Hey guys, I've had a very long today today and my brain is a little fried so I'm awfully sorry if there are any typos (holy hell it took me so long to get this AN formed o.O) enjoy

A week goes by and Atsushi just about manages to keep his head above the water. It's hard. It's hard as hell but he just about survives, no fucking idea how he manages it but he does. Every day he thinks he's going to be discovered but he isn't and every night when he gets home he thanks his lucky stars that he's survived another day. The strain is somewhat draining but Atsushi has a job to do and he's going to see it through to the end.

If it was just the strain of worrying about getting caught then he would be fine but it's not. On top of that he has this strange feeling bubbling up in his chest – this strange longing and desire filling him and it all seems to be focusing on one person. Every single time Atsushi sees Dazai his heart begins to pound, he can't breath and his head spins. He constantly wonders if he's going to be dragged off into a secluded room or shoved against the wall and have Dazai have his way with him again.

It happens once. He's walking down a corridor when he feels a hand close around his wrist. The one who grabs him pulls him through a door and slams him up against the wall. Before he knows what's happening Dazai's lips are against his, kissing him furiously. Hands roam and tongues tangle for a moment before Dazai pulls away, presses one final kiss to Atsushi's lips and leaves. Atsushi stares after him wishing that, for once, Dazai would stick around and explain what the hell he's doing before disappearing.

Each time Atsushi sees him he falls deeper and deeper in love with Dazai, especially as he finds out more about him (limited though that information may be). Tentatively he asks other Port Mafia members but they don't know much more than he does. It seems that Dazai really is quite the mystery man.

It's fine, Atsushi thinks. If he can just get on with his work he can forget about Dazai. Or so he thinks... He hears the voices before he sees who's talking and his heart leaps to his throat when he realises who it is.

"I must say I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," Dazai's voice says and Atsushi stops in front of the innocuous door he had been about to pass. He peers through the crack and sees Dazai leaning casually against the wall with a strawberry blonde haired man bearing down on him.

"Don't be an ass, you know exactly who I'm talking about," the man snaps, glaring up at Dazai.

"You're imagining things little Chuuya," Dazai grins.

"Don't call me little," the man – Chuuya – snarls.

"But you are little," Dazai teases.

Atsushi watches Dazai take hold of the ponytail flung over Chuuya's shoulder and uses it to tug Chuuya closer. His heart feels like it's breaking as he watches the distance between them close. So he's just like this with everyone... I'm not special. He can feel tears pricking the corners of his eyes but he can't bring himself to leave. He's rooted to the spot.

"Will you get off," Chuuya slaps his hand away and Dazai laughs heartily.

"But teasing you is so much fun."

Atsushi's seen enough. He slips away unnoticed by either of them. His chest burns and he has to really fight to stop himself from crying as the image of Dazai pulling Chuuya closer continues in his mind until the two of them are naked, kissing, writhing together on a mattress, entwined with each other.

No! I'm not doing this!

When he thinks he's far enough away from where they were he stops in the middle of the corridor. Slapping his face with both hands twice for good measure Atsushi gives himself a shake. Pull yourself together, you have a job to do remember! Forget Dazai! He's going to try, he's really going to try. I'll just have to avoid him as much as possible.


Over the next few days Atsushi throws himself into his work, doing his best to avoid both thinking about Dazai and being around Dazai. He focuses on his assignment, compiling a nice little list of things to take back to Kunikida and the Agency. That will get his mind off Dazai – knowing that at some point he's going to be arrested along with everyone else in Port Mafia. If he believes that he'll believe anything.

He's making sure that he's over the other side of headquarters from where he knows Dazai is going to be when he is approached by a grumpy looking (no change there then) Akutagawa.

"The boss wants you out on an assignment," Akutagawa tells him, his voice as monotonous as ever.

"Oh... okay," Atsushi says. He's tried to get close to the head again a number of times but the man will only see a select few people and, unfortunately, he is not one of them (much to Kunikida's disdain). "Did he tell you what kind of job it's supposed to be?"

Akutagawa shrugs, clearly not caring one way or the other. "No. All he told me was to pass on the message. You and someone else are going out on a job and it might take a few days to complete."

"A few days?" Atsushi asks, his ears pricking up.

"That's what I said," Akutagawa replies, "or are you deaf as well as stupid."

"Neither," Atsushi says a little sharply. God I can't wait to see him get arrested.

"Then hurry up and pack some shit," Akutagawa says. "Boss wants you ready to leave in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?" Atsushi cries. "That's too soon!"

"Well I had planned to tell you earlier but I forgot," Akutagawa says, his tone making it obvious that he didn't forget in the slightest.

"It's fine," Atsushi says, voice clipped. "Thanks for the memo." Hopefully I'll get to arrest you myself.

Atsushi turns and leaves, not wanting to talk to Akutagawa for much longer. Thankfully he had planned to stay at headquarters rather than going home tonight so he already has an overnight bag with him. Despite Akutagawa not telling him about having to go out on this job he's happy that he's going. Aside from the fact that he might actually be able to get some hard solid evidence of something illegal going down he's going to be out of town for a few days. Meaning he won't have to dodge Dazai for a while.

Atsushi is practically giddy at the idea of some respite from hiding his feelings as he makes his way outside, bag slung over his shoulder. There is a car waiting outside and he throws his bag into the boot before he gets into the back seat. As soon as he closes the door though his good mood instantly evaporates as he sees Dazai sitting in the seat next to him.

"Atsushi!" Dazai sings happily. "We're going to be out on an assignment together, isn't this exciting?"

No!

No it bloody well isn't! Unfair is what it is.

"Yeah," Atsushi says swallowing down his irritation and cursing his rotten luck as the car pulls away. "Yeah it's gonna be great."

Ah shit...

Well this is going to fucking suck, Atsushi thinks to himself as the car pulls away. He can only hope that this job is over with pretty damn sharpish or Atsushi thinks he might just go stir crazy.