Bungo Stray Dogs Oneshots

A Light in The Shadows (Chuuya x Atsushi)

Ship: Chuuya x Atsushi

Genre: Fluff (Platonic)

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The soft patter of rain echoed through the narrow alleyways of Yokohama, creating a soothing backdrop as Dazai leaned against a brick wall, his trench coat swaying slightly in the breeze. He watched the raindrops race each other down the slick pavement, each tiny journey a fleeting reminder of time slipping away.

"Aren't you going to come inside?" came a voice, slightly breathless. Atsushi Nakajima stood a few paces away, his light grey hair plastered against his forehead and his violet-yellow eyes wide with concern. The raindrops glistened on his pale skin, making him look almost ethereal in the dim light.

Dazai turned, his expression unfazed. "I could ask you the same, Atsushi. You might catch a cold standing out here."

Atsushi frowned, glancing over his shoulder, as if to make sure no one else was watching. "I just wanted to see if you were okay. You've been... well, distant lately."

Dazai's lips curled into a small, enigmatic smile. "Distant? Me? I prefer to think of it as contemplative."

Atsushi took a tentative step closer, his brow furrowing. "You don't have to keep everything bottled up. It's okay to talk about it, you know?"

Dazai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Since when did you become the expert on feelings?"

The younger man shuffled his feet, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "I'm not an expert, but I've had my share of struggles too. I know how it feels to want to hide away from everything."

For a moment, Dazai remained silent, contemplating Atsushi's words. The kid had been through a lot, more than anyone should have to endure, yet here he was - standing in the rain, looking out for someone like Dazai.

"You've grown, Atsushi," Dazai finally said, the teasing in his voice softening. "I'm impressed. You've learned to stand up for others, even when you're unsure of yourself."

Atsushi blinked, a blush of pride from the praise creeping up his cheeks. "Thanks, but I'm still figuring it out. I just wish you would let me help you too."

Dazai pushed off the wall and stepped closer, the raindrops making soft splashes around them. "Help? What do you think you can do for me?"

"I don't know," Atsushi admitted, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "But I can listen. You don't always have to carry everything alone."

Dazai regarded him for a moment, the weight of his past evident in the shadows of his eyes. There was a certain comfort in Atsushi's sincerity, a brightness that drew Dazai in like a moth to a flame.

"Sometimes," Dazai began slowly, "it's easier to linger in the darkness. The light can be too blinding."

"But isn't it worth it?" Atsushi countered, his voice earnest. "Isn't it better to see where you're going instead of stumbling around? I mean, look at this rain. It can be gloomy, but it's also refreshing. It reminds us that there's life all around. And the drops of rain that form with more water continue their journey down the windows, even they need help to reach the end."

Dazai chuckled lightly, the sound was genuine and warm. "You really do see things differently, don't you?"

Atsushi shrugged, a shy smile breaking through his earlier frustration. "I try to. It's hard sometimes, but I don't want to stay in the dark forever."

Dazai stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking. "You're braver than you think, Atsushi. You confront your shadows head-on. It's admirable."

Atsushi's eyes shone with determination. "And you don't have to hide behind yours. You can let them go, even just a little bit."

The rain began to lessen, transforming into a light drizzle. The city around them felt almost alive, each droplet a reminder of resilience and renewal. Dazai looked at Atsushi, feeling the weight of his own burdens shift ever so slightly.

"Okay, you win," Dazai said with a playful sigh, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "I'll try to open up more. But only because you've shown me that the light isn't so bad after all. Guess you can teach me things too."

Atsushi grinned, his expression brightening like the clearing sky. "Really? That's great! Just take your time. I'm here whenever you need to talk."

Dazai felt a strange warmth unfurl in his chest - a flicker of hope amid the shadows that usually lingered there. "Thank you, Atsushi. Your friendship means more than you know."

The two stood there for a moment, the last remnants of rain kissing their skin, a bond forged in understanding and kindness. In that fleeting moment, under the softening clouds of Yokohama, the darkness felt a little less daunting, and the light - however distant - shone a bit brighter.

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THE END