#dazatsu-exchange | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

akinomorie · 1 year

Text

Black Sea

Author: Technicolour (Lirriel)

Summary:

A series of vignettes focusing on Atsushi - picked up by Mori and trained from a young age to be used as a tool. He's used to shackles, but he begins to seek freedom after meeting Dazai, an orphan eager to die. Alternatively: What if Atsushi and Dazai had been raised in the other's circumstances?

Relationship: Dazai Osamu/Nakajima Atsushi (Dazatsu)

Review:

• I'm absolutely in love with this fic. I've been rereading this tons of times already, analysing every sentence and theorising on the untold stories behind the words carefully left vague. This oneshot has so much potential I feel so inspired 😳✨

• I love the relationships between Atsushi and the PM members here. Mori is the horrible abusive adoptive father yet the one who saved Atsushi from his hell of the orphanage. Chuuya is still the same confident handsome bastard that I love in the canonverse, but with Atsushi as his partner he is gentler, calmer. And the Akutagawa siblings, who Atsushi cares for and grow to adore Atsushi in their own ways, really does weird things to my heart.

• The theme of this fic is freedom, which at first Atsushi didn't have because he was caged by the previous boss with a collar and later chained with thousands of ties to the Mafia by Mori, Chuuya, the Akutagawa siblings. His first meeting with one Dazai Osamu and many others later slowly change that. Personally I find the idea of relationship ties to be tragically romantic hhhhh.

• Atsushi's kindness. It is his kindness that leads to the, may I say, naive stubborn desire against killing, which Mori indulges, Chuuya sympathizes, and the Akutagawa siblings admire. Maybe I interpreted the lines wrong, or maybe I was right, but the PM members really try hard to protect this little hope of innocence that Atsushi holds, using their own twisted methods, despite how utterly foolish that hope is. Reminds me of the reasons why I fell in love with canon!Atsushi in the first place.

• Dazatsu's first meeting. I love the way Atsushi demands Dazai's will to live in exchange for the money, food and accommodation that he promises to provide. Really in character with Atsushi's love for life, both in this fic and the canon verse.

• Chuuya's gifts to Atsushi (and they are all expensive). Atsushi takes care of Chuuya when they go drinking. The two young boy comfort each other in the event of the trauma of their job.

• Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, calling Atsushi, "Atsushi-san" 😳😳😳 I also get this hunch quite often, that Akutagawa in this au is eager to kill because he wants to honor Atsushi's wish not to kill.

• Dazai's panic at seeing Atsushi's tears. Holy moly I felt like something in me was awakened when reading that part. Definitely one of my dazatsu favorite tropes.

• Atsushi! Smoking! (audible gasp)

• Dazai lit Atsushi's cigarettes 🤤 I want a cigarette kiss 🚬💋😉😘

• This fic was written back in 2017. The author admitted that they only read the manga and didn't know LN was a thing when they wrote it, which is why some details may seem out of place if you think about it. Personally I find this drawback to be quite appealing instead. I like to imagine how the other pieces of the BSD canonverse can fit into this au: Did Atsushi know about Yosano (because, Mori)? What would Fyodor do knowing Atsushi was the fearsome Beast of Calamity of the PM? How did Atsushi and Chuuya's first meeting go? How could Atsushi help dealing with Chuuya's Corruption power and Arahabaki? Where were Oda and Ango? How about Kyouka? So many questions, so many ideas...

Quotes:

“I’m never killing again.”

He doesn’t know where the sudden conviction comes from; he just knows that it bubbles and burns in his throat. The tiger paces inside his ribcage, making itself known in the ache that pushes up from the inside of his skin, pressing outward.

“What the hell, man.” Chuuya—doesn’t sound as angry as Atsushi would have expected, considering what he just said is tantamount to treason in their circle. Pacifists are dead weight, only good for menial tasks.

“I didn’t realize how famous Atsushi-san was,” Dazai says softly. He quirks his eyebrow at Atsushi, playful. “Imagine my surprise when I was being detailed on dangerous Port Mafia members and your name popped up.” He leans close to Atsushi, his breath hot against his skin and adds, “The reported number of deaths was strange, too.”

Atsushi shivers and says, “It’s complicated.”

Dazai shifts, turns his head fully to examine the camera that watches them. After a long pause, he turns back to Atsushi and asks, “Why are you with the Port Mafia, Atsushi-san? Someone like you...” and he pauses, looking down to where their hands are connected. “It just doesn’t make sense,” he says at last.

There are shouts, filled with rage and arrogance, as members of whatever organization has been marked for extinction surround him. They catcall and cajole him, laughing at the small, pretty sheep who has strayed from the flock and wandered into a concrete forest filled with wolves.

And always, always, Atsushi smiles mildly at them. Before each raid, he prays quietly for someone to have sense, for someone to escape into the night and not be foolish enough to stand and fight and die.

It is, Atsushi knows, a foolish wish borne from a foolish hope that this shall be the last death he must witness.

Dazai’s hand stills, and Atsushi feels his eyes. He continues to eat, quietly, layering the flavors that enter his mouth, trying to build a sensory symphony. “I have nothing to pay you with,” Dazai says, and Atsushi wonders if the lack of betrayal in his voice, the tired resignation, offers a clue.

“No, you do,” Atsushi says. “Something you hold little value in; something I consider to be of great value.”

Akutagawa does not quite smile at him – Atsushi does not think he even really knows what a smile is. But he quirks his lips, as if he is sharing something humorous with Atsushi, and Atsushi smiles back weakly.

“Atsushi-san could kill Mori-san and the other executives, and I would still want to follow Atsushi-san.” Akutagawa pauses, swallowing. And then he says, “Because Atsushi-san saved us… Our lives belong to you, Atsushi-san.”

Something weighty settles in the pit of Atsushi’s stomach, and he breathes out a hummingbird’s sigh. Akutagawa, he thinks, is so incredibly earnest. The obvious adoration in his voice makes Atsushi’s heart hurt.

We are only children, Atsushi thinks, as Chuuya lurches toward him with another sob, wrapping his arms around Atsushi’s neck. It is easier for him, like this – when Atsushi is in his tiger form, large enough that his bulk takes up almost the entire available space, with Chuuya curled into his belly.

He doubts Chuuya would treat his human form like this.

The tiger blinks, sharing its body with Atsushi, and chuffs softly at Chuuya, nudging at his head. It only succeeds in knocking his hat off. Tigers cannot purr, their vocal cords are not designed for it, but Atsushi tries to convey comfort in other ways. It is the only thing he can do.

It is his fault Chuuya is this way.

“Dazai-kun is incredibly kind,” Atsushi says.

There is a shadow of melancholy to Dazai’s face as he smiles and says softly, “No, but Atsushi-san is kind to think so.” He lets Atsushi eat a few more bites before asking tentatively, “Would you like me to leave?”

“No,” Atsushi answers immediately, and is surprised to find that it’s true. “I’d appreciate your company, if you have nothing else to do.”

“Never,” Dazai says. He smiles, and there is a gentleness to his expression that fills Atsushi with warmth.

“It was my home.” The “was” is weighty; there’s a finality to the words, and suddenly Atsushi sees what the tiger has seen all along, has known ever since that day by the river. There is a peace that comes from this knowledge, and he smiles at Dazai, trusting him to see what Atsushi saw. “But home is someplace different now.”

“I understand,” Dazai says. And he smiles back, a soft curve that dimples one cheek and makes his eyes shine like stars in the dark of night.

#bsd fanfic #fic rec #fic ramblings #dazatsu #this fic is actually awesome trust me #wish this had a sequel #this fic gave me brain worms

17 notes · View notes

kotaboda · 4 years

Photo

Happy holidays @ohhikari i’m your secret santa for the @dazatsu-exchange!!

you requested ice skating on a frozen lake with them having to hold hands bc dazai is a clumsy Nut so tada! i hope you like it!!

i hope you have some good holiday fun and that this makes it even better!

#dazatsu-exchange #dazatsu #atsushi nakajima #dazai osamu #bungou stray dogs #ohhikari #kotas art

70 notes · View notes

chouetteffraie · 4 years

Text

A Chill in His Bones [Dazatsu Secret Santa]

Heyoooo! It hasn’t even been Christmas Eve here for an hour but I’m so excited to post, so here’s my gift for you @looking-for-stray-dogs! I really really hope you like this! Your prompts were all so nice, I had such a hard time choosing one!

Prompt: “In the middle of a stark winter landscape, with nothing but snow for miles and miles and the howling wind, Atsushi finds Dazai.”

(hope you don’t mind me putting it under a read more- the post is a little long! happy holidays!)

@dazatsu-exchange

A faint chill seeped in through the walls of the dormitory, drifting through the room and permeating through Dazai’s thick sweater. Absently he rubbed his arms, listening to the clinking in the kitchen as Atsushi prepared a warm meal. He wondered for a moment if the heater had been broken; the coldness seeping through his skin and sinking into his bones said it was. To his chagrin, every thought that flitted through his distracted mind left a lingering longing for warmth, one he couldn’t shake off no matter how hard he tried. Thoughts of cozy fires and warm drinks; thoughts of long embraces that he could feel in his bones as contentment spread through his body; thoughts of a deeper connection that always seemed to slip out of his grasp the moment he obtained it; all seemed too far and too luxurious for him to ever obtain.

A particularly strong gust of wind caught his attention for a fleeting second. The howling fell upon ears that felt as if they were filled with cotton as the gust shook the glass in the window panes. He watched as the branches of the lone tree in the yard shiver, shaken by the wind. Stripped bare of their leaves, they looked vulnerable and scared. Dazai wondered, for a moment, if he was as transparent as the trees outside: could anybody tell when he felt as if he were on display, shaking with the slightest breeze? Was there anything left of him worth staying for when his last leaf fell, leaving behind the bare bones of a broken man?

Tilting his head down again, Dazai crossed his arms and slumped down, debating his next move. There wasn’t anything for him to do here after Atsushi insisted he could hold his own in the kitchen, and sitting there alone wasn’t doing anything to help his situation. He had thought he wanted company, that maybe he could numb out his own voice with somebody else’s, yet all he seemed to do was bother the one person who seemed to still have patience for him. If he left, Atsushi might look for him, but all he’d have to say is that he decided he wanted to be left alone and that they could talk tomorrow. Maybe he could whip up some sort of excuse regarding work - Atsushi would hate to prevent him from finishing something for the others at the agency, wouldn’t he?

His left foot started bouncing on its own the longer he thought, nervous and uncomfortable energy crackling through his veins like static. That fuzziness was starting to take over more and more lately, and he didn’t think it had anything to do with the steadily diminishing sunlight. The month of December was hardly halfway through and he was already getting tired of seeing the smiling faces and cozy decor in shops and cafes around the city. Too many people were reconnecting and rejoicing, celebrating another year together and giving gifts for that very reason. When he was out with Atsushi the younger always softened at these scenes, a faint sparkle in his eyes when he turned to Dazai to say something. Every time, Dazai faked a smile and nodded, adding another thing to the ever-growing list of discrepancies between him and everyone else.

At this point, his surprise at how frozen he became every year was rather pitiful. As holidays inched closer his blood became colder, circulating through his veins as slush. His heart seemed to beat more sluggishly and an ever-present headache started as the cold crept in until Dazai could barely tell himself apart from the ice the winter would bring. Still, he hoped that maybe something had changed, that maybe now, since he had someone so warm and welcoming, he could slowly thaw himself out before he caused any problems. When that didn’t prove to be true, he couldn’t help but be disappointed - and worried for what that meant for him.

Another strong gust of wind came, rattling Dazai to his core. He shivered again, curling in on himself in an attempt to retain what little warmth he felt left. Different parts of him were slowly yet steadily becoming more and more numb as the wind howled, echoing off his skull and tearing through every thought like hungry beasts. Snowdrifts were building up yet the blizzard still persisted, snowflakes with razor-sharp edges tearing through his mind. Dazai couldn’t stop this storm - it was foolish to think he ever could. If he could still feel his fingers, he would clench them into fists or bite his lip, hoping the pain of his fingernails or teeth would pull him out of the storm.

Yet he felt too numb. He could only listen to the onslaught of self-deprecation and watch himself travel further from civilization.

With a quiet sound, a cup was placed in front of him, barely drawing Dazai out of his thoughts. His head felt too heavy to lift, yet he did it anyway and was met with Atsushi’s worried smile. Carefully, Atsushi placed a hand on Dazai’s knee. He was too warm and Dazai had been out in the cold for too long. His knee burned and he wanted to jerk away, yet the layer of ice melting away felt too nice to leave.

“What are you thinking of?” Atsushi asked softly, kneeling down to be more level with Dazai. The room around them was quiet, save for the occasional tremble of glass as the wind continued to blow. Dazai glanced out the window, taking in the gray clouds as they hung over the city yet refused to let go of the rain or snow they might hold. After following his gaze, Atsushi slowly trailed his hand from Dazai’s knee to his shoulder, the slightest skim of his fingers lighting a fire over Dazai’s skin. It hurt to have someone so near to him after having been huddled on his own. He was tired of hurting.

Finally getting the hint that he wouldn’t be getting an answer, Atsushi sighed and grabbed the cup he set out for Dazai. Using one hand to push his knees down, Atsushi gently cupped Dazai’s hands around his drink and held them there, watching his face for a change in expression. Not wanting to face Atsushi’s gentle gaze, Dazai watched the tea ripple with every breath he took. Atsushi’s hands were too warm against his own, his face too gentle and his heart too kind. Dazai wanted to fall in to him and take solace like he was clearly offering, yet he worried Atsushi wouldn't be able to- or wouldn’t want to- catch him. If he fell, it would all be up to Atsushi: would he catch him and care for him, or let him shatter like the icicle he was?

“You know, I’m glad you’re here,” Speaking softly, Atsushi slowly removed his hands from Dazai’s and sat on his heels, placing his hands in his lap. As he played with his own fingers with his eyes cast downward, he looked almost bashful. Dazai leaned his head up, a little more attentive. “I know winter is rough on you, but it’s nice to have someone to be with for once.”

Dazai let out a sound to let Atsushi know he was listening, nodding his head ever so slightly. Sharp shards of crystal ice ripped at his brain, accusing him of ruining the holidays for Atsushi.

He could feel Atsushi’s realization before he had the chance to say anything. Dazai opened his mouth to correct himself, but Atsushi beat him to it. The voice interrupting him was sweet, miles away from the scolding he was expecting. "It's hard to see everybody around you smiling and laughing while you're stuck in the dark. Believe me, I know," he continued. Dazai arched an eyebrow before fully fixating on Atsushi's face. There was a far-off look in his eyes as he remembered some misery of his past. He looked for a moment like he probably did back then, traces of an emptiness and jealousy swirling around in his eyes. When he turned to look at Dazai, those waters stilled and flooded with a peace Dazai wondered if he could find for himself.

"I guess it's just good to feel like I'm on the other side of things now," Atsushi finished with a shrug. "And I'm excited for you to join me."

Huffing out a laugh, Dazai turned his attention to the untouched drink in his hand. He felt as though he had gulped the whole thing, the warmth trailing through his system like an old river. The sensation would be fleeting, he knew, but it felt oh so good now to be something other than numb. With a gentle clink he set the cup down on the table and reached for Atsushi, drawing him near in a hug. Their legs bumped against each other awkwardly as Dazai guided Atsushi closer and the muscles in Dazai's back were strained, but Atsushi was warm and solid in his gasp. He could still feel the flecks of ice slashing at his brain, cold nipping at the edges of his thoughts stubbornly, but at least for the moment he had a flame to huddle near and help him fend them off.

Atsushi made no move to get up until he could feel Dazai’s hands twitch behind him. When he did pull away, he had a fond smile on his face. Briefly, Dazai debated lurching forward and kissing him, teasing him, and letting him in further than he’d ever let anyone before. The small part of him he hid away peered out and quickly darted away again. There was too much...too much to truly let himself lay bare- Dazai didn’t know if he’d ever be ready.

Still, it felt nice to know somebody had the map to find him.

"Let me know if you need anything, okay? The food is almost ready." After affectionately cradling Dazai’s face in one hand, Atsushi lifted himself up from the ground and walked back to the kitchen, humming an old Christmas song underneath his breath. Dazai stared at the spot he occupied, worrying as the cold seeped into his spot. His eyes drifted to the table, where the cup of tea sat, still steaming.

Something to keep warm.

The wind howled again, shaking the windows once more. Dazai didn't flinch this time; instead, he sipped at his tea.

#dazatsu #dazushi #dazatsu secret santa 2019 #my stuff #my stuff dazatsu #dazatsu-exchange #ahhh i have FORGOTTEN how to TAG #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #bsd #dazai x atsushi #my stuff bsd

40 notes · View notes

raychdzeros · 5 years

Link

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dazai Osamu/Nakajima Atsushi (Bungou Stray Dogs) Characters: Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nakajima Atsushi (Bungou Stray Dogs), Yosano Akiko (Bungou Stray Dogs) Summary:

Atsushi really likes the rain. And Dazai too.

For the @dazatsu-exchange! Prompt used: Rain Giftee: @sacchan-rika!

I apologise for the heavy doses of angst. The muses couldn’t be stopped. That said, enjoy~

#dazatsu #dazatsu-exchange #fanfiction #i really really couldn't stop myself #it was so good to dump all that angst in #anyways #hope you like it!

15 notes · View notes

oceansunsets · 2 years

Text

title: a gift, just for you (4,1k)

pairing: atsushi nakajima/dazai osamu (bsd)

tags: valentine’s day, gift giving, dazai asks for advice (shocker), dazai shows that he’s actually rich

rating: general audiences

summary:

dazai makes a plan to give atsushi the best gift he possibly could, after the weretiger left him speechless with a bouquet of flowers

this is my @dazatsu-exchange gift to @endlessparadox07 !! decided to post it here as well <3

ao3 link here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/37116982

Dazai Osamu was stumped.

It was odd to consider, as usually he knew what to do for practically everything. He wasn’t as smart as Ranpo - he could never compare to Ranpo’s smarts - but he was still pretty intelligent and well respected in the Armed Detective Agency. Well…maybe respected wasn’t the right word. Some workers did look up to him, but others were aware of how mischievous he often acted.

Putting that aside and focusing back to the point: he was stumped. Why was he stumped? Well, because Atsushi had given him a thank you gift and he was determined to return the favor.

But what could he possibly give Atsushi in return?

He didn’t want to overwhelm him, but he also didn’t want to get something cheap. He wanted to get something that would last for a while and that Atsushi would be able to hold onto for a long time.

Not to mention that Valentine’s Day was right around the corner!

Dazai was determined to make Atsushi’s day, no matter what it took. But first, he just needed to get some advice…

“You want…advice on what to get Atsushi-kun?” Yosano sounded confused, staring at Dazai with a raised eyebrow. He didn’t usually come to her for advice on this sort of stuff. Whenever he planned things, it was always in secret and no one ever knew what was going on until it was already happening.

“I know it may be really odd to hear me of all people asking for advice, but it’s really important and I have to know before at least the fourteenth.”

Yosano still seemed suspicious. “How am I supposed to trust that you aren’t going to do something really mean to Atsushi-kun, or to the rest of us?”

Dazai whined, pouting at Yosano. He felt betrayed, but at the same time it made sense that Yosano was hesitant. If he ever asked for help, it was mostly to prank someone. However, this time was different and he needed Yosano to understand he was being serious.

“I know it’s hard to trust me on this,” he started, sighing and leaning against the counter, “but I’m serious about needing help. I don’t plan on pulling any pranks, I just want to make Atsushi-kun happy.”

Yosano studied him, only looking away to restock her items. She considered his words, closing the cabinet and turning to face him.

“Well, you said you need a plan before the fourteenth, right? Why not offer to take him out to dinner at a place he’s always wanted to go to?” She shrugged. “Or maybe you could get him a stuffed animal and some sweets? He always seems happy to get those.”

Dazai considered those ideas. He could surprise Atsushi by taking him out to dinner, but that wasn’t something he could hold, and he wanted to actually hand a gift to Atsushi. The stuffed animal and sweets could work, although he would have to do more digging to figure out what would be best…

After a moment of thinking, he decided he would have to ask more people. At least he was one step closer to figuring things out.

“Thanks, Yosano-sensei, I’ll keep your ideas in mind!” He waved to the doctor, moving away from the counter and walking over to the door to her office. He opened it, then turned to look at Yosano again. “I’ll be sure to inform you on if things go bad or not! Buh-bye~”

The door closed behind Dazai as he left, narrowly avoiding his coat getting caught in the doorway. Yosano shook her head fondly as she watched him leave, sighing.

She hoped Atsushi appreciated whatever Dazai gave him.

Over the next few days, Dazai made various different plans, each one depending on how Atsushi reacted to being asked out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. If he accepted, then Dazai would bring him to a nearby restaurant that sold chazuke and proceed from there. If he declined but didn’t have any other plans, then Dazai would ask if he just wanted to hang out at home. If he declined and had other plans, then the subject would be dropped and Dazai would continue on with his day.

It was currently the thirteenth, just a few minutes away from lunch.

Dazai was leaning back in his chair, avoiding the paperwork on his desk as always, instead deciding to look around the office, his gaze soon landing on a certain weretiger.

Atsushi had his gaze focused on the computer in front of him, typing up reports to missions he had done over the week, occasionally pressing the backspace to fix any errors. He stuck his tongue out a small bit, as he usually did when he was really focused. Dazai found it cute.

Once lunch break started, Dazai got up, his hands in his pockets as he made his way over to Atsushi’s desk. “Oh, Atsushi-kun~”

He watched as sunset-colored eyes lifted from the computer screen to focus on him, blinking in confusion. “Yes, Dazai-san? Do you need something?”

Ah, Atsushi was so cute…

“Lunch break started,” Dazai pointed out, taking his hand out of his pocket to jab his thumb towards the clock, showing how a new hour had started, “and I was wondering if you’d like to go down to Uzumaki with me. I’ll pay.”

A frown formed on Atsushi’s lips as he studied Dazai. “But, you never have any money on you…please don’t tell me you’re going to steal Kunikida-san’s wallet again.”

“I’m so wounded, Atsushi-kun!” Dazai whined, pouting at his subordinate. “You have such little faith in me! I was going to use my own money this time, I swear!”

Atsushi still didn’t seem very convinced, but gave in either way, moving to stand up after saving his progress. “I’ll believe you when I see it happen,” he shook his head, closing his laptop for now. “Will it be just us, or is someone else coming along?”

Dazai tilted his head, as if thinking about his answer, although he was already very well aware of what that answer was. He didn’t want anyone else tagging along, especially when he had a very important question for Atsushi.

“Just us!” He finally answered, grinning at the weretiger. “What, do you not want to spend some time with your oh so wonderful mentor?”

The look he got in return was great, and he half wished he could take a picture of how unamused Atsushi was. It was very cute, although he was sure Atsushi would’ve immediately disagreed if he said that out loud.

“No, that’s not it…” Atsushi shook his head. “Nevermind. Lead the way.”

Dazai grinned, leaving the office with Atsushi, heading downstairs to the cafe. Once there, he opened the door for Atsushi, gesturing for him to go in first. “Kitties go first~”

Atsushi playfully rolled his eyes, walking into the cafe and waving at the owner. Dazai made sure to close the door behind him as he followed Atsushi inside, happily strolling over to one of the empty booths.

There weren’t very many people in the cafe, which was pretty normal for this time on a weekday. Either way, it was a very peaceful environment, perfect for calm talks and lunch breaks.

“So,” Dazai spoke as Atsushi was in the middle of looking through the menu, causing the weretiger to look up at him with a confused look, “do you have anything planned for tomorrow? It’s a pretty special day, after all.”

“Special day?” Atsushi repeated, only looking even more confused as he shifted to pull his phone out to check the date, blinking. “Oh, right. Valentine’s Day… I was just going to stay at home tomorrow. Don’t really see any point in doing anything…”

Dazai brightened up at that. Perfect. Atsushi didn’t have any plans.

“How would you like to go out to dinner with me, in that case?”

“...Eh?”

The look on Atsushi’s face was priceless. His cheeks and ears gained a red tint to them, and his eyes became wide while staring at Dazai. “I- you…you mean as…as co-workers, right?”

Dazai waved his hand around, tilting his head. “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. It’d be fun, wouldn’t it? Just the two of us, going out for some yummy dinner on Valentine’s Day…”

“But…” Atsushi bit his lip, shifting in his seat, the red tint to his skin never leaving, “wouldn’t people mistake us for being a couple…? I mean, especially if it’s just the two of us… aren’t you worried about that? And besides, wouldn’t you rather spend that day with…with some girl?”

Ah. Right.

Dazai has never told Atsushi that he’s bisexual. Of course he would assume that he’d rather be with a woman.

“I’m not worried about it if you aren’t,” he shrugged, finding no reason to worry about the possibility of strangers perceiving them as a couple. If they did, there was nothing Dazai or Atsushi could do to stop them.

Atsushi bit down on his lip, still worrying about something. Was Dazai aware of how he felt for him? Is that why he was asking him out to dinner for Valentine’s? Did Ranpo tell him?

After a moment of thinking it over, Atsushi finally sighed, not looking at Dazai. “I…I don’t mind going to dinner with you. It should be fine, right? Even if it’s just the two of us…”

Dazai grinned, reaching across the table and resting a hand over Atsushi’s, giving it a reassuring squeeze before letting go. “Of course it’ll be fine! You have me around! What could possibly go wrong, Atsushi-kun?”

He ignored the slight eye roll from Atsushi when he said that. If things worked out as Dazai planned them, which they usually did, then everything would be perfectly fine.

February 14th

Dazai kept checking the time on his watch, spinning around in his office chair and occasionally whining to Kunikida about how bored he was. He didn’t want to be in the office when he had such big plans for tonight with Atsushi!

Speaking of…

He looked over at Atsushi, noticing how he was intensely focused on his computer, typing out reports and responding to emails. Dazai smiled to himself, finding Atsushi to be really cute when he was so focused on something. He made a small noise when feeling something bonk his head, turning to look at Kunikida, who was holding a rolled up newspaper.

“Get back to work and stop staring at your coworkers, Dazai.”

Dazai stuck his tongue out at Kunikida. “I’ve already finished my work, Kunikida-kun~ I’m just waiting to be freed! I have big plans tonight, y’know.”

“Sure you do. Knowing you, you’re going to laze around at home and get drunk.” Kunikida rolled his eyes, setting the newspaper down and turning his gaze back to his computer, ignoring Dazai’s whine at his words.

“You have no faith in me!” Dazai huffed, pouting. “I actually have a date, I’ll have you know. And the longer I’m stuck here means the less time I have to prepare!”

Kunikida raised an eyebrow, glancing at Dazai. “You have a date? Don’t tell me it’s some random woman who you’ll just break the heart of at the end of the night and leave her stranded.”

The loud whine that escaped Dazai in response to such words was enough to make Atsushi look up from his computer, blinking at Dazai and trying to figure out if something was wrong. If Dazai wasn’t focused on being a menace to Kunikida, he would’ve teased Atsushi for worrying about him.

Instead, he smiled at his subordinate, feeling his heart flutter when Atsushi smiled back.

Oh how he wished to see that smile more often, directed at him…

The rest of the day felt like it went by so slowly. Dazai so badly wanted to get out so that he could go on his date with Atsushi. Ah, right, did Atsushi even consider it a date? Or did he just consider it a friendly outing with his mentor?

Dazai really hoped he wasn’t the only one to see this as a date.

When work was finally over, Dazai practically bounced out of his chair and went over to Atsushi, tapping his shoulder to get his attention. He waited until Atsushi was looking up at him before he spoke.

“Dress in something nice.”

That’s all he said before turning and walking out of the office, coat swaying behind him. Leaving Atsushi to stare at his back, not even sure on how he was supposed to react.

Dazai headed home, digging his keys out of his coat pocket and unlocking the front door. He stepped inside, sliding his shoes off and closing the door behind him, letting out a sigh. He shrugged his coat off, hanging it up before walking further into the apartment, his gaze landing on a certain gift resting on his couch.

It was a simple gift, nothing too fancy, just a bag of candies with a tiger plush sitting on top, along with a card and some pictures that Dazai had printed out himself, covered by tissue paper. He had done his best to get something that Atsushi would like.

He had even asked Kyouka what she thought Atsushi would like, as long as she promised to keep the plan a secret. And so far, that has succeeded. All Atsushi knew was that they were going out for dinner and that was it. He didn’t know where Dazai would be taking him.

Dazai hopped into the shower to get nice and clean, making sure to wash his body really nicely. He wanted to look good for Atsushi, and besides this was the first time in a while that he actually had the energy to take care of himself.

Once out of the shower, he dried off, making sure there wasn’t any more water on his body before grabbing new bandages and wrapping his arms and neck. He hummed to himself while getting dressed in a simple black suit with a blue tie, looking at himself in the mirror while fixing the tie to make sure it laid correctly.

He tucked one side of his hair behind his ear, using a silver hair clip to keep it in place. After a bit of considering, he opened the cabinet that was beside the mirror and grabbed some silver earrings that he kept in there.

Not many people knew that he had his ears pierced, as he didn’t wear earrings very often. Yosano knows, if only because he had gone to her once to get new backings for his favorite pair since they had gone missing.

Chuuya is also aware, as they got their ears pierced at the same time. However, Dazai didn’t want to think about him anymore. He had to get ready for Atsushi, after all!

After making sure the earrings were in correctly, Dazai took a deep breath. He could do this. All he had to do was go and get Atsushi, go to the restaurant, and then give Atsushi the gift.

He’s got this. He’s Dazai Osamu, after all!

He left the bathroom, turning the light off, and heading into the living room. He picked up the gift, making sure the items inside remained hidden. He didn’t want Atsushi to see the items before he was ready to give the gift to him.

Dazai checked the time as he walked to the front door to get his shoes on. It was twenty minutes until it was time to meet up with Atsushi. He considered how long it would take to get to the restaurant before leaving his apartment, humming while making the trip to Atsushi’s.

He knocked on the door once there, waiting for an answer.

About two minutes passed before Kyouka opened the door, blinking at Dazai before turning to call out to Atsushi. “It’s for you,” is all she said, watching as Atsushi peeked out from the bathroom. He ducked back in, long enough to fix his hair and shirt, then stepped out and offered a small wave to Dazai.

“Hi, Dazai-san. I thought you wouldn’t be coming by for another twenty minutes…”

Dazai shrugged, admiring Atsushi. He was wearing a simple outfit that consisted of a gray button up with folded sleeves and a black vest, along with black pants that were cuffed. The longer strand of his hair was braided, and there were bunny hair clips in the shorter part, probably from Kyouka.

Either way, he looked really cute and Dazai really wanted to kiss him.

“Wanted to stop by early,” Dazai finally responded, “figured if we leave early, we could catch the sunset by the time we leave the restaurant. That is, if you’re ready.”

Atsushi blinked, before nodding, fixing his vest. “Uhm…I should be. I just need to get my shoes on and then I’ll be done.” He turned his attention to Kyouka. “Kyouka-chan, will you be alright on your own?”

Kyouka nodded, even gently pushing Atsushi over to the door so that he could get his shoes on. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call if I need anything. I know where everything is.”

Atsushi seemed glad to hear that, patting her head. “Alright. I’ll be back once we’re done with dinner!” He smiled at Kyouka, tugging his shoes on and turning to Dazai. “Alright, we can go now!”

Dazai hummed, leaving the apartment with Atsushi. Kyouka closed the door behind them, waving goodbye to them both. Atsushi lingered for a moment, at least until he heard the click of the door locking, before heading down the stairs with Dazai.

It was mostly quiet as they walked to the restaurant, both of them just taking in the other’s presence. Dazai opened the door to the restaurant once getting there, letting Atsushi go in first, then followed him inside and walked up to the front desk.

“I have a reservation under Dazai, table for two.”

The receptionist nodded, finding the reservation before grabbing two menus and guiding Atsushi and Dazai to their table. Atsushi looked amazed at how fancy the place was as he sat down, looking around the building.

“Woah… it’s really fancy here, huh?” He turned his gaze to the menu, opening it and staring at the prices. “Dazai-san…the food is really expensive. Are you sure it’ll be okay to eat here?”

Dazai waved a hand in dismissal, setting the gift bag down beside his feet while getting situated in his chair. “It’s completely fine, I’ll cover the bill. Don’t worry about it, Atsushi-kun. Get whatever you want, my treat.”

Atsushi still seemed hesitant on the idea, but eventually nodded, deciding to not fight Dazai on the matter.

Throughout the night, they talked about various things, laughing about things that have happened at work, and having a very nice time with each other. It was peaceful and nice, not to mention the fact that Dazai got to hear Atsushi’s beautiful laugh.

At one point, Atsushi decided to mention something that’s been on his mind the whole night.

“By the way, Dazai-san… what’s with that bag?” He pointed at the gift bag with his fork, blinking at his mentor.

“Oh, this?” Dazai picked the bag up, looking at Atsushi and smiling at him as he handed the bag over to him. “It’s for you, Atsushi-kun. Think of it as my own thank you gift to you.”

He found it amusing how Atsushi looked very surprised from being handed the bag. He set his fork down, carefully taking the bag and setting it on his lap. He glanced at Dazai, just to make sure this wasn’t some kind of mistake, before opening the bag and carefully taking the items out.

He pulled the plush out first, staring at it in awe. It was very soft and easy to hold. Not to mention that it was of a white tiger. He was sure that Dazai did that on purpose.

After setting the plush aside, he pulled out the pictures. There were six total.

The first one was taken after the Agency had defeated the guild, with everyone gathered together and celebrating. There were smiles on everyone’s faces, some having a flush to their cheeks due to being drunk, like Yosano.

The next one was during Halloween, when Ranpo had gotten everyone to dress up in different costumes for fun. All of them were with the Agency in one way or another, except for the very last one. The last one was a picture of the fireworks that they had seen just a few weeks ago, and Atsushi had said he wished he had gotten a good picture of them because of how pretty they were.

Atsushi looked up at Dazai in surprise after looking through the pictures. Dazai was watching him with a fond look, smiling at him. The weretiger could’ve sworn his heart flipped in his chest after seeing that smile.

“You…printed these out for me?” Atsushi managed to ask, looking back at the pictures. They were even laminated!

Dazai nodded, looking quite proud of himself. “Yep. I had some help, Yosano-sensei was the one who had the pictures so I had to ask her for them, but it was fully my idea.” He tilted his head, asking an obvious question: “Do you like them?”

Atsushi nodded, smiling at Dazai when looking at him again. “Yes. Thank you so much…”

Dazai cleared his throat, not used to being thanked for something like this. He simply nodded, shoving down the feelings that were bubbling up. “There’s more,” he mentioned, gesturing to the bag.

Atsushi looked into the bag, reaching into it and grabbing the candies, giving a small ‘woah’. They were candies he’s seen Ranpo eat before and had made a passing comment about how he kinda wanted to try them. He didn’t think anyone had been paying attention.

He blinked when seeing the note, picking it up after setting everything else aside. He glanced at Dazai, before turning his attention to the card, opening it to read what was inside.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Atsushi-kun

I hope you enjoy your gift

There’s a special place I’d like to take you after dinner

It’s important

Dazai ♡

Atsushi looked up from the card once he was done reading it, focusing on Dazai. “You…want to take me somewhere?” He asked, closing the card and watching as Dazai nodded.

“Yep,” he grinned at Atsushi, “do you want to go now, since we’ve finished eating?”

Atsushi thought about it, carefully putting the items back into the bag to make it easier to carry everything. “Uhm…yeah, sure. I don’t mind.”

Dazai made sure to pay for the bill, not letting Atsushi see the price, before getting up and leading him out of the restaurant. The sun was beginning to set as they left, casting Yokohama in a pretty orange glow.

Dazai soon stopped once getting to a bridge, leaning against it and looking out to the water, admiring how pretty it looked with the sunset. Atsushi hurried over to him, probably worrying about the possibility of Dazai jumping off.

He wouldn’t, not around Atsushi. Besides, he had important news for him.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?”

Atsushi blinked, looking at Dazai, then looked at the water and nodded. “Mhm…the sunset is always pretty. But, is…is there a reason you wanted to bring me here, Dazai-san?”

Dazai hummed, turning to face Atsushi, admiring the way the sunset casted an almost angelic glow onto the weretiger. How fitting, considering Dazai often thought of him as an angel who had been sent down to save him.

“I wanted to say thank you, Atsushi-kun.”

“Huh?” Atsushi turned his gaze to Dazai, looking confused as to why he said that. “For…what?”

Dazai reached out and fixed a part of Atsushi’s hair for him, admiring him. “For sticking around me, even after finding out that I used to work for the Mafia. For seeing me as a good person, even after everything you’ve witnessed.”

Atsushi tilted his head, before smiling at Dazai. “Of course! Dazai-san is a good person! You saved me, countless times. If you weren’t good, you wouldn’t have done that.”

Ah.

Dazai wasn’t expecting this to be turned around on him like this. Really, Atsushi was too sweet for his own good sometimes…

He rested his hand on Atsushi’s cheek, watching as he leaned into the touch. He considered something, wondering if it would be a good idea, before deciding to throw caution to the wind as he leaned down and pecked Atsushi’s lips.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Atsushi-kun.”

After murmuring those words against his lips, Dazai pulled back and turned around, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he walked back home, his heart flipping in his chest from such a bold action.

Leaving behind a very confused and flustered Atsushi, watching him leave with wide eyes.

#dazatsu #bungou stray dogs #atsushi nakajima #dazai osamu #bsd #writing #dazatsu exchange

25 notes · View notes