Bungo Stray Dogs Oneshots

Unlikely Connection (Tachihara x Chuuya)

Ship: Tachihara x Chuuya

Genre: Fluff

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The bar's dim light cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the worn wooden tables and the haze of smoke that hung lazily in the air. It was one of those nights in Yokohama, where the Port Mafia's presence was felt even in the quietest comers of the city. Inside the bar, the casual crowd of underworld figures mingled, sharing stories and drinks, their voices blending into a low hum that filled the space.

Chuuya Nakahara sat at the far end of the bar, his signature black hat tilted forward slightly, casting a shadow over his eyes. He took a slow sip from his glass of wine, savouring the rich flavour as he leaned back in his seat. Tonight had been a rough one, even by his standards. A mission gone awry, a few too many close calls, and now, he needed a drink to take the edge off.

But as much as he wanted to be alone, fate had other plans. 

"Hey, Nakahara," a familiar voice called out, cutting through the din of the bar. Chuuya's grip tightened slightly around his glass as he glanced to his side, spotting the source of the voice.

Tachihara Michizou stood there, a cocky grin plastered on his face as he leaned casually against the bar counter. His rust-red hair starkly contrasted the dim surroundings, and his amber eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. The plaster on the bridge of his nose was still in place, a reminder of his most recent brawl - one that, if Chuuya recalled correctly, had involved more shouting than actual fighting.

"Tachihara," Chuuya acknowledged with a nod, his tone neutral. He wasn't in the mood for the younger man's antics, but he also knew that brushing him off would only make things worse. "What do you want?"

Tachihara shrugged, sliding onto the stool next to Chuuya without waiting for an invitation. "Just saw you sittin' here by yourself and figured I'd join you. You know, keep you company."

Chuuya raised an eyebrow, scepticism written all over his face. "Keep me company? Since when do you care about that?"

Tachihara chuckled, waving the bartender over and ordering a drink for himself. "Since I figured you could use someone to talk to. Rough night, huh?"

Chuuya's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't immediately respond. He could feel Tachihara's gaze on him, searching for something - an opening, perhaps, or just a way to get under his skin. Normally, he would have dismissed the attempt with a sharp remark or a well-placed threat, but tonight... tonight was different. He was tired, and maybe, just maybe, the idea of some company didn't seem so bad.

"Yeah," Chuuya finally admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "Rough doesn't even begin to cover it."

Tachihara's grin faded slightly, replaced by a look of genuine curiosity. He took a sip of his drink, studying Chuuya out of the corner of his eye. "Wanna talk about it?"

Chuuya let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Not really. What about you, Tachihara? You and the Black Lizard have been in a few scrapes too lately, haven't you?"

Tachihara shrugged again, leaning back in his seat. "Eh, nothing we couldn't handle. Just the usual stuff. You know how it is."

"Yeah," Chuuya said with a sigh, "I do."

For a moment, they sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The noise of the bar seemed to fade into the background as Chuuya and Tachihara found themselves in a rare moment of quiet. It was an odd feeling, to be sitting here with someone who, on the surface, seemed so different from him. And yet, there was something in Tachihara's presence that wasn't entirely unwelcome.