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Dazai woke up, adrenalin rushing through his veins and sweat dripping down his body.
He passed his hand over his hair, still trying to understand what just happened. The bedroom was dead silent, and the moonlight was the only thing keeping his bedroom a little bit illuminated.
He blinked a few times, the scenery of his nightmare running in his mind. He could feel his eyes water a little, but it was enough to make him sniff.
In his nightmare, Chuuya was dead.
It was the classic scenario that has always scared him : Not being able to stop Chuuya in time when he's using Corruption. The limited and short amount of time were nerve-racking.
He glanced at his phone, its battery being charged in the corner of his bedroom. Dazai was staring at it with hesitation, but he ended up taking it and went through his phone contacts. He was scrolling down until Chuuya's number appeared.
He needed reassurance. He needed to make sure that his ex-partner was actually okay.
He kept looking at his mobile phone, then finally sent a message to Chuuya, hoping that he wasn't asleep.
—Hat rack.
—Mackerel. It's fucking 3am.
When Chuuya's message showed up, Dazai let out a sigh that he didn't know he was holding.
—Why aren't you sleeping then ?
—I asked first !
—You didn't
—Oh shut up, smartass
The brunette slightly chuckled. Seeing his ex-partner texting with this energy proved to him that he was fine. And yet, a part of him was still worried.
—I wanted to make sure that you were okay.
Chuuya was slightly taken aback by the statement. He tried to see if there was anything that would show that it was sarcasm, but he couldn't find any moquery.
—Ehh, I'm fine, thanks.
—100% sure ?
—Yeah, 100% sure. Are YOU okay ?
—Could be better. Can I call you ?
The red-head stared at his screen. If Dazai asked for a call at such a late hour, then it was for an important matter.
—yeah sure
The ex-mafioso wasted no time. He immediately called Chuuya, who rapidly accepted the call.
''Are you alright ?" was the first thing the smaller man asked.
''Well, now that I hear you, I feel better."
"Don't you dare make fun of me—"
"I'm not." interrupted Dazai, voice firm.
Chuuya stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
''Do you...Want to talk about what happened or something ? Or are you maybe in danger ?"
He didn't know what was happening, why the detective was calling him, and why he sounded so serious.
''I'm not in a life threatening situation, worry not." he reassured. "Just a bad dream. Where you were involved." he vaguely explained.
''Did I die or something ?" jokingly asked the mafioso, but the following silence made him understand that he has actually guessed what happened. "Oi, is it really what happened ?" he asked, hearing a soft sniffle coming from the other man.
''Yeah. Kinda sucked. Hearing you is reassuring, though."
Chuuya hummed and stayed silent for a little while. How was he supposed to react to this ? He didn't know that his possible death would make Dazai so...
Sad.
It was the last thing that he had expected to happen, honestly. But in a way, he understood him.
He couldn't even imagine how he would feel if his ex-partner were to die. Most probably devastated.
Heck, he would actually get mad, use Corruption and die as well.
That's just how it is.
''I actually had a nightmare involving you as well. An hour ago. That's why I'm not sleeping." the red head finally admitted, his voice quiet, but loud enough for Dazai to hear him.
''And...what happened ? In your nightmare ?" slowly asked the brunette.
''You...You weren't dead, but you were injured. Because I couldn't protect you from the bullets in time, you know. T-that kind of stuff." he explained, his voice slightly cracking at the end of his sentence.
''Mine was similar. I couldn't stop you in time when you were using Corruption." he explained back, the nightmare still vivid in his mind. He then continued. "I felt so helpess, I felt like I failed you, it was terrible, Chuuya."
"Osamu." softly said the older man. "You would fail me only if you don't stop me in time on purpose. But in this case, if you just can't save me, as long as you've tried, I'll be fine with it. If it happens someday, don't blame yourself—"
"You won't die. As long as I'm here, you won't die."
Chuuya stayed silent again, a silly smile plastered on his face.
''I know. I was just saying, but I know that you'll never let me die, you fool.'' he replied, his smile shining through his voice.
Dazai started smiling as well, the weight lingering in his chest slowly dissipating.
''Isn't it strange, that we've dreamed of a similar thing on the same night ?"
"Soulmate shit I guess."
''Chuuya thinks of us as soulmates ! How beautiful !"
"Oh shut up, will you ?" clapped back the mafioso, but it wasn't agressive.
"And you didn't even deny it !"
"I mean...There's nothing to deny, I guess."
"Don't worry. I actually agree with you."
Both men stayed quiet after this, feeling their cheeks heat up a little.
"W-whatever." stuttered Chuuya, embarrassed.
"Yeah...Hey, chibi, let's facetime !"
"...Hah ?? Say what now ?? I look like shit right now ! Let me at least untie that stupid bun and—"
He got interrupted by Dazai's laughter.
''Don't get so worked up for this. I've seen you in worse situations before."
"... Right."
The brunette chuckled again and pressed the video call button on his phone.
However, he was not ready to see Chuuya with this messy bun, cute tired eyes, lips slightly pouting, and his shirt being too big for him, exposing his right shoulder. He felt like he just got kicked in the guts, but in a good way.
...
Wait a minute.
''...Chuuya, the shirt you're wearing..."
"What about it ? You know I love big clothes."
"Seems like you love sleeping in the shirt I've been searching..."
The ginger man cleared his throat out of embarassment, then scratched his neck.
"That's what you get for leaving... You left, so I didn't give you back your shirt, that's my revenge, hah !"
The detective giggled because it was, obviously, very light hearted. Chuuya simply wanted to cheer up the other man, who looked sad at first. And he was glad it worked.
''How sad ! Fine, I shall accept my punishment. It looks better on you anyway." his sad face transformed into a smiling one. The mafioso silently laughed.
''So uh...what do we do ? Stare at each other ?" he asked.
''Well, that's the idea, it's to reassure ourselves that the other is fine."
"...It actually helps. I feel better."
"Me too."
They both smiled again.
Chuuya carefully leaned his back against the headboard of his bed and kept looking at the screen of his phone. They stayed silent for a while, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It made them feel at ease, and helped them to calm down entirely.
''How are the things going at the agency ?" quietly asked the smaller man.
''Good, good. And at the Port Mafia ?" Dazai asked back.
''Good too..."
"You don't seem very conviced by what you are saying, chibi."
"I mean, everything is fine, just Mori kinda annoying me with, you know, Arahabaki. Sometimes I just..." he started, but stopped in the middle of his sentence.
"...think of leaving ?" the brunette completed and, judging by how the ginger man slightly tensed up, he was right. "Don't feel bad about it, it's okay."
"I guess, yeah...You're probably right."
"And whatever choice you make, you'll never be in the wrong."
The detective didn't go further into the subject, but he definitely will keep what the mafioso just said in mind.
For obvious reasons.
He was expecting for the man to get angry, to talk about how loyal he was to Mori and all that stuff, but Chuuya slowly nodded.
"Thank you, Osamu..."
''Oh, yeah, you're welcome..."
The red head softly chuckled, then slightly yawned.
"Chuuuyaaaa, you're supposed to be a dog, so why do you look like a kitten when you're tired ? That's not how it's supposed to work !"
Chuuya playfully rolled his eyes.
''I'll take this as a compliment, idiot." he said, letting himself slide against the bed's headboard until his head reached the pillows.
"Huh, going to sleep ?" teased the brunette.
''Yeah, meow, or woof, or whatever."
This earned a genuine chuckle from Dazai, which made Chuuya's lip corners go up. He heard the detective lying down as well.
"Man...I'm tired...You tire me so much, shitty mackerel..." sleepily muttered the mafioso, closing his eyes and putting his phone aside on the mattress, making it stand against the night table. He then faced it, cheek pressed against the pillow.
Dazai kept looking at him. He felt so peaceful, the moment was so comforting.
''Do we sleep with the cam on ?" he asked, and he earned a groan from Chuuya.
''Yeah. I'm too lazy to reach the phone to end the call."
''I can end it."
"No. No you can't. You're too lazy to do so too."
"But— Oh, you're right, my hand can't reach the phone anymore, what a shaaaame..." he said after understanding that it was Chuuya's way to say that he wanted to keep the call on.
He kept looking at Chuuya and god he was cute. The shirt -aka Dazai's shirt- looked so big on him. The brunette felt himself melt.
"Are you hugging your blanket ?"
"Doesn't matter, shut up and sleep."
Dazai laughed again, and the ginger man buried half of his face in the blanket.
''Hey, Chuuya..." he said in a much softer tone.
"Yeah...?"
"Let's hang out somewhere, tomorrow. I know you'll work at night."
"How do you know..."
"Can you at least pretend to be surprised that I know ?" Dazai pouted.
"I'm not surprised, and I'm not a liar, so." he paused. "Sure, let's do something tomorrow...'' he agreed, his voice getting softer and softer. ''Osamu..."
"What is it ?"
"I'm tired...Good night, Samu..."
The brunette warmly smiled.
''Good night to you too, Chuuya."