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[kubiwa]

[ atsushi isn't exactly known for his patience. that's mostly because the majority of people who know the white reaper assume that he's a blood thirsty killing machine and don't bother to get to know him better. and yet, it's hard for him to try and stay calm while he walks down the narrow alleys between the warehouses that belong to the port mafia. he was asked to go on patrol here and take care of anything that's unusual.

being tailed sure is unusual.

after another few minutes, he stops abruptly and turns around, gaze hardened as he stares into the direction where he assumes his stalker to be. ]

How long are you planning to hide over there?

[ at least get better at tailing people, akutagawa. ]

Comments

[clothes]

[ akutagawa is hardly ever sent on patrol. he's a guard dog, after all, and only a fool lets their dog off its leash.

however, strange things have been happening lately. this isn't a job or obligation; no, what akutagawa is doing right now is simply to sate his curiosity, because this whole thing isn't right. atsushi nakajima, still identifiable even with the new clothes, skulking about his territory is definitely strange. things might not be as violently antagonistic between them as they used to be, but akutagawa still doesn't take kindly to trespassers. ]

...

[ well, being called out was bound to happen sooner or later. he's been following the other man for awhile, after all. with no measure of hesitation, akutagawa takes a few steps forward, out of the shadows, both hands resting in his pockets.

...strange indeed, is what he thinks when he finally gets a good look at atsushi. it's as if an entire lifetime went and hit him overnight. he looks tired. he looks real fucked up. akutagawa raises a brow as he approaches, though his guard isn't necessarily lowered. ]

You speak as if I have no right or reason to be here. You're aware this is Port Mafia territory, aren't you?

[ he gives a condescending tilt of his head. ]

[kubiwa]

[ funnily enough, atsushi thinks the exact same thing when he sees akutagawa step out of the shadows. he has only met that boy from the agency once or twice before, but he remembers that he looked different back then. like someone who was slowly getting used to a normal, ordinary life, surrounded by loving friends and coworkers.

the exact opposite to the harsh treatment atsushi receives from dazai and the port mafia. ]

I am, but are you?

[ atsushi doesn't exactly wait for an answer. within a second, he's right in front of akutagawa, hand shooting forward towards the other man's throat. usually he wouldn't hesitate, but atsushi stops short, so the sharp claws his nails have turned into merely scrape against the skin of akutagawa's pale neck. ]

Dazai-san didn't tell me not to kill you.

[ that means doing so wouldn't be considered disobedience. ]

[clothes]

[ oh f*cc,

well, akutagawa sure didn't see that coming. his responsone to atsushi coming for him with the quickness of an agitated cat's tail is little more than a step back and rashoumon rearing her ugly head, maw poised right above the other boy's head. akutagawa knows atsushi isn't crazy enough to kill him, even in the dead of night and regardless of what sordid orders dazai had issued. all the same, if he happens to be wrong, rashoumon leaving a decapitated weretiger as a goodbye gift to this hideous world is good enough for akutagawa.

akutagawa's expression betrays just how troubling this whole thing is, though. he isn't worried about taking atsushi down in a fight (though he should be), no; he's more concerned with this...whole transformation. he's become so unhinged now. akutagawa almost misses the bright-eyed, radiant little beast he's most familiar with. ]

Is that so? Perhaps he's smartening up. Coming to his senses.

[ he straightens, but doesn't withdraw rashoumon. the tail of akutagawa's coat gives a menacing crackle, blood red and lightning-like. ]

Or perhaps he didn't count on whatever has happened to you leaving you so unhinged.

[ akutagawa narrows his eyes, watching atsushi carefully, searching. no, he swears on his life he doesn't miss atsushi and doesn't desperately wish he was okay. that's not what he came here for. but he would like to make sure no one else in the port mafia runs into this coked-out mutant cat, that's for sure. ]

[kubiwa]

I'm not unhinged.

[ atsushi spits that word like it's pure venom. and he likes to think that it's true, that he really isn't unhinged, that he's in full control of what he is doing. of course he knows that this isn't the case. he has not a single shred of control over this situation or the beast inside him or literally anything, ever.

it doesn't help that akutagawa is so different from what he is used to. it only seems to spur on the beast inside him. he can feel the anger and pure hatred course through his veins, like claws scratching at a door and begging to be freed.

this is.. dangerous. ]

You should leave before I hurt you.

[ a trembling hand reaches to grab at the front of atsushi's coat, effectively pulling at the fabric just enough to reveal a glimpse at the spiked collar digging into the flesh of his neck. it's a gesture of insecurity, a poor attempt at trying to ground himself. he doesn't want to hurt akutagawa; he actually likes this guy, as sheltered as he is with his friends at the agency and that man taking care of him and all those orphans. ]

Go.

[clothes]

[ that's definitely what akutagawa would say if he was unhinged, which he is-- the difference is he'll admit this to himself because it helps to be a little crazy when you do the work he does.

that being said, atsushi definitely doesn't do what he does-- or so he thought, anyway. when atsushi pulls at that coat of his to flash that collar set around his neck, akutagawa almost feels. sick? overwhelmed? because he knows little of friendship and kindness, but he knows enough that the thought of atsushi's friends permitting this means of control over their sunny little tiger is jarring.

something is definitely not right here. his worry is less about atsushi and more about what kind of situation akutagawa has walked into.

akutagawa narrows his eyes, careful and perhaps even a little concerned for the man he's called his partner on several occasions. ]

Who did this to you?

[ needless to say, akutagawa isn't going anywhere. ]