Work Text:
The enemy was annihilated but Chuuya’s ear piercing scream still echoed across the field as he threw the last blow. He landed on the ground. Blood heavily poured from all of the face’s orifices. There was even slight bleeding coming from his scalp. His pupils were constricted too.
Chuuya’s maniacal laughter sounded and continued to load more balls in his sweaty palms; throwing them as he wished to. Several trees were knocked down. He cackled once more as a larger ball was made. Pulled his arm high in the air ready to shoot when someone grasped his wrist.
“The enemy is long gone,” Dazai said. The connection between their ability and Chuuya’s made him look a lot less crazed.
“Rest, Chuuya.” And in those words, Chuuya’s body collapsed. Completely drained of all the work from minutes ago. His hands didn’t even manage to catch him before he landed face down on the wet grass.
Dazai squatted down next to the other. They let out a sigh.
“Having not seen you for so long, I’m kind of impressed that you managed to go this far. I probably should’ve stopped you right after the slime blew up but it was entertaining to watch you make a mess around this place. Maybe you should’ve trained more then you won’t have to have me guard you like a dog.”
“How am I going to take you back?” Dazai thought to themselves. They looked around; saw a broken branch from one of the destroyed trees and took it in their hand. Jokingly, Dazai started poking Chuuya with a tree stick. Chuuya must’ve been in deep sleep after such an event that not even a low groan could be heard from him.
Some minutes have passed. Dazai was on a call with one of the ADA members. He reported back on what they have done and assured that they’ll be back soon. With that said, it was time to wake up Chuuya as Dazai didn't want to carry him in their hands. They took the same tree stick and poked him again. This time it was with more force.
No response.
Dazai turned the other’s body around. His face still had those red cracks; few blood stains and eyes closed. Poke. Poke. Still no sign of waking up. Worry started filling up their thoughts but at the same time, “What was there to worry about? He is just tired.”
They decided that cleaning up Chuuya’s damages was a better solution than just poking endlessly. Maybe then he’d wake up. Dazai ripped a strand from their bandages, covered it wet with water and slowly dabbed with it on Chuuya’s head. They took another one and pulled it close to his nose.
Dazai’s heart skipped a beat or two. There is something wrong. Threw the wet cloth on the ground and pulled their fingers close to his nose.
“Why isn’t he breathing?”
Hesitantly; Dazai took Chuuya’s hand to look for his pulse. Their hands twitched slightly as thoughts of worst-case scenarios were overflowing their mind. If anyone could hear what the inner voice of Dazai’s was telling them, they would think Dazai has gone crazy. Thoughts of doubt and worry competed with disturbing, intrusive thoughts. It was a mess.
“There is nothing.”
“Chuuya?” They cried out. Dazai kept repeating his name. Hoping that he would call back.
Dazai pulled their phone out of the inner pocket and dialled a number. Hands started to shake more as the signal was passing through.
“Glad you called, Dazai-san! We...” Atsushi’s words were cut out by them screaming into the phone.
“Atsu– Atsushi, I think something is wrong with Chuuya. He–He.. No, everything is wrong! Please, hurry up! Please.” Ended the call right before they threw the phone on the ground.
One. Two. One. Two. One.
“Chuuya, please.” They bellowed.
Two. One. Two. One. Two.
Suddenly someone reached out to their shoulders, their hands still pulsating on Chuuya’s chest, and looked up. It was Kunikida. He was frightened to see the state Dazai was in: tears couldn’t stop flowing down their faces and a broken arm that was out of its cast. In Dazai’s peripheral vision, they saw Atsushi and Yosano running towards.
“What are you standing there? HELP ME OUT!!”
Kunikida didn’t know how to respond. He just watched Dazai doing their thing.
One. Two. One.Two.One.Two
OneTwoOneTwoOneTwoOneTwo
Yosano saw Dazai going harder on Chuuya’s chest, practically punching him with the base of their palms. She tried to pull them away but was aggressively pushed away. She extended her hand to stop Atsushi from approaching Dazai.
“Dazai-san, he is–”
“SHUT UP!! HE CAN STILL BE SAVED!! CHUUYA STOP FUCKING AROUND!!!” Dazai’s words overtook Atsushi’s.
“IT’S JUST AN ABILITY.. Arahabaki can’t kill him.. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!”
The three people behind just watched them in horror. Neither of them knew what to do with Dazai. How do they get Dazai away from the other’s body? But before those questions were even beginning to ponder, Dazai’s hands fell over Chuuya. Smacking their head against their bloody palms and screamed. Their throat felt like closing up. Dazai’s ears were starting to hurt from all the screaming but they couldn’t help it.
Yosano walked up to Dazai, who now was just sobbing into their hands. She kneeled next to them. Slowly pulled Dazai away from Chuuya. Unconsciously, Dazai wrapped their arms around Yosano. They wept even more.
It hurts everywhere.
Every limb on their body was numb. Shaking from distress. The bandage on Dazai’s throat was unwrapped, showing an old scar. However, the bandage on their arm was already ripped apart when they were cleaning Chuuya.
A moment passed, Dazai was tired. They backed away from Yosano’s chest and sat next to her. Dazai looked at their hands. Darkened blood stains surfaced on them. Chuuya’s blood was stained on Dazai’s hands.
“I could’ve prevented it,” Dazai spoke, softly. Yosano tilted her head. “I always stopped his ability before it got out of hand because he knew he can’t control Arahabaki that well.”
Chuuya’s blood… Dazai’s hands…
“I’m a fool, Yosano. I..He..I knew he can’t-” She pulled Dazai for another tight hug.
No more words were exchanged. Dazai wept for a little while, cursing at themselves. They felt their eyes getting heavier and heavier by each second but the tears couldn’t stop falling nor did those vulgar phrases in between every two hiccups. Eventually, Dazai let their eyes close.
When Dazai opened their eyes, they sat up immediately. Before even confirming that they were back in their apartment, a throbbing headache banged on Dazai. It felt like someone was hammering on their temples like two angels hitting on a bell that sat on top of a church. Dazai pulled their body across the bed and whipped out a medication to relieve the pain they are feeling.
As they closed the cabinet with force, a framed picture that sat on top of the bedside counter wobbled. Quickly, Dazai prevented it from falling over. When they glanced over at the photo, Dazai couldn’t help but grasp it in their hands. Pulled themselves back in a seating position. Just looking at the photo Dazai felt not only their headache getting worse but also their heart aching.
It was a photo of them and Chuuya after their fifth mission together.
Back when they were “Double Black”.
Dazai had just finished filing the paperwork and Chuuya’s appearance was still a mess: the hat was crooked and his coat was covered in wood dust. There was a bright smile on Dazai’s face, which was very rare when they were sixteen years old; and Chuuya’s expression was questionable. However, after they took the photo Chuuya scolded, “Why are you taking photos in the middle of a mission, stinky mackerel?” Dazai just laughed it off and pretended they didn’t hear anything.
It’s funny how even though it's been seven years since the two met, Dazai still kept the photo by their side. Even after their relationship between each other worsened three years ago. After the fights, endless scolding from superiors and not living together; Dazai still kept the photo.
It’s like even if Chuuya wasn’t here anymore to greet in the morning with a grumpy face; help them do their paperwork at late night hours or pretending to stargaze in the living room, even though all you could see is white paint; he was always by Dazai’s side in a form of a photo.
And that is how it’s going to be for the rest of Dazai’s life.