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“Go away, go away, go away.”
“Kyuusaku.”
That’s Chuuya’s voice. Chuuya’s here! But what if it’s still just another illusion? Just another way to torture them using Kyuusaku’s nightmares and fears and now Chuuya too.
“Kyuusaku.” Chuuya’s voice is so soft and quiet. So Chuuya. There’s a rustle of fabric and a hand rests on Kyuusaku’s head that is quickly batted off so they can curl up tighter. “Kyuusaku, open your eyes.”
“You’re not real. You’re not real. You’re trying to kill me. Go away.”
“You just gonna sit here in the rubble all day then?”
“Chuuya-san,” Akutagawa says. “If the brat wants to stay why bother? I can’t carry both of you.”
Kyuusaku’s eyes crack open and Chuuya smiles back. He looks exhausted, half stained in blood and clothes ruined. But it’s Chuuya. The real Chuuya. Akutagawa is glaring down at them and Kyuusaku barely considered him enough to ever have him show up in his hallucinations.
“Chuuya…”
“Hey, there we go,” Chuuya says with an exhausted smile. “That’s better.” His hands close gently around Kyuusaku’s, who squeezes back just to prove he’s real. “I’m here now. Nothing can hurt you when I’m here.”
“What happened?” Kyuusaku whispers. “The fog and- and my Ability and-”
“The fog separated our Abilities from us and made them try to kill us,” Akutagawa says. “It’s over now.”
“Is it?”
Chuuya nods. “We beat up the guy.”
“What happened?” Kyuusaku says, struggling to sit up a bit more.
“Well, I got recruited by the government, told Dazai was dead, jumped out of a chopper, used Corruption anyway, turns out Dazai wasn’t dead just lazing around making me do all the work as always, just this time inside a dagon, so I smacked the dragon with building, then smacked Dazai and then spent a while with my face in his crotch as payment, with is proof no good deed goes unpunished.”
“You had your face in Dazai-san’s crotch?” Akutagawa says.
“That is not the thing to focus on,” Chuuya snaps. “It was traumatic.”
“I’m sure it’s not the first time,” he mutters.
“Stop being jealous,” he huffs. “Focus on the fact that I was super cool and beat up a dragon and got to punch Dazai.” Kyuusaku grins and nods. Dazai deserves it. Always. “You survived. You did a good job. I’m proud of you.”
Kyuusaku’s eyes widen. Before even taking a moment to think it though, Kyuusaku flings their arms around Chuuya’s neck, crying quietly into his chest. It had been so awful. Everything wasn’t what it was supposed to be. Everything was trying to kill them. And a part of Kyuusaku had wished it had! It would be better for everyone if this cursed Ability had gone forever! Kyuusaku never asked for it, never wanted it, and it only ever brought pain. Because of this cursed power, Kyuusaku was alone with only Chuuya who cared about their fate.
But... isn't Chuuya enough?
“It’s alright,” Chuuya murmurs. “You did a good job. You survived. That’s what matters. You did so good. I’m so proud of you.”
“I did a good job too,” Akutagawa mutters.
Chuuya’s head raises of Kyuusaku’s and they glare as Chuuya smiles and holds out his arm. “Do you want a hug too?”
Akutagawa glares aside for a moment, face going a bit red, spluttering indignantly before he sighs and falls to his knees with them, resting his head in Chuuya’s shoulder. And Chuuya just sighs and smiles. His arms wrap around them, holding them close as if they aren’t just sitting in a half ruined back alley, all three exhausted and beaten up.
“I’m proud of you too, Ryuu,” Chuuya murmurs and Akutagawa’s arms tighten around him. “You did a good job.”
“Does Dazai-san think so too?” Akutagawa whispers.
Kyuusaku glares before snuggling deeper into Chuuya’s chest. “Fuck Dazai-san.”
“Hey, hey, who taught you language like that?” Chuuya snaps.
“You did.”
Akutagawa snorts and Chuuya pulls back his arms. “Alright, that’s it, kids. Mama Chuuya time is over, get off.”
“No,” Kyuusaku wails, clinging to him tighter.
“I don’t think I can get back up,” Akutagawa mumbles.
“Like I’m buying that,” Chuuya sighs, but puts his arms around them again anyway. “Damn kids.”
“Chuuya-kun, is that you?” comes Mori’s voice. A shadow falls across the alley and Chuuya sighs as Mori chuckles and light Elise-sized footsteps come bouncing towards them. “Chuuya-kun.”
“What, you want a hug too, Boss?” he says.
“I do!” Elise cheers and Chuuya jolts. Kyuusaku looks up and Elise has her arms around Chuuya’s neck, leaning on his back. “I’m glad Chuuya-chan survived too.”