BSD One-shots!!

Chapter 1: Nightmare

One shot 1: hurt/comfort
Dialogue prompt

TW: MENTIONED ABUSE AND PANIC ATTACK

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"Shh.. You're safe. I won't let you go."

It's no surprise that Atsushi Nakajima had nightmares. His childhood was full of abuse and neglect. The person that was supposed to protect him, was also the very same person who, instead of giving him the love that every child deserves, beat him. Punished him. Simply for existing. Most of the boy's early life was a living hell. Day in, day out, relentless torture, in every way. He hated himself. He truly believed that he was the cause of all the abuse he received.
It wasn't until he met a certain Osamu Dazai that he realized the it wasn't his fault.
He was finally free from the hell.
Free from him.
Well.. For the most part.
Part of the man still tortured him, however.
The memories.
And that's why, right now, in a certain house, a certain brunette is sat on his bed, comforting the very same weretiger he rescued some months ago, from the memories that still wreaked havoc inside his head.

"Shh.. Deep breaths, tiger.. Deep breaths. I've got you. I'm not leaving."

Frantic and watery, sunset eyes finally came into focus, the visions dematerializing from his sight. He was no longer in the orphanage. He was no longer a child. He was eighteen. And he was currently sitting in someone's lap. He looked up at the man who was holding him, looking into his calm, chocolate brown eyes. "D- Dazai--" He gasped out, trying to get air to his burning lungs. He was still violently shaking.
The brunette kissed him on the forehead and spoke to him softly, trying to get his breathing and shaking under control.

"Shh.. It's okay. You're safe. I'm safe. We're both safe. Nothing bad is going to happen. Shh.. It's alright. Can you try and breathe for me?"

Atsushi buried his head on the man's chest again.

"C- Can't-- H-Hurt--"

"You can breathe, baby. I promise, you can breathe."

"H- Help--"

"Here, do you want to try and breathe with me?"

A frantic nod.

"Alright. Let's breathe together. Ready?"

Another nod.

"Alright. Follow my breathing through my chest. Breathe in and then hold it for three."

*inhale* "1...2...3..." *exhale* "again?"

A nod.

"Okay." *inhale* "1...2...3..." *exhale*

"One more time, love."

*inhale* "1...2...3..." *exhale*

"Good job, love. How are you feeling?"

Atsushi took a few more, unassisted breathes before answering. "I- I'm okay now.."

Dazai smiled. "Good. Let's just sit here for now before we do anything else."

And that's what they ended up doing. For an hour, they just quietly cuddled into each other's warmth. Dazai kept close watch on the boy, making sure that he was breathing properly.
After a good hour of cuddling, Atsushi was finally peacefully sleeping in the brunette's arms.
Dazai smiled down at the boy.
He gently maneuvered Atsushi so that he was laying back down, covering both the boy and himself with the big duvet. He wrapped his arms around the boy, watching the rise and fall of his chest, before whispering sweet words into the boy's ear and then falling asleep.

"I love you, kitten."

That night, two lovers fell asleep under the soft moonlight. Two lovers that would be there for each other through thick and thin. Through hell and high water.

Forever.

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