#Atsushi is a tiger. He bites. This is important.

[sepiamestus]

It always rubs me the wrong way when people characterize atsushi as too much of a sweetheart. Like he IS a sweetheart but he's also snarky and sarcastic and most importantly he's very very angry. Do not forget this.

[aunnokokyuu]

what if YOU were a poor little animation studio who kept straightifying the very homosexual moments between a tiger and a malnourished victorian child in order to make the anime more appealing to the general public. but THE MANGAKA HIMSELF said NO here’s a scene where said malnourished victorian child sensually bites the tiger’s neck while he’s transformed as a vampire and U HAVE TO ANIMATE IT THIS TIME BCS ITS IMPORTANT TO THE PLOT!!! now bones if you straightify that scene like you did to akutagawa telling atsushi to run you fool then you can trust that i’ll find you more than you trust in god

[starlightshadowsworld]

Moonlit Butterfly AU

Yosano taking a break and curling up in a corner. She won't have long but she just needs a moment away from seeing people in pain.

Her hands are scrubbed clean but it still feels like there's blood on them.

Quiet footsteps round the corner and the next thing she knows, a blanket is drapped over her shoulders.

Atsushi.

"You should be resting." Says Yosano but there's no bite in her voice. She shuffles to the side, making room for him and Atsushi sits beside her.

He's humming a song, it's not one Yosano's ever heard before. It's quiet and soft, much like Atsushi himself.

It's such a contrast from the loud screams and cries from the barracks.

Yosano smiles, putting the blanket over him. Atsushi stops humming, suprise in his eyes before smiling back.

Even now, the simplest of kindness always suprises the tiger boy.

She hopes one day it won't.

He looks alright, thanks to his ability it's rare she ever sees him hurt. Usually Yosano will remind him to change from his bloody clothes.

Sometimes she's had to chase him with his shoes and demand he wears them.

They didn't give him shoes before, and he hates them. But if it makes her happy, he'll wear them with little compliant.

Atsushi's wearing his shoes now. It's something so small but it makes her feel lighter.

Because Atsushi trusts her.

Because her ability doesn't benefit to him. The same way his doesn't benefit her, they are simply themselves and that's enough.

Atsushi is her friend and he will leave the battlefield humming songs, wear shoes he hates and steal a fresh blanket.

Just to make her happy.

Because that's what's important to him.

"Thank you, Atsushi."

[seeuonadarknite]

worth — yandere atsushi nakajima x f. reader

warnings: abuse, manipulation, gaslighting.

It seemed as if all Atsushi ever knew was being alone. He didn't deserve the luxury of having love. The frail boy was constantly reminded of how worthless he was by his own caregivers.

But why? What could he possibly have done to deserve being treated in such an unethical manner? Did he truly deserve the ruthless beatings and the agonizing torture he was forced to endure?

He believed that he did. The headmaster engraved it into his mind. The poor boy was completely broken. Or so, that's what he thought.

Each time the choppy haired boy received a beating, you would approach him. A look of guilt would cover your features as you attempted to patch him up. He didn't understand why you even bothered helping a lost cause such as himself. Shouldn't you be worrying about more important things? Reluctantly, the frail boy looked up, locking his eyes with your glossy, [e/c] orbs.

“Why’re you helping me?” Atsushi reluctantly spoke, questionining your motives. You always patched him up; he wanted an answer as to why you cared. Were you trying to earn his trust in order to stab him in the back? His insecurities were soon interrupted by your beaming smile.

As you dabbed his bloodied lip with a dampened rag, you answered his question as if you saw it coming. “Why shouldn’t I? You shouldn’t let the headmaster’s words get to you. You’re worth so much more than you think, Atsushi-kun.”

If only you knew the effects of your words.

If only you knew that the roles would reverse and you would be at his mercy. If only you knew that he would be the one comforting you after receiving an unethical punishment.

He had carved his name into your skin. His full name. Your skin was already covered in love bites and bruises; now it had hideous scarring covering your entire back. You had no clue where the gentle and kind Atsushi had gone. It was replaced by a monster.

“Atsushi Nakajima—” He read with an unnerving smile covering his features. His hands traced along the large lettering. It was clear that he did a poor job at cleaning up the scarring, but he refused to allow Yosano to help him. Only he was allowed to take care of you.

“[y/n]-chan.. your skin looks beautiful with my name on it. It’s as if it was meant to be there..” He blushed, nuzzling his face into your neck. Only then did he realize you were sobbing. You had attempted to keep it quiet, but the vibrations from your movement alerted the crazed tiger boy.

“[y/n]? Why’re you crying? I did this because he was all over you. You don’t.. you don’t love him more than you love me, do you? Is that what it is?” Atsushi’s face contorted as he grabbed your chin, forcing you to make eye contact with him.

You had always found his two toned eyes stunning. If only they weren’t glaring you down with salty tears brimming the lids. “I really am worthless, huh? You’d rather be with him, wouldn’t you? Headmaster was right. I’d be better off dead.” The choppy haired boy sobbed into your bare shoulder, carelessly letting tears fall onto your skin.

Guilt immediately coursed throughout your body. You shouldn’t feel bad for letting the president gently pat your back and praise you for your hard work on the mission. You shouldn’t. There was nothing romantic about the gesture, this was the president. If anything, he was like a guardian to you. But the sobbing tiger boy made it difficult. It genuinely hurt you, knowing the awful things he’d been forced to endure in his past. You didn’t believe he deserved to feel cheated on.

Turning around, you wrapped your arms around his neck and sobbed along with him, pulling him into a shaky hug. “No, no! You’re right, I shouldn’t have let him touch me. You mean the world to me and I love you. I’m sorry...”

His eyes widened as he slowly wrapped his arms around your waist, gently rubbing his gloved hands along your sides in a comforting manner. If only you had seen the triumphant smirk plastering his face. If only you had known that you were the mouse stepping into the trap, and his crocodile tears resembled the cheese.

“I love you too, [y/n].” He had you right where he wanted you.

[astxlphe-fics]

Atsukyou week day 3 // Warm nights

@atsukyouweek​

Kyouka and Atsushi have an improvised date late in the evening.

Word Count: 1 174

There is a light on in the agency office. 

It's the first thing Kyouka notices when she comes in. It’s late, so there shouldn’t be anyone still working, but she still needs to check. She expects, maybe, the President working late, or maybe Ranpo absorbed in one of Poe’s books. 

Of course, it’s neither.  

It’s Atsushi. She stops in her track, starring at the man asleep on his desk. His computer screen is dark, so he may have been sleeping for some time now. His face is buried in his arms, but she can still hear the soft sound of his breathing. 

She pats his hair. 

Her fingers slip easily through the white locks, but Atsushi doesn’t stir. Smiling, she drops a kiss on the top of his head, before tapping the space bar on his keyboard. The screen comes to life, showing an open document, a briefing from the police about fraudulent life insurance claims. She saves it and turns the computer off.  

“Atsushi,” she says, shaking his shoulder a bit. Atsushi lets out a mumble, but doesn’t wake, so she shakes him a little harder. “Atsushi.” 

His eyes slide open and he blinks sleepily, raising himself a bit on his elbow. “Kyouka?” He yawns. “What time is it?” 

“It’s almost 11.” 

“Eleven?” He shoots back, pulling himself into a sitting position, and stands, dragging his chair back. “I didn’t see the time, oh no— I haven’t finished—” 

“It can wait,” Kyouka just says, putting a hand on his arm to calm him down. “It’s late.” 

Atsushi stares at his turned off computer and his shoulders slump. “You are right.” He smiles at her. “You must have been worried when I didn’t come home, I’m sorry.” 

“You said you were working late, but you were still not here when I came back from the groceries. But—” she walks to her desk and opens a drawer, pulling out her phone. “I forgot it when I left earlier, I couldn’t call you. So, I came to check on you.” 

“Thank you for coming back for me.” He taps his fist into the palm of his hand. “I know! I’ll buy you whatever food you want on the way back, as an apology! If you want anything, it’s on me.” 

“Crepes.” 

“Crepes it is then.” 

"There is a new 24/7 stand by the docks,” Kyouka goes on. “We could go to this one?” 

It’s a bit far, but they decide to go on foot. They leave the office, carefully locking the door behind them. Night has already fallen, but the weather is nice and it’s a warm, cloudy spring night. Perfect. 

Looking up to check the moon, Atsushi is pleased to see that the sky is mostly covered. He doesn’t really want the moonlight to come ruin this for them — though it means they can’t see the stars either, but it’s a good compromise for not turning into a giant feral tiger. 

“What is your case about?” Kyouka asks as they walk. “Something about insurance fraud?” 

“Yeah, there is this guy?” Atsushi sighs. “I’m not sure what is ability is, probably shapeshifting? But anyway, he keeps passing himself off as dead people’s last living family to claim the insurance. His fingerprints gave him away, and he got flagged to the Department, but now I have to figure out who he is hiding as.” 

“Can’t you use the fingerprints?” 

“Ango-san still needs to send over the temporary login codes for the software.” His smile widens and he takes her hand. “But we’re out of office right now, let’s not talk about work. There is this new movie that I think you’d like—” 

They keep chatting until they reach the docks. Despite the hour, they are far from deserted, dozens of people still mingling and laughing, enjoying the warmth of the night. The 24/7 crepe stand is just as crowded. 

“What will you have?” 

She stays quiet for a few seconds, looking over the displayed menu, face set into a focused frown, as if this is an incredibly important decision. “Banana chocolate,” she decides. “For now. What about you?” 

“Just plain sugar, I think.” The tip of his finger taps on his chin. “Do you want a soda with it? Or another drink? They have some smoothies and bubble tea — we could get a large one and share?” 

“Could we get a blueberry smoothie?” 

Atsushi almost orders a blackberry smoothie instead when they turn comes, but catches himself at the last second. They take two straws from the dispenser once their crepes are ready and move along, leaving room to the people behind them.  

Taking Kyouka’s hand into his, he pulls her along the pier, looking for a more isolated spot. They end up finding a bench and they sit, putting the smoothie in between them. Luckily, they are still close enough that the crepes haven’t gone cold yet, and it’s a quick enough walk to get another if desired. 

In front of them, the see is dark and endless, the salty smell of it making Atsushi’s nose itch. He bites into his crepe, the sugar sticking to his lips, and he glances at Kyouka. 

She’s swallowing her crepe faster than he has ever seen anyone eat. He can’t stop himself — he laughs, and her head snaps up. 

“I’m sorry, it’s just—” Another laugh. “Did you have the time to taste it?” 

“You are one to talk.” She shoves her elbow into his side. “I’ve seen you shovel down a dozen bowls of chazuke in record time.” 

“Point taken.” Noticing a dark stain on her cheeks, he manically raises his hand to her face to rub at the side of her lips. “You’ve got some chocolate here.” 

“Thanks.”  Then, without warning, she plants a short, soft kiss on Atsushi’s lips. When she dawns back, she smiles, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “You had some sugar here.” 

Mouth agape, Atsushi can only stare, his face steadily going beet red. “I—” He lets out a strangled sound and it’s her turn to laugh lightly. 

“Here.” A cold cup is pushed into his hand. “Drink some smoothie.” 

It’s already partially empty, Kyouka having drunk some of it earlier, so Atsushi is careful not to finish it in one go. It takes a minute for his heart to go back to its regular rate and when it does, he puts the drink down and slouches back on the bench. 

The air smells slightly different now — there will be a storm soon. Later tonight, or maybe tomorrow morning. 

But for now, there is no sign of rain. Kyouka rests her head on his shoulder, his fingers slip between hers with practiced ease, and they fall into a comfortable silence. 

Late in the evening, under a moonless sky, alone yet so close to a crowd, it’s a quiet moment that belongs to them only. 

“So? What do you think?” 

She considers her next words. “Definitely the best crepes in town. Let’s come back soon.” 

“Every night?” 

“Every night.” 

[monsieur-fancy-hat]

How abt an AU where dazai and chuuya are in the mafia together and atsushi and akutagawa are in the ADA

Send me some characters and an AU for me to write headcanons/prompts for.

Ended up rewriting this like twice but I hope you enjoy!!

Some parts of it were taken from the canon BSD AU light novel, BEAST.

Ages during the backstory:

Akutagawa Ryuunosoke- 11 or 12

Nakajima Atsushi- 8 or 9

Akutagawa Gin- 8 or 9

Dazai Osamu- 16 or 17

Nakahara Chuuya- 16 or 17

Odasaku- 20 or 21

Let’s start with Akutagawa and Atsushi’s backstory!!

Akutagawa and Gin have a mother. She abused them, because she believed that she had to work three times harder to take care of them as she was a single mom. She also hated the kids for looking so eeriely like the fathers (cause half-siblings).

So after a while, Akutagawa and Gin fun away from home. They take as much cash as they feel comfortable with, take important belongings (weapons), a coat given to Akutagawa by his father, and other necessities.

The end up in the slums for a while, before an orphanage takes them in. They’re far away enough from their mother that it’s pretty much safe. But the orphanage learns about the mother and stuff. And they decide that maybe they should go into the foster care system? The orphanage isn’t sure right now, so they just let the kids stay.

So Akutagawa and Gin stay at the orphanage. They’re kinda loners, cause they don’t talk to people besides themselves. Some kids believe that Gin is mute (so they make fun of her) and Akutagawa -even at the delicate age of 12- has a death glare that makes grown adults run. So he uses it o the bullies. And if he’s not around... well, Gin has her way of taking care of things (stabby stabby).

But one day, this mysterious guy talks to Akutagawa. This mysterious man starts talking ‘nonsense’ about special powers and stuff. He also explains that Akutagawa might have some.

Akutagawa doesn’t believe the mysterious guy.

But a week later Gin was cornered in a alley by a college kid, who was trying to do.... non-consenting inappropriate things to her. And Gin, being Gin, had a knife out and was about to stabby stabby, when this random kid jumps on the college dude.

And he starts trying to hang onto the college guy by his neck and yelling for help

And Gin is just stand there wondering what the heck is going on

The orphanage staff rush into the alley to see a white-haired kid biting a college dude (who is still trying to shake him off) and a little girl, who kinda looks like a ninja, slipping what they think looks like a knife into a pocket.

They bring the police to arrest the college dude.

Everyone is wondering why he has cat-like scratches on his back and tiger bites on his neck.

Gin is interested by the white haired kid (which, you know, Atsushi) and brings him to join her tiny friend group.

Akutagawa, not a huge fan of him...

And apparently, neither are the orphanage staff.

Atsushi’s 8 or 9, Gin is 8 or 9, and Akutagawa is around 12.

Akutagawa and Gin get the least abused by the staff, cause they are great at not getting into trouble.

I mean, Gin was scolded a couple times for the incidents (“You shouldn’t have run off on your own! And if you’re gonna run away, then don’t come back!!”). But that’s pretty much it.

Atsushi, on the other hand.... let’s just say that the staff have some problems with him.

Gin (and sometimes Akutagawa) usually patch Atsushi up though, so he’s not alone!

They become decently good friends. Woohoo!

But Akutagawa starts thinking that Atsushi is secretly a tiger. Cause bite marks. Also cause he heard rumors that there was a white tiger around the orphanage grounds.

So he meets up with the mysterious guy, and tries to get some answers. Cause he wouldn’t want Gin to be hanging out with someone who could hurt her. That’s a no-no.

Sadly, mysterious guy hasn’t heard about this either. So... oof.

So one night, Akutagawa gets waken up by something crashing outside.

He puts on his coat and decides to go check it out, correctly thinking it’s the tiger.

Atsushi-tiger (he’s a baby tiger, just so ya know), seeing Akutagawa, goes to attack him.

And Akutagawa hears someone shout “Use your ability!!”

Akutagawa is kinda confused, and kinda angry, so he just says the first thing that comes to mind (He remembers that when he was younger, really really young, his father would show him how he sewed cloth together. How many shades of black you could use, and all the different styles. Mr. Akutagawa showed his son one of his favorite pieces, a black coat. He named it Rashomon. Cause I need this story to make a bit of sense.)

“RASHOUMON!”

Boom

Parts of his coat fly towards the tiger, trapping him.

But it can’t hold him for long, and Atsushi springs right back at him.

But mystery guy comes in the middle of them, and activates his ability.

“No longer human.”

In a flash of white light, Atsushi is found on one side, laying face-down bottom-up on the floor.

Akutagawa was standing on the other side.

Mystery guy offered Akutagawa a place to belong. A place to go home to. He even said Gin & Atsushi could come, if Akutagawa wanted.

And Akutagawa doesn’t know what to think.

Thankfully, he doesn’t have to, cause ANOTHER MYSTERY GUY COMES OVER

He has dark red hair, and a beige trench coat.

And he seems to recognize mystery guy #1.

“Dazai, is that you?” “Oh! Hi there Oda! Isn’t this a surprise. I’ll be taking the kids and leaving now, if you don’t mind!”

Yup. It’s Dazai and Oda!

Also, FYI, Oda does mind. Cause Dazai left the A.D.A. a couple months ago and no one has had any contact with him ever since.

Oda is upset and wants Dazai to come back. And Dazai... doesn’t give a damn.

They have a standoff-staredown.

And while they do that, Akutagawa goes over to Atsushi to check if he’s alive and okay.

Dazai and Oda fight, but Dazai can’t bring himself to kill Oda and leaves alone.

Which leaves Oda with an uncounsious Atsushi and a tired Akutagawa.

Oda decides that he should take these kids in. So he goes to the orphanage the next day and adopts Atsushi.

And Atsushi is sad cause he thinks he’ll be separated from Gin and Akutagawa.

Which is oof.

But Oda ends up fostering the Akutagawa’s.

So he just ends up with 3 more kids. Woohoo!! And the other kids too, but they’re all younger than them (3-4 at the time).

So Oda has his hands VERY full. Too nice.

He brings them to the A.D.A.

And Kunikida scolds Oda cause “You were supposed to be looking for that bandaged idiot! Not going around taking in more kids!!”.

But Oda interrupts him and says, “I talked to Dazai.”

And everyone goes quiet for a minute. Cause if Oda spoke to Dazai and he still won’t come back, it’s over.

Dazai has defected from the Armed Dectetive Agency.

Oda spends his time training Atsushi and Akutagawa. They’re both young and a bit confused about what’s going on (“What the... I’M A TIGER?!” “Yes, Jinko, we know.”)

But they all get along quite well, so yay!

The trio grow up together, and they eventually become official members of the A.D.A. Gin is an assistant.

She, Naomi, and Haruno become friends. Gin is still closest to Atsushi though.

And that’s their [back]story.

But now... it’s time for Dazai’s!

So, Dazai & Oda went to school together. Dazai had a not-so-great home life, so moved away at 16.

He lived by himself for a month or two, living off weird part-time jobs. Due to his smarts, he managed to skip two grades. So he’s a freshman in college. I think.

And Oda is in his third year of college.

Dazai lived at the school dorms, cause he got a full-ride scholarship. Cause smart.

Dazai has known about his powers for a while. Some weird doctor guy went to him and tried to get him to join some mafia thing, but Oda advises him to not.

So he doesn’t. But he is interested.

Dazai & Oda end up in the A.D.A.

And Oda has a great time there. He likes the people. He has fun. It’s great.

But Dazai... nope. He hates it. He can’t suicide attempt without someone being there to stop him, he can’t wear bandages without being sent to Yosano to get a check up, he can’t even be gone for a day without being chased down by Kunikida or Oda, wondering where the he’ll he’s been.

Dazai is bored and sick of the A.D.A.

So he leaves.

After a huge argument with Oda, Dazai leaves. And Mori, predicting this would happen, appeared to say “I told you so.”

And so Dazai, at the young age of 16, is taken in by the Port Mafia.

And he’s pretty good at it too!

He loves playing mind games and doing interrogations and killing people who NEVER SEE IT COMING~ (sorry, wrong fandom-) and just being evil~

A couple months later, he’s on track to become a executive. He’s already a sub-executive under Kouyou.

But then, Fifteen (Well, it’s more like Sixteen...) happens

And Dazai meets the cutest redhead he’s ever seen in his life.

Also Dazai is a kinky man has a thing for gloves.

ALSO MOTORCYCLE & CHUUYA

So of course Dazai is in love intrigued by the tiny sixteen year old.

“What the f*ck I’m still growing!!”

“Sureeeeeee-”

“F*ck off.”

“So creative, Chuu~”

“I will torture you until you die from the pain and then I’ll burn you and chop up your ashes and scatter them in the sea so that there’s no way you can come back.”

“Oh. Sounds like fun!! I mean, excluding the pain part, I’d love to die with you~”

“...why are you like this?”

Since Mori is a sadist and Dazai, a masochist, Chuuya and Dazai become partners.

“Please NO.”

“Please yes~”

And they were roommates.

oH mY gOd thEy wEre rOommAteS

[cough cough] ANYWAYS

Chuuya and Dazai become partners. They murder people.

Dazai thinks it’s fun, and Chuuya can’t help but go along with Dazai’s shenanigans. Chuuya is very in love annoyed.

The two become a feared duo, but some who know them personally (Kouyou, Mori, & Hirotsu) know that they’re really just lovestruck teens.

It’s really cute.

And que the next backstory!

So. Chuuya’s backstory. I tried making up a new one for him, but I didn’t want to diverge too much from canon, so his is pretty much the same.

Now, the plot. Well, it’s more somewhat connected headcanons that plot, so... oof. The backstories all happened 10 years ago, so everyone is 10 years older than they were before.

Ages:

Atsushi- 18-19

Akutagawa- 21-22

Gin- 18-19

Dazai- 26-17

Chuuya- 26-27

Oda- 30-31

So. Atsushi is going grocery shopping, yeah?

And Chuuya is also grocery shopping, yeah?

And they bump into each other. And Atsushi doesn’t recognize him, but Chuuya remembers from one of Dazai’s drunk ramblings about trying to recruit some white tiger kid and a black coat?

Either way, Chuuya doesn’t really care. But he decides to tell Dazai once he’s home.

But only after he finished shopping for some fresh, non-canned crab.

But as he’s picking out a crab, the grocery store gets attacked by some ability users.

Oof.

And Chuuya doesn’t want to intervene (and risk his identity/secrecy to the public, who have limited knowledge of ability users).

But white-tiger Atsushi just goes flying towards one of the robbers.

And Chuuya knows.

So obviously, he tells Dazai. And Dazai, being Dazai, pretends he doesn’t remember.

Later, he goes to visit the A.D.A.

To see his ‘replacements’.

But he’s super chill about it.

And by ‘chill’, I mean smiley-evil. Like when he was talking to Mori during the A.D.A. & P.M. meeting (in canon).

Atsushi and Akutagawa are a mix of confused and worried.

And Akutagawa is lowkey wondering why the heck this random guy, who looks suspiciously familiar.

And ohhhh it’s that guy who tried to kidnap him a few years ago!

Wait. It’s the guy who tried to kidnap him a few years ago.

And Akutagawa takes Atsushi and they leave the A.D.A. building.

They end up on a we’re-denying-that-this-is-a-date-but-it-really-is.

But like they’re obviously lowkey dating, so yeah-

Like come on, Gin has been shipping this since she was like 9.

Also Dazai (after getting in a fight with with Oda, again oof), on his way home, he sees Atsushi & Akutagawa on the way back, and thinks of his boyf riend~~

And Dazai ships it SO HARD!!

But he first must go home to Chuu~

And that’s all I can think of right now. Also I really wanna get this posted cause it’s super late. I also gotta start the others. ;-;

HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!! ♥️

[chouetteffraie]

“going somewhere?” + dazatsu, mayhaps? i love your works!

ahhhh thank you so much!!! I’m so sorry it took so long- I’m sure you are all used to it by now- school has just been kicking my butt. I’m so sorry! Thank you for sticking around and waiting! I hope you enjoy this ahhh >///

I also added a bit of an au- I hope you don’t mind. I was trying to relieve some school stress and this just….fit I guess!

AU- mafia!dazatsu

84. “Going somewhere?”

There was nothing that made Atsushi think he could get away with this. Nothing but blind, stupid faith in his own abilities. Still, he decided he could hope that today fate would be on his side and the universe would align to speak to him, whispering on the breath of a wind that today was his day.

As he padded down the hallway, stealthy as he was in his tiger form, Atsushi mentally congratulated himself. He had already gotten further than the last few times he had tried to escape, so there was something to be happy about! Snickering to himself, Atsushi carefully pressed open a large wooden door, sneaking into the office he was told never to be caught in alone.

All he needed was a key, a key that would release him from this building and out into the open world. He prayed that he would be allowed out, just for a few hours.At this point, Atsushi didn’t care how many times he got caught- he just wanted to taste the world on his own again.

Finally, he found it, letting out a small noise of excitement. A faint breath caught the attention, his ear twitching as if he were the tiger inside of him, and he stilled. The excitement in his stomach turned to a stone of dread and slowly sunk deeper as he turned around. A figure clad in black leaned against the doorway, arms crossed and an emotionless smile on his otherwise unreadable face. Once Dazai gave him a once-over, he strode over to Atsushi and gently plucked the key from his grasp.

“Going somewhere, Atsushi-kun?” He asked, placing one hand on the desk beside Atsusih’s hip. His free hand twirled the key idly between his fingers as he examined Atsushi. As if he were entranced, Atsushi followed the key with his eyes, desperate for some excuse to avoid the gaze that bore into him. Too soon, Dazai stopped, clutching the key in his fist and tilting Atsushi’s chin up gently. He could feel a touch of the metal against his skin teasing him for his near escape.

Having received no answer, Dazai let his head fall. “Have I not been treating my kitten well? Does he really want to run away?”

“I-I’m not-” Atsushi started in defense, but he was cut off by another whine.

“You know, if you ran away, I’d put posters all over the city looking for you,” Dazai explained, letting his hands fall to clutch Atsushi’s shoulders. “Maybe I should get you a collar, so people know where you belong.”

“That’s not-”

“Which do you prefer, rhinestones or spikes?”

“Dazai-san,” Atsushi interrupted firmly. Dazai shut his mouth and glanced up at Atsushi, a slight spark of joy swimming in his visible eye. “I’m not running away. I just…needed to get out.”

“Cabin fever, eh? I’ll accompany you. We can go tomorrow. There’s some administrative work I’ve been trying to get out of…”

“No, I meant…” Atsushi took a deep breath. “I meant without you.”

The small glimmer of mirth in Dazai’s eye quickly extinguished, replaced with a solemness Atsushi didn’t think he’d ever grow fond of. In a low voice, Dazai responded, “You know I can’t do that.”

“Just for a few hours?”

“Not even then.” He ducked his head again, this time resting his forehead on Atsushi’s shoulders and loosely wrapping his arms around the boy, holding him in place. “You know you’re too important.”

“To the operation? I know,” Atsushi agreed, arms circling Dazai on reflex. Dazai stiffened, an act Atsushi wasn’t sure was directed at the contact or his words. He turned his head, gaze falling to a calendar on the desk with a date, unmarked with balloons or cake, a few important meetings written in the space instead. He wanted to give Dazai some sort of normalcy, some tradition that might distract him from the turmoil around them. Biting his lip, he turned his attention away from the paper. His time had just about run out. Neither of them would get that normalcy now.

Finally, Dazai grunted, muffled by the fabric of Atsushi’s shirt. “You know that isn’t what I meant,” he murmured, pulling away. The grin on his face didn’t hide the twinge in his voice, one that held back a million things he wished he could say. “Are you really going to play these games with the almost-birthday boy?”

Atsushi gave him a half-hearted smile. He didn’t need to tell Dazai about the failed birthday surprise plans- he figured he already knew the moment they popped into his mind.  He just hoped he wouldn’t pick up on the ulterior motives he had for his plans: his own sense of normalcy, a cure for the resentment he felt growing more and more each day, proof that escape was possible…all things he knew would crush Dazai. Instead of answering, Atsushi let himself fall forward and hold Dazai tighter, breathing in the familiar scent. He wasn’t sure if he could ever miss it- surely, by now, it was ingrained in his memory forever. 

As the two of them stood there silently, Atsushi decided he wouldn’t give up. He would try again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, until he got as far away from the mafia- and, consequently, Dazai- as possible.

It was only a matter of time.

[auroreswritings]

Some terribly sweet fluff for day 5, just because! Main prompt is Forehead Kiss, with a bit of Winter going on as well.

It seems like I can only write stories where the two meet for the first time, why is that!? I guess I have a thing for beginnings, or something like that ^^’

This is way shorter than the previous works, so it’ll be a quick read I think (for once haha). Hope you enjoy Atsushi being all mother-like towards Chuuya, for once he’s the one being taken care of!

Find it on AO3.

The Cure to All Disease

              His eyes fluttered open, bright light burning his irises. His head was pounding, his mouth was dry, his throat was stinging. He turned around, realizing he was lying on a bed. It was warm and comfortable; it felt like a piece of heaven surrounding the hellish war happening inside of him. A shiver ran up and down his body, drawing a painful groan out of him. His whole body hurt, he felt like his core was burning while his skin was floating in an ice bath. He couldn’t remember what had happened or how he’d ended up curled up in this bed. He gripped the covers tighter, shoving his head harder in the cushion. He closed his eyes again, hoping for the sweet darkness of sleep to embrace him again so he could forget the horrors of the physical world around him. Nothing came and he stayed there lying, suffocating in the sheets but gladly keeping them around him at the same time. Eventually, two soft knocks on a door made him stick his head out of the covers’ shelter.

              The sky was clear blue outside, not a single trace of clouds could be seen. Snow was covering the ground, shining brightly under the shy rays of the sun; winter was here with its beautiful landscapes and biting temperatures. Atsushi entered the room with a tray in hands. Various bowls and cups were standing precariously on it, swaying dangerously with each of the man’s movements. He closed the door with his foot and placed the tray on the nightstand. A mop of persimmon hair was sticking out of the pure white bedsheets, two squinted sapphire eyes hardly visible underneath. Atsushi sat down on the chair next to the bed, his voice rising in the air in a hushed, quiet tone:

              “-You’re finally awake. How are you feeling?” The covers moved down a little and the face hiding behind them was brought into full view. Chuuya looked completely exhausted: his face was a lot paler than usual, dark circles were stretching down his face, his lips formed a thin, dried line. He tried to talk, but his throat constricted, painfully letting but a tiny amount of air out, just enough to form a whisper:

              “-Like hell-” a coughing fit took hold of him before he could finish his sentence. Atsushi brought one of his hands to the covers, squeezing lightly.

              “-It’s okay, you don’t have to talk.” He gestured towards the tray on the night stand. “I’ve brought some soup and water; please drink it all so you can get better quickly!” His voice was still hushed but Chuuya could hear the concern in it.

              He propped himself up, sitting down with difficulty. He was still squinting; the bright shine of the snow was too much for his sore eyes. Understanding the problem, Atsushi hurried to the window and closed the curtains, leaving just enough light for them to see what they were doing. The throbbing in Chuuya’s head seemed to calm a little. He grabbed a glass of water on the nightstand and gulped the liquid quickly; its freshness was a relief in his mouth, even if his throat was protesting against the sudden contact.

              Atsushi sat back next to him, his eyes glinting like gems fixed on the bedded man. Chuuya put the empty glass on the tray and reclined back on the cushions, breathing with difficulty. He tried to remember how he had ended up here, and most of all who was the man next to him; he felt like he had seen him before, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on when or where that was. As if he had read his mind, the young man spoke in his now familiar quiet voice:

              “-I’m Nakajima Atsushi, I’m part of the Armed Detective Agency. I don’t know if you’ve heard of me before but the Port Mafia was after me some time ago…” Chuuya’s mind was slowly working out what he’d just been told. Nakajima Atsushi… Wasn’t he the tiger boy Akutagawa was supposed to capture for this rich American guy? Before Chuuya could think about it further, Atsushi spoke again:

              “-You must be Chuuya, right? Dazai’s told me about you before. Don’t worry! He doesn’t know you’re here!” A delicate smile graced the weretiger’s lips, his gaze falling softly over the Mafioso. “I found you passed out in a street nearby, I wasn’t sure what to do so I brought you in. It seems you caught a really bad cold.” Chuuya nodded, the movement reminding him of the ball of needles lodged in his throat.

              Thinking about it, he could slowly make out what had happened. He was on a special mission on his own, a mission of extreme importance, which had made him ignore the signs of sickness in his body. He thought he would still be able to work despite the fever, but he had apparently overestimated his capacities. His last memories were of him standing in a street, trying to keep his balance as his head was spinning furiously. After that, total blackness, and then he had woken up here. He tried to speak again, but he could feel the cough rising in his chest.

              Atsushi brought his chair closer to the bed, as silently as he could. He grabbed a bowl of soup and a spoon from the tray, and approached them from Chuuya. He scooped some of the warm liquid in the spoon and brought it to Chuuya’s lips. The red-head raised an eyebrow at Atsushi.

              “-Here, have some. It’s chicken soup, I heard it’s good against colds.” His earnest tone made Chuuya give in and he opened his mouth, drinking the warm food. Despite his sickness, Chuuya could still taste the different flavors of the soup; it was delicious and heartwarming. The temperature of the liquid was soothing against his throat, calming the stinging and relaxing the muscles.

              Atsushi fed Chuuya for a while; he had managed to drink most of the bowl before he had to stop, unable to take any more down. As he slipped down under the blankets again, a warm feeling took over him. It was the first time someone had ever helped him in such a way while he was sick. A tiny smile made its way to his lips, carefully hidden from Atsushi’s view. This complete stranger, this enemy even, was caring for him just like a mother would. The thought made his blood creep up his face. Atsushi, noticing his sudden redness, approached him. He rested a hand on his forehead for a few seconds, before leaning in, his face coming dangerously close to Chuuya’s. The Mafioso tried to back down on the bed, but he couldn’t go any farther. His voice erupted, rough and a little panicked:

              “-What are you doing?” The tiger didn’t answer, only letting his mouth land on the man’s forehead. He stayed there, immobile, soft lips kissing skin warmer than normal.

              After a couple seconds that felt like eternity, Atsushi straightened up, face moving up a few centimeters, multicolored gaze meeting ocean eyes. He froze in place, blinked a couple times, and as if finally realizing what had just happened, he stood up quickly, taking a few steps away from the bed. His face was a deep red and he was stuttering, trying to get his words out.

              “-I-I-I just heard tha-that’s how your we-were supposed to do to t-take someone’s temperature, th-that’s all!” His hands were waving in front of him, as if to keep Chuuya away from him, although the man couldn’t really do much in his current position.

              The faint sound of a chuckle flew from under the covers, making Atsushi calm down right away. All that was visible of Chuuya were his tangerine hair, softly glinting in the tiny rays of sunlight still coming in from the windows, his cerulean eyes glistening with something that Atsushi could interpret as joy, and the tips of his ears, as red as strawberries in the morning sun. The view made Atsushi’s heart flutter and the red on his face deepen. He quickly grabbed the tray on the nightstand, asked Chuuya to take some rest in a shaky voice as he did so and raced for the door, leaving the red-head alone once again.

              Chuuya cuddled up under the covers, feeling a lot better than he would have imagined a mere half hour ago. The warmth in his belly and in his heart was slowly lulling him to sleep and he let himself be engulfed in sweet slumber, a gentle smile curving his lips; he seemed to have found the best way to cure his sickness, and maybe more.

[leonawriter]

Stray Dogs and Tiger Cubs (pt.16)

Also on AO3

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Characters: Dazai, Atsushi, Yosano, Chuuya, Kyouka.

Summary: In which the canon divergence only continues to keep going.

...

It was mildly uncomfortable, sitting like this with one knee on the ground and the other supporting Atsushi's weight, his coat draped around the boy's small form. The fact that he'd been chained up long enough to make his arms ache, not to mention beaten up by both of the mafioso in his line of sight certainly didn't help matters, either.

The fact that he could see Yosano making her way over to them looking far more like the storm than the butterfly was something he wasn't sure was a good thing or not. On the one hand, she could say for certain if Atsushi was unharmed better than he could, and she would be able to tell that the injuries he had sustained weren't just for show; on the other hand... she would know. 

And he didn't want to be fussed over. 

"I could ask where the hell you've been, but I think I can figure that out without any of your bad attempts at explaining yourself just by looking at y-"

"Where I've been? I've been in the tender care of the mafia all this time," and really, the last thing he needed was Chuuya snorting and sounding like he was trying not to laugh. He'd let himself be taken in order to somehow find out who was behind the bounty in the first place, it wasn't as though he could have broken free whenever he wanted, "and if you were with Atsushi, shouldn't you have at least tried to make sure this sort of thing didn't happen?"

"Oh, you're saying this was my fault somehow, now? Is that what we're doing now? You're saying I should've tried to keep a hold of several hundred pounds' worth of pissed off tiger? Because one moment I was watching over two kids, and then - I'd still be figuring out how to tear them away from each other if you hadn't showed up!"

"The weretiger transformed the moment I came into view and spoke," came Akutagawa's unwelcome voice.

The way Atsushi twitched and made a small, pitiful noise at the sound, was enough to make him turn - though not so that when Atsushi woke up, he'd see anything threatening.

"From my experience," he said in a low voice, "Atsushi has only ever transformed when under a great amount of stress. Either you're lying, or your very presence is enough to make a child believe that his life is in danger. I wish that I could believe that it were the former." He took a slow breath, forcing his mind away from darker paths and memories. "Chuuya? Get him out of my sight."

"But-!"

"No, move it. We're hauling ass back to base." Not for the first time in the past hour or so, Dazai was relieved more than irritated that he and Chuuya were still so much on the same page that they barely had to say anything to the other. "Before you say anything else you'll later wish you'd kept your mouth shut for." 

"And Atsushi?"

"Cool it, Dazai. The mafia's not interested in playing into the hands of someone who wants to show us up like that. Besides, we know where to find him if we need him, now." For a moment, Chuuya stood still, the slight breeze ruffling the coat that he was wearing around his shoulders as Akutagawa stood, hanging his head like the thoroughly scolded dog that he was right now. "We'll probably be in contact in the next few days to finish sorting this whole mess out, just so you know." Another pause. "Hey, I said we're hauling ass back to base, that means you too, kid."

Kid...? He clearly didn't mean Atsushi, but then-

And talking of, Atsushi had just tensed up, and begun to push himself upright, as though that were the one last thing he'd needed in order to drag him fully into consciousness again.

"Y-you're not taking Kyouka-neechan back!"

Dazai blinked. In the corner of his eye, he saw Chuuya turn back to look at them, one hand still on Akutagawa's collar, and looking about as nonplussed as Dazai felt. 

Now that he looked... there she was. A girl, around fourteen years old, in traditional Japanese clothing, standing somewhat behind Yosano. Aside from the bandages around her neck, which seemed to go further than he could see, she seemed about the same as when he'd been picked out from the middle of a street by her and her ability. 

Or, that was, she would - if it weren't for the look of paralysing fear that was a poor compliment to the rabbit plushie she was holding in her arms.

"Hah...?"

Atsushi clenched brown cloth in one hand, and a handful of his own white-and-stripes hoodie in the other as he stared Chuuya down, and in spite of the rest of the situation Dazai couldn't help but feel proud.

"Kyouka-neechan said she doesn't want to kill anyone anymore, and she's going to be killed if she gets turned in to the police or if she goes back, isn't she?"

"Look," Chuuya said, sighing in that sort of way that Dazai knew meant he was getting a headache from too much thinking, "that sort of thing isn't up to me. This isn't even my job, so I don't know the details - and don't even start." Akutagawa, who had raised his head, hung it again. "But ane-san's gonna kill me if I don't come back with you, and - Dazai, he's just going to turn on me next if I tried dragging her with me, isn't he."

"Atsushi is very strong-minded." The baleful look he got for that was well worth it, even if the words were true. "Perhaps, however... Kyouka-chan, the most important question here is, what you want to do."

For a moment, the tension was palpable.

"I... maybe all I'm good for really is only one thing, but... Atsushi-chan saved me, and... I had such a good time today, even though all I should have done is hand myself in. That crepe... truly was delicious - I don't- I don't wan't to-!"

Chuuya snorted, breaking mood and sounding like he was rolling his eyes at the same time.

"Fine, fine," he said in a deceptively airy tone, waving his free hand through the air as he began to walk off, still holding Akutagawa's collar, "it's not like we're not gonna be busy enough as it is in the next few days. You can be on a new assignment. Keep an eye on the kid. I can hold ane-san off for a few days at least."

Dazai watched as Chuuya and Akutagawa left, not taking his eyes off of their retreating backs until he could no longer see them, although part of that had to do with Atsushi collapsing against him the moment they were gone.

Collapsing against...?

No, he had his small arms around wrapped around him, shaking in a way that he hadn't in all the time since he'd first stirred earlier on. Dazai held out a hand, hesitating and unsure, before letting it settle on the middle of the boy's back, drawing him closer as his other hand ruffled his hair.

"Atsushi-kun? You did well. And I'm back now."

Yosano was watching. He tried to ignore the way that her eyes softened as he said those words, but couldn't quite drive out of his mind the realisations he had come to while held in the mafia's cells.

"B-but... he said they'd be coming back. He said he'd be able to find me again!"

"Eh? Chuuya? Chuuya wouldn't hurt you." If he knew one thing from all of this, it was that Chuuya hadn't changed, and that in many ways - more than enough ways - Chuuya was still far better of a person than he was. "Really. His bark is worse than his bite."

Which was a lie, of course. Chuuya's bite was a deadly force to be reckoned with. He wouldn't have reached mafia executive without the ability to think in brutal ways that Atsushi wouldn't be able to accept, either. 

But that was toward his enemies, and Atsushi, even if the mafia made the unlikely decision that they would still come after him, was not someone that Chuuya would see as an enemy, wouldn't hurt, and his loyalty was something that Dazai had once seen as incomprehensible - at least, before Odasaku, and before the Agency, and before Atsushi.

"You can trust me on that," he added, which wasn't a lie at all.

Atsushi's response was quiet, and he almost wouldn't have heard it if it hadn't been whispered directly into his ear.

"Thank you, Da-san."

[minifiction]

youth’s dumb green fields

Fandom: Bungou Stray Dogs

Characters/Pairings: Dazai, Fukuzawa, Kenji; Dazai/Fukuzawa

Genre: Fluff

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Dazai realizes that he likes Fukuzawa, which is embarrassing. Kenji realizes that Dazai likes Fukuzawa, which is even more embarrassing.

At two thirty-six in the afternoon on a Monday, Dazai realizes he has feelings for Fukuzawa Yukichi.

He remembers the moment clearly.  The scene: the agency’s backyard.  Fukuzawa and Kunikida are sparring, and Dazai is watching them, because-

Hm.  Dazai rests his chin on his hand and thinks: why is he watching this, exactly?

Not to see who wins.  Fukuzawa has never lost a match to Kunikida.  The conclusion is already known - just Kunikida forcing Fukuzawa to work up a sweat is impressive.

Because watching two attractive men fight each other is hot?  Well, of course it is, but even the most attractive men can only hold Dazai’s interest for so long.  The two of them have been going at it for five minutes and yet Dazai’s attention is still fixed on Fukuzawa.

Not Kunikida, he realizes.  Kunikida cuts a handsome figure as much as the president does, and his skin doesn’t gleam any less with sweat than Fukuzawa’s right now, but Dazai has barely glanced at him.  Looking at Kunikida doesn’t make Dazai want to bite his collarbone or pin him down and take him or embrace him-

Dazai makes a choked sound.  He’s pretty sure those two have their attention entirely on each other lest one catch them off guard, so neither of them caught the expression of alarm on his face when he realized there was a Feeling in there.

No, no, it’s just attraction, right?  Fukuzawa is gorgeous and Dazai doesn’t have any issue saying he’d ride him until he screamed, that doesn’t mean he has a crush.  It’s not like he wants to sleep next to him or go on dates with him or bring out one of those rare smiles-

He’s fucked.

That was two weeks ago.

Avoiding Fukuzawa isn’t terribly difficult: Fukuzawa spends most of the work day in the back, and when he does enter the front office, it isn’t out of character for Dazai to leave his work undone for some whim.  Kunikida will yell at him, but he’ll do that anyway.

It isn’t a permanent solution, but surely Dazai will get over his feelings.  He knows better than to think anything good can come of caring about another person that way.  If he cares about someone, they will inevitably be taken from him, and Fukuzawa is too important for anyone to lose.

Besides.

This is embarrassing.

Dazai’s lovestruck feelings do not go away.  He’s sure he gets more obvious about avoiding Fukuzawa, so much that even detectives besides Ranpo notice.  And if there’s anyone Dazai would have to be incredibly blatant to tip off-

Kenji sits on the bench next to Dazai and asks, “Did you and the president get in a fight?”

Dazai suppresses a sigh underneath a fake smile.  “Oh?  What kind of a fight would we get into?”

“I dunno, ‘cause everybody likes him!  And it seemed like you like him more than most people?”  Kenji swings his legs.  “If you didn’t get in a fight then I dunno why you keep leaving whenever he shows up.”

“I can’t possibly like Fukuzawa more than Ranpo likes Fukuzawa,” Dazai points out, clutching to the remnants of his plausible deniability.  “Or more than Kunikida does.”

“They like him different!  I bet you wouldn’t have him beat you up all the time-”

Dazai thinks about that for a second, then decides not to think about it too hard in front of a fourteen year old.

“-and Ranpo and him have known each other forever, right?  So it’s different.”  Kenji looks proud of his reasoning.  “You’re more like…  When my big sis was sweet on the boy from next door, but she didn’t wanna say anything because she was too busy on the farm, she looked at her boy like you look at the president. And now they’ve got two kids and a dog.”

“Fukuzawa is more of a cat person…”  It comes out weaker than Dazai would like.  “That’s a very interesting story, Kenji, and I’ll buy you a steak dinner if you promise to never repeat that to anyone else.  Ever.”

Kenji, whose eyes had lit up at the word ‘steak’, thinks about it… then shakes his head.  “I’m gonna tell.”

Shit.

It’s only luck that he manages to distract Kenji and rush back to the agency before Kenji realizes he’s disappeared.  Because Dazai absolutely does not want to talk about embarrassing feelings, but he wants a teenager to talk about his embarrassing feelings for him even less than that.

He’s out of breath when he arrives - trying to outrace someone who can leap along cars is exhausting even with a head start - and it takes him a second to realize that it’s Fukuzawa who’s answered the door.

“Dazai.”  Fukuzawa’s expression is opaque as always, but Dazai thinks there’s a little bit of concern in his voice.

Without answering, Dazai grabs Fukuzawa’s wrist - he’ll apologize later if tiger Atsushi eats someone while he’s confessing - and pulls him into the back of the office.  Fukuzawa follows, apparently willing to go along with whatever fit of madness has Dazai trying to drag him around.

In a room with thick enough walls that Dazai feels almost sure his coworkers aren’t eavesdropping, he shuts the door, leans on it, and says, “I have romantic feelings for you.”

At this moment, he wishes Fukuzawa wasn’t so difficult to read.  His eyes widen imperceptibly before glancing to the side.  Is that embarrassment?  Dazai can’t say.

“…I see.”

It’s about the answer Dazai expected.  He opens his mouth to apologize for making things awkward between them.

“I feel similarly.”

And then he shuts his mouth, lest his racing heart hover up his throat and out of his body entirely.  “…Ah.  Really?”

Fukuzawa nods.  There’s a tint of pink on his cheeks.

Dazai finds himself smiling, just a little.  “Good to know.”

(Kenji does still tell Fukuzawa later, in front of Dazai and the whole agency, and it is still so embarrassing that he wants to die.)

[sonichico-blog]

Letters and Bracelets - A Bungo Stray Dogs Fanfic

Author - Circie888

Pairing - Chuuya Nakahara/Atsushi Nakajima

Osamu snorted, whined and rolled eyes, while sincerely refusing to believe that his subordinate has such a bad taste in people - well, including the fact Atsushi was pretty close to him, there was no doubt. "Sorry, Dazai-san, - Nakajima awkwardly smiled and scratched back of his head. - I... Fell in love". There was nothing left for Osamu to do but courageously be silent, ignoring the presence of the ginger shorty in the Agency, and break loose on Kunikida, annoying him three times more often than usual, but including the fact how tense the work got just before the New Year, Doppo wasn't just unsatisfied - he was in rage. That's why Dazai was beaten up three times more often. But even this was better for him, than Atsushi's and Chuuya's little world - sugary-vanilla, with milk rivers and gingerbread shores.

When Nakahara got his deserved vacation, he started visiting a lot more often, than usual. Sometimes he got drinks for all of the detective company, except for Dazai, of course; sometimes he visited just to to drag Nakajima off behind the folding screen, to whisper about stuff on couches in solitude; or he took Atsushi to the cafe on the first floor for lunch break, but always paid for both of them, not letting Nakajima even look at the cheque. Shortly speaking, Chuuya tried to get every single piece of his beloved one's free time, and even though sometimes was distracting, Atsushi was... Happy.

Quite often Nakahara arrived in the end of the working day, and two of them went away under Dazai's displeased look, which Chuuya tried to not notice very hardly, and got away to the town, walking through snow-covered alleys, along narrow cozy streets with colorful garlands and round lanterns hanging over their heads. Nakahara had this weird will to always buy something for Nakajima, doesn't matter what - for example, a key chain, a plushie or some clothes - in any case the tiger-boy had an awkward feeling, but refusing these gifts would be impolite. When he confessed about this, Chuuya just thought about how cute he was and said, that he does not mind the money for him at all, but Atsushi made him promise he'll calm down a bit.

- How would you like to celebrate the New Year? - Nakahara asked, pulling up his scarf, and looking into Nakajima's face - red cheeks and red nose, shiny eyes, filled with the light of life. Yes. That's what he was in love with.

- I... Don't even know, - Atsushi babbled with an unsure smile and wiped the snow off his shoulder, snuggling up closer to Chuuya. - People in the Agency were talking about a corporate party, but I don't think they'll be holding it on the New Year's night. I am sure, somebody would want to celebrate it with their family - like Kenji, for example...

Nakahara bit his lip, hesitating to ask, but he wanted, he wanted to offer it so much, so he couldn't hold himself and blurted out:

- Then... How about spending it with me?

Chuuya hid his glowing look so that Nakajima doesn't see how exciting it was for him to talk about it, but he didn't care and smiled happily, going for a hug, but immediately pulling away - after all, this was so... confusing.

- Why not? - Atsushi responded, putting his head on his shoulders, but starting panically waving hands: - N-no, not like that, I'd want it! Really want it!! - Nakajima promptly muttered, and Nakahara laughed kindly, soothingly patting him on the shoulder.

- Heh... Personally, I think it would be great to book a room at the hotel, or maybe a house on the outskirts of the city?..- Chuuya thoughtfully said, starting a new wave of confusion inside Nakajima, who mumbled:

- Uhm... Chuuya, isn't it gonna be a bit expensive?

Yes, that's true.

But such things never stopped Chuuya.

Despite all of the talks and common sense, which seemed so only for Atsushi, in the end Nakahara rented them a two-floored villa and took the boy there as soon as his vacation started - two days before New Year. The place was amazing, beaming with holiday-like coziness: along the perimeter of the house there were garlands, beaming with gold, twinkling stars and snowflakes, there was a spruce wreath, and just above the threshold - omela, and Chuuya didn't miss the opportunity to kiss Nakajima's cheeks, tightly holding his hands.Inside was no less beautiful - nice warm colors, high ceilings, a fireplace with red socks, tinsel and glass balls, but the most prominent was the Christmas tree, gleaming with hundreds of lights. The place was great. Chuuya was great.

But at the same time Atsushi had a feeling that he doesn't deserve this.

He couldn't give anything in exchange, he was sure, that Chuuya would get him a gift which can't compare to his - moreover, Nakajima didn't have enough time to even think about it, to buy something - even more so; that's why he felt guilty. Firstly Chuuya didn't notice his depressed mood, but when he noticed, understood it is so because of him, and so he fell into the sadness pit too. He just wanted to please Atsushi. He just wanted Atsushi to be happy with him, here, at the place he had never been to, experiencing feelings that he never experienced. Nakajima bit his lips in confusion, listening to his beloved one's honest excuses, and then he told about his worries. Nakahara made them disappear one by one. Then they hugged, laughing happily, and after that, when Chuuya made them some mulled wine, they sat together in front of the fireplace. Swaying in a hug to quiet music, drinking spiced hot drink, rub noses, gently smiling - if somebody told him he's going to spend his holidays like this a year back, he probably wouldn't believe them. But despite this... right now he was happy.

Only a half of the day was left until the New Year. And even if Nakajima couldn't buy anything, he could make it him himself - so that's why he locked himself up in a room, sometimes coming out just to grab some food or tea.

Atsushi was thinking a lot, keeping his eyes on the blank sheets for a long time, he wrote, tore, and started again several times - the correct thoughts just didn't want to come to his head, but he needed to...to tell how important Nakahara became for him. Atsushi was a bit nervous, as he didn't have a pretty envelope for this letter, was nervous if the white sheet of paper would look soulless, and his writing would look too bad - since the orphanage times he still hasn't made it better... He was ashamed and felt awkward, but he finished and neatly folded it, and drew black hats and little tigers on the other side, repeating to himself how childish it looked.

But Nakajima was satisfied with his work. A bit nervous, but satisfied.

Their New Year - great tasty food, made by Chuuya, sparkling champagne, warm hugs and fireworks, which Nakahara launched with unstoppable fun and loud shouting, thank God nobody could hear them. Without the loud bells, without going to the church and without the traditional games, actually, they didn't need that - their hearts were filled with happiness, bright fire was burning in the quivering souls, and lazy stretching under the kotatsu* wasn't worse in any way.

- Oh, Atsushi-kun... The gift, - Nakahara awkwardly smiled, getting something out of his back pocket.

- Please don't say it's something expensive, I'll die of embarrassment! - Atsushi squeezed his head in his shoulders holding his hands between the knees, and Chuuya, hiding something that he got out, laughed warmly.

- Firstly, we talked about it already, - he said, taking Atsushi's hand into his. - And secondly - no, it's not expensive - and he put a braided cord, clasped it, making sure he picked the correct size. - I... made it myself, - Nakahara lowered his head and smiled. - I was thinking about the gift for a long time... Starting with great alcohol, ending with a flat next to mine. But you'd not be interested in the first, and the second would make you sad, because, you know, too expensive.

- C-chuuya... - Atsushi held his fists closely to chest, nervously looking at the bracelet he got.

- I was thinking about a hat, about a coat, about a smoking... Even about a ring, - Nakahara smirked, looking up at Nakajima. - But all those things are not... sincere enough. That's why I started making this kumihimo** and made a gift for you by myself. Sounds... So childish, - and Chuuya started laughing, covering his face, but Atsushi took his hand into his and gently kissed the knuckles.

- Thank you. The bracelet is great, - "Just like you", - a thought flew through in his mind, but he didn't have enough courage to say it outloud. - And it... Is important. Right here. - Nakajima placed Chuuya's hand on his chest, where his tender heart beat fiercely, and Nakahara hugged his darling, dragging him back under the kotatsu. - Ah, yes, I have a gift for you too! - remembered Atsushi. - Wait a second.

He jumped out of his warm spot and ran away to the second floor, to the bedroom, where he had left his letter. When he returned, he sat next to Nakahara and and stretched out the paper rectangle with his trembling hands. Chuuya smiled inappropriately wide, and Nakajima blushed, biting his lips.

- Looks like you even overdone it with the "childishness", - Chuuya smirked, looking at the cute drawings, but when he felt it could offend Atsushi, he hurried up to apologize - I'm not intending to shame you. It just looks really cute.

- W-wait, are you going to read it now? - Nakajima asked, when Nakahara started to unfold the letter and caught a puzzled look on himself.

- Why not?

- It's just... Whatever. If you want to, go on then.

Chuuya could understand him - maybe, it's very confusing, when somebody reads the thoughts you put on a piece of paper right in front of you, but the man was too curious, that's why he carefully unfolded it and started looking through the neat lines of handwritten kanji.

"My beloved Nakahara Chuuya,

I am very happy to spend my time with you. Every day, which I spend with you, every minute, every second fills my heart with the most sincere joy, which you can feel only by being with the closest person.

We don't know each other for so long, and we have been dating even less, but you became the most important person for me. Your attention, your care, your love make me feel the happiest human on this planet - and even though we work in the organizations, which still haven't destroyed each other only because of the fragile truce, it does not prevent us from loving each other no matter what.

It's a bit awkward to write about such stuff. When you're unsure, a bit scared, confused... it's very scary to say something wrong and trip, but I know, you will catch me, so that's why I'm ready to entrust yourself to your hands. You filled my life with light and eclipsed the horrors of my past. I never knew love nor tenderness, but you taught me, and I am thankful to you, and I will try so hard to not lose you.

I love you with my soul and body. And I hope you'll love me the same.

Sincerely yours

and nobody else's

N. A."

Nakahara covered his mouth with his palm, and, it seemed like his temperature raised because of what he felt while reading this letter. Atsushi was just keeping quiet, dying of embarrassment, and Chuuya, finally looked up.

- Atsushi-kun... - he breathed out, letting go of the letter and tightly hugging the boy. - Atsushi, I love you so much! And I will! I promise I will!

Nakajima blushed again and hugged him too.

Intending never to let go.

________

Kotatsu* - a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits. 

Kumihimo** - a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands. Kumi himo is Japanese for "gathered threads".

All credit to @circie888

Your humble translator @sonichico

[dazaaaai]

(person from ur tumblr): CAN I JUST SAY THIS BLOG IS AWESOME :D I cant believe I found another person who likes bsd! btw Im Kunikida's wife, nice to meet you. Tell ur hus that Kunikida wants an explanation regarding the sudden disappearance of his nb XDD Aaanyways, to get to the point, I was hoping maaaybe for a prompt like: Kunikida sick w/ cold and a sweet Dazai takes care of him...?

HI THERE!! Sorry this is so late omg it’s been almost half a year but BLESS!!! It’s always good to have more people who like the Bungalow Wild Pups :D hello Mrs. Kunikida it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, I’ll be sure to tell Dazai to attend to the case of Kunikida’s missing notebook XD And yes !! You may of course, have your request! I think it’s not as fluffy and one-on-one as you wanted, but I had a lot of fun writing, so thank you for requesting and I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did typing it up!!

This Can’t End Well

⋆pairing: none that are mentioned!⋆ characters: Doppo Kunikida, Osamu Dazai, Akiko Yosano (main); Atsushi Nakajima, Junichirou Tanizaki, Kenji Miyazawa, Edogawa Ranpo, OC (secondary); Fukuzawa Yukichi, Kirako Haruno and the clerks (mentioned)⋆genre: mostly comedy, fluff near the end⋆ rating: K+⋆warnings: mentions of vomiting and other sickness symptoms⋆words: 2051→  summary: Kunikida’s definitely sick, and neither the Agency nor he himself are entirely certain what to do. Dazai, however, has a plan…

   This couldn’t end well.

    He didn’t want to admit it. It was shameful, and he had work to do! He couldn’t just slack off, couldn’t just stay at home… He had a schedule to keep to, an ideal — there was no way he could allow himself to be lazy, no way he could allow himself to act like…

    Dazai pinches his cheek, “Kunikida-kuuuun. You look awfully red.”

    Kunikida growls, “Well. Maybe if someone weren’t standing here trying to annoy me to death, my complexion would be a lot paler.”

    “I don’t think it’s just that,” Dazai hums, moving his hand from his cheek to his forehead, Kunikida doing everything in his power to keep typing and not snap Dazai’s wrist. “Kunikida-kun, I think you have a fever!”

    “Absolutely not,” Kunikida quickly swats his hand away before returning to his ever-important document. Click-clack, click-clack…

    “I think maybe Yosano-sensei should take a look at you.”

    “Absolutely not.”

   And then, to Kunikida’s horror, his body completely betrays him. His nose seizes, his lip quivers, his face scrunches up…

   He does an awful, awful thing.

   He sneezes.

   “Bless you, Kunikida-san!” Comes Atsushi’s voice from across the desk, from where the tiger boy is sitting, on the other chair.

   Kunikida swiftly wipes his nose with a hanky, returning to his typing.

   “You know,” Dazai says, leaning against his chair. “Our little photographer says that where she’s from, a single sneeze means bad luck, or very simply, ‘be patient.’ Maybe your work can wait?”

   “Nonsense! I do not procrastinate,” But his voice sounds stuffy — stuffier than usual, Kunikida’s sure Dazai would remark — and his eyes feel weary. His throat is scratchy, too…

   “Uh-oh,” Dazai coos. “I think somebody’s definitely sick.”

   “No.”

   “You really don’t look so well, Kunikida-kun.”

   “I’m fine, Dazai!”

   “You’re sick,” Dazai’s teasingly insistent, turning to his subordinate, “Atsushi-kun! Doesn’t Kunikida-kun seem sick to you?”

   Atsushi glances nervously between his two superiors — one wears an easy-going smile and the other’s glaring daggers at Atsushi, as if daring him to speak up.

   “W-well,” he begins. “Kunikida-san’s a logical man… Why would he come to work if he wasn’t feeling well?”

   “I don’t know,” Dazai hums. “Why don’t you ask him?”

   Atsushi takes one look at Kunikida, yelps, and buries his face back in his paperwork.

   “I am not sick, Dazai,” Kunikida says, with a sense of finality — he refuses to accept any prolonging of this discussion. He has work to do.

   But then…

   Coughs.

   It’s a small, tickle of sorts, within the back of his throat, at first. Then the tickle turns into scraping in his lungs, and soon enough Kunikida’s hacking up spit and bile into the palm of his hand, desperately trying to keep the contents of his stomach inside his body where they belong.

   “Kunikida-san?” It’s Junichirou this time, he’s walking by with a stack of folders and binders. The boy’s bright red eyes gaze at Kunikida with concern, “Are you alright? You don’t look too good.”

   “Tanizaki-san, I assure you, I’m in perfect health—” Kunikida says, but ends up being unable to continue as another coughing fit wracks his chest.

   Junichirou frowns, “You should go lie down in Yosano-sensei’s infirmary, if only for a bit. It’d help a lot — I can take over what you need to do for today from here, if you need me to.”

   Kunikida dismisses him with a wave of his shaky hand, “No, I insist. I have it under control.”

   He returns to his typing, only to realize upon hitting a certain point in his document, that he needs to refer and source something from a case they’d solved last year — the files to do with that are not on the hard drive belonging to the computer he’s currently working with. In fact, they haven’t been digitized yet, so they’re on a shelf against the walls of the office, a little ways away from where Kunikida’s working.

   All he has to do is get up and get the binder. Simple, right?

   Not right. He gets up and is immediately hit by a wave of dizziness so intense that both Atsushi and Junichirou shout at once, “Kunikida-san!”

   They rush to his side just as his head’s about to hit the ground and catch him, the two younger, weaker boys barely holding the man upwards, dragging him back to his seat, which he collapses in gratefully, and while breathing heavily.

   “You definitely need a break,” Junichirou puts a hand to Kunikida’s forehead, tutting when he feels the high temperature of his skin.

   “No no,” Kunikida insists, but when he sits up he again finds himself dizzy, collapsing back once more in his seat.

   “Everybody needs to rest sometime,” Atsushi says, voice soft.

   “I can rest at night, when I’m asleep…”

   “Kunikida-san,” Junichirou continues. “We’re going to take you to Yosano-sensei and see what she thinks, okay?”

   Kunikida’s face manages to pale, at least, in comparison to how red it is from his fever. “Oh no.”

   Dazai cackles maniacally, “How exciting! Gotta get treated by the scary scary doctor when you have the suds, Kunikida-kuuun…!”

   “Is he alright?” Kenji asks, poking his head out from behind Atsushi and Junichirou, who’ve been waiting outside of Yosano’s office for about half an hour.

   He was asking this question to Yosano, of course, who’d finally unlocked the door and stepped outside, seeming bemused in expression but smiling gently at Kenji, then laughing.

   “Oh he’s fine,” she replies at last. “He’s just sick.”

   “I knew it!” Dazai yells cheerily from across the floor.

   “So he really is sick?” Junichirou bites his lip, “Can you heal him?”

   Yosano shakes her head, “No. My ability only works on injuries, and is mostly intended for the life-threatening kind… It can do nothing for psychological damage, medical problems you were born with, nor, in this particular case… The common cold.”

   “He caught a cold?” Atsushi’s almost in awe. “That seems so strange. He’s always seemed so healthy and hard-working.”

   “Finally took its toll,” Yosano sighs. “It’s a sign that he needs to rest.”

   She then narrows her eyes, looking all around at the Agency members.

   “Whatever you do,” she begins, tone deadly serious and commanding. “Do not let that man leave his bed. I don’t care if he begs or pleads or cries, he will not work today.”

   “B-but,” Atsushi tries to argue. “Yosano-sensei! You know Kunikida-san is so very, u-um—!”

   “Doctor’s orders,” is Yosano’s firm reply, as she exits the Agency with her heels pattering against the marble. “Now, I’m off to get cough syrup for the patient. Do what you will to make him feel comfortable, if you feel like it — though I’m sure he’d rather you all be working in his absence.”

   The door shuts, and a silence falls upon the members of the Agency.

   “What…” Atsushi trails off. “Now?”

   “Isn’t it obvious, Atsushi-kun?” Dazai laughs, coming to put a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “We take care of Kunikida-kun until Yosano-sensei returns from the pharmacy.”

   “How do we take care of him though?” Junichirou looks at Dazai, curious. “We’re not doctors.”

   “Oh, pish-tosh! It’s just a cold, right? Everybody has home remedies for a cold! Why not throw some suggestions my way, and I’ll see what I can do for my beloved coworker!”

   “Dazai-san,” Atsushi’s surprised. “I didn’t know you cared about Kunikida-san so much.”

   Dazai puts a hand to his chest, as if he’s completely and totally offended. “Why! Atsushi-kun. I’m struck at the very idea that you thought I don’t care about him. Nothing could be further from the truth! He takes such good care of the Agency, why don’t we return the favor for a change?”

   There are slow, then enthusiastic nods amongst the younger Agency members, but Ranpo simply cackles from where he sits, sucking on a lollipop.

   “Oh yeah,” he shakes his head, eyes ever closed in amusement. “This can’t end well.”

   “Now now,” Dazai claps his hands together. “Ranpo-san, don’t be so pessimistic! So, which of you lovelies has an idea for what we could do?”

   “Well,” Kenji taps his chin. “Honey will do the trick, if he has a sore throat.”

   The brown-eyed girl sitting next to Kenji sticks out her tongue, “Honey. Yucky! I hate that stuff. I have a better idea,” she gets up off her seat, and skips off to the front door, “I’m going to go down to the café, ask Lucy if she has any maple syrup. Same effect, tastes much better!”

   Before anyone can stop her, the door is opened and shut once more.

   “Maybe something hot and warm to eat,” Atsushi turns around. “Like soup.”

   “Atsushi-kun, can you cook?”

   “M-more or less, but—”

   “Wonderful! Accompany the little princess down to the cafe and ask if you can use their kitchen and ingredients — be sure to tell them to put charges on your tab, alright?”

   “B-but!”

   “You’re the one who suggested it, not me. Now go, go go go!”

   Atsushi sighs, getting up and doing so.

   “What should we do?” Junichirou and Kenji ask in unison.

   “Hmmm,” Dazai tips his head, thinking. “You two should take care of Kunikida’s work while he’s away from his keyboard. I’m sure he’d appreciate that tons!”

   Junichirou furrows his eyebrows, “His work is really complicated, at least to me. I’m just an errand boy, Dazai-san…”

   Kenji nods in nervous agreement, “Yeah. And I still don’t know what a computer is, let alone how to use one!”

   Dazai laughs, like it’s not a problem at all. “You’re two capable boys! I’m sure you can figure out.”

   They exchange glances, then get up, bowing lightly, saying, “We’ll do our best!”

   Dazai waves them off happily, then turns to the infirmary’s door with what can only be described as a grin akin to that of the Cheshire Cat.

   So begins his fun…

   “Y-Yosano-sensei!” Kunikida splutters as the woman enters her office once more, having returned with the cough medicine she’d promised.

   “Hmm?” Yosano raises a perfectly-shaped eyebrow in confusion. “Kunikida-kun, you’re acting so scared as if I might treat you with my ability.”

   “This is worse,” he whispers. “So much worse.”

   “What happened?” Yosano rolls down one of her gloves to check her watch, “I couldn’t have been gone more than forty minutes.”

   “Dazai happened.”

   And Kunikida, with a dying voice, though Yosano insists for him to rest his throat, regales her on all the awful things that have occurred in those devastating forty minutes that Yosano was absent.

   First, Atsushi and his little friend come back up into the Agency, one with a pot of hot soup, and the other with a big urn (that’s the only word that comes to Kunikida’s mind, as it was just so large) of maple syrup, both insisting that he eat it all.

   He, er, had expelled most of it, to his utter humiliation and to Yosano’s complete unsurprise.

   And then, it got worse… Dazai came in and tried to cheer him up, as it were, by driving him “COMPLETELY UP THE WALL” and constantly poking and prodding him, pretending to give him a soothing massage when really he was nearly breaking Kunikida’s foot to go along with his disease.

   Then, to top it all off, Junichirou comes in, maybe five or ten minutes before Yosano’s return, only to tell him that he finished all of Kunikida’s work… When Kunikida asked Junichirou to show him, Kenji waddled in with the laptop, and after seeing the state it was in, Kunikida could do nothing but scream.

   Kunikida’s end up sent home for the week — and the detectives are given a thorough scolding from the President. Ranpo laughs about it nonstop, every day up until Kunikida returns…

   And once he does, nobody goes near him, not even Dazai.

   They know if they do…

   It won’t end well.

   But, when Kunikida arrives, all better now though even angrier than usual, to sit at his desk…

   He finds a little card perched on his laptop.

   He takes the small, thick paper, and unfolds it to reveal the words, surely in one of the members’ neat calligraphy…

We’re sorry!! Get well soon, Kunikida-san!

   And it’s signed by every one of the detectives and clerks, even Dazai and Ranpo.

   So maybe it did end well, after all.

[weretigerkun]

Dazai/Atsushi inktober drabbles

A collection of fluff, angst, humor, AU, intimacy and introspection

(long)

Dazai’s fingers are longer than his.

He presses their hands together, palm to palm (one rough and the other smooth as baby-skin, regenerated again and again), thumb to thumb. He curls his hand, buries his fingers in the spaces between Dazai’s digits, and presses his pads against the older man’s knuckles.

Dazai relents, lets him, stretches out his fingers and wraps Atsushi’s hand in his own. His grip is gentle, firm but gentle, and Atsushi tries not to shake when his chest bursts with warmth.

Inside of him is a wish. Please don’t ever let go.

These hands: stained with gallons of blood and sweat and tears, rough and cruel, nails scratched against earth and gunpowder and flesh, each touch powerful enough to cancel out abilities—

Cradling Atsushi when he shakes, warm against his cheeks, soft against his hair.

The boy leans down and presses grateful lips against Dazai’s fingers.

(gigantic)

Atsushi’s eyes sparkle with excitement.

The din of the restaurant surrounds them, but Dazai’s ears still catch every one of Atsushi’s sharp breaths, his little coos of wonder. The boy hums and murmurs, his cheeks stuffed with noodles and shrimp. “Show good,” he mumbles, and then proceeds to take another gigantic bite.

Dazai can only smile and hide a laugh. He rests his head against a palm, leans an elbow on the tabletop. Watching Atsushi eat is always a curiosity, and Dazai isn’t unwilling to spoil.

Atsushi empties one bowl, another and then another.

When he finishes, he lets out a large, contented sigh, lips curling up into a happy smile. And then he grins at Dazai, those eyes crinkling at the edges in a bright beam of light.

“Thank you for the meal, Dazai-san!”

“No problem, Atsushi-kun,” Dazai replies with a smile of his own, fingers tapping Kunikida’s wallet.

.

(underwater)

He keeps his eyes open even though it stings.

The water is clear and heavy around him, keeping him frozen in place. He feels like a ray of light, a wisp of smoke, each movement futile against the raging current.

And the colors in front of him: the piercing white of the distant sun, a beautiful sky blue, waves upon waves of light reflecting and refracting into the space of his quickly blurring vision.

His lungs burn, hot and sharp, each nonexistent breath a primal warning. He reads each warning like an old friend, accompanies each panicked heartbeat with a familiar thought. Isn’t it always easier to fail?

Dazai opens his mouth, swallowing down another gasp. And then something solid grabs his wrist, pulls him up with incredible force. Dazai’s mind goes black, but even his limp body can tell, can melt desperately into the warmth of a foreign embrace.

.

(furious)

Atsushi’s head feels like it’ll split open.

He grits his teeth and winces, finds that he can’t move. His body aches all over, and the pain is deep—reverberating through muscle, skin, bone. The tiger inside of him breathes gently and without noise, asleep and resting. Atsushi parts his lips, finds that his throat is dry. Something warm and sticky itches on his skin, beneath his tattered clothes.

The world moves, sways underneath him. He cracks his eyes open and finds a cloudy sky. Two arms supporting him, his head against a sturdy chest.

Atsushi looks up and finds Dazai carrying him, the man only looking ahead.

On his face: no hint of emotion, nothing but blank lips and a blank gaze.

“Yosano-sensei,” Dazai says. Even as he pauses, his fingers twitch. Atsushi can’t make a sound. Everything hurts.

As he’s moved away from the warmth of Dazai’s arms, he feels himself slowly drift into unconsciousness. But the last thing he sees is Dazai’s face—the hair matted with sweat, dirt on his cheek, and eyes that burn like the flames of hell.

Dazai-san, Atsushi thinks. But his arms are too weak to reach out.

And the world goes black.

.

(cloud)

In another world, they find each other years too early.

Atsushi catches the figure of the man hunched over the counter, his neck wrapped in bandages. When he tilts his head back, he huffs out a cloud of smoke, and the scent stabs Atsushi’s nostrils, makes his head spin.

The scent, yes. That must be it. He can’t explain the way the world shakes when he catches a glimpse of those sharp hazel eyes through the smoke. A single piercing stare, eyes that see everything and nothing at all, the color reflecting a world Atsushi can never hope to understand.

He freezes in place, the tray in his arms trembling.

The man turns his head to look at him. Their eyes meet, and Atsushi’s chest swells and aches at the same time.

“What?” the man asks. His voice is low and clipped and strangely familiar. Atsushi wonders why it isn’t softer.

“Nothing, sir,” he says, bowing his head down low. “Excuse me.”

There are errands to be run and tables to clean. He grimaces at the thought of his boss knowing he could have offended a customer, and so he darts back into the kitchen, his back heavy with someone else’s gaze.

(He waits days, weeks, months. There’s nowhere else to go. But the man never returns again. Atsushi feels something vanish deep inside of him—something important, now replaced by a gaping hole. It’s on the tip of his tongue, on the edge of his lips. But instead he swallows down a sob and gets back to work, his belly grumbling)

.

(shy)

Dazai chuckles.

“No need to be shy, Atsushi-kun. You look like you need some help.”

“Ah.”

Atsushi looks away, flustered. His hands shake and drop to his sides, the necktie hanging from his collar left in a pitiful knot.

Dazai approaches, his grin steady.

So close.

The older man undoes Atsushi’s mess. Atsushi only stands still, back straight and almost not breathing. How can he, when Dazai leans forward, his hair falling onto his face, breath steady against Atsushi’s hair, and voice smooth and low like velvet?

“See, you just cross these ends—“

Hands brushing against Atsushi’s collarbone, each touch stinging.

“Voila!”

Atsushi turns to the mirror and nods stiffly. His hand comes up to tug at Dazai’s masterpiece, but their eyes meet in the mirror—twinkling hazel against a bashful purple. Atsushi squeaks out a thanks, his face already turning red.

Dazai, the bastard, only grins even wider.

.

(filthy)

If Dazai looks intently, he can see years of residue: blood, earth, and gunpowder buried in the crevices of his hands.

The memories are sharp enough to send him reeling on bad days—when the humidity rises with the rain, when the phantom cold settles deep into his bones.

His tongue remembers the tang of iron and whiskey, the heaviness of smoke.

(The weight of a gun in his hands—knows it even in slumber. Head throbbing with the sensation, metal against his forehead, a final lullaby, that rush, chasing the one thing he couldn’t have—)

Remembers words that taste like both hope and regret. Words that aren’t his.

He only realizes he’s been scratching when the red blooms against the whiteness of his wrists.

Someone calmly tugs at his shoulder. In the boy’s palm: fresh bandages. He motions to unwrap them.

Atsushi doesn’t ask, and Dazai is grateful.

.

(graceful) - R15

The curve of that back, smooth and milky in the darkness, slopes gently beneath Dazai’s fingers.

He brushes a hand against Atsushi’s soft skin, feeling every ridge of his backbone, his spine, the waves of his ribs. The boy lets out a gasp—barely a mewl—at the hint of warmth tickling at his flesh. Dazai only smiles, touches brushing downwards, descending into the heat between Atsushi’s legs.

He captures Atsushi’s whimpers in his mouth, presses soft lips against his. The boy presses closer, hands and mouth pulling Dazai towards him. His scent, his sweet taste, his fists—Dazai finds them magnetic, and doesn’t dare break away.

He nudges Atsushi’s legs open, places a hand on the boy’s neck. Small and slender in his grip, curving deliciously—he takes a nip, and grins at the resulting sharp breath.

Atsushi reaches out, fingers thin and delicate, and Dazai lets him touch.

.

(teeming)

Yokohama bustles with the morning crowd.

A light spray of rain falls down on everyone, wetting heads and shoes and road. Atsushi can barely see through the crowd of umbrellas, through the masses moving for their morning commute. All that remains is one giant, snaking line—a rush of people with places to be.

He strains his neck, stands on his tiptoes. The drizzle is faint against his hair, but he’s used to it. All that he’s looking for is…

“Atsushi-kun, there you are!”

A hand grabs his own.

Dazai smiles at him, the collar of his coat turned up. His bangs are damp with rain, and Atsushi smiles too, resists the urge to run a hand through the older man’s hair.

He squeezes Dazai’s hand back.

“Found you,” Dazai says. He tugs Atsushi forward gently, allows him back into the path. Atsushi only follows, their hands linked in warmth.

.

(mysterious)

Atsushi knows that some nights Dazai doesn’t sleep.

What’s there to look at? Their room is dark even in Yokohama, with only a hint of neon filtering through the shutters. The futon is snug with both of them inside, limbs interlocked, compensating for a warmth he once couldn’t feel.

Dazai’s breaths are steady. His heartbeat is sound. Atsushi presses his ear against a bandaged chest and counts flutters.

He also knows that Dazai doesn’t really see—whatever his pupils are focused on is a memory.

Some nights he rests his bony hand on Dazai’s own. Nothing but the comfort of existence, pressing skin against skin. And when Dazai’s fingers twitch, when they curl under Atsushi’s weight, he holds on.

On Dazai’s lips is a name Atsushi can’t read.

On his lips is an apology Atsushi knows isn’t for him.

He waits. Perhaps one day Dazai can bear to tell him.

.

(crooked)

Through the haze of his vision, Dazai offers a crooked smile.

Atsushi swallows down the lump in his throat. The room is unbearably warm and humid—but no, that’s just the blood rushing to his face. Everything is hot underneath his skin, hot and boiling, and he gulps down a nonsensical string of words.

The sake burns his throat, only making his head feel lighter.

“Slow down, Atsushi-kun,” Dazai laughs. His hand grows closer and Atsushi leans forward, hoping for the brush of fingers against his hair. Instead, the man pulls his glass away, and Atsushi bites down a pout. Dazai notices his movement and chuckles, his eyes sparkling hazel in the tiny electric booth.

The boy stares back unblinkingly, his mouth dry.

Dazai only keeps smiling, those lips soft and tender. Atsushi wants to reach out, but he’s afraid of his shaking hands.

“Do you want any water?”

No. Just you.

Dazai’s eyes widen, and then he bursts into laughter. Atsushi’s face colors even more, and so he buries his face into his arms. But a gentle hand rubs his back and presses against his hair.

“Oh, Atsushi-kun.”

He doesn’t reply. Dazai remains beside him.

.

(ship)

The ship rocks gently above the waves. A breeze ruffles their hair, makes that stray strand of Atsushi's dance. Dazai leans his arms against the railings, aware of the space between his and Atsushi's elbows.

The boy only looks forward, his expression tired but serene. How long has it been? He's no longer the skinny boy that had saved Dazai from the river.

Dazai resists the urge to run his hand along the collar of Atsushi's suit.

"If we kept drifting," Atsushi says. "Where would we end up?"

The older man hums.

"The middle of the Pacific Ocean, probably. Have you ever seen a whirlpool, Atsushi-kun?"

"A what?!"

"A great big vortex in the water, sucking everything and everyone in."

Atsushi's brows are raised high.

"Is that... real?"

"Yes," Dazai slides an arm around his shoulder. "But don't worry, you have me~"

"Thank goodness we're not leaving Yokohama."

Dazai laughs.

.

(united)

A hundred steps.

His coattails swish at his calves. Dazai drums his fingers against his thigh.

Fifty steps.

He leaps up the stairs, a hum in his throat.

Twenty steps.

He slides the key out of his pocket and unlocks the door. It swings open quietly, and the hallway floods with light.

Ten steps.

He patters into the apartment barefoot.

Five.

In the living room, Atsushi sits. His legs are folded beneath him as he leans against the small coffee table, pages of a book between his fingers. At Dazai’s footsteps, he looks up, face instantly beaming. That sparkling smile, the large eyes that match the sunset, his cheeks spreading wide, a clear voice bursting with joy—

“Dazai-san! Welcome home!”

“Glad to be back.”

Atsushi stands to greet him, arms opening wide. Dazai lets him, allows the embrace, and exhales at the softness of a head burrowing into his chest.

[bungou-stray-dogs-indulgences]

Idk if this is possible, but birthday headcanons for our sushi boy? (*cough*Atsushi*cough*)

Happy birthday little tiger roll!

Atsushi’s not above forgetting his own birthday. Since he never celebrated his birth at the orphanage, remembering the day’s coming up just feels a bit foreign to him. Chances are, if something doesn’t remind him that his birthday’s just around the corner, it’ll completely slip his mind until about two weeks after.

Naturally, the ADA throws Atsushi a surprise party (mostly, it’s just them wanting to take an unsanctioned day off, despite Kunikida’s protests). No matter how obvious his coworkers are while setting up, the whole thing completely flies over his head. Dazai could waltz by his desk toting a cake that says ‘Happy birthday, Atsushi!’ and the boy would still be none the wiser. Of course he absolutely loves the party and at one point is almost on the verge of tears, overwhelmed by all the love.

Generally, Atsushi enjoys all of the party decorations. His favorite, though, is the black-and-white twisted party streamers, courtesy of Tanizaki and Naomi.

Eating is by far Atsushi’s favorite part of his birthday (though if you ask him, he’ll sweat a bit before insisting he only cares about the people who worked so hard to make his birthday special). Surrounded by all of his favorite food and desserts, he’s practically died and gone to heaven. Unless you scold him before he reaches his sixth plate, Atsushi stuffs himself sick.

Atsushi’s favorite birthday treat is crepes. Naturally, he’ll devour a crepe no matter where it’s been baked, but his are sold in a tiny kiosk perched a few miles into Yokohama’s docks, a mile or so away from the Ferris Wheel. Mochi flavored, smeared with whipped cream and strawberries and drizzled with chocolate sauce make him feel like his life is complete.

Any gift that’s for him will spark a smile across Atsushi’s face, even if it’s downright horrible. (Don’t ever get the poor boy a white elephant gift, because he won’t realize it’s a joke and will spend a solid five minutes assuring the giver he absolutely adores it.) Books, though, are his favorite presents. A thick volume with an ornate cover and lace bookmark will get Atsushi absolutely salivating.

Romantic

Waking Atsushi up with kisses is the way to go if you want to ensure his day kicks off on the right foot. He’s not one for breakfast in bed; the taste of your lips chasing away his drowsiness is all he needs.

Getting a sentimental gift for Atsushi will probably get his eyes watering a bit. Something like matching pendants for you two, a scrapbook of all the memories a camera’s captured, or a trinket calling back to the first time you met immediately captures his heart. Atsushi’s instantly throwing his arms around you after he tears back the wrapping paper, mumbling into your hair that he doesn’t deserve you as he squeezes.

Although Atsushi’s thrilled with anything, he’d rather do something than have you drop extra cash on gifts. If you’re tight on money, don’t worry, because his ideal birthday treat’s incredibly simple; a picnic at noon, followed by an afternoon wandering Yokohama. Take him on the Ferris Wheel for a few spins to close up the day, planting a sweet kiss on his lips whenever you hit the top, and Atsushi’s going to be elated for weeks.

Normally, Atsushi’s not picky where pastries are concerned. When you’re talking about his birthday crepes, however, the requirements are strict. For him to be truly satisfied, you’ve got to share with him. Every other nibble’s lifted to your mouth, hovering there expectantly until you bite. Don’t be surprised, either, if he ‘accidentally’ smears a bit of whipped cream on your nose, then swoops in to kiss it off.

Winding down the day with a bit of steamy Birthday sex is a fantastic end. Going down on him until he’s practically a trembling mess, coaxing him to cum in your mouth over and over, is enough to make Atsushi feel like the only boy in the world. If you really want to get him sighing, massage him, running your fingers up and down his naked skin until the muscle kinks melt away. Soothing him to sleep with an after-sex body rub is enough to get him already excited for next year.

[hellaintthatbad]

Bungou Stray Dogs Atsushi x Dazai

Dazai ran through the rain, the dark silhouettes of containers passed his eyes but he didn’t pay attention to them. He ran through the rain in the search of something, no someone, way more important than any of these containers could have been. And he was followed by another shadow, a man in a hat, scarf and suit, long red hair wet and stuck to his face, being too busy holding onto his hat than to push it away. Dazai’s brown hair however laid back, his speed and the howling wind of the port blew it away.

“Atsushi!”

Dazai’s desperate shout didn’t go far, the wind was too strong, the splatter of raindrops against metal too loud. His voice was raspy from already screaming for the boy for hours.

Dazai was in a bar with Chuuya as he got the call and never stopped since. Kyouka’s voice has trembled as she reported of Atsushi’s getaway. Her body has trembled too, probably, taking from the amount of times she let the phone fall down during the call, she was in no good state. Luckily she called Dazai first on not the police.

The bar had been on the other side of town but the man didn’t care about taking a car, the traffic would have just held them back. And he knew enough shortcuts to come to the port quite fast.

“Atsushi! Come out!”

The silence following his shout was cruel. It ripped his chest in half, churned his stomach and made his knees weak.

Then something new was to hear against the rain.

Something familiar.

Screams.

Screams of men in utter fear of pain and death.

Dazai has caused such screams himself before, of course he had, but they still hurt him. They hurt him because he knew the one causing them wasn’t doing so intentionally.

They rounded a few more corners and the man covered in bandages felt a mighty aura being created behind him.

“No, not this. He isn’t supposed to die. Chuuya, let me take care. Call a cab or whatever, just stay away from him for all our sakes!”

Chuuya just huffed and took the next turn to the right which led to a payphone. Dazai however just nodded to him and kept running straight towards the screams.

Even his bones were wet as the brown-haired got to the place of action. The big, black and white tiger stood above a shredded body, his claws lingered in the air, ready to tear again. Another man leaned over a woman, a useless try to protect her, she was already bled out. A lean figure, unable to identity due to the darkness, pressed their body into a corner to hide.

“Atsushi!”

Dazai halted behind the tiger in safe, yet intrusive distance.  The beast slowly turned his head. The cold, blue eyes fixated on him, scanned him, searching for movements of attacking. Then, careful not to leave any part of his body exposed, it turned and stood over his prey.

The tiger bared his teeth and got ready to jump at Dazai, its tail puffed up and the back hair stood up. Dazai also got ready, not to attack, but to dodge and still touch the animal. Who, being aggressive and disturbed while eating, interpreted this falsely and jumped at Dazai.

The next movements of both were so fast, the human could barely recognize them. Blink, and where a tiger and a man collided laid said man with a grey-haired boy in his arms, the boy still slightly conscious. Tears were falling down his face, he moved his hand to swipe them away but was too weak and it fell back to the ground.

“What did I do? Did I hurt anyone?”

The boy’s words came out raspy and broken, sobs shook his body slightly, his whole image was one of miserable.

“Sshhhh. Atsushi, it’s okay. They’re okay. You just scared them a bit. It’s okay, you’re okay now. I’m here.”

A woman’s sob dismantled his lie, a word ‘monster’ was able to identity and the panic in Atsushi’s eyes grew.

“Dazai, don’t let me turn. Please, don’t let me. I don’t wanna hurt more! I can’t hurt more! Please!”

His agitated state just let his body become more exhausted and unconsciousness neared.

“Don’t let me. Don’t let me go… Please, just hold me, don’t let me go… Hold me…”

             The next thing Atsushi sees is the light ceiling of the Agency’s infirmary, a blanket tugged up to his chin, his right hand warmer than the rest of him.  He turns his head to see Dazai sleeping in the chair next to his bed, holding his hand tightly. The younger squeezes the linked hand and causes the other to stir awake.

“Hey sleepyhead, you better? Akiko was already getting her hopes up.”

“Yeah, I’m okay. How long was I asleep?”

“Just a few hours. Are you hungry?”

“Not really, just still tir..”

The door interrupted him. Junichirou walked in, not even bothering to knock.

“Dazai, the Boss wants to talk to you. Don’t know why, seems important though. Oh, hey Atsushi, you better?”

“Yeah, he is, tell Fukuzawa I’m coming. Atsushi, are you okay with being alone for a few minutes? Try to sleep some more, your body is still exhausted. I’m coming back as fast as possible.”

The boy only nodded and Dazai left the room, wrinkling his forehead in concern.

“You know, he was here all the time while you slept, holding your hand and even refused to go and eat something. You must’ve scared the shit out of these people if he was so worried. I’ve never seen him staying here this long.”

Without even waiting for a response, Junichirou also left the room, so Atsushi just laid down again and thought about his words, falling back asleep without any struggle.

In his dream, he was yet again at the port and hovered above those people, but this time Dazai didn’t come to help him. He saw himself rip apart the bodies of innocent and didn’t have a say in it, he couldn’t control his body. The tiger fed on the flesh and when he was finished, he didn’t stop. He ran further towards the city, towards humans to kill. The first people he encountered were two guards and he killed both without even blinking.

The beast became stronger the more people it ate and by the time they reached the Agency, Atsushi was barely able to even think. His paws sprinted up the stairs and he barged into the bureau, instantly killing Naomi with the door. Next was Junichirou, he attacked as Naomi landed on the ground. He too was dead before he knew it. Ranpo hovered underneath hiss table, but his rapid breath gave him away and soon blood flood from his neck. Kunikida tried to summon a gun, but the tiger ripped his notebook apart and tore apart his chest.

Atsushi mentally vomited as his body took a bite on his friend.

Then a heartbeat was at the door, the striped monster turned around and Dazai entered their sight. The boy’s heart made an unusual jump, but instantly stopped when he saw the other’s face, the look of disgust more prominent than anything else.

“How could I think that you were a plus for the Armed Detectives? You’re nothing but a monster. I should’ve let Chuuya kill you, or better kill you back at the warehouse. They were right to hunt you. At last, you’re nothing but a disgusting beast within a more disgusting boy. You killed all my friends! You belong in a zoo!”

Atsushi was crying by then, but the tiger bad other plans. He jumped at the brown-haired, claws tripping with blood. The man got out a knife and shoved it into the tiger’s chest. As the form shrank, the disgust only grew.

             Atsushi woke up with a broken scream, his arms had turned into paws and claws tried to rip apart everything that was within reach. Junichirou and Naomi were covered in scratches as Dazai entered and rushed over to them, laying a hand on the boy’s leg as soon as possible.

He fell unconscious for a second, however opened his eyes after only a few shallow breaths. His eyes were back to their usual yellow and purple, the warm colors stood in contrast to the ice blue pupils the tiger gave him. Though they widened as he noticed the bleeding scratches on his friends.

“I’m so sorry! Honestly. I didn’t want to hurt you. It was a mistake. I’m so sorry!”

Dazai interrupted his rambling by laying a hand on his shoulder. Sobs escaped the kid, his hands trembled before he closed them into fists.

“Guys, let your wounds get stitched up. I’m taking care of him.”

The siblings left them at that and Dazai sat down, closed his arms around the younger and pulled him against his chest. Atsushi was full-on crying now and clenched onto his trench coat.

“I’m so sorry! I even hurt my friends, I couldn’t even control him this much, it’s useless! All I’m doing for you guys is cause problems! I should go, I should keep a safe distance, go away, leave Japan! I can’t even sleep without you there! You have a life too! And I’m just holding you back with my problems!”

“Hey… Shh…”

His voice let Dazai’s body vibrate against Atsushi’s head and calmed him down so much that he could take a few normal breaths before looking up.

“I don’t think you’re a burden to any of us. You are our friend. We all had our problems while training. It’s okay to struggle. It’s human to struggle. And I don’t mind taking care of you. I will help you. We all will. And don’t think for a moment that we would let you go, you are a part of our Agency! Your problems are our problems. Especially mine, I dragged you here. So stopped whining, get better and start training.”

“But what if I hurt someone again? This dream I had, it felt so real! I killed so many people, I killed our friends! And it didn’t stop until you killed me!”

At this, Dazai flinched heavily.

“Atsushi, you do understand that I could never kill you, right? You mean too much to me that I could ever do that?”

“How can you be so sure? The tiger could always attack you, hurt you so bad…”

Dazai didn’t let him finish this thought. He pressed their lips together, his eyes were shut, a hand laid on a pale cheek, the other shoved into gray hair. Two hands clenched harder at his trench coat. As they parted, he opened his eyes and looked into multicolored ones. Breath hit his lips. He smirked.

“See why I couldn’t let go? Why I won’t let the tiger go wild again?”

Atsushi only nodded. Then, he backed away and patted on the now free part of the bed. And blushed heavily.

At this image, the older only chuckled, pulled off his shoes and settled down.

As his head hit the pillow, lips met his own.

“Thank you.”

These were the boy’s last words for a few hours. He slept tightly, cuddled into his chest. And as the man wrapped his arms around him, he considered for the first time in a long while taking off the bandages just so that he could fully feel the heat radiating from the slender figure.

<Some extra bc I can>

A few days have passed and Atsushi and Dazai didn’t do much ‘couply’ stuff, except for holding hands when Atsushi was nervous or sitting closer when they were at the café. Dazai picked up on Atsushi because he didn’t want to be so affectionate and make others uncomfortable. The older was annoyed by it.

So, as one morning the grayhead came into the agency and stood next to him, he, unnoticed by Kunikida who he was talking to, slid a hand into the younger’s back pocket and squeezed his butt. Atsushi squealed and blushed so much he looked like a tomato.

“Are you okay?”

Kunikida looked down at the boy, an eyebrow rose questioning.

“Yeah, yeah, just remembered something I need to do, excuse me!”

With that he stormed to his desk, sat down and rummaged through a drawer.

Kunikida turned back to Dazai, not further caring about the strange behavior of a strange boy.

             Dazai kept on teasing Atsushi, one time he leaned on his shoulder while he was working on some papers, arms hanging down and grazing his butt. He even laid a hand on his lap and drew circles on the clothed leg, coming dangerously close to a certain area.

             Two days and a lot of teasing later it was especially warm and Dazai tried drowning in the river (at least that’s what he told everyone as he stepped into the Agency dripping wet). He shrugged off his coat and got rid of his vest before pulling off his tie, ‘accidentally ‘ using too much power and it landed behind Atsushi, who was sitting on his desk talking to Junichirou.

Innocent looking, the brown-haired went over to them and leaned onto his love interest. Who let out a surprised yelp and leaned back but frowned as Dazai smirked and held up the accessory. Then his eyes flashed up, he grabbed his collar and shoved the man into the wall.

Without missing a beat he kissed his boyfriend with more passion then he himself would’ve expected. Dazai moaned into the kiss as Atsushi pushed his leg between his own, lips moving  in synch. For mere seconds they parted, breathing heavily and staring into love-glazed orbs before hands move into gray hair and pulling them back together. Their second kiss lasted longer; it wasn’t as messy and rushed as the first one.

They were yet again interrupted by Kunikida’s throat clearing. Atsushi moves back, turns around and mumbles a quiet “Sorry” before sitting down at his desk.

Dazai however put on his remarkably smirk, ruffled the boy’s hair and ask elegantly “What is it, Kunikida?”

“Well, how much you may have enjoyed your little ‘moment’, we still need to plan this through, and if you want to kiss him again, we better do this good. The Port Mafia is involved, and I don’t need to remind you of what happened last time, do I?”

Dazai sighed, pecked his still blushing boyfriend and got back to work, though his smirk had turned into a happy smile. For once, suicide was completely out of question.

[leonawriter]

Stray Dogs and Tiger Cubs (pt.8)

Read it on AO3 from the start

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Characters: Dazai, Yosano, Atsushi, Kyouka.

...

He's humming to himself, when he hears footsteps. Several dozen plans being created and then tossed away like the beginnings of drafts written on scrap paper in hid mind, because it isn't as though he hasn't got the time to think right now.

No Kunikida harassing him for paperwork or reports, or... anything, really. No fieldwork. No- well, no, he'd almost prefer to be hounded by a cute young waitress for his unpaid tab than be strung up here by his wrists. It does hurt, after all, and once he's out of here he's going to have to change the bandages around his wrists because he knows it's chafing, and it'll be sore for a while.

But, it's not like he's in any rush.

The information he's after isn't going anywhere, after all, and Atsushi himself should be safely back at the Agency, being looked after by everyone else in his absence. If anything comes up, he trusts that someone can handle it; there hadn't been anything worse than their normal investigations, escorts, and so on ever since that one day, when he'd first found out that there was a bounty on the boy's head.

A bounty that wasn't going to go away just because it would be convenient, and if Mori was sending people like Akutagawa to take in Atsushi, then it had to be something important, even aside from the monetary value of it.

And so he hums, a song about suicide and death that doesn't have any true thought or meaning to it, and can only barely be bothered to stop when the sharp tendrils of Rashomon cut past the bandages on his neck before reaching his skin and dissipating into so much mist as the ability is nullified.

"Oh..." He looks up, something far colder in his eyes than he's ever let anyone in the Agency see, let alone Atsushi. "You... were here?"

...

Yosano is there when Kunikida attempts to question the girl once she's awoken, both because she's got every right as the doctor who'd been treating the girl's injuries to know if she winds up tearing anything open again, and also because, even more than Kunikida, she'd been there.

Atsushi had woken up not all that long ago himself, and a single question of asking where "Kyouka-neechan" had gone at least told them what her name was, even if asking anything else had just come up with a shrug or a shake of Atsushi's head.

For a while, they had both thought that the boy was just being difficult, but hadn't been able to do anything about it.

Now, seeing the girl - Kyouka - barely react at all to any of Kunikida's questions, Yosano wasn't so sure. In fact, she was starting to think that maybe, Atsushi really didn't know anything more than her name... and, probably, the fact that she'd been meant to kill herself, along with all of the passengers on the train.

She couldn't help the way that her hands clenched and tensed at odd moments when Kyouka just kept staring into space, no matter what was said, no matter how loud, with eyes that stared blankly ahead, and might as well be dead for all the life in them.

"...so answer me. Who's the person 'above' you?"

At first, it seems like there'll be no answer to that, either, and to top it all off, she feels a pressure on her skirt - the hand too small for any of the remembered attempts at groping that she's had to endure, she knows before she even reacts reflexively, no matter that no one at the Agency would so much as dare.

Atsushi gets a pat on the head, for reassurance.

"...the boiled tofu at Tachibana," comes a quiet voice, one that she's only heard speak once before. "It's... tasty."

Atsushi blinks up at her as Kunikida huffs in annoyance. Tachibana - that place is expensive, if she remembers right. And yet...

"You'll talk if you eat, huh?"

Kunikida levels an incredulous stare at her. But the girl nods, and that's all Yosano needs.

Don't even try telling me what I can or I can't take on, she tells Kunikida when they're both out of earshot of the kids. She respects him well enough, but she'll press the point home if she has to.

Thankfully, she doesn't have to, because he's smart enough to know when to let the matter drop.

...

He expects the blow, rolls with it as best he can when all he can do is adjust the angle of his head against the stone wall behind him, but it still hurts, his face stinging and growing hot in the way that says he'll have a fresh bruise there, which he isn't happy about even if he'd anticipated it.

"You are not entirely impervious," he hears Akutagawa say, as he breathes in to accommodate for the ringing in his ears before turning his head back to face his ex-mentee, and current opponent. "You still get hurt when stripped of your ability. I can kill you any time I want."

Dazai bites back a sigh, a roll of his eyes, a scoff - instead putting everything into a smile, and a few words.

"Really? How dreadful." Akutagawa stared, and Dazai could almost see the anger simmering away beneath the surface. Which is fine by him. "If you don't mind my saying... training you was such an ordeal, back then. You were dumb as a brick, and so very headstrong... not to mention, that trashy ability of yours."

Perhaps he shouldn't rile up the one who had already had no qualms against attacking a boy to get at the tiger within once before, but they were words that had been kept locked inside for so long, frustrations borne of how Akutagawa had never made full use of himself, nor of his ability, in all the time he'd made so many attempts to train him, much like a dog that could only understand the one command.

Chuuya, at least, had always been capable of learning, of adapting, of working with him and strategising, even if those strategies were never exactly things of finesse. 

"You won't be cocky for long," Akutagawa said, holding onto his restraint by the tightening of his fist, by the looks of things. "We will annihilate the Detective Agency in a few days, and seize the weretiger. Then, we will execute you... after forcing you to helplessly witness the destruction of your organisation, and everything you've built up... including that boy."

Those words, more than anything else Akutagawa had said up until then, strike like a snake at some part of Dazai's guts that makes him feel a cold sharpness digging in, in a way that he hadn't since-

Since- 

Not since the threat of seeing Odasaku's back retreating into the distance, as he watched helpless to stop him.

The memory of a trailer filled with dead children enters his mind, and the insidious thought that this time, he would have personally trained the one responsible for such an act.

For a moment, the fear he feels is paralysing, enough that he feels that he can't breathe - is this what anyone else would feel, if they were drowning?  - and then, he almost feels like laughing.

Atsushi is stronger than that. The Agency, is stronger than that.

The fear abates, for the most part. Leaving only pure anger in its wake.

"Do you have it in you, though?" he asks. "In all this time... all you've ever done is kill whoever's in front of your face. Even an eight year old child knows better how to use their ability than that."

This time, the punch comes fast enough and is backed by enough hatred and strength that Dazai's sharp inhale of breath at seeing it coming isn't enough to stop him from coughing out blood, stars dancing in his vision, and the reverberating sound of the door closing leaves him in a darkness deeper than merely that of the dimmed lights of the interrogation room.