Shizuo never saw the black wings flapping frantically, the feathers floating away as the vending machine clipped a wing. The machine's target had long since fled, Izaya had sped off. As the cement smoke cleared, Shizuo's fists relaxed.
"That damn flea got away again," he snarled. Black talons rained down onto his face, digging into his left cheek and slashing to his ear. Shizuo roared as he swatted the large black bird away. It flapped away to dive again but he slapped it from the air and watched as it spiraled to the ground. The bird landed on its' feet and shrieked a ear piercing caw at Shizuo.
"Fighting birds now, Shizuo?" Tom handed the blonde a pack of cigarettes, "You dropped those. Never thought you to be a nature hater."
"I'm not but this bird is pushing it!" Shizuo pointed at the crow, "I better not catch you around my 'bukuro again!" Tom reeled his head back in laughter, "You know you're talkin' to a bird, right?"
"We've got one more job around here and then we can stop for a break, okay?" Tom received a grumble as a reply and expected no less. Hell would freeze over before Shizuo said anything more. Tom pondered for a second as they walked to the debtor's shambled apartment building but dismissed the idea of a chatty Shizuo. They walked the rest of the stretch in silence and stopped to look at the dilapidated high rise.
"Urban blight at its' finest," A quick look at his phone let Tom know the client lived in room 504, "Stairs or elevator?" An obvious question that needed no answer. Shizuo was already storming up the dirt stained stairs. A few flights later and they were met with a hallway, the wallpaper cracked and peeling. A few steps later and they had arrived at 504. Tom knocked lightly, making sure not to scare whoever lived inside. A smile and asking nicely was always the first choice. The second choice was still slightly stewing from seeing Izaya.
"Hold on," footsteps approached the door and it swung open moments later, "What do you want?"
Tom blinked at the disheveled middle aged man clad only in boxers, "The money you owe, what we want, that is."
"How about some coffee? There's this little place not to far from here," Tom brushed off some splinters on his jacket. Shizuo had done it again. If they were not already walking, he would have been pacing, smoke billowing from his nostrils. Shizuo waved his hand, disturbing the smoke, "Don't care".
They continued in silence together until Tom stopped, "This place," he pointed to the small coffeehouse, "has some of the best coffee in all of Ikebukuro. It's supposed to be some European blends." He opened the glass door and held it for the blonde bodyguard. The only customers were a small group of goth kids in the farthest left corner. The music streaming from the speakers was obviously foreign and the two young employees mouthed the words. The girl behind the register smiled when she spotted them. Her light brown curly hair draped around her ordinary face.
"Hi there. Welcome to the Coffee Haus." her beaming smile unnerved Shizuo. He wasn't used to people being so cheery whenever he was present. Tom just grinned back when he saw the look on his partner's face.
"Hi. What would you recommend?" The girl's eyes switched to Tom, replied and gave that same smile when he ordered two. The time it took to make whatever it was that Tom asked for gave Shizuo a chance to look around. The store was littered with modern styled tables and matching chairs. A forest green sofa sat in front of a small stage that occupied the back of the store. A cork board hung on the wall behind the goth kids, advertising poetry readings and guitar lessons. There was a glass door next to the bar that seemed to lead to the neighboring store. His eyes traced back to the counter in front of him. A nervous looking boy, no older than 16, glanced at Shizuo every 5 seconds while pouring foam on their ordered drinks.
Now that's better, thought Shizuo, something normal.
The girl handed Tom the drinks and smiled again. It still set shivers up Shizuo's spine.
"Let me know how they taste. We don't sell a lot of those. Everyone just wants a plain ol' latte" The girl leaned over the counter, eagerly waiting. Shizuo sniffed the cup that was handed to him. Cinnamon and nutmeg notes tickled his nose. A small sip and he imagined what creme brule might taste like. Like fine dining in a liquid form.
"Whoa. Now this, this is just awesome." Shizuo silently agreed with Tom's statement and gulped down the coffee greedily.
"Do you like to read? There's a bookstore attached to our store. Just don't spill any of the coffee on the books. Corvi will kill you" the girl smiled again, "and us." Her eyes flipped to the boy, who had been reduced to almost a love struck puddle.
"This one has a crush on her even with her usage of bodily harm"
"Core-vee?" Shizuo asked, trying out the name. Tom nodded, "Sounds foreign. Like not English foreign"
"She's American. From California or somethi- Ah. I shouldn't talk so much about her. She has like super hearing or something." The girl blushed, obviously embarrassed, "She's just one of the main draws to the store. The owner of the bookstore also owns this coffeehouse. Always asking us to drum up business, you know. Come see crazy Corvi!" The girl waved her hands in mock excitement, "She's not really crazy. Just wound a bit too tight if you ask me"
The glass door opened and a dark skinned woman leaned in, her pink lips pursed. Her complexion matched Tom's and her midnight hair was curled loosely at the ends. She wore a black tank top and a black jean mini skirt.
"My ears are ringing. Talking about me again?" The woman did not seem amused. Shizuo caught some of her American accent before her attention turned to him. Her mouth turned from a straight line to a frown.
"You. Out. Now." She pointed to the front door of the coffeehouse. Tom shuffled uncomfortably next to Shizuo. This is certainly going to get ugly. Thegirl's frown only grew and she finally pushed forward and grabbed Shizuo's vest. Maybe he did not believe what was happening or maybe he was too busy staring at this woman's sizable bust, but the next thing Shizuo knew, he was outside. Tom exited the store, a hand covering his laughing mouth, as she was walking back to the book store.
"Well she's a certainly a spitfire. Maybe you should ask her out."
Like hell he would.