More Than Human

Summary: Nakahara Chuuya is possibly the only person in the world who finds No Longer Human beautiful. This baffles him beyond words but he doesn't mind other's blindness.

One thing most people don't know is that Nakahara Chuuya has found No Longer Human beautiful since the first time he saw it take effect.

He had only been fifteen and in the middle of facing two Port Mafia members who'd come snooping around Suribachi City for information just as rumors of Arahabaki spiked again after eight years. He met a gutsy, suicidal, far too smart for his own good brat who he'd thought spoiled at the time, he fought an old geezer and then his Ability and the constant background noise in his head went quiet. Instead, beautiful, pale glacial light briefly flared around him in whips of glowing kanji.

And while Chuuya had been focused on something else at the time, he had not been blind to the beauty of such an unheard of Ability. He wasn't even annoyed by how it hindered him at the time, he'd just been fascinated.

Later, when he and Dazai were working together against Rando - or rather, Arthur Rimbaud - he got to see all its wonders on a larger scale as that pretty light lit up the warehouse they were fighting in. No Longer Human truly was a valuable Ability, probably priceless, even. It worked directly on Abilities, Ability users and byproducts of sorts of Abilities. And it had no exception or special requirements to activate. Truly, Chuuya believed Rimbaud when he'd said that Dazai's Ability was one of a kind, unmatched across the globe.

Now, just because he liked No Longer Human from the start, that didn't mean the same extended to its user. He and Dazai got along worse than cats and dogs but they were, somehow, able to work together in a synchrony and harmony that kept Mori assigning them missions together for quite a few months. In that time, Chuuya did most of the work on the battlefield (and the paperwork afterwards, because Dazai was a lazy bastard and wouldn't do it even if he'd, apparently, been the one to implement the current procedures and bureaucratic system within Port Mafia) so he rarely saw or could admire flares of No Longer Human nullifying their enemies' Abilities. (Un)fortunately, Dazai didn't just use his Ability in battle; he loved annoying Chuuya, so he would nullify Upon The Tainted Sorrow at the most inopportune moments for the ginger to get a laugh out of it. Chuuya should have and probably would have been more annoyed if he didn't get the chance to see No Longer Human light up their surroundings for brief moments. (And if he didn't get to see Dazai actually look alive, even if it was as fleeting as his Ability's little light show.)

After a few months, however, they started seeing less of each other, which was good for Chuuya's blood pressure but he was also kind of uncomfortable with suddenly not seeing his (not friend) rival for weeks at a time. He should have expected it, though, really. As much as he hated to admit it, Dazai would be far more useful in other positions and missions than the small fry he and Chuuya got to deal with. Worse, Chuuya knew they didn't deal with any sensitive shit because Mori didn't exactly trust him. True, he probably trusted Dazai even less, if not at all, but Dazai brought in benefits, a lot of benefits if he's just given a bit of power and resources and was Mori's little pet besides, with rumors that Mori was grooming him into a successor. Chuuya, on the other hand, was best for battle. Not that he was stupid or anything, but he wasn't subtle. In comparison to how Dazai did business, Chuuya really was just the child everyone saw him as.

Then he got assigned to the youth group later called Flags, he made friends and started dealing in the Mafia's jewel trade, suddenly too busy to really think about bandaged bastards and their pretty Abilities (and eyes). For a while, things were okay, stable, he was even happy.

Then Verlaine came and the Port Mafia was almost turned on its head trying to deal with the Assassin King and his sudden obsession to kill any and all things that might be keeping Chuuya from joining him. The Flags were his first and only major success in that regard, mostly because Dazai is a crafty bastard and saved both his ass and Mori's and then, more or less, the entire Mafia's, if not even the entirety of Yokohama's, too.

Aged sixteen, in the midst of darkness and despair, Chuuya learned to appreciate No Longer Human and Dazai's craftiness and vitality for a whole new reason. With Corruption as a very real problem to deal with if just anyone could trigger it - not really, but they all dreaded the possibility for a while - and Arahabaki more awake than ever in the back of Chuuya's mind, being a menace worse than even Dazai at his most annoying, No Longer Human became Chuuya's safety net and comfort. It saved him when Verlaine opened his Gate just a little but Chuuya was already suffering and out of control and it saved him after he fought the Guivre, bringing him back and letting him be human again. It kept him sane and let him sleep as he recovered, Dazai never leaving his side, never breaking physical contact until Chuuya was sure Upon The Tainted Sorrow had settled and Arahabaki wasn't going to break to the forefront without his say-so.

Things changed. Especially between them. Chuuya couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the cool rush of No Longer Human has never been more welcome than when he would reach for Dazai and the brunet wouldn't pull away, no matter how inconvenient the time might be. Dazai never mocked him for it and even reached out for Chuuya personally when noticed Chuuya struggling but trying to soldier through it on his own instead of depending on Dazai. He still teased and annoyed him about everything else, but not this. Chuuya appreciated more than he could ever express in words but he didn't need to; the rare gentling of Dazai's impassive face told of just how well the younger teen understood.

They made quite the pair, the two of them, both questioning their own humanity but more or less obviously invested in proving each other's humanity in any way they can.

Then Chuuya almost ruined it, this fragile peace between them of playful taunts, rivalry in arcades, silent movie nights, soft touches, exchanged stitches, inside jokes, shared secrets and countless rescues.

It was the seventieth day of the bloodiest conflict in Yokohama and Chuuya's nerves were frazzled. They were losing men and allies, their enemies and civilians alike were dying and Dazai was seemingly just lazing about, uncaring, that old frigid darkness back in his eyes after a year or so of him actually looking a bit alive. He made a single insensitive comment that wasn't even that bad in comparison to some of the shit he'd said before, but Chuuya snapped. He punched him. He denied him humanity. He almost didn't notice when he disappeared.

His fury still hadn't subsided when, eighteen days later, the Boss said Dazai needs to be retrieved and soon. He suggested they help anyone else but Dazai.

His heart thundered within his chest painfully at the possibility that Dazai might not even be alive anymore.

Then it became frantic as he figured out the clue Dazai left behind, as he rushed to his side and found him alive and more or less alright. Tired and slightly underfed, but alive and expecting him.

They took down the Gifted organization serving Shibusawa and No Longer Human had never felt better than after Chuuya had thought he'd lost it - and Dazai - forever. To wake up cushioned on Dazai's bony thigh as the younger idly carded long, dexterous fingers through his hair while staring off into the distance with an unreadable expression on his face had felt like a dream. But Chuuya didn't dream and as the reality sank in, Chuuya promised he'll never let himself get this close to losing Dazai again. Surviving Verlaine had been a miracle enough. This, too. If Dazai was like a cat, Chuuya would rather not see him run out of all nine lives. So he'll keep him close and keep an eye on him.

Only for them to drift apart, Dazai now too busy with his Executive duties, his new apprentice and his new drinking buddies, barely sparing any time at all for Chuuya. Still, when Chuuya reached out, Dazai reached back, never hesitating. They were still partners, still Soukoku. Chuuya realized he'll have to settle for sharing Dazai.

But, strangely enough, not No Longer Human.

At seventeen and eighteen, Chuuya realized no one else saw the beauty of the so-called anti-Ability. That honestly baffled him. To him, there was nothing more beautiful than the flare of light whenever an Ability was nullified. Not to mention Dazai looked fucking ethereal in the rare moments when his Ability enveloped his whole body to protect him from larger attacks or attacks spread through air.

One time, an enemy with an Ability that put everyone to sleep through gas which was lethal if too much was inhaled was assigned to Chuuya's squad to take care of. They all had to carry gas masks as they chased the Ability user around Yokohama's docks and somehow they crossed paths with Dazai on his own assignment. Dazai had gone to investigate when both his men and his enemies just collapsed and had emerged through the gas cloud faintly glowing as No Longer Human nullified the dangerous gas before it could reach his skin or his airways. Untouchable and unflappable, he might as well have been a god in that moment as he cut off the culprit, nullified their ability and, after confirming with Chuuya that he was useless for the Mafia, killed them with a clean shot between the eyes. He was still glowing as the gas cleared up and all any of them could do was stare as he, for once, stood out in the darkness of a Yokohama night like the lone moon overhead.

That was the night Nakahara Chuuya realized he was irrevocably, irreversibly in love with his partner.

It was a revelation that came too late as, weeks later, while Chuuya was on an a mission abroad, news reached him that Dazai had turned traitor and it would be four years of loneliness and restless nights between Chuuya would get the privilege of his presence, let alone his touch. Chuuya was a bit too eager to go down to the dungeons once he heard that Dazai had been caught and brought in after all these years and their reunion was truly worthy of any Soukoku interactions. For all that the both of them kept their distance emotionally, there was a lot of physical touching going on.

Chuuya, for the first time since Dazai left, experienced quiet within his mind again. It was relatively brief, but Arahabaki was later reluctant to throw a tantrum again after Dazai had effortlessly subdued it again.

This was especially true after their 'official' reunion during their fight against the Guild's little Cthulhu monster. Chuuya had gone on a fucking roller-coaster of emotions during that incident, because when Lovecraft's tentacle had lunged at them, there was none of that beautiful glacial light and glowing kanji upon it making contact with Dazai. Instead, Dazai was flung into a tree with enough power to seriously hurt him.

It had been years since Chuuya had seen Dazai seriously hurt.

Ut had squeezed his heart painfully.

In return, he was extra vicious when fighting Lovecraft and didn't really protest Corruption. Not that he ever actually did, as Dazai had never once forced him to use it, but rather had exhausted all other certain options before turning to the destructive beast within Chuuya that only he could tame.

For the first time in four years, Chuuya was woken from Corruption by the gentle, cool, all-encompassing embrace of No Longer Human. Dazai may have been a dick later by not getting him to the extraction point, but Chuuya had been safe and Hirotsu had already been called by the bastard to pick him up.

Still, Chuuya needed a better taste in men; his Ane-san would surely agree, but the heart wants what it wants, as cheesy as that may sound.

He didn't get to see Dazai for a few weeks after that, but then the later dubbed Dead Apple incident happened and Dazai decided to play Snow White, so of course Chuuya had to go get him against all advice. Corruption was the only option against the dragon-shaped-singularity, but Chuuya didn't care.

If Dazai truly was dead ... Well, Chuuya would rather die avenging him than live with the knowledge that he'd failed his partner.

So Chuuya jumped out of that carrier plane and let Arahabaki loose and somehow had a single moment of clarity to call out Dazai's name as he destroyed the giant red bug in his way. Truly foolish, to think something so feeble could stand in the way of a god and its very stubborn, love-struck vessel.

Turns out, the bastard was indeed alive, just as Chuuya had suspected. Dazai was a control freak, down to his death; it will be on his terms, hence, partially, the suicide obsession. But he was still too close to death for No Longer Human to activate, for some reason, so Chuuya followed his instincts tied in to Dazai.

He punched him in the face.

A pill with some sort of cure for poison broke.

Dazai woke up. A single touch had No Longer Human soothing Arahabaki back into its cage and returned Chuuya's humanity to him.

The look on Dazai's face below him had his breath catching in his throat. "You used Corruption believing in me? How beautiful."

'The only thing beautiful here is you,' flitted unbidden through Chuuya's mind and truer words could not have existed. Fuck, Dazai looked more ethereal than ever, even if he was a bit pale from the stab wound through his back and the poisoning incident. "Yeah. I believed in your disgusting vitality and craftiness."

Dazai, the bastard, just kept smiling at him gently, never once taking his eyes off of Chuuya. "That was a somewhat violent way to wake Snow White."

And Chuuya's mind froze at that. Because what the fuck did that mean. What was Dazai implying Chuuya should have done? Kissed him!? Don't get him wrong, he wouldn't have minded in the slightest, but this turn of events was beyond surprising and Chuuya was too fatigued and sore to deal with it if it wasn't genuine. He'd really gone a bit overboard with Corruption this time, but it was worth it to see Dazai alive and as well as a stab-poisoned person could be.

Plus, white looked unfairly delicious on the mackerel.

Also, when Dazai's ability finally cut through the chaos going on around them that had somehow slowed their descent to the ground from hundreds of meters up in the air, Chuuya got the questionable pleasure of falling face-first on Dazai's lap, unable to move a single finger. Unfortunately, the fog descended on them soon enough and neither of them could be truly sure if Upon The Tainted Sorrow could separate from Chuuya's body the way other Abilities have from their users, so Dazai kept him where he was as No Longer Human lit up the night around them. Chuuya kind of hated his perch for not being able to watch Dazai light up like some Disney princess as No Longer Human protected them, but he figured Dazai's fingers gently carding through his hair made up for the lost opportunity to admire his favorite glacial light.

This time, he woke up to Dazai still petting his hair, though he'd somehow managed to change and the dawn of a new day suited him almost as beautifully as the light of No Longer Human. The brunet smiled at him and patted his cheek gently before getting him up and leaning him against the crumbled ruins of some wall.

"Let's hang out more, Chibi. Like we used to."

"Only after you get that stab wound checked out, bandage waster."

Dazai then decided he needed to crash Chuuya's brain by kissing him on the cheek chastely. "Chuuya worries too much. He really is my Prince Charming, huh?"

And Chuuya could only stare after him as he wandered off to find his coworkers ... or something. Chuuya was too out of it so he didn't even know whether Dazai had told him where he was going.

He couldn't help but grin giddily. Things might go back to how they used to be or become even better. He'll certainly put in the effort. Both him and Dazai were in a better place now, emotionally and mentally. They might actually work this time around.

He didn't bother to hide his good mood when Akutagawa found him or when he had that little chat with the Boss.

Life was, for once, looking up.

Even with the Cannibalism shit and being stuck in a fucking book for a few days, he at least now had Dazai by his side almost every day again, be it the other breaking into his apartment even though he had a key or them meeting up to do shit together. Arcades, movies, meals or just taking a walk around the city they fight so hard to protect. Peaceful nights of full sleep, more and more often at each other's side, with physical contact kept until morning. Sometimes Dazai is the big spoon, enveloping Chuuya in his presence and his Ability, and other times it's Chuuya who holds him close.

Eventually, they stopped pretending they weren't actually outright dating and instead became open about it. They, unsurprisingly, got mixed reactions to their relationship, but Mori, of course, wholeheartedly supported it - thinking it's a way to eventually lure Dazai back to the Mafia - so Fukuzawa had to be at least okay with it. Not that either of them ultimately cared; if people had problems with their relationship and came after them for it, well, they were Soukoku. They wouldn't even need Corruption or Dazai's more refined plans to deal with it. Still, they were glad their closest people eventually just accepted it and things moved on.

Life was truly great.

For a while.

Until some new group came to stir shit in Yokohama and the Mafia and the Agency decided to collaborate in taking them down before they make too much of a mess. After dealing with Dostoevsky, these guys were a piece of cake, even if more Ability users were involved.

One such Ability user could create a fog with a similar effect as Q's little cursed doll did, only it spread far quicker. It had a limited range and the user's partners had long distance Abilities, allowing them to stay protected where no one could reach them.

No one but slippery, immune Dazai, with No Longer Human lighting the way for Chuuya to aim around through the fog. Once again, their immaculate teamwork inspired awe and terror in equal measure as not a single bullet or projectile came even close to grazing Dazai but kept his enemies too occupied to try and fight back as he reached the source of the fog. As always, all it took was a single touch, lighting up the area as the fog lost its dangerous properties and almost immediately dissipated.

That was all the signal the rest needed to lung forward, taking action.

With the fog Ability user out of commission and the other two following soon after, the rest of the group was easily overtaken and arrested. By the time agents from the Special Abilities Division were arresting everyone, the only one still resisting the inevitability of their fate was the fog user.

"This is all your fault! If you weren't such a freak of nature, everything would have gone according to plan!" Was spat in Dazai's face as he kept contact until the Ability can be suppressed by technological means rather than via No Longer Human. "If Abilities are a reflection of a human's soul, then your hellish power must say a lot about you!"

Dazai ignored it all while Chuuya was tempted to commit murder right in front of dozens of government agents, policemen and the Armed Detective Agency for anyone daring to talk to his partner in such a way. And about No Longer Human!? Chuuya's killed for far less.

No one gets to shit-talk his two sources of comfort and humanity and gets away with it! No one!

Thankfully for his continued freedom, the group was taken away before he could settle his inner debate whether Corruption would be overkill in dealing with the lot of them or not. Dazai came over to him and gently brushed his wrist, the skin on skin contact as well as the small surge of nullification making him calm down and not make a scene.

If Dazai wasn't upset, then Chuuya had to keep his grievances with that bullshit to a manageable level. He'll complain to and berate his partner later for allowing it to go unpunished. For now, they just followed their groups to the nearest bar for their new after-mission tradition of getting shitface drunk. Well, Dazai more often than not stopped Chuuya from getting that drunk, knowing it was practically poison for his body, but other times he'd let him do as he pleased and then be a little shit about it when he wakes up with the great grandmother of all hangovers the next morning and he is absolutely at the mackerel's mercy. And apparently extra clingy, something Dazai will never let him live down.

This time, though, Chuuya didn't even finish his first glass by the time he heard fucking nonsense fill the air. Nonsense that he wouldn't have even forgiven a shitfaced drunk for spouting.

Yet here Tachihara was, barely two drinks in, spouting bullshit. "I mean, that fog fucker wasn't exactly wrong, right? No Longer Human is creepy to me and I'm not even an Ability user! Surely it must be creepy as fuck to suddenly lose all your power, right?" He complained to Kunikida, Dazai's new 'partner', who only gave a shrug.

"The first time you feel it certainly is ... unsettling. Or if you get to feel it after a while. It feels like ice crawls through your blood and steals all the warmth, leaving you cold. I guess I'm just lucky my Ability only flares up when I actively use it. I don't know how Kenji or Atsushi deal with it. Or Yosano. All of their Abilities are just hiding right under the surface. No Longer Human would latch onto them in a second of contact."

"Sounds fucking sick, to be honest."

"It's certainly a pain," the Agency doctor, Yosano, said with a snort. "Even if he's dying, until he's actually dead, even if temporarily, I can't heal him. No Longer Human can be as much of an inconvenience as its user."

Oh.

Chuuya's gonna slap a bitch, isn't he?

Three and counting, so far.

"What about you, gramps?" Tachihara asked, turning to Hirotsu.

The old man just shrugged. "I wouldn't call it a pleasant sensation, but it's not exactly unpleasant, either. Just ... empty, I guess. A lacking."

"Yes, a lacking. That's a great way to describe it, actually," Yosano agreed. "Like, Thou Shall Not Die has this strange sensation when it latches onto a life I'm trying to save, but whenever I touch Dazai when he's injured, both he and I just feel ... empty. Like no one's home. Like we're no longer human." She paused. "Pun not intended."

The ginger drinking with her still cackled as though he'd heard the best joke ever.

Chuuya, though, was fuming. How dare she!? Doesn't she know humanity is a sensitive topic with Dazai, especially in regards with himself?!

"I don't know," the weretiger began uncertainly. "I kinda like Dazai-san's Ability. I feel like Dazai-san not only has the solution to every problem but also is the solution to every problem. Like, with a single touch, he calmed the tiger inside that's been hunting me since the orphanage. And we were all struggling with that mind control Ability but Dazai-san just had to hold the doll and it was all solved."

Chuuya made a note to buy the kid all the chazuke he can eat.

"No, I agree," Kunikida retorted. "No Longer Human is without a doubt useful, but it's also a nuisance. I can't even use my Ability to help Dazai and he's so clingy that he hinders me, too."

Oh, Chuuya was definitely gonna slap a bitch.

Though he'll also have to check this information with Dazai, because since when is his partner clingy with anyone other than Chuuya.

"Not to mention that it used to make it really hard to trust him, since All Men Are Born Equal doesn't work on him and he's such a shady character."

"Ugh, I remember those first few months! Even Ranpo was secretly uneasy around him!"

"I like No Longer Human," Kyouka commented, sipping on her juice. "It made Demon Snow go away when I didn't like her. And the lights are very pretty."

Kyouka has just earned herself a life supply of crepes because finally at least someone understands!

"I don't like it since it takes away Nii-san's illusions, which are far prettier."

"N-Naomi, don't be like that."

"I think Onii-san was a bit afraid of No Longer Human, at first, since it took away what had kept us alive on the streets but since it's associated with Dazai-san, he just admired it for its uniqueness."

"I can totally understand! That Ability could kill me!" Kajii said and Chuuya got up to storm over and defend No Longer Human, only to be distracted from his quest by the Ability sweeping over him as its owner grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

The Executive turned slightly hazy but enraged and curious eyes to his partner, who only shook his head at him. "It's fine."

"But-"

"It is fine, my protective guard dog."

"Oi!"

Dazai just chuckled.

Chuuya would not admit to pouting. "I don't like the way they're talking about your Ability. No Longer Human is beautiful. To hear them say those things about it and what it implies about you ... It pisses me off! Especially as the Ability's name is no characteristic of yours! You're damn human, damn it!"

"Drunk Chibi is sweet," Dazai interrupted his further rant by leaning down and pressing a kiss to his cheek, all chaste and sweet and leaving Chuuya more flustered than any lewd activity they might partake in behind closed doors. "You don't need to worry, it doesn't bother me. After all, I think No Longer Human does the exact opposite of its name and not just for you."

"Oh?" Was all the slightly older man could reply with, brain still rebooting from the peck.

"Mhmm. After all, Ability users, while not exactly rare, are fewer than the so-called 'normal' people, ergo one can conclude that, at some point, they, the non-Ability users, were the 'norm' while Ability users were the anomaly. One can even say the same still implies. So why would an Ability that equalizes 'the norm' and 'the anomaly' be inhuman or dehumanized?" Dazai rhetorically asked with a shrug. "I never had a problem with how my Ability unnerved people. After all, I know where they're coming from: their Ability is what assures their safety or a place to belong their entire life; it's not easy to deal with that. Besides, Odasaku told me it kinda makes a person feel cold and hallowed out. Completely understandable, too, since an Ability is supposedly the reflection of the soul so not having access to it makes people feel like ... less I suppose."

"But I've never felt like that," Chuuya protested. "If anything, No Longer Human always made me feel more human."

The detective's lips quirked at that. "Funny. That's what Odasaku said, too. That my Ability was misnamed because he only felt normal when touching me because, finally, the future is uncertain and he's like any other human being in the world that doesn't know what's going to happen before it does. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Chuuya feels the same, all things considered."

"Exactly," the redhead agreed vehemently. "No Longer Human? Hah! More like More Than Human! And you, Dazai Osamu, are the only person who can give others their full humanity back! What does that say about you, huh?"

"Drunk Chuuya really is the sweetest."

"Shut up."

But at least Chuuya was calm now, comforted by the knowledge that Dazai was content with his power. Honestly, Chuuya had no idea how the idiot even questioned his own humanity when he was overflowing with it enough to be able to spare others some of it. But that's fine, too, Chuuya guessed. He has all the time in the world to show Dazai why it's stupid to doubt himself like that. Chuuya can show him and everyone else why No Longer Human is so beautiful.

Starting tomorrow, after he recovers from his hangover, of course.

In the meantime, cuddle time with that soothing feeling enveloping him.

To him, this is what home feels like.

And it's beautiful.

OWARI