chapter two - gamble
Two days in a row of this.
He hadn't even been drinking the second time. It just...happened.
Yet here he was again, though this time on a couch. He would've thought it was his own, had he not decided to sit up and see Izaya spinning away at his desk.
"Glad you could finally join us, Shizu-chan," The informant called, continuing to swivel around, halting after a while.
"What happened this time?"
Izaya let out a small chuckle. "I found you unconscious when I left Shinra's. That's all there is to it."
When Shizuo didn't reply, Izaya continued. "Besides, you seem to want answers so desperately about what happened the first time. So, I figured, let's make a compromise."
Shizuo snorted. "A compromise with you is more like making a gamble."
"Oh ye of little faith," Izaya grinned, standing up and making his way towards the other man. "Now, are you going to listen to what I have to say, or not?"
"Go ahead," Shizuo muttered.
"Very well then. In exchange for you getting your answer, you will do as I say until I decide I don't need you."
Shizuo rolled his eyes. "Like I said; a gamble."
"Oh, Shizu-chan," Izaya snickered. "It'd be no fun if all in life was fair! You must be really unwilling to get your answer now, hmm?"
"How do I know this isn't another one of your sick jokes?"
"Good question, actually," Izaya grinned, appearing almost innocent for a moment, had it not been for his tone. "Nonetheless, it'll be fun!"
"Easy for you to say," Shizuo grumbled, turning to walk away. He flinched when he felt Izaya's hand on his shoulder, unable to turn around.
"Clock is ticking, protozoan. Might want to make up your mind."
Shizuo remained frozen, differing thoughts rushing all throughout his mind. With Izaya involved, who knew what would happen if he gave either answer. His life would still have a bit of hell either way.
After letting out a deep breath, he finally spoke. "Fine."
Izaya looked a bit dumbfounded, obviously taken aback. "Well then," he started, smirk returning to his face. "This will be interesting."
"Yeah, interesting," Shizuo grumbled.
"Really, Shizu-chan, it's not that difficult. You're making such a fuss," Izaya chided, spinning around at his desk once again.
"You would be too if this was the other way around," Shizuo muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Izaya simply grinned, halting his chair in front of his computer, turning it on and instantly typing away.
"You're not going to be a lazy-ass all day, I see," Shizuo commented, interally humored by his statement. Not that he would show that in front of the flea.
Izaya chuckled. "Of course not. It would be a natural disaster if I told you to do my job. Besides, I don't need you breaking my computer."
"Well, now that you mention it…" Shizuo smirked.
"Shizu-chan!"
"Relax. Last thing I need is more money to pay off."
Izaya raised an eyebrow. "Might want to keep that in mind next time I'm in Ikebukuro, ne?"
"Shut up."
"Last time I checked, it was you doing what I say. Not the other way around."
"Smartass," Shizuo muttered. "What do you want me to do, then?"
Izaya grinned. "Nice to see some enthusiasm around here. Now, I actually need a bit of shopping done. I'm desperately low on fatty tuna…" The informant suppressed a dramatic sigh, flashing Shizuo a look that would've made him look almost normal, was he not Izaya Orihara.
Shizuo blinked. "Fatty tuna? You mean to tell me that's what you live off of?"
"You're one to talk, eating all that pudding."
"Tch."
"Don't 'tch' me."
"Tch." Shizuo smiled, turning away as he did so. Are we actually...getting along? He thought, smile fading at the thought. No, don't give into him. This is the flea, after all. Not Tom, not Kasuka.
"Something wrong, Shizu-chan?"
The debt collector flinched as Izaya spoke, snapping back out of his thoughts. "No, I'm fine. May as well go get your damn tuna now."
"Excellent," Izaya said, tossing his wallet over. "Spend all my money and you'll be six feet under."
"Not gonna happen. Your blood's gonna be on my hands first, louse." Shizuo took the wallet, opening the door and walking away just as Izaya called, "You wish!"
The thought of taking the informant's money and running back to Ikebukuro crossed Shizuo's mind, but he dismissed it. That was stooping a bit too low, and he wanted to be the better man here. After all, he needed answers. He could always force them out, should something go wrong in the end. He was Shizuo Heiwajima after all, and being bossed around by a flea wasn't exactly his forte.
However, he was somewhat doubting himself. While he did want to be the better person, why was he letting Izaya, of all people, do this? There had to be some sort of twist - something he absolutely did not want.
Damn flea… Shizuo sighed, walking towards a grocery store he had spotted. If he tries anything, I will kill him.
Izaya sat scrolling through quite a few emails that he had received in the past few days, smirk turning into a blank look as he finished reading. Business was picking up again for certain, which was both a good and bad thing, the informant supposed.
"I love my humans, but with Namie on vacation..." Izaya paused with a sigh. "What am I saying? Don't even tell me I've grown accustomed to her as well."
His phone buzzed at his statement, and he flipped it open to see a new text from Shinra.
[How's he doing?]
Izaya rolled his eyes. [You worry too much. He seems absolutely fine. Then again, he was already lacking a few brain cells, so I can't really see a difference.]
[Not funny, Izaya!]
[Well, I think it's hilarious. Besides the point, he did seem a little more...content, today. He hasn't tried to kill me yet.]
[Really? That's great news! Maybe he's finally learning to control his anger.]
[Don't hold your breath.]
Shizuo walked in then and Izaya closed his phone, lighting up as he saw the bags set down in his kitchen. "Good, I'm starving!"
"There, I bought your tuna. I realized that as scrawny as you are, though, you probably don't eat a lot, so I did get a few more things."
Izaya smirked. "How sweet. Shizu-chan actually cares about my health."
"You wish," Shizuo grumbled. "I don't want to kill you when you're some weak little thing. Honestly, I'm amazed you're still standing."
Maybe he's finally learning to control his anger. Shinra's words echoed in Izaya's mind, eyes narrowing at the thought of it. He's still a monster. And I'd hardly call this control; I just haven't provoked him enough yet.
"What, out of smart remarks for the day?" Shizuo smirked. "I think we have a new record here."
Izaya's expression darkened. "Just put the bags away," he snapped, grabbing a can of tuna and returning to his desk.
Shizuo blinked, doing as he was told. When did we change personalities? It definitely struck him as odd; Izaya was never bothered by anything, it seemed. Then again, why should he worry?
Once he was finished putting everything away, Shizuo realized just how hungry he actually was. One wrong move, however, and who knew what Izaya would do, especially if he didn't seem to be in his normal mood.
"You can eat, if you want," Izaya said, taking Shizuo aback. The blonde simply nodded, taking a can of tuna and taking back his place on the couch.
The two ate in almost complete silence, save for Izaya typing away yet again as he finished his tuna. Shizuo just sat, feeling a bit awkward, if anything. He gave a quick glance towards the clock, letting out a small sigh. It's already one. I would've already finished lunch with Tom by now. Not that he had to worry about his job at the moment, either. Tom was generous enough to give him the summer off, being paid about half his normal salary, considering he had quite a bit of debt to pay off for all the property damage.
Damn. If I could get paid for doing this… Shizuo gazed over at Izaya, the raven-haired man completely entranced in his work.
"So, is there anything else you need me to do?"
Izaya didn't look away from his screen. "Nothing I can think of, actually. As much as I hate to say it, I think I'm done with you for the day."
Shizuo flinched. "You're serious?"
"You sound offended."
"No, I was just wondering…" Shizuo trailed off, still taken by surprise with the informant's previous statement.
"Leave," Izaya said flatly, still not looking at the other man.
Shizuo simply nodded, confused by the entire ordeal, but nonetheless a little happy to be leaving. So, without another word, he left, confusion taking over him still as he walked back to Ikebukuro. He had forgotten all about the deal, and it wouldn't take him until he made it back to scream, "That bastard!" at thin air.
Probably wouldn't get answers out of him now anyway. Shizuo thought as he returned to his own apartment.
Back in Izaya's, the informant grabbed his phone shortly after Shizuo left and texted Shinra, even though he yet to get a response after his last one.
[I don't think it's Shizuo that's acting off. I think it's me.]
author's note~
It's finally here~! Sorry for making you all wait this many days. My weekend didn't go exactly as planned, but hey, the chapter's here now, right? I would like to update a bit quicker than this, so I'll work on it. I'd like for it to be two chapters out a week, and hopefully it will get there; maybe more if I get in a good writing mood. ^^
Sorry it's pretty dialogue-heavy. My chapters aren't usually like this, but this is just one of those chapters, I suppose. These first few chapters are going to be a little slow, but set up the story nonetheless.
Also, thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed, and reviewed! Seeing that you have brings a smile and encourages me to keep on writing.
See you in the next chapter~!