from my post-canon beast au angst fest
By the time Chuuya makes it back to his office, it's long after dark, the full moon high in the sky of the windows that line the length of the room.
One of the first things he did, after taking this office as his own, was to open the windows and allow light into the otherwise depressingly dark room. The black walls remain black for now, but he’s determined to make that temporary.
His days have been long, his nights longer. In the two weeks since Dazai's death, every little thing has required his approval. The Port Mafia is in an unprecedented state of chaos.
Dazai’s takeover had been carefully planned, pieces put into place for months leading up to him finally grasping control.
Chuuya was forced into this, hands tied, with no warning and no preparation. But he would sooner die than abandon his men to the disaster that having no leader would be so he's doing his best to wrangle the Port Mafia into something better than Dazai molded, something the members can consider a home.
Maybe someday it will actually work.
Slamming the door open with more force than strictly necessary, he freezes in place when he sees Dazai sitting on the edge of his desk, flipping through a long-unseen red-covered book. He lets the door fall closed behind him, and only after it closes all the way does Dazai speak.
“Long day, Chuuya?” Dazai asks, tilting his head as if it's a genuine question.
Chuuya ignores it, walking around to sit at his desk and pretend the intruder isn't there. He opens his laptop and starts looking through some files he needs to read before Dazai speaks again.
“It's rude not to answer me, you know.” Chuuya can hear the familiar pout in Dazai’s voice, the childishness that only came out when he was alone with Chuuya, but still doesn't look up, continuing to read even as his mind is racing.
Is this from sleep deprivation? That might make sense. His help with the contract earlier could've just been Chuuya's subconscious pointing out something his overstressed mind overlooked. Or is it really Dazai’s ghost? That's horrifying, in a completely different way. Why would he haunt Chuuya? He made it clear that he couldn't stand him - only wanted him as something to possess. To claim in every way he knew how.
“You're not even reading,” Dazai interrupts.
“Fuck off,” Chuuya mumbles. “You're not real.”
“Am I not? How disappointing.” Dazai leaves his place on the edge of the desk to go stare out at the night skyline. “And yet you're still so curious about me.”
