Durarara! belongs to Ryohgo Narita.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to content within this chapter, this story's rating has been changed to M.
In the end, Shizuo had successfully managed to convince Izaya to delay their meeting with Shinra and Celty for another day.
They made it to Shizuo's apartment in little to no time. When they approached the building, Izaya was surprised to find that it was the very same apartment Shizuo had always had.
'Heh, I guess I wasn't the only one to keep my old place.'
The door was held open for Izaya as he was invited to go in first. Upon entering, he slid off his shoes and walked further inside. Curiously, he looked around at his surroundings. He had never actually been inside of this apartment, after all.
It wasn't nearly as large as his own place, but it looked comfortable. It was simple, with a basic two-person couch, a side table, and a medium-sized television on one end. Off to the side, there was a small kitchen. Connected to that room was a short hallway, leading to two doors, one of which was a bathroom. The other door lead to what Izaya assumed to be Shizuo's bedroom.
"Make yourself at home."
Shizuo offered as he passed by, heading to the kitchen area and taking out two cups. He filled one with water, and the other with milk, before heading over to sit beside Izaya who was now occupying one side of the couch. The cup full of water was handed to his guest, and he took it gratefully, drinking a few sips before setting the cup down. He watched as Shizuo practically guzzled his milk down, holding back a chuckle at just how amusing that really was. He had known since high school how much Shizuo enjoyed that beverage, and it was clearly one trait about him that hadn't changed since.
Izaya then found himself thinking about the past, and with that, questions began to pop into his head. He was certain that both of them had much to discuss, and Shizuo had brought him back to his place to do just that...or at least, that was what he thought.
Coming up with a few primary questions to ask, Izaya stared at his glass as he spoke out his first curiosity.
"...I have to ask... You had told me that you were 'taken care of for life' earlier, when we talked about how you didn't have a job. What exactly did you mean by that?"
Shizuo was quiet for a moment or two, as if he were trying to think about how to answer. He hadn't ever revealed that information to anyone, not even completely to Shinra. But this was Izaya, ironically now the one person he trusted the most, so he would tell him almost anything. Especially because they had a lot to talk about.
"...My brother, Kasuka. As you probably know, he was a pretty successful actor. He's actually the reason I'm set for life...he gave me a lot over the years, including financial security. He was one of the few to know of my situation, and he knew that getting another job might be difficult for someone who doesn't, well, look their age. So, he wanted to insure that I'd be alright for the future. I know the money's gonna run out eventually, but maybe by then, I could figure out what to do to earn more."
"...I see, so that's how..." Izaya paused. "If you don't mind me asking... What happened...to your brother?" Izaya asked quietly, wondering if maybe his brother had passed on already, or maybe he was off living the rest of his days...
"...Well...he had this girlfriend. She was a singer, but it turns out that there was more to her than most people thought... She supposedly had a relative who wasn't human, or something crazy like that. I still don't know if I believe it..."
Shizuo shrugged before continuing.
"But it's not hard to believe if there's proof. Besides, we've seen stranger stuff in this city. Anyway, Kasuka...he's actually still around. I saw him last around a year ago."
Izaya held his breath, wondering if it were possible that there was someone else who was also immortal. Shizuo gave him a small smile, shaking his head as if he knew what Izaya was going to ask.
"He isn't immortal like us... But he is aging slowly, if that's possible. The last time I did see him, he did look older... Even older than me. But he could pass as someone in his mid-thirties, maybe. I don't know how, but I'm guessing that his girlfriend...well, now wife...has something to do with it."
Looking at Izaya a gentle smile, Shizuo also gave him a short nod, running his fingers lightly through dark hair. Izaya leaned into his hand, still amused that Shizuo couldn't keep his hands away. But he didn't mind; he loved the attention.
"Any other questions for me?" The lighter brunette asked, knowing that his companion was bound to have several more.
"...Mm...I have a lot more. But they don't all need to be answered in one night..."
"...Heh...I guess you're right. We do have more than enough time to worry about them..."
They were quiet for a while after that, just focusing on enjoying each other's company. It was that short amount of time which gave Shizuo an idea for another question.
"Hey, Izaya...I do have a question to ask you this time..."
"...Hm?"
Shizuo was quiet for a few seconds as he tried to think of how to word his thoughts out loud. Then, finally, he had it. "That day, when you...you know, left... Where did you go? What did you do?"
Izaya was a bit taken aback by the question, but then again, it was a subject that was bound to come up at some point. He wasn't really sure how to respond to that, however, because from the time he had left up until now, it had all just seemed like one never-ending day. For one thing, he originally got out of the city to hide the fact that he was ageless. After that, he had to take care of a lot involving that very matter, before he officially went into a long half century of hiding.
"Well, you know why I left...mainly the same reason you eventually had to. I couldn't stay in one city without people noticing that I didn't age. So, I laid low for a bit, I cut off all ties with people I used to associate with, that sort of thing. After all of that was taken care of, I actually didn't go that far. I stayed in a couple different cities for a few years at a time, and I slightly changed my appearance as well as my name."
"Hm, so you dropped wearing your old jacket entirely... Also, you changed your name? What name did you go by? Do you still go by it now?"
Izaya chuckled quietly from all of the questions, nodding his head.
"Yes...I still have my old jacket, but it's safely stored away in my closet. As for the name... In case you're wondering what name, I went by Hibiya. But I still kept my last name. At one point, I had to pretend that I was my own grandson, since someone happened to recognize my surname... But aside from Celty, Shinra, and now you, no one else knows my true identity."
He let out a simple sigh, gaze looking to the ceiling before it went back to his companion. There was a twinkle of amusement in his crimson eyes as he went on.
"But of course, I would prefer to go by my real name around those who do know who I am. I hardly interact with others nowadays anyway, unless it's necessary, so... I needn't worry about using my false identity very often. It's mostly for legal purposes and the like..."
"...Still clever as always, eh?" Shizuo chuckled, reaching his hand out to gently ruffle Izaya's hair. In turn, Izaya narrowed his eyes in a playful manner, quickly moving forward and running his fingers through Shizuo's hair, as if to mimic the other's actions, before tilting his head curiously.
"Say, Shizu-chan..." He kept on brushing the chestnut hair, finding it ridiculous how quickly addicting such a simple action could be. "Your hair... When did you stop being blonde?"
His fingers didn't stop until it was a bit too silent for his liking. He paused his actions, watching Shizuo's face for any sign of a reply. Izaya stopped staring when it became apparent that his companion might not answer, his eyes flicking to the fabric of Shizuo's shirt. However, a few moments later, he heard the other speak again.
"...When I stopped feeling dangerous." Was the simple response.
Izaya stared a bit longer, before those words sunk in, and he understood. The whole reason Shizuo had gone blonde in the first place had been a suggestion of one of his friends a while back. The blonde hair, similar to a yellow yield sign, meant to serve as a sort of 'warning' to others, indicating that Shizuo was someone to avoid...that he was someone dangerous. It did well with it's purpose while it lasted.
"...Ah..." Izaya was quiet this time. He detected a small hint of sadness in Shizuo's words, knowing very well about his past. But he also figured it was a good thing. If Shizuo didn't feel like he was a danger to others anymore, then...the change of blonde to brunette made sense...and in turn, that had to be a positive thing. Shinra did, after all, mention that Shizuo had learned to control his anger and keep himself calm.
However, just because he didn't feel dangerous anymore, didn't mean that the hair color had to go permanently, so to speak. It was understandable if it was also one way to change his image, just as Izaya had done when he hid for a while. Although, curiosity was part of Izaya's nature, and he smiled kindly towards the other, still keeping his fingers in the soft hair.
"You didn't look so bad with it, you know... Although, now that I've seen you with your natural color..." Izaya brought up his other hand this time, frowning to himself as he gently brushed it down on either side. "Jeez Shizu-chan, you look good either way..."
Izaya had a strange and almost determined look on his face, as if this very subject matter were so intriguing. He didn't even realize what exactly he had said...because if he had, he would probably not be feeling so bold at the moment. At least, Shizuo liked to think so. He was secretly hoping to see a flustered Izaya.
"Well then, I-za-ya..." Shizuo tried to get the reaction he wanted, looking the dark brunette right in the eye as he spoke his name in syllables. "Since you're so keen on either one, I'll let you decide if I dye it back or not."
Not a moment later, Izaya's own past words seemed to finally come back to him, and a light tinge of pink dusted his cheeks as he slowly removed his hands from the soft hair. There it was, the sort of reaction Shizuo had been wanting to see. With a proud chuckle, Shizuo leaned in to kiss his nose before pulling away, taking the smaller hands into his.
"Hm...why don't we go out together for dinner? I'm curious to see if the city has changed very much... I've only been back a couple days and only really hung around the park, as you know. Maybe you could reintroduce me to 'Bukuro."
Izaya, having recovered a little bit from the small moment of embarrassment, smiled up with a small nod in the other's direction. He was very pleased with that idea, especially knowing that he got to show him around...and they would be together this time.
"...I'd like that... Sure, let's do that." He nodded again, returning the kiss that had been left on his nose by leaning up to leave one on Shizuo's forehead. He decided that he could get used to being affectionate, especially now that he had someone to give affection to.
Both of them had lacked so much for so long, and Izaya was amazed that either of them had made it this far. Izaya had always been alone, and he had come to accept that no one liked him. He never truly had anyone he could trust or depend on. He had grown accustomed to that knowledge, often using it to his advantage in the past. It could easily be said that all of that loneliness had built up, leading to his strange obsession with the human race and a false declaration of love for all human beings...eventually making it impossible for him to even care about having the real thing, let alone begin to comprehend what it might be like.
A half century of complete loneliness really got him thinking.
As it did for Shizuo.
The ex-bodyguard had, believe it or not, been in a very similar predicament. Although, the difference was that he had actually enjoyed his extra time, and he had learned to better himself. He had made several accomplishments which he could go on to be proud of.
Izaya had certainly learned a thing or two as well, but compared to Shizuo, his time had been similar to being condemned. He couldn't remember really ever being happy, and the mere fact that he wasn't going to die very easily actually began to...depress him. He had even thought about it a few times... If an immortal being were to end their own life, then...surely that was possible. It was quite ironic, really, how much Izaya had feared death before...and it ended up being something he had wished for many times. Death, certainly, had to be better than being all alone for eternity. He could only ever hope that if he did manage to end it all, that some god out there would accept him after all of this time...because he was certain that he had made up for his past with all of the time he was forced to walk all alone in the very pain which he had created for himself. All of it was slowly breaking him from the inside, and there were several times that he wondered if he already had broken. Sometimes, the pain got to a point where it became too numb to be sure...
But each time he felt like he was going to lose hope, one person came to mind. It was ironic, especially because it would be thought that he would be the very last person Izaya would think of in a moment of desperation. Izaya only ever knew of Shizuo's undeniable hatred for him, and for years he had claimed that the feeling was mutual.
But deep down, he just couldn't ever truly hate him.
Of course, that would have to mean that he would need to quit his act around Shizuo. All of the taunting, teasing, and supposed hatred had been a huge lie. Izaya still did these things, having long convinced himself of some sort of confusing idea that he thought he understood, but he really didn't. He had no actual base for hating Shizuo...but over the years in his solitude, he had come to a few likely conclusions as to why he had believed otherwise.
He admired Shizuo's god-like strength...he envied how a human with such strength could be just as feared as he was, yet have people he cared about, who also cared about him...while Izaya had nothing. Looking at everything from that perspective, Izaya had begun to wonder if he had actually been yearning for just that...for the one person he gave the most attention to and spent the most time on...to actually care about him. He wasn't asking for much...just for one person to appreciate his very existence.
But...when had it turned into love?
Izaya knew that he had an obvious obsession for the blonde at the time, and even others could see something that he could not. He didn't understand it before, but with each passing year away from everything, he had come to realize... He never loved the human race...in fact, he was sick of them. He saw all of the horrible things that human beings were capable of, what they did...and as he remembered all that he had witnessed, he came to realize... He never really cared about human beings at all. He never loved any of them...that is, except for one individual person.
Shizuo Heiwajima.
His love for him had stemmed from his admiration, and from what kind of person he knew Shizuo was behind that anger and strength. Maybe it was because Izaya wanted to become a person just like that...
He could never pinpoint exactly why it had been Shizuo that made it into his cold heart, but then again, there was no clear reason why. Sometimes, love would come unannounced, and sometimes, there didn't need to be a reason why it appears.
That was exactly it. For Izaya, coming to love Shizuo simply...happened.
Shizuo didn't deserve how Izaya had treated him in the past. Izaya knew this, and he had so much regret. But he had driven himself into such a deep hole, having believed and accepted that love, for him, didn't exist. He had been happy to get the attention from Shizuo...even if it were pure hatred directed at him each and every time they confronted one another. At least he was constantly on Shizuo's mind, and that was enough to keep pushing him to fuel the hatred. Because to Izaya, if he had tried to be kind to his monster, he had been certain that the kindness would be instantly rejected without a second thought.
Eventually, Izaya realized...the only way for someone to care about him, was to care about them first. If only he had been kinder to Shizuo in the very beginning...if he had tried to get close to his heart instead of trying to be the one person he hated the most... Then maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have lived these past years in such sorrow. He knew that he deserved it...all of it. Now he only wanted so desperately to take what he had learned and start over.
It was then that he thought it would be best if he made amends for it...right now. He had already been quiet for a while, and Shizuo noticed how Izaya's head was hanging low, as if something were troubling him. He was about to reach out to console his companion, but Izaya spoke before a hand could be lifted.
"...Shizuo...I want to say something… No. I need to say this… For all of those things that I did to you back then..." He spoke just loud enough to be heard, but his words were still close to a whisper. "…I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
Shizuo stared for a moment or two, watching the contorted look of pain and resentment which was clearly on the other's face. He sighed lightly, finally reaching out as he had intended, putting a hand on the side of Izaya's face and rubbing soothing circles with his thumb.
"...Izaya...I got over all of it...a long time ago... But...if it makes you feel better, then...I still accept your apology...for everything. Like I said before, I'm pretty sure that we both changed...in a good way. That was our past, so let's just focus on making a happy future for us, okay?"
Izaya leaned into Shizuo's gentle touch as he spoke, each and every word making the guilt and ache in his chest gradually melt. It was amazing what such simple words of forgiveness could do, and Izaya was all the more astonished that this was all it took to make him feel better. This was what he had needed for all of these years...he needed closure.
But he also got something else out of all of it...something that he never even expected to be possible.
Shizuo's mutual affections.
This reminder made Izaya smile again, and he moved forward, hugging himself to Shizuo's body. Shizuo returned the embrace, always glad to have the one he loved in his arms.
"...Alright...now that that's all settled, you want to get going?"
Izaya nodded against his chest, the fingers of his hand lightly grasping the fabric of Shizuo's shirt. He would have preferred to stay like that for just a little bit longer, honestly having needed the comforting and loving contact. Shizuo seemed to be able to sense this, allowing the other to savor the moment for as long as he wanted. Contradictory to his words, Shizuo didn't mind if they didn't leave anytime soon. It wasn't like they were in a hurry or had to worry about time.
Eventually, the embrace did end. That is, after about an hour of them sitting on the couch, Shizuo holding Izaya close while he remained in his lap. The ex-bodyguard couldn't be more perfect in his actions than he had been. He really did understand what Izaya needed...he knew about all the years of being alone he had been through, and not once did he deny him any request. If Izaya wanted to sit there for a whole hour in his arms without them exchanging any words, he allowed it. His Izaya was delicate right now, and the whole idea of being loved was somewhat foreign to each of them, although, it was more so newer to Izaya. Shizuo was prepared to give Izaya all of the love that he could give, if he was so willing to accept. So far, he had been more than happy to.
Shizuo led the way out the door of his apartment, holding Izaya's hand in his, walking in the direction which was permanently marked into his mind towards the main center of the city. They had decided on the classic Russia Sushi for their meal of choice. Even though Izaya had eaten there just the day before, he didn't mind going again.
They made it to the restaurant not long after, enjoying a satisfactory meal. Shizuo admitted that he had missed that place, and surprisingly, even Simon. Even though he managed to piss him off from time to time.
Once they had finished, they headed towards a few familiar places. Shizuo had asked Izaya to show him around again, so he did just that. They ended up just walking around Ikebukuro for a couple hours more, before they finally decided to go back to the apartment. Shizuo had suggested that they could watch a movie or something, although, Izaya had been hoping to just talk a little bit more. They had agreed to not worry about asking so many questions at a time, but Izaya did have a few more things to ask, all which had been on his mind. He supposed that it couldn't hurt to bring them up.
Right after they had entered the apartment, Izaya admitted that he wanted to talk some more before they considered watching a movie. Luckily, his companion didn't mind it at all. With a smile, Izaya sat beside the other, situating himself comfortably. Shizuo returned the smile with one of his own, pulling the darker brunette into his lap and keeping him close. Once they were in place, they were in a very similar position from just before they had gone out a few hours ago.
Izaya decided that now was the perfect time to ask his next set of questions.
He was quiet for a long while, contemplating whether or not to ask the first question he had. Admittedly, it was something that he wanted to know now, before he would feel entirely at ease in their new relationship. Regardless of the answer, he just wanted get this over with and be sure...
"...Shizuo...so, for as long as you've been around, you never were with...anyone else?"
The room seemed to become deathly silent after he had spoken...at least, it was that way only to Izaya. Shizuo stared at him for a moment, the other starting to feel as though that might not have been the best question to ask. Especially with how Shizuo was looking at him, almost as if it were stupid to ask about. Even worse, Izaya began to feel afraid of what the answer might be...
'...That was a stupid question... I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place... It's sort of personal information anyway...'
After the seemingly long moment of suspense, Shizuo finally broke it. What happened next made Izaya let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in, as Shizuo gave a soft smile, shaking his head.
"...Nah. There was no point anyway..."
Now this came as an actual surprise to Izaya, yet, he couldn't help the wave of relief that went through him. Sure, now that he thought about it, his reasoning had been that Shizuo would avoid being around others due to fear of his strength. But even so, Izaya wanted to know more...
"...Besides, I didn't want anyone else. I chose the person I wanted to be with a long time ago."
"...Huh?"
"You, silly. How could I ever be with anyone else? I really didn't want to, especially with you being on my mind all the time..."
This new information made Izaya's face heat up. He wasn't sure how to take it, but he only knew that he was all the more ecstatic about what he was learning as time went on.
However, something else was still on his mind that he wanted to ask about.
"...But...Shizuo...I need to know something else..."
He was thinking that his next question might be nonsensical at this point in time, but it wasn't like he wasn't curious. He was quite pleased with how everything had turned out so far, however, he wanted to know more about what Shizuo was thinking. Shizuo had wanted him for so long, as Izaya had wanted him for just as long. But even so, what he wished to ask next had to be reasonable, right?
"...I have to know... How is it…that you could feel this way about me? You knew what I was like before I left...and even though I'm not exactly the same person now than I was back then... Are you sure? Are you sure that you want to be with me? I already know that you've made many changes yourself, so now it's almost like we're...two different people..."
Shizuo was silent as he considered Izaya's words. The man before him had definitely changed. He wasn't an informant anymore, he no longer messed with people's lives, and his ambition to become a god basically sunk once it was apparent that he was an immortal anyway. His 'love' of humans had long turned into a past hobby that only bored him now, and above all else, there was only one person he held any interest in, let alone true feelings of love. Shizuo.
The same question could even be asked of Izaya. Shizuo was also quite different, no longer a bodyguard of a debt-collector, no longer dealing with any anger problems, and especially having become much more calm and even patient... It was this quality which led him to finally answer a waiting Izaya.
"...Heh...I could ask you the very same thing, Izaya... but I already know what you'd say. I know that you're sure about this...and I know that you want to...be with me."
He gave a knowing smile, confident that he could still read Izaya even after all of this time. Izaya, in turn, had that look on his face, as if he knew he had been caught. Shizuo was right...he was more than correct. Except this time, Izaya wasn't irritated with the fact. No...he had missed this. He had missed having someone around...the only person who had ever been capable of reading him without him having to say a single word. It was this sort of connection that made him all the more joyous to have Shizuo back into his life. He could feel himself smile as he heard the very voice he had grown to adore speak to him again.
"...You know I...I learned quite a lot about you as time went on. More than I knew before. Celty had been telling that idiot doctor about conversations she had with you. He'd tell me in his emails about how different you had become and...let's face it, I was still in denial about what I felt for a while there after you left the city. But once I knew more about this situation I was in for...being young forever...having all of this time to think really helped, and when I heard about how much you missed me... That did it. I knew then that I had to come back. It had to be you. Even before I knew you were immortal, thinking back to it all, there was no one else I could ever see myself with."
Shizuo immediately pulled Izaya closer, looking him in the eye as he spoke with an earnest tone of voice.
"So my answer for you is yes. Yes, I'm sure. Yes, I want to be with you. We might have changed a bit, but I'd say that those changes only improved us compared to what we were before. I didn't want to be alone, and I sure as hell didn't want you to be all alone forever. So with that said, I don't want you to doubt what we have now for even a single moment."
He gently stroked the side of Izaya's face, giving him a warm smile.
"...You and I both know that...we belong together. Look, Izaya... "
With that, he brought his hand down to Izaya's, lacing their fingers together and smiling even wider, demonstrating how perfectly they fit together. Izaya stared at their now-intertwined fingers, eyes widening as he realized just how right Shizuo was.
This whole time, they only ever had eyes for each other. So what if the two of them had changed in a few ways here and there? It simply meant that they grew up, finally learning their lessons, so to speak. Now that they had finally matured, they could move on. This time, they could do it together.
"...I do believe that...Shizuo..."
To show how much his words had meant to him, Izaya smiled and leaned up, lightly pressing his lips to Shizuo's, for what he had intended to be a simple and loving kiss. Shizuo was caught off-guard for a short moment, however, once he registered what was happening, he immediately seemed to have an alternate plan. He returned the gentle kiss, only to gradually evolve it into something deeper. Izaya wasn't expecting that move, especially because this was now only the second time they had kissed. Naturally, it came as unpredictable to Izaya...although, that had always been one of the reasons he was drawn to Shizuo. He gave in to the deepening kiss not long after, kissing back and granting his partner what he wanted.
Even if they were new to this, neither really cared how sloppy or neat it might have been as the kiss gradually became more heated. They just barely separated for a breath, knowing that they would need as much air to fill their lungs as possible, before lips were joined yet again.
In an attempt to experiment some more, warm muscles met within the intensity of the moment. Each individual found this quite pleasant, only further encouraging their continuing curiosity. Their hands lightly skimmed over each other's bodies, shyly at first, only to get almost desperate with each growing second. Every touch that Shizuo left on Izaya's body felt like fire, and it only left him wanting nothing more than to feel as much as Shizuo could possibly give to him.
Air became a necessity once more, and they regrettably broke apart to catch their breathes. Hands remained still on each other's bodies, eyes opening to meet gazes as each of them exchanged a silent request. Shizuo's stare seemed to say, "I don't think that I can hold back... Can I have you?" In turn, the glint in Izaya's scarlet orbs confirmed everything, both pairs of eyes closing once more as faces came closer. Lips slowly brushed against lips, before they finally joined together and touches roamed almost eagerly over waiting bodies.
Neither of them were aware of when they began to lose articles of clothing, or even when they had entered Shizuo's bedroom. But they remained distracted, as they were driven only by desire and the need of each other.
Soft gasps and other sensual sounds filled the usually quiet apartment, accompanied with an occasional creaking of the bed. Clothing laid scattered all across the floor leading up to the bedroom, their primary usage no longer necessary for the time being.
The two men were now lost in their passionate act, any other thoughts left completely forgotten as they indulged in being together in the deepest way they could be.
Shizuo moved slowly within his lover, being ever so gentle as to not cause harm. So far, he was doing well, giving his partner something very pleasant and quite the opposite from pain.
He kept his eyes on Izaya...his vibrant and beautiful Izaya, who was now completely and forever his.
When Izaya arched his back at one particular movement, Shizuo admired just how perfect his lover looked as his body curved, how he practically shivered and tightened his hold around the other's body, hugging himself closer and letting out a shuddered gasp. Hearing such sounds and seeing such a sight of his lover only encouraged Shizuo, and he was determined to hear and see even more.
Shizuo kissed down the soft pale skin, taking care to leave very clear evidence that the man below him truly belonged to him. He wasn't the only one leaving behind markings, however, as Izaya made a few of his own while he muffled his soft cries against Shizuo's warm skin. From there, instinct took over, and they both had only one thought prominent in their heads as they marked each other's bodies...
'Mine'.
More sounds of pleasure escaped his lover's lips as the movements increased, now becoming much more needy, hot kisses trailing up his neck until lips melted together into another of several kisses that night. As Shizuo's mouth covered Izaya's, he indulged in the satisfaction of the low moans accompanying his actions, each of them swallowed as lips moved together almost perfectly.
Throughout it all, neither of them spoke any words, only communicating through their actions of love and need. Shizuo pulled away to stare directly into half-lidded scarlet orbs, able to read them as they conveyed so much more than what simple words could describe. Their warm breath mingled as Shizuo leaned down to kiss those soft lips once more, wanting to give each of them their fill. It was then, and only then, that words were finally exchanged...three simple words, which were uttered softly. "I love you..." Right after that, lips met and bodies joined once more as their passion was further ignited.
That night, all of the long years of imprisoned emotions and built-up tension were finally released.
Several hours later, the morning sunlight came through the sides of the curtains. Izaya breathed in and out softly as he slowly awoke from his sleep, turning his body around, only for his head to bump into something firm yet soft. He gradually opened his eyes, letting out an inaudible gasp at what he saw. He stared at the chest of the one before him, then let his eyes wander up to see the peaceful face of the one he loved, who was sleeping soundly. This was one sight he never thought he would ever wake up to, and now that it was actually happening... He took in the sight that was in front of him, almost forgetting to breathe before he felt warm tears start to run down his cheeks, moving himself closer to bury his face into the other's chest.
"...Shizuo..." He spoke out in an almost choked whisper, keeping himself close, wanting nothing more than to be held by his lover.
"...Nn..." There was a quiet groan as the other started to wake up as well, tiredly blinking down at Izaya before his eyes opened up fully upon feeling a wetness soaking his shirt, seeing the smaller body shuddering against him and keeping his face hidden. "...Izaya?" Not even waiting for a response, Shizuo immediately wrapped his arms securely around the other, holding him tightly.
"...Shi-...Shizuo..." He kept spilling tears, not sure if he could stop. "...You're really here..." He spoke in a quiet whisper.
"...Izaya..." He started to rub the other's back soothingly. "It's alright...Of course I'm here...I'm not going anywhere..."
"...This...is this a dream? ...Please don't let this be a dream... Because if it is, then I don't want to wake up..."
Shizuo paused, finding what his lover had said to be somewhat unexpected. But then from there, he pieced together that, perhaps, it had been a troublesome thought, having something to do with what the brunette had just said. Resting his chin above the other's head, he spoke softly, running his fingers through the dark hair soothingly. "And why is that, Izaya?"
"...Because... I can't bear the thought of ever waking again if...you aren't beside me... Shizuo, I...I'd be miserable without you..."
Shizuo was quiet for a moment after that, but he continued to stroke his lover's hair and keep him close, pulling him even closer to silently let him know it would be alright. After a few peaceful moments, he spoke.
"...This isn't a dream."
He gently lifted Izaya's chin with his thumb and index finger, making the other look him in the eye. He gave him a gentle smile, before leaning down to softly press his lips against Izaya's. It took him a few seconds before he realized what was happening, and then he returned the kiss, finding satisfaction and comfort in knowing now that this was reality. The kiss was passionate, yet somehow sweet and gentle at the same time, conveying so many feelings that didn't need to be spoken out loud in order to be understood.
When he finally pulled away, Shizuo gently cupped the side of Izaya's face, lightly bumping their foreheads together so that they were looking directly into each other's eyes.
"I'm here...and I love you. I'll make sure that you'll never be lonely ever again. I promise to stay with you forever."
Izaya took in each and every word, letting them sink in before he was able to respond. "...Shizuo..." He breathed out his lover's name, closing his eyes as he willed himself to relax, a soft smile accompanying his features not long after. "...Thank you, Shizuo...and I love you, too...so much..."
"Good." Shizuo smiled wider this time, kissing him once more before just barely pulling away. He kept the other close, then moved his head down, pressing his face onto Izaya's neck with a quiet hum. "...I don't think that I could handle not having you beside me, either..." He spoke quietly, nuzzling Izaya's neck before trailing a few soft butterfly kisses up his skin and to his jaw. "...Hm...oh. How are you feeling? You know...since-..." He swallowed lightly, finding it slightly difficult to speak of the previous night's event. He kept his face hidden, hoping that Izaya would understand what he was trying to say.
Izaya blinked, before a light pink dusted his cheeks, knowing quite well what his lover was attempting to ask. As the heat from his face gradually went down, he ran his fingers through chestnut hair, resting his chin on top of Shizuo's head with a small sigh. "...A little bit stiff... But other than that, it's really nothing mentionable to worry about..." He chuckled softly, reassuring his lover and then proceeding to kiss the top of his head.
Shizuo visibly relaxed, slowly lifting his head with a slight smile, only to lean back in and hug Izaya closer, placing his face back against the soft skin of Izaya's neck. "...I'm glad. I don't want to ever hurt you, so..." He continued to hold Izaya, just enjoying having him in his arms. "...I'm so glad..."
It was a while longer before Izaya heard light breathing, indicating that Shizuo had fallen back asleep. He lifted his head to get a look, then smiled gently once he saw for himself. Because he finally felt so at peace, he eventually was able to drift off once again, the soft smile remaining on his face.
They both went on to sleep for the rest of the morning.
Hello hello! Milarius-san here.
Well, there's only one chapter left, and then this story will be finished!
Thank you to everyone who has read and supported so far.
As always, reviews are loved~
