you can take my Soul, but never my Heart (omegaverse)

Chapter 14: double black

Between Dazai and Ranpo's deductions, they've pinpointed where Q must be kept within an hour. The rural area to the north of town is obvious, near the safe house Naomi and Haruno had been in. There's a small, isolated cabin there, nestled within a thick copse of trees that likely have roots tangling all the way to the port itself. That's where Q is being kept; they're sure of it. They report the information to Mori, and Dazai has all of three hours to dread it before he's packing an overnight bag for Koko and refusing to take the gun Kunikida tries to give him.

Kunikida and Yosano drive Dazai as close as a road will get them, once they've dropped off Koko with Atsushi for the night. And even now, hiking up to the cottage, Dazai feels uneasy. This entire mission is the most dangerous thing he's done in the past four years. It makes him anxious at the same time that it feels chillingly familiar.

It's not about Koko's safety. No, he trusts Atsushi with her. The omega had been hesitant at first, but Dazai had insisted. He knows Atsushi will protect her with his life. Besides, when Dazai told her she would be having a slumber party with him, she had been so excited that she nearly forgot to give Dazai a goodbye hug and kiss. And, as Dazai mentioned to the fretful weretiger, he has neighbors that can help him. Naomi and Tanizaki, as well as Haruno. Koko is safe there. Koko will stay safe.

Dazai has a horrible feeling about this. About his own safety.

He reaches the small brick-and-wood cottage without incident, shifting his shoulder to adjust the fake cast. There isn't a sign of conflict in the area, so he knows Chuuya hasn't been here yet. But he can sense that he's being watched, and as soon as he comes to a halt in front of the door, he hears movement.

Instantaneously, he's surrounded by dark forms in American-made riot gear, shining lights and aiming guns at him.

"Good evening."

It's the blond. The one with the grape ability. John Steinbeck. Him being here is the final confirmation as to how they used Q's ability on such a large scale. Not that he's surprised; he had been able to piece that together the day it happened.

"Our strategist is adept at reading the enemy," John boasts. His Japanese is clunky with an accent, but he's grinning with pride when Dazai turns around. "We knew you would come."

His smile is polite; perhaps too much so for the situation. "So is ours. You thought we wouldn't know this was a trap?"

Dazai can feel it. The pressure in the air, teasing like the change of a storm beginning to brew. It's familiar, and somehow comforting at the same time that it's dreadful. He grins, lifting his head to properly address John and the silent, taller man beside him.

"Duck," he suggests.

The men just blink at him, and in that moment, they're already moving too slow.

A streak of red slams into the taller man, the gunmen shouting in alarm as he's blown backwards. Trees are forced to buckle and break under the pressure, and Dazai doesn't even flinch at the thrumming shockwave left in the aftermath as the gunmen are crushed in an expanding crater.

Chuuya does not know how to make a proper, calm entrance. Perhaps he never will.

The mafia executive stomps forward from the ruined earth, feet cracking the dirt like glass beneath him. He's glowing red, proud smirk in place.

"Making me take out the trash, Dazai? How callous."

He shrugs. "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

John speaks up, eyes wild. "I never heard anything about a surprise attack in the plan!"