Work Text:
Fukuzawa really needed to rethink how often he settled on 'Let Dazai decide' when faced with a choice. He trusted the young man, of course, but it seemed he had done it far too often if the brunet had done something as reckless as this.
He couldn't help but stare as he entered the agency for the morning and was met with a sight most uncomfortable. There, sitting in the lounging area of the office, was Dazai. That in itself wasn't too odd. What was, though, was the person sitting opposite of him.
There, in all his dark glory, was Akutagawa. The boy had his eyes trained firmly on Dazai, the brunet apparently not having noticed him enter if the way he continued to rattle on meant anything.
"I've said it before, but I suppose it'll say it again. You really are as dumb as a sack of bricks, you know?" the young man sighed, idly swishing his drink around in his hands.
Even as Dazai spoke in that same carefree tone, none of his usual playful warmth was there. It was almost unsettling for Fukuzawa to hear such words from one of his most trusted members. He took a step back, eyes narrowing as he watched the two from the shadows.
The white-haired man settled on staying back and listening, for now, not wanting to interrupt their discussion. Besides, it was most likely a mafia thing. He doubted the dark-layered boy would respond very well to Dazai's usual flailing about.
It must be a method of communications he was unfamiliar with, he concluded. He had put Dazai on a particularly hard case regarding the Port Mafia recently. It would make sense for him to call forth anyone with loyalties to him from within the mafia. Still, it didn't seem very productive for him to be calling the younger boy names whilst requesting information.
"...I understood the first time" the boy's sharp and accusing words left his mouth before Fukuzawa was able to ponder further. "Despite what you seem to believe-" his words cut briefly as he hacked a bit into his hand, "I do have a least a few critical thinking skills."
Fukuzawa watched with a tight frown as the boy wiped his sleeve over his mouth, blood mingling with the black attire until it was barely visible. It seemed the sticky red liquid wasn't enough to halt Akutagawa's annoyances, however, as he continued on with his sharp words. "As you once told me time and time again, betrayal is not an option when it comes to the port mafia. Though you may have forgotten, I have not. I have no interest in loosening my jaw just to-"
Akutagawa's explanation was cut off as Dazai rose to his feet, taking a step forward to lean over the still sitting mafia member. Fukuzawa watched with something akin to wonder or disbelieve as Dazai reached out to grip the sickly-looking boy's chin, forcing him to look up with a vice-grip. Sharp grey eyes leveled with Dazai's firm brown ones, the brunet beginning to yank him up just as Akutagawa's own hands moved to shove him off.
Fukuzawa stepped forward with heavy movements, the noise drawing the attention of the two bickering boys. Acting as though he'd just entered the room, Fukuzawa continued on into it, casting a side glance at the two. He mulled dryly as Dazai roughly let go of Akutagawa, "I would appreciate it if you two would refrain from fighting inside the building." he noted dryly, watching as Dazai nodded in easy agreement while Akutagawa seemed to sidestep away from Dazai in annoyed agreement. His dragon was coiled on his hand, though Fukuzawa sensed no ill will with the movement so he didn't comment. "Though I would prefer for you to gain your information in less...violent...ways, at least take him somewhere else if you insist on interrogating him. The common room is not an appropriate place for hostages."
He wasn't really sure he understood, or wanted to understand, their relationship. Still, it didn't look like it was anything positive at this point. The kid was probably a past friend of Dazai's that had failed on cutting him off or something, if Fukuzawa had to guess. He didn't bother pondering, continuing towards his office.
Well, he was, until he heard Dazai's nonchalant voice. "No, no. You don't have to worry, Mr. President. It's nothing like that- he's not my hostage. He's my student. I was just reminding him not to pick battles he couldn't win. We just got a bit side-tracked from our conversation." he smiled, all daisies once more.
Fukuzawa felt his brow twitch involuntarily as he paused in his strides, glancing the boy over briefly. That's what that was? A student-teacher relationship? His eyes drifted between the two, watching Dazai happily dilly-dally while the sickly-looking boy watched Fukuzawa with a shrewd expression. He couldn't help but focus in on his chin, which was slightly miscolored from Dazai's previous grip on it. "...Yes, well, it would be preferable if you could remind him without including your hands. I presume this is normal port mafia conduct, but even so, you two are not on port mafia-"
He was interrupted by a burst of accusation from the boy, Akutagawa sending an accusing glare his way as he demanded, "Precisely. It is port mafia conduct so you would be well to mind your own business." his dragon extruding from his coat sleeve ever so slightly for a fraction of a second. Dazai quickly put a stop to this as he gripped his student's arm. The nearly bone-crushing strength was loosened as soon as the dragon was gone, blood spilling from his lips as he hacked about once more.
Fukuzawa's lips pursed, the man eyeing them with a look of dissatisfaction. His aged eyes watched Dazai in particular with a mix of feelings, though he didn't allow his reluctance to reach his face. He merely sighed, turning his back to the two as he finally reached his office door. "Perhaps I would, however, my verdict remains."