Chapter Text
The word “Harmonised" can be used within many different definitions, from its use within music in how notes are displayed together. To how something can be combined with meaning or morals. Much like how a person's thoughts may be in harmony with another's.
—
Blaring music seemed to blast the concrete walls like a declaration of war. Lights swirled with the dense smoke that coated the open air in an attempt to swallow its oxygen whole.
The strong, sickening scent of booze, cheap perfume and sweat laced with tacky sex spread like a controlled virus through the smoke. Flashes of purple, green, blue and a dozen more dizzying explosions of light clipped through the darkness of the rooms like bolts of lightning.
Blurs of bodies moving in a chaotic harmony, clothes drenched in spilt drinks and body odor rubbing together like people would die without the constant touch of the 20 people pressed against them. A dozen mice filling a small shoe box as it tumbles down the stairs.
A flick of jewellery unheard beneath the buzzing speakers practically leaping off the floor from the bass of music. A group of cheers battling the noise as glasses clinked. And unheard moans swallowed by the noise of secrecy in the space.
“Told you I’d get us in, huh?” Away from the bustling bodies, stood more towards the entrance of the nightclub, walked in a group of 6. Tachihara, a man with dyed red hair gestured to the dingy club before them with an open hand and a smirk as he spoke. Causing the brunette beside him to roll his eyes.
Dazai, the aforementioned brunette, took in the poorly lit up club before him with a grimace. Hardly taking in the redheads words as he scoffed out a poor response.
“I’m pretty sure the bouncer out there was more focused on the doped up hookers to notice us get in,” his eyes flicking back towards Tachihara with a quipped eyebrow, “wouldn’t you think so?”
At the same time a woman with long, raven hair strolled past. A lazy smile stretched across her darkened lips, her hands folded together in front of her waist before she leant her body momentarily into Dazai’s side with a snort at his wording.
“Gosh, Dazai” she began, “Just the way you talk about women is so…” she paused for a moment, as if searching for a word as her expression of adoration dropped to a deadpan scowl, “classy.”
“They were literal hookers Gin.” The brunette turned to the woman with a serious expression, “Have you not taken in the place we’re currently at. Wouldn’t put it past such a sketchy club to have a literal brothel on its doorstep.”
She returned his words with a click of her mouth before noticing the way the redhead instantly snapped his head towards the doorway, the brunette noticing too.
“You,” he began to tug at the redhead's loose shirt, “are not sleeping with any professionals Tachi’” a soft sigh escaping his words in the form of a chuckle.
“Freaks..” Gin chuckled to herself, turning her attention to the smoky room before them.
“First of all, this was all Tachi’s idea to come here. So blame any of my… vulgarness. On him,” Dazai began, waving his arms around to gesture at the club before scoffing out, “Would never choose to come to such a disgusting club on my own regard.”
The ravenette and redhead shared a glance at one another from their leader's words, hoping to have either misheard or misunderstood his tone of voice. Yet when no laugh followed. Tachihara’s hand moved to scratch at his neck awkwardly.
“Jeez - bit harsh, isn’t it?”
Dazai turned to raise a brow at Tachihara with a confused expression, “Harsh? It’s a disgusting, illegal nightclub… amature musicians perform here believing they’re accomplishing something. Do I constantly need to remind you of our social differences with these people, Tachihara?”
–
The air felt thick with tension. Muddy, deep eyes staring into flickering blue as if an entire argument was pursuing without words.
Until, the redhead scoffs and rolls his eyes away from the prison of the darker ones before him, “No need. You’ve made your opinions on this place quite clear. Excuse me.”
Turning on his heel to pass the two band members in order to descend the club stairs, in direction for the large crowd. Leaving Dazai and Gin stood in an awkward silence together despite the blasting music surrounding them.
“Fucks up with him?” Dazai scoffed a false smile,
“Heard his friends performing here tonight,” Gin spoke, not noticing or pretending to not notice the way Dazai’s head whipped in sympathetic speed to face her at her words, “... This was also the club he began performing in before he got scouted by Fukuzawa…”
Dazai stared at her for a little, mouth opening but refusing to emit any noise. Or any that did was drowned out by the cheers of people passing and loud music swirling around any conversation.
Ultimately only managing a, “Shit…”
Finally, Gin turned her attention toward her friend and, noticing his expression, gave him a soft smile.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it Zai, I mean it’s Tachi,” the two grinned at her claim, knowing exactly how the redhead can be with arguments and disagreements, “I’m sure he’ll forgive you, quit being a dickhead tho.”
“Ah ah ah! No promises on my behalf Gin -” he managed a chuckle before her arm flew to smack at his playfully, “Okay okay I’m sorry! … I’m gonna go find the bar. Cannot attempt this place sober.” He eventually groaned, pulling an eyeroll from the ravenette as she pretended to ignore his new vulgar claim on the building they were in. In hopes of at least keeping the peace between them two.
“Don’t get swallowed by the crowd, we may never see you again!” she shouted after him to which he waved back at her with two fingers over his shoulder. Descending the stairs at a comfortable pace.
—
The club was definitely dingy. It wasn’t wrong of Dazai to say so. It was buried underground, an abandoned cloth factory sitting above. The doors to the place being that of a cellar entrance within the back alleyway as opposed to a regular nightclub’s entrance.
Not exactly a case that the club could be advertised as much tho, hidden behind abandonment and darkness as it broods with illegal activity behind every wall. From the literal brothel on its actual doorstep to the Wednesdays fight clubs, drug runs, planned orgies, street race parties, and… the event of the night being that of a performance.
Anyone could sign up to perform on the night clubs stage, as long as you had the balls for it. In a place where laws did not exist people weren’t too kind. While the club did not outright allow members to be harmed, beyond the Wednesdays events… all consented for of course, it didn’t exactly stop fights that did break out either. Simply being thrown to the back alley to continue if they got too rowdy by the bouncers decision.
Though, the club did have specific… lets say celebrities that clung to the bars and stages. Tachihara, a now scouted and legal musician, had begun performing at the club at a young age. Having come from a broken home he found refuge within the walls at just 16. He knew how to play drums from his elder brother and suggested playing for free in order for a sort of sanctuary or home within the club. Though, he wasn’t served alcohol until he turned 18 and by then he was a trusted member of the place.
He was known within the club by regulars who may have seen him perform and by ongoings who were fans of the band he now starred in as he guided his way through the crowds.
While he was polite enough to chat here and there he was on a mission. He had dragged his band members tonight with a promise, a promise they were going to watch the greatest singer ever.
Something the band was missing, well not entirely. Dazai, their leader, could sing and had sung for majority of the time the band was together. But his true passion was his guitar and for some unbeknownst reason to the rest of the bandmates he’d get cranky around live performances. He’d break out into hives and become erratic just before they’d enter stage, usually snapping at the other members for no reason. And he was becoming more and more anxious and in turn aggressive from each tour they did.
It had gotten to the point that not only did their band manager, Oda Sakunosuke, but also their label manager, Yukichi Fukuzawa, agree it was a good idea to perhaps look for a singer to take over. Especially considering then it gave chance for Dazai to truly perform what he most wanted, guitar.
Tachihara had a plan for tonight. He knew one of his friends, and possibly most famous performer in the club, was performing on stage tonight for their annual competition. Chuuya Nakahara.
–
Tachihara had met Chuuya during his time living within the club, Chuuya had a similar story to his except the fact the ginger was actually suggested to perform within the club by the owners.
While the nightclub didn’t technically have one big owner, but instead formed when a group of illegal street racers found the place. The flags, a group of 5 members. They had stumbled upon the building at some point and found the basement to be perfect for a place to celebrate their wins after a race. Before it ended up gaining traction by their fans, then more illegal activity before it truly gained a label of a nightclub. And it, of course, following the group it was named after them. Flags.
Chuuya somehow fell in with the group, Tachihara did not know exactly how, just that he was close with them all. Except within age. The closest member within age to them being a man named Albatross, who was 21 by time Chuuya and Tachihara were 16 going on 17. The same time in which Chuuya came to the club.
And for those 4 years Tachihara lived within those walls, being scouted at 20, he and Chuuya became inseparable. To the point that when the redhead had been scouted he wanted to take the ginger with him. Fukuzawa had agreed to let the boy perform for him and he’d see but for some reason Chuuya rejected the offer.
–
“The flags are my family Tachi,” Chuuya said, sitting cross legged on the roughed up couch in the manager's office. A 20 year old Tachihara stood before him with the letter from Stray dogs production label. “Besides… you know I’m not the type to follow whatever fancy ass rules that agency will try push on you. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THOSE KPOP VIDEOS?!” Suddenly rocking on his knees/ankles as he shouted the last bit with genuine concern and shock.
Tachi, of course, not understanding the correlation.
“It’s a chance out of here Chuuya, a chance to” he began, frantically waving his arms about as he sputtered, attempting to find a word that just didn't come to him, “To. To… To get out of here!”
“And what's so wrong with here?” it was more of a statement than a question from the ginger as his brow furrowed.
“Nothing… I didn’t - I mean to make it big Chuu.” he sighed and moved to sit beside him on the couch.
“You have the skills to be huge. I don't get why you aren’t jumping at the chance of becoming known.”
“I am known Tachi.”
“By this lot? Chuuya I mean the world!”
“Drop it.” Suddenly the warmth was gone from Chuuya’s face as he watched the man before him. The smile gone, the excitement and pride for his friend gone, the curiosity gone.
And so… Tachihara had. He dropped the subject, and he dropped the letter on Chuuya’s bed before he left the club. For good.
***
By now Dazai had found, at least one of, the bars within this place. Slumping towards the counter as he muttered out a sigh of relief.
“This place is a fucking maze” he mumbled under his breath as his brows furrowed. Not exactly realising he had said that aloud, but also definitely not expecting anyone to have heard and in turn reply to him.
“You get used to the layout.” A voice spoke beside him. And not just any voice, a soft yet alluring voice. A seductive tone behind each word that dragged like a puff of smoke from a cigarette.
Now that’s definitely something Dazai thought as he straightened his posture in order to look in the direction of said voice. Landing upon a shorter man, dressed in simple jeans and a white shirt. Though a red tie hung from his belt hoops and a studded band wrapped around his thin wrist. A dangerously sinful, black choker snug around his throat, and a long silver chain hanging beside it down into the loosened, undone few buttons at the top of his pristine shirt.
How the hell is that thing still pure white in here he thought, having seen multiple people already covered in booze, vomit and worse and it had only just hit midnight a few moments ago.
“You got a staring problem or something?” The voice spoke again but with a certain smugness behind it that caused Dazai to notice his plump lips pulled into a smirk that moved the septum piercing just above them.
Then noticing the slit, half closed eyes with long lashes clearly covered in mascara shielding some of the most gorgeous colours he’d ever seen worn by a person before.
One eye was a deep urban brown, as if it was a cup of coffee swirling with the hint of milk and yet a fiery flame burning within the centre. The other was an ocean depth swallowing a coral wreath that stole the skies light. Blues dancing over muted greens like a watercolour placed over existing ink to change its identity. With pupils far too big to belong to a regular human and yet not blown out enough, or the rest of his eyes not bloodshot enough, to be a result of drugs.
And he wasn’t even pretending to not notice the fiery halo that adorned his head. Wild curls of ginger somehow messily kept neat in place as they puffed out each end. One side growing down into a long lovelock over his shoulder. Each curl danced beneath the club's light and still shining as bright as the sun that now rested beneath the sky.
Perhaps this guy is the literal reincarnation of the sun, that's why he’s out during the night Dazai thought to himself. A silly notion and yet he didn’t believe anything to be a strange assumption as he took in the literal definition of attraction stood before him. Albeit quite small.
The man stood back facing the bar, arms thrown behind him to lean against the counter tops as his hand fell off the edge. One of his legs propped up behind him to balance against the bar as he leant against it. His head turned sideways to maintain eye contact with the brunette, the grin still plastered on his mouth. A grin to say he was fully aware of every thought running through Dazai's mind as his eyes dragged over every inch of him.
Dazai cleared his throat, clearly done admiring before it crossed into grounds of just straight up staring, as if it was not dangerously close to already being so. Making eye contact with the ginger still grinning at him, though it had melted into a softer smile rather than an outwardly devilish smirk.
Now it was Dazai’s turn to smile back, suddenly unaware of words to say as he held eye contact with the other.
“Guessing it’s your first time here?” the ginger spoke once more, slightly gesturing to the building surrounding them.
“Ah,” Dazai began with a small laugh, “is it that obvious?”
“Dangerously so” His eyes widened as he enunciated the word dangerously with the same grin growing back onto his lips. “So it IS your first time?” suddenly twisting his body more to face the brunette.
“That depends. First time visiting this place or first time talking to someone like you?”
“Someone like me?” the ginger raised an eyebrow at that,
“Someone so,” Dazai began letting his eyes drag slowly down the ginger’s body before gliding back up just as slow, "Unbelievably short.” A sly grin now snaking it’s way onto his pierced lips.
The ginger watched the man’s expression change like that of a toddler’s upon telling a joke, as his own grin faded. Rolling his eyes and head to face forward with a Tch.
“And yet you sure took your time looking me up and down then” face unmoving as his gaze remained forward.
“Well,” Dazai began, “You may be short but doesn’t mean there’s less of a pretty image to view gorgeous.”
Dazai moved to lean his arms, folded, upon the counter top. Bending his knees in order to stand comfortably with his arms rested before him. Attention facing forward as he waited for the bar tender to get a spare moment. Though, his eyes flickered over to the man stood next to him every now and then.
The booming music surrounding their silence for a few moments. The ginger suddenly throwing his head back with a huff, and a small grin, before ultimately spinning his position around in order to mimic the brunettes next to him. Facing Dazai as he spoke,
“You do this a lot then?”
“This?”
“Y’know… flirt with random people you meet at a bar?” He gestured his hands under his chest as he described what exactly was happening.
“Is that not what everyone does?” Dazai countered with a grin.
“Everyone who wants to get laid I guess…” the ginger muttered, moving to face towards the bartender instead of the man beside him, raising his hand to signal the bartender towards them.
Dazai watched with a smug grin at the action, thinking this man must have a huge ego if he really believed the already busy bartender. One currently attending other customers, would instantly saunter over to take the short man's order. And yet… he watched in amazement as that exact thing happened.
The ginger flicked his glass and nodded his head slightly towards it with a soft smile as the bartender smiled back. Before he turned to Dazai, the ginger leaning to bump into the brunette's shoulder too.
It took Dazai a moment to realise he was supposed to be ordering before sputtering out a, “Err- Whiskey. On the rocks, please.” and just like that the bartender went to make their drinks, ignoring the crowded area of guests surrounding them. Much to Dazai’s confusion.
Pretty privilege sure is a heck of a thing I guess Dazai thought as the ginger groaned and turned his attention back to him.
“So am I wrong?” he asked again. Taking Dazai a few moments to remember their conversation that happened just before.
“You say that like you’re not included in that everybody. From the sound of things you’re a regular here, right?”
The ginger just stared at him, expressionless for a moment before he broke out laughing.
“God you really are new here, huh?” he wiped a stray tear from his eye before smiling at the brunette again, a sort of sheepish yet proud expression clinging to his grin. “And I don’t sleep around sweetheart.”
Dazai blinked at that.
In fact, his mouth gaped open too as he blinked at that.
The ginger must’ve noticed as he raised an eyebrow at the reaction, you’d have thought he just admitted to being a mass murderer in their city instead of the simple fact that he just did not sleep around.
“W-what?” the words stuttered out of the brunette’s mouth with utter confusion. The ginger turned to face his body to the man, hip jutted out and leaning against the bar as he crossed his arms. Brow’s furrowed in confusion.
“Is that such a foreign concept to you? God forbid someone in this generation doesn’t -”
“NO!” Dazai practically yelled, also pushing himself off the counter, standing taller now that he had to look down at the man in front of him. Realising a few people had turned to stare at them, a small blush crept across his face. “I… I didn’t mean anything crude.”
The bartender had finished their drinks and sat them down in front of the two men, the ginger mouthing a thank you to the man who only winked back and moved back to the group he was serving before.
“I’m sorry,” Dazai started again running his palms down his face with a slight laugh of embarrassment, “Oh my days I just -.”
“You just?”
Dazai paused a moment, trying to find the right words and force them out his vocal box before it closed off from the sheer anxiety and embarrassment from the words he’d said already. Clearly aware he definitely was coming across as a dick.
“I think I worded that wrong… It’s just you’re well. Attractive as hell.” He internally cursed himself out at how lame he was sounding. The ginger though, shuttled awkwardly in place and ripped his gaze away as a softness spread through his expression.
“Suppose it was more a reaction of disappointment than anything else” Dazai laughed awkwardly again, returning to position his body toward his drink. Watching as the ice began to float up toward the top of the syrupy, brown liquid and bob as it spun in place.
It was silent for a moment, the ginger's hands had moved up to play with the locks of hair hanging over his shoulder as he mimicked the brunette's position facing the bar, instead of one another.
“Perhaps,” he began, clearing his throat a moment before letting one hand fall from his hair to trace the rim of his glass before him. “Perhaps I just haven’t found anyone interesting or tempting enough to sleep around with.”
A redness spreading across his cheeks unnoticed under the purple lights from the bar’s LEDs above. Dazai, upon hearing that, whipped his head towards the shorter male who refused to return the eye contact.
“And what would… tempt you?” the words already beginning before Dazai could stop them.
The ginger was silent for a moment. Fingers still tracing the glass before dipping into the red liquid, coating two of his fingers in the alcohol before he raised them to his lips and licked the product away. A motion Dazai’s eyes followed like it’d kill him not to.
Letting his hand fall back down onto the bar, the shorter man's eyes forcefully ripped away from his wine glass and up to the taller man beside him. Those unique eyes dragging over the brunette's expression for a while.
“He could start off by buying me a drink?”
***