Chapter 2 - The Train Ride
BYR:
My morning class was cancelled, so I worked on this! Have fun reading!
"You have five minutes."
The sound of a guard outside his door startled the brunet as he stood up from his seat only to be knocked backwards onto the floor by his sisters.
"NII-SAAAN!"
The twins were crying in the brunet's chest as he smiled genuinely at them and peeled them off his shirt.
"Nii-San you can't go!"
"Don't go!"
"I'm sorry you guys, I have to. If I don't then they'll just take Kururi in my place."
"But! But-!"
"Listen Mairu. You're the oldest between the two of you. I'm putting my faith that you can take care of our sister. I'm counting on you Mairu. Can you handle that?"
"*sniff* yes Iza-Nii..."
"Good. And Kururi, I expect for you to be the level headed thinker when while I'm gone. Ok?"
"Ok..."
"Then I have nothing to worry about. Mairu, Kururi."
Izaya pulled his only family into his arms and hugged them tightly, never wanting to let them go. They all stay like that for the remained of their time left, engulfed in their own little world of peace.
The door opened, which signaled that it was time of the sisters to leave. Saying their last goodbyes, Kururi smiled sadly at her brother one last time before she whispered in his ear.
"Win Izaya-Nii. Win and come home."
"I'll do my best, you know that."
"We love you."
"And I love you guys too."
The guard pulled the two little girls out the door, both starting to tear up again as they saw his smile one last time.
The wooden door slammed shut and the brunet was left in total silence. He sat back down in the only chair in the room as he waited for someone to carry him away to the train and to his death. Believing that no one else would come to see him, Izaya was about to let the tears built up inside him flow when the door suddenly opened and in walked-
"Mrs. Heiwajima!"
"Good afternoon Izaya."
"G...good afternoon ma'am! What brings you here?!"
"I'm here to see you dear."
"M-me? But why?"
"Well, I'm here to ask if you'd like me to watch over your sisters' for you."
"You...you would do that?"
"Yes."
A spark of hope flared inside the male as his face brightened up, but soon faded as his expression turned serious and he glared at the woman in disgust.
"Tch! If this is some way to get me to not kill your son, you can forget it! I have a family too you know! And they can't even protect themselves from this damn government! What makes you think that I can trust someone who works for this lousy nation! I can't trust anyone..."
"Izaya. I have no intention of bribing you into doing such a thing as not killing my son..."
"Then why are you here?"
"Like it said before; to ask permission to watch over your sisters."
"...why?"
"You're mother and I were good friends when we were young. She saved my life once, and I was never able to repay her for that. This is the only way I can help pay that debt to her. It's the least I can do for your late mother..."
"...really...? You...you really will watch after them? Even if I never come back, you'll continue to watch them...?"
"Yes. I promise on my life I will protect them as if they were my own."
"Mrs. Heiwajima..."
"Just promise me something."
"What...?"
"Try to win."
"What?"
"For the sake of the District, win Izaya..."
"Shouldn't you be saying that to your son? He is the eldest of your family and has a better chance of winning.."
"I know..."
"Well... All I can do is try."
"That's all I ask."
"Times up!"
The guard burst through the door again without knocking and carried the woman out. She had a tired look on her face as she gave the brunet a soft kiss on his forehead and walked out. After she left, Izaya was called out into another room and ordered to walk down a corridor to the train. With his last goodbyes, he waved to the cameras and departed on the train, only traveling closer and closer to his doom.
A man dressed in a suit greeted the blonde as he led him down a thin hallway and showed him to his room. Giving him a card key for the door, the servant left Shizuo to his thoughts as he cautiously scanned the room, taking in his surroundings.
His bedroom was filled with the most extravagant things he'd ever laid eyes on. A king size bed in the room was occupied with large wardrobes and a small table and chairs for tea. Cherry wood floors covered the entire room and a mini chandelier hung from the ceiling. A bowl of fresh fruit sat on the table as the blonde went to grab an apple and took a bite out of it.
"Tch! They try too hard to make everything fancy like some exotic vacation! We'll be dead in less than two weeks. Guess they want to make the tributes have some comfortable final moments before their death. Makes senses but still..."
He didn't like it. To be treated and pampered up only to later die in some horrible game. It made him sick to his stomach as he placed the bitten apple back in its original place and went out.
Going from trolley to trolley, Izaya was lead to his room where he would be staying until they reached the Capitol. Inside the room was beautiful; a warm, comforting place that made him feel safe for once. But that feeling shortly lasted as he stripped off his clothes and roughly pulled the cabinet handles. Inside where lines and lines of clothing, colors from the rainbow and many more flooded in his gaze. Nothing particularly interested him and he didn't like the thought of sticking out in these brightly lit clothes; he was used to his dark wardrobe of blacks and browns.
So as he tossed one shirt after another behind him on the floor, he was finally able to scavenge a black shirt with ruby red lines running on the sides. Pulling on his grey kakis and black boots, he emerged from his quarters and followed a scentful aroma down the hall and into another train cart. Inside was overflowed with foods of all types; things that he never even imagined existed. His mouth began to water as he stared lustfuly at the meals, wanting so bad to try every little thing.
"Go ahead. They don't care how much you take."
The sound of someone else's voice startled him as he darted his eyes around the cart. His velvet irises landed on a man sitting on a one seat couch, a wine glass in his hand and a smirk on his face.
He was dressed in all white; white suit, white pants, white shoes, all aside from the black button up underneath the suit that was seen at the cuffs and collar. His hair was a black mess, all choppy and looked as if it hasn't been combed in weeks. He had a scar on the left side of his eye and a golden ring on his right index finger, a matching gold chain around his neck as well. All in all, he looked like a drunk well-dressed gang leader.
Izaya could tell that this man was studying him carefully, his eyes following up and down his body as he stood there frozen.
"Hmm, you're not exactly what I expected for you to be."
"Really, and what did you expect?"
"Well from the other tribute who described you, I was expecting you to be more of...well, a 'flea'."
"Shizu-chan..."
"Ahh so you know the kid! Good good. It'll be awkward if you guys weren't friends-"
"We're not friends. Honestly, I think that he'll be the first person that's excited for the Games."
"Ohh, and whys that?"
"Because he wants to kill me."
A silence followed that statement as the man and Izaya stayed where they were. Now that he had a better look at him, the male looked somewhat familiar to him. There was something about his face that reminded him about the Games. (Have I seen him somewhere before? There's something about-)
"Oi flea!"
The bombing voice of Shizuo's made the brunet jump a bit as he turned around and met face to face with the blonde.
"Shizu-chan..."
"You're in my way. Move."
"A please would be in order, no?"
"Just move dammit."
Maneuvering around the thin male, Shizuo walked over to where the other man was sitting and sat on the one piece couch across from him. Taking a plate, Izaya grabbed some things before taking the seat adjacent from the blonde.
"Well then, now that we're all settled let me introduce myself. The name's Shiki. I was the winner of the 10th Hunger Games. And the only winner from District 12.
"Wait, Shiki? What are you doing here? I thought all winners of the Games live in luxurious houses at the Capitol. What are you doing back here?"
"Well...ummm... You see, part of my 'job' as the winner is to train the next set of tributes every year..."
"Train? And why haven't any of the other past tributes won under your 'training'?"
"No potential. Either that or they don't care. Hey, I try! But I've given up on any winners. That is, until this year."
The older male leaned in on his chair, eyeing the two younger men in front of him and smirked. Izaya kept an expressionless mask on as he took a bite out of a sweet pastry and set his plate to the side. Shizuo was rhythmically moving his fingers in a fluid-like movement on the arm of the chair as he gazed boringly at the two.
"What do you mean 'until this year'?"
"A man of many questions aren't you Izaya!"
"I like to be well informed."
"An attitude like that will get you far in the games. The more you know about your opponents', the better. As I was saying, I think you two have a chance to win this year's Game."
"Correction; one of us has a chance. And the likelihood of that happening is slim."
"Just like the likelihood of your sister being chosen on her first Reaping?"
"How did you-"
"Like I said before, the more you know about your opponents', the better."
The brunet glared at the man across from him. He clearly didn't like how this guy was so laid back and acting all high and mighty while he was being sent to his grave. Shiki rubbed him the wrong way, but he also knew that he needed all the help he would get if he wanted a chance, even if it was small, to win.
"Enough of this just tell us what we need to do to survive."
"Energetic! I like that Shizuo. Well, you see-"
Before Shiki could continue, the doors to the trolley slid open and in walked Celty, her outfit changed and all colorful, excluding the helmet she wore. She came walking over to them, typing on her PDA as she came to a halt and revealed them her message.
-Dinner will be served at promptly 7 pm, so show up in something nice ok! Ohh, also! We'll arrive at the Capitol tomorrow afternoon. I want you two to show the crowd what District 12 is made of! Have fun chatting with the drunk….-
Nodding that they got the message, she turned on her heels, 'glared' at Shiki, and left the cart.
"So, what did she say?"
"Nothing; just to show up at dinner and that we'll be at out graves tomorrow afternoon."
"Smart, handsome, informational, and sarcastic! The crowd will love ya!"
This ticked Izaya off; the crowd. He was just another cast just waiting to be kicked off the show in a matter of weeks. To put a show for them to root for his death, to see how brutally he'd die by the hands of the upper Districts. To be observed by other humans, when all his life he was the observer. He hated feeling like a test subject and to be treated like a delicate being. Like he was weak.
"Screw the crowd."
Standing up, the brunet stormed out the room, slamming the doors for extra measures before he fled down the carpeted halls and into his room. Once he was alone and the doors were locked, Izaya kicked off his shoes, threw off his shirt and curled up underneath the blood red silky blanket. He screamed into the feather pillows, cussing and crying into them, asking god to end his life now.
"Dammit… I said I wouldn't cry… shit…shit! I hate this… I hate all of this…"
A knock on the door rang through the room as Izaya uncovered himself from the sheets to call out to the intruder.
"Go away!"
"Don't tell me what to do flea…"
"Shi…"
The sound of the blonde's voice felt reassuring as he stumbled out of bed and towards the door. Unlocking it, he allowed a crack of space as he hid behind the door to shield himself from the world.
"Wha…what do you want….?"
"To talk."
"Tch… Talk? Since when do you ever want to talk to me?"
"Come on. Let me in."
"No."
"Izaya…"
"No!"
"Am I gonna have to force my way in?"
"I guess so."
"Fine."
Expecting the door to fly open, Izay braced himself for a fight. But no force came as he pressed his back against the door. Confused, he called out to the blonde.
"Sh…Shizu-chan?"
"Yeah?"
(He's still there? But why hasn't he pushed in?)
"You're not coming in?"
"You don't want me to. So no."
"Hmp, that's very unexpecting from you."
"Yeah well…."
A silence fell between them as they stood on opposite sides of the door, waiting for the other to say something more. Sliding his back along the door, he plopped to the ground as he pulled his knees to his chest and listened to the blonde's breathing.
"Hey, you remember that time we met in first grade?"
"How can I forget; you broke all my crayons that day because you didn't like me."
"That's not true!"
"Yes it is! You even said, and I quote, 'I don't like you.'"
"I wasn't talking about you…"
"Ohh really, then who were you talking about?"
"Ehhh…"
"Mhm, yeah."
"Well, you were always so…perfect at everything."
"I strive to be perfect Shizu-chan, it's how I am."
"And I hated it."
"Jealous ~"
"Guess I was…"
"Hahahaha-"
Izaya caught his throat as he struggled to stop laughing. He never laughed, never smiled, or cried, nothing. Not in front of anyone at least. For him to laugh with the one person he hated, it felt wrong. Or, it should feel wrong. But somehow, it didn't. He felt happy, a massive weight on his shoulders being lifted by one single laugh.
"It's nice…"
"Huh?"
Shizuo's voice was soft, quiet. He had to press his ear against the door to hear the male speak.
"Your laugh, it's nice…."
"My…laugh….?"
"Yeah… I've never heard it before…"
"It's because I never had anything to be happy or laugh about."
"I know what you mean…"
They continued talking for hours upon hours, neither growing tired of the other as the hours went by. The sun was beginning to set as the time for dinner drew near. In truth, Izaya didn't want this to end; this conversation with Shizuo. He never per say talked to the male before other than the occasional 'I hate you.' But something that was suppose to be natural to everyone came fluid to him and he felt normal.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"Dinner is in ten minutes. Get dressed."
"Alright…"
He could hear the larger male push himself off from the floor and dust himself off. Staying at his place, Izaya waited for Shizuo to walk away before he went his way as well.
"Izaya…"
"Yeah?"
"….Nevermind. See you at dinner."
And the sounds of feet walking away ended their conversation.
"Shizuo! You clean up nice!"
The blonde headed male walked into the dinner trolley as Shiki came up and patted him on the back. Shizuo was dressed in a white button up shirt with a black vest over it. A red bow tie was messily tied around his neck and his belt was wrapped loosely around his waist. Dark grey pants complimented his outfit as he took a seat at the clothed table and waited for the others to show.
"Whoa…. Izaya…."
The sound of the flea's name made Shizuo turn his head as his mocha eyes met Izaya's body. The brunet was wearing a white blazer; underneath it was a red V-neck shirt which exposed his dominant collar bone. A pair of velvet glasses was worn on his face as he also wore dark pants. Shizuo tried his best not to say anything as Izaya walked up to him and sat on the seat aside of him.
"What are you two, business men?!"
"Celty told us to dress nice. I couldn't find anything that went well with me, so I'm wearing this. The glasses added a nice touch I thought."
"Geez, I never knew those in such a low class District had any sense of fashion! You guys just keep surprising me."
"Why haven't you changed?"
"Don't feel like it Shizuo. Ohh look! Here come's our maiden of the hour!"
-Shut up.-
Celty took a seat across Izaya while Shiki took the one across Shizuo. Dinner started soon after, a seven meal course being place in front of them as they talked about the Games.
"So…what is the Capitol like?"
"Before we get to that, we need to set up an image for the two of you."
"An image?"
"Yes Izaya. Something the crowd will recognize and know you for. You see, you get funded by those who place bets on you and that helps you survive longer in the Game."
"So like, pretend to be someone we're not."
"Not exactly. Depends on your personality. And you Izaya, need work on that."
"Why?"
"Because you don't like people per say. I can tell you rather be alone and keep quiet. And that my friends, will leave you dead before you even enter the ring."
"So you want the flea to be a likable person? Ha! Good luck with that."
"This is where you come in Shizuo."
"Huh?"
Shiki set down his silver wear, patted his mouth with his napkin, intertwined his finger together, leaned his mouth against it to hide a smile. But by the look of his devious eyes, they two males could tell that he was about to say something mischief and deviant.
"How would you two feel about becoming lovers?"
A/N:
OK umm, I need a "Gale" and I was thinking since Izaya doesn't really have a love interest per say, I make Vorona be Shizuo's 'gale and mess with the story a bit. What do you think? Yes or no?
So Shiki is Haymitch in this story just for clarification! Is that ok? I think it'll work! I did some tweaking of my own since I don't wanna copyright the whole story! And it's more fun this way! Plus I don't even remember what exactly happens sooo,…. Yay! Review plz and I'll see you soon