Bungo Stray Dogs Oneshots

Hopeless Weretiger (Chuuya x Atsushi)

Ship: Chuuya x Atsushi - Platonic

Genre: Fluff - Platonic

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The city was quiet, almost eerily so, as Chuuya Nakahara walked along the dimly lit streets of Yokohama. He wasn't exactly thrilled to be here, and even less thrilled with his current company - Atsushi Nakajima, the white tiger kid from the Armed Detective Agency. The two of them had been assigned a joint mission, a rare collaboration between the Port Mafia and the Agency, to track down a rogue Ability user causing havoc in the city.

Chuuya glanced at Atsushi out of the corner of his eyes. The younger man walked a few steps behind him, his gaze cast downward, as if afraid to meet Chuuya's eyes. Chuuya wasn't surprised - he had a reputation, after all, and Atsushi seemed like the type to be easily intimidated.

"You know, you're gonna trip if you keep staring at the ground like that," Chuuya said, his tone teasing but not unkind.

Atsushi flinched as if he hadn't expected Chuuya to speak. He straightened up quickly, his mismatched eyes wide. "Sorry! I-I wasn't-"

Chuuya waved a gloved hand, cutting him off. "Relax, kid. I'm not gonna bite. Just walk like a normal person."

Atsushi's face flushed, and he nodded, muttering an awkward, "Right. Sorry."

They continued in silence for a few more minutes, the tension between them palpable. Chuuya sighed, realising that if they were going to be working together, they couldn't keep up this awkward atmosphere.

"Look," Chuuya started, his voice more casual now, "I get it. You probably don't like working with me, and trust me, the feeling's mutual. But we've got a job to do, so let's just get it done, alright?"

Atsushi blinked, looking up at Chuuya with a micture of surprise and hesitation. "It's not that I don't want to work with you," he said quietly. "I'm just... not used to this. To work with someone like you."

Chuuya raised an eyebrow. "Someone like me, huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Atsushi hesitated, the thrugged. "I don't know. You're confident, strong... you know what you're doing. I'm not like that."

Chuuya stopped walking, turning to face Atsushi fully. "You're not like me? Kid, you've got one of the most dangerous abilities I've ever seen. You've fought enemies way out of your league and lived to tell the tale. Don't tell me you're not strong."

Atsushi's eyes widened at the compliment, though he still seemed unsure. "But I-"

"No buts," Chuuya interrupted, crossing his arms. "You might not think much of yourself, but I've seen what you can do. You've got guts, and that's more than I can say for a lot of people."

Atsushi blinked, clearly taken aback. For a moment, it seemed like he didn't know how to respond. Then, slowly, a small, tentative smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Thanks, Chuuya."

Chuuya snorted, turning on his heel and continuing down the street. "Don't get all sentimental on me. We've still got a job to do."

Atsushi followed, his steps lighter now, and for the first time that night, the tension between them seemed to ease. The two walked in companionable silence for a while, the city's lights flickering around them.

"Hey, Chuuya?" Atsushi asked after a moment, his voice hesitant.

"What?" Chuuya replied, not looking back.

"Do you ever feel like... like you're not enough? Like no matter what you do, it's never good enough?"

Chuuya slowed his pace, caught off guard by the question. He glanced over his shoulder at Atsushi, seeing the genuine confusion and vulnerability in the younger man's eyes.

"All the time, kid," Chuuya answered after a pause, his tone quieter than usual. "But you keep going anyway. You do what you have to do, even if you don't feel like you're enough. Because sometimes, it's not about how you feel - it's about what needs to get done."

Atsushi nodded slowly, absorbing Chuuya's words. "Yeah... I guess that makes sense."

Chuuya chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course it makes sense. I'm always right."

Atsushi smiled again, a bit more naturally this time. "Thanks, Chuuya."

"Yeah, yeah," Chuuya muttered, though there was a hint of warmth in his voice. "Now quit thanking me and focus. We've got an ability user to find, remember?"

Atsushi nodded, his posture straighter, his gaze more determined. And as they continued down the street, side by side, Chuuya couldn't help but feel a little bit of pride in the kid.

Maybe Atsushi wasn't as hopeless as he thought. That idiot Dazai did teach him well after all.

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THE END