![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
just bleeding out in the mouth of the devil
[cw: torture.]
[Chuuya keeps glancing over at Dazai. He can see him through a glass window, some distance away, looking down at him. It's difficult to make out his expression from here. It's difficult to focus on him, but he has to make sure Dazai is still there, that they're not trying to trick him somehow. He can't even tell what's going on with him. If he's okay.
And his attention is drawn away again a split second later. A white hot rod is shoved against his side, burning his skin, making him scream and scream. He'd tried not to, at first. Not because he didn't want to give them the satisfaction - he's been tortured before, he knew it was inevitable - but because Dazai is there, and he doesn't want him to see, doesn't want him to know. But he's far beyond that point now. He has a broken arm, several broken ribs, they've punched him enough, he's bleeding badly in several places, and now they're getting creative. They're having fun. And Chuuya is just taking it, holding himself still for them as they come up with something new. When they pull the rod away again, when he's able to breathe and think, at least for a second, he wonders if they might be stopping his bleeding with this new method. They can cause him pain and keep him alive longer, all with one technique.
He's trying to keep his mind going as a distraction against the pain. It's really not working.
He's on his back on the floor, naked, breathing hard as they allow him a few seconds' break. They probably don't want him passing out, and he's relieved, because he needs to be ready. There are tears of pain in his eyes as he looks up at Dazai again, making sure he's there, and looking for a sign, any sign. He can't act until Dazai lets him know it's time. Dazai will figure something out, he always does, but --
Chuuya really hopes it's soon.
But even if it's not, he'll stay right where he is and take it. Because he can't risk them following through on their threat to kill Dazai if he doesn't cooperate. And there's no way Chuuya would reach him in time to save him from here.]
[Chuuya keeps glancing over at Dazai. He can see him through a glass window, some distance away, looking down at him. It's difficult to make out his expression from here. It's difficult to focus on him, but he has to make sure Dazai is still there, that they're not trying to trick him somehow. He can't even tell what's going on with him. If he's okay.
And his attention is drawn away again a split second later. A white hot rod is shoved against his side, burning his skin, making him scream and scream. He'd tried not to, at first. Not because he didn't want to give them the satisfaction - he's been tortured before, he knew it was inevitable - but because Dazai is there, and he doesn't want him to see, doesn't want him to know. But he's far beyond that point now. He has a broken arm, several broken ribs, they've punched him enough, he's bleeding badly in several places, and now they're getting creative. They're having fun. And Chuuya is just taking it, holding himself still for them as they come up with something new. When they pull the rod away again, when he's able to breathe and think, at least for a second, he wonders if they might be stopping his bleeding with this new method. They can cause him pain and keep him alive longer, all with one technique.
He's trying to keep his mind going as a distraction against the pain. It's really not working.
He's on his back on the floor, naked, breathing hard as they allow him a few seconds' break. They probably don't want him passing out, and he's relieved, because he needs to be ready. There are tears of pain in his eyes as he looks up at Dazai again, making sure he's there, and looking for a sign, any sign. He can't act until Dazai lets him know it's time. Dazai will figure something out, he always does, but --
Chuuya really hopes it's soon.
But even if it's not, he'll stay right where he is and take it. Because he can't risk them following through on their threat to kill Dazai if he doesn't cooperate. And there's no way Chuuya would reach him in time to save him from here.]
no subject
That doctor?
[He has the names of every ADA member memorized. He will never use those names for them.]
I'll be fine.
[And that's definitely a standard Chuuya answer. He doesn't feel remotely fine. He keeps wincing while Dazai bandaging him, letting out sounds that are too close to whimpers when he's supposed to be a lot tougher than that. He's not aware of his own reactions anymore.]
This is nothing.
[He might be passing out again.]
no subject
Finished with the bandages, Dazai studies his handiwork. It's really inadequate, to be honest, blood already staining white, but it's better than nothing. He just needs to keep Chuuya aware until help comes.]
Hey. Don't fall asleep.
[Dazai wishes he had Chuuya's clothes, honestly. Something to cover him up with, because like this, he looks too vulnerable. Fragile in a way Dazai hates seeing, because Chuuya isn't fragile.]
no subject
[He might not be able to. His eyes are still open, but they're no longer focused on Dazai the way they have been, like he's not quite registering what's going on around him. His hand drops from where it had been holding onto Dazai, landing on the ground between them.
There are sounds in the distance again. Yelling, fighting, a sign that something is going on, though Chuuya doesn't react to any of it. His breathing is slow, a bit unsteady with pain, each exhale sounding a bit worse again. At least until he closes his eyes, because consciousness is overrated, and he's been fighting this for too long now. He doesn't have the strength to keep it up, even for Dazai.]
no subject
Chuuya.
[There's a strain to his voice that Chuuya probably can't even hear, and if they make it through this--no when Chuuya regains consciousness, it's a damn good thing he won't know. He won't know the way Dazai grabs his hand after it falls, holding too tight, but it's not like Chuuya is aware or awake enough to complain. Not that it would rival any of the other pain he's in.]
Listen to me. You can hear me, right?
[Dazai knows he can't carry Chuuya anywhere that matters before help finds them; it'd be faster and safer to just wait here. He hears the fighting and the yelling, but has no way of knowing what, exactly, is happening, and he's not leaving Chuuya to bleed out by himself. Dazai is relying on his stubbornness, his refusal to allow Chuuya to die.]
no subject
The noises are getting closer. It's a few minutes, and then it's possible to distinguish voices as well. Someone is yelling Dazai's name. The ADA, ever reliable, has finally arrived, fighting the kidnappers while looking for their missing member. And there doesn't seem to be much time to spare with the way Chuuya's skin is growing paler, his pulse getting weaker.
At least Ranpo seemed to know they'd need Yosano. All Dazai has to do is convince her to save a dying enemy.]
no subject
Over here!
[Dazai yells without looking away from Chuuya. He has to see if he's still breathing, moves a hand to cup his cheek. Cold. Way too cold. Dazai smooths hair away from his face, realizes he's smeared Chuuya's own blood on his skin, and pulls his hand back.
If the others find them, they'll see Dazai hunched over Chuuya, and he's not going to bother to move away. He can't. If he moves away and that's when Chuuya- No, he's not even going to finish that thought.]
no subject
Maybe that's why Yosano is willing to heal him. Something about Dazai's expression, though she doesn't comment on it. Chuuya opens his eyes, disoriented, and tenses when he sees Yosano like he's expecting a fight. She's an enemy, even if she's one of Dazai's coworkers, and she --
He sees Dazai, and forgets about her immediately. The tension drains back out of him. He's still confused, trying to figure out where they are, what's going on, because the last he remembers... He'd been tortured. They were escaping. He's missing chunks of it, but he does remember breaking through a wall, so at least he hadn't been useless. The only thing that really matters.]
Guess we made it.
[He's really cold. And uncomfortable. And he doesn't like being surrounded by enemies like this.]
Did I save your ass again?
no subject
Ha. [It's a mirthless laugh.] Did you save my ass? Hardly.
[Dazai finally stands up, straightens himself. The others can go--he can go. All Chuuya needs to do now is wait for someone from the Port Mafia to pick him up.
This is too much. Now that the adrenaline and panic is gone, Dazai is stuck being aware that it had been there in the first place, and he wants to shake it off but can't. That fact just makes him more irritated with himself.]
no subject
And Mori has taught him manners, so he turns away from Dazai, back to Yosano.]
Thank you. [He makes a small bow. He hates it.] Not many people would save an enemy.
[Dazai had. And Chuuya remembers the tone in Dazai's voice earlier... He won't ask him about it, Dazai would never forgive him. In fact, it's probably better if he gets out of here.]
I'll have this mess cleaned up.
[He should find something to wear that's not Dazai's coat, which is dragging along the ground. And he needs his hat.]
no subject
They do need to retrieve Chuuya's hat, at least, but Dazai figures once things calm down, they'll be able to. He's not going to ask anyone else to do it, so if he has to go in himself, so be it. Or rather, he ought to tell Chuuya to find it himself, because-
Because he's done here! Right?]
Wonderful. Since my people are here-- [they'll protest about being called that] I can leave. Good luck finding a way home.
[Whatever just happened is something Dazai needs to get away from. He's still got blood all over him, he's torn off part of his bandages, and quite honestly, he looks more of a mess than Chuuya does right now, having had whatever injuries he'd sustained healed completely. He's just... naked. Which isn't Dazai's concern.
None of this is Dazai's concern!]
no subject
Yeah. Get the hell out of here, Dazai. There's nothing worse than having to see your face.
[He'll turn and walk away. Dazai can go with his agency, get himself cleaned up, and Chuuya will clean up here. He'll find his hat, find a phone to steal, and call for someone to come get him.
And if there's anyone left to kill, he'll take care of that, too.]
no subject
No. He's definitely not going there, not until he's very drunk at home. There, he can be as pissed off at himself as he wants to be--pissed off at Chuuya. Right now, he's got to pretend he doesn't give a shit, which he absolutely does not, regardless of the fact that Chuuya really did almost die.
He never dies. Dazai knew he wouldn't; he was never concerned. That's what he'll tell himself. If he shoves his hands in his pockets, it's because he needs something to do with them, not because they're shaky after the adrenaline has worn off.]
no subject
He's fine, because he has to be fine. What happened doesn't matter. He's been hurt before. Not like that, not for that long, not in a way that made him feel so completely weak, but it's not important. Chuuya won't allow himself to dwell on it at all, and he definitely won't let it get to him, in any way, ever.
(This is a lie.)
What's not a lie is that he doesn't regret it at all. He'd do it again for Dazai. Even if it means dying for his traitor of an ex-partner.
He can't get the sound of Dazai's voice saying his name like that out of his head. It's the only thing he'll be thinking about as he finally pushes forward, launching himself back into that building in order to bring it all to the ground. There won't be anyone left when he's done.]