Author's Note:

Well, the first chapter was quite intense, but I can't just leave Izaya unhappy for his birthday, no? This three part fic's going to conclude tomorrow on Izaya's birthday. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

Another failed attempt at a normal love story.

Shizuo blames that on Izaya though, even though the informant had not so much as set a foot in Ikebukuro for the past week, as far as Shizuo could tell. Izaya did however, occupied most of Shizuo's mental space, especially in the quiet, peaceful moments like this.

Obviously that doesn't make for a very agreeable Heiwajima Shizuo, contrary to his name and the atmosphere around him.

Today is one such occasion.

Shizuo's apartment is enveloped in calming silence, no ruckus outside, no noise from the neighbors. And though Shizuo doesn't know this for sure, no gang plans on storming the cave of the great beast today, either.

Shizuo lay in bed, staring at the phone he is holding, blocking his own view of the ceiling. His course blond locks spread over the bedsheet in a halo around his head.

On the screen was the long chat history with the girl he had agreed to go on a date with.

Shizuo scrolled up and down like doing it would provide a clue for this unsolvable mystery. And the Beast of Ikebukuro is not one for solving mysteries.

Before he could tighten his grip enough to break his cellphone again Shizuo set the the thing down with a plop. Then he sighed, before he caught sight of a particularly long message that ended up being in the center of the screen.

It was from a few days ago. They were talking about Shizuo's work. And the message said something about her being interested in 'the useless scums' as Shizuo called them.

I think humans don't just do stupid things, Shizuo-san. The message had said. They are intelligent creatures, after all. But sometimes, emotion can make them do seemingly irrational things.

She had used "they" and "them" like this discussion doesn't concern the both of them. And wasn't Izaya always the one to exclude himself and Shizuo from the realms of 'humanity'?

Sometimes I'm fascinated by those emotions, Shizuo-san. I want to understand them. I think you should try it too... they say understanding bring peace, after all.

I know you desire that, more than anything.

'Fascinated, huh.' Shizuo thought, feeling a jolt of dawning realization. He slides further down. Another conversation, this one just before they had arranged the meeting.

Why don't you want to meet, Shizuo-san? At least let's go get some coffee together.

Oh, you wouldn't want to meet up with me, he had said, you'll just be afraid of me.

That's not true.

It is. You will. Trust me.

Well, trust me, Shizuo-san. I won't ever be afraid of you.

Izaya had never feared him, Shizuo could grant the bastard that much.

Even Shizuo's friends sometimes get uneasy at his display of inhumane strength, yet all he had ever, ever saw from Izaya is... a smile. Sometimes a smirk, yes, but looking back, it is almost like the raven enjoys him being a beast.

And Shizuo asks himself, instead of changing himself in order to have a partner, should he not find a partner who accepts who he is?

But you wouldn't even be like this in the first place, if not for Izaya. A part of his mind whispers.

Yet Shizuo knows that isn't true. He had been quick to lose his temper ever since childhood, long before meeting Izaya. It is only that the flea ticks him off.

Is it not better, to have someone who can deal with you being ticked off, than to have it happen to some fragile young lady?

And yet... it was the damn flea he's talking about.

It's Izaya.

And yet again, he had been perfectly content with... even attracted to the person he had been chatting with.

And so the thoughts turn in his mind, distracting him, unnerving him, wearing him down mentally. Even now, the day after, when he is walking through the city beside Tom-san.

What jerked him out of his reveries is not Tom-san's usual concerned remarks, however. It is the brief scream emanating from about five stories up above and to their right.

And Shizuo thought he could recognize that voice.

Curious, they ran round a corner to check. And there, suspended by one arm on around the third floor is the fur-clad raven, and below a small crowd had gathered to spectate.

A vein on Shizuo's forehead popped, and he started to feel the fire inside him... until he saw the reason of the informant's struggle.

The other hand, formerly dangling in the air, was brought to the lip of the ledge he's hanging from. It was thickly bandaged, and seems to be in a soft cast, removable if necessary.

That should have meant that the hand was almost healed. But Izaya doesn't make it sound that way. He grunted at first, like he was suppressing a scream, but after a time he didn't bother, and he screamed at the top of his lungs as he hauled himself up with both hands.

He didn't make it far up, but just enough to gain leverage by his wrist instead of the the tips of his fingers. He couldn't get up far enough to wedge his elbow in.

Shizuo snapped himself out of whatever trance he had been in and sprung into action before his brain could think. It was easy to scale the walls, they were riddled with footholds he could jump off of. And in less than a minute he was grabbing Izaya by the back collar and towing him into the building's window.

"What did you think you were doing, stupid flea!?" Shizuo demanded more forcefully than he intended.

Izaya just cradled his right hand and panted, probably trying to catch his breath.

"Hey, I asked a question—"

"I had a job request." Izaya said flatly, "and I didn't want to see you, alright? I didn't want to run into you anywhere, so I took to the roofs. And I tried to use the damn hand by habit so I fell. That's it."

The raven let out one final sigh and stood up, tugging at the hem of his coat with his one good hand.

"I'll be going now. Don't let me ruin your day, Shizu-chan." And he turned.

But before he could leave, Shizuo grabbed his shoulder.

"What—

"Let me see your hand."

"What?"

"Look, I'm sorry I broke your hand. I regret it, okay? Let me see your hand."

Izaya stared at Shizuo, and Shizuo met his gaze right back. He couldn't be sure of it, but he thought he could see something flash in Izaya's eyes.

One moment, and the nonchalant, cold Izaya was gone. His shoulders slumped just slightly, and he lowered his gaze from Shizuo's.

And began removing the bandages.