Shizuo meets Roppi, finds himself falling..while dealing with a Flea.
He met the Flea, known the pest for about six months. Who he hadn't met, was the Flea's twin brother.
Shizuo wasn't aware of the fact the teen had a twin, as far as he was concerned, Izaya was found in a trash can along side Tokyo Bay somewhere. He felt bad for the sibling- for the twin who got stuck with a manipulative twerp such as Izaya Orihara.
He had been playing video games with Celty, grumbling as he lost once again, when he heard a all too familiar voice of that Flea. Shinra was speaking to him, warning him before greeting someone else. Shizuo tensed when he heard his damned nickname "Shizu-chan!". Glancing back, he found himself silenced by a sight of two red eyes.
They weren't the Flea's, the teens eyes were a more rustic color. These were bright red, like a crayon or some shit Shizuo didn't know to compare them too. Instead of a look of malice and amusement, the eyes looked too tired. The owner looked too tired. Shy; and closed up.
He hadn't noticed the controller fall from his grasp, heard the 'Game Over' - just found himself focused on this guy who was but wasn't the Flea.
"Shizu-chan, this is my brother, Hachin~" Izaya says, very much amused by the sight. Shizuo tsked, turned back to the game to ignore the fact his face was probably pink as hell.
"Just another pest." He grumbles.
"How mean!" Izaya sighs, dramatic. Shizuo glanced back to shook the raven a glare, stalled because 'Hachin' was watching him with this look that made him feel...bad.
"Whatever. And my names Shizuo Heiwajima, not 'Shizu-chan'." The boy 'Hachin' smiled softly. Tugs at his sweater that looks too big, but damned comfortable and says,
"My name isn't Hachin...it's Hachimenroppi...Izaya-nii just calls me that 'cause its annoying." As soon as Hachimenroppi speaks, Shinra's suddenly talking and Shizuo finds himself staring at Hachimenroppi, who stares back.
It's later when he finds out that the Flea's twin is home schooled by private tutors because being outside gives him panic attacks, that he likes to be called Roppi but sometimes he does like to be Hachin because it calms him down when he can't breathe. That he only came because Izaya made sure to kwep a hold on his arm, medicate him and make sure to distract the thoughts that make Roppi freeze up.
Shizuo learns this because Roppi talks to him while Izaya is talking to Shinra, something about humans and Celty is in the kitchen. Roppi was leaning close, tugging his sweater again, giving Shizuo shy smiles when he says something even remotely funny.
"Do you hate me?" Roppi asks softly, staring at the drink infront of him. Shizuo glances at him, could feel his cheeks flushing because did he? He hates the Flea. So much. But Roppi..didn't make him mad. Yet, anyways.
"Nah." Shizuo takes a gulp of his milk, swallows and licks his lips. Roppi breathes in sharply, and smiles again. "You aren't annoying. Flea is."
"...Izaya-nii is annoying. But he's..." Roppi debates. "He's-"
"Don't defend him. He's shitty." Shizuo suddenly says. Feels shitty himself because Roppi flinches. Remembers he has a brother himself, and tells himself that he probably wouldn't like someone down talking Kasuka. "Sorry."
"It's fine. I know he does bad...but..." Roppi pauses again, takes a sip and shrugs. "I love him..."
Yeah, Shizuo figures, when he drinks more of his milk. But I still feel bad for you.
That night, Shizuo makes sure to tell his own brother he loves him. Feeling a little bit even more grateful that Kasuka was his sibling.