Author's Note: Hey, friends! Sorry it's taken so long for me to update... my laptop screen crapped out on me again, and I haven't gotten financial aid yet due to stupid bureaucratic bullshit so I haven't been able to get it replaced. I also had quite a bit of trouble with this chapter, so it's not as long as I intended it to be. ;w;
Shizuo Heiwajima is no genius.
To anyone who knows him, this should come as no surprise; the man has always paid more attention to his instincts than his common sense, refusing to stop for even a second to consider that maybe, just maybe, the things he believed might not be entirely true. Unfortunately, this has lead him to more than a few assumptions... assumptions that he's becoming more and more certain are the reason Izaya Orihara is the way he is, and nothing that he's learned in the short amount of time that the two men have been intimate has done anything to make him think otherwise. That's why, when Simon returns with his first drink just in time for Izaya to order his second, Shizuo can't stop the frown from forming on his face. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that Izaya's behavior is not at all healthy.
Shooting a quick glance over his shoulder, Shizuo is relieved to discover that Kadota and his two buddies are no longer there. He doesn't know why he'd thought it might be a good idea to eat lunch with them, especially now that it's obvious Izaya didn't even want to be here in the first place; his gut instinct is to be angry, to turn it all back onto Izaya for lying to him... but the only thing he hates more than a liar is a hypocrite, and it's becoming more and more obvious to him that that's pretty much exactly what he is.
He's about to ask Izaya if he wants to just leave when Simon exits the kitchen, heading towards them with a tray of food in one hand and Izaya's Black Russian in the other. "One beef bento for Shizuo!" He announces cheerfully, setting the bento box down in front of him. "And one fatty tuna for Izaya! Is refreshing to be seeing you eating together willingly! Is good you get along, fighting no good for happy stomach!"
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Simon." Shizuo smiles to show his appreciation, breaking apart his chopsticks so he can finally get some lunch into his system. Russia Sushi's food has always been just as good as it is affordable, and this bento is no exception; when Shizuo eventually goes to take another bite and realizes that there isn't any left, he can't help but feel a little disappointed.
Damn...
Sighing and setting his chopsticks on top of the empty bento box, he finishes up his drink before glancing out the window at the busy streets of Ikebukuro. The sky definitely seems grayer than it had when the they'd first arrived… he doubts it's going to stay dry for very much longer. "Oi, flea."
"Hmm?"
"Are you dead set on headin' back to Shinjuku tonight?"
Izaya pauses mid-bite, a curious look on his face. "Why?" He asks, trying not to sound as suspicious as he feels. He knows Shizuo's most likely not plotting to do anything particularly harmful to him (at least not on purpose), but he still can't help but feel a little nervous as to what the other man might be thinking - though, if he's being honest, he's not sure he's ever really not felt a little nervous as to what the other man might be thinking. If he could read the beast even a fraction as well as he could read other people, he wouldn't intimidate him nearly as much.
"Looks like it might start raining again. Was wonderin' if you wanted to maybe stick it out at my place instead."
Izaya turns towards the window, taking in the sight of the grey, miserable-looking city. He's fully aware that the more the two of them are seen going back and forth between each other's apartments, the more likely it is that people will be able to connect the dots; unfortunately, with how many times he's ended up being caught in the rain lately, he's also fully aware that he's playing Russian Roulette with his immune system every time he goes outside. He really, really, really doesn't want to catch a cold. He feels enough like shit as it is.
Fuck it.
Sighing, he pops his last piece of sushi into his mouth and washes it down with what's left of his drink. "Sure, why not." He answers, his words only slightly slurred. "Yoohoo~! Simon!" He waves to get his attention.
"Ah, Izaya! You ready for check now?" Simon asks, in the middle of refilling another customer's water glass.
"I am indeed!" Izaya responds, fishing his wallet out of his jacket pocket so he can have his card ready. "And I'll be paying for both of us, so we'll just need the one."
"Ah, yes, yes! One check only, I will bring right away!" Simon says cheerfully, beaming at them from ear to ear before setting the water pitcher down on the counter. "My heart sings to be seeing you two friendly, is truly a happy day for old Simon. You pay cash or card?"
"Card, please!" Izaya answers, holding it out to the other man while hoping with all his heart that his discomfort isn't as obvious as it feels. If it is, Simon doesn't mention it; he simply takes the card from him and gives him a thumbs-up, then turns so he can head over to the register. Sighing in relief, Izaya stands up and tugs on his jacket. The sooner he can get out of here, the better.
"Oi. Izaya."
"Yes?" He responds, glancing over at the other man. Shizuo looks concerned about something… but before he can say what's on his mind, Simon comes back with the receipt, Izaya's card, and a pair of fortune cookies.
"Thank you for business!" He booms in his familiar, exaggerated Japanese, holding Izaya's card out to him - but when he goes to take it, instead of letting go, Simon clasps one of his large, warm hands over Izaya's much smaller one and looks down into his eyes with a serious expression. "A world that teaches to hate instead of love is a sick world indeed." He says in Russian, his voice calm yet firm. "But know that you are in no danger here. This is a safe place. Do you understand?"
"I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to imply." Izaya responds, also in Russian; it's a half-hearted lie, and it's obvious from the way Simon raises his eyebrows that he doesn't buy it at all.
"When it comes to Shizuo, you are like an open book. You always have been."
Damn it.
Izaya is still trying to decide whether or not he wants to continue feigning ignorance when Simon suddenly releases him, moving his hands to Izaya's shoulders so he can give them a reassuring squeeze. "But is good, yes?" He says, back to his normal broken Japanese. "You come back soon, have good sushi and talks with old Simon. Shizuo! You come back too, yes?"
It takes Shizuo a moment to realize he's being addressed, having been caught off-guard by the sudden language shift. "Huh? Oh, yeah. 'Course I will." He informs him, giving him a small wave before turning back to Izaya. He'd already known he could speak English... but Russian? That's news to him.
Just how many languages does this guy know?
Making a mental note to ask him about it later, Shizuo gets to his feet and retrieves his glasses from his vest pocket, unfolding them so he can push them up his nose. "We done here?"
"We're done here." Izaya affirms, not even bothering to see if the other man is following him before heading out the door into the grey, windy city.