iv - two is company, three's a crowd
It was as he was aiding a wounded Heiwajima Shizuo that Izaya stopped to think maybe, just maybe, he had no regrets in his current situation.
The man had just saved his life, after all. His mind was a bubble of all different emotions ready to burst, but as always, he held them back. Denial was simple, after all.
He was not happy.
He was not outraged.
He was not grateful.
In that moment, he was nothing.
Silent, supporting an barely conscious brute who weighed just a bit too much to carry for any longer. Expressionless, save for his occasional frowns and squinted eyes at Shizuo's weight threatening to push him down at any minute.
He supposed he had no regrets, and doing this would make them even.
He just wasn't kind enough a man to suffer through such a thing again.
. . .
When Shizuo had left him the night before, Izaya couldn't help but let out a sigh as he sunk down in his chair, the events from shortly before replaying through his mind.
Hiyama Kozue truly was an interesting human, much like several others, and Izaya's expression morphed into one of disgust at the thought of the two being anything alike. After all, his hobby was observing humans, not relating to them. And as always, Kozue was just another human. She'd soon be forgotten, lost in the crowds for the rest of her miserable life.
After spending some time gathering his thoughts, Izaya sat up straight and turned his computer on. It was fairly obvious that these murder attempts weren't a coincidence, and he knew exactly who to seek out regarding the situation.
[Orihara Izaya, reborn!]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: Ah, I figured you'd be checking in sooner or later.]
[Orihara Izaya: Are you enjoying yourself?]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: Don't sound so disappointed. It's just a little game.]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: It's not entirely fair that you get to play all of these games without allowing an opponent to do the same, Orihara. Don't mistake my actions for anything as human as revenge or payback - I'm simply enjoying myself. Seems like you know me well enough already.]
[Orihara Izaya: How long do you plan on carrying this out?]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: I wouldn't say that I'm the one carrying it out. This all depends on how many more people want to take their shot with you.]
[Orihara Izaya: I'll always need to be on alert, then.]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: Well, with you keeping Heiwajima Shizuo around, this ought to be interesting. Lucky you.]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: I suppose you could say your vacation's over.]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: That was a good one, wasn't it?]
[Orihara Izaya, confirmed dead!]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi: You're quite the sore loser, Orihara.]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi's turn!]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi's turn!]
[Tsukumoya Shinichi's turn!]
. . .
Izaya had a relatively short list of people who he sincerely disliked.
Shizuo, Yodogiri Jinnai, Mairu, and Kururi took the top spots, no questions asked.
There was a fifth amongst their ranks, however.
An unknown entity by the name of Tsukumoya Shinichi.
Famous to the public as an author, and infamous to others as another information broker, Tsukumoya was a mystery - and to Izaya, a nuisance, a virus.
He was one person Izaya never had the upper hand with, earning him an appropriate position in the informant's list.
Damn Tsukumoya.
With a yawn, Izaya rose from his seat, heading to the kitchen and wasting no time to set his coffee pot.
It was going to be a long night.
. . .
When Shizuo arrived the next morning, he was met with a locked door and no answer from Izaya.
With it being early in the morning, this wasn't something he wanted to put up with.
He had already managed to maintain his sanity over the past three days, much to his surprise, but he wasn't too sure how much more he could handle.
Knocking louder than any of his other attempts, Shizuo bellowed, "Flea, open your damn door already! I don't have time for this!"
Which, from him, was surprisingly a lie.
He obviously had the time, considering he was standing at the door in the first place.
Maybe he had already lost his mind.
"I'm breaking your door down if you don't open it in the next ten seconds."
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six.
. . .
"Honestly, Shizu-chan."
. . .
Four, three, two.
The door unlocked, and Shizuo was met with an exhausted-looking Izaya, bags beginning to form under his darkened eyes.
"I was startin' to think you were dead." Shizuo crossed his arms, waiting for the broker to step aside before entering his apartment once again.
Izaya let out a long yawn, putting one hand over his mouth and the other to his hair as he walked. "I didn't fall asleep until about an hour ago, and you so rudely woke me up."
It was concerning to see him lose even a bit of his composure, his voice disturbingly meek, gaze distant and unfocused.
What was more surprising was the fact that Izaya voluntarily let him see him in such a state.
That couldn't be from just one night less of sleep.
"So, what hell are you going to put me through today?"
"Haven't decided."
Izaya deviated from his usual path, leaving Shizuo by himself to take his seat on the couch. He reappeared afterward, coffee cup in hand as he approached his desk. Shizuo raised his eyebrow at him, though couldn't help but be just a bit amused.
"When was the last time you slept?"
Izaya eyed him from over the cup, setting it down and shifting his attention to his computer. "That's not important."
"Just making sure my boss is in top condition."
"Don't push your luck, Shizu-chan," Izaya replied. "It's not as if I'm drunk. I can still manage as usual."
"And what if someone tries to kill you again?"
The informant scowled. "I don't have any meetings today." He paused, adding a quick afterthought, "I think."
"Then let's make a deal. I leave and we don't have any problems. Sound good?"
Izaya came off as lost in thought before giving his answer. "You know, I think I've figured out how today is going to go."
Shizuo turned his head. "No."
"You did say that you wanted to make sure your boss was in top condition," he trailed off, smug attitude easily resurfacing. "So, as part of your job, you should stay."
Shizuo huffed, muttering under his breath, "Says you."
"Perhaps you've forgotten our initial agreement."
"Screw the agreement. You're just talking shit."
Izaya managed a feeble chuckle. "I assure you, I'm not lying."
"Like I'd believe that." Eyes narrowed, Shizuo turned to face the other man, both silent as they exchanged glances.
"I mean it, Shizu-chan," Izaya continued, taking another sip of his coffee. "I've been bored lately. There's nothing to stop me from scouting you out every day, following you around at work, showing up at your door, never leaving you alone. . ."
"Soon as you try that, you'll be a dead man."
The blonde rose from the couch, back to Izaya as he wandered towards the door.
"I'm sick of listening to you. Do me a favor and never step foot in 'Bukuro again, bastard."
And just like that, he was gone.
Izaya could only laugh.
. . .
With only the faint ticking of a clock and clicking of keys to keep him company, Izaya could safely say that he was beyond bored.
He had planned his day centered on the assumption that Shizuo would grudgingly stay, and as always, his enemy never failed to surprise him.
[No one is in the chatroom right now.]
The lonely informant heaved a sigh.
It was too quiet.
Namie's absence had this effect on him every time. That wasn't to say he missed her - no, that was a ridiculous thought. He had simply become accustomed to her presence.
A normal person would probably kick back and relax, thankful that they could get a break from the events of days prior.
Orihara Izaya, however, was anything but normal.
What did normal people do on their day off?
He wouldn't know.
What he did know was that he wanted nothing more than to sleep. His boredom was driving him to a breaking point; a breaking point where he was beginning to grow tired of everything. It wasn't often that things turned out in that way. He was supposed to be above humanity, hellbent on observing and interfering on a daily basis. He was supposed to be a broker, with a never ending search for new information and list of clients.
Today, he was just a human.
A restless, abnormal human.
The thought disgusted him.
And like any human would in that situation, he cast aside that thought.
What remained was his desire for sleep as he stared blankly at the ceiling, one word echoing over and over as time passed.
Pathetic.
. . .
His day hadn't been filled entirely with misfortune, however.
He had finally fallen asleep after what felt like days, waking up a short hour later, he assumed.
Nighttime had graced the city, and Izaya, not willing to suffer through more sleepless hours in vain, slipped into his coat for the first time that day and exited his apartment. With him only getting a good two hours of sleep in, how many days had it been - five? - his trip didn't come with error. He had carelessly tripped over his own feet, almost sending himself down a flight of stairs, had he not gripped the railing in time.
The utter frustration he had already been experiencing only worsened.
In that instant, he could only be thankful that neither Namie nor Shizuo were present, or else he would never hear the end of it.
Shizuo.
It was funny, really. Almost as if he was truly considering the blonde to be another secretary, not his sworn enemy.
It was so funny it was sickening.
This was just another game, after all. After tomorrow, he wouldn't have to face Shizuo for weeks, possibly months, after tiring him out for five consecutive days.
It was just needed entertainment while Namie was most likely spending her days hunting her brother down at every opportune moment.
It was just something to amuse him while Ikebukuro went through another peaceful phase.
Hmm, how could he drive Shizuo insane with one day remaining?
How could he leave him disgruntled during his absence?
Surprisingly, he hadn't thought of a grand finale.
His eyes wandered through the sea of lights illuminating the city streets, questions flooding his mind with each step he took. It was almost too much for his tired brain to handle, while it also gave him some energy.
It was almost as if he was normal again.
That is. . .
"Shizu-chan?"
He froze, and Izaya saw his head lower as he put a hand to it in frustration, eliciting a weak chuckle from the informant.
"Fancy seeing you again."
"Cut the act, flea," Shizuo snapped, turning to face him. "Get out of here before I force you out."
Izaya chuckled once more. "You know, Shizu-chan, you still have one day left. That's quite the impression you're making, talking-"
Shizuo's hand went for his collar once again, and the blonde pulled him from the small crowd onto a different street, keeping his hold on Izaya afterward.
"Shut up."
"Come on, Shizu-chan, don't you-"
"I said shut up!" Shizuo growled, glaring daggers at a silenced Izaya. After a pause, the blonde sighed, murmuring in a quieter voice, "I thought I heard her."
"Her?"
"Kosuke, or whatever her name was."
Instead of receiving the smirk he had expected, Izaya frowned in response, and Shizuo couldn't help but notice the difference in the other man's expression.
It was almost as if he was anxious.
"Kozue."
"Close enough."
Shizuo turned to get a quick glimpse at the passersby, frowning when he saw a hooded person standing at the beginning of the street.
"Ah, Shizuo-san, I see great minds think alike!"
Sure enough, when the hood fell back, familiar orange curls bounced over the third person's shoulders as they wore a wide smile.
"This is quite the coincidence, though! I even have my friend with me!"
Kozue yanked her hand forward, pulling a shorter girl that had been behind her forward.
"Kozue-chan? What's going on?"
She ignored her friend's question, eyes gleaming as they fell upon Izaya, the informant glaring in response. He made a vain attempt to pry Shizuo's hand away, but as he knew to expect, the other man didn't budge.
"What do you say, Shizuo-san?" Kozue continued, taking a step forward. "Let's team up and kill Izaya-san together today!"
Shizuo released his hold on Izaya's shirt, and the informant let out a light sigh as he turned to face Kozue.
The girl dug into her pockets, hand meeting the butt of a gun as she held it out in front of her. "You didn't even notice you dropped this yesterday, Izaya-san. How convenient!"
"Kozue-chan," The girl beside her whimpered, gripping her arm.
"Are you really that persistent?" Izaya finally spoke, one hand in his own pocket. "Aren't you worried? There's quite a few people nearby. That, and wouldn't it disappoint you to go home empty-handed again?"
Kozue didn't respond, grin still present as she pulled her hood over her head.
Izaya's eyes fell upon the gun, and everything stopped.
. . .
He heard gunshots, but when he truly returned to his senses, he felt no pain.
Instead, his field of vision was blocked by a now bloodied bartender suit.
Shizu-chan?
It seemed as if time had been slowed as he watched Shizuo fall in front of him, his enemy sinking to his knees as blood pooled beneath him.
Izaya looked up, and Kozue had sprinted past him after letting out a panicked scream. Friend in tow behind her, she ran as fast as her feet would take her, speaking quietly and hurriedly.
"I-I didn't mean to hurt Shizuo-san! Asuka-chan, what do I do?! What do I do?!"
He listened to their footsteps vanish into the night, and once again his gaze fell upon Shizuo. Reluctantly, he got on his knees, flinching at the blood soaking into his pants as he tried his best to get Shizuo up. It was a hassle, but eventually, Izaya managed to support him with one arm while he held his phone in his opposite hand.
"Flea."
Izaya wasn't sure what to think when Shizuo's raspy voice sounded in his ear. Was he supposed to be happy? Outraged? Grateful?
In that moment, he was nothing.
"Shinra, I need a favor."
. . .
As he sat among the silence in Shinra's usually lively apartment, Izaya had to wonder, why did he agree to this?
After patching Shizuo up, Shinra, along with Celty, left Izaya alone at their kitchen table, his gaze falling over a sleeping Shizuo every few minutes as the unsettling silence of the apartment swept over him.
He still couldn't fathom that Shizuo had saved him, even with cold hard evidence lying only a few feet away.
. . .
[Did you do this?]
"How rude, Celty." Izaya smiled grimly.
Celty waited a moment, hands steadying after her initial freakout. [Right, it couldn't be you.]
"Of course. If I was out to kill him, I wouldn't have resorted to such boring methods. That, and I like to assume my aim isn't that bad."
[What happened, then?]
"We ran into each other coincidentally-"
"I doubt that," Shizuo interrupted, earning a frown from Shinra as the latter began to clean his wounds.
"And we also coincidentally ran into a client who tried to kill me yesterday. Shizu-chan took the bullet for me, and she ran off in a panic without bothering to do her job."
"I suppose this is an accomplishment for you, since you actually thought to bring him here," Shinra joined in. "Congratulations, Orihara-kun."
Izaya crossed his arms, resting them on the top of the couch. "I can't have my monster dying on me yet."
"If I didn't know you two any better, I would say there's a friendship forming here."
. . .
The thought was enough to disturb him for the rest of the night.
Friendship wasn't something that was nonexistent in his life.
He just wasn't willing to suffer through such a thing again.
. . .
"You're thinking about it again, aren't you."
It wasn't so much a question as it was fact, leaving Izaya with a bittersweet smile as he looked up, Shinra appearing in front of him.
"It's that easy to tell, huh." He turned his head, catching a quick glimpse at the clock. "What happened to not being interested in humans?"
Shinra took a seat across from him, chuckling lightly as he did so. "I wouldn't be a very good friend if I didn't pay enough attention to you, would I?"
Izaya felt his eyes widen and he began to look away, hoping Shinra wouldn't notice. As he knew to expect, however, he noticed, and Izaya faced him once again, grimacing.
"You're a horrible friend, Shinra."
Shinra was silent before replying, "Maybe I am."
. . .
He supposed he knew why he couldn't believe that Shizuo had saved him.
It wasn't because he hated him, it wasn't because Shizuo was a monster.
It was simply because someone had already saved him once before.
Twelve years prior, one Kishitani Shinra made the bold decision to shield him from another classmate.
Izaya had been stunned beyond words.
Kishitani Shinra, the strange boy who approached him out of nowhere asking for help with a biology club. The strange boy, who, as he came to discover, had no interest in human life, only that of a Dullahan's. The strange boy who had become and would remain as his only friend.
Izaya was an observer, someone who avoided frivolous things in life such as friendship and love.
The only love he had was for the entire human race, a race that despised him in return.
The only friend he had was Kishitani Shinra, the first person to ever give any consideration towards his well being.
. . .
"At least you're aware of it." Izaya yawned as he spoke, putting a hand to his mouth before rising from his seat. "Now then, if you don't mind, I'll be taking my leave."
"Orihara-kun."
"Don't tell me you're going to force me to stay."
Shinra shook his head. "I considered it, but I know you wouldn't do it."
Silence.
"If you're going to say something else, you may as well say it now," Izaya murmured.
Shinra sighed. "There's no use in me prattling this late at night. See you, Orihara-kun."
. . .
If I didn't know you two any better, I would say there's a friendship forming here.
author's note
Well, I guess it's a good thing I just checked Tumblr, or else you guys might not have gotten this chapter until Monday. cx" Sorry this is out a little later than usual! I try to have them up by at least 11 or 12 EST, but I've been so focused on preparations for the con I'll be at all weekend.
That said, I'll hopefully have some opportunities to write and hopefully I can get back on schedule. I'm so far behind and it's killing me. Chapter five should be out on time, though. I've just been at a complete lack of ideas these past few weeks. Sorry in advance.
Anyway, there's a little bit of a spoiler here for those of you who only watch the anime (whoops). I needed to include it this time, though. One past mistake fixed? Check. I also couldn't go through this fic without acknowledging Tsukumoya. Sadly he's a LN-only character right now, but I do hope that changes and he's included somehow. Also, I did say I feel like this takes place between 8 and 9 but I'm thinking more 7 and 8 now, or episodes 4 and 5 of this cour. Eh, this is an AU. Let's not get too technical.
Zev: Yeah, I know it won't always pick up, but I mind it. xD Oh well. Anyway, thank you again! c:
Guest: I hope you enjoy the rest! And heh, Izaya sure doesn't want to, but sadly he doesn't get a say. I'm the ruler here. uwu Anyway, thank you for your reviews!
Part of me feels like this chapter is lacking something but eh, I'm probably just imagining it.
That all said, reviews are always appreciated, and thank you for sticking around for yet another chapter! I'll see you next week!