Chapter 38 – Struggle

News traveled fast in Ikebukuro, especially if said news were about a certain fake-blonde who declared his undying love for his apparently not-so-worst-enemy in the middle of a sushi restaurant run by a pair of Russians. Erika, an avowed yaoi obsessed fan girl, wasn't even the one starting to spread the news. No, it had been none other than Simon, who seized this opportunity to commerce their food as the sushi that brings love to everyone's heart.

Ikebukuro's social media was full with comments, pictures and short video clips of Heiwajima carrying Orihara thrown over his shoulder, looking pissed as ever while the raven smiled and waved at every camera.

How it looked inside the informant would be a different story altogether. Shinra and Celty had been no help at all, and while he kept struggling against the beast for the entirety he was carried down the many stairs to the first floor, he could feel exhaustion and a headache coming up. The time that trip had taken was used up for an inner turmoil of choosing between fighting back with all his might, screaming rape and murder to get away… or saving his dignity and reputation by pretending to ever be in control as usual. By the time they left the building the screaming, hitting, and kicking had stopped in order to calm down his frantic beating heart and to put on the right mask for the occasion. If he made it out of this situation alive it could even improve the fear and respect people felt for him. They would tell tales of the god who escaped the endeavors of a rutting beast.

The sound of a familiar voice calling "Go, Shizu-Shizu! Go!" brought Izaya's attention to Dota-chin and his group of friends. He ignored the deluded girl's cheers, sending his old classmate a look telling him to literally save his ass. His response though, was the other just pulling down his beanie, avoiding eye contact. If this wasn't enough only two blocks from Shizu-chan's apartment away a very familiar car slowly drove by them. The black tinted back window was all the way down, showing Shiki smiling at them knowingly before the car sped up again without them exchanging a word.

After their last meeting he should have already known that his favorite client wouldn't be of any help.

They reached the complex the monster lived in soon after and now, safe from the public eye the raven haired man started to fight back again, with no use of course. His attempts went ignored, mostly at least. As he tried to bite down, his ass got squeezed hard which made him yelp rather unmanly. The ex-bartender had used that moment to slide out the key opening up the way to his domain. Izaya tried to get a grip at the threshold as they passed through, but couldn't manage to get a hold on it before the blonde had already turned in order to close and lock the door behind them. He kicked off his shoes and even managed to get off the black haired one's in between a short wrestle for them, before he went into the main room where he threw his love interest on the couch.

Wasting no second Izaya tried to jump off it immediately, but the bleached haired amoeba pressed him back.

"No chance, Flea. We'll have this talk now!" he said not having to struggle all that much.

"Not if I can avoid it!" the broker argued back fisting his hands into the fabrics of a black vest and a white shirt, trying to shove his nemesis away from him with all his might. It was in vain, for it wasn't the protozoan who budged but the string holding the buttons in place who gave in first. Clattering to the floor, the couch and a few over Izaya himself they left the clothes to fall open, revealing Shizuo's naked chest and abdomen.

There was a slight sheen of sweat coating that sun-kissed skin which would have revealed to Izaya that the other hadn't had an easy time against all his struggles if he weren't furiously blushing at the sight of it. Memories of a very naked and freshly showered Shizuo plus the monster being hid away inside the man's black trousers resurfaced again.

Before he realized it, Shizuo had turned him around to tie his wrists with his bow. Tied up he got turned around to face the other once again. It was uncomfortable to lie on his bound hands, the beast crawling over him to sit in his legs to now seize their movement, holding him down at the shoulders, but what had him feeling more unease was the look in the golden eyes. They were filled with so much determination and feelings he never wanted to acknowledge. They made him feel as if the protozoan could read him like a book and what scared him the most… After everything that happened just recently… he feared that this was just the case.

"Izaya." The call of his name sent a shiver down his spine. It was so gentle, so… So loving. He swallowed hard turning his face away from the other. A calloused hand came up, touching his cheek gently, softly pushing his face back so they could lock eyes again. "Please." The soft whisper was like a spell preventing escape.

"I love you."

It hurt!

It hurt so much hearing those words, so he squeezed his eyes shut. Still he could feel those fingers stroking his skin, brushing hair out of his face.

"You still love me. I know you do." Shizuo began.

Stop it!

"It took me some time, but I think I understand that you're scared."

Shut up!

"All your shitty acts are just your way of protecting you from being hurt by idiots like me." Red-brown eyes glared at their captor.

"Don't talk as if you have any idea what's going on inside me." the words seeped out the raven's mouth like poison.

"Izaya. Please, give me a chance. I'm sure I'll be able to understand. This thing between us could be so good. For both of us. I know it." Shizuo was so desperate to find the right words. There was so much emotion bubbling up inside him. So many words he wanted to say but they just rushed by too fast to grasp for them. He wanted Izaya so much, it was unbearable to imagine them both being apart. Shizuo knew that he could never go back to how things were before.

Unnoticed by the one above him, the captured one managed to loosen up the bow around his wrists. Now was his chance to escape. He could make another start to push the other down from him and make a run for it. Izaya studied Shizuo's face. He looked so young and harmless. Not the least like the monster that ripped out street signs from pavement, up-lifted cars or taught vending machines and people alike how to soar through the sky. Those eyes though… They held his gaze in an unbreakable grip. Telling him all the words his beast wanted to say but couldn't find the words. But maybe it was just him giving up. Feeling his struggles would be just too exhausting now. He really didn't know and to be honest… He didn't care anymore.

Faster than Shizuo realized his crush had his hand freed from under himself. He already saw Izaya pushing to the floor and running away from him, but it seems like the flea was just as unpredictable as the smaller always claimed him to be.

"If you stop being my monster I'll kill you." The arms that were supposed to push him away, wrapped around his neck, pulling him down to meet a pair of soft lips.

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