A newborn left behind to the warmth of a beast.


Shizuo wakes up to more cries. His chest is wet, the scent of urine too present in the air and he shudders. Eyes flicker downwards, the baby shaking his arms and hiccuping. Shizuo winces, sits up and notices that he only slept for three hours. But there is no point to it, he has work- and work will make him move. So Shizuo groans, and gets to start his day. Another wiff of the air, and the blond grumbles beneath his breath as he rips his shirt off, the baby cradled in one arm. He needs to change the diaper. Fast. Because it wasn't Izaya he smelt.


Later proves to be much longer than he suspects it. Shizuo managed to quickly shower during the morning, after another shitty diaper and another shirt tossed to the growing laundry because vomit doesn't suit well for him. The blond sends a text to Celty, knowing full well he could trust her with the small human he came to love. Three weeks prior, an incident left him with the child; someone from his mother's side, someone who couldn't reach his parents so dropped their child off with him and now Shizuo doesn't-can't leave the kid. No matter how stressful it is to wake up each morning, and paying for baby formula means skipping out on buying cigarettes and his favorite milk- sometimes sweets. But as long as the kid got feed, he was content.

Celty comes faster than Shizuo expects, and he holds up the carrier with the sleeping child. The woman takes the carrier, does something that shifts her bike into being able to hold the child. There's tapping, and then Shizuo blinks- eyes squinting when her message is apparent.

[You okay?]

"Tired." Shizuo admits, digs into his pocket, realizes that he has no cigarettes- before smiling sheepishly. "Will you be okay with watching Rubi until I get off?'" As soon as he asks, there's sniffling and the newborn dubbed Rubi begans to makes whines. Soft cooes that would evolve into loud screeches that hurt ears but Shizuo reacts instantly, jerks forward and his fingers brush against tufts of brown hair; smiling softly when a small, soft hand clutches his fingers and silence follows despite the sniffling as soon as a pacifier is popped back into a awaiting mouth. Rubi's being lured to sleep when Shizuo bends over, kisses his not really- but almost- son. Celty's helmet cocks to one side, fingers moving over her PDA.

[I'll keep a close eye on him. Don't worry!]
She doesn't add how cute they look. Shizuo still smiling fondly at Rubi, watching the pacifier move every minute before it stills completely and Shizuo releases a sigh, heavy and brown eyes are shielded by blue shades.

"Thanks." He's use to this routine. Celty coming over to pick up Rubi, watch the child-unless she has work than sometimes he asks Kadota. Sometimes Shizuo doesn't have work, so he stays home and embraces his new lifestyle of a father like figure. Tries to tone down his anger- and it's easier when he's at home knowing that any moment he snaps maybe Rubi would wake up screeching like a banshee that makes ears ring. Celty nods, hops onto her bike before another message of: [See you later!] is sent his way and the headless woman rides off.
His heart aches, in this strange way. He doesn't understand it, but after a week of struggling with a infant in his home- Shizuo finds it's a bit odd to watch Rubi leave his home. His presence; makes him a bit anxious. But Shizuo has to work- if not. He can't buy more diapers and formula and clothes. So he sucks it up; and turns. Locks his door and heads to work.