Work Text:
Chuuya stepped out of an alley when Dazai walked past it almost bumping into him. They both stood still, glaring at each other.
Dazai faked a frown, acting like he didn't just go through all the trouble to get Chuuya's schedule and meet him at this moment precisely.
"I never thought the worst day of the year could get any worse ... it's a curse ! I am cursed for meeting Chibi today out of all days .."
"Who are you calling 'Chibi'- or no, i'm not wasting my time with you ."
Chuuya turned on his left, ignoring the brunet but after few steps he stopped, he had to take a deep breath to stay calm.
"Don't walk beside me !"
"Chibi's the one who's walking by my side .."
Dazai glanced down at him, internally chuckling when his ex partner quickened his pace.
"Imagine it's the birthday of the person you hate the most but on top of that, you meet them .. i truly have the worst luck-"
"Don't talk to me !"
"But just put yourself in my place ! Imagine meeting me in June 19th, wouldn't it be the worst ?!"
"What are you talking about ???"
Chuuya was confused but at the same time so done with him, he wished Dazai would just leave him but the questioning look Dazai gave him only added to his confusion.
"Chuuya, what day are we today ?"
"What kind of question is-"
"Just answer !"
"April 29th ?"
"Which is .."
"Which is ?"
"He forgot his own birthday ..." Dazai wasn't surprised, he didn't expect any less from his extra dense, workaholic of a partner.
"Chuuya .. i think you need a break, like, seriously ..."
"And who's gonna do my work ? You ? Aah i'm angry now i will just take another way !"
Chuuya didn't lie, he did walk in the next alley leaving the brunet on his own. Back in the Agency, the incident still was on Dazai's mind, he took out his phone dialing a number he doesn't call often. It took few seconds till he heard her pick up.
"Hi, Anee-san ."
"Dazai-kun ? What do you need from me .. today out of all days ?"
Dazai could totally hear her sarcastic tone in her last words, she did know him well so he chose to keep it real.
"Shouldn't you give Chibi this day off at least ?"
"I see someone is worried~"
"No one is worried, he just seemed stupid, forgetting his own-"
"He's coming !! Get ready !"
Dazai guessed it was Elise's voice, she was obviously addressing other people and it didn't take him long till he figured what this was about "A birthday surprise party .. and he falls for it every year ..."
Dazai sighed, ignoring the soft smile his lips formed when he heard multiple voices shout "Happy Birthday !"
A loud laugh escaped his mouth when he heard Chuuya's voice "Ah- it's already that time of the year ... wait- so this was what that mackerel was talking about ??!"
"It took you too long .." Dazai thought, not realizing his colleagues were giving him weird looks. He figured Kouyou wasn't planning to end the call any soon so he took this chance to keep listening, deep inside wishing he could be there.
I pity this me .. i should just check the next one ...
☆
With two glasses in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other, Dazai made slow steps till he reached his destination. He sat on the ground, not worrying about his clothes getting dirty.
He put one glass beside him, the other one on the concrete facing him before he fills both of them with wine.
"Look what i got you, Chibi, it's your so loved Petrus ."
Dazai put the bottle aside, taking his glass to tap the other glass for what he was celebrating.
"Happy birthday, Chuuya ! You grew a year but not an inch ."
He laughed, taking a sip from his glass before he looks through the red wine at what was facing him.
"Doesn't taste that bad .. still not worth it's price, do you have any idea how many wages i wasted on this ?! I'm a simple citizen not an executive so have some pity please ..."
The guardian was cleaning when he noticed the brunet whining, he didn't find it strange though, he's used to people talking on their own in such a place.
Dazai also noticed him, glaring at him then turning his attention to the stone facing him.
"He isn't even doing his job properly, look at all this dust !"
He used his own hand to dust off the concrete, his fingers unintentionally slowing when they brushed the "C. Nakahara" carved on the gravestone.
Once he was done, Dazai was back to his whining, complaining about everything and anything, all on his own, not getting a single reply. Only the echo of his voice would answer him, making him remember how lonely he was.
A dimension where both of them are dead is the worst .. how is the me in there even surviving ? I should move to the next one ...
☆
"Happy birthday .. to me ..."
Chuuya sipped his expensive wine slowly, resting on his couch in his cold, empty apartment.
It was midnight, ones he knew in Japan already called or texted him to wish him a happy birthday because of the different timezones so his phone ringing ruining the silence he was enjoying sure surprised him.
He didn't recognize the number but still picked up. He did recognize the voice in the other side at the first sound he heard though.
"Feeling lonely, aren't we ?"
"We don't talk to traitors in here ."
"Oh come on, it has been five years and you still didn't move on ?"
"Whoever betrays the Port Mafia cannot be forgotten ."
"Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts-"
"I'm ending the call-"
"Wait !"
Chuuya clenched his fist, digging nails in skin to stay calm. Hearing Dazai's voice at such a time, in such a day wasn't good for his heart.
"What do you want ?"
"When are you coming back to Japan ?"
"When are you coming back to the Port Mafia ?"
"Never ? And then you call me a traitor .."
"I still work for the organization from overseas unlike someone who joined an enemy organization !"
"I see they are filling you with all the news ."
Chuuya ended the call, he wanted to hear no more. But of course his phone had to ring again, and again, and again. He gave up eventually.
"Leave me alone !"
"If you aren't coming back to Japan then i am coming to you ."
A world where Chuuya chooses to stay overseas after he knows of the departure of the me in there from the Port Mafia and the me going after him .. so typical of the two of us ...
"Good luck looking for me in Europe ."
"Won't you at least give me a lead ?"
"Not in your dreams ."
Chuuya leaned back on his couch, overconfidence showing on his tone. The bell ringing pulled him out of his thoughts though, he wondered who would come to him at such an hour.
"A delivery man ?" Chuuya thought it might be a trap from an enemy, he took all his precautions but they turned out useless as it really was just a delivery man- "-who works at midnight .." Chuuya added in his thoughts, taking what the man handed him.
His eyes widened when he read 'Romanée Conti' on the bottle of wine he just received.
"Who is it from ?"
"There is a card with it ."
Chuuya took the small card reading the 'Happy Birthday' written on it.
"There is no name-"
He looked up and found the man already gone. He closed the door and walked back to his seat, turning the card in his way and finding the real message "Look out of your window ."
Chuuya frowned but curiosity won over and he headed to the window, looking out and analyzing the surroundings till blue eyes locked with hazel ones in the building facing his. It was dark but he could never mistake those eyes or that smirk he lov- hated so much.
Dazai was waving at him to make sure he doesn't miss him. Chuuya sighed, using his ability the whole time to keep the phone on his ear, now he got why Dazai was surprisingly silent all this time.
"Are you serious ?"
"I hope you loved the gift ."
"I have seen better .."
"Better ? Well i can't give you anything better while we're so far from each other so .. should i come over or you-"
"You move your ass here, shitty Dazai ."
"So mean~ even though i already traveled all the way here to France .."
I can already imagine what will happen next so i should better leave before things get too .. heated ...
☆
"Happy Birthday !"
Chuuya sure wasn't ready to be welcomed with food, drinks, sweets, a big cake, warm smiles and everyone wishing him a happy birthday. He glared at the one who just walked in with him but forgave him when he saw him wear an apologetic smile.
"Happy Birthday, Chuuya-san !"
Kenji loved Chuuya so much he didn't hesitate to jump on him and hug him, all the younger ones in the Agency following him but Yosano quickly walked in, pushing them away while pulling Kunikida with her.
"We're drinking till we get drunk today ! Right, Chuuya ?"
"Don't include me-"
Kunikida didn't even finish his words when Yosano pushed a bottle of saké in his mouth forcing him to drink, Atsushi felt sorry for him.
Chuuya had a hard time pulling away from them, it took them long to forget about him and focus on drinking like Yosano and Kunikida, eating like Kenji, Atsushi and Kyouka, hiding all the snacks like Ranpo, messing around like Junichiro and Naomi or just talking like Fukuzawa and Haruno.
Dazai was sitting on his own with a cup of saké, waiting till Chuuya joined him and poked his cheek.
"You kept me away the whole day on purpose, didn't you ?"
"They wanted to surprise you ."
"I got that ..."
Chuuya averted his gaze to his colleagues, staring at them enjoying their time, having fun and just- being happy.
"They are .. dazzling ..."
"That's not wrong ."
"But you know what's more dazzling ?"
"Tell me ."
Dazai let out a soft chuckle that slowly faded away as he felt Chuuya's hand rest on his cheek, brushing it gently while giving him his warmest smile.
"It's you ."
Time to take a break ...
☆
Dazai opened his eyes, the tightness he felt in his chest from the last Universe he saw still was there.
His gaze wandered to the book in his hands that he closed then it went to the other side of the bed, staring at the one laying beside him facing him with his back, all naked.
He buried his hand in ginger hair, moving his fingers through it feeling how soft it was.
"Are you still awake ?"
"Who would sleep after they got raped ?"
"You came three minutes earlier than usual though ."
"It hurt !"
"And i who thought this was the best gift for your birthday .. what did you want as a gift then ?"
"I want you dead !"
Chuuya glared back but regretted doing so when Dazai pulled his hair, leaning down till there were only inches between them.
"Now Chuuya, you can't address your Boss in such a vulgar way ... i see i still need to tame you ."
"I hate you !"
"I trust you do ."
Yes, Chuuya
Despise me.
Hate me.
So that when i leave you won't cry my death.
You would rather open your dear Petrus ..
... and celebrate your regained freedom.