Chapter Text
“You need to go” said Atsushi when he noticed Dazai yawning. “I’m fine” he replied dismissively but Atsushi shook his head. “It’s late and the Port Mafia might not sleep but you definitely need to.” That last part was said with a very pointed look in Dazai’s direction. Somehow even after just meeting him, Atsushi knew Dazai wasn’t very good at taking care of himself.
“Alright. But how do you know it’s late?” Asked Dazai curiously, there weren’t any windows down here and he couldn’t see any clocks. Atsushi seemed to hesitate before pointing to the ceiling “the birds are starting to sing” he said quietly. Dazai stared at him in shock “you can hear the birds? From down here?” Again, rather hesitantly Atsushi nodded. He wrapped his arms around his knees making himself look so small.
He wouldn’t look Dazai in the eye like he was shamed. Which Dazai didn’t understand at all. Never had he met anyone in the Port Mafia who didn’t miss a chance to flaunt their ability and its uses.
Himself included.
And yet Atsushi kept his ability tucked away like a shameful secret. Had being down here really ruined the perception of his own power? “That’s amazing Atsushi” Dazai said with a softness that surprised both of them. Atsushi tilted his head as if he were a confused cat. “You, think?” He asked, carefully and Dazai nodded “of course, do the birds have any fun stories to tell? Any enemies we should know about?” He gasped “lovers?”
Atsushi giggled, slowly unfurling himself and Dazai couldn’t help but feel victorious. “I can’t understand them. And even if I did why do you want to know the love lives of birds?” Asked Atsushi, more then a little baffled. Dazai shrugged “their singing songs to each other all day Atsushi. Haven’t you ever questioned who those songs were about?” Atsushi shook his head trying his best not to laugh.
And failing.
Dazai felt the words catch in this throat and briefly forgot how to breathe. Atsushi had a nice laugh. A very nice laugh he should laugh more. “God you’re weird” Atsushi said with an amused smile. “So mean Atsushi” pouted Dazai “and here I was going to ask what you’d like me to bring tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
Dazai caught the hopeful unspoken ‘you’re actually going to come back?’ And felt not for the first time that he needed to bring back the Old Boss to kill him again. He instead nodded “oh yes once I can escape that awful dog of mine I’ll be right here. And well, I’d be a terrible guest if I didn’t bring a gift.”Atsushi looked down and fiddled with a loose thread on a pyjama top that had definitely seen better days. “You don’t have to bring me anything. You coming back is more than enough.” Even in the dim light his face was dusted pink.
Dazai frowned.
”Atsushi, I can count your ribs from here. If I have to go home and sleep then you need to eat.” He peered into the cell, catching Atsushi’s gaze in his. And all Atsushi’s excuses died on his lips at that concerned brown eye staring deep into his soul.“Whatever you want just say the word.” Atsushi thought about it. He tried not to think of food at the best of times. It all just sounded unreal, the idea of not only eating but having a choice in the matter. “I…I don’t know” is what he said finally.
He was worried Dazai would be mad at him.But Dazai just smiled warmly as if he’d known all along that would be Atsushi’s answer. “It’ll be a surprise then” he promised getting to his feet. “Wait!” Atsushi hesitated but his eyes found Dazai’s once again and he nodded in encouragment.“Could you…could you stay until I fall asleep?” Dazai was surprised but he sat back down with a nod. He watched as Atsushi relaxed, curled up into a ball and even with the uncomfortable stone floor and the cold, soon fell asleep.
Dazai silently made his exit but not without whispering “goodnight, Atsushi.”
Try as he might (solely because of Atsushi) Dazai couldn’t sleep. He had to much to think about and so much to do. Atsushi needed to be set free, that was undeniable. But for that to happen Dazai needed to persuade Mori that Atsushi would be an important asset to the Port Mafia.
Which began with needing to know what Atsushi was like during the Port Mafia and the full scope of his ability. Dazai highly doubted Atsushi would be ready to share that just yet. But he figured hearing it from an outside perspective, particularly someone Mori already valued highly would be better.
And Dazai wouldn’t deny that he was interested.
The fact Atsushi was still imprisoned also needed to be questioned. Dazai highly doubted that someone made to starve because ‘normal means couldn’t kill him’ would be kept at bay by a simple cell and chains. No there had to be something more to what kept Atsushi down there. Until Dazai had those pieces of information he couldn’t make any escape plans. It made him feel quite powerless in a way he didn’t feel often and definitely didn’t like.
So he shifted his focus to what he could do in the mean time. Namely, get Atsushi some much needed food. Dazai had never been particularly bothered about his inability to cook until now. But luckily Odasaku had gifted him some leftover curry the other night.
It was perfect.
Atsushi could also do with a coat and perhaps a blanket. He was good at hiding how much the drop in temperature bothered him. But his subtle shivers were very apparent to one as perceptive as him. And well Atsushi had all Dazai’s attention right now. He had been tempted to give Atsushi his coat but he knew the suspicion that’d arise if he was seen without it. He usually wouldn’t care about doing something so reckless. But this was about something more then him, it was important and he couldn’t bare to let Atsushi suffer for it.
It was somewhat frightening and exhilarating how much power Atsushi seemed to have over him. And after so little time yet Dazai couldn’t bring himself to care. He had set out to find who was kept beneath the Port Mafia and now he was going to set him free.
The image of Atsushi bundled up and warm as he ate an equally warm meal with a smile on his face was the last thought Dazai had before he miraculously and finally drifted off to sleep.