Work Text:
The lasting rain dripped from the drain pipes of Kashiwazaki Station. The skies ahead are a cloudy gray and darker in the distance. It looks like a storm will be following the evening showers. He hoped to get out of the city before the rain started once again. “Uhm, sir?” Oh. right, his ticket. His attention drifted back up to the woman sitting inside the booth. It seems he may have zoned out once again. He found that it’s been becoming something that has been happening rather frequently.
“Oh! Uh… I’m sorry, what was that?” He gave the station employee a small smile.
“Where to?” The worker asked him with softened eyes. She has long black hair
“Where’s cheapest?”
She gave him a calculating look, but she didn’t ask any questions. He’s quite thankful for that. The last thing he needs right now is to be questioned by a stranger.
“The cheapest is about… 3500 yen, but that will only get you to the Gunma district.” She read off the computer that sat in front of her.
Great. Well that's just great. He doesn’t even have enough money to ride the train to the next district over. Well, I mean, Chuuya has been a runaway for almost a month now and doesn’t have a safe way of obtaining money that isn’t illegal, not that he cares much about that anyway. It’d be a pain to get arrested or worse dragged back home.
“Uh, I'll just wait for now, thanks though.”
She offered a smile. “Of course!”
Angered, Chuuya went and sat himself down on one of the waiting seats in the station. He could hear the speakers on the ceiling calling out departures and destinations, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he pulled out his phone. The time read 6:32 p.m. on June 27th. He swiped up and put his phone pin in and opened google maps to figure where he should head once he found some money. After 5 minutes of just seamlessly staring at his phone, he heaved a heavy sigh before looking back up. His gaze followed out the window where the darker clouds from before were getting closer. He could hear the distant rumbles of thunder. So much for getting on a train before more rain comes. It’s not like he dislikes the rain, it’s quite the opposite, actually. He finds it rather peaceful and calming.
Chuuya likes having peace once in a while. He likes it when no one's yelling- well, more like screaming at him for no reason. Not having his mother call him from his room to introduce him to yet another guy. Not having to worry about his father appearing, cause a scene, and leave once again the next morning. Chuuya liked having peace, but now? Now that he’s away from home? He’s just lonely. He doesn’t miss home, by gods no. He misses his friends. His mind went to the messages and missed phone calls from them. The ones he ignored. If his mother never reported him missing, there’s a chance they did.
He sat in the station for what felt like hours. Trains came and went, and so did people. Once again, Chuuya found himself staring out a window, the sky was now extremely dark from the clouds, and if Chuuya’s not mistaken, he could see little darker colored specs on the sidewalk outside that became more and more before the whole sidewalk was a different color. Chuuya stared out at the downpouring rain, zoning out of this world and bringing him into a completely other one in his mind. That was, before the sound of a very annoying and obnoxious voice pried him from his mentality.
“Oh my! You are one beautiful lady! We should leave this city together! What do you say? Love at first sight is no joke, y’know.” The voice sounded like it was coming from the direction of the ticket booths, and once Chuuya looked over he was proven correct.
“I am sorry sir, but no thank you… Did you want to buy a ticket perhaps..?” The woman politely asked.
There’s now a different person behind the booth, or maybe it’s a different one. Chuuya can’t remember. He’s sitting close enough to where he can see that the new woman has brown hair in a tight bun.
“Why not? A pretty lady like you that works so hard should have a break, no?” The guy spoke.
“I’m sorry sir,” She repeated “But I have to ask you to leave if you are not going to buy a ticket. Other people could be waiting.” There weren’t any other people waiting. The station was nearing empty, not to mention there are other open booths anyone could go to. Chuuya watched the guy as he continued to talk to the woman, who by the looks of, was clearly uncomfortable.
Chuuya had seen enough, she was clearly uncomfortable with this teenager who wouldn’t leave her alone. The outside flashed with light and was quickly followed by the sound of thunder as Chuuya got up and walked over to this person.
“C’mon! I know you want to come with me! You could even join me in a double suicide! How beautiful that would be-” Chuuya cut him off.
“Hey asshole! Do you have something better to do instead of harassing the station’s employees?”
The boy looked over to him, and he just… stared. He has brown hair, a little darker than the employees hair. It’s a little disheveled. His eyes are dark brown with a glint of red in the light. He wears a dusty looking red jacket and a Radiohead t-shirt along with slightly baggy vintage washed jeans and a black backpack. From what Chuuya can see, he wears a ton of bandages.
“Hello? Hey, I’m talking to you, bastard. Jeez, can you even hear me?” Chuuya snapped his fingers in the guy's face. The rain sounded heavy on the roof.
“Ah, I do hear you. Loud and clear, actually.” The bandaged boy said.
“So?”
“Sooo?”
He’s angry enough that he doesn’t have enough money, but now this guy is just making it worse. “I asked if you had anything better to do instead of harassing this poor lady.” Chuuya said through gritted teeth.
“I was not harassing the girl, thank you very much. I was merely asking if she would like to come with me and-”
Chuuya cut him off again, but this time he used his fist against the boy’s arm to shut him up.
“Hey! what was that for?” He yelped.
“Shut it. I am sorry ma’am. Some people don’t know common decency.” Said Chuuya who glared at other boy.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time something like this has happened.” The worker replied, giving him a small smile. Chuuya replied with a ‘hmph’ before turning to the man still standing next to him.
“You, Bandage freak, are coming with me. Away from the booths.”
“Excuse me, who are you calling a bandage freak!”
Chuuya ignored his remark and grabbed a hold of his right arm and dragged him to the other side of the station near one of the exits. “I could throw you out of the station and into the downpour right now, but instead, we can just wait for the police to come get you. How’s that?” Chuuya really doesn’t want to call the cops right now, especially since he’s a runaway and doesn’t know if he’s even labeled as “missing” Though, he doubts he is.
“You aren’t going to call the cops on me.” Bandages consulted.
Chuuya raised an eyebrow at the other. “And why do you think that?”
“Well. For one, Why would you call the cops on me for not really doing anything bad? That doesn’t make sense. It also would not benefit you in any way. Two, your eyebags tell me that you’re exhausted and haven't properly slept or even slept at all in days. So, you’re probably too exhausted to deal with the cops right now. Three, your backpack. It looks worn out, like it's been in use for a while with no breaks. It clearly hasn’t seen the best of days. Four, you look like you haven’t showered in a while. Meaning you are either: homeless, or just choose not to shower, which by the way is really gross. This all brings me to my final conclusion! You’re on the run. Aren’t you? Actually, that wasn’t a question. I know I’m right. So, what’s it going to be? Dealing with cops as a runaway teen? Or, sparing yourself from the potential problems that could cause and let me go?”
Well, fuck. It’s like this kid could see right through him.
“Run your mouth again. I dare you.” Chuuya threatened. “Don’t go around thinking like you know everything. You’re just a kid, got it?”
Dazai put his hands on his hips. “That goes for you, too. You look like a kid. A rather small one at that. Maybe drink some milk. It might help you get bigger.”
“Lay off about my size, jackass. I’m only fifteen, I’m still growing!” Chuuya exclaimed loudly, attracting a few curious eyes.
“Well, I’m also fifteen and a lot taller than you, shortstack.”
Chuuya listens to the rain, trying to calm down. What is this guy on about? They weren’t even that different height-wise. “Whatever, just leave me alone. I have much better things to do than babysit a bratty teenager.” He said, sitting down at a nearby bench. He bounced his left leg and pulled out his phone. The time read 7:52 p.m. There are no new notifications. Not like he was expecting any, anyways. That’s not what he’s worried about right now though. He needs to find a place to spend the night. In spite of the fact he annoyingly doesn’t have any money. So, a motel is a no go. Maybe if he’s lucky he might be able to find a covered back alley.
His attention wavered back to the bandaged kid, who sat down next to him. Chuuya tensed. “Are you waiting for a train?” The brown-haired asked.
“No, no I'm not. What’s it to you? Didn’t I just ask you to leave me alone? Or did that message not reach your brain with that thick skull?” Bandages ignored his remark.
“Do you not have enough money to ride the train?” There he goes. Seeing right through Chuuya like they’ve known each other for years. Trying not to get angry, he takes an annoyed sounding breath.
“You a detective or something?”
Bandages smirked and took that as confirmation. “Hmm, I too, don’t have enough money to ride the train.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Chuuya asked. He really just wanted this guy to leave him alone.
“We could stowaway.”
“What?” Chuuya said in disbelief. Was the person he just met seriously asking if he wanted to stowaway with him?
“Stowaway, y’know when you get on a transportation vehicle illegally. Are you really that stupid?”
Chuuya had no idea where that came from. “I know what stowing away is, and do you mean by we? I am not anywhere with you. I just met you.”
“What have you got to lose? Plus, it would be so boring to continue travelling alone now, wouldn’t it?” Chuuya knows exactly what he’s doing. He's doing the same thing he did with the station employees, trying to manipulate them. Chuuya, despite knowing what Bandages was doing, he was seriously considering tagging along. Even just for a little bit. He was perfectly fine on his own, yes. That much was true. But it might be nice to have some company… No. No, no, no, no, no. It would be nice to have company, yes. But not with him. Especially him. He had just met the guy after all. Though….
“Now, what’s in it for me?” He asked instead.
The other looked at him with his fake innocent eyes. “Truthfully, not much. But, you’ll get out of this train station, and you won’t have to be alone. I can also guarantee getting you some money.”
Chuuya considered this for a few moments. He needed money. Everything in him was screaming that this is a terrible idea, that there will be major consequences if he goes through with this.
Y’know what? Fuck it. What does he have to lose anyway?
“Fine, but I am getting off at the first stop and we’re parting ways.” He said.
The bandaged boy looked at Chuuya mischievously, “Sounds like a plan.”
The next train came about forty-five minutes later and Chuuya was already heavily regretting his decisions. Alas, it was too late now. The station was swarming with people that had just deboarded as the two of them waited to sneak on the train. It was easy to blend in. Chuuya followed the other. They weaved through around anyone. Chuuya noted there are four main entrances to the train, each equipped with a service staff to verify one's ticket. He has no clue how they will get past them, but to him, it looked as though his newly acquired acquaintance had a plan.
They waited a few minutes, and by luck, one of the train staff got distracted and walked away from one of the entrances, giving directions to an elderly person. They walked quickly to the automated doors and slipped in unnoticed. The train’s seats were cushioned and a deep blue color. It was booth seating except without the table. Two seats on each side facing each other. The two of them took a seat on opposite sides.
“That was… Surprisingly easy.” Chuuya said
“Nothing is that hard when you want to do it.” Bandages loomed out of the window.
Chuuya only hummed in response as the train started to gradually move and pick up speed. He also looks out the window. It was still raining, but it sounded like the thunder had stopped for the meantime. He watched the trees sway in the wind. Chuuya finds himself lost in thought once again. The past events coming to light. First, he runs away and is alone for almost a month, now he’s a stowaway on a train headed to god only knows where with a stranger he doesn’t even know the name of. Oh. Maybe he should ask this guy's name. He looked over to the person across from him to find that same pair of dark brown eyes with that red glint staring right at him.
“What? Why are you staring at me?” He narrowed his eyes at the other.
“No reason.” He went right back to looking out the window.
“Okay, weirdo.”
What was it he was going to do? Oh. Right.
“So, do you have something else I can call you instead of ‘Bandaged Freak?’” Chuuya asked.
“Dazai. What about you?”
“Chuuya.”