had died just now, and ascended to heaven. Maybe Dazai was an angel that was guiding him to the afterlife.
Not that he would be opposed. Right now? He’d probably follow Dazai to the ends of the earth.
✧
Chuuya felt like the walk was way too short yet an eternity at the same time. He wasn’t sure. All he could focus on was the hand wrapped around his wrist. Stringing him on like a puppet. Not that he minded, the hand kept Arahabaki quiet. He’s hasn’t felt such a peace of mind since…well. Since he existed.
They arrived at this cozy looking cafe. Definitely not an establishment that Chuuya would normally consider entering, but as long as it was Dazai bringing him, Chuuya would go into a pretty pink princess toy shop.
Dazai turned around to smile at him. It was so cute. It made Dazai look so squishable. Squishable? Is that even a word?.
“This is a cafe my dad- uh…Odasaku owns. We live right above it.” The brunette explained as he pulled Chuuya inside. “Odasaku! I’m back! Let me go upstairs really quick then I’ll be back down to help out.”
This ‘Odasaku’, as Dazai called him, seemed unbothered by the boy coming home at a significantly late time, nor the fact he was dragging a strange, beat up looking boy with him. Barely looking up from the man he was sitting across as he replied with a soft tone. “There’s no rush, Osamu, we’re not busy right now.”
What really floored Chuuya was the fact that a government agent was sitting right there, across from the red-headed man. And by the look on his face, the agent, Angie? Ano? Recognised him aswell. Not that Chuuya could really dwell on it, as he was quickly dragged up a flight of stairs and out of the agent’s view.
Not that it even mattered. Chuuya had better things so stare at.
He watched as Dazai took his shoes off at the door, watching himself take his own shoes off as well. He watched Dazai guide him through the house, and to a decently sized wooden table with four chairs surrounding it. Watched as Dazai sat him down in the chair. Watched as he let go of his wrist.
Felt as arahabaki’s existence slammed back into his brain.
Chuuya groaned slightly, holding his head as arahabaki’s presence returned. At least it was dormant again. Not a peep from it. Not even the slightest bit of chaotic energy.
Dazai’s footsteps padded against the floor as he returned with a first aid kit, the blanket of ice covering his body again along with Dazai’s touch. Huh. Dazai must have a nullifying ability. And a powerful one at that. How had no one ever heard of him yet? Not even Mori?
‘oh yeah’, Chuuya thought, as Dazai slowly peeled the already bloodied plaster from his face. ‘That government agent looked really buddy buddy with the owner. Bet he pulled some strings to keep Dazai buried from us.’
Not that Chuuya was complaining. No. He was glad. Glad that Dazai’s soul was intact from the filth of the underworld. That he seemed to be a normal teenager instead of whatever type of monster Chuuya was carved out of.
Chuuya let out a sharp hiss as Dazai pressed a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol against the cut on his cheek, the pain clearing his mind a little.
”…Thanks.” Chuuya mumbled, feeling a bit shy now that his brain had a bit more clarity.
Dazai grinned. It was stupidly lopsided, and so perfect it made Chuuya’s heart squeeze. “No worries. Wouldn’t want it to get infected right?” Dazai cleaned his would with a gentle touch. It was so soft. Way too kind for the rabid dog that was Nakahara Chuuya.
Chuuya could only watch Dazai in awe as the brunette swiftly patched him up. He wasn’t completely stupid. The ginger knew he was falling heads over heels for that gorgeous face. Is this what love at first sight was?
”Well then!” Dazai exclaimed as he stood up, slowly tidying the supplies he just used. “You’re all good now! Are you hungry? I can ask Odasaku to make you some food before you go?”
Chuuya’s mouth opened and closed. And opened and closed. His throat was dry for once, and he felt a bit speechless. “…yes please. I would like some food.”
Dazai beamed at him as he pulled Chuuya back downstairs. Chuuya doesn’t think he’s ever been pulled around so much. Not that he minds. Dazai could pull him anywhere and he’d follow without hesitation.
He gets led to the seat right next to the government agent. Right at the counter, as Dazai puts on his apron. “The menu’s right there. Anything you want in particular? If not, I recommend the crab omurice! I made it so it’s definitely good!”
How could Chuuya even consider taking away the sparkle that Dazai’s eyes held right now?
”Uhm…yeah. The…the omurice please.”
Dazai looked so happy as he said that, practically dragging the old man to the stove with him.
”Ahem.”
Chuuya jolted as the government agent let out a small fought next to him, he could feel his ears heating and and turning pink. Probably made a pathetic sight.
”You- you better not tell—“
”I won’t.” The man muttered, taking a sip of his coffee. “I haven’t worked so hard to keep these two hidden from all ability logs just to undo it by telling people a little gossip on the gravity manipulator.”
Chuuya’s shoulders relaxed a bit, hands fisted in his lap as he glanced between the agent and Dazai. “…why are you keeping them hidden?”
Ango smiled weakly, sighing as he set down his cup. “Your ability is a constant right? Then you already know that that child has a nullification ability. From what little I’ve witnessed, it’s one of a kind. Unrivaled by anything that’s come up so far. If anyone else were to find out, he’d surely be taken to be experimented on or turned into some kind of human weapon.”
Chuuya’s could already imagine it. The thought made him sick to his stomach. It wasn’t hard to picture Dazai being taken by some underground workforce and trained to kill, or nabbed by a government facility to be experimented on as a deterrent against rouge ability users. It was even easier for Chuuya actually, because it HAD happened to him.
”Plus,” Ango laughed dryly, eyes tracing the frame of the man who was helping his son carefully prepare Chuuya’s dish, “I hold an unbearable amount of fondness for that father, adoptive or not, of that boy.”
Chuuya’s head whipped around as he finally stared at the man. His face seemed tired, but also happy. Happy in a way you wouldn’t expect to see on the face of someone in his field of work.
The man turned to face Chuuya, a tired smile gracing his lips. “Sakaguchi Ango. I don’t think we’ve ever formally met”
Chuuya nodded slowly. “Nakahara Chuuya”
Ango nodded back, hand reaching out and hovering between the two of them.
”Well, Nakahara-san, I hope you will be joining me in my effort to keep the existence of these two as hidden from any trouble as possible?”
Chuuya stared blankly at the hand in front of him, before slowly reaching out and gripping it in a firm handshake.
”you secret— our secret is safe with me.”
✧
“Here’s your omurice, Chibi~!”
A plate of steaming hot omurice was presented in front of Chuuya. The aroma of it wrapped him in a warm embrace as his eyes switched between Dazai and the plate.
“…Chibi?” Chuuya mumbled dumbly. It was a nickname he would have skinned most others for. Even his dearest friends, The Flags, would not be entirely safe if they called him that. But for some reason, Chuuya didn’t seem to mind very much when Dazai was the one saying it.
”Yeah! Chibi!” Dazai chirped, simultaneously setting a glass of water next to the presented plate of food. “because your cute and kind of tiny, like a chibi!”
Now you see, if this truly were anyone else, Chuuya would be bearing extreme murderous intent right now. However, because it was Dazai, his brain had latched on the ‘cute’ comment instead, and his face burst into a bright hue of pink before he started shoveling the omurice into his mouth.
He heard a deep chuckle to his right, as the red-haired man, Odasaku…? Put a hand on Dazai’s shoulder. “It seems he likes the dish you created, Osamu.”
Dazai looked excited and giddy. “He does! Don’t you, Chuuya?”
Oh. Chuuya could probably die happy looking at that face.
”mf- mhm- ish thif-“ Chuuya paused, swallowing the food in his mouth first, “is this crab?”
The brunette practically beamed. “It is! I really like crab, you see, and I made the omurice to finally have a crab based dish in this cafe!”
Odasaku sighed, although he seemed quite fond. “We’re not meant to have that many dishes like these. We’re a cafe, not a diner.”
Dazai pouts “It’s fine! We can switch things up a little!”
Chuuya kind of wanted to steal Dazai away to his own house and spoil him with everything the boy could want. He wanted to be the one able to wipe such a pout off his face.
He wanted Dazai to be in his home like a housewife, waiting for him to come home every day with a warm meal and a warmer smile, greeting him and brightening up his day with just his presence.
Too much? Yeah. Definitely too much.
By the time Chuuya left the cafe (however reluctant he was to actually leave), night had long fallen, as the time on his phone read 9:47 pm compared to the 5:00 pm his mission began at.
He wandered home with a light heart, itching to go back to the cafe and see Dazai again. Of course, once he got back, he got caught by Albatross and doc, who practically dragged him to their own apartment’s to hang out by playing video games for hours on end instead of letting Chuuya rest like he really should need.
No matter. Chuuya meeting Dazai had recharged his energy more than enough anyways.