Izaya bolted up in bed, a strangled cry escaping past the tightness in his throat. He scrambled to escape from the tangle of blankets, scratching his arm almost hard enough to bleed in the process. When he was free he bolted to the bathroom and barely made it to the toilet before the bile expelled from his throat.

He spent what seemed like forever retching into the toilet, limbs shaking and head pounding. When it seemed like the worst of it was over he collapsed to the floor and pressed his overheated forehead to the cool tile floor. The dream that had caused his current situation drifting back through his mind.

Shizuo had decided to kill him instead of deal with all the trouble he always seemed to cause. It was the most bone-chillingly terrifying dream he'd ever experienced. He could swear his bones still ached from the swan dive he'd been forced to make off the Sunshine 60 building.

He bit out a shaky curse and forced himself to his feet. He needed to get the disgusting taste of bile out of his mouth and calm down. It was only a dream. Even he knew Shizuo could never bring himself to purposely kill somebody, even if it was his worst enemy.

Even so Izaya couldn't stop shaking. Izaya brushed his teeth and settled in front of his computer with a cup of tea, hoping to distract himself by doing some work. He'd barely made any progress when his phone rang. He picked it up without checking caller Id, immersed in the information he was reading.

"Hello?"

"Ah… Izaya."

Izaya grit his teeth, fresh anger shooting through him.

"Hello Shinra. Call to apologize for ruining my life?"

There was silence from the other end of the line and Izaya tensed. Shinra took a deep breath.

"I am sorry. But if you and Shizuo don't find a way to work this out you will die. He had to be informed. I'm sorry that it resulted in whatever it is he did."

Izaya frowned.

"Oh, so Shizuo told you he did something but not what."

He could hear Shira shuffling in the background.

"Ah well, he told Celty that he did something he regretted. But he also said he ordered you to stay out of Ikebukuro."

And suddenly Izaya was enraged, his eyes narrowing into slits as he clenched the phone hard enough to make his fingers ache.

"Something he regrets!? That's a significant down play on how I feel. And don't expect me to just forgive you either! That monster is the worst form of human, and you had to go deliver my biggest weakness to him on a silver platter."

Shinra sighed into the phone.

"I know I can't really say anything to make it better, it's useless since I know you won't forgive me. But for our friendships sake please try to work things out with Shizuo. I know it's hard to believe but I am in fact one of those special few people who don't want you to die. I do have your best interests at heart"

Izaya felt a pang in his heart at the reminder and suddenly there were tears in his eyes. Stupid fucking mood swings, this band was the worst curse.

"Whatever Shinra, don't try to play friendly now. You had your chance. I have plans to put in motion so I have to go. Don't get to comfortable."

He hung up before Shinra could get another word in. Smiling vindictively as he pictured Shinra frowning at the phone. It's not that he wanted Shinra dead, nor did he want to lose his only friend, but he couldn't let something like this slide with an apology. Something had to be done.

Riding on the wave of fresh hurt and anger he quickly made another call. He had a plan to follow.

~pov switch~

Shizuo woke up feeling like shit. He'd barely slept, tossing and turning as the guilt and worry ate away at him. He knew Izaya would find some way to get revenge, Shizuo would bet his brother's life on Izaya already having some fucked up plan to get back at him.

Hell, Shizuo was tempted to let whatever it was play out as long as it didn't backlash on the people he cared about. Though Shinra would almost definitely be a target as well, probably to a lesser degree since Izaya actually cared for Shinra.

Shizuo had just stepped out of the shower when his phone range. His brow furrowed at the name on the caller Id. Why was Izaya calling him? He answered it despite the sense of dread creeping up his spine.

"Hello?"

"Shizu-chan~ I'll bet you didn't expect to hear from me so soon."

Shizuo sighed, rubbing at his temples as a headache was already forming.

"No, I really didn't. But I'm glad you called."

He almost smiled as he heard Izaya's breath hitch through the phone, that must have been a shock.

"Listen, what I did was unacceptable. You have a right to be furious at me, if you want some kind of revenge I understand. But I promise right now I'll never command you again. It's not right. I'm sorry."

There was a long silence at that and Shizuo could only imagine the flabbergasted look that must be on Izaya's face. He heard Izaya take a long breath.

"I can't accept your apology…"

Shizuo nodded even though Izaya couldn't see it, he'd expected as much. Izaya wasn't finished.

"But…. Shinra seems to think we should work out our differences. We should probably make the attempt. Considering that we're apparently…. "

Shizuo knew what Izaya was trying to say, it was incredibly difficult for him to accept that they were apparently meant to be. He was honestly surprised at how calm Izaya sounded. It was suspicious but he figured as long as he was vigilant talking things out couldn't hurt. Best case scenario he and Izaya actually get along for once.

"Yeah we should talk. I'll meet you in Shinjuku. Anywhere you want to go."

He heard Izaya hum thoughtfully.

"Why don't you just come to my apartment. We can talk in peace here."

Shizuo frowned slightly at the thought of walking into a potential trap but he had to attempt to trust Izaya if any of this was going to work out.

"Fine, I'll head over right away."

Izaya laughed lightly into the phone and Shizuo felt a light shudder wrack his spine as Izaya purred.

"Can't wait."

Shizuo shut his phone on the dial tone and stood there for a second, frowning at nothing. Could he really trust this? But Izaya was deserving of some kind of penance really. Half of his mind scoffed at him, Izaya had made his life hell for years why should he feel sorry? But the other half was saying they'd never actually given Izaya a chance in the first place. Shizuo had taken one look at him and tried to punch him, Izaya had only retaliated fairly.

Shizuo had definitely started the rivalry off even if Izaya was the one who kept fanning the flames. Neither of them were innocent in this, the sudden realization that Shizuo could have had his preferred peace all along if he'd just kept his cool during that first meeting was like a slap to the face.

He cursed as he threw on some clothes, not his bartender uniform since he didn't want it slashed if a fight started. He stormed out of his house and headed for the bus stop. If he could go back in time and ring both his own and Izaya's neck then he'd be happy as could be. He boarded the bus and slumped into a seat. Scowling at his own reflection, hopefully this day wouldn't go too badly. But he was dealing with Izaya so he wouldn't get his hopes up.