Archive of Our Own

"The group, or person who is targeting us, have a symbol representing their.. cult or whatever. This is a picture of that symbol. If you see it anywhere, be careful.", the brown-haired man spoke, an underlying seriousness to his tone. 

These guys were really dangerous this time, huh. 

"So you both have to retain the culprit if you see her on your way to the site, understood?", Dazai spoke to the two with a serious note that was only present when he was genuinely working, in his tone. 

Akutagawa nodded with a slight frown, as serious as always.

Atsushi eyed Akutagawa in exasperation when he grimaced at Dazai's words. "Yes, Dazai-san!", the silver-haired boy said, brightening the atmosphere a tiny bit. 

Dazai smiled fondly before ruffling both of their hair, "Good. Now go along, you two~", he sang, gesturing for them to leave. 

They both bowed, glaring at eachother after Atsushi hit his elbow against Akutagawa by mistake, and turned around to leave, unbeknownst of the fond and knowing look Dazai was giving them. 

He huffed out a laugh and shook his head fondly. These two really were the same as younger him and Chuuya.

_____

"Akutagawa..", Atsushi groaned as the older boy, yet again, ignored his suggestions. "If we go through the hidden tunnels that Dazai-san told us about, it would be way easier and safer to get there!", he said, furrowing his brows with a small pout on his face. 

Atsushi knew he was being slightly childish right now, but who could blame him? like.. c'mon, Akutagawa chose to go through the mall's secret entrances instead of going through the underground tunnels. That was literally the reason they were built, yet Akutagawa was choosing to go through an abandoned mall that was literally on the verge of collapsing. 

If they were attacked here then it would be difficult in fears of the entire building collapsing. 

"Akutagawa..", Atsushi whined under his breath before sighing and picking up his speed, matching pace with the mafioso. He turned to look at the dark-haired boy. He was wearing his normal, resting bitch face, but there was a hint something else in his eyes. 

It was way different to when Atsushi had met him all those months ago. Truly speaking, if someone had told him he would be frie- 

Friends? well.. not friends, but something akin to that. Atsushi wouldn't exactly call them friends.. but they weren't enemies anymore either. Even if Akutagawa would disagree. So.. perhaps, they were frenemies. 

And if that wasn't something funny to ponder on. 

If someone told Atsushi he would be frenemies with the person who tried to kill him at first sight, Atsushi would have laughed in your face. Because there was no way. No way that person with death in his eyes and a monster in his coat from all those months ago, could be anything more than an enemy to him. 

But now? Atsushi can tell the difference. He can tell the way Akutagawa's eyes are less dark, both metaphorically and physically. He can see the way his eyebags are slightly less and his scowl is more of a habit than a serious gesture of hate. His features are different, more soft. More kind. Not that Atsushi would admit it of course. He would rather do Dazai-san's paperwork for the rest of his life than admit anything to Akutagawa. 

That boy was a walking time-bomb, one wrong worth out of Atsushi's mouth and Rashoumon would be piercing through his body. Not that it could hurt him anyway. 

"Take a picture, it will last longer. Jinko", Akutagawa mused, looking at him with amusement in his grey eyes. And suddenly, Atsushi realised he had been staring. Without a second thought, he snapped his head away with wide eyes. He could feel his cheeks burn in embarrassment. Ugh, he didn't mean to stare. 

"Shut it.", the silver-haired boy grumbled half-heartedly. They walked a few steps before Atsushi turned his head back to his rival. "Now you're the one staring, Akutagawa", he snorted, a glint of childishness and challenge in his eyes, a teasing smile resting on his lips. 

Akutagawa scowled and looked away. "I wasn't staring, idiot", he gritted out with a slight shade of pink blooming on his cheeks, making Atsushi's smile widen. Because holy shit that suited him. 

An embarrassed Akutagawa, was a cute Akutagawa. 

Hold on, where the hell did that come from? 

Before Atsushi could get the chance to think upon that thought, a long bang echoed from their right and Atsushi instantly transformed his arms in anticipation and Akutagawa tensed up.. well more than he already was, and brought out Rashoumon in a defensive manner. 

A red dot aimed at Atsushi's head caught Akutagawa's attention, he readied to extend Rashoumon to stop whatever was coming out of that gun. One. Two. Three. 

The gunshot echoed in the isolated building as Rashoumon easily defected the bullet. 
It took the person three seconds to aim and attack. But it confirmed Akutagawa's suspicions. 

They were being sniped. 

The new Double Black instantly went back to back, they didn't know how many people were surrounding them and they didn't know if it was their enemy or a new one. It was best to beware, right now. 

Another gunshot followed but this time Atsushi caught it with his hand. The two young boys pranced around eachother quickly and worked together efficiently, defending eachother. It wasn't until another few minutes when Atsushi saw the person, it was a woman, wearing a black facemask and a black kimono, holding a sniper in her hand. 

Her gun had the symbol, Dazai-san had told them about. 

They had found their target.

The female sniper easily moved around them, aiming perfectly each time yet failing due their skills and abilities. Atsushi easily defended Akutagawa's back and Akutagawa vice versa. Gunshots echoed in the broken shell of a mall while the two young adults fought. The new Double Black were fighting in an unbreakable way. 

It was a perfect pattern. Until it wasn't. 

They were acting in defense, it would have been perfect, if only they had accounted there to be more than one attacker. It was fine until Atsushi noticed it. Another red dot aimed straight at Akutagawa's back. 

It was a trap 

As soon as Akutagawa went ahead and wrapped Rashoumon around the first sniper, the second one shot the bullet and Atsushi felt the blood in his veins freeze. 

"Akutagawa!", he shouted, before grabbing his arm and pulling him away, the bullet barely missing his shoulder and piercing the woman's dress instead. She took her chance to escape in their moment of shock before getting out of Rashoumon's clutches and swiftly escaping. 

"What was that for, you fool!", Akutagawa said coldy, ripping his arm out of the weretiger's grip. Atsushi frowned at him. 

"The other sniper was going to shoot you", he informed the taller boy. Akutagawa glared at Atsushi, stepping forward, threateningly. 

"What makes you think..", he paused, coughing into the back of his hand before speaking again. "-That I am too weak to even protect myself against a bullet?", he questioned angrily. 

Atsushi looked him in shock. "That's-", he shook his head. "That's not what I meant she- the other person- you couldn't see the bullet coming and I thought-" 

"You thought what? that I was too weak to defend myself from a bullet? are you really that dumb, Jinko?", Akutagawa snarled, surprising Atsushi with how hostile he suddenly became. 

"Akuta-", Atsushi started 

"Shut up. I don't want to hear it", the mafia member said before turning forward and heading towards in the direction he had seen the two attackers head. 

"Why are you so pissed? All I did was save you from getting shot?!", the silver-haired boy blurted, he understood the fact that Rashoumon could protect Akutagawa from bullets but the problem was that Akutagawa didn't know there was a bullet coming. 

"I wouldn't have gotten shot regardless", the dark-haired boy spoke bitterly. 

"That doesn't mean shit. You didn't even know there was a bullet coming from behind you, how-", the detective tried explaining in exasperation. 

"What are you trying to say, Jinko. That it wasn't your fault they escaped?", Akutagawa scoffed. 

"No! literally all I did was pull you to the side because you were going to get fucking shot, it wasn't my fault", Atsushi stood his ground as he walked forward. 

Akutagawa glared at Atsushi from over his shoulder. "No. That was all your fault, Jinko. If you hadn’t foolishly dragged me away and distracted me, I would have easily been able to capture the enemy. Alone. I would be better off without you. Anyone would be better off without you", he sneered in anger, time seemed to still for a few seconds before Akutagawa stilled at his own harsh words. He went too far. 

Atsushi's eyes widened as the remark reached his ears. His feet stopped walking abruptly. All he was trying to do was help, the culprit was about to attack Akutagawa from behind. He hadn't meant to distract him. But he did. Atsushi distracted him and caused him to let the culprit escape. It was all his fault. It always was. The Headmaster was right all along. 

It was Atsushi who was wrong this whole time. 

Akutagawa, realising what he had accidentally spoken, turned around and tried taking back his words."Jinko, I-", he started in the piercing silence, only to get interrupted by a humourless, self-depreciating laugh, the sound echoed darkly in his ears. 

"You're right.", Atsushi laughed bitterly, staring into the distance with glassy eyes. He walked past Akutagawa, who had almost grabbed his arm, without a single glance. "Everyone really is better off without me", Atsushi whispered to himself monotonously, walking away to god-knows-where. 

And Akutagawa was left frozen with an arm extended, as to stop his rival. Left, with a newfound feeling of guilt bubbling up inside him. He hadn't mean to say that, why would he say that? of course he wasn't better off without Jinko - why did he say that? 

He knew this was a sensitive issue for Atsushi, he knew that idiot had confusions and complications with life and death. He knew that Atsushi felt guilty for living. This was one of the most hurtful things he could have ever spoke to him. Then why the hell did he say that? 

Besides, he was just trying to protect Akutagawa from the bullet, it wasn't like it was going to hit him. Sure, he could have easily dodged with Rashoumon but- 

Oh. Oh. 

He didn't know. Akutagawa didn't know there was a bullet coming his way at that time, he would have been shot. If Atsushi hadn't pulled him away in time, Akutagawa would have been shot. He was right. 

That means.. Akutagawa said all that for nothing. He.. he said that for no reason. Even if there was a reason, it wouldn't be justified. But the fact that it was all for nothing, it felt even worse. 

"Shit.", Akutagawa cursed, to no one in particular, as he stood in the empty hallway. He had fucked up, hadn't he?

_____ 

Atsushi walked forward silently, lost in his thoughts. Akutagawa was right, wasn't he. It was Atsushi who had always made mistakes, who had ruined everything. It's ironic really, the Headmaster did always say he was a bad omen, that his parents abused and abandoned him because he was a mistake, a pathetic excuse of a child who had only ever brought misfortune. The Headmaster always had said he didn't deserve to be alive. 

He was right. Atsushi was stupid to think he was worth anything. He was stupid to think that he ever deserved to live. 

As he walked forward with the feeling of cotton stuffed in his ears, Atsushi didn't hear his phone clatter to the ground. He didn't hear it ring and vibrate repeatedly. He just walked forward and kept going. 

And behind him was left a cracked device, lit up with the sixth missed call and multiple desperate texts from his mentor.

_____

Akutagawa scowled as he went in the same direction Atsushi went. Sure he had made a mistake, sure he had said something he shouldn't have said, something he regretted. But that didn't mean that idiot could just wander off, this was enemy territory, he could easily be ambushed alone. 

He was walking forward when his phone started ringing loudly, echoing the the ruins of the mall. The mafioso pulled out his mobile, only to see Dazai's name written. 

He picked up almost immediately. "Dazai-san?-", Akutagawa started when Dazai spoke breathlessly. 

"Akutagawa-kun- Akutagawa-kun, listen to me very closely. Do not, in any circumstances, let Atsushi-kun go anywhere- don't leave him alone even for a second", his former mentor said, his words alone forming a weird knot in his stomach. 

"What.. Dazai-san, Jinko is-" 

"Akutagawa-kun, those people are from the MAA, the Mutant Ability Annihilation group, they seek out people with mutant abilities and nullify their ability before killing them. They have drugs that can nullify abilities" 

Each word struck Akutagawa's nerves like an arrow hitting the target. They had planned this, he realised. They had planned to separate them. 

"Me and Ranpo-kun are working on finding their location, but their target is Atsushi-kun. They can easily kill him, they will not target you as you have immunity from being under the Port Mafia, they don't want to mess with them" 

It was all a trap. A big, intricate trap, carefully webbed to separate them, to capture them in their plan. And it worked. Because their target was never Akutagawa, it was Atsushi. 

And Atsushi- 

"Dazai-san- Jinko isn't here!", Akutagawa blurted with wide eyes. Because he wasn't there and gone there somewhere alone, like a fucking dumbass. 

There was complete silence on the other side of the line for a second. "Isn't there? Akutagawa-kun where is he?", Dazai asked, a tiny bit.. barely noticeable panic in his tone. 

"He- He left a few minutes ago and hasn't come back, we had encountered two snipers and Jinko went the same way they went", Akutagawa knew he was ranting right now but he couldn't help it. This was all his fault, if he hadn't said what he said then that idiot would be here. 

"Akutagawa-kun, listen to me carefully. I will be there with Yosano-sensei and Chuuya within about twenty minutes, please try to find Atsushi-kun", his mentor spoke as firmly as he could. 

Akutagawa didn't waste another second before rushing forward, going the same direction in which Atsushi went a couple of minutes ago. 

It wasn't until a couple of moments of following his path, when Akutagawa saw something on the floor. Upon reaching closer, he noticed it was a phone. He crouched down and picked it up, hesitantly. The cracked screen lit up when he turned it on, a picture of Jinko and the Agency appeared. And the knot in Akutagawa's stomach twisted. Because that meant it wasn't any phone. 

It was Atsushi's phone. 

The black-haired boy stared at the phone with a hurricane of unfamiliar emotions, whirling up inside him. He didn't know how long he was just standing there, but he realised it was for too long, suddenly, a loud bang echoed in his ears and Akutagawa froze. 

He got up and headed straight forward, where the sound had echoed from. Akutagawa reached there fast, Rashoumon glowing behind him as he frantically looked around for the weretiger. 

"Jinko!", the black-haired boy called. Akutagawa scowled when no reply came, he went forward, passing another set of corridors, he kept going until he saw a flash of silver in his peripheral vision. Atsushi. 

"What have you done to my ability?!", the silver-haired boy shouted at the female, who was standing before him smugly. He was holding his shoulder in a tight grip, his arm and hands were covered in blood. 

Akutagawa instantly extended Rashoumon, hurling her towards the enemy and restraining her properly. After he was sure she wouldn't get away, Akutagawa rushed towards Atsushi. 

"Jinko! you idiot! how the hell did you manage to get shot-", he cut himself off when he saw the utterly blank look on Atsushi's face. It was as if he was trained to do this, like he was waiting for some sort of punishment. 

"I'm sorry" 

"Why are you-" 

Another shot echoed in the ruins. The other shooter. 

Akutagawa instantly got up, same time as Atsushi tensed. There was another sniper here and out of sight. This was one of the worst possible outcomes. Atsushi didn't have his ability, that made him more vulnerable. 

"Jinko", Akutagawa said under his breath. "Stay alert, their target is you", he breathed, looking around cautiously. The silver-haired boy paused before he nodded quietly, not saying a single word. And it was so different to the way he interacted with Akutagawa before, it left a pang in his heart. 

"Oh my, I see our test subject has already informed you of our intentions", the woman mused, in a sultry voice. Her eyes glinted with malicious mirth. "Dazai-kun was always such a good blood bank~", she laughed wistfully, still in Akutagawa's ability's grip. 

And the two young adults' blood froze in their veins. Atsushi went pale and Akutagawa's eyes were wide in realisation. They had made the bullets with Dazai-san's blood.. that's why he was so panicked. These people had experimented on their mentor. 

They were not to be taken lightly, at any cost. 

"Rashoumon!", Akutagawa shouted, using the ability to make a sort of shield around them, protecting them from any incoming bullets. Atsushi looked at Akutagawa weirdly, didn't he just indirectly say he should die? why the hell was he protecting him now? 

"Why are you doing this?", Atsushi asked the perpetrator, the women let out a melodramatic sigh. "Listen dear, I'm doing my job. And you should let me complete it without many questions", she spoke in a dangerously sweet tone, as if coaxing a small child. 

Akutagawa scowled even further. "Shut it", he snapped at the woman, tightening the red and black velvety tendrils around her. She choked out a laugh. 

"You really think you'll be able to protect him?", she laughed incredulously. "That is preposterous, boy. We will complete what we came here for, and we will complete it now!", she yelled and suddenly, the shot of gun was heard and Rashoumon was nowhere to be seen. 

Oh fuck. 

"Akutagawa!", Atsushi cried, heterochromic eyes wide with panic. 

The dark-haired boy gripped his shoulder in pain, grimacing at the blood coating his fingers. He tried summoning Rashoumon again, but to no avail. There was no other option but to escape now, somehow. They had both lost their ability and were both injured. It was either leave, or die. 

Akutagawa creeped closer to Atsushi, going back to back. "We need to get out, now", he growled under  his breath. Atsushi was tense behind him, "We can't.. there's two of them and both are armed", he whispered back. 

"We have to try, Jinko", Akutagawa hissed, immediately regretting it when he saw Atsushi flinch away, from the corner of his eye. 

"I know but-", he abruptly went quiet, and Akutagawa felt him tense up even more behind him. He froze when he saw a red dot aiming straight for the weretiger's head in the broken mirror on the other side of the hall. Atsushi was barely breathing, his breaths coming out shaky and fast. 

"A-Akutagawa", Atsushi breathed in fear, leaning backwards. Akutagawa felt his blood run cold, this was the worst situation to be in. They both didn't have their abilities, meaning Atsushi didn't have his regeneration. If he got shot, he would- no. 

From the corner of his eye, Akutagawa saw the sniper put his finger on the trigger. The gun clicked and the sniper pressed the trigger, and Akutagawa moved. Moving Atsushi out of harm's way, in an attempt to dodge that bullet aimed to his head. 

But after that, everything was a blur, the fire of a gunshot, the clank of a bullet shell, a choked gasp, and the colour of red. 

"Jinko!" 

It was silent shock for a few seconds, but then suddenly, a wave of agony shot through him like he had been electrocuted, Atsushi felt the world spin as a sharp, searing pain erupted in his stomach. The silver-haired boy looked down to see a growing stain of red on his white shirt. 

Oh. He got shot. 

Atsushi felt his vision blur as the world around him spun, his breathing got heavy. This was new, he didn't know bullets could hurt this much. His regeneration wasn't working, or stopping the pain or bleeding, so that made sense. He felt black spots in his vision as he stumbled back. Something warm pooled in his mouth with the taste of metal. Oh, it was blood. 

"Jinko!", he heard a panicked voice call his name, Atsushi dropped to his knees and fell forward, but before his forehead could meet the ground, an arm obstructed his descent. "Jinko!" 

"Let's go, I shot him in a place he has no way of surviving", a deep male voice spoke in the background, two pairs of footsteps were heard retreating, but Atsushi couldn't focus on anything but the blood rushing to his ears. 

Akutagawa put Atsushi's head on his lap. "Jinko!", he shook the weretiger, gently. Atsushi's eyes started closing and Akutagawa panicked. Blood started pooling beneath them from Atsushi's wound. His hands clutching his stomach tightly, face contorted in pain. 

"No- stay awake, idiot", the mafioso scolded, his voice suddenly choking up. Akutagawa didn't know what it was, but seeing Atsushi like this, in this state, he felt something like his heart drop. Half-lidded heterochromic eyes looked at him blearily. 

"I.. guess.. y-you.. were.. right- huh..?", Atsushi breathed hoarsely. Akutagawa's eyes widened slightly at the implications of his words and scowled, shaking him. 

"You- You goddamn fool. Don't you dare die on me now, Jinko", the dark-haired boy gripped him tightly in his arms, almost protectively. 

"B-ut you.. were.. ri..ght ..", Atsushi trailed off, his voice no louder than a murmer as his eyes began closing dangerously. 

The dark-haired boy cursed, shaking Atsushi a tiny bit harsher, wincing when the other sucked in a sharp breath in pain. "Shut- fuck- shut up, Jinko. Only I'm allowed to kill- you, idiot", Akutagawa's voice cracked. 

He wouldn't admit it, but those few months of working together with Atsushi, they changed him. He hadn't killed anyone, had kept him promise. And they both knew Akutagawa was bluffing about killing him now. 

Atsushi eyes started drooping again and it was then when Akutagawa truly recognised the situation. They were alone, none of them had their abilities or anything to stop the blood. Atsushi was going to die. Atsushi was going to die- 

"Don't close your eyes idiot, stay awake!", he snapped at the barely conscious silver-haired boy in his arms. "Stay awake- Dazai-san will be here soon", Akutagawa added desperately, he felt his eyes burn with unshed tears. He hadn't cried in ages, why did it feel like his heart was being ripped out of his chest? 

"Come on.. don't be an- idiot", he said half-heartedly, trying to get him to be even the tiniest more coherent. "Stay awake, please...", the dark-haired boy pleaded, tears in dark grey eyes blurring his vision. 

"A-Akuta..gawa, I.. gue-ss.. you..", Atsushi mumbled, it was obvious he was struggling to talk. "Shut up! just- just stay awake and save your- energy", Akutagawa breathed as Atsushi started losing consciousness again. "Jinko, stay awake.", he shook him again. 

But it didn't work this time, unfortunately. "Jinko- Atsushi!", Akutagawa shouted as the silver-haired boy suddenly went limp in his grip. He felt his breathing stop. No, not now, not here. Not ever. 

No- no- no- no- 

Akutagawa instantly went to check Atsushi's pulse, almost sobbing in relief when he felt a slow, but present drumming beneath his fingers. It was slow, though. Dangerously slow. 

"Akutagawa-kun!", a familiar voice shouted from the other corridor and the young adult almost collapsed in relief from hearing his mentor's voice. 

"Dazai-san!", Akutagawa cried, shaking Atsushi frantically. Dazai came running with Yosano, Chuuya, and Ranpo right behind him. He looked frazzled, panic evident in his eyes. And seeing the normally calm and collected man he looked up to like this? made Akutagawa feel light-headed. 

Because if Dazai-san was this panicked.. would Atsushi even be okay? 

"Shit", Chuuya cursed at the sight of a bloodied Atsushi in his arms. Yosano instantly rushed forward, checking his pulse and wounds. She paled drastically, making the lump constructing Akutagawa's throat even more prominent, and Dazai's eyes to blow wide. 

"Yosano-sensei..", Dazai breathed in fear. Yes. The Dazai Osamu was scared. Scared because his subordinate was injured badly, and it was indirectly his fault. He was injured from the bullets made from his blood. 

"Shit- Dazai, we need to get him to a hospital. My ability won't work on him unless we get the bullet out first, and it's lodged in too deep to get out without surgery!", the doctor informed them. 

"Ranpo-kun..?", Dazai asked, his voice suddenly cold and detached. He was doing it again, turning away from his emotions, Chuuya realised. 

"I don't know", Ranpo replied, and in that moment.. all that the people there felt.. was dread. 

Because if Edogawa Ranpo didn't know what would happen, then no one did.

_____

Akutagawa sat on the bench next to the hospital room with his head hung down low. His shoulder which had been shot was bandaged up, but his clothes were still drenched in blood, Atsushi's blood. Tears welled up in his eyes, then dried away without falling. Because what right had he to cry for someone he hated? 

People left and arrived, nurses walked back and forth in the corridor but Akutagawa didn't see or hear anything. Because all he could think of was those wretched words he had said to Atsushi, the boy who had only ever tried to help him. Even while fighting against him. 

'Anyone would be better off without you' 

He thought of the cheeky smile on Atsushi's face and the sparkle in wide purple-gold eyes, moments before they got attacked. The way his eyes immediately dulled when he said that. Tears pricked Akutagawa's eyes again, he wanted to see him again. It didn't matter if he hated Nakajima Atsushi, Akutagawa just wanted to see him smile, he wanted to see him happy, he wanted to see him alive. 

A hand rested on his head, and Akutagawa snapped his head up to the owner. Dazai was looking at him with an unknown emotion in his brown eyes. Akutagawa instantly stood up straight, aggressively rubbing his eyes to remove any trace of tears, before Dazai caught his hands, gently pushing them away from his eyes. 

"Dazai-san, I-" 

"It's okay, Akutagawa-kun. You did well, it wasn't your fault", the brown-haired man said in a voice he tried his best to appear soothing. He didn't expect the young adult infront of him to erupt in emotional distress. 

"But it is! If -If I hadn't told Atsushi that anyone would be better off without him maybe this wouldn't have happened!", Akutagawa shouted, clenching his fists and not meeting Dazai's eyes. "He was just trying to protect me and I hurt him", he spat in self-loathing, trying his best to keep his tears at bay. 

The brown-haired man paused. Akutagawa didn't mean the harsh things he said, it was obvious he was wallowing in self-hatred over something he spoke in anger. The boy refused to look at him, and the detective suspected it was out of fear. Dazai had to deal with this with an appropriate approach. 

He had already fucked up with Akutagawa once, he couldn't do it again. 

"Akutagawa-kun, please look at me", Dazai said softly, but there was a hint of authority in his voice. Akutagawa slowly looked up, eyes full of guilt and a hint of fear. Dazai raised a hand, and Akutagawa flinched back slightly. The elder sighed, there was a hint of remorse in chocolate-brown eyes before it dissappeared. 

Dazai lifted a hand and rested it at the back of his subordinate's head before gently pulling him into a hug. Akutagawa tensed. "It's okay, Akutagawa-kun. I know you blame yourself, but trust me.. Atsushi-kun wouldn't want you to blame yourself", he spoke softly, holding the boy close to him. 

"But Dazai-san, I...", Akutagawa's eyes teared up. "Let it out, Ryuunosuke-kun", Dazai whispered gently, and that was all Akutagawa needed to break out in tears, a sob ripping out of his throat as he cried into his mentor's shoulder. Dazai just stood there calmly, holding the boy he had once treated unfairly, gently in his arms. 

Dazai gently brought the boy back to the bench, getting him a bottle of water before letting him bury his head back into his shoulder. He let Akutagawa quietly cry into him, resting his head on the younger's head. He didn't realise when his eyes closed. The mentor and student duo slept quietly next to eachother, basking in the sense of familiarity and security. 

And Nakahara Chuuya stood by the corner, watching them with a faint smile on his face, and a stupidly fond look in his eyes, before turning towards the window and sadly looking at the unconscious kid covered in bandages. He let out a sigh. 

Nakajima Atsushi had to wake up. He had way too many people who loved him to die.

_____

It was dark. That was the first thing Atsushi noticed as he opened his eyes. It was cold as well, similar to when he first properly met Byakko. He looked around slowly to see the white tiger, but nothing was around. It left a sort of emptiness in his heart. 

Atsushi glanced at his stomach, expecting to see a gaping wound of a gunshot, but there was nothing. His shirt was pristine and fresh, and he felt no pain. If he was being honest, Atsushi was starting to think he was dead. 

Byakko was nowhere to be seen, and that was one of the things that unsettled him the most. As much as he used to hate his own ability, Atsushi wouldn't lie.. Byakko was a part of him. 

Everything felt wrong without her. 

The silver-haired boy got up, walking towards a weird door. Was Byakko behind it? The headmaster's voice taunted him from behind, manipulating him and his fears to not open the door. 

Atsushi opened the door, and walked through the light. 

He felt it again. Like he was sleeping and just woke up. Atsushi opened his eyes once again, but this time there was a bright light, causing him to wince. There was a weight on his arm, the silver-haired boy blinked wearily and turned his head, expecting to see Byakko. 

Instead, he saw a familiar tuff of black and silver hair. Atsushi's breath stuttered. Akutagawa? he shook his head with a flinch before looking at back at the boy sleeping with his head rested on their joint hands. 

Atsushi blinked in confusion, was he dreaming? 

"A-Aku-", he had only started before the he realised the dryness of his throat, going into a coughing fit. Akutagawa instantly straightened up with wide eyes, there were prominent eyebags under his eyes and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. 

"Jinko..?", Akutagawa breathed in surprise, before letting go of his hand, rushing and getting a glass of water, putting it to Atsushi's lips. Once he was done, Atsushi frowned at Akutagawa. 

"What.. what happened?", he asked, voice still hoarse for some reason. Akutagawa clenched his jaw, looking away and not meeting Atsushi's eyes. 

"Nothing", he replied curtly, beginning to walk away. But before he could even get a step away from Atsushi, the weretiger reached out and grabbed his wrist. Akutagawa froze, clenching his fists. He shut his eyes. 

"Let me go.", he spoke weakly, Akutagawa sounded like he was about to cry, and that only raised red flags in Atsushi's mind. "Not until you tell me what happened after we got ambushed the second time", he said firmly, his grip was weak but Akutagawa didn't rip his hand out. 

"Atsushi.", Atsushi's eye's widened comically at the sound of his given name. "Let me go.", the mafioso breathed, but before Atsushi could let go or say anything, the door to their room opened. 

"Ah, I see you're finally awake", Yosano-sensei said as she walked into the group, yet there was evident relief in eyes at finally seeing him conscious. 

"Finally?", the silver-haired boy questioned, confusion and uncertainty clear on his face. Yosano sighed, looking at him with a pained smile on her face. "Atsushi-kun, you've been in a coma for over a week", and Atsushi stilled. 

"What?", he whispered hoarsely, and Akutagawa felt his heart sink at the look of disgust and self-loathing on Atsushi's face. "I..", his eyes welled up with tears. 

"You got shot, Jinko. It wasn't your fault for getting shot", Akutagawa said sternly, slightly glaring at the silver-haired boy infront of him. 

"Yeah.. but I could have-" 

"Stop being an idiot, Atsushi.", Akutagawa grit out. "You nearly died, and it was my fault. Not yours", he spoke, his voice filled with regret. 

Atsushi's eyes widened. "What?! how the hell was it your fault?!", he asked incredulously. 

"Because I'm the one who told you-" 

"Oh my god!", Atsushi groaned in exasperation. "Do you really think that just because you said something totally out of line, I'd go and pull a Dazai-san?" 

"Wait-" 

"Don't tell me you thought I deliberately sacrificed myself or something.", the silver-haired boy deadpanned. 

"I- no- Jinko-", Akutagawa stammered with a faint pink hue on his cheeks. He went silent. 

"You totally did.", Atsushi gaped at him in disbelief. "Dude- I genuinely have no words, oh my fucking god", he laughed. 

Akutagawa groaned. "Shut it", he grumbled, looking away to hide the slight flush of embarrassment on his cheeks. 

"No way", Atsushi giggled betore pausing. He sighed with a sad smile. "But.. I'm not gonna lie.., when you told me that, it did hurt. A lot. But I know you tend to say things you don't mean when you're angry or defensive, so even if it affected me for a while, I didn't actively take it to heart", he spoke wistfully, and Akutagawa let out a slightly choked up scoff. 

"You are such an idiot, Jinko", he breathed with a small, barely noticeable smile on his face. Upon seeing this, Atsushi beamed. 

"What happened to calling me Atsushi now?", the silver-haired boy pouted childishly, and Akutagawa rolled his eyes fondly. He sighed, yet it held so much fondness, Atsushi felt his heart warm up. 

They both apparently forgot the third person in the room. Yosano stood there with a sly smirk on her face, next to the door, which was slightly ajar. 

Dazai, Chuuya, Kyouka, and Kenji were all peeking in. 

"Don't test my limits, Jinko", Akutagawa warned half-heartedly. Atsushi laughed, and the dark-haired boy couldn't deny the way his heart felt complete, at the sound. 

"Does that mean I can call you Ryuunosuke?", Atsushi blurted with a wide, mischievous grin. Akutagawa froze, choking on his spit. "Why!?", he breathed, watching incredulously as Atsushi shrugged, wincing at the slight pain in his shoulder. "Just" 

"Erm.. that's alright, if you must", he said awkwardly, going back to the way he usually talked. Atsushi smiled at him before glancing at the door. 

"Okay, Ryuu-kun. Also, you guys can come in now", he snorted. Dazai grinned and walked in, ruffling the very surprised, and very flustered, Akutagawa's hair on his way to Atsushi. The brown-haired man rested his hand on the weretiger's head before sighing contestly. 

"You really gave us all a scare, Atsushi-kun", Dazai breathed out a laugh, giving him a playful look, but there was an undertone of genuine fear in his voice. 

Atsushi leaned into the touch. "I'm sorry, Dazai-san", the young adult murmured, looking down in dismay. Dazai ruffled his hair. "Cheer up, Catboy", he laughed. "You're okay now, and that's all that matters", he spoke earnestly. 

"Yeah!", Kyouka and Kenji said, smiling, before rushing over and hugging the silver-haired detective. Yosano shook her head fondly and went to get the rest of the Agency. 

Dazai backed away, standing next to Chuuya, who interlocked their hands. "He's okay now, don't worry you dumbass", Chuuya mumbled, sleepily. After all, it wasn't easy for them two either, this was way too similar to Odasaku. The brown-haired man huffed. "I know, Chuu", he whispered, leaning into the auburn-haired man next to him. 

"I know.", he breathed as they both watched Atsushi shamelessly tease Akutagawa while he didn't understand most of the remarks, much to the amusement of Kyouka and Kenji. 

They were happy.