Chapter Text
Dazai was acting different.
It was a quiet subtle change, someone a little more unfamiliar with him wouldn't have been able to notice it.
But to Atsushi who spent day in and day out observing his mentor it was apparent.
He wasn't sure why, and couldn't quite exactly place how, but it was in such a way that he didn't know whether to be concerned or confused.
It had begun after Dazai's return from Meursault. The agency had finally reunited and regrouped with all its members at the office, when he first noticed the small shift in the older man.
He'd noticed it in the too tight smiles, the distant sombreness in his eyes, the muted energy, and the ruminating stare when he thought no one was looking.
Atsushi was aware that Dazai is a difficult person to understand, putting it lightly. And he's certain that even if he asked the man himself his concern would be brushed aside and he'd receive another “I'm fine Atsushi, no need to worry so much!”.
So he'd resorted to chalking the behaviour up to exhaustion. After all they had all been through so much and he'd be lying if he said he himself were the same as before.
While he never learned the details of the showdown that occurred in France, he could draw his own conclusions of the events. In the end, he figured it'd be stranger if it didn't affect the bandaged man.
But even after rationalizing it like this, he couldn't get rid of the notion that something was still wrong, something specific.
And now sitting in this meeting, that feeling gnawed at him more than ever.
The Agency, Port Mafia, and Special Division for Unusual Powers, had all convened to discuss the events of the near-apocalypse and sort through the aftermath.
They were seated in one of the government conference rooms at an extraordinarily long table with the members of the agency, port mafia executives, core members of the division, and any other figures that played a role in major events with the relevant security clearance.
Sakaguchi stood at the front of the room leading the meeting and currently speaking; going through the list of affairs that needed to be taken care of and delving into the details of each one.
Atsushi watched as those around the room nodded along, all displaying their attentiveness, a question asked here and there.
To his left sat Dazai remaining still throughout it all, uncharacteristically not providing any sort of commentary or supplementing any information.
It seems he wasn't the only one who noticed, as a couple people threw glances his way but none resolved to venture any further than that.
The man himself kept his gaze fixed at a spot on the table in front of him, and his hands clasped together in his lap, unmoving.
For some reason more than puzzled, his mentor's change in behaviour made him nervous.
In an effort to reassure himself, Atsushi redirected his attention back up to the presentation, where Sakaguchi had begun to explain the division's containment measures in the aftermath.
“As for the remains of Dostoyevsky…the division has yet to make a decision on procedure regarding them, but they are currently being stored in a secure facility until further notice.”
As Ango spoke calmly and stoically, Atsushi sensed Dazai tense up beside him.
He turns to see the man slowly lift his gaze to the presentation screen.
Atsushi watches him scan the image of the containment facility, when he sees a distinct emotion he can't quite name flash in his mentor's eyes.
Dazai unclasps his hand and braces his palms against his thighs, he re-fixes his gaze on the man presenting and opens his mouth to speak.
Ango continues unaware, “Now, to mo-”.
“Ango.”, Dazai interrupts.
As soon as the name escapes his mouth, the room pauses and everyone turns to look at him.
“Any action regarding Dostoevsky’s remains in any and all capacities will be left to me.”, He says it coldly, with a hard stare, not a request, nor an introduction to negotiation.
It's a statement. Essentially informing the group of what will happen, leaving no room for rebuttal.
For a brief moment everything is still, no one moves or responds, even if a couple people react with incredulous expressions—understandably in shock at the outburst.
Ango stares back lips pursing into a line, a request for elaboration he knows he won't receive on the tip of his tongue.
After what feels like a million years to the witnesses in the room, Ango sighs. A verbal expression of his frustration that breaks his eye contact with Dazai, and he massages his temples as he replies.
“Very well, we’ll update our personnel and records accordingly.”, a few murmurs break out at the proclamation.
Atsushi winces as Kunikida, seated on the other side of Dazai, tries to get his attention with the quietest shouts of chastisation he can muster.
Atsushi only manages to catch an angry, “What the hell are you doing!”.
The man in question, contradicting his usual character, pointedly ignores his partner—as well as the questioning gaze of Ranpo across from him, returning to his prior posture.
Unsettled by the interruption, the ambience of the room only continues to worsen. Order forgotten when Sakaguchi paused and turned to speak in hushed tones with his colleagues of the division.
Sensing the unease, Atsushi watches as the President opens his mouth to address the matter.
However, he’s cut off before he can begin when the boss of the Port Mafia clears his throat, and the room falls silent.
“Let’s carry on, shall we?”, he suggests, gesturing to Sakaguchi.
A light smile plays across his face, disregarding the icy glare Fukuzawa sends his way. He looks around and confirms the lack of objections—the agreement of the other attendees to the suggestion goes without saying.
In response, Sakaguchi nods and repositions his glasses. “Ah yes, to move on, the division has called for…”
He trails off into explanation once more, and the flow of the meeting almost returns to its original state, but the tension hangs in the air preventing it from being quite the same.
The rest of the presentation passes by in a blur. Atsushi spends the remaining time trying to uncover why Dazai would “request” such a thing, and if the strange outburst was related to the man's new disposition.
It’s only when a black clad figure flicks his forehead that he breaks out of his trance, and realises the meeting had adjourned and the room was nearly empty.
“Get up weretiger, let’s go.”
Atsushi just blinks up at him, and looks around as if he's suddenly remembered something. “Where’s Dazai”, he questions.
The man above him just frowns and rolls his eyes. Akutagawa replies, crossing his arms, “He was one of the first to leave.”
“Oh..” Atsushi softly exclaims, pausing to look down in thought, disregarding the ever present underlying tone of irritation in the Akutagwas voice.
Akutagawa stares at him for a couple seconds before grabbing Atsuhi’s arm and pulling him to his feet in one swift motion.
“Let’s go, you’ll see him later so stop thinking so hard.”, Akutagawa states bluntly, still tugging the other boy.
Atsushi just sighs and hopelessly nods, as the other drags him towards the door. “Fine, fine…You know you don’t have to pull so hard!”, he complains but follows along.
The two walk out, and even amidst his squabble with Akutagawa, Atsushi couldn’t help his thoughts wandering back to what had happened in the meeting.
Needless to say, Dazai’s out of place words paired with Atsushi’s ongoing observations, painted a portrait that seemed too off to ignore.