We don't talk about Jouno

Don't think about that

Tetchou looked like he was asleep when Chuuya entered the room. The lights were still blaring overhead, but Tetchou was completely out, one arm still wrapped around Jouno's shoulders. Tetchou had been awake for close to twenty four hours, though. He wanted to be the one there when Jouno woke up. That was great for him, and no one would begrudge him that. It wasn't that great for Chuuya, though, who had to explain to the rest of the group what had happened to their getaway van.

The mission hadn't been a complete success, or a complete failure. Two of the remaining decay of angels, including the one that got possessed by the devil, had made a clean getaway. However, they had managed to capture this Snorri person, which would hopefully amount to more answers than Teruko's current pastime. And, of course, they'd gotten Jouno back.

"Hey." Chuuya said awkwardly. He sat down on the nightstand next to Jouno's bed. Jouno twisted around, careful not to wake Tetchou, so he could face Chuuya. "What are you doing here?" Jouno asked, at least sounding like he was in good enough spirits. "Did you sneak away from the port mafia base to come see me? I'm touched."

Chuuya supposed Tetchou hadn't had time to tell Jouno everything. "There's no more port mafia." Chuuya said. "Fukuchi killed Mori and probably Kouyo too. Most of the others were either vampires or dead." Jouno frowned. "Was this before or after I...you know?" Chuyya looked down, trying not to remember. Don't think of the way her pink hair looked covered in blood, or how Elise had thanked him for never figuring out she wasn't real, just as she faded away for the last time. Don't think about how Tachihara looked as one of those things. Don't think about Dazai, a bullet splitting his brain, Chuuya's own fingers curled tightly around the trigger.

"Before." Chuuya said. "I'm sorry." Jouno said, surprising Chuuya. "I'd figured out Fukuchi was responsible for much of this before that happened, but I needed some definitive proof. It's not like it's easy to nail a national hero." Chuuya got that. He'd just tried to kill the man, no careful evidence collecting required. As it turned out, this was one of those few times that neither Jouno or Chuuya's approaches worked in the end.

"Did you lose anyone you were close with?" Jouno asked. His finger danced along the bell on his earring, a sign he was uncomfortable. Chuuya knew Fukuzawa was dead, as were countless others. Jouno had been used as a living weapon. The person who'd like a father to him had betrayed Jouno. Chuuya knew why Jouno was asking. He was hoping he wasn't going to be alone in his grief.

"I did." Chuuya said. "I know you view all criminals the same way. You'd probably have agreed with the execution of most of the port mafia." Chuuya had been thirteen when Jouno and Tetchou had been tasked with basically babysitting him. It had ended in the now infamous bank robbery incident. Chuuya knew how Jouno viewed those living outside the law. While Chuuya talked, Jouno's facial expression remained blank.

"But the people I met in the port mafia weren't all like that. I had a few people who were like family to me. One of them, Kouyo, was my big sister from the time I first joined. I still drove her nuts, right up until the end. I could never hold a teacup to her satisfaction." Chuuya said, thinking back to the first time she'd tried to have him and Kyoka meet over one of her sit down dinners.

Kyoka. Chuuya didn't remember much after the prison. Dostoevsky had used his ability to remote control Chuuya just enough that he knew what he was doing, but he couldn't do anything about it. Dostoevsky had used Chuuya to escape the prison, then sent him to the airport to finish off the agency. The thing about Fukuchi's ability was that he amplified any weapon, including the powers of the vampires, up to a thousand percent. That, combined with corruption, left Chuuya with memories he'd kill to forget.

The plan was for Chuuya to wipe out the remaining members of the agency, as well as most of the airport. The first ones to find him were Kyoka and Atsushi. Kyoka got between Chuuya and Atsushi, refusing to believe that even completely possessed by the god of destruction, her big brother would ever hurt her. The look on Kyoka's face was more confused than physically pained, which made the whole thing more heartbreaking for Chuuya when he'd awaken later. She didn't die, but Chuuya was traumatized for life.

The rest was sort of a blur. Chuuya remembers Atsushi cutting through the attack with his claws, which supposedly could cut through any ability. Chuuya had gone down. He'd been in a room that defied logic. It was pink, and had giant sized versions of child's toys. Not to mention the giant puppet that chased him around whenever he tried to make his escape. Chuuya had met Tachihara again there, also recovering from the vampire infection. The one moment of hope in a swarm of misery.

"I'm sorry." Chuuya blinked, and realized he'd said most of that last part aloud. Kouyo, eyes wide open. Dazai, the walls painted with blood. Kyoka, a massive, gaping hole in her chest. No. Don't go there. Don't think of how wickedly Dostoevsky smiled when he saw Chuuya in the dress, or twirled him around the ballroom. Don't think of how Tachiahra's vampire teeth felt in the side of his neck.

"Don't be." Jouno said. "I want to know everything that happened, even if most of it isn't pleasant. I don't like it when people keep things from me." Chuuya understood that. He shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts from his head. Don't think of the way the agency boy screamed when Kyoka's body hit the floor. Chuuya clenched his fists. He hated the flashbacks. He'd have to talk to Yosano in the morning because the meds she gave him were not working. "I'm happy you're not dead." Chuuya said, unsure if he'd said that already. He wanted to say it personally. Verlaine might claim the relation, but in Chuuya's mind, his big brothers were Tetchou and Jouno.

"Just so you know, when the morning comes, you're going to get absolutely crowded with people. Everyone's seen the video." Jouno looked almost embarrassed. It was kind of funny, really. Chuuya decided to push that just an extra bit further. "That's right." Chuuya said, trying hard to sound sympathetic but probably failing miserably. "The entire world saw Akutagawa pick you up under one arm like a football."

The tips of Jouno's ears turned pink. "Oh my god." He said, sounding somewhat pained. "Well, at least you haven't changed. Still a pain in my ass." Jouno said, sounding almost amused. This was new. When Chuuya knew Jouno, he didn't smile very often. Being reunited with those he loved would do that to a person. Chuuya being with Tachihara every morning now was a perfect example of that.

"I guess I'd better let you get back to sleep." Chuuya said, and stood up. "I just wanted to see you before the rush tomorrow." Jouno reached out, and grabbed the sleeve of Chuuya's jacket. Well, technically, it was Tachihara's jacket, but Chuuya wore it all the time now. He'd lost his hat in the confrontation at the airport, so the jacket was like a new comfort blanket. Jouno started to pull Chuuya backwards. For a guy who both couldn't see where Chuuya was standing, and who was still pretty out of it, he was both very accurate, and very strong.

"I'm not tired." Jouno said. Chuuya took this as his cue to sit back down. "I've slept for the better part of three months. I don't want to miss anything." Chuuya couldn't help but smile. That was a very Jouno thing to say. "I'll stay, at least until Tetchou wakes up." Chuuya said. It wasn't like he really had anything else going on. He'd trust Tachihara and Teruko to interrogate Snorri. "I'll keep talking, get you up to speed." Chuuya said. "I promise, Jouno, you won't miss a thing."