chapter fourteen - of secrets and secretaries

After seeing a small glimpse at Izaya's "not-in-denial" side, Shizuo thought maybe the informant had changed, even if just a little bit.

Waking up the next morning only proved him wrong.

The blonde woke up to a slash in yet another one of his bartender shirts, a small bit of blood dappling onto the couch as a result. Sitting up, he realized there was a knife stuck in his left arm, and another in his right. "What the hell...?"

"Just a little something you deserved," Izaya sing-songed from nearby, Shizuo narrowing his eyes at the obnoxious tone.

"What do you mean, 'something I deserved'?"

Izaya smirked. "Not telling."

"What are you, five?"

"If anyone's the five-year old here, I think it's you," Izaya replied as Shizuo pulled the knives out. Smirking to himself, Shizuo waited until the informant had his back to him, aiming the knives at him and throwing them, one barely grazing Izaya's shoulder.

"Shizu-chan!" Izaya yelped, whirling around to face him once more, picking the knives up and placing them in his pockets.

Shizuo's smirk refused to fade as he let out a small chuckle. "Hey, my own flea dartboard. Always wanted one of those."

Izaya narrowed his eyes, taking his switchblade out of his pocket and aiming it at his secretary, pausing when Shizuo held his hands up, lowering it. "Here I thought we were on better terms."

"You started it."

"Yup, definitely a five-year old," Izaya muttered, sitting down on the couch beside him and tossing his folded switchblade between his hands.

"Hey, just because we're on better terms doesn't mean we still can't have a bit of fun here and there," Shizuo shrugged. Not like I really want him to get hurt or anything...damn, I've got to make up my mind.

"I suppose you have a point," Izaya replied, setting the blade down on the coffee table.

Shizuo nodded, leaning forward and gazing over at the informant. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

Izaya huffed in amusement. "Someone's perky this morning. And here I thought for sure you'd be at my knees, begging me to take a break."

"Well, I know you'd work anyway, so I figured I may as well not bother."

"Oh, you knew, ne?"

"Yeah, I knew."

Izaya managed a small smirk. "Well, I suppose we could start by cleaning this place up. Honestly, have you ever heard of spring cleaning?"

"It's not even that messy!" Shizuo protested, Izaya raising an eyebrow at him.

"It's disorganized, to say the least. When I have clients visiting, I want my own little area," Izaya replied, standing up and gesturing towards a mostly vacant corner. "Like...there. That way, I can have my own space, and you can have yours."

Shizuo blinked. "Wait, you're already going to have personal client meetings?"

Izaya narrowed his eyes defensively. "Yes, is that a problem?"

The blonde shook his head. "No, not at all."

"Good. Now, what to work with..."

"I could go out and buy you a couple of things."

Izaya blinked. "You have the money?"

Shizuo gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah. Kasuka actually gave me a bit of extra..."

"Well, then, I'll have to remember to pay him once things get back to normal, I suppose. And pay you," Izaya managed a small laugh. "You didn't even get your first paycheck!"

"I expect triple when you do get the money."

"Double. Take it or leave it."

"Fine. But whatever I buy you from now, it's on your tab."

"No," Izaya said simply, folding his arms at the other man.

Shizuo let out a sigh. "Fine, I tried. Anyway, anything in particular you want?"

"A desk, obviously. And a swivel chair. It has to be a swivel chair. A bookshelf would be nice, too," Izaya started, gazing around the apartment. "I see someone doesn't read. Typical."

"There's one in my room, smartass."

"Oops, must've slipped my mind. I thought for sure you'd be the illiterate type."

"Izaya..."

Izaya smirked. "Did I strike a nerve? Oops. Didn't think you'd become temperamental again so quickly."

"Just shut up, and don't touch anything. I'll go get your stuff," Shizuo mumbled, snatching his keys from the table and locking the door behind him. May as well get some fatty tuna while I'm at it. The blonde took in a deep breath, releasing it as he slumped slightly against the door for a moment. What am I even doing anymore? One minute I'm almost pissed off and the next...I just don't get it.

The feeling of standing on the beach came back to him then, a lingering sense from when their fingertips briefly touched remaining. What are you playing at, Izaya?

Still, he went and got a cheap desk and swivel chair, dropping them off and heading out to grab some fatty tuna, afterwards realizing one thing he had forgotten.

"Tom."

Shizuo narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists in anger towards his stupidity. Shit. What time is it?

Thankfully, he still had an hour left, probably a little more if he hurried, which he did, bursting inside his apartment and tossing Izaya the box of fatty tuna before bolting to the bathroom.

"Someone's in a hurry," Izaya commented, opening the box and plopping a piece in his mouth. "What, do you have a date?"

"Work, you little shit," Shizuo called back, Izaya chuckling to himself.

"Honestly, Shizu-chan, you're quite aggressive this morning."

Shizuo's only reply was turning the shower on.

Izaya let out a small sigh in disappointment, finishing up his ootoro and laying down, taking his phone out and pulling up the Dollars chat.

Shizuo came back out about twenty minutes later, hurrying around to pull himself together, Izaya's gaze drifting towards him every once in a while, amused by the sight, especially when Shizuo fumbled with his bowtie.

"Technical difficulties?"

"Don't you have work to do?"

"Don't answer my questions with a question."

Shizuo sighed, slipping his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, and as he lit one, rolled his eyes when Izaya let out a fake cough.

"If you're going to light your cancer sticks, could you do it outside?"

"My house, my rules. If you prefer, I could have dropped you off in an alley."

"First of all, this is an apartment," Izaya smirked. "Second of all, I think I'm content here."

Of course you are. Shizuo sighed, turning so the smoke blew away from Izaya. "There, this better?"

"Just go," Izaya mumbled, Shizuo managing a small smile and locking the door behind him yet again.

Locking me in, ne? Izaya raised an eyebrow, though didn't approach the door just yet, instead setting his laptop down at his new desk, swiveling around in the chair for a moment before pausing. He was about to open the laptop up when his ringtone sounded, pulling his phone out and smirking when he saw the name on the caller ID. "Hello, Namie-chan."

"Wasn't sure you were going to answer. You only have, what, twenty phones?"

"For your information, it's only twelve," Izaya replied, thinking to himself, Though soon it will probably only be down to one.

"Sure. Anyway, I assume you know why I'm calling."

"What, lost your brother again?"

"I want my job back."

"Willingly?"

"Sadly."

Izaya let out a fake gasp. "Namie, I'm hurt!"

Namie sighed. "Cry my a river, build me a bridge, and get over it."

"Cynical as ever, I see," Izaya murmured, starting to swirl around in his chair again. "Anyway, I don't think you're aware, but I won't be able to pay you for a while."

Namie was surprisingly unfazed by this. "Okay."

"What's this?" Izaya smirked, about to continue but stopped himself. "Well, I'd be glad to have you back."

"You keep telling yourself that," With that, she hung up, leaving Izaya to text her one last note before setting his phone down. Hopefully Shizu-chan won't mind.

Hopefully? Honestly... The informant sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.

Everyone has a foil.

Coming home to see an asleep Izaya on his couch was definitely not on Shizuo's agenda.

The blonde laughed to himself at the thought of Izaya acting normal again, yet regaining that innocent smile on his face when he was asleep, though as before, it still puzzled him. You can't help but wonder what goes on in that twisted head of his.

Hesitantly, Shizuo stepped forward and shook Izaya's shoulder gently. "Izaya?"

"Welcome back, protozoan," Izaya said softly, smile instantly replaced by his smirk. "Did you kill anyone today?"

"Shut up," Shizuo muttered, sitting down at the informant's feet and nudging them aside, Izaya kicking him feebly in return. "How about you? Ruin any lives?"

"No, actually. Though, Namie is coming back to work with me now," Izaya replied smoothly, recognizing a bit of concern in Shizuo's expression. "Don't worry, you can keep your night shift."

"Looks like there won't be a night shift today, though."

"I'm not that tired," Izaya protested, yawning immediately after he finished, earning a smirk from Shizuo.

"One more hour," The informant murmured, reaching over to grab his phone.

"Fine," Shizuo replied, grabbing the TV remote and doing a bit of channel surfing, settling on a random horror movie. Izaya was amused by this, though didn't say anything until about an hour in, with Shizuo somehow wrapped up.

"She dies."

"Alright then, Mr. God Complex," Shizuo muttered, rolling his eyes.

Izaya simply smirked. "It's what I do best."

"Yeah, I've noticed."

"What, you can see it happening from a mile away!"

Shizuo nodded though didn't bother to reply, leaving their usual silence to return, and with this, Shizuo realized after a while that Izaya had fallen asleep again. Chuckling to himself, he grabbed the other man's phone before it fell out of his hand, setting it down on the coffee table. He felt bad about just leaving the informant to sleep on the couch, but he figured if he carried him out, he'd be dead by morning. So, he gave one last look to Izaya before heading down to his room, a small smile creeping onto his face, though he didn't pay any mind to it.

Good night, flea.

"Ah, Shizu-chan, you're up," Izaya called as Shizuo returned to the living room the next morning, noticing that Namie had already arrived. She simply raised an eyebrow at him, leaving him to assume that Izaya hadn't told her what exactly was going on.

"So, this is your secretary you told me nothing about," Shizuo replied, Namie unflinching.

"Likewise for you."

Out of the corner of his eye, Shizuo could Izaya fighting the urge to laugh, though he took a deep breath, stepping between the two. "Now, now, you two, be nice. We don't need competition."

"I won't even be here when she is, so I see no problem," Shizuo replied, facing Namie again who was still blank, almost.

"You're here now."

Izaya managed a small chuckle then, popping up behind Shizuo and nudging him towards the door. "Right then. Shouldn't you be leaving, Shizu-chan?"

"Someone's in a hurry to get rid of me. And out of my own apartment, at that," Shizuo murmured, sliding his sunglasses on and stepping out, closing the door behind him.

Namie turned back towards Izaya, a questioning gaze in her eyes. "Care to tell me what's going on?"

Izaya shrugged, sitting back down in his chair and shifting it from side to side. "It's a bit of a story."

"I have time."

Letting out a small sigh, Izaya began to explain, obviously leaving out a few details. He was used to Namie's criticism at this point, but with that besides the point, she didn't need a whole life story. Plus, if she heard about the kiss, she would never let him live that one down. After all, as he told Shizuo, an informant has his secrets.

When he was finished, Namie simply nodded. "Sounds like you've been pretty busy."

"Quite," Izaya replied, attention reverting back to his laptop as he scrolled through his email, groaning at the sight of his inbox. It seems like all of Ikebukuro will have come to me in just this past month...

Namie peered over his shoulder, letting out a small chuckle. "What, work getting too much for you?"

"Of course not, my dear Namie-chan," Izaya brushed it off lightly. "I'm just amazed at how many people need information these days."

She wasn't buying it, though didn't say anything, except for a doubtful, "Mhmm," before turning towards the kitchen. "I assume Shizuo wouldn't mind if I just get a coffee, right?"

"Make yourself at home."

And so began their new trend - Shizuo leaving for work, Namie coming over, Shizuo coming home at about ten, Namie leaving, Shizuo having Sundays off, and Izaya working through all of this, settling in nicely to the new arrangement, though he would admit it was a bit tiresome after a while.

Shizuo, on the other hand, found himself a bit uncomfortable with this. It just felt strange, even though he only saw Namie for about an hour every day, save for Sunday. And, he wouldn't admit it to even himself, but Shizuo found himself starting to miss the days where it was just him and Izaya, whether this had only been a process for a month or not.

September was beginning to turn into October, and Shizuo was finding it hard to believe that it had already been almost two months since this all started.

Started with a kiss.

Of course, that had to come to him again. And of all moments, when Izaya was sitting straight across from him, eyes on him as Shizuo's eyes widened in disgust.

"You seem quite uncomfortable, Shizu-chan."

"This is just weird, that's all," Shizuo shrugged, attempting to evade the question, but Izaya caught him.

"Weird? How?"

Shizuo was a bit hesitant to reply, but he figured Izaya would pester him until it came out, so he made the decision to speak, only after Izaya had already gotten up and sat down beside him. "What, cat got your tongue?"

"Fine," The blonde muttered, shifting a bit. "It just feels weird getting along with you, alright?"

Izaya let out an amused huff. "I thought we already established that."

"I know, but," Shizuo paused, Izaya looking at him expectantly. "I guess I don't get what I'm trying to say here."

"I think you do."

"Of course you do."

Izaya smirked. "Never underestimate an informant."

"At least someone's back to normal," Shizuo muttered, earning an eyebrow raise from Izaya.

You don't even know, protozoan. "You're right. You really haven't been normal, Shizu-chan. Care to explain?"

"How do I explain something I don't even understand?"

"You don't even understand your own emotions?" Izaya laughed. "But you're just a protozoan."

Shizuo narrowed his eyes, turning back to face Izaya, and even though the informant was facing away, he noticed the surprising contrast in their expressions. Somehow, Izaya's smirk vanished, and that was at least worth a bit of concern. "I'm not that simple."

"You're right, you're extremely difficult to work with."

Shizuo placed his hand on Izaya's shoulder, making him face him. "Izaya, I'm being serious."

"And who says I'm not?" Izaya pointed out, not pulling away. "You're incredibly stubborn."

"So aren't you."

"At least I didn't force you to do anything."

"I don't force you to do anything!"

Izaya regained his usual smug look at this point, imitating Shizuo's tone as he replied. "Oh? I believe I've heard many a, 'Izaya, get the hell out of Ikebukuro!' in my day."

"That was then."

Izaya placed a finger over the blonde's lips, silencing him. "I wasn't finished."

Shizuo didn't reply, simply nodding as Izaya smirked at him.

"Let's see...you almost forced answers out of me over the whole kiss incident, you locked me inside of a hotel room, you pretty much forced me to take breaks..."

Shizuo made a small noise of protest, though went silent when Izaya cast him a threatening glare.

"I think I rest my case. I bet you can't name a single time I forced you to do something."

Shizuo rolled his eyes. You're pretty much forcing me to shut up. Does that count?

Izaya let out an amused huff, though didn't pull his finger away yet. "You know, this is nice, not having to hear you rant and rave..." he taunted, eyes gleaming in success, though Shizuo didn't protest. "Damn," The informant continued after a while, finally pulling his finger away. "Must be some internal conflict."

"Yeah, well, you're no therapist."

"I would be an amazing therapist."

"I wouldn't even pay you a quarter of a yen," Shizuo smirked.

Izaya feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt!"

"Go complain about it to Namie," Shizuo laughed, looking over at the clock for a brief second. "So, I assume you're staying up?"

"What, planning on forcing me to sleep?"

"Just get some sleep, flea," Shizuo replied, kicking his legs out as Izaya got up, slipping his jacket off and falling backwards onto the blonde's bed.

You really are something, Shizu-chan.

author's note~

Izaya Orihara for Best (/cough/) Therapist of 2014.

That is all.

xD

Finally got this chapter out. e-e Sorry about that guys. I know it's not that late (really only a day), but still. With me having two fics out now, I thought it was a little unfair, so I made sure I got this one updated first.

While I am happy about this chapter (minus that ugly time skip), I'm a bit clueless on where I'm going to take chapter fifteen, so it might be a bit delayed - unless I get another amazing 4am idea. xD I'll think of something, though, I promise.

So, I guess I'll see you then~