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It was a known fact to all who witnessed or even heard of Corruption that it was not something that could be controlled. It turned a mafia executive into a destruction craving god , unable to be killed, thriving off of the suffering and catastrophes around him, reveling in the tragedy he could cause with his bare hands. In that form, morality and connections ceased to exist, emotions faded away, thoughts were nonexistent, all replaced with the insatiable need for chaos. Loyalty was nothing to that form, any orders he received that didn't push his goal of utter discord were ignored. There was not a man on earth who could keep that form on a leash.
But they kept trying.
The situation was simple: In order to stave off an impending Port Mafia attack, the ADA went with the most illogical solution of keeping Gin as a hostage, left unaware of exactly who she was to certain members of the Port Mafia, only knowing that she was quiet and therefore, assumed to be weaker. A deadly mistake, if she were not instructed to leave the ADA members alive hours before being ambushed. To her credit, it took multiple detectives to seal her within the containment cell of a building the Port Mafia had once used to house hostages -- before shipping them off to organ sellers, fresh organs were the most expensive, obviously -- and all were inflicted with injuries.
The plan, however stupid it was, would have worked. The Port Mafia wouldn't attack with such a valuable hostage being held, especially when the death of said hostage would most definitely send Ryuunosuke into an unbridled rage, and wouldn't guarantee a win. A small group of the mafia would act under personal issue to extract Gin from her containment, making sure it couldn't be traced back to the mafia, and they would regroup to attack another day. It was practically guaranteed.
If Ougai Mori weren't a power-hungry man with trust issues, and if Chuuya Nakahara weren't getting soft, that is.
Chuuya, Ryuunosuke, and Mori stood on an outcrop just out of sight of the building's windows, going over their plan of attack after scouting out the premises. According to their observations, all but Ranpo and Dazai were present within the building. Ryuunosuke was there because he absolutely refused to let Gin be rescued without him, saying he would be there to make sure nobody fucked it up and got her hurt, and that there would be hell to pay if she had even a scratch on her skin. Chuuya was there because Ryuunosuke didn't trust anyone else to save his sister without being stupid.
Mori was there for reasons he didn't begin to explain until they were walking toward the front door.
“Change of plans,”
Mori smiled sickly sweet, placing a heavy hand on Ryuunosuke’s shoulder to stop the boy from proceeding.
“Akutagawa-kun and I will hang back. Chuuya-kun, I think this is a nice time to practice your ability, hm?”
Chuuya paused, turning halfway around to look at his boss, trepidation peeking through his cold facade. He searched Mori’s face for a hint of a joke, only digging up cruelty, megalomania, and curiosity, fear a far away emotion of his.
“...I wasn't aware ‘Upon the Tainted Sorrow’ needed extra practice.”
His voice was hushed, a distant pleading to not receive that wretched order, gritting his teeth and clenching his jaw against the fearful shaking he’d be inflicted with otherwise.
“You have been quite distracted. Chuuya-kun, you’re my most trusted executive and the most capable man I’ve ever met. But your loyalty has been lacking recently.”
With that, Mori’s tone took a dark turn, octave dropping one and smile cracking away, replaced with a frown and a hardly sympathetic glare.
Chuuya had to resist the urge to cower, step away and even run. Mori had an ability completely natural to strike terror in anyone he wished, could loom above anyone of any height and bathe them in his shadow, force them to feel especially mortal in mere moments. For someone who went into battles nearly daily without a hint of nervousness in his chest, who reveled in the rush of battle, Chuuya was not well acquainted with that feeling, and he was not at all prepared to be hit with a busload of it out of seemingly nowhere. His throat felt dry.
“With all due respect, sir, I’ve never failed to complete an assignment to your standards and my loyalty has not swayed. I am as willing to do whatever is necessary for the Port Mafia as I’ve ever been.”
Ryuunosuke looked between his two superiors, unaware of the behind-the-scenes. Chuuya had meant to keep it that way, keep it that way forever. He couldn't do much now that the truth would be spoken aloud for all to hear. Mori laughed, and there was no humor in his chuckling.
“Do you think I’m stupid , Chuuya-kun? Do you think I haven't noticed?”
Chuuya kept his mouth shut.
“On missions that should take you an hour, you’ve spent two . You leave in a hurry every day and you get more private calls than ever before. You’ve stopped going to the bar you used to frequent, and the last time they’ve heard from you is over three months ago. So I asked around, did a little searching; ‘What’s taking so much of my executives time? ’ Do you know what I’ve learned, Chuuya-kun? ”
Chuuya kept his mouth shut.
Every word he spoke would be twisted to be damning, he’d seen it many times before in rigged interrogations, Mori would lead the prisoner on and flip their words against them, a liar and manipulator at heart, it was easy. And dimly, Chuuya recognized, Ryuunosuke had only been let tag along for demonstration purposes. For a silent threat.
‘This is what happens if you stray out of line.’
Mori stepped forward, and Chuuya steeled himself.
“I’ve found surveillance footage of you and that traitor Dazai. So tell me again, has your loyalty really not weakened?”
Chuuya swallowed the lump in his throat.
“I haven't let it interfere with the Port Mafia. I keep him separate from the work we do and I haven’t told him anything. I would never betray the Port Mafia like that!”
“Can you prove it?”
It was clear what Mori was asking of him.
Chuuya was desperate, and in denial.
“I can. Whatever I can do to prove it, I’ll do .”
“Use Corruption . Save Gin. And kill the ADA, right here, right now.”
Ice ran through Chuuya’s blood, freezing his veins and pressing watery shards into his heart, frosting over his lungs and cracking through his throat. His loyalty to the Port Mafia was the world to him, but what he was being asked to do…
“...Dazai’s not here to nullify my ability. You’re asking me to kill myself.”
“What a shame that is, hm? That’s why this is a practice. I’m telling you to practice controlling Corruption by yourself. Enough relying on Dazai. He’s gone, you need to learn how to function without him for once .”
Chuuya physically winced at that jab, the constant insecurity he’d gone to great lengths to hide being laid out in the open and stamped on, torn into, shoved in his fucking face so he couldn't look away. He’d spent many years trying to grasp Corruption and stop it by himself, to stop needing Dazai after he'd abandoned Chuuya for a life he didn't even have yet, but with even three words out of his mouth, he’d been able to tell he’d never come down from Corruption without that bandaged idiot there to catch him. It stung to have that power trapped inside, itching in the back of his mind, and knowing it wasn't even his to control.
“I-I can’t-- I don't take orders in that form, sir. I won't be able to save Gin, or anyone. Everyone and everything is my target, if Dazai does not nullify Corruption , I will attack you. That's not a threat, it's a warning. I’m not in control.”
Chuuya said breathlessly, heart slamming in his chest.
“Chuuya Nakahara. You will use Corruption and do as I say, or you’ll never return to the Port Mafia. Do you understand ?”
Bile rose in his throat. His hands shook. It was the end of the discussion, Mori wouldn't take ‘no’ as an answer, and Chuuya had a choice.
Die, or betray his family.
It was with heavy resolve that he said, in a hushed tone, defeated,
“ I understand. ”
Mori smiled and pat Chuuya’s head condescendingly, before retreating to a ‘safe’ distance to watch the show from afar.
Ryuunosuke gaped in horror as the executive sealed his death and slipped his gloves off of his hands, pocketing the leather in his jacket. He took out his phone and tossed it to the boy.
“Call Dazai. I know you hate him, and... And I’m sorry I’m asking this of you. But he really is the only way any of you will have a chance of getting out alive. I… I can't say anything about myself. If he doesn't make it in time, tell the others I’m sorry, alright? And if you see me going after GIn, distract me.”
Chuuya turned away, shucking his jacket in a naive attempt to save the piece of clothing from the incoming disaster.
“I trust you, Akutagawa. I know you can do this. You’re a lot stronger than you think you are, and I have no doubt you can withstand Corruption long enough. Now… step back. This won't be fun.”
“...You won't survive this. Why are you…?”
Chuuya threw a smile over his shoulder.
“Because you guys are my family, get it? I’d gladly give up my life if it meant dying as a part of the Port Mafia.”
“To thee the granting of a gloomy corruption,
may ye never awaken again.”
As red wound its way across Chuuya’s skin, a craving overtook him. He had the distant thought of a mission, something he needed to do, but all he cared about was the huge building in front of him filled with so many people with so many abilities, practically beckoning him in, whispering his name and tempting him, and who was Chuuya to ever deny himself that satisfaction? His muscles itched for a fight, to tear something apart and feel that wonderful euphoria once again!
Chuuya laughed to himself and took off to the entrance of the building, summoning his first compressed graviton bomb and launching it straight into the doorway. A resounding explosion reached his ears and the fucking satisfaction and glee that rushed through him set his nerves on fire and had him reaching for more , addicted to that feeling. Someone screamed and he didn't fucking care who, as long as he could tear them apart and crush them to pieces! The thought of it sent a buzz through his head.
“What the fuck is that?!”
A boyish voice yelled, and Chuuya whipped his head around to see a silver-haired kid standing in the rubble, only vaguely identifying him as his vessel's enemy, and primarily identifying him as the next victim. In a frenzied glee, he lunged forward, not pausing a second to put off the rapture he’d be sure to gain. He wanted to rip this guy’s arms off first, see how he screamed, and then slowly crush him with his own gravity and find out if his ribs or lungs would give out first, and then --!
Chuuya’s chest shuddered and a splash of something warm splattered on his chest, prompting him to snap his neck around to face -- oh, he’d been shot! That’s what that feeling was! He’d been shot! Exhilarated by this deduction, he summoned up a ball of heavy gravity and launched it at the ceiling, laughing until his throat hurt as boulders rained down on the poor excuse of a gunman that had tried to kill him with one measly bullet, grinning wider when claws tore into his side like shredding paper. His enemies were so powerful, he just wanted to crush them into molecules and watch their dust fucking burn!
“Kunikida-san!”
That boy yelled, abandoning their fight to check on his dear teammate covered in rubble. The blond gunman groaned and pushed himself up, before Chuuya snapped back into action and began reaping.
He started with the silver boy’s arm, tore it clean off with his left hand. He screamed so loud , Chuuya felt his ears ring, sending shivers down his spine. It was simply so, so fucking entertaining, he loved it, he loved every part of it, this existence was pure heaven ! He looked down at those humans from his place in the air, reveled in their fear, and shot down with his hand outstretched to tear a hole through the blond's stomach. The blond man summoned something as a shield but it didn't matter, Chuuya tore through that too!
He only stepped away once he was holding three of the man's ribs, arm completely drenched in red just like he liked it. He felt so happy he could scream.
The silver boy knelt beside the blond one, clutching at his severed arm and sobbing, panting harshly and terror wracked his frame. Chuuya took pity on him and crushed his bones under his gravity. Each snap was like music to his ears and then-- and then! -- both of the bodies went completely limp! His cheeks hurt from smiling so hard, he hadn't had this much fun in years ! And there were more enemies, there were even more people to toy with and end, and it was all for him, and there was nobody who could stop him this time! He was finally free to destroy the fucking world !
Two more men stepped out from the shadows, visibly shaken from witnessing the very end of that little scrap. An orange one and another, shorter blond one.
“ Woah… is that…?”
The blond one whispered. Orange nodded and then -- disappeared.
Now, maybe regular Chuuya would've spent time figuring out a strategy, but this Chuuya didn't need a strategy, he had pure fucking unbridled power . Why should he waste time pinpointing where his enemy was when he could simply destroy everything surrounding him?
Summoning a ball of pure gravity, Chuuya raised his hand and brought it down, destroying every wall and body in a 50 ft. radius. Strangled calls for help drowned out to the gurgles of blood and coughing, and then silence . He shivered, hugging himself, unable to properly express his elation in anything other than cackling.
Minutes later the entire building had collapsed under Chuuya’s destructive nature, except for a small sixth of it that remained in the very back, just out of reach of his personal war ground.
Two people were there.
Two people, one in a makeshift cell, the other standing in front with her arms out like she could actually protect the prisoner from him, like anyone could stop his rampage, especially a little girl. What a bright red kimono, like a neon target just begging to be snapped in half. She held a sword in each hand, the metal glinting in the air. The second one in the cell was wearing all dark clothes, and he thought, briefly, that he shouldn't hurt her.
And then he thought about how satisfying the feeling of bones cracking under his fingertips was, and abandoned that merciful idea altogether.
“Not a step closer!”
The small girl commanded, shifting into a fighting stance. It was amusing, the way her hands shook as she stood her ground, deluded into thinking she could possibly hold her own against a god . She looked so determined, too!
Chuuya staggered forward step by step, a taunting smile tracing his lips, basking at the sound of her shaky breaths and the sight of her trembling legs as she fought desperately against the natural fear of standing face to face with a malicious, violent deity hellbent on one thing: carnage . His fingers cracked as he summoned another blast of a graviton bomb, compressing it into a small ball and launching it at the child, crowing with laughter when it hit its mark.
Except, when the dust settled, there was no blood inside the crater. His violent urges ebbed long enough for a sliver of confusion to pass his lips.
“ Eh ?”
Instinct alone jolted Chuuya into ducking, registering first the brush of wind above his hair and second, the barely avoided kick aimed to his head. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, only further excited by a near decent challenger.
Chuuya hurled a volley of compressed graviton bombs and rocks at the girl. She dodged as much as she could, but no one could avoid that hail of death. He didn't stop until her body stopped moving and her swords dropped from her hands.
Chuuya had a wonderful idea.
Picking up a sword with ungloved hands, he turned toward the last remaining living human, and surrounded the sword with a red glow. He stalked forward, using his free hand to further destroy the ground and rubble around him just for the fun of it, and raised his hand.
Wondering what noise the girl would make with a sword impaled in her chest, maybe he’d even increase the gravity so it tore her in half as it dropped, how she'd fall , if her knees would buckle first or if she’d fall back--
Something stabbed through his leg.
“Get away from her.”
Chuuya, dazed from the sudden attack, gazed down at his thigh to see a black, sharp spike sticking straight out from the reddened flesh, red spurting from the wound in thick jets. The spike retracted and he slowly turned, intrigued by his new attacker. That girl wasn't interesting him anymore, this was his new focus, this was his only opponent. This frail human surrounded by shadows, black hair with frosted tips blowing in the harsh wind, and dark tendril-like spikes protruding from his coat. He watched in awe as the spikes curled around the boy's body, forming a sort of armor around every inch of his skin.
Chuuya wanted to break that. He wanted to shatter that black armor to pieces .
The two rushed forward at the same time, Chuuya summoning an orb of gravity and the other raising his hand as a command he only understood, and Chuuya only learned when thousands of spikes tore through both of his legs, yanking him back and halting his movements. Chuuya raised his other arm, simultaneously throwing a bomb at the other boy and throwing another, identical blast at his own legs to rid himself of those annoying spears. The sound of flesh tearing off of bone was like music to his ears, even if it was his own. The enemy’s eyes widened in horror as the bomb connected with his shoulder, obliterating the black tendrils encasing it.
The fight continued longer than Chuuya was used to, his enemy put up quite the fight, but after some time, one of them was bound to yield. Chuuya was running on the power of a god , but his enemy was only human, and humans were, logically, weaker . Covered in lacerations, gashes, and bruises from being thrown around and bludgeoned, his enemy choked on blood, writhing below his god in agony and fear.
“Chuuya…”
His enemy gasped, any other words cut off by Chuuya’s hand around his throat. He squeezed, tightened his grip, and raised his enemy into the air, watching him struggle and gasp, watching his face turn blue and his fingers lose color. Nails scrabbled at his arm, those spikes useless when the user couldn't even think about anything but breathing, and Chuuya laughed in his face.
The reactions he got were beginning to bore him, however. Too predictable. Too normal.
So Chuuya closed his fist and snapped his enemy’s nec--
For the second time that day, a bullet pierced Chuuya’s body, followed by three others. One struck his wrist and his vessel released his enemy, hand falling limp.
With a raging growl, Chuuya twisted his bloodied body to face his new attackers, only to realize that in his hyper-focused state, he’d been surrounded. Every human he’d crushed that day was back, standing strong as ever, uninjured in the slightest, only now accompanied by a woman with a butterfly clip.
A challenge . These humans could come back and he could fight every one of them at once !
Chuuya’s displeased growls morphed into maniacal laughter. Both arms raised in the air, he summoned a graviton bomb, fused into one with his two hands to create the most devastating explosion he could deal to this group of contesters. The ground trembled with its power, his shoes dug into the rock below him. He saw the resolve in his opponents' eyes and he needed to see this until the end. He needed to watch that resolve die . He crouched, readying himself to cause a tragedy.
A hand fell on his arm.
“That’s enough, Chuuya.”
No .
No. No, no, no no no no nonononon onoNONO --
Not yet, not when he was so close , not when it felt so good to stop keeping it all in and let out all the rage and violence he had to lock inside for years , letting it fester! Not when it was just getting good, not when he felt so happy , the happiest he’d felt in his life!
“You can’t do this to me, don't you fucking dare- -!”
He screamed, already moving to destroy Dazai, when those wretched hands met the inside of his wrist and the red disappeared from his vision.
His energy faded away.
The pain hit him like a bus and he collapsed into waiting arms.
“There we go… okay…”
That annoyingly sweet voice reached his ears and he felt himself relax, letting Dazai hold him close and slowly, so gently, lower them to sit on the floor. Surrounded by carnage, the two relished in the small bout of silence that carried with the end of a battle, and the exhaustion that succeeded Corruption . Dazai’s touch cooled the fiery burning of his blood and soothed the raging flames of adrenaline.
“... Aku…ta… ”
Chuuya whispered, straining his throat. He coughed up blood and his lunch from the draining action of speaking. Dazai grunted and patted his back, tilting Chuuya’s head so he didn't choke on his own blood.
“He’s fine, Yosano fixed him up while you were distracted. He’s with Gin.”
“...the others…?”
Dazai smiled lovingly down at his partner.
“You did a number on them, but Corruption is no match for Yosano’s healing. Now shut up and rest. You pushed yourself too hard today. I’m expecting apologies later, too, so… you’re already asleep, hm ?”
“...’ m not …”
Chuuya whined, much to Dazai’s amusement. He hummed to himself, petting Chuuya’s red hair like a dog.
“Go to sleep, Chibi. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“ Bullshit .”
When Chuuya awoke, Dazai was there, snoring loudly next to his hospital bed.