"I wanna go out," Delic exclaims, stamping his foot to the floor.

"Are you sure-"

"I'm going stir crazy cooped up! I'm not a chicken, I need to spread my wings!"

The corner of Shizuo's mouth twitches upwards. Delic's energy wasn't limited with his injured state, he still wanted to walk around his city and do things. The fact made Shizuo feel better. If his kid could keep positive and active, he wouldn't be at risk of falling into some of the pitfalls Shizuo himself fell into.

"Alright, but on one condition." The little brunet perks up with a nod. "Ya' gotta stay close and let me hold your shirt, since we can't hold hands."

"Okay!" Delic smiles broadly and Shizuo responds in kind.

"Lemme look up a map for this area on my phone. I don't really know where I'm going yet."

"What parts of the city do you know?"

"Mostly Ikebukuro, that's where I live and work, for the most part."

"Then let's just go there!"

"What? Delic, that might be a bit too dangerous right now." People don't recognize him here, they could walk around peacefully and window shop or whatever the fuck the kid wanted to do. Back in Ikebukuro, Shizuo will be recognized immediately and then everyone is gonna stare at the kid on his hip that's still too injured to properly defend himself.

"So?" The little boy shrugs. "I eat chips upside down even though that's dangerous and Miss Mari tells me not to."

"I heard that," the young woman's voice sing-songs from the other room, cueing Delic's shoulders to hunch up.

"Maybe we should wait til after your casts are off to go to Ikebukuro."

"But I've never been there before!"

"Really," Shizuo exhales, eyes narrowing in surprise. "Is there a reason or-"

"Miss Mari says it's filled with creepy old otaku and that I'd buy too much stuff if I walked around so many entertainment stores, but I won't! I promise!" Delic leans in, widening his eyes as far as they'll reasonably go before he looks surprised instead of pleading and softening his voice. "Please?"

Shizuo should be stronger than this, technically is, but he is weak to that look.

"Fine, but I'm serious, you can't leave my sight and I'm holding onto your-"

"Great! Let's go!"

The brunet's zipped to the front door before Shizuo can blink. He runs his fingers through his hair while watching the little boy toe his feet into his sneakers. This feels like a bad idea, a really bad idea, but he's going to trust in himself that he can keep Delic safe. He can't let his own fears get in the way of the kid's happiness. Worst comes to worst, he carries Delic around just so he's close enough and not at risk of being dragged away in the crowd. Your emotions are picked up and shared with your child, a parenting blog had said. If Shizuo lets his worries eat at him, then Delic will get upset too. This'll be the kid's first time in Shizuo's home district and he wants it to be a happy memory.

Once off of the train station, Delic shoots off like a rocket. Someone so small in comparison to Shizuo's own long legs shouldn't be so fast. He almost tears part of the brunet's shirt trying to keep up, stumbling forward like a dog owner led by their dog on the leash.

Delic stops in front of a map of the district, displayed on the wall of the train station. The blond lets his actions slide this time as he watches the kid examine the map with profound interest, eyes narrowed and roaming over all of the details.

"So, where do you wanna go first? Do you have a place in mind?"

"Sunshine 60? No,no! Otome Road first!"

"Okay, but there's no rush. We can always come back."

"I know!"

Shizuo eyes their route on the map before they head off. Delic keeps in step with his father as he takes shorter strides for the boy. The blond can't help himself, his eyes drifting off of the people in front of him to his son every three steps. Delic's eyes are naturally wide with wonder, his head turning with his gaze as he looks around at all of the shops and stores and advertisements. The kid has truly never been here before. Shizuo's not sure how to feel about that. On one hand, he doesn't like the thought of the kid seeing him at his worst first and possibly getting caught in some of the crossfire of his fights. On the other hand, maybe if Delic had seen what he could do and realized he wasn't alone with this curse, then the kid would've approached him earlier. None of it really matters now anyway, he's gotta stop thinking about these what-ifs of the past and live in the now.

"Dotachin, look! It's Shizu-Shizu!"

Shizuo's eyes narrow instinctively at the annoying nickname. He places his other hand on top of Delic's head to let him know that they're stopping as he turns towards the van parked along the street. Delic's head turns under Shizuo's light press, ruffling his hair as he looks at the four new strangers.

"Yo, Shizuo." Kadota nods, leaning off of the car.

"Hey."

"Feels like it's been awhile, man. Did you ever- Oh." Delic shifts himself closer to Shizuo's leg, inadvertently bringing attention to himself as he attempts to hide himself closer to his parent.

"It's okay, Delic. This is Kyohei Kadota, my friend and the reason I found out about you. Kadota, this is my son, Delic."

The trio conversing ignore Erika's excited gasp and cry of, "Papa Shizu-Shizu!"

The little brunet steps out from his spot partially behind Shizuo's leg to stand in-between the two men. "Thank you, Kadota-san." Delic says, voice and eyes filled with gratitude.

Kadota flushes minutely, adjusting his beanie out of habit. "You're welcome, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you," Delic responds easily, no longer shy with the older man.

Erika clamors out of the car noisily, letting Walker pop his head out from her spot in the backseat. The young woman kneels next to the little boy, examining him with frenzied enthusiasm. "Oh my gosh! He looks just like you! Miniature Shizu-Shizu is so adorable!"

"Back-up off of my kid," the blond seriously warns as he places protective hands on Delic's shoulders, though his words are entirely ignored by Erika in her momentary elation.

"My name is Delic," the little boy says as she leans closer. His eyes crinkle at the corners as his smile stretches smugly, tipping his head up and to the side. "And of course I'm adorable."

Erika goes as still as a figurine, eyes widening slowly and dramatically before she casually says, "Except your eyes, you have Iza-Iza's eyes." She pops up to stand, hands clasped together and shaking as if she were holding a maraca. "A love-child, I knew it! This is exactly the fluff piece my next doujin needs!"

"What?!" All four men in and outside of the van say, yell, and spit simultaneously. Delic blinks, eyes narrowing with curiosity, easily recognizing who the nickname is meant for. Shizuo releases the brunet to grasp Erika's collar and drag her forward.

His eyes are sharp and cold, boring into her own. "Don't ever say that my son's got anything of that bastard's."

"But, Shizu-" Walker shoots far enough out of the van window for his hooded sweatshirt to ride up, to latch his hands over Erika's mouth in time. "Mmph!"

Whispering as close into Erika's ear as he can, Walker says, "You really wanna rile Shizuo up while he's got his kid with him?!"

"Hey, Shizuo, just let it go," Kadota tries gingerly, attempting to come between the two with his arms. "It's just Erika. Y'know how she is. Let's not in front of the kid, yeah?" Shizuo releases his hold on her clothing with a nod at the other man. He frowns, feeling a bit embarrassed by his actions now, knowing that his kid just watched him threaten the young woman. Kadota pats his shoulder in thanks and relief.

However, Delic hardly cares about that, still eying Erika and the rest of the van gang oddly. "Is that Izaya guy really famous or something?" He asks suddenly, turning all of their heads towards him.

"Izaya Orihara's really dangerous, kid. Don't get involved with him and just stick with your dad." Saburo says before anyone else, leaning out of the window on his arm.

"Because of Yakuza stuff, right?"

"His personality is far from friendly too."

Delic presses his lips together as he thinks. Erika jerks inside of Walker's hold, shaking him like the rope of a rickety bridge, her chatter muffled by his hands.

Shizuo's hand gently sits back on top of Delic's head. "Anyway, we're going to Otome Road."

"Really?" The fox faced man enthuses, as if his current position was normal. "Which anime merch are you hunting for?"

"Uh-"

"Sailor Moon! I wanna find some music stuff too, like Ruri Hijiribe's new poster!"

The man with medium length hair readjusts in his seat to lean further out of the window, "You've got good tastes, kid."

"Of course I do!"

"Have fun, you two," Kadota interrupts before Yumasaki and Togusa can spiral into rambling conversations about their obsessions.

Delic allows himself to be steered away from the van gang by his father as he continues to think. That woman knows Izaya enough to give him a cutesy childish nickname. She called his father one too, so maybe it's just a thing she does and not necessarily a familiarly thing. It's not that unusual to Delic, he's been Deli-chin to Izaya since forever. What struck him the most was that she didn't seem adverse to talking about the older brunet, even with his father right there.

"Delic? Did you hear me?"

"I'm sorry, I was thinking."

"It's okay," Shizuo hums, combing through the brunet's hair as they stop at a crosswalk. "I said, if...something were to happen, Kadota's one of the people you can trust."

"He seemed normal," Delic dismissively comments. Something is itching his back and making his stomach settle in an odd position, and this time he's certain that his racing mind isn't the source.

"Especially with those other two in tow," Shizuo snorts.

"There's others you can count on." The blond continues as they wait for the sign to change. "Like your uncle and his fiancee. There's Celty, Tom, and Vorona. Simon is cool too. Shinra's a maybe." With a second thought, Shizuo narrows his eyes. "Actually, never-mind, don't trust Shinra. Hit the creep if he's suspicious to you."

The brunet has begun scanning the area they've stopped at. It's a normal sized crowd for the time and nothing's off about the street junction or shops around. "Are we gonna run into more people you know?"

"Maybe. Around this time, Tom and Vorona might be eating at Russia Sushi. Celty might be working."

Delic's gaze has stopped, fixed on a table filled with a group of girls at a cafe across the street. "Are we almost there?"

"Yeah, a few more blocks."

It started with one buzz, notifying the informant that a new post had been made on the forums. Then came two in rapid succession. Now, the thing wouldn't cease. Izaya had taken one glance at the new post's headline before slamming the device down and needing to gather himself for a moment before continuing.

Shizuo Heiwajima Seen With Child!

"I overheard them while I was walking past! He totally said it's his kid!" The original poster added underneath it.

"Pics or fake!" The first comment said.

"I saw them too!" The second read, along with others in varying similar sentences.

Then the pictures started to flood the forum thread and Izaya momentarily forgot how to breathe. Dozens of stills from various angles of the duo mundanely walking eclipsed words on the thread. They were conversing in one. In another, Shizuo's petting Delic's hair and smiling down at him. In each and every one Delic is still very much injured, casts and sling like white targets for others to see that the boy couldn't put up a fight if necessary.

"Idiot," Izaya curses loudly, scrolling on his phone. Namie glances over from her desk, the displayed scowl on her boss' face is interesting, but not quite as much as finishing her work to see Seiji sooner.

"I really underestimated how stupid you can be, Shizu-chan." Was that beast trying to get Delic hurt?! Does he think men won't come for the boy with guns and other weapons if their hatred for his parent runs deep enough?! With his arms indisposed, all they'd need is a bit of chloroform and for Shizuo to turn his back for just a minute.

Namie rolls her eyes from her seat. Of course this is about the man's obsession again.

Izaya snaps one phone closed to open another, dialing a number from memory. It takes two rings for the other end to pick up.

"Hello Shiki-san," he purrs smoothly despite his gut feeling crammed into his lungs. "About your previous offer regarding my situation, does that still stand?"