Chapter Text
Atsushi bounced on his feet nervously as he followed Dazai and Chuuya. They were investigating a problem for both the agency and the mafia, a group of terrorists who have also been stealing from the port mafia. They had now entered the group’s main base of operations; an old factory building quite out of the way from civilization. They were just here to get some information and get out quickly but even still Atsushi had been anxious the entire time as they walked through white corridors. They camped out the night before to make sure that there was very little people here.
“Are we sure no one will catch us?” Atsushi jumped as the orange haired man spun around to face him.
“Oi. It’s fine kid. The shitty mackerel and I have done stuff like this before, remember?” He ruffled his hair, making Atsushi shake his head and attempt to lie his hair flat one again. “The slug is right~ don’t worry about a thing!” Dazai said in a sing-song voice.
Atsushi loosened up a little at the familiar bickering. Atsushi had actually been paired up with the two for a handful of times, but even now it never ceases to chase his anxiety away some. Suddenly the air grew colder around him yet the pair in front never noticed it. Atsushi attempted to shake it off and move forward, when a hand clenched around his throat.
Atsushi gasped for air as he was lifted from the ground. He thrashed around trying to dislodge the offending hand… hands? He didn’t care. He just wanted- needed to breath!
From his partially shut eyes he could he light- a bright turquoise filling his vision. Through the light he could see Chuuya and Dazai twisting around to face him.
In his ear he could hear someone, in a smooth feminine voice mutter “Freedom from the edge of time.” Atsushi was slammed to the ground just as his vision was filling with black spots. He took a deep breath in, coughing up a lung. The world lurched around him as he was slid forward, surrounded by a familiar red light. He felt himself being wrapped in someone’s arms and carefully laid down.
Even sound was distorted to him, barley being able to make out words.
“Stay… kid!.. protect… down. You can… long range… way!”
“What… you?… useless ass…. Shit- kid!… hang on… go!” Atsushi cried out as pain filled his head and chest, flooding his pain receptors. The ringing in his ears grew louder as he groaned. After the pain dulled down he pried open his eyes. He was down on the ground on his back, facing towards the fight. It all just seemed like a jumbled light show to him.
He whimpered as he was roughly picked up once more, this time by both of his wrists. However at least Words have become clear, and he was able to string together the sentences in his mind.
“Stand down or this brat gets it!” Atsushi hissed as something sharp prodded his stomach. Ah so he was a hostage. And delirious. Yaaaaaay. His eyes landed on the pair who had stopped fighting now. Two people, one woman and one man stood behind them, manhandling their arms behind their backs. It was fine. Atsushi knew it would be. Especially when Dazai gave him a small nod and Chuuya locked eyes with him, a slight twitch of a smile to show him he wasn’t worried.
It felt nice even when he was in pain; Atsushi decided. But then their eyes widened with… panic? Why were they panicked? Atsushi coughed. His mouth tasted metallic as something ran down his chin. He barely registered the pain in his abdomen as he looked down. A giant drill like object had impaled him from the front. Blood pooled around the silver object protruding from him, leaking down his legs and dripping to the floor in large drops.
“H…huh?” The hands were removed from his wrists, arms circling around him. He vaguely heard crunching of bones and footsteps racing towards him. Atsushi slowly looked up from the gaping hole on his stomach to warm brown eyes. Oh hey there were blue eyes too. That’s right he was with Dazai and Chuuya.
“Dazai?” Atsushi whispered out, voice threatening to give out on him. The arms around him tightened. Atsushi never felt so safe though. Wasn’t that strange?
“Shhh. Kid, hey look at me!” Dazai had tears filling his eyes. That wasn’t right, Atsushi decided. Dazai never cried. Atsushi tried to move his hand up to wipe them away but couldn’t.
“Dazai… I can’t feel my arms.” A different hand, gloved he thinks, cradled his cheek. His eyes flickered to Chuuya. He was sad too. He didn’t like this.
“Hey Atsushi… keep your eyes open, okay?” Chuuya’s voice broke. Atsushi nuzzled into the warm hand covering his cheek. It felt nice. Everything was going black.
“What’s happening? Dazai I can’t see anything. Chuuya?” Another gloved hand grabbed his own.
“We’re here kiddo. We- we are here.” Chuuya whispered.
Atsushi couldn’t hear anything now. He couldn’t feel anything. Was he dying? He didn’t want to die. Not yet!
.
.
.
Atsushi woke up.
He gasped and choked on tears as he shot up straight. His breathing quickened as he hugged himself… he just died. He died in Dazai and Chuuya’s arms. He made them cry! He died. He died he died hedied HEDIEDHEDIEDHEDIED-
“Hey hey- you’re alright kid.” Atsushi’s breath hitched as Dazai laid his hands on his shoulders. Atsushi felt himself calming down as he noted his mentor’s face. No teary eyes or panicked or sad expression. Just… worry? Was it… a dream? No it was to real, and it hurt.
“Dazai… I died..?” Dazai shook his head at him.
“No, you are perfectly alive Atsushi.” At this the weretiger calmed down. He didn’t know how it happened but he was alive now. Back in time? Had he survived he would be back in the agency. Atsushi looked around the small wooded area around him. There were three small sleeping bags, him being in one. The one to his right was empty, Dazai had been last to keep watch. Another held a sleepy Chuuya blinking at them in confusion. His eyes widened at the sight of Atsushi and Dazai (the former likely looking worse for wear.)
“Atsushi? Dazai what did you do to the kid!?” Chuuya snarled at the brunette. The aforementioned man placed his hands up in a surrendering pose.
“I did absolutely nothing wrong!” Atsushi smiled at this interaction. After a minute of bickering Chuuya had just decided to shove Dazai aside, crouching on one knee in front of him crinkling the leaves from the forest floor.
“So what’s up kiddo?” Atsushi wanted to point out to them both that he was an adult- but honestly he had no energy to do so.
“Bad dream I think…” Chuuya hummed understandingly.
Atsushi smiled to himself. He didn’t know how he got this second chance, but he was thankful.
He would soon realize he shouldn’t have been.