Some days, Shizuo really fucking hated his job.
That's not to say Shizuo wasn't grateful to have one in the first place. Tom was the best boss a guy could ask for and he was lucky to even get a job with his track record. Still, he couldn't believe how pathetic and low down the bums they had to collect money from were.
Like this guy, who was practically on his knees begging him and Tom to give him another week to pay back the $1,000 he had already owed them a week before.
The bastard was going on about how his girlfriend would pay him back soon; she was a prostitute who wanted to run away with him, but she owed some money to her pimp in the next town over. She'd come back soon and they would get married and settle down and live happily ever after.
"What a load of bullshit." Shizuo thought with contempt.
He cut off the man's rambling. "So, you're saying you've know her for a few months and she's a hooker, and you two are gonna get hitched the minute she comes back from wherever she is?"
The man nodded quickly and looked a bit relieved; perhaps he thought Shizuo was going to take pity on him. "Yes, that's it exactly! It's true love!"
Tom sighed. "Now Shizuo, just-"
But it was too late; the man was already sent flying with one punch. He landed on the sidewalk in front of the brothel with a loud thump. Tom checked his pulse.
"I suppose he's lucky you just did that." he commented with exasperation. "Shizuo, try not to knock out the guy before we get the money they owe."
Shizuo lit up a new cigarette eyeing the one he crushed on the ground. "I've got to stop crushing the ones I'm not done smoking." he thought still pissed; cigarettes weren't cheap after all.
"Come on, help me lay this guy against the wall, we can't just leave him out in the open." Tom lightly kicked the guy's unconscious body; Shizuo grumbled and dragged the man by his leg. "Should we check his wallet?"
"Yeah, sure." Tom yawned.
They could only find about $500, but they decided they'd just track him down next week for the rest.
"What a moron." Shizuo grumbled as they walked away.
"You know what they say, love is blind." Tom said.
Shizuo snorted. "Love? It couldn't be more obvious she's using him. Who the hell falls in love with someone they barely know anyway? It's just not possible."
They turned a corner and headed toward an ice cream stand; Shizuo really needed something sweet to calm down. Tom got him a triple flavor cone and himself a popsicle.
"You never know." Tom said casually. "Shinra's been in love with Celty since he first saw her when he was four, right?"
"Shinra's crazy, he doesn't count." Shizuo replied; he seemed more relaxed and was focused on devouring the first scoop of ice cream on his cone.
"True, but you never really know what's going to happen." Tom licked his treat lazily. "I've met people who swear they fell in love at first sight." Tom shrugged when Shizuo grunted skeptically; Tom was no idiot, but he was more open to stuff like this. Shizuo just couldn't understand why.
"I still say it's impossible to just magically have feelings for someone you don't know a thing about." Shizuo paused in his eating. "Only a dumbass would-" he stopped. Someone pushed him from behind; he didn't fall over, but his ice cream was knocked out of his hand.
"Who the hell?!" he growled and turned around quickly to glare at the asshole.
"I'm so sorry, it was an accident! I lost my balance going down a slope." the girl explained; she was sprawled out on the ground and one of her legs was skinned.
Shizuo's face went blank as he surveyed the stranger; she wore clunky roller blades and a helmet that was slightly too big. She seemed to become less tense when he stopped glaring and struggled to regain her balance.
"Crap, I'm really not that good with these." she mumbled under her breath: she wobbled and looked like she was about to fall once more. Shizuo gripped her under her arms and raised the girl up to his eye level. Her eyes grew wide in panic and she kicked her legs a bit from where they dangled off the ground.
"Hey, I said I was sorry! Don't hurt me, please, I don't want any trouble!" she squeaked out.
"Um, Shizuo?" Tom looked on a bit anxious and worried by his employee's odd behavior; Shizuo wasn't one to hit a woman if he could help it.
But Shizuo didn't seem to even hear him; he was staring at the girl almost as if he had never seen another human being before.
The girl stopped struggling when the punch she expected didn't come; she stared back at Shizuo warily.
"Sir?" she began timidly. "Can you let me down at least?"
He seemed to snap out of his trance and slowly put her back on the ground, though he still stared at her with an air of curiosity and confusion. The girl looked quite relieved herself.
"Thank you." she noticed him still staring silently. "Sir, are you okay?"
"I didn't think I crashed into him that hard. He seems fine, I guess…" she wondered worriedly; Shizuo was still looking at her as if he wasn't sure what to make of her. "Maybe he's trying to decide whether he should yell at me? He looks a bit familiar..."
"Who are you?" Shizuo blurted out.
"Uh, I'm Yoshida Kyoko." she introduced herself with a small bow. "I really am sorry." Kyoko looking down nervously; she cursed noticing the ice cream cone on the pavement. "I made you drop your food. Wait here!" Kyoko took off toward the ice cream stand; before Shizuo could protest, she was back with another identical ice cream.
"Here." Kyoko handed it to Shizuo sheepishly; he felt a tingling when their fingers brushed together.
"Thanks." he said shortly; he felt edgy and nervous.
"So, what're your guys names anyway?" Kyoko asked conversationally.
Tom spoke up politely. "This charming guy here is Heiwajima Shizuo and I'm Tanaka Tom. It's nice to meet you." He inclined his head while Shizuo remained rigid. Tom was used to being Shizuo's public relations department.
"So, are you okay?" he continued. "You fell pretty hard."
Kyoko shook her head. "I'm fine, my leg just stings a bit. I'm sorry for the trouble; did I get the same kind of flavors you had Heiwajima-san?"
"So this is Shizuo Heiwajima; he really does wear a bartender suit, I wonder why." she thought curiously.
Shizuo grunted and stalked off toward the stand; Kyoko's face fell and she couldn't help feel offended until Shizuo came back still holding the cone and an additional ice cream.
"Here." Shizuo held out a cold fudge bar to her, avoiding her eyes. "If you don't like it I'll get you something else."
Kyoko smiled at him feeling pleasantly surprised. "No, this is great! Thanks, you didn't have to get me anything." she ripped off the wrapper and took a large bite. Shizuo gave her a fleeting but sincere smile.
Tom felt startled at what he was seeing and his gaze shifted back and forth between Kyoko and Shizuo in slight awe.
"I suppose it was bound to happen; about time really." he thought with a half grin. "She seems nice. I hope it works out."
"Hey, Yoshida-chan, would you like to sit with us? We were going to eat by the park over there. You and Shizuo can talk more." Tom offered glancing pointedly at Shizuo, who whipped around to give Tom a look that practically screamed "SHUT UP".
Tom ignored him. "I was curious as to why you're rollerblading. I don't see people doing it much around here."
Kyoko shrugged. "I hadn't used them in a while, but today I just kinda felt like it."
"You should be wearing knee and elbow pads." Shizuo said louder than he intended. "And you should put a bandage on that too." he gestured to her skinned leg in a more subdued voice.
"Yeah, I should be more careful. Luckily I bumped into you Heiwajima-san." Kyoko laughed. "You know, you're nothing like the rumors say; all I ever seem to hear is how scary you are, but you seem so nice! I don't know why people say otherwise..." she wondered aloud scratching her head.
Tom prepared himself for the explosion. Shizuo hated people bringing up the rumors about him being a violent bartender, but at the moment he didn't even glare. On the contrary, he seemed quite pleased.
"Heh. Well, I don't know about that…" Shizuo trailed off dragging his foot against the pavement; Kyoko gave him a sweet smile.
"Thank you for the offer Tanaka-san, but I have to be home soon. I'll see you around, okay?" Kyoko waved and took off in the opposite direction, the quick movement blowing back her hair.
"Smells nice." Shizuo said absently.
"Huh?"
Shizuo jerked to attention. "Nothing." he said roughly. "Let's get going." he stomped off away from Tom, who chuckled quietly before following.
Shizuo still hadn't registered his melting ice cream dripping all over his hand and staining his shirt cuff.